Men
Once the ballots have been counted; the confetti put away, and the tables cleared, the time comes for the winners and losers to take stock of the results, and make their adjustments accordingly. There are ‘rare’ cases when elections--local or otherwise--end in a draw, or a recount. Usually, the electorate speaks very clearly.
If it’s your season to get in, you get in. If you don’t, you don’t.
Election successes and failures have many different reasons and causes. It all boils down to who gets their base out to the polls to vote for their candidates. IF the candidates have done their job, and have ‘made the rounds’ with the people, they stand a good chance to get in. I must also hasten to add, that is, IF the candidates are GOOD candidates in the first place and properly INSPIRE their base to turn out to the polls.
No one, I repeat, NO ONE can rescue a bad candidate. That’s why I say that a man must take full stock of himself before he makes the attempt to run for elective office, or attempt to stand for re-election.
No amount of ‘election magic’ can ‘turn’ a bad candidate into a good one.
There are--believe it or not--those who are in political positions of authority who ‘still get paid’ whether their party is ‘in’ power, or ‘out’ of power. These are the ‘go along to get along’ people who--unfortunately--are dominating many local and state branches of political parties.
It is NOT by accident that most political recruiting, discussions, candidate selections and deal making are accomplished at locations that serve alcohol. Even regular functions by each political party are taking place at places such as bars or clubs. Since many REAL Christian men do not drink--even socially--this sends up a red flag in many political organizations, causing an invisible ‘bar’ to the political process.
Think about it. IF one has to get ‘juiced’ in order to make sound decisions about a candidate, can that political person be trusted to make ‘sober’ decisions about any other political matter? Also, with more women involved in the political process--with alcohol being served--there is an INCREASED risk of men and women having their passions inflamed. Worse yet, IF you are an observer of people, you can tell via their eyegate (pupils) when the drink has taken them. Soon, their common-sense defenses are moving them into the danger zone as a possible ‘set up’ for YOUR destruction.
What makes it worse? Many of these people are MARRIED. Nuff said.
SHOULD YOU LOSE & YOUR ‘GIVE A DAMN’ SWITCH:
After any election campaign, or other major undertaking in our lives, there comes the need for rest--serious rest. You MUST take the time to recover and ‘repay’ the debts to your body that you advanced during your campaign season.
In military terms, you need to ‘take ten’. A great book that I would recommend to anyone who has lost an election is John C. Maxwell’s “Failing Forward”. It is the BEST book that I’ve seen that covers the area of losing and loss in an entirely realistic manner.
I have other tips. Minimize your news watching time. Cut down on your political time on line doing research. There comes a time to ‘do nothing’ or ‘go fishing’. You’ve invested a LOT of energy into your campaign--some energy of which you may not be aware. Further, your spouse and family also invested heavily into your campaign run. After all is said and done, IF you lose the time is right to just take things slow and relax. Brothers, let me also hasten to add, the older that you are the longer it takes to ‘bounce back’ from a setback--especially a major one.
For a season, you’ll have to wait for the Lord to fix your ‘Give A Damn’ switch.
Let me be perfectly honest. There WILL be a season--even among Christians--where you are going to NOT care about anything because of your loss. During such times, the Devil will attempt to ‘ride wild’ with your emotions on a roller coaster of deception and destruction.
Don’t let the Devil ride! Rest up. Heal up. Focus up. Little by little, one step at a time, things will get better. You’ll be able to appreciate the sunshine in time. Even Jesus ‘took ten’ from time to time while on earth. So did the Apostles. Follow their example and do likewise.
BITTERNESS--DON’T!
A few years back, Evangelist Bob Gass hit upon and taught on an acronym that I still remember and use to this day. To spell it out, it forms the word H.A.L.T. Gass (yes, this is his real name) put some real meat on the bones of this teaching by letting folks know what each of the letters meant, and why Christians especially should be aware:
H = Hungry or Hurt
A=Anxious or Angry
L=Lonely
T=Tired
Thus, knowing himself, Gass noted that when any of these items are happening in himself, he knows that he is in DANGER of NOT making his best decisions--even for Christ. Thus, IF you take care of what has a grip on you at the time, and H.A.L.T. making important decisions, you stand a better chance of getting your spiritual bearings and may more clearly see the realities of your situation.
Above all IF you lose, avoid bitterness at all costs. The Scriptures have a LOT to say on this subject. Satan would LOVE to get you to throw a fit, pout and quit because you suffered an election loss. Might I remind ALL of us that you can be led of the Lord, obey the Lord, do your BEST for the Lord--and come out on the short end here in the natural realm.
Pastor E. V. Hill noted years ago that many Christians want to ‘fall out’ with God when things don’t go our way. “Why would you want to do that?” He asked. “He’s our God, isn’t He?” In short, throw a fit, pout and quit should not be in the long-term vocabulary of a child of God. Look at Job (yeah, like you really WANT to here this…but you need to)! Look at Esther’s uncle in the Book of Esther. His people, the Jews, were being threatened with extinction from a crazed political opportunist. He held his ground and REFUSED to bow to evil! He turned God lose on the problem, and reminded Esther--the Queen of the land--of her stake in the future of her people. The end result was that those who honored God’s law and God’s ways got God’s victory.
It’s easy to be bitter…but more difficult--and necessary--to move on from what you may call ‘a setback’ and move on for God’s comeback in a completely different arena! Trouble don’t last always!
RIGHTEOUSNESS--DO!
