Mr. President!

Well, yes, one of them will be announced as President of the United States when all of the votes are tabulated and the Electoral College certifies the results. It's been the most hotly contested election in my 71 years because of the candidates themselves and the polarities of the two predominate political parties. It is estimated that more than $5.2 billion has been spent in the presidential race and another $5.6 billion in congressional contests around the country. The White House is up for grabs as well as controlling interest in both houses of Congress. We've listened to party platforms, candidate blather, all the games humans can play with the truth, promises on top of promises, media bias, group dynamics, religious twists and turns, and just about every imaginable political scheme. Technology and social media have brought it into our living rooms in spite of our efforts to safeguard our children. Election 2020 displays us divided as never before. The American dream seems more fairly tale than real right now. Lord help us!

Whether it is Mr. Trump or Mr. Biden should actually be irrelevant to me. Of a truth, I do have personal preferences about their party affiliation, stances on a catalog of campaign issues, and all of the other distinctions that place them in one camp or another. Even so, all of those distinctions slip to the margins when #46 is announced. When the oath of office is administered he will be Mr. President to me. Scripture then becomes my new norm for whoever is elected. So, what then is the biblical instruction about my reaction to #46---

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except

from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists

the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur

judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no

fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his

approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he

does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries

out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to

avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay

taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all

what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is

owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Romans 13: 1-7, ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving

made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a

peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing

in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the

knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God

and men, the man Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2: 1-5, ESV

These texts remind us that Christians are expected to submit, do good, respect, and pray for those who lead our nation. The highlighted portions give us the specifics of that relationship. This week we will have a new President and administration. Whether they are our preference or not, we must obey these biblical instructions.

Whoever it is, I plan to call him Mr. President!

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Next Chapters.

Today the Holmes children are signing the final papers transferring our family house to a sweet young couple with two little boys. It is the house that our parents built in 1957 when I was eight years old, Michael four years old, and Christie an infant. Our parents lived together @ 407 Cherokee Drive for more than fifty years, and our dad more than 10 additional years after mother's death. Even though we all went to college, eventually married and moved away, it has been home to us most of our lives. This past weekend we spent some time together in this house, rehearsed the precious memories that have lingered, and thanked God that our parents, Esther and Chester Holmes transformed this house into a real home for our entire family.

Esther and Chester were Christians and faith was an essential component of our lives together. This home was constructed on a firm biblical foundation and was old school Baptist to the core. Church was a strong influence in our lives. You know, church at least three times every week and all of the special occasions in the Christian year. Looking back now there's no doubt that faith was a strong factor in their turning the house at 407 Cherokee Drive into a real home. Scripture brings great clarity to this life process---

For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever.

My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

2 Chronicles 7: 16, ESV

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the

rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24: 3-4, ESV

Two special elements of this house give the three of us a sense of certainty about the house we are entrusting to another family. One, our dad planted a dogwood tree to commemorate the birth of every grandchild. Five dogwood trees announced Liz, Brian, Matt, Mollie, and Josh. In an odd twist the tree marked for our son Brian actually died months after his physical death in 2011. Today, the remaining four are thriving and will hopefully bring joy to the new family when they make this house their residence. Two, the young couple who purchased the house wrote us a letter after viewing it and making the decision to purchase it. They sensed the "...precious and pleasant riches" that has been part of our home life. We are thankful to entrust our home to their stewardship.

So, it's another chapter of life. A house is sold and the joys of home are now multiplied in our family units. These new owners will have to turn that house into a home, and the rest of us will replicate the home life we experienced there with the promise that ours will be a beloved and remembered home as well. Our challenge is to move forward into these next chapters equipped with the memories and lessons learned in that blessed home our parents so gladly created for us.

'Tis the season.

So, there they are, November and December. They are just months of the year, the final two in our system. But, in them are the potential of scripting a brighter, lighter finale to Drama 2020 and Mr. Mayhem. Their strategic placement at the end of our year is just one of those God things that rivets my focus somewhat. All year many of us have been humming "Woe is Me" tunes. Then comes November and December and we're singing about gratitude, angels, a manger, Christ the king, and the blessings of life. They are the many physical, emotional, and spiritual lifts most of us need after Drama 2020 and the year of Mr. Mayhem.

Sadly, many Americans will forego the deeper life truths of these two special seasons. Poverty, distress, racial tension, social unrest, the realities of the human condition, and election 2020 give many Americans a bad taste at year end. Thankfulness isn't the mood of every American. Two elements of the Christian worldview should mark my path during these final months of 2020---

1. I should be thankful in all circumstances.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5: 18, ESV). Being thankful for life is more than appreciation for our financial or material blessings. All of us should give thanks for even the most elemental blessings entrusted to us. You know, like breathing right now.

2. In the spirit of Thanksgiving I should help someone who is less fortunate.

Dozens of Scriptures affirm the joys and blessings of helping others. Thanksgiving season is a choice time to express our gratitude to God by assisting those around us who have special needs. The anonymous author of Hebrews wrote, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God" (Hebrews 13: 16, ESV). Thanksgiving is a great reminder to shift our hearts from self to others.

Then, there is the Christmas season. Of course it is the season of giving. At root in this blessed time of the year is the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ our Lord. He is our eternal source of peace and hope. And you know it's true, peace and hope should script a blessed finale to Drama 2020.

1. Christ brings peace into our tumultuous lives.

In Drama 2020, the year of mayhem, who of us couldn't use a little peace. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5: 1, ESV).

2. Christ is our source of eternal hope.

Sadly many individuals are disheartened and discouraged by the circumstances of life, especially in the year of Drama 2020. Again, the Apostle Paul wrote, "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5: 2, ESV).

So, fast forward to November and December. They are months to celebrate the blessings of God. In the Thanksgiving spirit we can be grateful and express our gratitude by being watchful of others with special needs. Then, the Christmas season reminds us of the peace and hope that is ours in Jesus Christ.

Mr. Mayhem says "bah humbug", get a life. Still, 'tis the season. Rejoice and be glad.

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