I haven’t written a blog lately for several reasons. First, I’ve been a bit under the weather so I’ve been a slacker! Two, it seems that while I have something I’d like to write about I don’t have enough to say for a full blog post. And three, sometimes it’s better just to keep your mouth shut than share your feelings about things when you’re just throwing rocks.

But, when you have a blog you have to keep it fresh, so I’m just going to hit a few topics today in short bursts that have been on my mind.

Transgender Bathrooms

Wow, are we really talking about this as a nation? If this issue is about where one feels comfortable weeing, build unisex bathrooms everywhere and then you can wee in private with all the comfort in the world. If this issue instead is about LGBT politics, then you have what you have today – political fights about allowing men into women’s bathrooms and women in men’s bathrooms because these people “identify” with that gender.

Personally, I fall into the camp that believes that transgender issues are a mental health disorder as described in the DSM-V and agree with Dr. Paul R. McHugh, the former psychiatrist-in-chief for Johns Hopkins Hospital and its current Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry, who says in a Wall Street Journal article that there really is no such thing as changing your gender. You are born the way you are born and God didn’t make a mistake. You have a mental health disorder that makes you very uncomfortable in your own body – that’s what’s going on.

That said, as Christians we are not to judge people but to love them. I feel the transgender community needs even more compassion because they truly are suffering especially because they don’t really know it and think their condition is normal. But isn’t that the case for most mental health issues? You’re normal and everyone else is nuts and wrong?

We are to be compassionate Christians, but that does not mean it negates our own personal rights to privacy in such places as restrooms no matter how people feel. We can love the transgender community without agreeing to their politics.

So, fix the bathroom thing by building unisex bathrooms just like many businesses, public buildings, and churches already have (including our church) and lets please move on from this topic.

Who Christians Should Vote For

Trump, Clinton, Sanders. I’m shaking my head even as I type that. None is a true follower of Jesus that I can tell no matter what they say. But scripture tells us that God chooses leaders and throughout the history of kings we know that God has allowed some really bad leaders! What were there, 19 kings of Israel and 20 kings of Judah and only eight of them in Judah were considered good kings and all the rest were evil?

So what do you do as a Christian? Hold your nose and vote for the least offensive one? Not vote at all? It’s a tough call and I’ll be candid and tell you I didn’t vote for anyone for president in our primary election.

However, I believe that not voting actually is voting because you are allowing others to make the choice for you. I think as Christians we should vote even when the candidates do not meet our standards. So I will be casting a vote in November and I’m going to cast that vote based on some very basic Christian principles. Do any of the candidates love God? Do any of the candidates love their neighbor as they love themselves? Do any of the candidates ascribe loyalty to the 10 Commandments? Do any of the candidates want to serve others? Do any of the candidates claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior? Do any of the candidates open themselves up to the guiding of the Holy Spirit. And will any of the candidates surround themselves with Godly men and women?

It seems clear that none of the candidates are true disciples but is there one out there who is at least trying? If so, that one will get my vote. If not, well, perhaps I will just have to hold my nose and vote. Either way I am confident that God will use that leader for His purpose…even if that purpose is to discipline us or move us closer to Him.

Should the US Take in Muslim Refugees?

The answer lies in scripture. Leviticus 19:34 God tells the Israelites this, “When an alien lives in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” The Israelites were to take in the foreigner because of their own experiences as foreigners, but God also gave further instruction.

In Leviticus 24:22, God says, “You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.”

From this we discern that God expects us to accept the alien into our land. However, the alien is expected to assimilate to our laws and ways because they are to be treated as native-born under the law.

So what does that mean for America? Well, I think we are a rich and unique nation because we are a nation of immigrants, so we should welcome anyone who wants to come to the land of freedom and prosperity just as our forefathers did. However, like our forefathers, today’s aliens must do so legally and with the intent of assimilating into our unique American culture, which includes:

  • Following American Law (no Sharia or other cultural laws). If you break American Law you get deported after you do your time – living in someone else’s country is a privilege not a right
  • Learning the language as best you can – not everyone is good at learning languages but at least try
  • Expecting a significant background check before coming into the country – it’s just the world we live in today
  • Working hard. America is a great country because American immigrants worked hard to build a life for themselves and their families. The American experience is based on hard work so don’t come to America expecting to be taken care of by the welfare state.
  • Being proud of your culture but expecting to join ours – you’re coming to America because for some reason you think it will be better than staying where you are. Welcome and join us!

So that’s my ranting for today. I’m sure I’ll find more to talk about as I read Facebook or the newspaper! In the meantime, may God bless and keep you!