Wednesday, July 20, 2016

THE FRUIT IT BEARS

An age old adage speaks of judging a tree by its fruit.  In the New Testament Christ confronts a nonbearing fig tree.  We are all aware of different versions how to judge a man.  What has he shown during his lifetime as a measure of who and what he is.  How can we better our odds of success when we choose our leaders?  It’s not just what they tell us they are going to do.  God knows we have all heard promises, so many they can’t be counted.  The majority of political promises somehow vanish like smoke in a wind storm.
 A choice confronts us all. In just a few short months the rock or a hard place will be our reality.  We are placed in a position of choosing the future for our children and progeny that will be changed for generations.  Individually we cannot and must not take this responsibility without purpose.
The choice we have left as conservatives is dubious at best.  We are in the position of pushing a boulder up the hill that could be one of gold or one of lead.  In either case, it’s going to take a lot of effort fueled by enthusiasm.  In order to create the fuel we need to believe, the boulder better be made of gold.
The RNC gives us a platform, a stage upon which we can judge the fruits sprouting from the tree of Donald J. Trump.  We are seeing and hearing testimony as to who he is.  How can we learn and know what makes up the man that we are putting forward?  What can we use to give us the enthusiasm to put him in the office of the most important leader in our time?  He says he will make America great again, will he?  Our best chance of determining that comes from the fruits of his past.
During the last few months we have been watching a giant iceberg showing us only a small portion of the total.  His history shows us one of economic success and most of us believed that is simply because of his wealth. The last few days have shown us what went on below the surface.  We listened to his wife, Melania, speak to us about her past. That part of the speech has drawn criticism because the wording seems to have been plagiarized from another source.  That part of the criticism is most likely valid, the history is alluded to is equally valid.  I personally believe her when she talks about the values her parents instilled in her. My parents told me the same.  Her speech spoke of the same ideals and life directives given to me almost verbatim.  Here are the fruits of the Trump she spoke of:  a loving family, successful children, and an installation of patriotism as a family value.  Most of all she spoke of a man, capable and focused, hardworking and one who completes what he undertakes.
Most adults who have children know that one of the biggest jobs and one of the most important is that of raising children.  It is our job to give them the best of ourselves and who we are cannot be hidden as a result.  They are our fruit and they bear witness to our deepest identity. There can be no doubt after watching and listening to night #2 of the RNC that two of those from the tree of Trump have had pure gold infused into them.
Those children, young adults now, spoke of a father who provided them with food, clothing and shelter. More importantly, their father instilled them with knowledge, confidence and beliefs that have made them successful in their own lives.  They spoke of a father that taught them the principles, values and understanding of how being an honest, hardworking member of society is important.  They spoke of a father they not only admired, but even more importantly, they loved.  I saw and heard Donald J. Trump Jr. spell out for us what traits in a man his father holds up as ideal.  I saw and felt the power of love of country.  That does not happen by accident.  Those things happen because the serious encouragement of a good man took his commitment to family into his heart.  Our country, our people, our allies, and especially our children deserve and need that type of leader.
The tree seems to produce fruit and it looks very sweet.

Pray for discernment in our choices


God bless our country, and have mercy on our world.

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