Post-election Observations and Thoughts

I am blogging this morning from the waiting area at OSF Hospital in Peoria IL where my dad is scheduled for an out patient surgery.

After voting yesterday morning, I made the 400 mile drive to be here this morning. I watched the national returns on the local news and kept up with Missouri's results via the internet.
This morning (and last night) I've been reading posts from across the country and around the world about the election.

As I stated on a social media post of my own, most of the international posts are in shock at the Trump victory (including this humorous meme posted by a Canadian friend).

The domestic posts and comments are divided between those celebrating (along with some gloating) and those grieving (along with some very disparaging remarks).

I don't think that the world is going turn upside down overnight (or ever). I am not saying that there won't be some tough changes and negative consequences, but there would have been some changes regardless of the outcome of the election.

While the state of the ACA (Obamacare for those that only recognize it by that name) is in jeopardy, it is worth noting that the minority Senate of the past six years was able to keep Congress from repealing it in the past and will continue to do so in the future. I do expect the GOP that strongly criticized President Obama for his use of Executive Orders will far exceed the relatively few ExOs that he issued.

The Senate Democrats will take on the role of obstructionists and hope to keep things status quo by using the filibuster rule. It will be interesting to see what happens in the House leadership. I expect that Ryan will be out as Speaker and replaced by a Trump supporter. Upcoming budgets and annual deficits will be interesting. Many that raise concerns over the mounting National Debt will be paying close attention to this economic savior. I'll be interested to see how quickly they raise the debt ceiling when it comes up next spring.

Because we are a global community, markets and economies around the world will react to the news of the election for a brief time, and to the decisions made by the new administration as they happen.

My greatest regrets and concerns with the results of the election are the tacit approval given to those that choose to rule and intimidate by bullying, name calling, physical assault and threatening comments and gestures. Our First Lady Elect's stance on anti-bullying will be interesting to watch unfold.
I am also concerned about the perception that non-Christian believers will have on Christianity as a whole and on Jesus in particular. One evangelical leader has warned us by saying -- When you mix religion and politics you get politics. This cycle's evangelical right has made a mockery of religion by its support of a candidate that quite literally stood for many of the things Jesus opposed.

I think that a lot can be known about the character of both sides in how we (as individuals and collectively) act in response to the election results. Winners and losers need to be graceful and kind in their celebrations and grieving. While I think that the coming four years will be challenging, I refuse to be negative about my country. We have endured through wars and economic depression. We have responded to terrorist attacks, both foreign and domestic. Democrats survived Bush. Republicans survived Obama. Americans have survived one administration after another, one Congress after another. We will survive and probably prosper in the next four years.

My optimism my be misplaced, but We Are the United States of America.
Go about your day. Be your best. This experimental government has been working for 240 years. It will work for another four.

John <><

Election Day!

The polls are about to close in the Mid-west.
I voted this morning and then made a 400 mile drive to Central Illinois.
I am thankful that we are able vote for our government representatives. I do think that we may all be better off if we somehow managed to shorten the campaign season and made it a little less divisive.

I do not like the political labels that are assigned to voters. I get Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, etc. But the assignment of liberal and conservative don't always fit very well. I consider that I am theologically conservative, fiscally moderate, and socially liberal.
I would say that I am a small government Democrat (even though I am still registered as a Republican). I do recognize the need for government service and there are social programs that need to be taken care of.

I don't understand the GOP that on one hand says they want less governmental regulation and then on the other hand, they push for more regulation on LGBT rights, religious rights, health and reproductive care, etc. What are you standing for -- less government or more regulation? I think it comes down to less regulation over our stuff and more regulation on your stuff.

I can identify with some of the issues that are considered conservative but am rarely considered to be conservative. And I am opposed to some of the issues that are considered to be liberal issues.
There was a time when politicians were able to look at issues rather than party lines. Crossing party lines for issues that benefited your district of state was common. Today, the party disciplines members by withholding funding or committee assignments for crossing the leadership. When you get a candidate from a certain party, you can expect them to hold to the party line.

Given the divide within the major parties, I anticipate more former Independent candidates (like Sen Sanders) running in party primaries in the future.

Whatever your party, whatever your label -- we are all Americans.
Let's act like it.
It will be OUR president that gets elected.
It will be OUR congress that gets elected.

Let's be grateful for our government and our voice in how it is administered.

John <><

Gentle, Overnight Rain

I awoke this morning to the sound of a nice gentle rain shower.
I like the sound of a nighttime rain.
And I'm a big fan of night rain showers.

During summertime droughts, I often hear people say that they're praying for rain. I ask them to pray for it to rain at night!
Hey! Why not?
I figure you might as well ask for what you want, right?
If it rains at night, we get the moisture the dry land needs and we can still have an enjoyable day outside. Win. Win.

