Almighty Lord, who is also Abba,
Christ our King and Brother,
Sovereign Spirit who nurtures Divine Life,
Grant all candidates of all parties and every office:

The wisdom to do justice;

The humility to listen to you and all around;

The courage to implement sound policies;

The loyal love to truth and first principles;

Respect for life from conception to coronation;

Compassion for all, powerless and powerful;

And reverence for your holiness and love.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Amen.

Remembering.
Thousands of teenagers met death and disability on the beaches of Normandy.

War is a terrible thing.

Until the final moments, the Allied leaders worried that the invasion would fail.

Once ashore, final victory was quite certain – yet thousands more would perish and suffer in obscure hedgerows, forests and urban war zones.

Western Europe liberated. Nazi Germany defeated…and soon, an Iron Curtain dividing two ways of life.

But for today – let’s remember brave soldiers…

And pray for peace.

We need less “PC” (Progressive Correctness/Clichés) and less “CC” (Conservative Correctness/Clichés)…

…And more TLC: Truthful, Loving and Concrete thinking.

Facing individual iniquity and institutional injustice (Chris Brooks) requires courage and grace, honesty and hope.

My hope for our future rests in Christ.

My penultimate hopes for human flourishing are found in local communities where people of conscience care more for the next generation than their pleasure.

And good chocolate helps.

Joyous lament: a new view of  “normal”:
Laughter and tears;
Deep joy and profound sorrow;
All part of a full life and many of our days;
Praying for many suffering.

Rejoicing with many succeeding in their lives.

Helpless and hopeful as I let go of what I cannot control and seize every moment I can serve God and others.

Every day has high and low tides.

Dear thoughtful friends:
“Think deeply – act decisively.”
When we pause and ponder, considering empirical evidence and rational rules;
When we stop and discern the deeper issues;
When we allow timeless truth from Scripture, the wellsprings of a clear conscience and honest assessment from history to guide our actions…
We can bring glory to God, good to the world and help neighborhoods and nations flourish.

Let’s choose thoughtfulness and the good of generations yet unborn as we make decisions today.