To be honest, as I've gotten closer to God, I've quit worrying so much about what's going on in Washington and have started worrying more about reaching as many people for Jesus as I can. There's not a politician or a political party that can cure the problems in our country. Jesus is the answer, and my hope is in Him.
That's not to say that some of the things coming out of Washington today don't make me tilt my head like a German Shepherd and go, "huh?" But I've come to the conclusion that my time is better spent making the name of Jesus known rather than railing against the latest idiotic thing that comes out of D.C. Life's too short and eternity's too long for me to get so caught up in politics.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Follow Up Letter To President Obama
Dear President Obama,
I just finished re-reading my previous open letter that I addressed to you in late January. It had been a while since I had looked at it, and I had forgotten writing the following words:
I also wanted to pass along how pleased I’ve been that you seem to want to put aside the petty partisan politics of the past and try to govern from the center.
After reading that sentence with the benefit of hindsight, I'd like to respectfully retract that sentiment.
Sincerely,
Shane Lambert
p.s. Have a nice day!
I just finished re-reading my previous open letter that I addressed to you in late January. It had been a while since I had looked at it, and I had forgotten writing the following words:
I also wanted to pass along how pleased I’ve been that you seem to want to put aside the petty partisan politics of the past and try to govern from the center.
After reading that sentence with the benefit of hindsight, I'd like to respectfully retract that sentiment.
Sincerely,
Shane Lambert
p.s. Have a nice day!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Open Letter To President Obama
Dear President Obama,
Let me begin by saying, “Congratulations!” Although I did not vote for you, it was nonetheless encouraging to see how your election has broken down the invisible barriers that have divided this country for so long. I want to let you know that I’ve been praying for you and asking God to bless your administration. I also wanted to pass along how pleased I’ve been that you seem to want to put aside the petty partisan politics of the past and try to govern from the center.
In the interest of full disclosure, I wanted you to know that I’m a Southern Baptist pastor, and therefore I hold some pretty strong convictions on certain moral issues that often spill over into the political realm. It probably won’t surprise you to know that we have conflicting views on the issue of abortion. With that being said, however, I’ve been encouraged to see how you’ve shown an interest in reducing the number of abortions. That is at least one area where we can both agree when it comes to this polarizing issue. And I guess that is the reason why I’m so disappointed today.
I find it difficult to believe, after all you’ve said about the importance of reducing the number of abortions, that one of your first acts as President was to repeal a ban on federal funding for international groups that promote or perform abortions. You stated that:
We must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere.
President Obama, that is what I want for human beings everywhere, including those that are still in the womb.
I have no problem when you argue for equal opportunity for women in this country. But when we talk about abortion, we’re talking about no opportunity for those whose life is snuffed out before birth. No opportunity to get an education, have a career, and live out their dreams. No opportunity to possibly be the one who discovers a cure for AIDS, cancer, or some other currently incurable disease. No opportunity to grow and achieve their God-given potential.
Mr. President, it would seem to me that if you truly want to reduce the number of abortions, then the last thing you’d want to do is lift this ban, thereby making it easier to obtain an abortion. Do you really believe what you say, or are you just saying it to try and appease your opposition? I know many young evangelicals who supported your candidacy because they saw something different in you. They saw someone who they thought could bring folks together and find common ground where none has previously been found.
Today, I have a feeling that many of my evangelical friends who supported you feel like they’ve been duped. President Obama, is this really change we can believe in?
Sincerely,
Shane Lambert
P.S. One more question: Why should we seek to reduce the number of abortions? If you really believe that it's OK to keep abortion legal, then why bother trying to limit it? I believe if you could honestly answer this question, sir, you'd have to rethink your stance on abortion.
Let me begin by saying, “Congratulations!” Although I did not vote for you, it was nonetheless encouraging to see how your election has broken down the invisible barriers that have divided this country for so long. I want to let you know that I’ve been praying for you and asking God to bless your administration. I also wanted to pass along how pleased I’ve been that you seem to want to put aside the petty partisan politics of the past and try to govern from the center.
In the interest of full disclosure, I wanted you to know that I’m a Southern Baptist pastor, and therefore I hold some pretty strong convictions on certain moral issues that often spill over into the political realm. It probably won’t surprise you to know that we have conflicting views on the issue of abortion. With that being said, however, I’ve been encouraged to see how you’ve shown an interest in reducing the number of abortions. That is at least one area where we can both agree when it comes to this polarizing issue. And I guess that is the reason why I’m so disappointed today.
