About whom do I refer? (Careful now, it might be a trick question.)
1. He’s no patriot, but serves only himself
2. He is “great” only in a corrupt worldly sense of greatness.
3. He is ambitious as a ruthless authoritarian
4. He pretends to be on the same page as religious conservatives who are interested in their own acquisition of power
5. He has been married multiple times and cheated on his wives more times than anyone knows
6. He clearly displays narcissistic and sociopathic disorders
7. He’s obsessed with the sexuality of his own female relatives
8. He’s a blowhard who can’t stand the thought of anyone thinking he’s weak
9. His role model was an abusive and temperamental father
10. He is a sexual predator who boasts about his conquests with women
11. He is a tyrant, notorious for putting down his political rivals
12. In his paranoia to hold on to power, he cares nothing for inflicting “collateral damage” on innocents
barney wiget 
Hmm. Could it be the guy who has gutted the Supreme Court for his own purposes while ignoring the protest of tens of thousands of his fellow citizens? But that’s a back page story compared with what he has on his plate now. God help us and the innocents of war.
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For sure. But think much further back in history of a man who “our man” mirrors in many ways… they could almost be twins…
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Barney,
I find it perplexing and frustrating, as I think of Christians who have fallen under his spell. How does a true Christian embrace such obvious deception? It’s so sad they don’t realize they are being used.
They are his just his steppingstones to the position of power he so craves. Could it be that it works both ways?
Someone should go on Dateline or something to educate Americans about cults. They could do so without getting into political issues, so it doesn’t look like it has anything to do with, well, you know.
The condition of our world makes me very, very sad.
Florentine
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Can you think of his twin in Jesus’ time?
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I agree with you Barney about this person. Now, what do we do about it? Is it enough to beat our breasts and talk about what an awful person he or others are? Do we have faith that God is still sovereign and live out of that faith?
Our faith is in our loving creator who calls us to trust and rely on Him even when we are called to do things that make no worldly sense or are even scary. Can we leave behind our own comfort like Abraham did and go where God is leading us? Even if that means letting go of our pride and reaching out to those who disagree with us? Where is God leading each of us today? I have living and long gone heroes of my faith. At least one of them you know as well Barney. He totally trusts God (at least as far as I can see) to provide for all he does in the tenderlion in San Francisco.
Maybe God is not calling me to do that but He is calling me to love my neighbors (even the unlikeable ones). He calls me to listen to them and to Him. And then He calls me to listen. It is by His strength that I share the gospel in His way not by my own meager efforts. For some of us even sharing the Gospel is an act of faith. Oh my goodness what if someone doesn’t like me?
Sometimes it is “Really God, you want me to reach out the that person on the BART that everyone else is avoiding? Can’t I just read my book and rest after a long day of work?”
I am blessed to have you as a friend Barney and I know that you are so much more than words on a blog. You are another one of my heroes of the faith.
I am learning about taking care of a lawn. It was overrun with weeds what do I do? Can I use chemicals to kill the weeds and live with the other drawbacks of putting poison on my lawn? I have chosen to fertilize and cultivate the lawn as best as I can with the hopes that a healthy lawn will eventually overtake the weeds. It is working, but very slowly. Can I be patient enough to keep cultivating good relationships and doing what I can to point to Him who can deliver others from bondage and fill others with His righteousness? If the world has more healthy people and fewer weeds I know it will make a difference. I choose to ignore the “Yeah buts” . As in “Yeah but what about this person or situation.” As you expounded on so well in your book “What On Earth” “Blessed be the peacemakers for they shall be known as children of God.”
My apologies for going so far off subject. I have been reading and praying about the book of Romans. That’s my excuse and I am sticking with it.
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