Monday, October 5, 2026

Dear Donald Trump

Written by Carina Cedrechi on Facebook (the bold type emphasis is mine): 

Dear Donald Trump,

So this is what it came to.

After all the rallies, promises, cameras, and people who believed you were different, this is where we are.

You had more money than most people could spend in ten lifetimes. You had power before, lost it, fought your way back, and convinced millions that the second time would be different.

A lot of people did not vote for perfection. They voted for relief.

They were deeply tired.

Tired of wars that never ended. Tired of another country to bomb, another enemy to fear, another sacrifice ordinary people had to make while the powerful stayed untouched. Tired of being told everything was fine while ordinary life became harder.

Then you looked people in the eye and said: no more wars.

You talked about transparency, corruption, and the Epstein files as though the locked doors would finally open and the public would finally see what powerful people had spent years hiding.

People believed you.

That is what makes this hurt.

Not because everybody thought you were a saint. They believed you because they had become so accustomed to being lied to that the possibility of someone finally telling the truth felt like oxygen.

And now the oxygen is gone.

What are people supposed to think when the man who promised to break the machine appears comfortable inside it? What are they supposed to feel when the man who said he would end wars stands beside the machinery that feeds on war? What are they supposed to believe when the secrets remain secret and Americans are handed another excuse?

You had something incredibly rare.

You had people who defended you when it cost them friendships. People who were mocked because they believed, right or wrong, that you were fighting something bigger than yourself.

Maybe that was the mistake.

Maybe they believed you loved this country more than you loved winning.

Maybe they believed there was a line inside you that money, applause and fear could not move.

That is the line people are looking for now.

And many cannot find it.

You convinced millions that you understood what it felt like to be hunted by a system too large to fight alone. That bonded you to people who already felt abandoned by that same system.

But pain can do two things.

It can make you more merciful.

Or it can make you want revenge.

And somewhere along the way, Americans began wondering whether you came back to heal the country or to settle accounts with it.

America did not need another emperor. It did not need another billionaire collecting trophies. It did not need another man surrounded by people terrified to tell him no.

It needed somebody strong enough to enter power without becoming addicted to it, and to keep promises after the cheering stopped.

The waitress counting tips after midnight.

The father doing math in his head at the gas pump.

The mother quietly putting something back at the grocery store.

The veteran watching another war begin on television.

Those were the people who needed you to mean it.

Not the donors. Not the consultants. Not the billionaires.

Them.

And that is why the disappointment feels intimate.

Because betrayal is not hatred.

Betrayal is what happens after trust.

You can only break the heart of someone who once handed it to you.

You once said you did not know whether you were going to heaven.

Maybe that question matters more than any poll ever will.

Because eventually there is no rally. No microphone. No motorcade. No television. No flags behind you.

There is only a man and the truth about what he did with the power he was given.

Money cannot negotiate that moment. Fame cannot intimidate it. History cannot be sued. A crowd cannot drown it out.

You were given a second chance that almost nobody receives.

A second chance to prove your enemies wrong and your supporters right.

A second chance to show that beneath the ego, anger and spectacle, there was still a man capable of choosing country over himself.

That is what people wanted to see.

Many are still waiting.

And maybe the saddest part is that some are no longer angry.

They are simply tired.

There is a point where disappointment becomes quiet. Where people stop arguing, defending, explaining, and simply look at someone differently.

That is the moment you should fear.

Not the screaming.

The silence.

Because silence is what happens when people stop expecting anything from you.

You had the microphone. You had the movement. You had the moment.

You had millions of people begging you to prove that power had not hollowed you out.

And if you lose them, it will be because they watched.

They listened.

They remembered what you promised.

And they decided for themselves.

The tragedy is not that America expected you to be perfect.

The tragedy is that America asked you to be better.

And millions are wondering whether you ever intended to be.

Sincerely,

The Americans who desperately wanted to believe you meant it. 

Saturday, July 18, 2026

When the Storm Comes

 This is me.