I find it difficult to believe, after all you’ve said about the importance of reducing the number of abortions, that one of your first acts as President was to repeal a ban on federal funding for international groups that promote or perform abortions. You stated that:
We must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere.
President Obama, that is what I want for human beings everywhere, including those that are still in the womb.
I have no problem when you argue for equal opportunity for women in this country. But when we talk about abortion, we’re talking about no opportunity for those whose life is snuffed out before birth. No opportunity to get an education, have a career, and live out their dreams. No opportunity to possibly be the one who discovers a cure for AIDS, cancer, or some other currently incurable disease. No opportunity to grow and achieve their God-given potential.
Mr. President, it would seem to me that if you truly want to reduce the number of abortions, then the last thing you’d want to do is lift this ban, thereby making it easier to obtain an abortion. Do you really believe what you say, or are you just saying it to try and appease your opposition? I know many young evangelicals who supported your candidacy because they saw something different in you. They saw someone who they thought could bring folks together and find common ground where none has previously been found.
Today, I have a feeling that many of my evangelical friends who supported you feel like they’ve been duped. President Obama, is this really change we can believe in?
Sincerely,
Shane Lambert
P.S. One more question: Why should we seek to reduce the number of abortions? If you really believe that it's OK to keep abortion legal, then why bother trying to limit it? I believe if you could honestly answer this question, sir, you'd have to rethink your stance on abortion.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Obama, McCain, Or "None Of The Above"
I know it's been a long time since my last post in which I was considering writing in "None of the above" on my ballot. Some may be wondering, now that the election is nearing, if I still feel the same way. My response: not a chance.
I'm still not crazy about the choices we have, but the issues facing our country are too important and the choices we are presented with are too crystal clear for me to waste my vote this year.
I ran across this blog post today, and it's the best argument I've seen yet for voting for the lesser of two bad choices. This article wasn't the deciding factor in my decision (I'd made my mind up many months ago), but it very articulately sums up the way I've been feeling.
The only thing I would add to the aforementioned blog post is that one of the candidates has, in the past, opposed a law that would require doctors to give life-saving treatment to a baby that is "accidentally" born as the result of a botched abortion. His reasoning: to call in another doctor to administer life-saving treatment to the baby would go against the original intention of the mother and doctor who attempted the abortion (which was to kill the baby). To put it another way: he supports infanticide. For me, that tells me everything I need to know about this candidate as a potential president.
I'm still not crazy about the choices we have, but the issues facing our country are too important and the choices we are presented with are too crystal clear for me to waste my vote this year.
I ran across this blog post today, and it's the best argument I've seen yet for voting for the lesser of two bad choices. This article wasn't the deciding factor in my decision (I'd made my mind up many months ago), but it very articulately sums up the way I've been feeling.
The only thing I would add to the aforementioned blog post is that one of the candidates has, in the past, opposed a law that would require doctors to give life-saving treatment to a baby that is "accidentally" born as the result of a botched abortion. His reasoning: to call in another doctor to administer life-saving treatment to the baby would go against the original intention of the mother and doctor who attempted the abortion (which was to kill the baby). To put it another way: he supports infanticide. For me, that tells me everything I need to know about this candidate as a potential president.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
None Of The Above
In the movie Brewster’s Millions, Montgomery Brewster (played by Richard Pryor) inherits 30 million dollars that he must spend in thirty days without acquiring any assets. If he is successful, he will receive his real inheritance of 300 million. But according to the terms of the will, if he fails at this task, “You don’t get diddly!”
Brewster, who is a struggling minor league baseball player, comes up with an ingenious plan to accomplish his goal. He will run a campaign for mayor of New York City, spending all of his resources to try and sway the election. And whom does he recommend that people vote for? “None of the above.”
Spending millions on flashy advertisements and infomercials, Brewster is successful in getting more votes for “none of the above” than the other two crooked candidates receive. The result: A new election is scheduled, and both candidates say they will not run again. It may seem like a far-fetched idea, but it made for some interesting entertainment.
Now, here we are some twenty years after that movie came out, and I’m beginning to think that “none of the above” sounds like a pretty good idea in this year’s presidential election. I mean let’s face it, it looks like our choices have been limited to three people: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m tired of voting for the candidate who I think will be the “least bad.”
