Where is the GOP's Courage?

If you haven't heard about the meeting between Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy, then you must not have been on the planet Earth on February 28, 2025. The shock waves are still being felt after what many observers of the meeting call an ambush and berating of Zelenskyy by Trump and Vance.

News outlets report the sudden blowup between the presidents was the most heated public exchange of words between world leaders in the Oval Office in memory and the encounter left the future of the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, and Kyiv’s ability to defend itself in the brutal conflict with Russia, in mortal jeopardy. Social media was a-twitter with comments of being embarrassed by the exchange to utter shock and disgust. Oh, Yeah, there was also SUPPORT for Trump reaming President Zelenskyy and asking him to leave the White House.

I happen to be of the view that the meeting has destroyed America's standing with other nations. If the president will treat a dignitary from another country in such a humiliating way, he will possibly treat other dignitaries the same. No matter what the meeting was about, how a president treats a person matters. The WORLD is watching and there are others who believe they are just a BIG of a to-do as Trump believes he is and WON'T be bullied by him or talked down to.

America is holding their breath waiting for the GOP to speak out against Trump's behavior. Are you blue in the face yet? You will be waiting for the Right to speak out against Trump because he will do to them what he did to Zelenskyy. Your wait will be a long one because the GOP lacks ONE certain thing to be able to speak up about Trump's destructive antics. What they lack is COURAGE.

The definition of courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. A simple definition and not the words I would have guessed. But it sums up why not everyone has it. You have to DO something even when you are shaking with fear. Republicans have one part of this two-part solution. They are frightened. Now they need to be able to do SOMETHING. Not just ANYTHING but the RIGHT thing and stop supporting President Trump and his alignment with Putin, gutting federal jobs, turning against allies, and IGNORING the outcry of the public. Courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in battle.

Most philosophers and psychologists agree that courage involves persistence in danger or hardship. However, some argue that courage is synonymous with fearlessness, while others suggest that the presence or the absence of fear has nothing to do with courage. Trump's few days in office, under 100, have proven to be a persistent danger or hardship for a majority of Americans. Republicans face a barrage of frustration and anger from constituents questioning Mr. Trump's agenda and his tactics at town hall meetings. Their answer to the outrage is Democrats use plants to disrupt the meetings. They dismiss what their voters are saying and refuse to acknowledge dissatisfaction with Trump exists. Why? Because it would take COURAGE for them to take the message of dissatisfaction with Trump back to Trump. They LACK that courage.

Republicans have been known to wear their Christianity like a badge of honor and go as far to say Democrats are anti-God. Their religion and God have something to say about courage. In the Bible, God commands people to "fear not", "be of good cheer", and to "have courage." Having courage is part of the long history of Christianity. Jesus demonstrated courage in the face of death his ENTIRE life. He taught what was unpopular such as not to want material wealth, do not mistreat the poor, widow, or orphan, treat your neighbor as yourself, love everyone including your enemy, don't treat people differently based on status, and to beware of religious HYPOCRITS. There are seven woes or stark warnings and repercussions for hypocrites in the Bible found in Matthew 23.

The GOP feigns that Trump is doing everything correctly. They stand firmly one hundred percent behind his actions and decisions. Even if that was true, (there are rumors of their discontent behind closed doors) it is not what the majority of Americans are voicing right now. They are supposed to work for the PEOPLE and not for Trump.

After watching the encounter between President Trump and President Zelenskyy, it seems it would be difficult for anyone to say that is how Americans want to be represented. But the Right believed President Trump showed strength and power. When you have strength and power you don't have to display it. They turned an ally seeking help for his country at war into a beggar for assistance. Even if Americans don't want to support Ukraine's war financially, no one should want to humiliate someone asking for help. Kindness and dignity towards others on the world stage is what America has been known for regardless of what we are doing. Our reputation has been shattered.

America has been known as a superpower for decades. Trump is not MAKING us into a superpower all of a sudden as his followers believe. Nations have revered and feared us for the longest time. Now they fear us but for a different reason. They fear us because we can no longer be TRUSTED. Heck, we don't trust ourselves. We don't trust ourselves because a large swatch of us don't have the COURAGE to do what is right when needed anymore. Americans once had the courage to do what was right even when the rest of the world was doing wrong like we did with Hitler. Remember him and his rise to power? Many believe we are headed that way with our OWN Hitler. Just saying.

What I do know is that Christianity and courage go hand-in-hand. If Republicans wear Christianity with pride, they should also have the courage that comes along with it. I'm not saying all Republicans are bad or wrong. What I am saying is they are ignoring the concerns of the voters during the mass firings adding to unemployment, and the possibly newly created need for financial federal assistance of those fired, while there are cutting federal assistance. Calling people lazy for needing help then firing them so they need help makes no sense. The Trump administration seems to have a problem with PEOPLE IN NEED and the GOP remains silent. The poor or those in need have never been so publicly SCORNED before.