When the Storm Comes By Ullie Kaye https://www.facebook.com/share/p/



Monday, July 6, 2026

I’m Christian but not MAGA

https://www.salon.com/2024/03/29/my-challenge-as-a-christian-psychologist-help-evangelicals-see-for-he-really-is/

This article hits many of the reasons I, as a Christian, do not support Trump and was never part of the evangelical MAGA movement. He does not represent what the Bible says are the characteristics of a Godly leader but instead uses religion as a tool to advance himself and his political agenda rather than spiritual principles that glorify God. I question whether he is actually a Christian at all because there is little evidence of it in his behavior, words, and actions, but only God knows for sure. 

I was in the “anyone but Trump” camp during the 2024 election, choosing to vote for a third-party candidate instead. I previously identified politically as “Conservative Christian Republican” but if that aligns me with Trump and his current administration, then I guess I’m no longer all of that. Still a Christian, yes, but otherwise I’m politically homeless right now. 


Wednesday, February 4, 2026

The Danger of Stupidity

“Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. 

Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one’s prejudgment simply need not be believed – in such moments the stupid person even becomes critical – and when facts are irrefutable they are just pushed aside as inconsequential, as incidental. 

In all this the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one, is utterly self satisfied and, being easily irritated, becomes dangerous by going on the attack. For that reason, greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.”

― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison

Read the entire essay here: Bonhoeffer’s Theory of Stupidity

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Dealing With Political Differences

I’m trying to embrace better ways to deal with political views I disagree with. Or rather, the people with whom I disagree.  This article by Dr. Robert Leahy has some practical advice that I found helpful. Fortunately, I have not been guilty of most of the tactics addressed but it serves as a reminder to not let things escalate to contentious behavior. I don’t have to compromise my opinion of our president and his administration, but neither is it my job to change someone else’s. 

How to Handle Our Political Differences by Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D:

We live in a time of intense conflict where many people experience conversations about politics. Unfortunately, we often see friendships and family relationships disintegrate very quickly. People tell me that friends have dropped them because they supported a candidate or simply because a friend was a friend of someone with a different political view. Whatever your political beliefs, it's probably true that half the people in the country disagree with you about every single central point that you hold dear. That's the nature of a democracy. How can we live with these differences without getting into fights that lead to nothing but further resentment? How can we learn to get along?

Here are some ideas to ponder—and put into practice.

1. Is what you're doing working? You may think that arguing and labeling people is going to change things, convince them, or give you a sense that you're standing up for what you believe. Yes, it's possible for you to stand up for what you believe, but it may create intense friction and put your relationships in jeopardy. You may be right, but you may not be effective. It is usually the style of your communication that creates the problem. For example, if you say, “I guess you and I may disagree about that,” there probably won’t be a problem. But if you say, “I can’t believe that you supported that person. What is wrong with you?”— then you are likely to lose a friend.

2. What is your goal? If your goal is to change people's minds, ask yourself if this has been effective. Are people saying to you, “Thank you for telling me that I'm wrong, and now I have changed my mind and I completely agree with you”? If you give up persuasion, you may find that your time with friends and family is more rewarding. What if your goal was simply to listen, state respectively that we might not agree, and then move on to something else?

3. Are you labeling people who disagree with you? Are you telling people that they are naïve, racist, homophobic, fascist, communist, authoritarian, stupid, deplorable or sexist? How do people feel when you label them? How would you feel if someone labeled you? Do they feel insulted, humiliated, despised, and marginalized? Is that what you want?

4. You can decide to disagree and accept the difference as something you can live with. There is probably no topic that everyone agrees on and you already accept differences. Why is it a problem for you that someone has a different political view? Why do you need them to agree with you? You might think, “How can I have this person as a friend if they believe this or support this candidate.” You will lose friends if you cannot accept differences. One way of thinking about a friend is to think, “I accept the whole person—even the differences.”

5. Are you reducing the entire person to a political belief? We often generalize about people—“That is the kind of person that you are.” But imagine if you accepted that people have different beliefs about politics, religion, conventions, and sports teams. We can live with these differences. What are the things that you have valued in the past in this relationship? If a family member disagrees with you, does this cancel out everything about them? Should people cancel you out because you have a different point of view? People are more than one set of beliefs. Embrace complexity—even contradiction—and then you live in the real world. As Walt Whitman once said, "Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)"

6. Think about learning about others rather than changing them. As a psychologist I am curious about why people believe a lot of things. Why are some people superstitious, why are others taking too many risks, and why do some people view life in a depressing way? What if you thought of yourself as an anthropologist and you wanted to learn more about why some people have views that differ from yours? Why are some people in favor of immigration while others fear it? Why are some people in favor of social welfare while others oppose it? Learning about people is different from judging them and marginalizing them.

