thestream--2020-11-05--Suppose You Wanted to Steal an Election. How Would You Do It?

Suppose you wanted to steal an election .
Suppose you needed to steal an election because you were running against a guy who had the country ’ s economy flying miles high and mood upbeat .
And you had no way to beat him straight up .
What would you do ?
How about filing lawsuits challenging any effort to clean up voter registration rolls ?
Call anyone challenging you a racist .
How about filing lawsuits to stop requiring voters to show proper ID ?
Call anyone who challenges you a racist .
How about taking advantage of countless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China to create fictional registered voters ?
Call anyone … you get the idea .
How about working to get illegal immigrants and those people not eligible to vote licenses that allow them to register ?
How about stopping legislation that would make it illegal to use U.S. Post Office equipment to backdate postmarks on envelopes containing mail-in ballots ?
How about pushing your allied legislatures and governors to change voting procedures in the months before the election , in mid-campaign .
Perhaps blaming a virus from your friends in China that doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old or very ill .
Declare it is too dangerous to vote in single file lines , while your allies are free to gather in protest .
You must vote mail-in !
How about deliberately conflating absentee balloting with universal mail-out voting ?
( The same way you might conflate illegal and legal immigration . )
Every single move you make makes fraud or mistake more likely , even inevitable .
… dramatically expanding the opportunities for mail-in voting while loosening the rules for main-in voting … creating universal mail-in balloting where you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for registered voters , ( Remember , you ’ ve fought to stop the cleaning up of voter registration rolls , ) … allowing votes to count that come in after the constitutionally mandated election day .
That sounds good .
But it ’ s not enough .
It ’ s only a start .
How about , out of nowhere , months before a single vote is taken , you suddenly start talking about how your opponent won ’ t leave the White House peacefully ?
Openly talking about the need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating the narrative that your opponent will reject the election results .
He ’ s going to be the problem .
How about working with your comrades in Big Tech , getting them to declare no “ disinformation ” reaches the users of their platforms ?
Making sure that “ disinformation ” means information positive to your opponent or negative about your guy .
Maybe you also offer major post-election gigs to some of the Big Tech operators .
Maybe weeks before the election , your comrades start removing the YouTube channels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly those onto your game .
How about working with your comrades in media to censor a series of stories that prove your candidate is corrupt and has been lying to the American people ?
How about training workers in polling places how to game the system ?
How about you perfect a system of “ ballot harvesting ” that you successfully experimented with in California in 2018 ?
Go around collecting and filling in ballots .
For example , swarm senior living centers , pressuring residents to vote for your guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot for them .
Or scoop up all those universal ballots sent out that you can fill out later .
Or in immigrant communities not too savvy about American elections , and used to corrupt ones , swoop in and gather up all their ballots maybe throw some money around .
Don ’ t worry .
Even if you are caught on video doing it , like in Minnesota , don ’ t fret it .
Your comrades in the media won ’ t cover it .
Your comrades in state law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all this ballot harvesting , you have huge stacks of ballots for your guy that you can dump into the system … especially if it looks like your candidate is losing .
You ’ ve also got poll workers , wearing masks in support of your guy , in position for mischief .
Then comes the election .
Your comrades running polling places in states you control refuse or limit access for observers .
In some places , your workers force voters inclined to vote against your guy to use markers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks like your opponent is taking a commanding lead on a path to victory , you suddenly , inexplicably , shut down the counting in crucial states .
Your comrades in the media refuse to call races for your opponent , but are quick to call races for your guy .
Even where he is not winning .
At midnight , thinks look decent for your opponent , but not commanding .
Over night , you wheel in wagons and coolers packed with the devil knows what .
At four a.m. , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in assorted places .
In some cases , every single last one of them is for your guy .
In most cases , almost every single one is for your guy .
The country awakes to the narrative you had crafted so many months before .
Your guy is poised to win .
The other guy is unethically trying to overcome .
Your media and Big Tech friends go into overdrive .
As tweets from the other guy and his supporters get blocked or suppressed , articles start popping up assuming a win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means to finally have the other guy out of the way .
Other articles suggest how wrong it is for the other guy to be contesting the races .
You block your opponent ’ s people from their legal right to observe the counting .
Even when a court affirms that right , you ignore it .
You mock the efforts to insure only legal ballots are counted .
Your media allies ignore clear examples of fraud .
They do not express the slightest curiosity about some of the credibility-breaking mathematical anomalies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that after spending four years insisting your opponent is a racist misogynist — after spending weeks saying he ’ s lost suburban women — the only demographic he ’ s lost votes from is white men .
( In fact , in one state he is losing white men in a district dominated by his past supporters who generally work in an industry he ’ s helped bring back to life . )
You drag and delay the counting of ballots in crucial states hoping to find more ballots for your guy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the votes are from dead people , but “ count all the ballots !
” Your only worry is this : Were you able to generate enough fake votes , suppress enough real votes , to overcome the legitimate vote count of your opponent ?
See , it is not possible to steal blowouts .
( At least not yet , but give yourself a few years . )
But close ones ?
You bet .
Of course , this is all hypothetical .
This couldn ’ t possibly happen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national election in America .
That ’ s just impossible !
That ’ s what happens in Third World countries or old Soviet-block nations .
We ’ re Americans .
We all want a free and fair and clean election .
Count all the legal ballots , discard any illegal ballots .
Accept the result .
If you lose , congratulate the winner , become the loyal opposition .
Wait four years and try again .
I mean , an America that would allow such an operation to succeed wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ?
Would Americans stand by and let it succeed ?
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

Suppose you wanted to steal an election. Suppose you needed to steal an election because you were running against a guy who had the country’s economy flying miles high and mood upbeat. And you had no way to beat him straight up.
What would you do?
How About ….?
How about filing lawsuits challenging any effort to clean up voter registration rolls? Call anyone challenging you a racist.
How about filing lawsuits to stop requiring voters to show proper ID? Call anyone who challenges you a racist.
How about taking advantage of countless fake IDs created by your friends in China to create fictional registered voters? Call anyone … you get the idea.
How about working to get illegal immigrants and those people not eligible to vote licenses that allow them to register?
How about stopping legislation that would make it illegal to use U.S. Post Office equipment to backdate postmarks on envelopes containing mail-in ballots?
How about pushing your allied legislatures and governors to change voting procedures in the months before the election, in mid-campaign. Perhaps blaming a virus from your friends in China that doesn’t hurt anyone but the very old or very ill. Declare it is too dangerous to vote in single file lines, while your allies are free to gather in protest. You must vote mail-in!
How about deliberately conflating absentee balloting with universal mail-out voting? (The same way you might conflate illegal and legal immigration.)
Every single move you make makes fraud or mistake more likely, even inevitable.
Like …
… not requiring matching signatures,
… dramatically expanding the opportunities for mail-in voting while loosening the rules for main-in voting
… creating universal mail-in balloting where you simply send ballots to all the addresses for registered voters, (Remember, you’ve fought to stop the cleaning up of voter registration rolls,)
… allowing votes to count that come in after the constitutionally mandated election day.
You’re Just Getting Started
That sounds good. But it’s not enough. It’s only a start.
How about, out of nowhere, months before a single vote is taken, you suddenly start talking about how your opponent won’t leave the White House peacefully? Openly talking about the need for the military to remove him? Start creating the narrative that your opponent will reject the election results. He’s going to be the problem.
How about working with your comrades in Big Tech, getting them to declare no “disinformation” reaches the users of their platforms? Making sure that “disinformation” means information positive to your opponent or negative about your guy. Maybe you also offer major post-election gigs to some of the Big Tech operators. Maybe weeks before the election, your comrades start removing the YouTube channels of your opponent’s most ardent supporters, particularly those onto your game.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
How about working with your comrades in media to censor a series of stories that prove your candidate is corrupt and has been lying to the American people?
How about training workers in polling places how to game the system?
How about you perfect a system of “ballot harvesting” that you successfully experimented with in California in 2018? Go around collecting and filling in ballots. For example, swarm senior living centers, pressuring residents to vote for your guy, or volunteering to fill out the ballot for them. Or scoop up all those universal ballots sent out that you can fill out later. Or in immigrant communities not too savvy about American elections, and used to corrupt ones, swoop in and gather up all their ballots maybe throw some money around.
Don’t worry. Even if you are caught on video doing it, like in Minnesota, don’t fret it. Your comrades in the media won’t cover it. Your comrades in state law enforcement will dismiss it.
Now, thanks to all this ballot harvesting, you have huge stacks of ballots for your guy that you can dump into the system … especially if it looks like your candidate is losing. You’ve also got poll workers, wearing masks in support of your guy, in position for mischief.
Come the Election
Then comes the election. Your comrades running polling places in states you control refuse or limit access for observers. In some places, your workers force voters inclined to vote against your guy to use markers that will invalidate their votes.
When it looks like your opponent is taking a commanding lead on a path to victory, you suddenly, inexplicably, shut down the counting in crucial states. Your comrades in the media refuse to call races for your opponent, but are quick to call races for your guy. Even where he is not winning.
At midnight, thinks look decent for your opponent, but not commanding.
Over night, you wheel in wagons and coolers packed with the devil knows what.
At four a.m., over a hundred thousands votes suddenly pop up in assorted places. In some cases, every single last one of them is for your guy. In most cases, almost every single one is for your guy.
The Crafted Narrative
The country awakes to the narrative you had crafted so many months before. Your guy is poised to win. The other guy is unethically trying to overcome.
Your media and Big Tech friends go into overdrive. As tweets from the other guy and his supporters get blocked or suppressed, articles start popping up assuming a win for your guy. And what it means to finally have the other guy out of the way. Other articles suggest how wrong it is for the other guy to be contesting the races.
You block your opponent’s people from their legal right to observe the counting. Even when a court affirms that right, you ignore it.
You mock the efforts to insure only legal ballots are counted. Your media allies ignore clear examples of fraud. They do not express the slightest curiosity about some of the credibility-breaking mathematical anomalies.
They do not mark the inexplicable fact that after spending four years insisting your opponent is a racist misogynist — after spending weeks saying he’s lost suburban women — the only demographic he’s lost votes from is white men. (In fact, in one state he is losing white men in a district dominated by his past supporters who generally work in an industry he’s helped bring back to life.)
You drag and delay the counting of ballots in crucial states hoping to find more ballots for your guy. Magically, they appear. Sure, some of the votes are from dead people, but “count all the ballots!”
Your only worry is this: Were you able to generate enough fake votes, suppress enough real votes, to overcome the legitimate vote count of your opponent?
See, it is not possible to steal blowouts. (At least not yet, but give yourself a few years.) But close ones? You bet.
All Hypothetical
Of course, this is all hypothetical. This couldn’t possibly happen in America. Nobody would conspire to steal a national election in America. That’s just impossible! That’s what happens in Third World countries or old Soviet-block nations.
We’re Americans. We all want a free and fair and clean election. Count all the legal ballots, discard any illegal ballots. Accept the result. If you lose, congratulate the winner, become the loyal opposition. Wait four years and try again.
I mean, an America that would allow such an operation to succeed wouldn’t be America, would it? Would it?
Would Americans stand by and let it succeed?
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-11-05--An Urgent Appeal to Christian Supporters of President Trump