As always, I will leave you with what the Bible says about courage. It is what Christians should strive for in their daily lives. To be able to stand for what's right even when it's unpopular or can lead to less than desired outcomes. Doing what is right takes courage. I hope the GOP will be like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz and realize his courage was always there and once he knew that - he was confident to USE it.

Examples of spiritual courage: 

Standing up for what you believe, even if it means being rejected or facing harm

Making sacrifices

Being "dangerously unselfish"

Doing what's necessary despite difficulty or danger.

Bible verses about courage

• Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you"
• Deuteronomy 31:6: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" 
• Isaiah 41:10: "Fear not, for I am with you" 
• 1 Corinthians 16:13: "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" 
• 1 Chronicles 28:20: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong" 

Seven Woes

Wolf In Sheep's Clothing (Donald Trump)

A question on people's mind as they watch the chaos of the current administration is, "How can evil be accepted as good by so many?" They also wonder, "How can lies be seen as truth?" When trying to answer a question we tend to dig deep and try to come up with some kind of profound answer. In reality, we can look to the simplicity of childhood to answer the seemingly unanswerable. 

A majority of people are familiar with the children's story about the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, an Aesop's fable. In the story, a wolf disguises himself as a sheep and the shepherd kills him. The story is an example of a fable, which is a story with a hidden lesson. The idiom "wolf in sheep's clothing" is used to describe someone who seems friendly but may be harmful. In the Bible, Matthew 7:15, Jesus warns against "false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves".

The phrase "Wolf in sheep's clothing" is an idiom that refers to someone who appears friendly or harmless on the surface, but in reality, they have a sinister or malicious nature. They hide their true intent from others. With Donald Trump entering the third week of his presidency, many are coming to the conclusion that he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. But that is not true for everyone who voted for him. At a first look, Trump's proverbial "sheep's clothing" was Christianity, and he wore it amongst the Evangelicals. Those outside of the Evangelical faith seemed to notice his wolf tendencies.

Donald Trump has lived his entire life in the headlines. He has been known as a mover and shaker in the business world. There is very little about his life that has not been written about and expounded on by Trump himself in hundreds of interviews. Donald Trump loves to talk about Donald Trump. If you comb through all of the magazine and tabloid articles, you will not read about Trump as a Christian, that is, until he wanted to become president.

Donald Trump was raised in his mother's Presbyterian faith; his father was a Lutheran. He attended Sunday school and was confirmed in 1959 at First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica. He said in 2015 that he attends Marble Collegiate Church, a Reformed Christian congregation in Manhattan; the church said in a statement to CNN that he "is not an active member". He said that he was a Presbyterian and a Protestant in 2016. Trump has officially run as a candidate for president four times, in 2000, 2016, 2020, and 2024; he also unofficially campaigned in 2012 and mulled a run in 2004.

A survey during Trump's first presidency showed that 63% of Americans did not believe he was religious, despite his professed Christian affiliation, and that only 44% of Americans believed that Trump was a Christian. But according to research data on the 2024 election, Trump's victory was largely due to the Christian vote. According to exit polling data from NBC, Trump expanded his margins for Christians identifying as “Protestant or other Christian” and Catholic. Of voters identifying as “Protestant or other Christian,” 63% went for Trump and 36% went for Harris. Trump made a bigger jump with Catholic voters against Harris, who is a Baptist. Exit polling shows Catholic voters broke for Trump by 58% to 40% for Harris. 

A majority of white Christians supported Trump in 2024, just as they did in 2020. White Christians identifying as “Protestant and other Christian” went for Trump 72% to 26%; in 2020 they supported Trump by 72% to 27%. White Catholics supported the Republican ticket 61% to 35% in 2024. In 2024, white born-again and evangelical Christians made up 27% of the electorate and voted for Trump 82% to 17% for Harris. A presidential candidate, identifying as a Christian, would have a large voting base. How easy is it for someone to IDENTIFY as a Christian and BLEND in and become like a Christian?

Evangelicals say they support Trump because of his stance against abortion and Transgender Rights. They believe his political platform aligns with their Christian faith. They fully embrace Trump's slogan of Make America Great Again, a time when the family unit mattered, and society's morals were more palatable. Or at least, this is what they say publicly. But many researchers say the same thing that motivates secular people motivate religious people and that is POWER. White Evangelicals are fearful their power is slipping away. How you may ask. The answer is right before your eyes.

Public Religion Research Institute found that America is not only becoming less white, but also less Christian. As we came to the end of the 2010s, Robert P. Jones, CEO of PRRI, reported that only 42% of Americans identify as white and Christian. Such demographic shifts have produced great trepidation on the part of many white evangelicals. Trump has capitalized on white evangelicals’ fear of losing power and prominence in an increasingly diverse society.

