"And To Everyone Else"

I categorically reject the wanna-be leaders of our country that feel so divinely inspired to criticize our President for apologizing to the Afghan people for the accidental burning of the Koran!

Granted, he did not want our troops there in the first place, nor did I. But, to heap charges of weakness upon him for showing great strength of personal character, points to the deficient characters of the men competing with Mr. Obama for the coveted position of leadership.

Not only did he manfully shoulder the responsibility of an unwanted war, left by his predecessor, he manfully worked to secure satisfactory resolution of a seemingly fruitless conflict. He proved a strong, sensitive, and discerning Commander in Chief, able to give comprehensive attention to a wide range of related issues. Did he deny our military strength? Did he deny our Christian Bible? Did he reveal any weakness in America’s presence in Afghanistan? NO!

Already, he satisfied the thirst for blood on the part of those finding George Bush inadequate to “take out” Osama bin ladin. Already he used a troop surge I might have questioned. Already, he supported “drone strikes” that left him looking more like a military strategist than a diplomatic peacemaker. But to charge the President with “weakness of character” says more about the “wanna-be’s” than it does about the man in the White house.

President Obama showed more strength of character, and exhibited more true Christian Spirit, than any of his political opponents, simply by caring enough about the Afghan people to treat them as he (and all of us) would want to be treated. Moreover, their criticism of Mr. Obama shows a lack of integrity I do not want in the White House.

The complaining candidates dredge up whatever they can dream up, if it will help them reach their goal and destroy him. I reject that win at any price philosophy. They willingly warp and twist THE WORD OF GOD, if that helps them achieve their goal, but that is the book on which I stand. They do not fully understand the contents of that Bible, having themselves a weak grasp of biblical faith.

I go to Church because that is where I learn how to interrelate with others in the church--first, and then to interrelate rightfully with others outside the Church. I Thessalonians 5:12-23 instructs me thusly, telling me WHAT NOT TO DO and WHAT TO DO.

Without dumping the whole load, look at the heart of the matter.
Mr. Obama’s apology was nothing short of practicing WHAT TO DO from 1 Thessalonians 5:15: “always try to be kind to each other.” For that, his opponents judged him as weak and lacking in strength. WHAT TO DO is being proactive and participating actively in what is good. Such proactive behavior makes winners out of everybody, and surely Americans do not begrudge respect for the Afghan people and what they consider sacred (We need not believe the Koran, but we can respect it as their Holy Book).

WHAT NOT TO DO, says Paul, is “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, BUT ALWAYS TRY TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER and to everyone else” (v. 15, NIV, emphases mine).

We need to pay attention to that "everyone else". How much better would our world be if all our world leaders would follow the example of Mr. Obama to the Afghan people:
1. ”Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong…”
2. “always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”

Pastor Jim Sparks found it a big adjustment learning to drive on the right side of the highway in London, with a steering wheel on the right side of the car and the gearshift in the left hand, etc. He suggests if we want to achieve anything, we must learn to adapt to a new way of driving.

I see military power, retaliation, hatred, and unkindness driving our world. This results in war and greed, poverty, starvation, suffering, hatred and retaliation. Do we really want a different kind of world, or do we just mouth the words?

From Warner’s World, you can...
use any political reference you wish, but if you want a different kind of world stop driving like the world drives and take this word from Saint Paul with you: DO NOT BE OVERCOME WITH EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD (Romans 12:21).

HOW do we do this?
If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head (12:20).
If you have to kill your enemy, or anyone else, kill them with kindness.