A True Believer?

Yes, I’m questioning my own chosen name in my first entry …

I picked the name because of one of the themes that’s been coming up in political conversations I’ve had lately, but it should also apply to my spiritual life … and thus the name is to remind me.

But, first, a brief introduction to me … As Rich Mullins put it, I’ve been broken and I’ve been saved. I’ve learned to cry and I’ve learned how to pray, and I’m learning even I can be changed.

I have been a wild, arch-conservative Republican. But something happened when I was saved, and I spent several years learning to mesh my politics and my faith. A lot of things had to change. I am now much more moderate, and some of my conservative friends have expressed fears that I’m some kind of liberal.

My faith has been tried and tested. In much of that, I feel like I failed, but God proved that He would never fail. That, of course, was the point of the testing. Just four years ago, I would rather have died than continue living the life that I had before me. An abusive marriage, alienation from my sons, depression, and a general sense of failure were my daily companions. Through it all, though, God proved that He was my other companion. And He kept me surrounded by people who cared about me and loved me, even if I hated myself. These were the people who would push for a real answer when they asked, “How are you?” I couldn’t get away with “Okay.”

But God is good. Again, to quote Rich Mullins … What I’d have settled for, You’ve blown so far away. What You brought me to, I thought I could not reach.

Of course, that’s because I could not have reached it. But He could carry me here. Wow …

In any event, here I am. I want to talk about who I am, what I think, and how it all relates. Mostly, I figure I’ll talk about politics and faith, two of my passions. You won’t be able to escape music or my family, though … that’s just who I am.

The name, by the way, actually came from a Lionel Cartwright song. It’s about a man who has gone through a number of trials, but the chorus declares, “These are stormy times we’re going through, but I remain a true believer.”

I believe in God, the creator of the universe and everything that is, was, or will be. I believe in His Son, Jesus. He died for me, personally. And I believe that the Holy Spirit is here with me, protecting me and making it possible for me to believe and to serve.

One of the ways that I am to serve is to bring His truth into the world. To serve the people He created. That has to include my politics, I’m convinced. I’m meant to apply all of my faith to my politics — my belief in moral law (abortion, homosexuality, etc.) as well as believing in social justice (defending the poor and weak) and being a good steward of God’s creation.

We’ll see where all of this goes, and what it all means. I don’t have a grand plan for what I have in mind, although there are some ideas rattling around in my mind. You’re welcome to join me.