The sheep's clothing Trump put on was NOT Christianity to win the Evangelical vote. Trump clothed himself in the skin of FEAR. He walked among them expressing the same fears the Evangelicals speak about. Let's use ABORTION as an example. The stance against abortion has more to do with halting the LOW birthrate of white babies, than the Bible. If Republicans cared about babies, they would not be slashing Medicaid many mothers and newborns rely on.

Abortion rates have been declining in the United States for decades. In 1981, the abortion rate was 29.3 per 1,000 women aged 15–44. In 2005, it was 19.4 and was at an historic low. A survey of women who obtained an abortion in the United States between June 2021 and July 2022 found that 26 percent were Hispanic, while 33% were white. This statistic shows the distribution of women in the U.S. But this will not increase the number of white babies born. If abortions across the board are illegal, then the Hispanic and Black population will also increase in births. This is significant since in 2022, 39.5% of abortions were performed on non-Hispanic Black women, compared to 31.9% for non-Hispanic White women.

Donald Trump's embrace of the Pro-Life cause is a win for Evangelicals, but their fear of being obsolete remains. So, what else allows the WOLF to walk among the SHEEP. The answer is RACISM.

On the public stage Trump has not hidden his racism towards almost every ethnic group except White people. His desire to mass deport immigrants are sweeping up people who just look Hispanic. His revocation of DEI laws closes the door to many Black people having an opportunity to have high paying jobs. Attacking DEI also affect women who work outside of the home as caregiver, something traditional Christians would like see women returned to. If White Christians don't have the NUMBER to remain relevant, then they must have the POWER at all costs, hence Donald Trump 47th president.

But you may say Trump didn't deceive them, he just gave them what they wanted. But he PRETENDED to be like them, Godly. What or who is a person willing to pretend to be Godly? What kind of person would have no FEAR misrepresenting themselves as Godly knowing it was a lie? The answer to this question is what the REST of us have to FEAR. A person who has no boundaries to what they are willing to do to achieve their OWN power is a major THREAT. I know you're saying I can't say Donald Trump is not a Christian. Are you sure about that because the Bible says differently.

"Ye shall know them by their fruit. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit" (Matthew 7:16-20). Fruits, which are a common metaphor in both the Old and New Testaments, represent the outward manifestation of a person's faith, thus their behavior and their works. Evangelicals tell us to OVERLOOK Trump's character and his offensive behavior. Not biblical at all.

Romans 16:17-19, "I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their OWN appetites. By smooth TALK and FLATTERY, they deceive the MINDS of NAIVE people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

Trump is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I do not believe he has revealed his TRUE nature yet. We don't know who is under the sheep's skin. With the U.S. no longer siding with the UN and being the leader of the free world, Trump's deception on the American people has not been exposed yet. 

For those who did not vote for Trump, they believe they have not been deceived. They are not as shocked by Trump's actions since being in the White House. But in a sense, we were all fooled. We believed no one would DEFILE the highest office of one of the greatest countries. Yet, here we are. We let our guard down on our freedom and supremacy on the world stage. We didn't believe a WOLF would walk among us without SOMEONE protecting the sheep. We believed, at least, one of the sheep would sound the ALARM for all of the other sheep to protect themselves.

Well, we had sheep sounding the alarm, but other sheep stepped up to PROTECT the wolf. Let's look at another little story, The Scorpion and the Frog, so simple even a child can understand it. It will be my final thoughts about Donald Trump.

• The fable is about a frog who carries a scorpion across a river. The scorpion stings the frog, even though it's against the scorpion's own interests.
• The scorpion explains that he couldn't resist because it was in his nature. 
• The fable teaches us to know someone at their core and make judgments based on that. 
• It also teaches us to be cautious of those who have a history of harmful behavior, as they may be likely to repeat it.

In The World of Donald Trump, Don't Be A Judas

If you haven't noticed yet, Donald Trump's name is on the lips of people around the world. The news plays his latest declaration on a loop with the reactions of people in America and other countries. The WORLD knows Donald Trump and it appears he has the world by the tail.

For most, being internationally known is a good thing. Everyone wants their ten minutes of fame. But President Trump doesn't care whether his infamy is of adulation. Favorability is not his inspiration or motivation. He leans more towards shock and awe in his approach to governing. The ENDS to his MEANS justifies his actions. The world is a little afraid of his means (intentions), believing they center around him acquiring more power and wealth. Am I insinuating the president may be a little corrupt? Only time will tell.

So where does the analogy of Judas figure into the Trump presidency? Christians and non-Christians have a general knowledge of the biblical character named Judas Iscariot from the the Christian Bible. He is the one who betrayed Jesus causing Jesus' death. Judas is known as a betrayer of good. But if Donald Trump is not out to do GOOD, then many would advocate for a Judas (betrayer) to enter into the picture. That is because they don't understand Judas or Jesus.

