dear mr. president

dear Mr. President,
with all possible respect,
because i fully believe that you've been set in place by God and that your obligation is to Him first,
us second,
please understand the job that is yours.
leading, not dividing, the American people.
this health care bill has become your idol, your pearl of great price for which, it appears, you will sell anything. democracy even?
so i appeal to you on behalf of the adults in this country who are watching this juvenile argument over issues that need not carry this weight.
we live in a democracy. you are responsible to lead a democracy.
what we see, however, is your whole-hearted pursuit of a dictatorship under which all national decisions fall on you, and to whichever advisors you prefer to listen.
please do not make this a democrat vs. republican fight. please forego the blaming.
this is a democratic, a representative, issue. and the reality is that men and women in Congress, with complete freedom of speech and vote, have chosen on behalf of the Americans whom they represent that funding this health care bill is not in the best interest of the whole, though it indeed appears to be in your best interest, the best interest of your pride...perhaps.
because, as far as i've been informed to date, America is a democracy rather than a dictatorship, you, mr. president, have the responsibility to do what is best for the people based on what the people desire and what their representatives choose.
i imagine that, in your marriage, you do not steamroll your wife when she wants something that is different from what you want. i imagine that you have to stand down at times and adjust your desires and form some sort of compromise - because of your love for your wife - for the ultimate good of the marriage.
please show the American people that they are priority, that unity is paramount. please show them your character, your leadership. please show the world why America is respectable and stable and most of all, united.
please humble yourself, sir, and be willing to let your pride suffer a loss, so that one step back can lead to many more steps forward.
i plead with you, see the panoramic whole. think beyond 2013. this tunnel vision is less that beneficial for the long term and for we, the people of the United States.

respectfully,
tammy dykstra
grand rapids, michigan.

abundance

to my 5.
if i could communicate anything to you over our next 3 years together it is this picture of God,
He who modeled for you how to pursue joy and righteousness,
He who is not primarily concerned with your happiness and comfort - though, yes, He says that these are good things! - but these are not the qualities that will develop your character and these will not equip you with the strength to walk victoriously through life's trials.
He is concerned with your deep and lasting growth, your holiness and humility, that you might know Him as richly as possible.
this world teaches (and will only do more so) that God's love means
that He is willing to accept unrepentant sin,
that He encourages men and women to satisfy every desire that stirs within them,
and that ultimately He will overlook every sin, every rejection of Him and allow all men access to joy in His presence for eternity.
know, dear ones, that God has spoken clearly (though not necessarily simply) in the Bible
that He cannot and will not tolerate any sin that is not both covered by the costly blood of Jesus and removed from daily life,
that joy is found when walking according to His desires alone,
and that the way to the Father is by faith alone, through grace alone, through Jesus alone, and that this relationship is made evident only by the fruit of a pure and transformed life.
be willing to sacrifice anything that does not make His name greater,
be willing to suffer the loss of any desire that doesn't purify you to become more like Jesus,
be willing to deny yourself any pleasure that only increases your appetite for the empty way of life that this world so liberally extends to you.
deny yourself, take up your cross, for the joy set before you.

refuse to settle for the muddy poisoning water when the pure, life-giving water is freely given to you. and with it abundant joy.

 

^"15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. ¹⁶ For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life,.."  [Deuteronomy 30]