Of course, I could just stay at home and not go to the polls. I’ve heard some of my fellow conservative Christians say that they will not vote if they are unhappy with the candidates on the ballot. But if I do that, I’m sending the signal that I don’t really care one way or the other about this presidential election. I’ve been given the privilege to vote, and I’m not going to waste that opportunity just because I’m disgruntled over the choices.
Then there’s always the option I mentioned earlier, to hold my nose and vote for the candidate who I believe is the “least smelly.” And to be honest, I’ve had to do that a lot in my lifetime. But I’ve always been able to find somebody who, although I wasn’t completely satisfied with them, I could half-heartedly support in the end. And I’m not saying that won’t happen again this year when November rolls around, but right now I don’t feel that way at all.
And then there is option number three, the Ann Coulter option. Ann suggests that conservative voters should vote for the Democrat because after four years, they’ll get the blame for the disastrous results. If McCain wins the election, it will still be a disaster, but the Republicans will take the blame and we’ll have thirty years of Democratic control in D.C.
Now Ann’s a lot smarter than me, and definitely knows a lot more big words than I do, but I can’t jump on her bandwagon either. I could not, with a clear conscience, cast my vote for either Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Hussein Obama. That’s one decision I don’t even have to think long and hard about.
So what can a guy like me do? Do I have a fourth option? Is there a way to let my voice be heard without compromising my principles, doing nothing, or holding my nose as I vote?
I believe there may be. Why can’t we disillusioned voters do something that will make a statement concerning how we feel about the current crop of presidential possibilities? I propose that we write-in our votes, but not for a person. I’m thinking more and more about writing in “none of the above” on my ballot.
Now I realize that “none of the above” has about as much chance of winning the election as Britney Spears has of winning the “Mother of the Year” award, but I still think it’s a good idea. If enough people would come together and write-in “none of the above,” the networks would have to give it some airtime. And I think that would send a much louder and clearer message to the politicians than simply staying home and not voting at all.
So, what do you think? Is there anybody out there who will join with me and write-in “none of the above?”
Brewster, who is a struggling minor league baseball player, comes up with an ingenious plan to accomplish his goal. He will run a campaign for mayor of New York City, spending all of his resources to try and sway the election. And whom does he recommend that people vote for? “None of the above.”
Spending millions on flashy advertisements and infomercials, Brewster is successful in getting more votes for “none of the above” than the other two crooked candidates receive. The result: A new election is scheduled, and both candidates say they will not run again. It may seem like a far-fetched idea, but it made for some interesting entertainment.
Now, here we are some twenty years after that movie came out, and I’m beginning to think that “none of the above” sounds like a pretty good idea in this year’s presidential election. I mean let’s face it, it looks like our choices have been limited to three people: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m tired of voting for the candidate who I think will be the “least bad.”
Of course, I could just stay at home and not go to the polls. I’ve heard some of my fellow conservative Christians say that they will not vote if they are unhappy with the candidates on the ballot. But if I do that, I’m sending the signal that I don’t really care one way or the other about this presidential election. I’ve been given the privilege to vote, and I’m not going to waste that opportunity just because I’m disgruntled over the choices.
Then there’s always the option I mentioned earlier, to hold my nose and vote for the candidate who I believe is the “least smelly.” And to be honest, I’ve had to do that a lot in my lifetime. But I’ve always been able to find somebody who, although I wasn’t completely satisfied with them, I could half-heartedly support in the end. And I’m not saying that won’t happen again this year when November rolls around, but right now I don’t feel that way at all.
And then there is option number three, the Ann Coulter option. Ann suggests that conservative voters should vote for the Democrat because after four years, they’ll get the blame for the disastrous results. If McCain wins the election, it will still be a disaster, but the Republicans will take the blame and we’ll have thirty years of Democratic control in D.C.
Now Ann’s a lot smarter than me, and definitely knows a lot more big words than I do, but I can’t jump on her bandwagon either. I could not, with a clear conscience, cast my vote for either Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Hussein Obama. That’s one decision I don’t even have to think long and hard about.
So what can a guy like me do? Do I have a fourth option? Is there a way to let my voice be heard without compromising my principles, doing nothing, or holding my nose as I vote?