We are living in one of the most critical times in American history , and I write these words with a real sense of urgency .
Please give me your best ear for the next few minutes as you read .
I Have Spoken Out About How We Can Vote for Trump as Christians But before you dismiss me as being “ disloyal ” or lacking in faith or not understanding the issues , please remember that I voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 .
That I much prefer a Trump-Pence presidency to a Biden-Harris presidency .
That I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Christian and secular , explaining how we can vote for Trump without compromising our witness .
( See here for a recent example . )
Be assured that I understand the many excellent , even exceptional things he has done as our president .
I understand why protesters against Communist China in Hong Kong look to him as a hero and why they are terrified at the prospect of a Biden victory .
I understand why he has such largescale support in Israel and how disastrous it would be for Biden to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand the significance of his judicial appointments , from SCOTUS through the federal courts .
I could list his bona fides as well as anyone .
I get it .
I really do .
I also understand how he has been demonized by the left as a racist , a misogynist , a xenophobe , and more .
I understand that he has suffered more attacks from more sides than any president in our lifetimes .
I really do get it .
I do .
And it is that person writing to you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We Lost Our Perspective ?
I am deeply concerned that many of us have lost our perspective .
I am deeply concerned that we have , in fact , put our trust in a man rather than in God .
I am deeply concerned that , whether we recognize it or not , we have allowed our standards to be corrupted by our constant defense of Trump .
The truth be told , we have even corrupted our souls .
On June 30 , 2017 , I wrote , “ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the subject of unjust attacks .
And as a follower of Jesus , I voted for him , despite my misgivings .
I ’ m also happy to point out the many good things he ’ s already done as president .
But I won ’ t sacrifice my ethics and demean my faith to defend his wrongful words .
To do that is to lose all credibility before a watching world.
” And I added , “ when we find it necessary to defend his every word , we discredit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ for us to defend his every tweet is to make ourselves into stooges more than supporters , helping no one in the end.
” Yes , “ the reminder for us is that loyalty does not require blind allegiance.
” In my 2018 book Donald Trump Is Not My Savior : An Evangelical Leader Speaks His Mind About the Man He Supports As President , I asked whether our relationship with Trump was a match made in heaven or a marriage with hell .
The answer to that question is entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our souls for a seat at the table ?
Have we compromised our convictions because of the ugliness of the alternatives ?
Have we looked the other way at dangerous and reckless behavior because there is an alleged , greater good ?
That , to me , is part of passing the Trump test : Can we cast our vote for him without losing our moral authority ?
Can we support his many fine policies without tarnishing our testimony ?
Have We Passed the Trump Test So Far ?
I Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that , by and large , we have not passed the test .
Thankfully , if Trump is , in fact , reelected , we will have four more years to get it right .
God help us if we do not .
Many Christian Trump supporters will say to me ( often with anger ) , “ None of us believe that Trump is our Savior !
You insult us by saying that.
” Then they turn around and tell me I ’ m speaking against God ’ s anointed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t every God-fearing person on the planet shout from the rooftops that Trump ( or any other human being ) is not our Savior ?
Doesn ’ t that proclamation help Trump rather than hurt him ?
Doesn ’ t that ground us in reality ?
Let Us Be Fervent in Prayer , Not Hysterical in Worry But we have become almost hysterical in our support of the president , branding all opposition to him as “ fake ” while welcoming every conspiratorial theory that comes down the pike .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also dishonors the Lord we serve .
When it comes to concerns about electoral fraud , by all means , we should use every means available to ensure a fair outcome to the election .
May every ballot be counted if it was cast legally and properly .
And may the candidate that the American people voted for be our next president .
But there is no reason for hysteria .
As I tweeted , “ Regarding the concerns of election fraud , I am confident that , between much prayer for God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army of lawyers , the truth will come to light , whatever that truth may be .
Personally , I am NOT concerned that the election will be stolen by either side.
” Christians around the world are fasting and praying for the outcome of this election .
Urgent prayer meetings are being called for throughout America even as I write .
And an army of powerful lawyers , backed by the president himself , has sprung into action .
Surely as children of God we can not believe that the devil or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone else will “ steal ” this election .
Surely , at times like this , God expects confident faith ( along with appropriate action being taken ) .
Let us be fervent and passionate .
But let us not be hysterical .
Our Concern for the Church Must Come Before Our Concern for the Nation To say it once more , I absolutely understand the importance of this election .
But I believe there is something even more important , and that is the state of God ’ s Church .
Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Do our words and deeds reflect His character and will ?
Is our focus where it should be , or have Trump and the elections become the dominating theme of our lives — not just not for this week , but for the last few years ?
The last chapter of my 2020 book Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
ends with these 10 directives .
If we live by these , we will pass the test with flying colors .
The fate of our nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How to Pass the Test • We must clearly and emphatically put the cross before the flag .
• We must proclaim that Donald Trump is our president , not our Savior .
• We must put greater emphasis on spiritual activity than on political activity .
• We must not get caught up with election fever .
• We must not justify carnality and unchristian behavior .
• We must regain our prophetic voice .
• We must be holistic Christians , truly pursuing justice and righteousness for all .
• We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vilify us and oppose us .
• We must unite around Jesus rather than divide over Trump .
• We must lead the nation in repentance , knowing that repentance prepares the way of the Lord , opening a path for revival , visitation , and awakening .
Please consider what I have written , test every word by the Scriptures , and examine your own soul before God .
The stakes are very high and our calling is very high .
By God ’ s grace , we must pass the test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