Judas Iscariot, born in Judea and son of Simon and Cyborea Iscariot, was one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He played a role in the apostlic ministry alongside the other disciples. However, in the Gospel of John, Judas's outlook was differentiated—many of Jesus's disciples abandoned him because of the difficulty of accepting his teachings, and Jesus asked the twelve if they would also leave him. Simon Peter spoke for the twelve: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," but Jesus observed then that although he himself had chosen the twelve, one of them (unnamed by Jesus, but identified by the narrator) was "a devil" who would betray him.

According to the account in the Gospel of John, Judas carried the disciples' money bag or box (γλωσσόκομον, glōssokomon). Matthew directly states that Judas betrayed Jesus for a bribe of "thirty pieces of silver" by identifying him with a kiss—"the kiss of Judas"—to arresting soldiers of the High Priest Caiaphas, who then turned Jesus over to Pontius Pilate's's soldiers. Judas aided in Jesus' demise and not the demise of political corruption and injustices.

What is IMPORTANT to know is WHY Judas BETRAYED Jesus. One suggestion has been that Judas expected Jesus to overthrow Roman rule of Judea. In this view, Judas is a disillusioned disciple betraying Jesus not so much because he loved money, but because he loved his country and thought Jesus had failed it. Judas cared to a FAULT about his country it seems.

The political climate in Judea during Jesus' time was dangerous and volatile. Judea was part of the Roman Empire, which was an occupying force. The Jewish people were subject to Roman law and customs. There were at least five major political groups with different views on how to deal with the Roman occupation. The Zealots, which Judas has been linked to, wanted to KILL the Romans and take back Judea for the Jews. Judas wanted to remove those in charge by any means including violence and Jesus was teaching LOVE. Judas DEMANDED revolution. Jesus COMMANDED love.

Our political atmosphere is contintious. REVOLT is in the air. There are calls for protests for varying causes people feel President Trump is ignoring or damaging. Various individuals are calling for Trump's removal from office due to his overreach of power. 

It is not only Americans voicing their disapproval of Trump's use of power. Other countries are wary of his intentions. Donald Trump has shocked the world by suggesting that the US could "take over" and "own" Gaza, resettling its population in the process. The proposal has drawn condemnation, including from across the Middle East, close US allies and the United Nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, welcomed the "revolutionary vision" for Gaza. Despite fierce pushback from regional leaders, Trump has pressured Jordan and Egypt to accept Gaza's 2.2 million residents - threatening to withhold aid if they refuse. Both nations have rejected the idea, warning it could destabilise the region. Trump has said that Palestinians would have no right to return to Gaza under his plan.

During a time of poilitcal corruption and overreach of power, Judas wanted an immediate resolution. He wanted ACTION! He would become labled as a ZEALOT, which is defined as a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals. His feelings and actions went against Jesus' teaching. Of course, a person should want CHANGE where change is necessary, but it is HOW you go about change that matters.

Dr. Martin Luther King is a better example of how to address those who are in power not doing the will of the people. Both “morally and practically” committed to nonviolence, King believed that “the Christian doctrine of love operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.” Christians must remember to act Christlike no matter what is going on around them. Judas' suffering of oppression made him forget about the command to love.

What would become of the man who felt throughout his being that governmental corruption and oppression was wrong and should be stopped by any means? Many different accounts of Judas's death have survived from antiquity, both within and outside the New Testament. Matthew 27:1-10 states that after learning that Jesus was to be crucified, Judas was overcome by remorse and attempted to return the 30 pieces of silver to the priests, but they would not accept them because they were blood money, so he threw them on the ground and left. Afterwards, he committed suicide by hanging himself in accordance with Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). The guilt of his actions became too much of a weight for him to carry.

In the world of Donald Trump, don't become a Judas seeking justice by UNJUST methods. Advocate for change using lawful methods and voice your opposition in love and with votes. Educate yourself on ways to have the outcomes you want to occur. Never give up. But violence, lawlessness, vitriole, and other actions which cause more harm are not acceptable. In advocating for change, be a Jesus instead of a Judas.

Will Men Vote for a Woman President?

After the Presidential Debate, Fox News has been dropping the notion, "Men will probably not vote for Kamala Harris." This is planting the SEED; men don't want to be BOSSED by a woman. Even though there is a difference between bossing and leading.

Donald Trump and JD Vance have been giving interviews for podcasts in the Manosphere. The Manosphere is made up of men from communities such as the Red Pill Community, Incels, and MGTOW, who have a bone to pick with women for ruining America and the world at large. This is the beginning of the "Men should be the head," defense. Even women are saying a woman should not be "over" men as a president..

According to Gallup and Resume Lab, only 28% of men would prefer to work for a female manager, and only 53% feel positive about having women leaders in their organization. The men tend to not like female bosses. 28% of them would prefer to work for a female manager. Only 53% feel rather or very positive about having women leaders in their organization. And a mere 17% would trust a woman more than a man to lead a company. It's not a Kamala Harris problem, it's being a WOMAN problem.

