America the Beautiful begins with beautiful dispositions in her people.
St. Francis of Assisi and Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM) both taught that Christians should counter forces of hatred and violence, greed and pride with “the opposite spirit.”

Friends, let’s oppose hatred with love, violence with the hard work of peacemaking, greed with generosity and arrogance with humility.

This goes for conservatives and progressives, Sanders and Trump supporters – anyone with a conscience and care for her or his neighbor.

Let’s also oppose hyperbole, agitation propaganda and outright lies with critical thinking, consensus building and good information that engender hope.

We can argue passionately – and enjoy a meal.

We can debate policies – and apply shared principles.

We can build a better future, one shared meal (and Eucharist) at a time.

Dear conservative and liberal friends and all candidates for office:
Insults are easy.
Critical thinking requires work.
Dismissing people for their color or gender negates civil debate.

Labeling and libeling any idea or person outside our cozy space is both immoral and unwise.

May we please debate economic and political substance instead of promising what we cannot deliver and burdening the next generation with our uncourageous procrastination?

We cannot pay for every liberal promise.

Conservatives must learn proximate justice for their causes.

ALL people of conscience care for the poor and vulnerable – they may disagree on methods, but not the aims of compassion or justice.

Jesus is not a conservative or a liberal, capitalist or communist – He is uncontainable in our little ideological boxes.

For the sake of the world and generations yet unborn, let’s face reality with hope and forge solutions that help everyone prosper.