The Mid-terms are Coming

Check out today's countdown clock, the Mid-term Elections are only 69 days away.

That means I (we) have 69 days to acquaint ourselves with the candidates running in our local elections. Only 69 days to research them on the Internet or attend their campaign events to get to know them. Only 69 days to determine which candidates most reflect our beliefs and stance on the issues.

Only 69 days... let's get to work!

Vote Today

It's Primary Day in Alaska, Arizona, Florida and Vermont. Be sure to vote!

My Vote Will Count

On Saturday I finally took time to fill out my ballot for the Arizona Republican Primary election. I already knew who I wanted to vote for in some races, but in others I had to take time to look up all the candidates on the Internet and then make my choices. I believe that Arizona politics are really crazy (at least I hope all of the other states are not as strange as ours). That belief was confirmed as I looked up some of the candidates, read their views on the issues, and looked at the names of people that have endorsed them.

Generally this year I'm trying to stay away from anybody that is on the fringe. I really want to vote for serious minded, intelligent, compassionate candidates. I'm trying to vote for people that are as close as can be to my personal beliefs. It's not easy to find such people.

In several races the candidates were running unopposed. In those cases I do not cast a vote. What is the point in voting for someone who already has the race run?!

The reality is that I am focused on the mid-term election coming up in November. I'll be glad when the ballot for that race arrives so I can start researching the candidates. I am registered as a Republican, but I do not ever vote a straight ticket. I have always tried to educate myself and vote for the right (in my opinion) person for the job regardless of party affiliation.

I can't wait for the day after the mid-terms, I'm so excited to see if the balance of power shifts in the House and/or Senate. Please, be sure to vote!

What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?

Tom Little. Thomas Grams.Glen Lapp. Dan Terry. Brian Carderelli. Cheryl Beckett. Karen Woo. Daniela Beyer. Mahram Ali. Jawed. I don't know if they were afraid, but I do know what they did. They were on a mission in a remote part of Afghanistan providing medical care to an impoverished people. They were killed.

The Taliban says they were killed because they were Christians who were proselytizing to the Afghan people. It's true. Some of them were Christians. Two of them were Afghans. One was a woman from Britain who was a humanist and had no religious or political agenda according to her family.

The reality is, you can be a Christian and not try to convert every person you come into contact with. As a matter of fact, many Christians go through life without trying to convert anyone. An equal reality is that you can play a major role in the conversion of another without ever speaking a word of Christ to them. They can tell by the way you live your life that you are different. That you care at a level far above others ability to care. The example of your life can plant a seed that will be watered and brought to bloom by someone else.

The trick is, you have to be in the right place at the right time. That's why I'm wondering. What would I (you) do if we weren't afraid? We probably won't be called by the Lord to travel to Afghanistan to minister to the Afghan tribes. But, He could call us to south Phoenix. Or to east L.A. Or to Memphis, TN. Or to New York City. Or to Miami, FL. Or to Cuba. Or to Mexico. Or to the house next door.

Fox News reported today that five of the six Americans killed may be buried in Afghanistan. One of the wives said that her husband chose to spend his life helping the Afghans, he gave his life helping them, and he would want to stay where he had been most needed. That's powerful.

So the next time you see your next door neighbor, and you feel God nudging you to strike up a conversation with him, stop and think. What could be the worst thing that would happen? You'd have to get involved in his life? You might have to invite him to church? He might ask you why you're different and you'd have to explain your faith? And then remember the aid workers killed this week in Afghanistan. And thank God for the mission field He's chosen for you.

Mail-in Ballot

I received my mail in ballot for the Arizona Republican Primary Election this week. I just recently signed up for the mail in ballots and each time I receive one, I find a new reason to embrace this mode of voting. This time I'm excited for the opportunity to sit down with my ballot and search for the names I'm not familiar with on the Internet. I want to be an informed voter. I want to be an educated voter. I want my vote to count as much as possible.

In principle, I'm staying away from any candidate endorsed by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I used to support Sheriff Joe. I've voted for him many times. But in recent years, my support for him has waned, and has now vanished. Of course, what I'm really saying is that I plan to read each candidate's views and then pick the one that most closely resembles my opinion.

I've said it before and I want to reiterate: this election season is absolutely critical to the future of our state(s) and our country. There is no excuse to not vote. There is no excuse to not educate yourself about who you're voting for. Get on the Internet, look them up and make your choice. Together our votes can promote real change. Each vote counts. Your vote counts.