Contrary to contemporary teaching, from the pulpit and elsewhere, Scripture is full of rather harsh messages. Because God is a loving God He sometimes has to be as stern as He is clear in order to get our attention.

And make no mistake about it: God can be very stern. Numbers 35 tells us He abhors abortion. Leviticus chapter 18 informs us that He considers homosexuality an abomination. And Romans 5 lets us know He is at war with sin.

So in distributing the firm word of God to an unrepentant world, are we as His ambassadors called to be equally firm in our delivery?

The collective voice of Jeremiah, Micah and Jesus give us some insight. In telling the children of God to repent and return to God, Jeremiah cried, Micah wailed and Jesus wept.

In short, God’s word shows us that it takes a tender hearted man to deliver God’s hardest messages.

To tell a woman to say no to abortion; to tell a man in love with another man to stop sinning; to rebuke a brother, to reject the devil…it takes a tender hearted man.

To be the head of his house; to husband one wife; to be a leader in his church; to speak God’s truth…in love…to a fallen and sinful world; it takes a Godly tender hearted man.

There’s much consternation in the Christian community today – Election Day – over the choice of candidates being offered: and not just in the Presidential race.

Right on down the line, Congress, State Senate, Assembly as well as judicial and local campaigns most are being criticized for being a choice of the lesser of two evils.

And we have no one to blame but ourselves. Candidly, while it’s true Governor Palin was plucked from the ranks, Christians are largely absent from these campaigns. One reason is that many believe politics isn’t our place. But I would disagree.

Psalm 29:2 says “when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice”. The only way to be righteous is to be right with God. Government is authority. So in other words, when Christian men filled with the Holy Spirit are in public office, the people are saved.

Psalm 2 tells us it is God’s plan that rulers and leaders of the world be full of wisdom and knowledge: where does that come from? Fear of the Lord of course. Better that one start the job fully equipped than we suffer from on-the-job training.

The men of Issachar were men of God who understood the times and knew what to do. Isn’t that who we want to promote, elect and follow?

Our founding fathers established this country on Christian principles: isn’t it time we righted a floundering country on them as well?

We have 365 days until the next Election Day; the time to start looking for next year’s candidates; is today.

In the 11th chapter of the book of Zechariah, the prophet cries out “woe to the idol shepherd that leave the flock”. He didn’t say idle as in inactive, it’s idol as in a symbol of worship.

Shepherds in the body of Christ are always caregivers: pastors is one form, fathers another. Another way of saying what Zechariah had in mind is “Woe to Dad’s who selfishly leave their children unprotected”. Certainly that applies to the thousands of men everywhere who selfishly procreate and then abandon; but it also applies to the thousands of men who abandon in order to recreate.

You know the type: absentee dads whose idols are their golf clubs, their bicycles, their boats; men who honorably work all week, but then dishonor themselves by playing all weekend. Recreation is fine, idolatry is a sin; taking a break is healthy, neglect kills. If you’re in danger of abandoning your family and your God in order to recreate, you need to stop.

Woe to idol shepherds who abandon their flock; husbands and dads who abandon their wives and kids. Matthew 12:29 says when a good man is bound, his house is spoiled. Don’t give place to the devil; don’t let play ruin your good work.