This past weekend we were down in Cornwall again for both services. Since it was the Thanksgiving long weekend here in Canada, we went down Saturday night and stayed over at our friends hotel in Massena, New York just across the border.

It also allowed for us to save some driving time on Sunday, as after the morning service we had to drive to the in-laws for Thanksgiving dinner and then back to Cornwall for the evening service. My wife and I stayed over in Massena Sunday night and the kids stayed with the grandparents.

In the morning service I wrapped up the series I have been doing over the past weeks. I started by saying if you’re going to defy the odds, face your fears, reframe your problems, take a risk, and seize a God-ordained opportunity, you have to be willing to look foolish to those on the outside. Being in the will of God, no matter how it looks is never foolish.

We need to step out of the box, we shouldn’t always do things the way people would expect. We need to be creative. As a follower of Christ we should be the most passionate people.

I closed with how God gives us dreams. Sometimes those dreams are filled with false starts. But the dream doesn’t die. God keeps feeding the dream. God is the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time. When we pursue the calling, God leads us on the journey.

In the evening service I talked about being a Citizen of a New Kingdom. It was a message that was relevant to our upcoming week (tonight really as I post this recap), and in the next 15-20 days in the US. It was a message that was influenced by Jim Wallis and Shane Claibourne both of Sojourners magazine.

I talked about how it is a sad day when the cross gets replaced in the church by a flag or a political party platform. I talked where our allegiance should be, as citizens of a new kingdom, via our rebirth, to Jesus Christ. Our central identity has changed because we have been reborn. Our identity is changed and our primary identity is being part of the church. We should not be tied to any political party or platform, the “platform” that Christians need to stand for is the Word of God.

I then closed with a list of issues that as Christians we should be concerned about, as we should not be single issue voters.

Last weekend our family went down to Kettering, Ohio (around Dayton for those that do not know), for the BMX Racing - Redline Cup East Finals. The race series is spilt into 3 regions; East, Central and West. The three riders on Soul BMX Racing qualified earlier this summer at the qualifier event in Horseheads, New York.

While down in Ohio, Sunday morning the Prime Minister Stephen Harper dropped the writ to dissolve the Canadian government and launch another election here in Canada. There are a few things about this Canadian election on the one south of the border that I wanted to post on. Here are some brief bullets on them

a. Canadian Electorial Law says the election period is 36-days.

“The Canada Elections Act stipulates that the writ shall not be issued or dated later than the 36th day before polling day, making the minimum length of a federal election 36 days.” (source: ““>The Canadian Electoral System,” Library of Parliament)

I worked at Elections Canada in the IT War Room a few Elections ago - June 2004, it was pretty boring…the most interesting part was having to learn the 36 day period and the specifics that are required to be completed within those 36 days. 36-Day Election Calendar”>Here is a link

The difference it seems is that the US Election has been going on for ever. Yes, the political parties have been posturing in a minority government for the last few years and have been engaging in some election rhetoric, not nothing like down south…no Primaries here. In some ways made that wouldn’t be some bad.

b. The big one I have noticed is that Barack Obama is more popular with Canadians then any of the political party leaders running for Prime Minister.

Obama for Prime Minister website

Obamamania Hits Canada

69% of Canadians would vote for Obama if they could in the US.

c. Political Signage - Every trip the US during this lengthy political process I have noticed a lack of political signs on the landscape. Maybe it is just the routes I take. I don’t think I saw any signs any where. This confused me, is there a law in the States that prohibits them? If someone knows, or has one on their lawn or the corner of their street please take a snapshot and send to be reg [at] radiantjourney.ca. When we got back to Rockland late Sunday night / earlt Monday morning, remember the Parliament was dissolved Sunday morning. There were signs everywhere, at the corner into Rockland, there were both the Liberal and Conservative party signs, and some lawn signs as well. More and more are being planted each day all over the place, every intersection soon will be covered. When in Guatemala during their election, this was a whole new level of craziness, signs, caravans and parades were everywhere. We got stuck in one going to remote village for a church service.

d. Need for another party to rise to credible levels. In Canada there are now 5 parties that are going to be represented in the leaders debates: Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Bloc Quebecois, Green Party. The Bloc is a regional party only having candidates in the province of Quebec ridings. The Green party has risen to new heights, they had a sitting MP for a few days before the election was called. Maybe it is time for another party to gain some ground, to shake some things up, I am glad that the Green Party leader Elizabeth May is now going to be included in the leaders debate.
In the US it sure would be good that there is a credible party that could rise and shake the political landscape up a bit. Rather then the two-horse race. Not a Ralph Nader or Ross Perot, but a sustainable party.

