Profound and Sometimes Preposterous Ponderings of Pete

2016 is right around the corner.  We live in the USA.  Presidential elections are coming.  I hear all kinds of statements. "Don't vote Democrat they hate Christians and support immorality."  "Vote Republican, they are anti-abortion." "Don't vote for Mitt Romney he is a Mormon."  Blah, Blah, Blah!  Both Democrats and Republicans have very poor track records. The Bible states in Romans 13: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is th

Growing up and attending churches, I wondered at the practiced, polished sounding prayers of the collared men at the pulpit.  Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc.  My wondering was not good. The prayers seemed, to an unsaved boy, contrived. I am not criticizing just relating my observations at that time in my life.  I am sure those gentleman were praying how they were taught and who am I to judge? Years later, as an adult, I got saved.  As a baby Christian, I was amazed at how well those around me could pray.  I wished I could pray like them.  Fervent, passionate, yet flowing and understandable. Some good friends even showed me that it was OK to add humor in your prayers (thank you Joe Stewart and Steve Crain).  God invented it and I believe down to my deepest parts that God laughs too. Over the years of praying, I think I became a little practiced at it as well.  I did not realize this until recently.  A few  times I have prayed one-on-one with some brand new or close