Simply put, this year's presidential election is driving me nuts! .. And sadly, it's not only me. .. From all indications, it's tearing the country apart .. a country that is already suffering from growing social unrest, renewed racism, rapidly increasing mental disorders .. the list goes on & on ......  The whole political rhetoric seems to be solely centered around completely negative things such as sexual misbehavior, personal health problems, bullying, name-calling .. you name it, if it's in the 'negative' playbook, it's being brought forward to destroy any and all credibility of EVERYONE! .. To me, the real tragedy here is the missed opportunity for a more healing message from either political party that would help stop the rapid deterioration of a once-productive nation. .. Having said that, my focus is based more upon how our Christian leaders are responding to this whole debacle. .. It would seem, especially after looking at this week's comments, that more & more of them are crawling upon the 'Trump Train' for the sole purpose of defeating Hillary Clinton. .. The general feeling is that even though Donald Trump isn't maybe the best choice, at least he is the lesser of two evils in their eyes! ... Unbelievable! .. To me, this is like choosing Ba'al over Lucifer! .. As I've said so many times in the past, evil is evil, no matter how one tries to justify it. .. The tragedy that Christian leaders are portraying in America today is just how much this 'nationalist' movement is destroying the Church. .. It would seem that they are willing to discard any or all of the Bible's truths in order to advance this ultimately fatal agenda. .. I sometimes want to weep when I witness the pure hypocrisy of these people! .. I mean, one Sunday they will profess 'separation of Church & State,' while on the next Sunday they will be promoting a certain candidate or agenda that directly relates to the State! .. What?! .. Guess having it both ways helps them increase their own personal power & popularity while also keeping them involved in federal tax-savings programs. .. Wow!... Again, the hypocrisy is mind-boggling! .. Let me share a paragraph I used in the "Prayer or Politics" commentary from 2012 to emphasis the fallacy of the 'Separation of Church & State' issue ... "As for the political side of this 'separation,' I could care less .. but it does concern me when it comes to our Christian walk if and when we should become involved in the political process. .. So to start, I went to Webster's Dictionary and looked up the word 'separation.' .. The most apparent definitions were:  being separated; break apart; division; living apart; disunite; to severe; not associated ... OK, so now for a moment, let's pretend that I am going to run for office. .. If I'm elected, it won't be so bad. .. I only have to leave the Lord at home each day to wait for me because He's not allowed at work. .. Again, that's not so bad. .. After all, I can spend time with Him some evenings and most always on Sunday mornings. ....... You get the point. .. Isn't it obvious? .. To be totally true to our Lord & Savior, we should NEVER separate Him from anything! .. The result for compromise will ultimately lead to destruction! I know I'm addressing a very sensitive topic here with many of you .. so .. the only way for me to support my thoughts is to bring forth scripture. .. First of all, we Christians, if we follow the truth, will NOT be considered very popular in this society, or any where else for that matter. .. 1 Peter 1:1 says,  "To God's elect, strangers in the world..." .. John 15:18-19 says,  "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you." As for our Christian leaders, it is my humble opinion that if at any time they openly support ungodly persons/agendas, there is no defense for it. .. In fact the defenses I am hearing today fall into the 'pathetic' category! .. 1 Timothy 4:1 says,  "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." .. There are so many more scriptures I could share with you, but for the sake of time, let's move forward. .. Now even though some will feel like they are helpless without the human political process, I want to show you that you are not. .. We have many weapons to fight with, but they are of a different nature that the worldly person can relate to. .. Ephesians 6:12 tells us this .. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm."  .. One more .. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says it clearly .. "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." .. In closing, I want to encourage each of you to stay strong in these increasingly difficult days. .. Also remember that Jesus tells us that we will NOT be accepted .. "I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. .. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." .. John 17:14-16 ... These are Jesus' own words .. the 'Red Letters' ...... But Jesus also tells us this .. "In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world." .. Hallelujah! ... The bottom line is this. .. If we know who the true Savior is, and we try our best to follow the blueprint for salvation that He has given us, we have NOTHING to fear. .. No, we won't be winning any popularity contests, but oh well, our victory lies with Him in eternal life filled with joy & happiness! .. Again, hallelujah! ... Until next time, Red