The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to "save the country from trending toward socialism."It has been clear since 9/11 that fear has been a major GOP tactic.
The strategy was detailed in a confidential party fundraising presentation, obtained by POLITICO, which also outlines how “ego-driven” wealthy donors can be tapped with offers of access and “tchochkes.”
The presentation was delivered by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart to top donors and fundraisers at a party retreat in Boca Grande, Florida on February 18,
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33866.html#ixzz0hXhIFXx
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." ~1 John 4:18
GAY MARRIAGE
Recently a student asked me to fill out a political survey for a story he was writing for the school newspaper. There weren't any questions about the deficit or Afghanistan, jobs or the economy. He did ask about health care and gay marriage.
Ordinarily I try to avoid forming opinions (let alone sharing them) on this issue, but that morning my devotion had been on Matthew 22. In Matthew 22:30 and Mark 12:25 the Sadducees, a group of religious teachers who didn't believe in the resurrection and Heaven, challenged Jesus. The custom was that if a man died without any children, his brother was supposed to marry his widow and have children for him. The Sadducees gave Jesus a scenario where seven brothers all marrying and dying in turn. They asked Him who's wife she would be in Heaven. Jesus knows it's a trap and corrects them, "For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven."
This got me thinking- mind you, I am not condoning homosexuality or promoting gay marriage, but good grief, it seems to me that what Jesus is saying (in part) is that marriage is a temporal, human, perhaps even a civil institution, not necessarily something quite as perfect and Divinely ordained as many of us seem to think. Don't get me wrong, besides my salvation, I personally think that my wife and our marriage is one of the greatest things God has given me. I try thanking Him for Bethany every day. But if marriage is in fact, a covenant, a contract between two people, the 14th Amendment prohibits states from denying everyone equal treatment under the law.
I do not think that church bodies should be forced to perform, recognize or "bless" same-sex unions, however, marriage licenses are issued by the state, not churches. "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's" (Luke 20:25, Matt 22:21, Mark 12:17).
Both of these "mini-editorials" are probably enough for some people to want to burn me at the stake as a heretic- guess that's why I'm posting them here on my main blog instead of on my religious blog. Because pretty much no one ever reads this one anymore since I stopped writing a weekly column for my local newspaper. And because the other one is programmed to automatically post on facebook. And I don't feel like having to listen to the negative feedback. Guess I'm a coward. Sorry Gay people. I think you have rights, but I'm too much of a wuss to argue on your behalf.
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