Americans revere presidents as role models, fixating on their status – real or perceived – as founding fathers, real fathers, war heroes, and Master of Diplomacy and making money and cheating on their wives without getting caught (or, at least, without getting divorced). Because presidents epitomize American notions of manhood, elections reveal what kind of man, what type and degree of masculinity, is most respected and deserving of power. ‘Be a man and vote for a woman’: Kamala Harris’s unlikely edge in America’s masculinity election | US elections 2024 | The Guardian. Can a MAN see a WOMAN as a HERO? Is MASCULINITY on the ballot for male voters?

Republicans are associated with more masculine issues and traits, Democrats with feminine ones. National defense and the economy are seen as topics that men care about, because men are expected to prize being providers for and protectors of their families. Healthcare – including abortion rights – and education are seen as women’s issues, because women are supposed to be compassionate caregivers. Even religion is brought into the equation of whether to vote for a woman as president. Can men accept a WOMAN in CHARGE of an entire NATION? Trump is gaining traction with young men because they feel voiceless in this country. They fear with a woman in charge they feel their concerns will be IGNORED. I have addressed the cry of this generation's (males) grievances in another post. 

How many reasons have you heard Kamala Harris should not be president? Has one of the reasons given been due to the Christian religious belief that a woman should not rule over men? If you haven't heard this reason yet, just wait, it's bound to RISE up in your circle of political commentary. Let's put this erroneous belief to rest shall we. 

When it comes to men struggling with antiquated masculinity issues when it comes to voting for a woman as president because of gender, I hope they have at least one woman they know who they view as a woman capable of great things. Maybe a sister or daughter who they would cheer for to reach their full potential. But those male voters do not think beyond THEMSELVES. For those MEN and WOMEN using Christian Scripture as the foundation for NOT voting for a woman to lead a nation, I have a WORD for you.

Christianity has taught for centuries that WOMEN are to be in a submissive position to men and not have a 'role' within the church. The church teaches church leaders should be men. But what happens when the established roles of women within the church, whether correct or not, are applied outside of Christianity and outside of the church? The answer is you get CONFUSION.

The first instance of a woman being considered in a 'lower' role than a man is in Genesis, the first book of the Christian Bible, when we are introduced to Adam. Adam was alone in the Garden of Eden and God saw he was lonely when he was not around. God had created the animals and birds, male and female but Adam did not have a companion so God created him a companion, a wife, and said she would be a helper suitable to him, Genesis 2:20-25.

The KEY point about the wife being a helper here is there was NOTHING to help with. The Garden of Eden was self-sufficient. There was no WORK or toil to do. Work would come into being well after Adam and Eve were created. The REASON a wife was created was for companionship/relationship. This is the 'help' offered by the first wife. Later in Genesis 3:16, as punishment for her disobedience of God, Eve's DESIRES would be for her husband, and he would RULE OVER HER. Her punishment was that her husband, not all men, would rule over her. This is a husband-and-wife thing which cannot be broadly applied to the world of interactions between unmarried men and women as many Christians believe.

Again, we read about the husband-and-wife relationship in the New Testament, Ephesians 5:22-33 says, "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything". Now, me as a woman, do not have to submit to any other woman's husband. It is HER job, according to Scripture, to submit to HER husband. A man does not go to his place of employment as a husband. He is just an employee. Men are just citizens in the United States. WHERE they are husbands is where they have authority. The passages cannot be any clearer.

We do not have to wonder how God felt about women as leaders because we have a clear example in the Bible in the book of Judges. In the Old Testament, judges were military leaders of the tribes of Israel before the monarchy. They were raised by God to govern the tribes and lead them into battle against enemies. Two famous judges were Samson and Gideon. Of the twelve judges chosen by God, there was ONE woman, Deborah. Deborah was a married woman who led Israel. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites CAME to her to have their disputes decided, Judges 4:4-5. She defeated Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite Army. She was the commander over 10,000 men. It was a woman, Jael, who actually KILLED Sisera, the Canaanite commander.

What about women having a leadership role within the church leading men. Here we have the example of Phoebe in the book of Romans. Romans 16:1-2, "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way WORTHY of the saints and to GIVE her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me." Because her name is listed first by Paul, even before other men, scholars agree she held a position of importance. Paul goes on to tell the church to greet twenty-six other people, but he only instructs them to give Phoebe whatever she asks.

When the words of the above passage are reviewed in its original language, the word 'servant' is defined as ministry sixteen times so scholars accept the word as meaning teacher. Next, we have a woman, Priscilla whose name is listed BEFORE her husband's which scholars also believe is significant, since women were understood to be submissive to their husbands within their Christian teaching. Paul said the husband and wife had risked their lives for him and the Gentile churches. Here we see the author of many books of the New Testament exalting women and the work they have done for the church.

Throughout the Bible, women are hand selected in the same manner as men to carry out the will of God. Different people have been used in different capacities as God sees fit. We are all his creation. We all have different talents. Many Bible teachers and preachers prefer to say women are easily deceived and are the weaker sex, according to Scripture. Well, I have an entire post dedicated to that vein of teaching that I will not address here.

