"Among the features peculiar to the political system of the United States, is the perfect equality of rights which it secures to every religious sect." James Madison, August 1820

I am happy to report that I am almost retrained from having missed a week here at the company. That is, as best as it can be done. Yesterday it was 40 degrees when I arrived at the workplace at 4:30 a.m., but I was rooting for it to get lower. You know. How low can it go? I kept the weather website up and I am glad to report that at 5:21 it hit 38 degrees. Now you are talking. Pour yourself another cup of Community and let's celebrate. I'm not saying that every bone in my body is joyful over the cooler air but we still have a slim majority cheering it on. It's Tuesday, October 30, 2012, and I continue to pray for the folks who are in the midst of that huge storm on our east coast. I heard this morning that 16 people have died in storm related incidents and there are 6 million without power. I well remember after Ike how that we felt like the rest of the world had pretty much moved on while we were stuck with a pile of rubble. That can make for a feeling of loneliness and isolation. That's probably what some of those folks are feeling. People all over the land are busy making Halloween plans while they are digging out and trying to figure out what to do next. Thankfully for us, we had family, our kids and other relatives, and we had Church family, brothers and sisters in Christ. They all responded and I'm glad to report we knew we were surrounded by love and concern and willing hearts and hands. I pray that God will do the same for those struggling through this most difficult time. Amen.

It's that time of year, especially in the midst of a heated and tight contest, that the Electoral College becomes a hot topic. This Electoral College is not a school with a location but rather it is the system in our country that actually chooses the next President and Vice President. Each state is allocated electors based on the number of U.S. Representatives and Senators. The District of Columbia is also allocated representation as well. All the states except for two have a winner take all based on who wins the popular vote. This means that when the Republican wins a state, his or her electors that are a part of the Electoral College would represent them when they vote. There are a total of 538 votes in the college and it takes 270 to win. Because of the tightness of this year's race, once again the rules regarding what happens if no candidate achieves the number 270 is being discussed. When no one reaches the 270 votes in the electoral college vote, then it goes to the U. S. House to determine the winner. Since the House is currently under the control of the Republicans, one would think that's how the vote would turn out. This procedure has actually happened twice in our history. (Thomas Jefferson (in 1801) and John Quincy Adams (in 1825)) I've said all of that to say this: Now you know why so little presidential politics have played out in our state. We are considered to be a red state, therefore, our electors are considered to be wrapped up, therefore, they are not being contested. That's why you hear so much about swing states, those that are not yet thought to be decided. In today's climate that is only a handful. Big states with lots of electors have the most voice. Look at the map from 2008 and you will see that McCain won most of the land mass but lost where it counted, in the major population centers. Now the local elections are a completely different matter but I'll save that for another day.

Yeah. Me too. It does tend to give us all a headache just thinking about it. The founders desired equal representation where the rich and powerful did not have complete control. There are proponents for this Electoral College system and there are numerous who oppose it. A straight popular vote seems to make sense on the surface, but candidates would only have to target major population centers to win, period. It is confusing but it's our confusion. Our nation. Our system. And, thank God, for the most part, it still continues to express the will of the people, for the most part. Flawed? Yes. Does money still dominate? Of course. But, we are one nation, under God, and that is what makes us who we are, therefore, we can trust Him to work His will even when politics are in play. I pray that we will all seek His provision, His intervention, and His ultimate rule over us all. Amen. And, while we are praying this, we do not have to wait to be active in the Kingdom where He already rules and reigns. We can be busy about carrying out His commandments during our temporary stay in our beloved USA. Because some day and maybe not so far off, we will be in His presence forever and ever. Amen. ......More later.