How To Respond To The Election Results

Over the past week, I have been inserting some of the top posts from the Stretched blog.  The post today (How To Respond To The Elections Results) originally appeared on the blog on November 7, 2012 and was the most popular post of the year (and of all-time).  This post was written before the election and posted the day after the election.  It was the closest I’ve come to having a post go viral which made for an exciting day and week on the blog in early November.  As the politicians and lawmakers reconvene in Washington to tackle the budget and the impending “fiscal cliff”, it’s interesting to review these thoughts.

The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.

Psalm 118:24

Today is a brand new day.  I am away on business, and I have pre-scheduled this post.  I have absolutely no idea what the election results are.  Perhaps, the verdict isn’t even decided.  The polls on Monday night seemed to indicate that Barack Obama might be ahead ever so slightly, but it also appeared that the race may be too close to call.

From all the polls, the latest news, and the buzz on social media, half of the people in our country will be unhappy with the results.  And half of the people will be happy or at least in agreement with the outcome of last nights election.

I’m not so sure that God arranged the outcome of yesterday’s election.  After all, God gave us minds and free will to make our own decisions.  But I do think that God has given us a new day today.  This is the day the Lord has made.  Let’s rejoice and be glad in it!

You may or may not be excited about the policies and ideas of our president and the leadership in our country.  But you have a choice to make today.  How will you treat today?  Will you rejoice in the day that God has made?  Or will you pout, stamp your feet, and cross your arms in dismay?

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Realize the blessings and freedoms that we experience in this country.  We have the right to vote.  We have so many rights and privileges that are not granted in other countries.  We are definitely blessed!
2. Realize that you have the power to make a difference.  Just like Esther demonstrated the power to impact an entire people group through her actions, we have the ability to leave our mark – even if we sometimes feel as though we’re acting alone.
3. Respond with honor.  Represent God and your faith with integrity in how you react to this election.  Our leaders deserve our respect – even if we don’t agree with them.  Stomping our feet may make us feel better initially, but it will eventually leave our feet sore and will fail to be productive.
4. Commit to make a difference.  You still have the ability to impact your neighborhood, your state, your country, and the world for God’s kingdom.  That did not change yesterday.
5. Pray for our leaders.  Whether it is the president of the United States or the mayor of your town, leaders have big decisions to make.  They face stresses that few of us could ever imagine.  They need our prayer.
6. Put on a smile.  Sitting on your hands and frowning is not productive.  Period.  Decide today to have a good attitude.

I’m speaking to myself as I write these words and ideas.  I want to be known as a positive, respectful, and thankful person.  You and I have a choice to make.  How will you proceed from here?

What do you see in your world today?  How will you choose to rejoice today?

Book Review: How Do You Kill 11 Million People?

Saturday, I opened the mail to discover a copy of Andy Andrews‘ new book, How Do You Kill 11 Million People?  Why The Truth Matters More Than You Think.  I read through this short book in an hour or so.

My first thought when I opened the package was “Who titles their book this way?”  I mean, I’m not at all interested in killing anyone much less 11 million people.  My next thought, “What a small book.  This should take me long.”  There are only fifty pages to this book, and many of the pages have pictures or large text.

I had never read anything by Andy Andrews, but I had heard of his name before.  He’s written several novels including The Noticer and The Traveler’s Gift which both made the New York Times bestseller list.  Andrews is also a well-known speaker.

So what is his new book about?  How Do You Kill 11 Million People? relates the story of the Holocaust (where over 11 million people died) and the deception of the German government led by Adolf Hitler to the potential abuse of power that could lie in government left unchecked.  Andrews’ doesn’t take on a political side in his book (at least not from my standpoint), but he does encourage readers to be informed, to investigate the facts, to discover the truth, and to be involved with the political process by holding our leaders accountable through the voting process.

“Did you know that during the past quarter century, no presidential election has been won by more than ten million ballots cast?  Yet every federal election during the same time period had at least one hundred million people of voting age who did not bother to vote!” – Andy Andrews in How Do You Kill 11 Million People?

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect when I opened this book.  I’m not normally outspoken when it comes to the political arena.  I was suspicious about Andrews’ motives and message as I read the first few pages.  But as I continued through the book, I was surprised.  Andrews’ message is for everyone whether you lean left or right, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican.

I would definitely recommend this book especially if you are turned off by the current political climate or if you’re thinking of skipping the next election.

Did you vote in the last election?  Are you planning to vote in the upcoming election?  Have you read this book?  If so, what did you think?