Now that the Southern Baptist Convention and Lifeway have decided to censor the “Gospel Today” Christian magazine because it featured stories of women pastors, I guess that ends my purchases from Lifeway.

For some time now I have been disturbed about the “change in mission” of the Southern Baptist Convention. It has become too political, discriminatory, prejudicial and self-righteous and, furthermore, what gives them the power to censor a Christian magazine from a Christian bookstore? And why would Lifeway succumb to such pressure?

God has always used women, and if it weren't for the women missionaries, many souls would not have been saved. When a woman missionary obeys God's commands, is she only allowed to sit in a circle and teach the word of God but not stand in a pulpit? Talk about "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel"!

In Matthew 28:19-20 and, again, in Mark 16:15, Christ commanded:

19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15:

15: And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

His commandment was for everyone--I don't think he called just the "good old boys." If that were the case, then the Bible would only be for the male species.

Sarah Palin

I started to watch Sarah Palin’s speech, but it was the same old, same old, so I switched to something else.

I liked what Joe Biden said this morning (and what Sen. Obama said yesterday): he isn't going to trash her or McCain. He said she gave an awesome speech but he was more impressed by the issues not addressed than what she said and that he thought they went overboard bashing Obama. He said he thought it was immaterial to say she couldn't shuffle children, a home, husband and a job because if people thought that, then they had never seen a strong woman! His wife married him and took on his two little boys to care for, taught school, went back at night and got her doctorate degree. As for McCain, they have been longtime friends and he has the utmost respect for his commitment to the country and his sacrifices (as do I) but being a great military leader doesn't mean he would be a great president---especially if he doesn't get away from Bush's policies.

I just remind people that General Eisenhower was a great general but a mediocre president. Jeremiah Denton (POW from Alabama) was in a POW camp for almost seven years but was not an effective senator. And while Steve Spurrier was a great QB, a great (albeit obnoxious) coach at the University of Florida, he failed as a coach of the Washington Redskins (pro team).

A patriot and a POW do not qualify anyone’s being president. I love John McCain but this year I simply cannot pull the lever for four more years of Republicans and Bush policies. Just can’t do it. Sen. Obama has been wrongly accused of being a Muslim and God-knows-what else. And since when did an Ivy League education hurt anyone? In Bush’s heyday, the Pubs were all too anxious to report that Bush was a Yale man!

So, I’ve followed Sen. Obama for four years---and Joe Biden longer. If Joe Biden were running against McCain, I would still vote for Biden. I worry about McCain’s age and everyone talks about how young Sen. Obama is. Well, Palin is not a “goldie oldie” by any stretch of the imagination. And because of McCain’s age, I have looked closely at the VPs this election. Hillary could run the country but I don't know about Palin. She was Governor of a major oil state and you know, and I know, they wanted her so she could get the influence to drill in Alaska. If they drill and destroy the wildlife preserves, I think I will march on Washington!

Isn’t America wonderful! People can agree to disagree. We all vote by our consciences and, hopefully, not just a party. I have never been one to vote for a party. And just as the Pubs pray for their party’s choices, I pray about the choice I have made and most of all, I pray that America’s choice will be one that will take care of domestic policies and mend the torn fabric of our foreign relations.

So far, nothing has happened to change my choice and I have found throughout my life that my first intuitions have stood me in good stead. Any time I didn't follow them, I almost always wished that I had so let's just all vote for the candidates of our choice and not bash anyone for his/her choice. As I stated before: People need to realize that not everyone who worships God is a Republican; not every Republican is a Christian; and just because someone decides to vote for a Democratic candidate does not make them or the candidate they choose a heathen or nonChristian. We all need to judge the candidates on their platforms and it makes no difference the party. And we should all continue to pray that the person elected will be a great leader of this nation.