7. Don’t take it personally. Sometimes we feel insulted that someone has a different view of something. But do you think that they developed this view to make you uncomfortable? Even if you think that they are misled, was it aimed at you? If you observe, suspend judgment, and accept differences, you may be able to see what you have in common and come to understand how complex these issues are. Did you develop your beliefs to make others feel worse? I doubt it. You had your reasons, your experiences, and your values. Let others have the same. It’s not about you, it’s about the complexity and differences that people experience.

8. It’s not awful that someone thinks something that you disagree with. We often respond to differences as if they are catastrophic. We may think that we cannot imagine tolerating the difference. If your friend disagrees with you on politics, what can you still do in your life independently of their beliefs? Can you still spend time together, talk about other things in your life, enjoy sharing your experiences? Or do you get hyper-focused on the difference and ignore the fact that you have a lot in common. Perhaps you can do almost everything that is important to do even if a difference exists.

9. Make room for differences. What if you thought of a person in your life as a collection of 100 qualities including their behavior, their personal qualities that you have in common with them, and their many interests. Of these 100 qualities, what if 10 are things that you don't agree on, but you decided to make room for them? You can decide to rise above the differences and focus on the other qualities. Making room for the differences doesn't mean you like them, but it means that you're big enough to include them and to accept them. Let's take living in New York City where I live. There are a lot of things that you can dislike about New York including the noise, the crowds and the expense. But if you're a New Yorker you try to make room for that and recognize that some things come with the territory. Differences of opinion come with the territory.

10. Make others feel respected and valued. What is true in a good intimate relationship is also true for all relationships. We all want to feel respected. We all want to think our friends value us. We all want to feel heard. I often counsel my patients to imagine that they are a diplomat and they can approach people with a sense of decorum and respect. We can do that by avoiding personal attacks—or threats. We can do this by pointing out what we have in common—not just our differences. We can summarize what others say, rather than tell them they shouldn’t say it. We can be open to the idea that we are not always right, but that we are willing to extend to others the same courtesy and consideration that we would want for ourselves.

Keeping our relationships requires work, flexibility, humility, acceptance and openness to differences. We are not clones of one another. I value all my friends across the political spectrum and care enough about them to know that our differences will not cancel our commonality. After all, that is what friends and family are all about.




Thursday, September 4, 2025

31 Days of Praying Over Political Unrest and Corruption

My heart is heavy every day as I watch our current administration lead with arrogance, retaliation, and lack of Godly character. I’ve started praying through 31 Days of Praying Over Political Unrest and Corruption: Seeking God’s Justice, Wisdom, and Peace (at aspireinhope.com) as a way to focus on the sovereignty of God over human leaders and seek His intervention in their lives. My prayer is that He would bring them to humbleness and a saving knowledge of Jesus. 

Mostly, I want the Lord to be glorified instead of a fake political messiah. I truly want Trump to come to the Lord and lead with Biblical integrity and wisdom instead of vindictiveness and pride; to lead according to Micah 6:8 - “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

From the Aspire in Hope blog author: 

“As you complete these 31 days of prayer over political unrest and corruption, remember that God is sovereign over all nations, and His justice and righteousness will prevail. While we may see turmoil and injustice in the world, we can trust that God’s plan is unfolding and that He hears our prayers for peace, truth, and integrity. Continue to lift up leaders, governments, and nations to the Lord, trusting that He is working all things for His glory.

May these prayers continue to guide you as you seek God’s wisdom and justice in times of political unrest, and may you find peace in knowing that He is in control.”

Here are the first 10 days of prayer. Click the link above for the rest.

