Columns

Minister at Clayton and Rocky Mount United Methodist Churches M y wife and I have made several resolutions for the New Year. Do you have any Biblical advice about how we can keep them? Thank you for your question.

I’ve been watching television ads for people who want to be elected to office this year. Sometimes I hear so many things I’m not sure what to believe. I have also been reading about issues the newspapers and see some Christians voicing their opinion about various issues and even various candidates. As a Christian can I become involved in the political process? How far should I be involved? What great questions. Yes, I think we can be involved, with certain understandings. I am firmly convinced that the way to be a faithful citizen is to first be a faithful Christian. The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Our civic involvement certainly begins with prayer. We recognize that God has established government as a means of ensuring peace and stability in our society. Therefore, we are to respect those in elected office and those who serve us in a public capacity. We do this, as Paul told the Roman church, as a matter of conscience (Roman 13:5).

Monday is Halloween, a time in which a lot of activities are planned. We encourage participation but also ask that everyone take precautions and be safe. Hopefully, around here we don’t have some of the concerns other places have but it’s always better to be on the safe side. Remember, trick or treating is for the children, not the grownups so let the children enjoy their time dressing up in their costumes and having fun with activities. Motorists need to watch for children crossing the street. Have fun and be safe!

Our Alabama Congressional delegation will all be reelected next month, as usual. We are no different than any other state when it comes to the incumbency advantage of being a congressperson. When someone is elected to the U.S. Congress, they are usually there for life unless they run for higher office. They probably would not be defeated unless they killed someone and that probably would not be enough. It would probably depend on who they killed. The Congress is so divided and acrimonious along party lines that if they killed another member of Congress from a different party it would probably help them and enshrine them in their seat for life. The reelection rate for members of the U.S. Congress is over 93 percent. That is similar to the Communist Russian Politburo. Our Congress is more akin to the British parliament where they quasi own their seat.

The new superintendent of Barbour County Schools already has knowledge about the responsibilities of the position. That’s because he has been serving as interim superintendent since August and he has served most recently as superintendent of Bullock County Schools in Union Springs.