We are living in one of the most critical times in American history, and I write these words with a real sense of urgency. Please give me your best ear for the next few minutes as you read.
I Have Spoken Out About How We Can Vote for Trump as Christians
But before you dismiss me as being “disloyal” or lacking in faith or not understanding the issues, please remember that I voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020. That I much prefer a Trump-Pence presidency to a Biden-Harris presidency. That I have gone on countless media outlets, both Christian and secular, explaining how we can vote for Trump without compromising our witness. (See here for a recent example.)
Be assured that I understand the many excellent, even exceptional things he has done as our president.
I understand why protesters against Communist China in Hong Kong look to him as a hero and why they are terrified at the prospect of a Biden victory.
I understand why he has such largescale support in Israel and how disastrous it would be for Biden to renew the Iranian nuclear agreement.
I am deeply concerned that we have, in fact, put our trust in a man rather than in God.
I understand the significance of his judicial appointments, from SCOTUS through the federal courts.
I could list his bona fides as well as anyone. I get it. I really do.
I also understand how he has been demonized by the left as a racist, a misogynist, a xenophobe, and more.
I understand that he has suffered more attacks from more sides than any president in our lifetimes.
I really do get it. I do.
And it is that person writing to you. Please hear my appeal.
Have We Lost Our Perspective?
I am deeply concerned that many of us have lost our perspective. I am deeply concerned that we have, in fact, put our trust in a man rather than in God. I am deeply concerned that, whether we recognize it or not, we have allowed our standards to be corrupted by our constant defense of Trump. The truth be told, we have even corrupted our souls.
On June 30, 2017, I wrote, “I’m all for defending our president when he’s the subject of unjust attacks. And as a follower of Jesus, I voted for him, despite my misgivings. I’m also happy to point out the many good things he’s already done as president. But I won’t sacrifice my ethics and demean my faith to defend his wrongful words. To do that is to lose all credibility before a watching world.”
And I added, “when we find it necessary to defend his every word, we discredit ourselves and tarnish our witness.” And, “for us to defend his every tweet is to make ourselves into stooges more than supporters, helping no one in the end.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Yes, “the reminder for us is that loyalty does not require blind allegiance.”
In my 2018 book Donald Trump Is Not My Savior: An Evangelical Leader Speaks His Mind About the Man He Supports As President, I asked whether our relationship with Trump was a match made in heaven or a marriage with hell.
The answer to that question is entirely up to us. Have we sold our souls for a seat at the table? Have we compromised our convictions because of the ugliness of the alternatives? Have we looked the other way at dangerous and reckless behavior because there is an alleged, greater good?
That, to me, is part of passing the Trump test: Can we cast our vote for him without losing our moral authority? Can we support his many fine policies without tarnishing our testimony?
Have We Passed the Trump Test So Far? I Don’t Think So
To date, I would say that, by and large, we have not passed the test.
Thankfully, if Trump is, in fact, reelected, we will have four more years to get it right.
God help us if we do not.
Many Christian Trump supporters will say to me (often with anger), “None of us believe that Trump is our Savior! You insult us by saying that.”
Then they turn around and tell me I’m speaking against God’s anointed.
Something does not line up. And shouldn’t every God-fearing person on the planet shout from the rooftops that Trump (or any other human being) is not our Savior? Doesn’t that proclamation help Trump rather than hurt him? Doesn’t that ground us in reality?
Let Us Be Fervent in Prayer, Not Hysterical in Worry
But we have become almost hysterical in our support of the president, branding all opposition to him as “fake” while welcoming every conspiratorial theory that comes down the pike. This not only discredits us, but it also dishonors the Lord we serve.
When it comes to concerns about electoral fraud, by all means, we should use every means available to ensure a fair outcome to the election. May every ballot be counted if it was cast legally and properly. And may the candidate that the American people voted for be our next president.
But there is no reason for hysteria. As I tweeted, “Regarding the concerns of election fraud, I am confident that, between much prayer for God’s intervention and Trump’s army of lawyers, the truth will come to light, whatever that truth may be. Personally, I am NOT concerned that the election will be stolen by either side.”
Christians around the world are fasting and praying for the outcome of this election. Urgent prayer meetings are being called for throughout America even as I write. And an army of powerful lawyers, backed by the president himself, has sprung into action.
Surely as children of God we cannot believe that the devil or a corrupt political system or anything or anyone else will “steal” this election. Surely, at times like this, God expects confident faith (along with appropriate action being taken). Let us be fervent and passionate. But let us not be hysterical.
Our Concern for the Church Must Come Before Our Concern for the Nation
To say it once more, I absolutely understand the importance of this election. But I believe there is something even more important, and that is the state of God’s Church.
Are we representing His Son here in America? Do our words and deeds reflect His character and will? Is our focus where it should be, or have Trump and the elections become the dominating theme of our lives — not just not for this week, but for the last few years?
The last chapter of my 2020 book Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? ends with these 10 directives. If we live by these, we will pass the test with flying colors.
The fate of our nation depends on it.
Here’s How to Pass the Test
Here’s the list.
We must clearly and emphatically put the cross before the flag.
We must proclaim that Donald Trump is our president, not our Savior.
We must put greater emphasis on spiritual activity than on political activity.
We must not get caught up with election fever.
We must not justify carnality and unchristian behavior.
We must regain our prophetic voice.
We must be holistic Christians, truly pursuing justice and righteousness for all.
We must walk in love towards those who vilify us and oppose us.
We must unite around Jesus rather than divide over Trump.
We must lead the nation in repentance, knowing that repentance prepares the way of the Lord, opening a path for revival, visitation, and awakening.
Please consider what I have written, test every word by the Scriptures, and examine your own soul before God. The stakes are very high and our calling is very high.
By God’s grace, we must pass the test, and that means starting now.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-11-05--Oregon Votes to Decriminalize Certain Amounts of Meth, Heroin, Cocaine

Oregon residents on Tuesday voted to decriminalize certain possession amounts of hard drugs .
Roughly 60 % of Oregonian voters favored making it no longer a crime to possess a “ non-commercial ” amount of methamphetamine , heroin and cocaine , among others , according to The Hill .
Those caught with the specified amount of narcotics face a $ 100 fine , but the penalty can be avoided by undergoing a health assessment , the Hill reported .
“ Oregon made history tonight by becoming the first state to decriminalize drug possession !
, ” the Drug Policy Alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DrugPolicyAct led this campaign with @ voteYESon110 to make this visionary initiative a reality !
” “ This victory is truly transformative , ” the advocacy group continued .
Both New Jersey and Arizona voted to decriminalize marijuana , and Washington D.C. made hallucinogenic mushrooms legal in 2020 ballot measures , according to the Hill .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden won the state of Oregon , according to both the Associated Press and the New York Times .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Oregon residents on Tuesday voted to decriminalize certain possession amounts of hard drugs.
Roughly 60% of Oregonian voters favored making it no longer a crime to possess a “non-commercial” amount of methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, among others, according to The Hill. Those caught with the specified amount of narcotics face a $100 fine, but the penalty can be avoided by undergoing a health assessment, the Hill reported.
“Oregon made history tonight by becoming the first state to decriminalize drug possession!,” the Drug Policy Alliance tweeted Tuesday. “Our c4 @DrugPolicyAct led this campaign with @voteYESon110 to make this visionary initiative a reality!”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“This victory is truly transformative,” the advocacy group continued.
Oregon made history tonight by becoming the first state to decriminalize drug possession! Our c4 @DrugPolicyAct led this campaign with @voteYESon110 to make this visionary initiative a reality! This victory is truly transformative. #Election2020 🙂#OREGON pic.twitter.com/3TrrGguh3x — Drug Policy Alliance (@DrugPolicyOrg) November 4, 2020
Both New Jersey and Arizona voted to decriminalize marijuana, and Washington D.C. made hallucinogenic mushrooms legal in 2020 ballot measures, according to the Hill.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden won the state of Oregon, according to both the Associated Press and the New York Times.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-11-05--The Horrors That Await If They Get Away With Stealing The Election