I believe there may be. Why can’t we disillusioned voters do something that will make a statement concerning how we feel about the current crop of presidential possibilities? I propose that we write-in our votes, but not for a person. I’m thinking more and more about writing in “none of the above” on my ballot.
Now I realize that “none of the above” has about as much chance of winning the election as Britney Spears has of winning the “Mother of the Year” award, but I still think it’s a good idea. If enough people would come together and write-in “none of the above,” the networks would have to give it some airtime. And I think that would send a much louder and clearer message to the politicians than simply staying home and not voting at all.
So, what do you think? Is there anybody out there who will join with me and write-in “none of the above?”
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Why Can't We Have Both?
I’m a Southern Baptist pastor, so naturally I’m going to support Mike Huckabee for president. Or at least that’s what some people might think. After all, Huckabee and I have so much in common. He’s a former Baptist minister; I’m a current one. He worked in the radio industry before serving in full-time vocational ministry; so did I. He and I both hail from a state that begins with the first letter of the alphabet. Why would I not support him?
Well, let me start out by saying that I think Mike Huckabee is a wonderful Christian man and a quality human being. I’ve been reading his book Character Makes A Difference, and I can honestly imagine him being one of my close friends if we ever had the chance to know one another. In fact, I could see him coming over to my place to watch football and eat chicken wings. I think if I knew him personally, I would genuinely like the man and enjoy spending time with him. But does that mean I think he’d make a great president? Not especially.
I know Huckabee’s doing well with evangelical voters right now, and that’s primarily because he’s a Christian who is strongly opposed to abortion. And I applaud him for that. In fact, if the election in November were between Huckabee and any of the pro-choice Democrats (take your pick), I’d choose the pro-life Huckabee in a second. Huckabee’s social conservatism would be a much better alternative than the liberalism espoused by Clinton, Obama and Edwards. That choice for me would be a no-brainer.
But what about some of the other issues, apart from abortion, that Huckabee is not so conservative on. I hate to go all Dr. Phil on everybody, but the best indicator of future behavior is taking a look at past behavior. And if Governor Huckabee’s record in Arkansas is any indicator, I’m afraid he leaves a lot to be desired for a conservative voter like me. So just for a moment, let’s look at some of the things that the former governor supported that are serious warning signs on my radar screen:
1. He has opposed school choice initiatives (vouchers), earning him the endorsement of the National Education Association in his state. That is a major red flag for me.
2. He supported giving scholarships to illegal immigrants in Arkansas. And when asked what his plan for securing the border is, his answer: Chuck Norris. That’s funny, but it tells me nothing. I think we need a president who will get tough on illegal immigration. Taxpayer funded social programs need to go to our legal citizens, not to those who are here illegally.
3. He has shown contempt for our foreign policy concerning the war on terror. Despite some missteps, I believe this war against Islamic extremists is one that is morally justified. And it is a war we must win. I don’t think Mike Huckabee is the best choice to be commander-in-chief given the post 9-11 world we are living in.
4. He raised taxes while he was governor of Arkansas. Perhaps if he wouldn’t have given those scholarships to illegal immigrants, he could have balanced the budget without a tax hike.
That’s just four of the issues that concern me with Mike Huckabee. Yes, he’s a social conservative who believes like I do that life is sacred and should be protected from the womb to the tomb. But he’s not a conservative in the mold of Ronald Reagan, and Christians who think he is should take a good, hard look.
It seems to me that the Republican Party has become split between the social conservatives (i.e. the Christian right) and those who are fiscal conservatives (i.e. Rudy Giuliani). And my question is: why? Why does it have to be that way? Why can’t we have both?
Why can’t we have a candidate who is both socially and fiscally conservative? Why can the GOP not unite around a nominee who would bring both sides of the debate together and forge a coalition that could defeat Obama or Hillary in November? You can call me a dreamer, but I don’t think it’s too late for that to happen.
When it comes to elections, I vote on issues. Not party lines, not personalities, but issues. What the candidate stands for. And although I’ve never personally endorsed anybody for president, I do see one man who seems to be the best choice when it comes to the issues that are important to me. He is both a fiscal and a social conservative. He’s a straight talker, and he doesn’t check the polls before he makes a decision. He does what he believes is right, regardless of what popular opinion might be. His name is Fred Thompson. I believe he is the clear choice for those who want a solid conservative, both socially and fiscally, in the White House.
