THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES/CAUCUSES

Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull

Ready for one of those blogs where I give a few thoughts? Well, this will be one of those!

POINT 1 - I don't know how much of a real contention this was, but I read one (only one) article saying that Biden wanted the first Democratic primary to be South Carolina instead of the long standing tradition of it being New Hampshire. The reason? They wanted to give a state with more diversity like SC to start the campaign as opposed to one with less diversity like NH. 

As I said, I only saw one article on it, and nothing on television or elsewhere, so it may not have been as contentious as the article made it. Possibly, the Democrats for a change saw it as I did. The fact is that if a person believes in diversity, they don't need to create diversity for people to know it. 

POINT 2 - One thing that has been true and still is - sometimes I strongly disagree with something Trump says or does but then realize Trump is more reasonable than I thought. Latest example deals with his absence from the debates, especially when I heard him say that he would be glad to do the debates when it's down to him and one challenger.

After all, what will entering the debates do to help Trump? He's leading the polls. He has a target on his back. And his views are known. He has no need to take on a half-a-dozen contenders. But he is willing when it's one on one. I might prefer him being at the debates, but I can see his point.

POINT 3 - We have not had a rematch in consecutive elections in over a century, since Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison faced each other in 1888 and 1892 with the incumbent losing both times, and then McKinley defeating William Jennings Bryan in 1896 and 1900. I, unfortunately, see all indications that unless something drastic happens we'll have Trump vs. Biden II in November. I hope not. I'm rooting for Haley on the Republican side and will have a heart attack if the Dems ever put up someone I can vote for. 

Today is the New Hampshire Primary. Last week, Trump trumped the Iowa Caucus. Yes, there's Super Tuesday coming up, but unless we have a surprise today, it will be a uphill battle for anybody other than the former President. True, Biden got the nomination four years ago while not being in the race for the early contests, but there's nobody like that on the Democrat side.

Well, maybe the Libertarians can field a candidate that like Johnson looks credible for the office and like Jorgenson is a person I am rooting for.

 

Self-Promotion: Pride, A Necessary Evil, Or A Ministry Opportunity?

In a paper written by my friend Robert Roberg titled "The Hidden Danger of Art", the first thing he mentioned is the self-promotion that is involved, when Christians should focus on others and God.

At Taylor University's Professional Writers Conference a month ago, my friend James Watkins gave a different point of view when he stated, "The first two letters of 'message' is 'me.'"

Over the decades, I've heard Christians debate the issues of self-esteem and self-love. One quote I've heard is you need to love yourself before you can love your neighbor as yourself. Others say that when Scripture talks about self, it doesn't use words like "love" and "esteem" but rather "control", "deny", and "crucify."

It is important to remember Proverbs 27:2: "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips." 

Today we see politicians promoting themselves. That wasn't the norm in the past. In the 1800's, few presidential candidates did not do as much speaking on their own behalf, and those that did always lost. While William Jennings Bryan was running himself ragged going to the crowds in the 1896 campaign, William McKinley stayed home where the crowds came to his house to hear him. Things are different now, but are they better?

Likewise, nowadays self-publishing or releasing your own music project is more common than it was a few decades ago. I remember getting a call from a self-publishing company where the saleslady repeated two primary points - 1) the book I wrote needs to be published, and 2) self-publishing allows me to keep 100% of the profits. (Never mind that I spend my money upfront so a percentage still goes to the publisher.)

But is all self promotion pride? Let's go back to Proverbs 27:2. Notice the word is "praise". We're not to praise ourselves. If we're stating that our book is the best song ever written, then we're stepping over the line. But if we feel we're supposed to communicate something, we have the opportunity, the privilege, the mandate to get the message out. Everybody came to McKinley's house. If they're not coming to yours, you need to go and promote the message.

Now, is the message God's message or ours? The answer should be yes. There are times we feel God's direction. But I've heard songwriters say, "I didn't write this song, God did." Well, He may have guided the composer in writing it, but God used the writer's language, vocabulary, and music style in writing it. 

I read James Scott Bell tell about aspiring writers saying, "I could never write like (insert name of famous author)." Bell replies, "No, you can't write like them. And they can't write like you." Moving from arts to ministry, I get blown away by apologists like Gary Habermas, Francis Schaeffer, and Ravi Zacharias and think that I can't defend the faith like they do. But God has enabled me to contend for truth the way Jeffrey C. Reynolds does.

We need to remember the focus is on the message, not the messenger. But that doesn't mean the messenger should not give his best. Plus, the messenger needs to deliver the message for it to be heard.

What message has God given you to share? What can you do to allow the message to be heard?