I predicted that unless there was wholesale cheating Trump would win .
There was , is , wholesale cheating .
There isn ’ t an educated soul anywhere that doesn ’ t know that ballot stuffing is a common Democrat ploy in their urban strongholds .
In Wisconsin , more votes were found than registered voters .
The late “ discovered ” ones are going to Team Biden of course .
We saw huge crowds for Trump in Michigan , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania and elsewhere that dwarfed those for Team Biden .
Yet , somehow , Team Biden had more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were stopped to see how many more votes were needed .
The panic over COVID-19 , a crisis that did not go to waste , contributed mightily to this .
Ask any Team Biden voter who Tony Bobulinski is , or about Joe Biden ’ s treason .
The media and Democrats strategy to remain utterly mute on this subject , a clear admission they believed Bobulinski , paid off .
There is any number of stories of how the cheating happens , and is happening : here , here , here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , here , here , here , here , dot-dot-dot , here , here , here , and this .
The end has not yet come , and we don ’ t yet know with certainty what will happen .
For the sake of argument , though , let ’ s assume the worst , that they get away with it and install Biden as president .
Call this a post-Halloween horror story .
If and when Trump marches to victory , this article will serve as a reminder of the dark fate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell you what .
I lost count of the times these last 4+ years we read that Trump was buried in a deep hole with no hope of escape , yet this famous sentence always ended these stories : “ With a mighty leap Jack was free !
” All my tweets die after 7 days of coronavirus , so here ’ s a screenshot of a poll I ran on Twitter on November 4 : The outcome makes sense .
There isn ’ t anybody , except strict TV watchers , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Normies buy Biden ’ s little-guy schtick , but everybody else knows his true state .
The oligarchic elite running Team Biden are happy to have him as a figurehead , and will maintain that as long as they can .
But they ’ d be just as satisfied with Kamala , whom they could tout as the “ First BLACK !
Female President.
” If Biden ’ s treason does pop back up and causes trouble , they could easily sacrifice him .
In any case , I ’ m certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow him to finish the term .
It is President Harris at some point .
The only question is when .
Parkinson on the End of Democracies Historically , according to C. Northcote Parkinson , every democracy has ended in one of two ways : oligarchy or dictatorship .
Dictatorship seemed the livelier possibility , or perhaps that was only wishcasting on my part .
The oligarchy won .
In considering the question of how long a democratic phase of government may be expected to last , we can appeal to reason , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Merely theoretical discussion would lead us to expect one of two things .
Either the proletariat would establish a socialist state or it would fail as against middle-class opposition .
If it succeeded , the State would acquire such an accumulation of centralised power — political , economic , religious and cultural — that some of the former upper class would be goaded into revolt .
Supposing the conspiracy or rising should attract any measure of support , in the name of freedom , the strongest personality in the government would make himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rising crushed , he would remain dictator as a precaution against any future threat of the same kind .
There was one too many deplorables for our credentialed betters to take .
And so here , hypothetically , as of this writing , we are .
There will be peace upon the land for a short period .
Riots and looting won ’ t be necessary , at first , and so the masters of BLM and Antifa will have them stand down .
Which they ’ ll do , more or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those aware of the cheating to say , “ I guess this isn ’ t so bad after all.
” Anybody who brings it up six months from now will be called a conspiracy theorist and dismissed .
The honeymoon will be the phase the oligarchs divvy up their territories .
This won ’ t be a conspiracy , per se , just the united action of like-minded elites .
They ’ ll begin fighting amongst themselves soon enough .
Those expecting a fading piece of parchment to stop the left ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the power of paper against steel .
Remember what happened to freedom of association ?
And speech ?
And worship ?
Some person on the left called for a Truth and Reconciliation Committee , at which deplorables would be asked to confess their sins of racism and Trump support .
This will happen .
Woke Politics and What ’ s Going to Happen Woke politics will be everywhere .
Don ’ t expect a law saying all whites are evil , but do look for critical race theory to be restored to government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will be more aggressive in going after “ white supremacy.
” President Harris has already been tweeting about how Equality is not enough and we need Equity , which is to say , equality of outcome .
Hard quotas , excepting white men , will grow .
The propaganda against whites , already high , will hit fever pitch .
Woke politics is , after all , identity politics .
Watching shows like this might become mandatory .
The Senate was retained by the Grand Cucked Party , so there will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outrageous forays of Team Kamala ( I ’ m assuming we ’ re some six months in at this point ) .
But they ’ ll surrender on most things .
Big Tech will start cracking down in earnest .
They were only warming up before .
Dissident opinion will become rare on major sites .
One tactic they only flirted with before will be juiced : bank deplatforming .
Hard to buy and sell without the woke mark .
Biden promised a national mask mandate .
The legality of this is suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also illegal to stuff ballot boxes .
The actual state of the waning pandemic will be meaningless .
Obeying is what ’ s important .
Climate change will be a thing again .
The Senate would likely bend over for this , because the left really learned how to sell fear in the pandemic panic .
Look for new “ discoveries ” in how global warming will kill you .
The Supreme Court , which is now more centrist , will be less relevant , because of Executive Orders .
Which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombed ?
Taiwan , as a favor to China ?
Russia ?
The Maldives ?
I ’ m not good at guessing this , but I ’ m certain the missiles will fly somewhere .
Propagandists will push The Great Reset with increasing vigor .
The oligarchs make a lot of money pushing these schemes to “ save us , ” mostly from bleeding the middle class .
“ But Briggs , ” you may be thinking .
“ It was bad under Obama , but not that bad .
Why isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” Because we ’ re a lot woker now than then .
Because the left will be out for revenge because of Trump .
Because knowing they stole the election , and got away with it , will embolden them to future feats of felony .
Because “ immigration ” will turn from flood to tsunami .
Perhaps worst of all : We will never trust another US election .
America will be open game .
Every elite everywhere will know what happened .
And they will know that we let it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with Douglas Axe and Jay W. Richards , of The Price of Panic : How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe .

I predicted that unless there was wholesale cheating Trump would win.
There was, is, wholesale cheating. There isn’t an educated soul anywhere that doesn’t know that ballot stuffing is a common Democrat ploy in their urban strongholds. In Wisconsin, more votes were found than registered voters. The late “discovered” ones are going to Team Biden of course. We saw huge crowds for Trump in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and elsewhere that dwarfed those for Team Biden. Yet, somehow, Team Biden had more votes. But only after the counts were stopped to see how many more votes were needed.
The panic over COVID-19, a crisis that did not go to waste, contributed mightily to this.
Ask any Team Biden voter who Tony Bobulinski is, or about Joe Biden’s treason. The media and Democrats strategy to remain utterly mute on this subject, a clear admission they believed Bobulinski, paid off.
There is any number of stories of how the cheating happens, and is happening: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, dot-dot-dot, here, here, here, and this.
Does anyone else find it odd that more Americans apparently voted for Biden than voted for Barack Obama in 2008 … yet the Republicans, who were supposed to be sent into the wilderness by Trump for a generation, held the Senate and picked up seats in House? — James Morrow (@pwafork) November 5, 2020
A Post-Halloween Horror Story
The end has not yet come, and we don’t yet know with certainty what will happen. For the sake of argument, though, let’s assume the worst, that they get away with it and install Biden as president. Call this a post-Halloween horror story. If and when Trump marches to victory, this article will serve as a reminder of the dark fate we escaped.
Trump victory? I tell you what. I lost count of the times these last 4+ years we read that Trump was buried in a deep hole with no hope of escape, yet this famous sentence always ended these stories: “With a mighty leap Jack was free!”
Team Biden and the Oligarchy
All my tweets die after 7 days of coronavirus, so here’s a screenshot of a poll I ran on Twitter on November 4:
If Team Biden manages to swipe the election, how many months until President Kamala? — William M Briggs (@FamedCelebrity) November 4, 2020
The outcome makes sense. There isn’t anybody, except strict TV watchers, who believes Biden will be the actual ruler. Normies buy Biden’s little-guy schtick, but everybody else knows his true state.
The oligarchic elite running Team Biden are happy to have him as a figurehead, and will maintain that as long as they can. But they’d be just as satisfied with Kamala, whom they could tout as the “First BLACK! Female President.” If Biden’s treason does pop back up and causes trouble, they could easily sacrifice him.
In any case, I’m certain Biden’s health won’t allow him to finish the term. It is President Harris at some point. The only question is when.
Parkinson on the End of Democracies
Historically, according to C. Northcote Parkinson, every democracy has ended in one of two ways: oligarchy or dictatorship. Dictatorship seemed the livelier possibility, or perhaps that was only wishcasting on my part. The oligarchy won.
In considering the question of how long a democratic phase of government may be expected to last, we can appeal to reason, to history and to recent experience. Merely theoretical discussion would lead us to expect one of two things. Either the proletariat would establish a socialist state or it would fail as against middle-class opposition. If it succeeded, the State would acquire such an accumulation of centralised power — political, economic, religious and cultural — that some of the former upper class would be goaded into revolt. Supposing the conspiracy or rising should attract any measure of support, in the name of freedom, the strongest personality in the government would make himself dictator during the emergency: thereafter, the rising crushed, he would remain dictator as a precaution against any future threat of the same kind.
There was one too many deplorables for our credentialed betters to take. And so here, hypothetically, as of this writing, we are.
Ver Are Your Paperz?
There will be peace upon the land for a short period. Riots and looting won’t be necessary, at first, and so the masters of BLM and Antifa will have them stand down. Which they’ll do, more or less.
There needs to be time for those aware of the cheating to say, “I guess this isn’t so bad after all.” Anybody who brings it up six months from now will be called a conspiracy theorist and dismissed. The honeymoon will be the phase the oligarchs divvy up their territories. This won’t be a conspiracy, per se, just the united action of like-minded elites. They’ll begin fighting amongst themselves soon enough.
Meanwhile, Team Biden will move:
Gun manufacturers — if I’m elected I’m coming for you. #DemDebate — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 26, 2020
Those expecting a fading piece of parchment to stop the left’s excesses will learn soon enough of the power of paper against steel. Remember what happened to freedom of association? And speech? And worship?
Some person on the left called for a Truth and Reconciliation Committee, at which deplorables would be asked to confess their sins of racism and Trump support. This will happen.
Woke Politics and What’s Going to Happen
Woke politics will be everywhere. Don’t expect a law saying all whites are evil, but do look for critical race theory to be restored to government training. The FBI, et al., will be more aggressive in going after “white supremacy.” President Harris has already been tweeting about how Equality is not enough and we need Equity, which is to say, equality of outcome. Hard quotas, excepting white men, will grow. The propaganda against whites, already high, will hit fever pitch. Woke politics is, after all, identity politics.
Watching shows like this might become mandatory.
The Senate was retained by the Grand Cucked Party, so there will be some measure of resistance to the most outrageous forays of Team Kamala (I’m assuming we’re some six months in at this point). But they’ll surrender on most things.
Big Tech will start cracking down in earnest. They were only warming up before. Dissident opinion will become rare on major sites. One tactic they only flirted with before will be juiced: bank deplatforming. Hard to buy and sell without the woke mark.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Biden promised a national mask mandate. The legality of this is suspect. But, then again, it’s also illegal to stuff ballot boxes. The actual state of the waning pandemic will be meaningless. Obeying is what’s important.
Climate change will be a thing again. The Senate would likely bend over for this, because the left really learned how to sell fear in the pandemic panic. Look for new “discoveries” in how global warming will kill you.
The Supreme Court, which is now more centrist, will be less relevant, because of Executive Orders.
Missiles Will Fly
Which country will be the first to be bombed? Taiwan, as a favor to China? Russia? The Maldives? I’m not good at guessing this, but I’m certain the missiles will fly somewhere.
Propagandists will push The Great Reset with increasing vigor. The oligarchs make a lot of money pushing these schemes to “save us,” mostly from bleeding the middle class.
“But Briggs,” you may be thinking. “It was bad under Obama, but not that bad. Why isn’t this just more of the same?”
Because we’re a lot woker now than then. Because the left will be out for revenge because of Trump. Because knowing they stole the election, and got away with it, will embolden them to future feats of felony. Because “immigration” will turn from flood to tsunami.
Perhaps worst of all: We will never trust another US election. America will be open game. Every elite everywhere will know what happened. And they will know that we let it happen.
William Briggs is the co-author, with Douglas Axe and Jay W. Richards, of The Price of Panic: How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe.
Originally published at W.M. Briggs.com. Republished with permission.


