Politics, Elections, Primaries, Political Polls, Candidates, issues, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, Liberal, Conservative . . .  These are the words that we hear every newscast 24 hours a day / 7 days a week when we have state or national elections every couple of years.

Every candidate, every political party, wants to tell you what is wrong about his or her opponents’ point of view. Then the populace gets involved. We begin to build our case, fortify our positions, and hurl the bombs of accusations at our enemies hoping to destroy their position, party, and get them to raise the flag of surrender.

We turn our attention the issues; those all important deal makers or deal breakers that we base our choice of party and candidate on. Issues such as foreign policy, economy, abortion and Planned-Parenthood, immigration (non-documented foreigners), refugees, terrorism (both domestic and international), Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender legislation and court battles, and the list goes on.

(a caveat) I am NOT running for any office!  I do NOT have that desire! I will vote for the individual(s) that I believe will best lead our country in the direction I see that it needs to go.

Here is the main point for me. Our country has problems! We always have and I suppose always will.  As long as imperfect people run our government and as long as imperfect people vote for our officials we will have problems. Our problems are not taxes. Our problems are not foreign policy. Our problem is not Israel, the Middle-East, or the War on Terror.  Our problem is not the funding of Planned-Parenthood, LGBT rights, abortion, the death penalty, nor the Affordable Health Care Act.  Our problem is not educational standards. Our problem is not a lottery or lack thereof. These are the symptoms of our problem.

Our National Problem is deeper than the issues.  Our National Problem starts in our homes, our mosques, synagogues, temples, and church buildings. No, our National Problem starts with each individual. One might refer to our National Problem as entitlement, selfishness, or egocentricity. However you describe it, we lack delayed gratification, self control, and do not practice self-denial. We want to blow-up terrorist because they hurt us.  We want to put all criminal to death quickly because they endanger me and are a heavy tax burden. We want our children educated without having to put in any effort at home. We want abortions because a pregnancy is an inconvenience to us at this time. We want to live with, marry, divorce and remarry whom we want because we feel we have the right to make ourselves happy right now.  We want a lottery so we can win and never have to work to get what we want. We want access to health care and government aid without having to work for it because we feel entitled. We want this group or that group hushed up, backed into a corner, and marginalized because we think they want to keep us from being happy and practicing what we want to practice. We do not want to be refused service, but want the right to refuse service to others.  We are SELFISH.

Christian, before you point the finger at the world, remember the words of Paul in Romans 2:1-4, “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

Here is what I am asking each of us to do – myself included.  Take time each day, starting with this moment, and check your motivation. Evaluate your own life and agenda. Why do you stand where you stand? Why do you treat people the way you do? Why do you hate, argue, bite, and devour others? Will you change what needs to change in YOU?

• Scott