My point is, there is nothing biblical that indicates a woman cannot be president of the United States. Even without scriptural backing, many believe it will be against God's will for Kamala Harris to be president. I ask Christian's to think about the NATURE of God as evidenced by his Word in the Bible. How many times is it written and said, "I have chosen." God chooses to do what he does, and it does not always line up with what we believe should be. His ways are not our ways. 1 Corinthians 1:27, "But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]."

One last point I would like to make. No matter who is the leader of our country, as Christians we are to carry ourselves as such. The person leading us may have been allowed to be in that position to show OUR CHRACTER. Christians are not yanked around by worldly concerns. We are to remain steadfast in our Christian walk and service to God. And we learn through Scripture, as far as God is concerned, to never say NEVER.

Argument Between a Liberal and a MAGA Supporter

When asked to comment about something or someone you don't like or disagree with, do you find it easy to point out how and why they are wrong? Join the club. I can compile the quickest list highlighting points I disagree with others on such as politics, religion, and women's issues. And if you are anything like me, you have a LONG list where you disagree with those who are a part of the MAGA movement. Guess what? They have their lists too. 

Disagreeing with others is part of the human experience but HOW we disagree with others makes a difference. I had a recent experience (today) where I encountered a Trump supporter who hit all the talking points Republicans have about the current Democratic nominee for president, Kamala Harris. If you read my blog then you know, I identify as Democrat. Yes, a Trump supporter and a Harris supporter met face to face. Each far from the comforts of talking smack online without repercussions. What could the possible outcome of face-to-face political talkie talk be I wonder? 

Of course, me and the older lady did not begin our conversation with politics or Christianity, but somewhere along the way while discussing children, husbands, and vacations, she felt comfortable enough to say she did not believe the Bible condoned a woman being president, thus being over men. A woman she said, is a man's helper. I should have walked away then but, silly me explained the Scripture saying a woman is a 'helper' to her "HUSBAND" not every man on earth. In all instances of a woman falling under the direction of a man it pertains to her husband. She is a helper in the home. Point in case, Deborah, a female judge in the Old Testament selected by God to lead an army and men into battle. Deborah was over men and saved a nation, Judges 4:124 and 5:1-31.

This lady supporter of Trump's conceded to that interpretation of Scripture, regarding women rulers raised by God but then said Kamala Harris is not a Christian. WHY DIDN'T I WALK AWAY? I said Donald Trump does not model New Testament Christianity. Abandoning Christianity in regard to Trump, she said the cost of bread was lower under President Trump. Christianity seems not to matter when it comes to him. She said he mentions God whether he behaves like a Christian or not. She offered more and more talking points like Kamala mentioned Trump's name X number of times during the DNC. Yes! Duh! He is her opponent. Who else name should she mention?  And yes, she said Kamala was brown, not necessarily a Black person. And no, she did not know Jamaicans were of African descent. WHY DIDN'T I WALK AWAY. Every fiber of me wanted to ask her AM I BLACK? If you're wondering, I am, even though I'm brown. Go figure our color system.

You get where this went right? There was not one moment she did not bring up a Fox News talking point and finally she said I was ANGRY. She asked me why was I angry? It wasn't Christian of me to be angry. Something I have blogged about when writing about Republicans. Now, I was an angry Democratic Christian. OUCH!

I apologized and told her she was right. I should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger because anger did not show the righteousness of God. I was truly convicted for my behavior. I was not ranting and raving or behaving in a threatening way but, I was heated in my response to her defense of Trump and being a Christian wanting a Christian president. She PUSHED that CHRISTIANITY is what mattered most to her. She struck the nerve of my Christian background and education and overheated my protectiveness of women's issues and African American heritage. Come on! No one questions my brown color and there is an Africa-American box for me to check on most legal documents. Black people are profiled and discriminated by the same color of skin as Kamala Harris and now we are supposed to believe people can't tell who is Black? Can you say INSULTED? Enter please Taylor Swift and sing Shake It Off! I need you more than ever.

She insisted we hug things out. I obliged after I told her sometimes God has a way of bringing people together. I have been praying and working on my temper, so, today let me know I still have more work and prayer to do. I asked her also to maybe think her encounter with me was so she could HEAR from a person like me how OFFENSIVE what she said was. I told her it was offensive, and we parted ways cool, calm, and collected. Voicing how a person makes you feel is not un-Christian if you were wondering.

But, as a Christian, I was ashamed of getting heated with her, because the facts and Scripture, I quoted her were lost and all that became relevant was I WAS AN ANGRY CHRISTIAN. I failed to represent Christ, and I let my words become irrelevant. Now, she probably wasn't going to listen to anything I had to say, but I gave her an easy out. She could now doubt if I were a Christian by my actions. I had become the POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK or brown or tan whatever color since we can't recognize black anymore.