For all my evangelical brothers and sisters out there, let me urge you to think before you vote. Don’t vote for somebody just because they will be a “strong Christian leader.” Vote for the person who will do the best job as the leader of the free world.
And for my Southern Baptist brethren, let me remind you that we’ve had two of our own elected president in modern times: Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Maybe that should tell us something.
Well, let me start out by saying that I think Mike Huckabee is a wonderful Christian man and a quality human being. I’ve been reading his book Character Makes A Difference, and I can honestly imagine him being one of my close friends if we ever had the chance to know one another. In fact, I could see him coming over to my place to watch football and eat chicken wings. I think if I knew him personally, I would genuinely like the man and enjoy spending time with him. But does that mean I think he’d make a great president? Not especially.
I know Huckabee’s doing well with evangelical voters right now, and that’s primarily because he’s a Christian who is strongly opposed to abortion. And I applaud him for that. In fact, if the election in November were between Huckabee and any of the pro-choice Democrats (take your pick), I’d choose the pro-life Huckabee in a second. Huckabee’s social conservatism would be a much better alternative than the liberalism espoused by Clinton, Obama and Edwards. That choice for me would be a no-brainer.
But what about some of the other issues, apart from abortion, that Huckabee is not so conservative on. I hate to go all Dr. Phil on everybody, but the best indicator of future behavior is taking a look at past behavior. And if Governor Huckabee’s record in Arkansas is any indicator, I’m afraid he leaves a lot to be desired for a conservative voter like me. So just for a moment, let’s look at some of the things that the former governor supported that are serious warning signs on my radar screen:
1. He has opposed school choice initiatives (vouchers), earning him the endorsement of the National Education Association in his state. That is a major red flag for me.
2. He supported giving scholarships to illegal immigrants in Arkansas. And when asked what his plan for securing the border is, his answer: Chuck Norris. That’s funny, but it tells me nothing. I think we need a president who will get tough on illegal immigration. Taxpayer funded social programs need to go to our legal citizens, not to those who are here illegally.
3. He has shown contempt for our foreign policy concerning the war on terror. Despite some missteps, I believe this war against Islamic extremists is one that is morally justified. And it is a war we must win. I don’t think Mike Huckabee is the best choice to be commander-in-chief given the post 9-11 world we are living in.
4. He raised taxes while he was governor of Arkansas. Perhaps if he wouldn’t have given those scholarships to illegal immigrants, he could have balanced the budget without a tax hike.
That’s just four of the issues that concern me with Mike Huckabee. Yes, he’s a social conservative who believes like I do that life is sacred and should be protected from the womb to the tomb. But he’s not a conservative in the mold of Ronald Reagan, and Christians who think he is should take a good, hard look.
It seems to me that the Republican Party has become split between the social conservatives (i.e. the Christian right) and those who are fiscal conservatives (i.e. Rudy Giuliani). And my question is: why? Why does it have to be that way? Why can’t we have both?
Why can’t we have a candidate who is both socially and fiscally conservative? Why can the GOP not unite around a nominee who would bring both sides of the debate together and forge a coalition that could defeat Obama or Hillary in November? You can call me a dreamer, but I don’t think it’s too late for that to happen.
When it comes to elections, I vote on issues. Not party lines, not personalities, but issues. What the candidate stands for. And although I’ve never personally endorsed anybody for president, I do see one man who seems to be the best choice when it comes to the issues that are important to me. He is both a fiscal and a social conservative. He’s a straight talker, and he doesn’t check the polls before he makes a decision. He does what he believes is right, regardless of what popular opinion might be. His name is Fred Thompson. I believe he is the clear choice for those who want a solid conservative, both socially and fiscally, in the White House.
For all my evangelical brothers and sisters out there, let me urge you to think before you vote. Don’t vote for somebody just because they will be a “strong Christian leader.” Vote for the person who will do the best job as the leader of the free world.
And for my Southern Baptist brethren, let me remind you that we’ve had two of our own elected president in modern times: Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Maybe that should tell us something.
Hiatus Is Over
After taking a break from the blogging world, The Lambert Commentary will make a return with a new post later today. It's been a while since I've sounded off, and I've got a lot on my mind. First on the agenda: a post about the current state of the Republican presidential race entitled, "Why Can't We Have Both?"
Both what? Candidates? Parties? Ideas?
I'll let you know in just a little while.
Both what? Candidates? Parties? Ideas?
I'll let you know in just a little while.
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