Today, I am thankful for the gentle rains that replenish the water supply, and provide for nature.
This weather system looks like it will be with us for the day. I don't think we are expecting much more rain, just overcast skies, cooler temps and maybe, an occasional shower.

I hope that your week is off to a good start.
It's Monday. but I'm retired so I don't mind a bit!

John <><

On Mission

When I was a kid, I always thought that missionaries were people that went to far away places to tell people about God and to do good works for the people of far away lands.
If we listen to what Paul writes, we (Christians) are all just travelers in a foreign land and this place is not our home, so I guess we all could be missionaries.

I say "could be" because -- let's face it, we are not all telling people about God and doing good works for the people we encounter.
There are quite a few that are happy to talk about God, but fail to show the character of God in their actions.
And there are many that do good works but never teach or talk about God.
As followers of Jesus, we are to do both.

I get it.
I know that it is sometimes difficult to be that person -- the one that always lives life as a follower of Jesus. I don't think that we always have to bring every conversation, every interaction with others back to Jesus.
But being a Christian isn't supposed to be what we are and following Jesus isn't what we do.
Being a follower of Jesus should be who we are.
We should be becoming more like Him. It is the natural progression of following Him. I know that there are some that will cringe at my saying it, but we should be evolving into a person like Jesus.

This morning I get to go and share this simple message with others at a church in Blue Eye MO. It's kind of cool that God let's me do this. I don't think that going to preach really counts for sharing the gospel in a personal way. I think that preaching in churches is more about encouraging and instructing others to share the gospel in personal relationships.

I am thankful that I get to do this.
Truthfully, I think that is fun.
Really.
I get a lot of enjoyment from encouraging people to take the simple message "God loves you and Jesus died for you" to the people they do life with.

And it is a message that I want to share with you today.
It's true!
God loves you!
Jesus died for you!

John <><

Healing comes in strange ways

I'm cheating today.
I'm not really going to write a post.
I'm going to share what somebody else posted. His story -- their story -- is far more touching than anything I could post and I think it should be shared.

Yesterday the city of Chicago had a parade for the Cubs. There were MILLIONS of people that celebrated the team's first Championship in more than a century. While they celebrated their win, Anthony Castrovince shared his story of how baseball helped to heal his family's broken heart.

You can read it here.

Because ... baseball.

John <><

Flexibility

When it comes to physical flexibility, I am not at all flexible.
I'm working on it, but progress is slow

I find that yoga is a more than just a physical exercise to improve flexibility and strength. It also helps to calm the mild and quiet the soul. The paced breathing, the physical stretching, the muscular exertion -- all require a concentration that focuses the mind as it exercises the body.

Working to increase physical flexibility requires some commitment and persistence. It also requires a willingness to work at it; a desire to push the physical limits of ability to increase in strength and flexibility.
When I first began with yoga, I found the terms confusing, but interesting. Although I still have trouble with many of them, the simple phrase of "opening the (whatever joint/body part)" is one that I've come to understand.

I wonder if it is as difficult to increase our mental strength and flexibility as it is our physical abilities. Does it take a desire to want to change? Is the desire alone insufficient to bring about a change in our attitudes and our way of thinking? Does it take work; mental exercise that pushes the limits of our attitudes and way of thinking?

If opening our minds requires as much effort as opening our joints, I can see why so many people choose to remain closed minded. Change can be uncomfortable.
Of course, remaining the same is sometimes just a hazardous condition that we have grown used to, and the comfort of remaining the same seems easier than the discomfort of change.

I don't think that everyone needs to change their mind.
I do think that we all need to open our minds.
And even that takes some commitment and work.

John <><

Final Week of the Election Season

Yeah, we're all thankful that it is the final week of the 2016 election season.
But I have to say that more than being thankful that the election season is finally coming to an end, I am thankful that we get vote for our governmental officials.

Oh, I have certainly had enough of the campaign ads, the inflated news stories, the ignorant posts on social media -- all of it. I think the presidential race has been conducted like a high school student council election where the school bully is running against the popular girl. There have been too many rude and hateful comments on Facebook and Twitter. Although I have tried to be good about that, I have failed from time to time.

I think that our system is a little bit broken.
Actually, I think the system is fine, but the people running it have forgotten the people they represent. Or maybe they have decided they represent the money rather than the voters. Both of the major parties are going to need to make some changes. I think that changes will come more easily for the Dems than for the GOP. After all, progressives are about change and conservatives are about not changing.
After the 2012 cycle, the GOP assessed their party and came up with what would be necessary to attract different voting demographics ... and then failed to follow their own recommendations!
The Dems can learn from them or they may find themselves looking at the same kind of party divide in the mid-terms or in the 2020 cycle.

