Where does she stand on the Issues?

This week we have seen history. The country has been electrified with Sarah Palin. If I was writing this last week an introduction would have been necessary. But if you haven't heard the name Sarah Palin this week, where have you been? You must have been out of the country - no wait, that wouldn't work. Maybe the remotest parts of Alaska.

I decided a while back that I would vote for John McCain, but Wednesday night was the first night I felt enthusiastic about it. His VP selection is a gamble but I think a smart one. He may not win the election but he has a better chance with this dark horse candidate than with any of the usual suspects.

On a side note, I am so thankful to live in a country where I can state my opinion publicly without fear of arrest or reprimand if he loses, that I live in a country where his name is not the only name on the ballot or opposition supporters might torch my home for disagreeing with them. And I am thankful to live in a country that has chosen Barak Obama as a candidate for President. I disagree strongly with him on a number of issues but his life story is amazing and is an American story and is the reason people all over the world still look to America, because stories like this give HOPE. I will not vote for him, but it is because I disagree with him on the issues. His race is not a factor in my decision and doesn't seem to be for most which makes me think we might be making some progress.

Anyway, last night I was amazed at how Sarah Palin's person was summarized for public consumption. I don't remember the exact quote but it went something like "She's a hard-charging corruption-fighting snowmobile-riding moose-hunting conservative mother of five." Wow! That Todd must be a REAL man. No wonder they call him the First Dude.

I read somewhere that John McCain had met her once before announcing her as his Veep, so it wasn't her high-powered personality that won him over. It had to be her stand on the issues, and how he felt she could add something to his bid for the White House.

Where does she stand on the issues? I'm sure we'll find out more, but on paper she looks like a great conservative candidate. Where does Barak Obama stand on the issues? I'm sure we'll find out more but on paper he looks like a great liberal candidate.

This morning I woke up thinking about the issues. I wondered what it would sound like if my own life and beliefs were so analyzed and summarized, sliced & diced and bandied about like a baseball player's stats.

I got to thinking about how my Heavenly Father had picked me. I can tell you this, it wasn't because I can add something to His ticket. And it wasn't because I was right on all the issues. I have issues that you don't even know about. I probably have issues that I don't even know about, but at the right time the Holy Spirit will bring them up because He loves me and it is His determined purpose that I be conformed to the image of Jesus. He knows all about me, and where I stand on the issues, and what my own issues are and where I stand on them, where I'm right and where I'm conservative and where I'm liberal.

Thankfully He doesn't pick on the basis of that. He picks as He does because it pleases Him to do so. He doesn't owe us an explanation but has given one anyway. He owes us nothing but has given us everything in the person of His son Jesus Christ.

I am so thankful to live in this country. But my citizenship is not here. I am a citizen of Heaven. If you don't like that, that's because you're not from there. I will participate respectfully in the governing process while I'm here, but my heart longs for home and it will be glad when I get there. In the meantime, I've got to take a stand on the issues. Lord, let me be right on the issues that matter to You.