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SUCCESS...

"To be successful is

to be helpful, caring,

and constructive-

To make everything

you touch a little bit better.

The best thing you

have to give is

yourself."

Norman Vincent Peale

"FAILURE to stand

for what is morally

right is the prelude

to being the victim of

what is criminally

wrong"

"Zig" Ziglar

IT’S AN ELECTION YEAR SO FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS AND PREPARE FOR LOTS OF NONSENSE

Guest Commentary

Courtesy Bill Ellis

Syndicated Columnist

Every two years we have an election and hear some of the most ridiculous things you can

imagine. Speech void of good sense

and sound judgment I have already

heard.

1. "It is time to take our country

back". Where has it been? Where

did it go? Who took it? When I woke

up this morning I was still living in the

United States, there was a

newspaper to read, the phone was

still ringing and the mail delivered. Since it was

Monday morning, I remembered that our churches were open on Sunday and I was there.

We continue to have our country, but a lot of

politicians are not aware of it. Where have they been? I woke up in our country this morning and plan to sleep in it again tonight.

2. "We need an exit strategy for bringing our troops home." Hasn’t that been in place since the war began? The plan has always been to leave when the war is won. Jesus taught us never to start a war we do not expect to win. He said, "Or what king would ever dream of going to war without . . . discussing whether his army of 10,000 is strong enough to defeat the 20,000 . . . " (Luke 14:31-33).

3. "I think we should set a date to get out and then do it." That would bring great comfort to the enemy. They would just hunker down and wait. We leave and they get what they want. Surrender does not bring victory.

I have never heard of a war I liked. Blood kin to that which flows in my veins and gives life to my body has been mixed with the mud and dirt of the world’s battlefields. I have heard the sobs, seen the tears and remember the long walk to the cemetery.

Thomas Mann, suggested that war was "Only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace." William Corum called war "A passion play performed by idiots."

Benjamin Franklin, wise old statesman, inventor and author of early America was on to something when he said, "There never was a good war, or a bad peace."

If we must have elections, wouldn’t it be a nice change to have them with intelligent talking candidates? Men and women can have different opinions about a lot of things without resorting to stupidity.

I cringe every time I hear of another death in Iraq. More deaths, however, needlessly take place in the United States. When will our politicians ever get serious enough to do something about the things which cause many times more deaths than war? Murder, drugs, alcoholism, tobacco, pornography, gambling, abortion, child abuse, immorality, sexual addiction and alcohol-related deaths take a much higher toll. One message needs to be sent to our politicians before we vote, just a two-word message, that says, "Get real!"

Shortly after noon not long ago I turned on the radio and heard a man say an astounding thing. The best I can recall, he said something like: "The American soldier in combat gear in Iraq is much safer than a little baby in its mother’s womb in a Planned Parenthood Office." It was hard to believe, but I have thought about it a lot. I think he called himself Rush. He made so much sense I hope I can hear him again.

Just because there is a war going on and also an election coming does not mean that we all have to be spouting nonsense. An ancient prophet said, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:33). That sounds like a good peace and good thinking to me.