My spirit has been unsettled by the encounter. I repented of course and asked people to continue to pray for me on this temper thing. But I had read a passage in the Bible earlier this same day and I wanted to write about it here. James 2:12-13, "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law (Love your neighbor as yourself) that gives FREEDOM, because JUDGEMENT WITHOUT MERCY will be shown to anyone who has not been MERCIFUL; MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT."

There you have it. I may find fault with people on varying topics well outside of and including politics, religion, and women's issues. But even when I find them completely wrong and unable to accept truth or facts, I am not to JUDGE them harshly. Harsh judgement may show as condemning them as crazy in every imaginable instance or a lost cause in everything important in life. It may be true, but that would be a HARSH judgement on my part.

Okay, I may not go that far. Good for me, right? Well, I'm not going to let myself off of the hook so easily as a Christian. I believe former President Obama said it best when he said we as people get things wrong, but that doesn't make us bad people necessarily. As wrong as I believe people are for USING/MISUSING religion, I must show mercy not judging them to the point of making them less than. I have to remember people can be wrong on something and be a loving caring father, mother, sibling, spouse, and yes, Christian. And this Christian who allowed a little of her temper to flare needs mercy also and not to be judged as a volatile, hostile, or an angry Christian. This interaction today should not cancel my long journey as a Christian and should not be used in determining my future as a Christian. That is what MERCY would say.

Some lessons come hard but thank God they come so we have an opportunity to grow, learn, change. We all need a little grace and mercy in our lives. Mercy is important to God. Whatever is important to God we should find a way to do it as Christian's no matter how hard it is to do. If we try, he will show us how. Why must we search ourselves and reach deep to do the hard things, things that TEST who we profess to be? James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face TRIALS of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith DEVELOPS perseverance. Perserverance must FINISH its work so that you may be MATURE and COMPLETE, not LACKING anything." Which means, be happy, a chance to grow is at hand in a nutshell.

The biological age of a person may or may not line up with that person's behavior. Christians ARE expected to mature and become wise. Many trials and tests, maybe like engaging with someone you are polar opposite in political views, women's issues, and religion, can be a trial. This political atmosphere can be one of the biggest tests for CHRISTIANS. Biggest opportunity for growth. Where how we forgive, love, and show mercy to others is DETERMINING how we are forgiven, loved and shown mercy to. Scripture says it is so.

It is so easy to have your eyes open and able to see clearly what is disagreeable about others and begin the name calling. We must also have our eyes open to what is disagreeable about ourselves and make a change. Did that lady today ruin my day or help me on my journey to becoming a better Christian, a better person? Was it painful all the way round? YOU BET. Her actions and mine. Because growth is painful at times is one reason so many refuse to grow. But we owe it to ourselves and others. When you face the hard things, you become a stronger person if you keep going. A RESULT needs you to not quit. By not quitting you learn, and being able to continue, you understand great things, good things most times take time, and that knowledge gives you wisdom, peace, and maturity. You no longer belong to the 'Right now tantrum people" of modernity. You can see around the corner as the old folks use to say. 

MAGA nor Democrats are to be tossed out as having not one redeeming quality or less value. We all can and must do better. I know I'm trying.

Is Donald Trump Ugly?

Former president, Donald Trump, said at his rally in Pennsylvania, "I look better than Kamala Harris." Many people have commented about the way Trump looks, usually making fun of his choice of "tanning" color. They also mention the shape of his physique. Neither of which I need to give an example. You would have had to live under a rock not to know most of the comments about him. We don't need to address whether Trump is attractive. NOPE! That said, does attractiveness play a role in who people choose for president?

Studies going at least as far back to the 1970s tended to show a positive correlation between handsomeness and how subjects assessed a candidate. Scholars sometimes reasoned that the attractiveness effect took place because voters without a lot of information about a candidate used good looks to infer other good qualities—a kind of “halo effect.” Voters appear primarily drawn to faces that suggested competence.

Since all of the presidents have been men, we are in new territory, discovering does attractiveness matter when choosing a female president. The backlash from Trump's comments about Kamala Harris appearance, would make you believe looks do not matter. Looks have always matter.

Did looks make a difference for John Kennedy? Google him and you will find descriptions such as, witty, charismatic, and handsome, John Kennedy's youthful vigor attracted a new generation of Americans to public service and political engagement. At 43 years of age, Kennedy became the nation's youngest-elected president. His debate with Former President Nixon, solidified that a candidate's appearance mattered. Nixon looked a mess during the debate while Kennedy looked cool, calm, and collected.

Obama is considered to be handsome by I dare say, millions of women of all races. Obama's sex appeal hasn't hurt him in such images of him exited an ocean in his swim trunks. His physical fitness captured in photos for the world to see. What other president would get high marks in a swimsuit competition? He has touched a nerve among Black women in particular, who consider him an IBM (Ideal Black Man) — educated, eloquent, tall, attractive, family oriented, ambitious and down to earth.

