Okay, I was asked to enter a "blogging tournament" by the guys at plantingspace.com. And because I'm stupid, and because I like those guys, I said yes. There's no prize or anything, but I guess I still need to try to win. So, the winner is determined by who gets the most votes. If you're feeling bored, go to: www.plantingspace.com and cast your vote for me. Here is my entry in the first round of this contest:
So I'm supposed to answer the question: Does the presidential election matter? Are you kidding me? Of course the results of the presidential election matter! I mean, let's think about it:
- In 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes beat Samuel J. Tilden which matters because if he hadn't, you and I would never have even heard of Rutherford B. Hayes.
- In 1952 Dwight Eisenhower beat Adlai Stevenson. This changed the course of American history because, seriously, can you imagine having had a president named Adlai??!
- In 1972 Richard Nixon beat George McGovern. If he hadn't, "I am not a crook" would not be an American catchphrase!
- In 1976 Jimmy Carter beat Gerald Ford. Do you realize what that did for the self-esteem of peanut farmers?
- In 1996 Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole. This victory eventually gave hope to interns everywhere that they would no longer have to toil in obscurity, but could (with a few calculated moves) become front page news.
- In 2000 George W. Bush beat Al Gore. (Wait, did he beat Al Gore?) Anyway, if Al Gore had become president, we would not have the film "An Inconvenient Truth" sitting on the shelf at Blockbuster, and what DVD would be sitting in its place?!?!
- In 2004 George W. Bush beat John Kerry. If he hadn't the word "strategery" would not have been introduced into the English language.
Okay, let me get serious for a moment. We can see that presidential elections matter by looking back at how presidents have been able to do away with poverty, and eliminate homelessness, and give meaning to those without purpose, and solve the AID's epidemic in Africa, and stop war so that peace prevails in the world, and provide quality education and health care for every American citizen and ... wait ... presidents haven't been able to accomplish any of that?
Oh. I guess the presidential election doesn't matter. And it turns out, once again, that stinking Bill Hybles is right, let's all say it together now, "The church is the hope of the world." (Did Hybles trademark that phrase?) (If not, can I?)
vince antonucci
forefront church - virginia beach
6 comments:
Vince,
I will vote for you not because of your exceptional wit in this post or because of your nifty, catchy book title on the emergence of religio-fashionistas in America. I will vote for you because I'll probably be in one of your sessions at Exponential and am hoping to score some free loot.
Vince,
I'm pretty sure I'm not very smart.
I couldn't figure out the basketball bracket.
Now I can't figure out how to vote for you.
Oh well. At least when you lose, you can take solace in the fact that some idiot in Florida supports you.
they actually haven't put up the posts yet, they were supposed to but are running late. if you would like to vote (for me, or anyone) then you'll have to do it a little later today.
thanks!
Another shameless plug...
I guess it worked as, at last check, you were in the lead. I still voted for you, Vince.
Now, I am going to go rent a copy of An Inconvenient Truth, lace up my skates and skate naked on the thin ice that we've all created.
i actually voted for dave milam...
I sent the following to Pat Ferguson who runs that blog, I could make a comment on it, so.., I'll do it here! :-)
VOTE COMMENT:
I tried to make a comment on the vote for Presidential, but it said I needed a Word Press account? Went to WordPress and I'm confused apparently, could find a way to make an account. So, here is my comment. I voted for Vince, sorry bro; but for two reasons, #1 it was funny and #2 - His last line nailed it!
The Church not a government or a nation is the Hope of the World!
Anyway.., here was my comment/vent!:
I have several questions:
Is there a biblical prescedence for any nation to be a "Christian" nation? I don't see it anywhere? We see God calling Israel to Him, but once the Gentiles were put into the mix, there is not one mention or story of any nation being called to Him. Acts 1:8 sez we are empowered to carry out the Great Commission to the ends of the earth, but that is individual disciple making - who yes, can change a community one at a time; but for the most part to change a nation is not our duty as I see it? Just my humble opinion.
Do you really think we are a "Christian" nation? Is it really our responsibility to ensure that our "nation" become "Christian" or are we to just live out Matt. 28 and ensure we are producing effective and fruit bearing disciples?
See…, I think we are far from being a "christian" nation and there is not one single candidate in this race that in my humble opinion comes close to ensuring we go down that path? I think the pendulum is swinging so far to the left at this point, that the only thing we can do is be effective at creating great disciples in our midst, and let them be the shining light in their communities to changes lives one at a time. To change the current government is and was never the prescendence I see in scriptures.
Don't get me wrong, I am not apathetic by any means; but I think our duty is to a higher authority and we need to determine what the Mission He assigned us is. I do not see anywhere that Jesus said, go and change nations and governments so that life is all hunky dory; in fact, he states we will face trials and tribulation. I also think that is on the horizon for us future pastors - persecution of the church in America is not too far away me thinks my friends.
Anyway.., I'm voting for Gore anyway! :-) (LOL!!! - Jsk!). By the way.., Vince killed this, and his closing line nailed what I am trying to say. The Church is the Hope of the World, not some government or nation.
In His Love,
Richie Merritt
www.lehighvalleyproject.blogspot.com
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