Why I Just Don't Care About This Election...

I just do not care about the election this year. At the beginning of the political debating and candidate selection, I was pretty excited. But, I am tired of it now. Oh, do not get me wrong, I will still probably fight the crowds to express my right to vote and become a part of something that is bigger than me. Honestly, I just stopped caring.

You see, in the heat of all of this political turmoil, I have been working. I am working two jobs. I am a youth minister and a Bible teacher at Ezell. I work between 51-55 hours a week with one break on Saturdays. And, I realized that all of the political stuff has been happening, but I am too busy to see it. And, I love it! I have not seen anything. No ads. No commercials. No mud slinging. No debating over issues. No right or left wing agendas. No endless debates over the sanctity of human rights, fetus rights, criminal rights, or religious rights. No mindless drool about economics systems and recessions. No Bush part 2 or 1st minority questions.

Just work and the Olympics. And, I am working hard.

You see, in the kingdom of God, there is a lot of work to be done. And, it will not be done by the American government. Oh, the government may make it easier for me to do my jobs. They may take more of the money that I make (that is God's money anyway) from my jobs. They may make laws that guide people to live kingdom lives. But, in the end, this election will not change much in the direction of the kingdom of God. For that matter, most elections have not changed the direction of the kingdom of God.

So, for now, I just do not care. I am too busy doing my best with the time I have within the kingdom to worry about whether this country will have trickle-down economics for the next 4 years. I am too busy loving my students to care whether No Child Left Behind is still in effect. I am too busy calling myself and others to a higher standard to worry about what is happening in Washington. I am just too busy to ask God whether he is Republican or Democrat... or even if He cares. I am just busy.

So, I challenge YOU... "The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few." I charge you to get up off of your man-chair watching MSNBC. I ask you to put down the New York Times. I plead with you to get of the blog roles... AND, JUMP INTO THE KINGDOM THAT SURROUNDS YOU!!! I do not care what party you claim... because the hungry do not care! I do not care who you will vote for... because the thirsty just need water. I do not care... because there is a world of sick, lonely, dying, starving, and hurting people who need the non-partisan hands and feet of Jesus to once (JUST ONCE) stop arguing about the best way to serve and just stinking serve!

I will vote... I am just writing in "Jesus" for President!

Camp Ponderings

1) I find it strange/sad/encouraging/empowering that many people feel that Camp is the closest thing to heaven that they feel here on earth. I pray that we channel that and figure it out so that we can do it for more than just one week out of the year.

2) This has been the year of difficult themes. Impact was all about the Prophets' message to us and their audience. Camp's theme was about living life to the fullest now! I feel like the themes keep getting deeper and deeper... and I like it...

3) I have decided that worship is a lifestyle that is sometimes expressed in song. And, the song must come from a life that is dedicated to the same things. I believe that this is the reason camp has the best worship of the year... we are all living it out on a daily basis.

4) There are few things more valuable than listening to students speak a message from the Word. Whether that message comes in form of a lesson, a skit, a presentation, or a late night comment, it is beyond encouraging.

5) I have concluded that one must taste and see that the Lord is good. That means... just because someone is present at camp, it does not mean that everything will stick.

6) I am convinced that we need friends who are committed to the same morals, ethics, values, and Jesus that we are committed to.

7) I long for the day when parting will not happen, praise will be on my lips, friends and family will surround, and God will be in our midst... again... and again... and again... to the fullest.