Oh, Please!

Just read a commentary in the main stream media that says the candidates' medical records should be an open book. Sorry, but I disagree.

First, it was yet another thinly-veiled swipe at Senator McCain's age (". . . if he wins, he will be the oldest man sworn in for his first term as president."). I know lots of 72-year-olds who are healthy, vibrant, and capable. Time to stop age discrimination. And time to stop inserting it into discussions just for the sake of drawing attention to it yet again.

Second, I really didn't need to know that Joe Biden takes medication to help with urine flow or with his sinuses or with his cholesterol. Can't some things remain personal and private? Where is dignity when you need it?

Third, if you go down this path, then would you really be satisfied knowing a candidate's current health status? Do we need to go back a generation or two and find out the causes of death of their parents and grandparents? How about gauging their work-out routine? Who's going to be on the nutritional analysis squad, checking the fat grams in every bite they take? Or, who's going to keep the tally on the smokes the 47-year-old presidential candidate bums from the press core or how many pieces of Nicorette he chews?

Should we have general information about a candidate's health? Yes. But do we need to have their entire medical record on display for all to see? No.

One indicator of the candidates' general physical fitness is the stamina they've shown on the campaign trail. Under that analysis, they all are generally fit.

Knowing a candidate's current health status is no guarantee of future health. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. So, let's take it as a given that the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates are generally in good health, stop with the lists of medications, and move on to more substantive issues.

Humor

In the past few days, both John McCain and Sarah Palin have demonstrated their ability to laugh at themselves. I love that. What a great quality for our soon-to-be leaders!

McCain was a complete hoot at the Alfred Smith dinner. Not only did he deliver the lines with perfect timing, he enjoyed every second of it. He's comfortable in his own skin. Knows who he is and (equally importantly) who he's not.

Sarah Palin, too, was comfortable in her own skin and delivered her lines flawlessly on SNL. Few of us could have walked into the lion's den with such grace and good nature. And, she's got rhythm!

The Sacredness of Life

Kudos

Kudos to MSNBC for making this available. In recent weeks, most of the mainstream media coverage of Sarah has been negative, nasty, insulting. But the Nightly News got it right on this one.

Kudos to Sarah for continuing to demonstrate her love as a mother, her commitment to pro-life, her genuine depth of care and concern.

A New Kind of Leader

Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader by Joe Hilley should be in your local bookstore today. The book arrived a little early at our local shop and is already sold out. More are on the way, I'm told.

The book describes 10 characteristics that are necessary in a 21st century leader . . . characteristics that Sarah has, of course. With a forward by Chuck Colson, it offers insight into what makes Sarah so appealing and so qualified for Vice President.

It's available online and at bookstores everywhere. Links are below.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Borders
CBD

I've got my copy. Run get yours!

Sarah Is Feminine

When I look at Sarah Palin, I see femininity. True femininity. And, that's a refreshing change in the political world.

Six years ago I attended The Journey to Wholeness in Christ, a ministry of Christ Anglican Church in Mobile. Conlee and Signa Bodishbaugh taught the concept of the true feminine and the true masculine. Signa has written a book by the same title which I highly recommend. At the conference and in the book, she teaches that because we are created in the image of God, we all have both feminine and masculine characteristics.

Unredeemed, we live out of false sense of self, exhibiting both false masculine and false feminine attributes.

The false masculine is characterized by:

• activism
• a drive for power
• domination
• sexual conquest
• materialism
• psuedo-intellectualism
• manipulation
• hyper-spirituality
• intimidation
• aggressiveness

The false feminine is characterized by:

• passivity
• seduction
• deception
• codependence
• sentimentality
• gullibility
• manipulation
• hyper-spirituality
• self-pity
• sloth

When we are redeemed and renewed in Christ, we can be transformed into the true masculine and true feminine. Our nature is restored into the image of God with both masculine and feminine characteristics. One may have a dominant tendency toward the feminine or the masculine, but everyone has some of both.

Those who display the true masculine:

• initiate
• organize
• analyze
• edit
• define
• set boundaries
• construct

Those who display the true feminine:

• respond
• receive
• nurture
• intuit
• sense
• perceive
• feel

Whew! That's a lot to absorb. But, as you look at the characteristics of the false self, I see the pantsuit brigade. They often display the characteristics of the false masculine. Strident. Harsh. Aggressive. Taken one step further, they become mean-spirited, haughty, proud, and arrogant.

When some hear the word "feminine," they hear "weak." Unredeemed, feminine is weak and whiny and pathetic. Redeemed, however, femininity is strong, confident, receptive, and humble.

So, I'm thrilled that Sarah Palin has a healthy dose of the true feminine and the true masculine; she operates out of a true sense of self. She has the ability to initiate, organize, analyze, and define. She also senses, perceives, intuits. That is a strong, healthy combination of attributes. And, it makes for a strong leader. One we desperately need.

Sarah Is Pro-Life

Okay, I know some people say you can't let a single issue be the litmus test for your vote. But, life matters. To me, it really matters.

If we as a people are not willing to protect the most innocent and vulnerable, what does that say about us? That life only matters when it's convenient? That it only matters when it fits in our career plan? That it only matters when we have enough money, or the right house or the right person in our life? That it only matters when we think the child we're carrying is perfect?

The opposing side says a woman should have choice as it relates to her body. Well, she does have a choice -- she has a choice to protect herself from becoming pregnant by whatever means she prefers. It's the old freedom with responsibility thing.

I've been the beneficiary of two women who decided to give life in the midst of really difficult circumstances and I'm eternally grateful. After losing six babies in miscarriage, I was honored to adopt a daughter in China and a son in Nepal. The birth mothers of my children chose to protect them, give them life. Their decisions must have been difficult. But they chose life. In doing that, they gave the world two amazing people. And, the world is so much richer for that.

I often wonder who's missing in the world. Who should have been here? What contribution is the world missing because they're not here?

To me life matters. It matters to Sarah, too.

Sarah Palin is pro-life. Really. Always. She's pro-life when her doctor reveals her son has an extra chromosome. She's pro-life when she's about to be a grandmother at 44. She walks the talk. That says a lot about her character, her priorities, her faith.

I Like Sarah

I like Sarah Palin.

There. I said it.

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to try to articulate why I like her and why I think she is a credible candidate for the vice presidency. The reasons won't be in order of priority. They'll just be written as I think, ponder, and have time to write.