Saturday, November 19, 2022

D.L. Gardner: Where Does Hope Come From?

 Over the past 3 to 4 years many of my Christian friends have summarized our conversations saying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Some might see that as a sign of hope, while others, particularly secular friends would see that as a sign of hopelessness. Frankly, I see it as a sincerely hopeful sign. Maranatha!

Last week’s election was the latest political news that just keeps on giving grief. Who won what? How long will it take this time to count the votes? Why would states send a ballot to every voter in the state, but require nothing more than a signature to validate a vote? In about half of the states voters can drop their ballots into unmanned drop boxes, or ask someone else to drop off their ballot. Some refer to this method of voting as ballot harvesting. What could go wrong with that?


What’s the difference between a ballot and a vote? Evidently in this year’s midterm elections ballots favored Democrats and votes favored Republicans. In Pennsylvania’s senate race for example, Republican candidate Oz drew 500,000 more voters to the polls on election day than Democratic candidate Fetterman. Nevertheless, more than 868,000 voters sent their ballots by mail for Fetterman, while Oz’s mail-in numbers were one-fourth of that. 


In the November 12 edition of Coffee & Covid, Jeff Childers wrote, “It’s obviously not about total votes. Republicans got six million more votes nationally than democrats. Republicans were more organized than we’ve ever been. We were more motivated than we’ve ever been. Everybody, even democrats, expected a much larger red wave.”


Perhaps the biggest factor affecting the election was not how MANY voted, but HOW people voted. The COVID-19 pandemic and panic in 2020 led at least 28 states to change their voting rules to allow more people to vote by mail in that year’s elections. The group Nonprofit Vote said, “For the first time ever, more people voted early with a mail ballot or in-person than filled out a ballot at the polls on Election Day.”


Election results for both sides have been a big purple fizzle. With President Biden in the White House, Democrats holding the Senate, and Republicans scratching out a small majority in the House, Americans can expect more of the same for the next two years. Biden said he wasn’t going to change anything because what he’s been doing is working. Sixty-five percent of likely voters say the U.S. is heading in the wrong direction. 


Inflation is likely to remain high putting increasing pressure on household budgets. Americans are already tired of higher gas and grocery bills, and U.S. economic news looks like stagnation. We’re still as divided as ever over social issues. Illegal immigration across our southern border looks like it will be a mainstay, and those numbers will fuel rising crime rates.


Are there any bright spots for America? Christians will always see bright spots because we have always trusted the Lord more than the government or politicians. We are very likely to see another huge government-created-and-declared emergency like the pandemic in the next two years. Politicians were delighted with the power they gave themselves over the people. And, the people demonstrated we’d rather be safe during government emergencies than exercise our personal freedoms and rights. Even so, come Lord Jesus! 


Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.

5 comments:

Krusatyr said...

"Hope" in hard times drives humans to be creative, hard working and willing to sacrifice. Elon Musk and Ukraine are better examples of creative leadership, lately, than American politics.

Anonymous said...

"Scream to God.
He can't hear you."

Anonymous said...

Gardner is still an election denier despite the absence of ANY evidence that fraud impacted the results of ANY election. Next he will tell us that Trump will Make America Great Again. As usual, just consider the source.

Anonymous said...

DL has never read any State law about ballots and what's required, seen the ballots,and ignores completely that first a citizen has to be REGISTERED to vote!
The "proof" of citizenship comes then.
Then DL uses Christianity to politicize his "causes" like an ISIS supporting Iman or an Inquisitor or Cotton Mather!
This was NOT how Jesus spoke or how he taught his disciples. This is the stuff of "false prophets".
True Christians that live their faith have hope always , not from politicians but from the Resurrection and Jesus' Sermon on the Mount which DL never quotes and perhaps missed reading.

Anonymous said...

The Republican strategy has always been to keep as many voters out of the system as possible. If every person in the country voted, the Republicans would lose handily. If you don’t want mail in voting, then make Election Day a national holiday. Republicans would never go for that, but they aren’t too fond of democracy so screw them!


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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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