President Joe Biden chooses outfits that make him look younger. Donald Trump opts for old-fashioned dark suits and long ties to convey a message of traditional masculinity. Choices like these are attempts by candidates to morph into the ideal "handsome man" by the public's standards.

Studies show, people vote for candidates who put a lot of effort in looking natural and effortless, but not perfect. Some suggest this is why Mitt Romney was not elected; he looked or presented himself as flawless. People also questioned if he was too handsome. Former President Bill Clinton had the ability to talk naturally and with ease with many ethnicities, such as the Black community. This sense of naturalness made voters feel he was trustworthy. Unlike Mitt Romney, Clinton was known not to be perfect. He was flawed, especially when it came to women. President Clinton was a president many women may have voted for due to his charisma and charm, if not for his physical features.

In 2005, Princeton psychologist Alexander Todorov and colleagues published an astounding study. Todorov and colleagues developed computer models of how faces can suggest character traits like trustworthiness and likability. The competent face shape is masculine but approachable, with a square jaw, high cheekbones, and large eyes. The shape of the eyebrows can suggest anger, for instance, while a long distance between the eyes and the mouth can suggest sadness. An incompetent face, beady, close-together eyes paired with high eyebrows suggest fearfulness. Mitt Romney vs. Newt Gingrich: How much do looks matter in presidential politics? (slate.com)

So, is Trump attractive? Evolutionary psychologist, Todd Shackelford of Oakland University. said Trump is not, from a scientific point-of-view, good-looking. “Indications of non-natural skin texture or color, non-natural hair”—such as Trump’s conspicuous fake tan and orange-tinted ’do—“these are cues that people read as, ‘Something is wrong,’ and that decrease ratings of attractiveness, according to Shackelford. But it seems Trump knows, when it comes to assessing the rich and famous, women are far more forgiving of physical attributes. This may be why Trump has so much White female support - the lure of money and power, not good looks

A 1976 profile of the young mogul in the New York Times gushes: He is tall, lean and blond, with dazzling white teeth, and he looks ever so much like Robert Redford. He rides around town in a chauffeured silver Cadillac with his initials, DJT, on the plates. He dates slinky fashion models, belongs to the most elegant clubs and, at only 30 years of age, estimates that he is worth “more than $200 million.”

Trump, who did look a little bit like Robert Redford in those days, described “flair” as one of his favorite words. “If a man has flair … and is smart and somewhat conservative and has a taste for what people want, he’s bound to be successful in New York,” he said. Trump informs people how to SEE him. The shtick appears to have worked on Andy Warhol, who wrote in his diaries in 1981 that Trump was “good-looking” and “a butch guy.” 

Trump’s perceived virility declined in the 1980s and ’90s in tandem with his prestige and financial troubles. When he no longer could rely on youthful good looks and a large bank account, Trump turned to BEHAVING ugly to draw people to him. Ugly IS his attractiveness. 

“The Ugly American” – a phrase made famous by the 1958 political novel about U.S. policy in Southeast Asia by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer – can no longer refer just to the prototypical loud, ignorant American. Today the title has taken on a real human face, and that is the face of Donald Trump. Like in 2016, Trump must make a campaign of darkness and disarray. He tries to take away the electorate's desires for a hopeful future. He strips the voters of the excitement of a new beginning, and demoralizes, demeans, and dejects. Donald Trump embodies ugly. This time, ugly is his only way forward. Ugly is how he surprisingly achieved accidental success in 2016. Ugly is how he will succeed again.

Because he is ugly in behavior, he tries to make his opponents ugly or whoever displeases him. He has no problem trying to ugly up women. When facing presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Trump said, "If Hillary Clinton can't satisfy her husband, what makes her think she can satisfy America?" [April 16, 2015]. Facing another female candidate, Carly Fiorina, he stated, "Look at that face. Would anybody vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president? I mean, she's a woman, and I'm not supposed to say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?" [Sept. 9, 2015]. On Arianna Huffington he stated, "Unattractive both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man — he made a good decision." [Aug. 28, 2012]. On Stormy Daniels, he also commented, "Horseface" [Oct. 16, 2018] "I never liked horseface. That wouldn't be the one. There is no one. We have a great First Lady."  [March 25, 2023]. You get the picture?

You can be beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside and eventually your actions will show people how ugly you really are. Kamala Harris does not have to give energy responding to comments regarding how her physical features. Beauty fades, but the heart remains the same. Kahlil Gibran said, "Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart."  

If Donald Trump wants to focus on things that fade and don't matter and Kamala focuses of bringing joy and hope for a better and brighter future, I'll take what she is offering. Beauty has always been in the eye of the beholder. Thank goodness looks are not on the ballot. But if it was, scientific evidence shows Trump would lose by a landslide. 

I will end with a famous quote I learned as a child; "Beauty is as beauty does," which means that beauty is worthless unless it comes with a kind, generous soul. Whether someone is actually “beautiful” should be judged by their actions, not their appearance.