Just a few things noticed.

I have finally completed the book by Barack Obama, “The Audacity of Hope.”

After watching the never ending US political process for the past (what 7 years) months, and coverage on blogs, CNN etc. I had come to conclusion sometime ago that I, if I had a vote, I would vote for Obama.

After reading the book, I would would say that it did nothing but confirm that I would vote for Obama. There may be a few positions that I may not agree with him on, but I would still vote for him.

“It wasn’t just the struggles of these men and woman that had moved me. Rather it was their determination, their self reliance, a relentless optimism in the face of hardship……The audacity of hope…That was the best of the American spirit, I thought - having the audacity to believe despite all the evidence to the contrary that we could restore a sense of community to a nation torn by conflict; the gall to believe that despite personal setbacks, the loss of a job or an illness in the family or a childhood mired in poverty, we had some control - and therefore responsibility - over own fate.” (pg 365, The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama)

Here is an good article to read from the New York Times.

“Taking Their Faith, but Not Their Politics, to the People”

(Hat Tip: Don Ryan)

Tags: NewYork Times, Faith, Politics, Evangelical

Here is a good summary (Hat Tip: Daily Kos) of the recent hoopla on the Clinton Trip to Bosnia. I am sure you have seen the clip

Does she really think that flies. I mean if you listen to how she details the explanation not just once, but repeatedly over the course of time, it is clear that there is a fabrication of the facts. We see the video, we hear what she says, not just one statement or a word or two….a full story of the events that she retells that is completely obvious after watching the video is not the truth of the real events. I am sorry, but if you were really under sniper attack, you don’t forget that, especially when your daughter was there with you. Mothers typically will do anything to protect their children, so if your daughter and you are under attack, I would expect you to remember vividly. I mean this story is not just a blip as she says, this is an incredible misleading of the facts. Talk about an imagination, please don’t pick up the phone at 3 am.

Come on Hillary…..honestly!

As I have written before, I am not a big fan on Hillary Clinton’s leadership or politics. That being said, check this video out. (Hat Tip: DailyKos) How can someone take leadership like this seriously. I mean, stretching the truth or what. What is the point of embellishing this story.

I will update this unscientific poll as I get more results:

Total People polled: 12 [updated x2]
Obama: 3
Clinton: 4 [updated]
McCain: 0
Undecided: 2
Not Voting: 2 [updated]

It seems that everyone I have talked too here has really been weighing both candidates on the Democrat side.  No one I have talked too so far is a McCain supporter.

Here is an interesting read from The Nation - "Who Would Jesus Vote For?"

Tags: The_Nation, Vote, Politics, News

I wonder when I am down in Pennsylvania next week if I can get one of these for my lawn

Here are my random thoughts on the US Presidential Race thus far. I am Canadian for those reading this that may not know, so I do not get a vote in the process, so these are views from an outsider. Kind of long, hope it makes sense.

- US political system is much more complicated then ours in Canada. At least it seems that way to me. Primaries (open & closed), caucuses, delegates, super delegates, electoral college, etc. Even the differences on how the Republican and Democrats assign the delegates after voting in the primaries/caucuses differ, confusing to say the least.

- It looks like the younger generation is coming out to vote, after years and years of people saying the younger generation wouldn’t get engaged in the political process despite the efforts of many. Even in Canada we have low turnout with these generations in our elections. Seems to be more because it was the same old same old before, and now Obama is giving the message of change and hope that is connecting. It is a real chance to change the status quo of politics.

- It was said that Bill Clinton could capture a room and was a great orator. My feeling is that Bill Clinton is no where near the speaker that Obama is.