thestream--2020-11-06--God, the Elections, and 4-D Chess

God, the Elections, and 4-D Chess

As a boy , I remember “ watching ” the epic chess battle between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer .
It was aired on channel 13 , the PBS station in New York , and a bell would ring , announcing the latest move .
This , in turn , would be posted on the screen , after which the experts would debate the reason for the move .
Sometimes , they would be utterly baffled .
Why would Fischer do this ?
It makes no sense .
What was Spassky thinking ?
Then , after playing out a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or more moves ahead , they would realize the strategy .
It was absolute genius .
When it come to the Lord , the one who inhabits eternity and who sees the end from the beginning ( see Isaiah 57:15 and 46:10 ) , He is always an infinite set of moves ahead .
That should give us comfort and faith in the midst of the current crisis .
( Make no mistake about it .
No matter what side you ’ re on , we ’ re in the midst of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The greatest crime ever committed by human beings was to crucify the Son of God .
Yet that was the act God used to make salvation available to the world .
And without the crucifixion , there would be no resurrection .
Who saw this coming in advance ?
Only the Lord Himself .
The book of Genesis tells us how the sons of Jacob ( also known as Israel ) sold their younger brother Joseph into slavery in Egypt .
They did it out of malice , plain and simple .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
They got rid of him for good .
Joseph then ended up in a dungeon in Egypt , falsely accused of a crime he never committed while serving as a slave .
But it was there , in the dungeon , that he accurately interpreted the dreams of two fellow-inmates .
Sometime later , this resulted in Joseph being brought before Pharaoh , the ruler of Egypt , to interpret his dreams .
And this , in turn , led to him becoming Pharaoh ’ s right-hand man .
( Literally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the throne . )
As a result of his position and the wisdom God gave him , Joseph ended up saving the region from famine , also saving the lives of his own brothers and their families .
Years later , when they were afraid he would retaliate against them , he said to them , “ You intended to harm me , but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done , the saving of many lives ” ( Genesis 50:20 ) .
God used your bad plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point of fact , what the brothers did to Joseph was downright evil , also causing their aged father years of mourning and grief .
Yet God used this to save countless thousands of lives .
John 11 tells us when Jesus was informed that His good friend Lazarus was sick , He waited a few days before going to see him .
Why ?
The Lord wanted him to die so He could resurrect Him from the dead .
This would bring greater glory to God .
Had the Lord simply healed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He learned Lazarus was sick , people would not have realized that Jesus Himself was the resurrection and the life ( see John 11:24-25 ) .
And the event would not even be recorded in Scripture .
The worst-case scenario led to the best-case scenario , which is often how God works .
That ’ s just who He is .
Have you seen this happen in your own life as well ?
Out of the Ashes In the last century , there was no greater horror than the horror of the Holocaust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jewish people in history .
Yet it is out of the ashes of the Holocaust that the modern State of Israel was born .
And , from a natural point of view , without the horrific evil of the Holocaust , it is unlikely that there would have been enough support in the United Nations to recognize a Jewish state .
This , of course , does not minimize the ghastly loss of life .
It simply reminds us that God brings good out of evil and light out of darkness .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Truth be Exposed What does this have to do with the elections ?
Let ’ s say that there is massive corruption taking place in the presidential elections .
Let ’ s say the pollsters were intentionally biased .
Let ’ s say that Big Tech and Big Money really are working against Trump .
Then the mess we are in right now , one which puts us precariously near an all-out war on the streets , will lead to the exposure of corruption on a level we have never seen before .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the darkness be exposed !
Conversely , if the corruption and darkness are being grossly exaggerated , the light will expose our gullibility , our willingness to believe almost anything , our propensity to be blinded by our biases .
And for Christian Trump supporters who proclaimed him uniquely chosen by God and therefore called to a second term , the light would expose the degree to which we were seduced by a partisan political spirit .
What if a Biden-Harris Presidency is Needed ?
I personally hope that the seemingly impossible happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rightfully reelected president , and that the prophecies about him prove true .
But what if a Biden-Harris presidency was needed to reveal the dangerous radicality of the left , leading to greater spiritual desperation in the Church , leading to a spiritual awakening in the society ?
What if the worst-case scenario for tens of millions of conservative voters resulted in the transforming of even more millions of hearts in the years ahead ?
I shared some of my thoughts on this on a Facebook livestream if you ’ d like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of things .
For the moment , though , I encourage you to put your faith in God to work out His best purposes in the midst of chaos and crisis .
Hysteria and frenzy are not fruits of the Spirit .
Faith and peace are .
And so , while I am deeply concerned about the state of our nation and know that many lives are at stake , I have a great sense of anticipation as well .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

As a boy, I remember watching the epic chess battle between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer. It was aired on channel 13, the PBS station in New York, and a bell would ring, announcing the latest move. This, in turn, would be posted on the screen, after which the experts would debate the reason for the move.
Sometimes, they would be utterly baffled. Why would Fischer do this? It makes no sense. What was Spassky thinking?
Then, after playing out a number of potential scenarios, sometimes a dozen or more moves ahead, they would realize the strategy. It was absolute genius.
Nothing Surprises God
When it comes to the Lord, the one who inhabits eternity and who sees the end from the beginning (see Isaiah 57:15 and 46:10), He is always an infinite set of moves ahead. That should give us comfort and faith in the midst of the current crisis. (Make no mistake about it. No matter what side you’re on, we’re in the midst of a national crisis.)
Think about it.
The greatest crime ever committed by human beings was to crucify the Son of God. Yet that was the act God used to make salvation available to the world. And without the crucifixion, there would be no resurrection. Who saw this coming in advance? Only the Lord Himself.
The Story of Joseph
The book of Genesis tells us how the sons of Jacob (also known as Israel) sold their younger brother Joseph into slavery in Egypt. They did it out of malice, plain and simple. They knew they would never see him again. They got rid of him for good.
Joseph then ended up in a dungeon in Egypt, falsely accused of a crime he never committed while serving as a slave. But it was there, in the dungeon, that he accurately interpreted the dreams of two fellow-inmates.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Sometime later, this resulted in Joseph being brought before Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, to interpret his dreams. And this, in turn, led to him becoming Pharaoh’s right-hand man. (Literally, he went from the dungeon to the throne.)
As a result of his position and the wisdom God gave him, Joseph ended up saving the region from famine, also saving the lives of his own brothers and their families.
Years later, when they were afraid he would retaliate against them, he said to them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). God used your bad plan to accomplish His great plan.
In point of fact, what the brothers did to Joseph was downright evil, also causing their aged father years of mourning and grief. Yet God used this to save countless thousands of lives.
The Best-Case Scenario
John 11 tells us when Jesus was informed that His good friend Lazarus was sick, He waited a few days before going to see him. Why? The Lord wanted him to die so He could resurrect Him from the dead. This would bring greater glory to God.
Had the Lord simply healed Lazarus by speaking a word the moment He learned Lazarus was sick, people would not have realized that Jesus Himself was the resurrection and the life (see John 11:24-25). And the event would not even be recorded in Scripture.
The worst-case scenario led to the best-case scenario, which is often how God works. That’s just who He is. Have you seen this happen in your own life as well?
Out of the Ashes
In the last century, there was no greater horror than the horror of the Holocaust, the most devastating attack on the Jewish people in history. Yet it is out of the ashes of the Holocaust that the modern State of Israel was born. And, from a natural point of view, without the horrific evil of the Holocaust, it is unlikely that there would have been enough support in the United Nations to recognize a Jewish state.
This, of course, does not minimize the ghastly loss of life. It simply reminds us that God brings good out of evil and light out of darkness. That is who He is.
Let the Truth be Exposed
What does this have to do with the elections?
Let’s say that there is massive corruption taking place in the presidential elections. Let’s say the pollsters were intentionally biased. Let’s say that Big Tech and Big Money really are working against Trump.
Then the mess we are in right now, one which puts us precariously near an all-out war on the streets, will lead to the exposure of corruption on a level we have never seen before. Let the light shine brightly! Let the darkness be exposed!
Conversely, if the corruption and darkness are being grossly exaggerated, the light will expose our gullibility, our willingness to believe almost anything, our propensity to be blinded by our biases. And for Christian Trump supporters who proclaimed him uniquely chosen by God and therefore called to a second term, the light would expose the degree to which we were seduced by a partisan political spirit.
What if a Biden-Harris Presidency is Needed?
I personally hope that the seemingly impossible happens, that Trump is proven to be the rightfully reelected president, and that the prophecies about him prove true.
But what if a Biden-Harris presidency was needed to reveal the dangerous radicality of the left, leading to greater spiritual desperation in the Church, leading to a spiritual awakening in the society? What if the worst-case scenario for tens of millions of conservative voters resulted in the transforming of even more millions of hearts in the years ahead?
I shared some of my thoughts on this on a Facebook livestream if you’d like to hear more about the spiritual side of things. For the moment, though, I encourage you to put your faith in God to work out His best purposes in the midst of chaos and crisis.
Hysteria and frenzy are not fruits of the Spirit. Faith and peace are.
And so, while I am deeply concerned about the state of our nation and know that many lives are at stake, I have a great sense of anticipation as well.
The ultimate Grandmaster has a plan.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-11-06--Supreme Court Case: Will Christian Foster Care Agencies Be Shut Down?