  • Day 1: Praying for God’s Sovereignty Over Political Leaders
    Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that You are sovereign over all nations and rulers. I pray that You would guide the hearts of political leaders and establish Your will in the governance of our nation. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Proverbs 21:1)
  • Day 2: Praying for Wisdom in Leadership
    Heavenly Father, I lift up those in positions of leadership and authority. Grant them wisdom to lead with integrity, fairness, and righteousness. May they seek Your guidance in their decisions. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (James 1:5)
  • Day 3: Praying for Justice to Prevail
    Heavenly Father, I ask that justice would prevail in the midst of political unrest and corruption. Expose the darkness, and let Your truth and righteousness shine in places of power. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Isaiah 1:17)
  • Day 4: Praying for Peace Amid Unrest
    Heavenly Father, I pray for peace in regions facing political unrest. Calm the hearts of those affected, and bring about unity and reconciliation among the people. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Philippians 4:7)
  • Day 5: Praying for Corruption to Be Exposed
    Heavenly Father, I ask that You expose the corruption that plagues governments and leadership. Bring light to the darkness, and remove those who misuse their power for selfish gain. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Luke 8:17)
  • Day 6: Praying for Protection of the Vulnerable
    Heavenly Father, I lift up the vulnerable populations who are most affected by political unrest and corruption. Protect them from harm, and provide for their needs as they face uncertainty. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Psalm 82:3-4)
  • Day 7: Praying for Integrity in Leadership
    Heavenly Father, I pray that leaders in government would act with integrity and humility. Remove any corruption or dishonesty from their hearts, and replace it with a desire to serve the people with honor. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Proverbs 10:9)
  • Day 8: Praying for Unity Among People
    Heavenly Father, I pray for unity among the people in our nation, despite political differences. Help us to work together for the common good, and let peace reign in our communities. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Ephesians 4:3)
  • Day 9: Praying for Freedom from Oppression
    Heavenly Father, I ask for freedom for those who are oppressed by corrupt governments and unjust systems. Break the chains of injustice, and bring liberation to those who are suffering. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Psalm 9:9)
  • Day 10: Praying for Truth to Be Upheld
    Heavenly Father, I pray that truth would be upheld in government and politics. Let falsehoods and lies be exposed, and may those in leadership commit to truth and transparency. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (John 8:32)


Friday, July 11, 2025

Words Matter

 Being careful of my words is probably my biggest challenge, whether spoken or written. I often speak before considering the impact of my words. I have an opinion about everything but am learning that just because something can be said doesn’t mean it should. 

As I continue to read Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life by Paul David Tripp, the June 9 reading based on Proverbs 10 and 11 spoke to me:


“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” -Ephesians 4:28

“He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.” - Proverbs 21:23


Friday, January 10, 2025

When God Doesn’t Make Sense

 I’m reading Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life by Paul Tripp this year. This excerpt from January 9 resonated with me, especially after the outcome of the election. I do not trust Trump, but I can trust the Lord. I can rest in the knowledge that He is in control and whatever He allows is for His greater purpose. Everything the Lord does is worthy of my trust so I can be at peace that no man can do anything outside of God’s ultimate will and plan even if I don’t understand how it plays out at the time. 



Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Christianity and the Election

“None of the candidates are Jesus. No matter who wins, Jesus is still Lord.”


The important points:

The massive political divide does not represent the average Christian.

None of the candidates are Jesus.

No matter who wins, Jesus is still Lord. 

No matter who wins, it’s not the end of the world. 

Christians don’t need favorable conditions to be believers. 

Christian values don’t change or rely on a political party. 

Regardless of what is going on, we are called to be believers. 

Do not be afraid.


“The outcome of this election does not have to determine the morality we, as Christians, embrace for ourselves. It’s just as important who we are today as who we will be on November 5, November 6, and beyond. Scripture never tells us to embrace a political worldview, but to offer the world the hope of for a better world. We can proclaim the Kingdom of God in virtue, value, and rule right now, regardless of who is in office. Let’s remember where our true citizenship lies.”


This article also was encouraging with a Biblical focus on how to pray for our country: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/how-should-we-pray-for-our-country-and-the-upcoming-election.html

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Seven Things Christians Need to Remember About Politics



This author articulates so well my own thoughts in this political season:

“Political discourse is the Las Vegas of Christianity—the environment in which our sin is excused. Hate is winked at, fear is perpetuated and strife is applauded. …

“Not only are believers excused for their political indiscretions, but they are often applauded for committing them. Slander is explained away as righteous anger; winning arguments are esteemed higher than truthful ones (whether or not the “facts” align); and those who stir up dissension are given the pulpit. So I balk when pastors tell me the Church should engage in the political process. Why would we do that? The political process is dirty and broken and far from Jesus. Paranoia and vitriol are hardly attractive accessories for the bride of Christ.