- Not sure where Hillary’s 35 years of experience comes from. Puzzling to me.

- Hillary keeps saying that Obama doesn’t have the Foreign Policy experience to become Commander-In-Chief. Where did Bill Clinton gets his when he ran for President. Does being a Governor count? If it does, why doesn’t Obama’s Senate position. Maybe I am missing something there.

- Seems that Hillary will stop at nothing to get into the office.

- Does Obama get a easier ride in the press. Not sure, but he doesn’t seem to have truck loads of baggage to bring up either. So, when you are running a positive campaign that has created a movement of supporters, then why wouldn’t that be positive press coverage. That is a huge story of this election.

- Hillary keeps saying that she will bring in Universal Health Care. Didn’t she try that before and it did not go through when Bill was in office? Was that Washington politics at play? Then will the same thing not happen again when she is president?

- I watched Romeo Dallaire’s documentary, "Shake Hands with the Devil" on CBC the other night. In that film, it was brought up that Bill Clinton failed the country of Rwanda (other countires did as well), turning its back on helping, and would not admit to the mistake, and he said he didn’t know what was going on in the country. Yeah right, read the book or ask Dallaire. Hillary was there when he visited the country after the genocide and made those statements. Is that part of the 35 years of experience that she is stumping. Not the experience I would want to claim. I wonder how she would answer the red phone.

- If Bush has such a low approval rating right now (mainly because of Iraq), and the biggest "strength" that McCain is citing is Foreign Policy and the war in Iraq. He would be basically continuing the Bush mantra on it, does that bold well for the election?

- If the economy is a big issue for this election, McCain is supposedly not strong on economics, does that bold well for November?

- If Hillary continues to push hard till the convention is it her plan to fracture the party so Obama can’t win in November? Basically ceding to McCain for 4 years to run again in 4 years.

- Is the Democrat establishment now realizing that it does not have to be Clinton’s party anymore. That the Clinton machine was not invincible.

- It doesn’t seem that Hillary is very open and real. She comes across as very calculated and scheming. Wouldn’t be someone that you could sit down and have a chat over coffee with.

- Where Hillary says it is "very personal" for her. Does she mean, "I want this position" or she has compassion for the issues.

- As you can tell I am not a big Hillary or Bill Clinton supporter.

- I used to be a Bush supporter.

- I would support Obama if I had a vote.

- Universal Health Care is good in theory in Canada, but is still a major issue here in Canada, because we have a massive wait time issue that needs to be dealt with; among others. I wonder how these plans being proposed intend to tackle that issue.

- Seriously, garnishing people’s wages? So if her plan is so expensive that it is unaffordable, she garnishes wages, ouch. I guess that is why my taxes are so high, similar I guess.

- I have heard that until the primaries on the calendar come closer, Obama was more of lesser known to people in some states. How is that possible nowadays with the media covering this as it is?

- Do people think that Bill is getting a third term and Hillary is still getting support because of the 1990’s? Talk about going retro.

- Can Obama keepthe momentum up? Does a prolonged race with Clinton benefit him? Does it get him tested before the Republicans can test him in the general?

- Could Canada have affected the Ohio vote? I hope not.

- I might pick up the book, "Audacity of Hope".

- I have become hooked on CNN election coverage.

- A Dream Ticket? - maybe for Clinton. I hope Obama doesn’t get railroaded to put her on the ticket with him. That hurts him in my opinion,

- Florida and Michigan - I don’t think you should change the rules of the game now. Everyone knew the delegates where taken away. Hillary brought this up, because she knows she needs to find a way around the system. Typical it seems, do anything to win.

- Did Mitt Romney’s faith cost him the nomination?

- I really like the following couple of posts from blogger friends, Brian Leport "Criteria For Cultural Engagement: A Defense" and Don Ryan "How I Plan to Vote On Tuesday".

- Next week I am on vacation in Pennsylvania. It will be interesting to be there a few weeks before the primary, never been down in the US during an election period. I wonder if will be like when I was in Guatemala with all the parades etc…I doubt it, that was crazy down there.