Can we talk honestly?

I watched the VP debates last night. Who won? All the talking heads agree that the answer to that question depends on what the viewer's preference was going into the 90 minute encounter of candidates. An hour and half of non-stop talk did little to change voter's minds. Biden's supporters thought he was the winner. Palin's supporters thought she did just fine, "you betcha." Who lost? We all did. Tired campaign lines were repeated by both candidates, ad nauseum. Each used misrepresentations of the facts, intentionally shading the truth (lying!) to shed the worst light on the other. At the end of it all, I was more disgusted with our political process than ever before. Could a candidate survive if he or she just told the truth? Would the American voters accept being told the truth: that they insist on a nanny government to care for their kids and their grandmas while resisting the taxes needed to pay for such benefits; that they demand that the government defend them against their own greed and stupidity and then resent the weight of all the regulations enacted for that purpose? Probably not.


As I reflected on this, I recommitted myself to an authentic Christian life.
My prayer today is -
"Lord, keep me honest- with You, with others, and with myself! Don't let me hide in clichés, escape responsibility with flimsy excuses, or avoid dealing with the unpleasantness of life by living in fantasyland. Help me to love the Truth and to work with You towards transformation of my heart and mind, so that the beauty of Jesus Christ is seen in me."
Will I always get it right? Of course not. Will hypocrisy be more evident to others than to me? Probably, though I hope they will have the courage to tell me when they see it.

Here's the Lord's invitation. He asks, "Can we talk honestly?"
How will you answer?

"Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted." (Isaiah 1:4-5, NIV)

"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:17-18, NIV)
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Father of creation,
Unfold Your sov'reign plan.
Raise up a chosen generation
That will march through the land.
All of creation is longing
For Your unveiling of pow'r.
Would You release Your anointing?
Oh God, let this be the hour.

Ruler of the nations,
The world has yet to see
The full release of Your promise,
The church in victory.
Turn to us, Lord, and touch us;
Make us strong in Your might.
Overcome our weakness,
That we could stand up and fight.

Let Your glory fall
In this room.
Let it go forth from here
To the nations.
Let Your fragrance rest
In this place,
As we gather to seek Your face.

Let Your kingdom come,
Let Your will be done.
Let us see on earth,
The glory of Your Son.

Let Your Glory Fall
David Ruiz© 1993 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055