I am dismayed and disgusted with Democrats, Republicans, campaign spokespersons and spinpersons, the media and countless others in the current political race. I suspect I am not alone. The tone makes it nearly impossible to stay engaged. I wish I could hire Dr.Evil (played by Mike Myers) from the Austin Power movies. Whenever he was tired of the conversation he would employ this technique.

Scott Evil: It’s no hassle…
Dr. Evil: Sh!
Scott Evil: But…
Dr. Evil: Sh!
Scott Evil: I’m…
Dr. Evil: Sh!
Scott Evil: All I’m say…
Dr. Evil: Sh!
Scott Evil: There gonna get a…
Dr. Evil: Sh!
Scott Evil: I’m…
Dr. Evil: Sh!
Scott Evil: I’m just…
Dr. Evil: Sh!
Scott Evil: Would…
Dr. Evil: Sh!… Knock-knock.
Scott Evil: Who’s there?
Dr. Evil: Sh!

To both campaigns that are engaged in attacks and half-truths and complete untruths I would love to be able to say to all of you.

SH!

I have had it. When you examine the candidate’s ads at factcheck.org you will see how comments and facts are taken out of context to create a partisan message by both campaigns.

I am tired of it and I suspect most of the nation is tired of it. I wish both campaigns would care enough about America to stop the political and partisan nonsense and discuss how they will help this great nation navigate the difficult waters ahead. Even as I write this piece the news commentator is saying the Obama campaign feels that it needs to respond with more ferocity to the McCain attacks.

Sigh.

I want to know the following things.

What do you plan to do to combat terrorism?
What do you plan to do to get the economy moving forward?
What do you plan to do to increase our domestic energy resources?
What is your foreign relations approach toward countries like Iran, North Korea, Russia and the like?
What is your position on the sanctity of life?
How do you plan to control spending in the government?
Will you raise taxes?
How will you change the maddening partisan tone of Washington?
How will you lead our representatives to care about the nation instead of their party and phony baloney jobs?

I don’t care anything about these things.

Computer skills.
Celebrity endorsements.
Mistakes or mispeaks by spouses or other family members.

The list of what I don’t care about could go on and on but you get the point. The deeper this campaign goes the more I want to focus on where hope and change have come from in my life.

Trusting and following Jesus changed my life and gives me hope. Both candidates have given a political thumbs up to Jesus but they “approve” messages far from His teachings.

What makes me most sad is that so many people really seem to be placing their hope for happiness on a political candidate. I do believe that leaders make a difference. I care deeply about making an informed and prayerful choice. But I never place my hope or desire for change on a politician. The word hope is used about 80 times in the New Testament. The first appearance of the word in the NIV translation pretty much lays out my belief.

 “In his name (Jesus) the nations will put their hope.”  (Matthew 12, NIV)

Paul wrote about the hope that I have in his letter to the Romans.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Colossians we read this from Paul as he relates how hope based on the eternal God should make a difference.

For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

That is a hope that I know will not disappoint. As for change, I would be pleasantly surprised if our leaders in Washington would work together for us. But I will not be surprised if they do not. The important change for me has already happened.

I have hope that is real. I am changed because of Christ. Because of those two facts I can deal with whatever happens in this election. I learned my lesson in previous elections. I thought our country was doomed because my candidate did not win. Yet God’s plan did not cease. People continued to come to faith, grow in faith and serve Him in ways that gave real hope and change to others.

I wish the candidates could focus on what matters. Thank God the rest of us still have the freedom to do just that.