I know that many people have already voted.
Missouri doesn't have early voting, but you can vote by absentee ballot. Chris has already voted by absentee ballot since she is scheduled to work on election day and is on call until 7. I'll vote early on election day and then make my way to Central Illinois to see my folks on my way to Chicago.

I hope that people in the US are thankful for our system of government and will cast their votes next Tuesday. And I encourage you to hold our representatives accountable to the people they are supposed to represent. If you have been unhappy with our Congress (that has the lowest approval rating ever), then why send the same people back to DC for another term?

Still proud to be from the USA,
John <><

Baseball: World Series, Game 7

I'm going to break from the thanksgiving theme today to talk about baseball.
Yeah, I know it's only the 2nd, but that's just the way the timing worked out and my main goal is to write every day. And besides, I am thankful for the distraction and entertainment that baseball provides.

Tonight is Game 7 of the World Series!
A game 7 in any championship is the ultimate in excitement for the fans of the sport. Neither of the teams that are in this year's Series have won a championship for quite some time -- almost 70 years for the Indians and more than 100 for the Cubs. I just saw that tickets are going for as much as $19,000 dollars for tonight's game!

Even though my team isn't playing in this year's Fall Classic, I watch because I am a fan of the game. I am not a Cub hater as many Cardinal fans are and will be happy for the many long suffering Cub fans should their beloved Cubbies manage a win tonight. There is a hometown product on the Indians and I know that there are many Cub fans that that are torn a bit when he is in the game.

I remember back in '04 when the Cardinals made it to the Series. Aaron was so excited! He said it was the first time in his life that his team was in the World Series! He was 15.
Imagine how Cub fans must feel when it is the first time in more than 70 years since they have even been to the World Series. Cardinal fans have a difficult time relating to that kind of excitement. In the previous 10 years, the Cardinals have played in the Series four times and won it twice.

The Indians lost the Series in both 1995 and 1997, so most of their fans have experienced the excitement of World Series play as well as the bitterness of a World Series loss.
The Cubs haven't played in a Series since 1945 when they lost Game 7 (and the Series) to the Tigers.

To the winners of tonight's game -- Congratulations on being the World Series Champions!
To the other team (kind of hate to call them losers) -- Congrats on a great season and thanks for giving baseball fans an exciting Series.

And to all of the fans of the game -- Opening Day is just 5 months from today!

John <><

Retirement

Several weeks ago I was traveling with three other preachers to the Missouri State Fair. One of them (about my age) asked me how one should go about planning for retirement.
My answer was that by the time you are in your early thirties you need to find a good career with a good union pension and a 401K or similar plan.

I don't think that was the answer he was hoping for!

I bring up retirement today because it is the first of November and I am going to take up the writing challenge of posting daily; most days will be about something for which I am thankful.

I never would have imagined that I would be retired in my mid fifties. We are far from wealthy and Chris is still working, but we are comfortable and I am enjoying life. I have a freedom that allows me to do things and make choices that working would prohibit.

A year ago I was able to be in there when my siblings had transplant surgery.
I have been able to take my parents to Chicago for an event they wanted to attend.
Last month, I took my mom to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game.
Without a work schedule, I have been free to take more ministry jobs and was a part of six different kids and youth camps this past summer.
Traveling with Chris only requires one of us to get time off work which makes scheduling so much easier.
I have been able to ride my motorcycle as often as I like and have made several long rides of 300 to 500 miles/day.
I don't get the exercise that I need to be getting, but that isn't because I don't have the time for it. It's just because I've been lazy.
And there have been many. many more great benefits.

All-in-all, it's a pretty cool thing.

And that kicks off my 30 days of posting for the month of November.
I'll try to mix in a few other posts, but figure that if I have a theme of thankfulness I will most definitely have something to write about every day!

John <><

Cruising along

I'm enjoying a little coffee before getting on the road. It shaping up to be a beautiful day for a ride.
Earlier in the week I was thinking about a restaurant/pub that I like but haven't been to in a few years and decided that today would be a good day to take a ride and visit there for lunch.

The Flat Branch Pub and Brewing in Columbia MO will be my destination today. I'm taking the long way there (about 200 miles) and will return via different route that is also longer than the direct route (normal route is about 175 miles). I'm expecting at a 400+ mile day and I am looking forward to it. I contacted a young couple that lives in Columbia and will meet them there for lunch.

It will be a good day, but I need to get rolling.
If you're driving today, watch for motorcycles. One of them might be me!

John <><