“Rather than engage in the political process, Christians have a duty to elevate it. Like any other sin, we are called to stand above the partisan dissension and demonstrate a better way. Should we have an opinion? Yes. Should we care about our country? Yes. Should we vote? Yes. But it’s time we talk politics in a way that models the teachings of Jesus rather than mocks them.

Here are seven things to remember about politics:

1. Both political parties go to church

There’s a Christian Left and, perhaps even less well-known, there’s a secular Right. Despite your point of view of who is on the other side, party lines are drawn in chalk, and they’re not hard to cross. The Church must be engaged in politics, but it must not be defined by the arbitrary lines in politics.

2. Political talk radio and cable “news” only want ratings

When media personalities tell you they are on a moral crusade, they are lying to you. These personalities get rich by instilling fear and paranoia in their listeners. If we give our favorite political ideologues more time than we give Jesus, we are following the wrong master. There are unbiased, logical and accurate news sources out there. But it’s up to you to be a good steward of information—to fact-check for yourself, take ideology with a grain of salt and make decisions based on facts rather than gossip.

3. Those who argue over politics don’t love their country more than others

They just love to argue more than others. Strife and quarreling are symptoms of weak faith (Proverbs 10:12; 2 Timothy 2:23-25; James 4:1) and are among the things the Lord “detests.” We need to rise above the vitriol and learn to love our neighbors the way God commanded us. We need to love our atheist neighbor who wants to keep creationism out of schools; our Democrat neighbor who wants to keep gay marriage and abortion legal; our Republican neighbor who celebrates death penalty statistics and gun ownership; and yes, even the presidential candidate from the other side.

4. Thinking your party’s platform is unflawed is a mistake

The social policies of your party were constructed by imperfect politicians fueled by ambition. It’s nearsighted to canonize them—and it will make you obsolete in a few years. Every four years, the parties adopt a current, updated platform at their respective conventions. And while they stay on general tracks, every four years the platform evolves to meet the needs of a growing, modernized and changing party. The Republican party of today doesn’t look like it did 10 or 20 years ago. We need to know when to change our views to meet a changing culture—and when to stand by them.

5. Scripture tells us to pray for our governing leaders (2 Timothy 2:1-4) and to respect those in authority (Romans 13:1-7)

Translation: if you’re mocking your governing leaders on social media, the Holy Spirit is grieved. We should spend more time honoring our leaders and less time vilifying them. This doesn’t mean praying the President will be impeached; it doesn’t mean praying your candidate will win. God commands us to pray for our leaders—for their wisdom, for their hearts and for them to be led by Him.

6. Don’t be paranoid

The country is not going to be destroyed if your candidate loses. As 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Stand up and demonstrate what God has given you. America has functioned—albeit, at varying levels of success—for years under the direction of alternating Democrat and Republican control, and at every flip, the other side thought it was the end of the world. It’s not. And if we’re a Church that believes God is in control, we have to believe that He is the one in control of the end times—not whoever’s in office now, and not whoever succeeds them.

7. Stop saying, “This is the most important election in the history of our nation”

It’s not. The most important election in the history of our nation was when Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Before that, we thought it was OK to own people. Every generation thinks it’s living in the most important moment in history. We’re not, our parents were not and our children probably won’t be. And that’s OK.


My addition to the article:

- “Political solutions belong to political problems.  Spiritual problems need a more reliable Messiah.  If we let Jesus Christ—and the peace He alone brings—be the lens through which we view the major political ideas of our day, we will stop looking for lesser messiahs in the form of our elected officials.” - Barbara Shafer

- No candidate is a messiah who will save us. When we elevate one candidate or political party as the only “godly” choice, we can be tempted into making anyone who disagrees an enemy. 

- God is not Republican or Democrat or of any other political affiliation. 

- “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” Psalm 146:3–5