On Wednesday , the nation was focused on election returns .
( And still is . )
Yet , that morning , the U.S. Supreme Court convened virtually to hear a significant religious freedom case .
“ None of us expected when all of this began that we would be sitting virtually before the Supreme Court , ” said Lori Windham in a call with reporters .
She serves as senior counsel at Becket Law , a nonprofit public interest legal group .
The firm represents foster care parents in the case Fulton v. Philadelphia .
The case began over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It concerns how the City of Philadelphia targeted a Christian-based foster care agency for their beliefs .
The city told Catholic Social Services it had to either change its religious views , specifically on marriage , or shut down .
“ Foster parents like me just want to provide loving homes for children , ” she said .
“ The city ’ s attempt to take away homes from these children and support from families like mine is unthinkable.
” The city ’ s actions were based on perceived discrimination .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 foster care providers in the city , would not certify same-sex couples .
“ No same-sex couple had even approached them asking for a foster care certification , ” said Windham .
“ If one ever had , they would help them to find an agency who can provide that.
” Justices on both the left and right seemed sympathetic to the foster parents .
“ There is not neutrality here , ” said Justice Elena Kagan about the city ’ s actions .
She was appointed by President Obama .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ is ] not about ensuring that same-sex couples in Philadelphia have the opportunity to be foster parents , ” he said .
“ It ’ s the fact the City can ’ t stand the message that Catholic Social Services and the Archdiocese are sending by continuing to adhere to the old fashioned view about marriage.
” Windham left encouraged about the ultimate outcome .
“ It was not necessary to shut down this agency to resolve this dispute , ” she said .
“ [ That ] seemed to be clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stands Up for Religious Agency Foster mom Toni Simms-Busch later adopted the two boys she fostered .
Her expertise compelled her to join the case .
“ Before becoming a foster parent , I was a foster worker in the city of Philadelphia , ” she said .
“ I saw firsthand that no agency provides better care to families than Catholic Social Services.
” James Amato , executive vice president for Catholic Social Services , also spoke on the call .
He noted the nonprofit group has served Philadelphia families since 1797 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can continue this crucial ministry for at least another 200 [ years ] , ” he said .
“ We stand ready to provide loving homes for children in need .
But our ministry is stuck on the sidelines.
” He noted that they will not compromise on their beliefs grounded in the Bible .
“ Religious convictions motivate [ our ] service , ” he said .
“ We need to know we can serve those in need … without government harassment or sanction.
” “ Catholic Social Services stood up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Simms-Busch .
“ Now I am standing up for them .
I ’ m grateful the Justices took our arguments seriously today .
“ I am hopeful that this religious foster care agency will continue to be able to serve children like mine.
” Windham believes the Supreme Court will find a compromise .
“ The court is searching for a way to protect religious freedom rights and to balance the interests , ” she said .
“ Having clear rules that protect religious freedom can help us to avoid unnecessary fights.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ foster agencies operate across the U.S. Several such nonprofit groups have had to close their doors in recent years .
Those closures were due in part to government entities that mandated they certify same-sex couples , similar to this case .
A ruling in Fulton v. Philadelphia is expected to be handed down in June .
“ We have seen agency closures in Boston , Illinois , California , and here in Washington , D.C. , ” said Windham .
“ That ’ s a trend that needs to stop .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious foster agencies , that would be a dangerous precedent.
” Learn more about this case at FreeToFoster.com and in the video below .
Stream contributor Josh M. Shepherd covers culture , faith , and public policy issues for media outlets including The Federalist .
Find him on Twitter and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

On Wednesday, the nation was focused on election returns. (And still is.) Yet, that morning, the U.S. Supreme Court convened virtually to hear a significant religious freedom case.
“None of us expected when all of this began that we would be sitting virtually before the Supreme Court,” said Lori Windham in a call with reporters.
She serves as senior counsel at Becket Law, a nonprofit public interest legal group. The firm represents foster care parents in the case Fulton v. Philadelphia. The case began over two years ago, in March 2018.
It concerns how the City of Philadelphia targeted a Christian-based foster care agency for their beliefs. The city told Catholic Social Services it had to either change its religious views, specifically on marriage, or shut down.
“Catholic Social Services stood up for me and my family. Now I am standing up for them.” – Toni Simms-Busch
Alongside lead named plaintiff Sharonell Fulton, Toni Simms-Busch is also a foster mom.
“Foster parents like me just want to provide loving homes for children,” she said. “The city’s attempt to take away homes from these children and support from families like mine is unthinkable.”
Did Christian Agency Practice Discrimination?
The city’s actions were based on perceived discrimination. They contend the Catholic agency, one of 30 foster care providers in the city, would not certify same-sex couples.
“No same-sex couple had even approached them asking for a foster care certification,” said Windham.
“If one ever had, they would help them to find an agency who can provide that.”
Justices on both the left and right seemed sympathetic to the foster parents. “There is not neutrality here,” said Justice Elena Kagan about the city’s actions. She was appointed by President Obama.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito put a finer point on the issues.
“What’s really going on here [is] not about ensuring that same-sex couples in Philadelphia have the opportunity to be foster parents,” he said.
“It’s the fact the City can’t stand the message that Catholic Social Services and the Archdiocese are sending by continuing to adhere to the old fashioned view about marriage.”
Windham left encouraged about the ultimate outcome. “It was not necessary to shut down this agency to resolve this dispute,” she said. “[That] seemed to be clear to the court.”
Former Foster Worker Stands Up for Religious Agency
Foster mom Toni Simms-Busch later adopted the two boys she fostered. Her expertise compelled her to join the case.
“Before becoming a foster parent, I was a foster worker in the city of Philadelphia,” she said.
“I saw firsthand that no agency provides better care to families than Catholic Social Services.”
James Amato, executive vice president for Catholic Social Services, also spoke on the call. He noted the nonprofit group has served Philadelphia families since 1797.
“It is my hope that we can continue this crucial ministry for at least another 200 [years],” he said. “We stand ready to provide loving homes for children in need. But our ministry is stuck on the sidelines.”
He noted that they will not compromise on their beliefs grounded in the Bible. “Religious convictions motivate [our] service,” he said. “We need to know we can serve those in need … without government harassment or sanction.”
“Catholic Social Services stood up for me and my family,” said Simms-Busch. “Now I am standing up for them. I’m grateful the Justices took our arguments seriously today.
“I am hopeful that this religious foster care agency will continue to be able to serve children like mine.”
Thousands of Christian Agencies at Risk
Windham believes the Supreme Court will find a compromise. “The court is searching for a way to protect religious freedom rights and to balance the interests,” she said. “Having clear rules that protect religious freedom can help us to avoid unnecessary fights.”
Currently, more than 8,000 religious foster agencies operate across the U.S. Several such nonprofit groups have had to close their doors in recent years.
Those closures were due in part to government entities that mandated they certify same-sex couples, similar to this case.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
A ruling in Fulton v. Philadelphia is expected to be handed down in June.
“We have seen agency closures in Boston, Illinois, California, and here in Washington, D.C.,” said Windham. “That’s a trend that needs to stop.
“If the court allows city officials to exclude religious foster agencies, that would be a dangerous precedent.”
Learn more about this case at FreeToFoster.com and in the video below.
Stream contributor Josh M. Shepherd covers culture, faith, and public policy issues for media outlets including The Federalist. Find him on Twitter and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-11-06--Military Photo of the Day: November 6, 2020

A U.S. Air Force airman stands guard in front of a B-52H Stratofortress at Minot Air Force Base in North @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .

A U.S. Air Force airman stands guard in front of a B-52H Stratofortress at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota on October 19, 2020.
Have a safe weekend, everyone.
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thestream--2020-11-06--This Week at War: The Fight Continues

This Week at War: The Fight Continues

For more than eight months , the heroic men and women of the United States military have been fighting a war on COVID-19 .
This week , Military.com is reporting that another American hero has succumbed to the coronavirus .
The Texas Air National Guard airman is the ninth U.S. service member to die from the disease , according to Department of Defense statistics .
As of Thursday , there had been 755 hospitalizations and 39,012 recoveries out of 58,968 recorded cases inside military ranks .
As the military continues to coordinate COVID-19 testing and relief efforts across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and every selfless service member risking his or her life to keep us safe .
We also ask God to comfort the family of the Texas Air National Guard warrior who made the ultimate sacrifice .
All week , brave National Guard troops have been busy helping state and local officials with 2020 presidential election preparations , ballot counting issues and security .
As of Wednesday , the National Guard was on standby for civil unrest in ten states , according to the Military Times , with approximately 2,600 conducting specific election-related duties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania .
As Military.com noted , ensuring a free , fair and safe election isn ’ t our military ’ s only role .
This year , absentee votes from members of the U.S. Armed Forces could matter more than any presidential election since 2000 .
“ But at the enlisted level , politics is substantially dwarfed by occupational concerns and the sense of doing something that is adventurous or trying to obtain GI Bill benefits , ” Ramapo College of New Jersey political science professor Jeremy Teigen told Military.com .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they are a particular political persuasion.
” Thank you to all of our brave troops for serving — and voting .
You ’ ve most certainly earned it .
The below tweet by U.S. Central Command is a reminder that while most eyes in America and around the world are on the presidential election , valiant American warriors are still risking their lives at war in dangerous places like Syria .
In Afghanistan , where U.S. troops have been at war since 2001 , attacks by the Taliban and other terrorist groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Stars and Stripes , “ the Taliban also have not severed ties with al-Qaeda , as called for in the deal ” along with several other violations .
Whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20 , 2021 , the war in Afghanistan will continue to be a huge issue that ’ s spanned three and possibly four presidencies .
Please continue to pray for our deployed troops all around the world , as well as their families here at home .
It ’ s hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your loved ones after six months at war .
Those emotions are exactly what ’ s being experienced by some brave airmen who recently came home to Utah from the Middle East .
Welcome back , warriors !
Thank you for your service to our country .
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream .
He is co-author of Three Wise Men , Brothers Forever , 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes .
Follow Tom on Twitter @ TSileo and The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

COVID-19
For more than eight months, the heroic men and women of the United States military have been fighting a war on COVID-19. This week, Military.com is reporting that another American hero has succumbed to the coronavirus.
The Texas Air National Guard airman is the ninth U.S. service member to die from the disease, according to Department of Defense statistics. As of Thursday, there had been 755 hospitalizations and 39,012 recoveries out of 58,968 recorded cases inside military ranks.
As the military continues to coordinate COVID-19 testing and relief efforts across the country, please say a prayer for each and every selfless service member risking his or her life to keep us safe. We also ask God to comfort the family of the Texas Air National Guard warrior who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Election
All week, brave National Guard troops have been busy helping state and local officials with 2020 presidential election preparations, ballot counting issues and security. As of Wednesday, the National Guard was on standby for civil unrest in ten states, according to the Military Times, with approximately 2,600 conducting specific election-related duties in Arizona, Alabama, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
As Military.com noted, ensuring a free, fair and safe election isn’t our military’s only role. This year, absentee votes from members of the U.S. Armed Forces could matter more than any presidential election since 2000.
“But at the enlisted level, politics is substantially dwarfed by occupational concerns and the sense of doing something that is adventurous or trying to obtain GI Bill benefits,” Ramapo College of New Jersey political science professor Jeremy Teigen told Military.com. “People are not enlisting in our Armed Forces because they are a particular political persuasion.”
Thank you to all of our brave troops for serving — and voting. You’ve most certainly earned it.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Middle East
The below tweet by U.S. Central Command is a reminder that while most eyes in America and around the world are on the presidential election, valiant American warriors are still risking their lives at war in dangerous places like Syria.
#Soldiers and Bradley fighting vehicles in NE #Syria continue to patrol to ensure the lasting defeat of #Daesh and provide security and stability to the region @CJTFOIR @SOJTFOIR @usarmycentral pic.twitter.com/wJC9hk1C7P — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 3, 2020
In Afghanistan, where U.S. troops have been at war since 2001, attacks by the Taliban and other terrorist groups are surging despite a February peace deal. According to Stars and Stripes, “the Taliban also have not severed ties with al-Qaeda, as called for in the deal” along with several other violations.
Whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20, 2021, the war in Afghanistan will continue to be a huge issue that’s spanned three and possibly four presidencies. Please continue to pray for our deployed troops all around the world, as well as their families here at home.
Coming Home
It’s hard to imagine how good it feels to return to your loved ones after six months at war. Those emotions are exactly what’s being experienced by some brave airmen who recently came home to Utah from the Middle East.
Welcome back, warriors! Thank you for your service to our country.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-11-06--Faith, Hope, and Love: Why Christians Must Keep Up the Fight