Doing righteousness includes doing the ‘basics’ of the faith. After all, you went INTO the process as a Christian. DO NOT allow an election loss to ‘let the devil ride’ and rob you of your Christian joy and your duty to God. Here are a few items that Christians need to continually practice in the faith:
*Daily Devotions: Continue in them, even if you have to do it slowly. KJV Bible reading and study. Prayer. Keeping up with the veterans of the Christian faith through reading. Lifting up the Lord in song and praise. Confessing SIN in our lives. Maintenance of our marriages, families and friendships. Remember, THESE are the basics of the faith on a DAILY basis. A setback should NOT turn you into a Ogre or some other monster. IF it does repent, get back to Christ, your first love, and do those things that are marked as being a needed part of the faith.
*Tithes and Offerings: DO NOT get cheap! A Christian is bound, not by law but by grace to maintain giving to support the house of God--meaning the church. As John Hagee once noted years ago: “If you can’t tithe to God off of $10, how can you expect Him to bless you with more?” Offerings are those things ABOVE the ten percent starting place of tithing. Never mistake the two. Tithes come from the gross of your paycheck, not your net after taxes and deductions. Tithing is still a part of the KJV Bible, no matter how many preachers try to cut it out.
IF one is a REAL Christian, they pay their tithes and gives offerings.
*Church attendance: Get back to it! What are the marks of a REAL Church of God? First, it preaches the entire counsel of God as found in the KJV Bible. Second, it has a MAN of God in the pulpit who meets the conditions as a Pastor, according to the Scriptures (I and II Timothy, Titus). Third, he has a heart for the people of God. Fourth, he exercises his gift as a preacher in looking out FOR the people of God. In short, if you are hurting after attending your church on a regular basis, sit out for a season, get into the Word and prayer, and ask the Lord to find you a better one OR to change you to become a better Christian going to His church. Prayer changes thing--it also changes US!
*Fellowship with the Saints: Not just the ones from church, but true Christian friends. IF you don’t have any, ask the Lord to make you MORE friendly. Remember, if you don’t show yourself as a friend, you can’t receive friendship NOR be a true friend.
ENDORSEMENTS--THE VOTER IS THE BEST ONE!
Let’s get back to the action!
Over the course of the last few decades, everyone seems to have a survey for a candidate to fill out in order for them to possibly receive an ‘endorsement’ from a group, organization, or union. Fill out the survey in the right manner, IF that organization is interested in your political contest, there IS a good chance that you will receive their endorsement--and political funding--for your campaign.
Even Christian organizations--for one reason or another--have been corrupted by the world into this mode of thinking…causing some of them to ‘overlook’ true Christian candidates whom God has sent into political battle, while continuing fundraising efforts (mainly for their cause) because they are too lazy to seek, recruit, and train solid Christian men to serve as candidates for elective office
(I must hasten to add that this attitude by Christian organizations has done more to give sway to the world’s political landscape and has left many Christian men hurt, and many churches impotent.)
IF Christian organizations ‘mouth’ the ‘need’ for Christians in public office, then make it nigh impossible for them to gather support (financial and otherwise) from Christian organizations because of impossible standards, then who is fooling whom? It is the cause of Christ and the church which suffers loss while the world marches on towards destruction. Plus, the Christian who may have ‘made the difference’ and turned a city, state, or nation towards the gospel road and godly obedience, never gets his ‘cut’ at political office. I have yet to see on a political survey from a Christian organization a question--up front--asking for the testimony of a Christian seeking public office.
Endorsements supposedly lead to political support, possible campaign cash, and pats on the back from people who ‘supposedly’ support your political views.
This is what they are supposed to do. However, many organizations may be wolves in endorsement clothing--even Christian organizations. Why? Well, IF you happen to be running in a race that doesn’t interest the organization’s powers-that-be, you can fill out their survey, but may not get any attention for your race.
I must also say this again--even from Christian organizations.
It USED to be that the best candidate was chosen from survey information by the organization that sent the survey. The best survey would yield the best candidate, and the best candidate would be given endorsement AND possibly funds from the Political Action Committee associated with the endorsing group.
The endorsement landscape has changed for the worse.
Unfortunately, there is little done by churches to teach the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. Many churches do NOT teach their congregations about their constitutional rights, the need to vote, the realities of American citizenship, and other uplifting things about this country of ours. Remember, America is the LAST Christian nation on earth, in our present era. Future political leaders worth their salt will come from the pews and pulpits of churches.
CHEATERS NEVER WIN:
I realize that a lot has been said about election rigging and cheating over the last few years. Unfortunately, there have been instances where people have been ‘caught’ stuffing the ballot box, or, buying votes. Trust me…the evil will be punished.
During my Reporter days, I served at one local newspaper as the Entertainment Editor. I had the opportunity to interview one of my favorite groups from the Old School era, “The O’Jays”. I would advise any candidate for political office to listen to the lyrics of their hit songs “Backstabbers”, and; “For The Love Of Money.” They explain a lot of our current era, and they were written and performed in the seventies. BOTH of these songs are as current as the Internet, and just as powerful.
DO IT AGAIN?
IF the Lord ‘clears the decks’ and leads you into another run for public office, please keep in mind that you would NOT be the first person to not ‘get it’ on the first try. It may take several tries to get to the top of the political hill of victory. Learn from your previous efforts, maintain your salvation, show forth with pride the Christ who undergirds you and empowers you, and march out for another shot.
It’s NOT over, until the Lord SAYS it’s over…and not before! You may need several ‘shots’ at the objective to achieve success.
I’ll say this again…not everyone gets that political office on the first try.
Let me wrap this up with one of my favorite poems:
DON’T QUIT!
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must…but don’t quit!
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out,
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near, when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
(One of several versions of this beloved poem)
Mike Ramey is a Minister, Modern Street Gangs Specialist, Political Consultant and Syndicated Columnist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. “Ramey‘s Guide To Elective Office For Men” is one of a variety of columns that Ramey has in cyberspace. His address is still the same: [email protected]. ©2019, 2020 Barnstorm Communications. (8)
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 257 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Mike Ramey or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 257 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.