These are the in-between days , between the decisions voters have made , and the decision our votes will make .
You can bet it ’ s not going to end soon ; not until it goes to court .
These are anxious days , when pre-election uncertainties that should have been settled are multiplying even more .
There ’ s plenty to worry about .
Democracy hangs in the balance .
All sides agree on that .
On Thursday The New York Times said it was “ The President Versus Democracy.
” That ’ s one view , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a totally different side : massive indicators of voter fraud , corruption on a scale that could literally put an end to democracy .
One way or another , though , democracy is very much at risk .
It doesn ’ t matter who wins in the end ; this has still been disturbing .
It ’ s been disturbing for years now .
So here we stand , between the voting and the decision .
How do we navigate this ?
Should we fight ?
Why ?
How ?
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more about our personal stance .
And I ’ m writing specifically for followers of Christ .
My first word of advice is that we normalize this in our minds : We ’ re always in between .
My second word is that we can relax in the hope we have in Christ .
My third word is that we dare not let that lull us to sleep .
Faith gives us hope , but love demands that we stay strong in the battle .
In Between ?
We ’ re Always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we normalize this in our minds .
As bad as this is on the one hand ( and it really is ) , it ’ s not that abnormal on the other .
We ’ re always in between .
We live in a world of hate , yet we live in love .
We live among lies , yet we know the One who is truth .
We walk in darkness , yet we carry the light .
We ourselves are redeemed , we are God ’ s own possession in Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following Him as we should .
We live between hell and heaven .
On his deathbed , John Newton , composer of “ Amazing Grace , ” said , “ I am still in the land of the dying : I shall be in the land of the living soon.
” Yes , the world is in trouble , yet in a very real sense we are okay .
The Apostle Paul had been shipwrecked three times , beaten repeatedly , and imprisoned often ( 2 Cor .
11 : 23-27 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ momentary affliction ” is preparing for us “ an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison , as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.
” ( 2 Cor .
4:17-18 ) .
I don ’ t know how will the vote turn out in the end , but I do know how you and I as followers of Christ will come out in the end : with an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison .
We ’ re Okay , So We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we ’ ve got an incredible hope ahead of us .
So we ’ re okay .
Really .
We ’ re fine .
You can relax .
Take a deep breath .
Smile .
Got that ?
Good .
Now , go jump into the battle and fight with everything you ’ ve got .
Even if we ’ re okay , not everyone is , and not every thing is .
This is the paradox of faith and love , here in this in-between world .
Faith assures us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control , and we ’ re in good hands .
Love , however , demands that we fight corruption , deceit , and injustice .
Love demands that we keep the door open wide for all to know and to follow Christ .
Love demands that we give our all towards a world that expresses God ’ s goodness in every possible way .
My first grandchild is due to be born in January .
I am extremely aware of how bad it could be for him to grow up in the kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country dominated by sexual freedom over religious freedom , by government control instead of individual liberties , by a centralized economy in place of a proper market economy .
Should I not sound the alarm on his behalf ?
Of course I should .
I must !
Should I not speak the dangers clearly , persuasively , urgently ?
Should I not urge us all to do right ?
Should I not fight for the right ?
And if not for my own grandson , shouldn ’ t I do it in love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them or not ?
Shouldn ’ t we all speak , and act , and make our decisions with the same in mind ?
Yes , of course , we should !
You and I may be okay , but this life isn ’ t about you and me .
We ’ re okay , but that doesn ’ t free us from the fight , it frees us for the fight — the fight of grace , love , and truth .
We need not cower and snarl like cornered animals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with open hearts and open hands ; and when we do , we stand for others , in love .
Faith frees us .
We ’ re free to speak truth , even to the detriment of our own reputations , if need be .
We ’ re still okay .
We ’ re free especially to speak unpopular truths , because we know we stand on solid ground .
Faith frees us to speak life-giving truth , because God has gifted us with His truth .
Yet faith also relieves us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking it ’ s our truth that we ’ re speaking .
As I ’ ve said for years now , we don ’ t hold the truth ; the truth holds us .
We don ’ t own the truth , we yield to it in all humility .
It ’ s not our truth , it ’ s God ’ s .
Faith still knows that truth is truth .
False humility may say , “ I could never know any truth , ” but true humility says , “ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I to second-guess Him ?
” Faith frees us to love , for love means giving , and faith assures us we have enough to give and keep on giving .
Love , too , means seeking the other ’ s best , and faith guides us to understand God ’ s wisdom as what ’ s truly best .
And love flows a lot easier from a secure heart than a cornered one .
Faith leads and empowers us to fight not as the world fights , with hatred , deceit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ( 2 Cor .
10:4 ) , but with prayer , honest persuasion , and yes , the use of power as needed , but never its abuse .
Embrace the Paradox : Have Faith , and Keep Up the Fight Not all Christian messaging lately has carried that easy sense of faith-filled confidence .
Sometimes it ’ s because we do it wrong .
Sometimes it ’ s because it ’ s just not easy .
That ’ s the nature of this in-between existence .
Sometimes , too , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much in one conversation ( or one column ! )
, so we have to rely on more than one to convey it all .
So let ’ s fight the battles with all we ’ ve got .
Let ’ s do it with hope and a smile , though , and with a heart of compassion even for those who would call themselves our enemies .
So here is the approach for us to take as Christians : Understand we ’ re in between .
It isn ’ t only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always in between .
So let ’ s take a deep breath and try to normalize the experience .
But we do not normalize sin , corruption , deceit or oppression .
Love constrains us .
Our own okay-ness is not the point , for we ourselves are not the point .
We are called to live for God and to serve others , not ourselves .
So embrace this in-between-ness we live in , this paradox of faith and love .
Trust God .
Love others .
Let faith free you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Let it remind you that you can expend yourself fully in the battle , and come out fine in the end .
And for the love of God and others — not for yourself , since this isn ’ t about you or me — take up the battle and fight .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books , including the recently released Too Good To Be False : How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality @

These are the in-between days, between the decisions voters have made, and the decision our votes will make. You can bet it’s not going to end soon; not until it goes to court. These are anxious days, when pre-election uncertainties that should have been settled are multiplying even more.
There’s plenty to worry about. Democracy hangs in the balance. All sides agree on that. On Thursday The New York Times said it was “The President Versus Democracy.” That’s one view, for what it’s worth. I see a totally different side: massive indicators of voter fraud, corruption on a scale that could literally put an end to democracy. One way or another, though, democracy is very much at risk. It doesn’t matter who wins in the end; this has still been disturbing. It’s been disturbing for years now.
So here we stand, between the voting and the decision. How do we navigate this? Should we fight? Why? How? I’m thinking less about strategy today, and more about our personal stance. And I’m writing specifically for followers of Christ.
My first word of advice is that we normalize this in our minds: We’re always in between. My second word is that we can relax in the hope we have in Christ. My third word is that we dare not let that lull us to sleep. Faith gives us hope, but love demands that we stay strong in the battle.
In Between? We’re Always In Between
Faith gives us hope, but love demands that we stay strong in the battle.
My first advice is that we normalize this in our minds. As bad as this is on the one hand (and it really is), it’s not that abnormal on the other. We’re always in between.
We live in a world of hate, yet we live in love. We live among lies, yet we know the One who is truth. We walk in darkness, yet we carry the light. We ourselves are redeemed, we are God’s own possession in Christ, yet still we fall short of following Him as we should. We live between hell and heaven.
We’re Okay
On his deathbed, John Newton, composer of “Amazing Grace,” said, “I am still in the land of the dying: I shall be in the land of the living soon.” Yes, the world is in trouble, yet in a very real sense we are okay.
The Apostle Paul had been shipwrecked three times, beaten repeatedly, and imprisoned often (2 Cor. 11: 23-27). Still he knew that our “slight momentary affliction” is preparing for us “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.” (2 Cor. 4:17-18). I don’t know how will the vote turn out in the end, but I do know how you and I as followers of Christ will come out in the end: with an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
We’re Okay, So We Must Fight
We’ve got faith, and we’ve got an incredible hope ahead of us. So we’re okay. Really. We’re fine. You can relax. Take a deep breath. Smile. Got that? Good. Now, go jump into the battle and fight with everything you’ve got.
Even if we’re okay, not everyone is, and not every thing is. This is the paradox of faith and love, here in this in-between world. Faith assures us God is good, God is in control, and we’re in good hands. Love, however, demands that we fight corruption, deceit, and injustice. Love demands that we keep the door open wide for all to know and to follow Christ. Love demands that we give our all towards a world that expresses God’s goodness in every possible way.
You and I may be okay, but this life isn’t about you and me.
My first grandchild is due to be born in January. I am extremely aware of how bad it could be for him to grow up in the kind of America the Left envisions, a country dominated by sexual freedom over religious freedom, by government control instead of individual liberties, by a centralized economy in place of a proper market economy. Should I not sound the alarm on his behalf? Of course I should. I must! Should I not speak the dangers clearly, persuasively, urgently? Should I not urge us all to do right? Should I not fight for the right?
And if not for my own grandson, shouldn’t I do it in love for other Americans, whether I know them or not? Shouldn’t we all speak, and act, and make our decisions with the same in mind? Yes, of course, we should!
Faith Frees Us to Fight
You and I may be okay, but this life isn’t about you and me. We’re okay, but that doesn’t free us from the fight, it frees us for the fight — the fight of grace, love, and truth. We need not cower and snarl like cornered animals. We’re free to stand straight, with open hearts and open hands; and when we do, we stand for others, in love.
Faith frees us. We’re free to speak truth, even to the detriment of our own reputations, if need be. We’re still okay.
We’re free especially to speak unpopular truths, because we know we stand on solid ground.
Faith frees us to speak life-giving truth, because God has gifted us with His truth.
Yet faith also relieves us from the arrogant, annoying confusion of thinking it’s our truth that we’re speaking. As I’ve said for years now, we don’t hold the truth; the truth holds us. We don’t own the truth, we yield to it in all humility. It’s not our truth, it’s God’s.
Faith still knows that truth is truth. False humility may say, “I could never know any truth,” but true humility says, “If God has spoken truth, who am I to second-guess Him?”
Faith frees us to love, for love means giving, and faith assures us we have enough to give and keep on giving. Love, too, means seeking the other’s best, and faith guides us to understand God’s wisdom as what’s truly best. And love flows a lot easier from a secure heart than a cornered one.
Faith leads and empowers us to fight not as the world fights, with hatred, deceit, and violence “according to the flesh” (2 Cor. 10:4), but with prayer, honest persuasion, and yes, the use of power as needed, but never its abuse.
Embrace the Paradox: Have Faith, and Keep Up the Fight
Not all Christian messaging lately has carried that easy sense of faith-filled confidence. Sometimes it’s because we do it wrong. Sometimes it’s because it’s just not easy. That’s the nature of this in-between existence. Sometimes, too, it’s because we can only say so much in one conversation (or one column!), so we have to rely on more than one to convey it all.
So let’s fight the battles with all we’ve got. Let’s do it with hope and a smile, though, and with a heart of compassion even for those who would call themselves our enemies.
So here is the approach for us to take as Christians: Understand we’re in between. It isn’t only about the election; we’re always in between. So let’s take a deep breath and try to normalize the experience.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
But we do not normalize sin, corruption, deceit or oppression. Love constrains us. Our own okay-ness is not the point, for we ourselves are not the point. We are called to live for God and to serve others, not ourselves.
So embrace this in-between-ness we live in, this paradox of faith and love. Trust God. Love others. Let faith free you. Let it give you hope and joy. Let it remind you that you can expend yourself fully in the battle, and come out fine in the end. And for the love of God and others — not for yourself, since this isn’t about you or me — take up the battle and fight.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including the recently released Too Good To Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.