The word of the month is "revolution". Yah. Odd word to have bouncing around in my head as we prepare for the holidays. But it seems that everywhere I go, I circle around to this thought of revolution.

Dictionary definition: REVOLUTION: a sudden, complete or marked change in something.

In my conversations and readings I keep coming back to this. There is a problem with our economy. There is a problem in North America status quo culture. I just heard Jackson Katz, a lecturer/author/activist speak yesterday, and he was fascinating and passionate about the violence in our culture - specifically violence by men, toward women. Google his name to find out more about him. As we prep for Christmas, I observe these sentimental and somewhat benign tributes to mark the birth of the Son of God.

And I guess this is where I end up. How is it that people (myself included) who profess to follow this man Jesus, do not appear to have had a revolution take place within them. How is it that we look, act, think like everyone else?

Look at some of what He said.

"If anyone would follow me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever want to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." Luke 9:23

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you.: Luke 6:37

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." Matthew 5:43

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

How can we read these words and not recognize that if we lived these truths out in our lives we would be revolutionaries. We would be boat rockers and completely contrary to our culture.

Jesus called us to so much more than our comfortable North American lives.

Don't you just wonder sometimes...

Lately I've been waking up every single morning with this thought. "The world's insane". Our radio comes on to CBC every morning about 6:28. We catch the tail end of the financial report and then the news. For the last month or so, it has been all about the global financial crisis and the economy. Understandable. This is pretty huge stuff. I feel pretty small and insignificant when the powers that be toss around numbers in the Billions. Billions.

For the most part, we've been shielded.

And then it began. First some layoffs in Nestle Guelph. Then a whack at the plant in Hope and Chilliwack. And then the second batch. Yesterday, another 50 in Guelph. And this time it was painful. This time it was people that Reid knew. Suddenly the numbers have faces and it begins to hurt.

Two thoughts as I finish up. One...read the book "The Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein. She is a journalist, author and film maker. If you want to understand the history of economics - specifically capitalism. Read it. But I will warn you. I found many of the stories and data difficult. As in, so disturbing it occasionally kept me awake at night. People in general, are a greedy bunch and greed drives people to do some shocking things.

Final thought. I'm also reading a book called "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne. Interesting in a different kind of way. But he brings up some of God's economic policies established in the Old Testament. How's this? Work hard and then rest every 7th day. And every 7th YEAR - take the whole thing off - yup, the whole year. During this year long break, all food that keeps growing in the fields is available for the taking by hungry/poor families. Debt that anyone had from the past 6 years was erased. Imagine how that would keep the balance of rich and poor. Imagine poverty virtually erased. BUT then! There is one more - every 49th or 50th year (70x7) was deemed Jubilee. During this year debt was forgiven, encumbered or forfeited land was returned to the original owners and slaves were set free. Claiborne refers to it as "a regularly scheduled revolution." Radical yes. But think about it...work hard, plan ahead - and then enjoy! Party! Celebrate! And don't do it alone. Everyone celebrate. Rich, poor and everyone in between.

Now there's some interesting economic ideas.

So election time rolls around again. Municipal this time. Sadly, we have no "Barak" in our municipal elections - shoot, we don't even have a John McCain!

I will go cast my ballot. But I will do so with the dream that one day - one day, I will cast a vote for change. For vision. For leadership. For enthusiasm.

Today, I will simply be voting for those who I think will earnestly try to keep Hope somewhat on track until the next election time.

Ah well...

It's been quite a ride. We had a wicked virus on our computer that resulted in many days of Reid having to re-install and rebuild from the ground up. BUT it is done and for the time being - we are happy.

Each year on Remembrance Day we go down to the Cenotaph in town for the ceremonies. Each year I am conflicted. I am a pacifist. Is my presence there taken to mean I am in support of military action? In the end, respect for those who march in their aging uniforms, gratitude for my country wins out - & I stand proudly among those honouring our veterans. This year was unique. Reid's mom passed away this past year and both his parents served in WWII. Reid laid a wreath in honour of his parents. It was beautiful, touching and very meaningful for him. My sister generously created it and on the card she wrote "Charles and Kathleen Nickerson - who loved both God and country." And yes they really did. Their time in service to their country profoundly changed them. It affected them for the next 50 plus years of their lives. They never, not for one second, forgot what they saw, what they were a part of. And they maintained many of the relationships that they formed during the war. Right up until the end.

I suppose I'm rambling. But this year, as we stood in the pouring rain and listened and prayed - as I reflected on the millions of lives that were never the same following all the wars over the years, as I remembered Reid's parents....I fall to my knees and ask that God forgive the evil that causes the wickedness of war, and humbly ask Him for peace.

Just peace.

Obama.

History is made.

Well today is the day. Election day in the United States. It's been a long time coming. Come tomorrow we should know who the people have chosen to lead them for the next four years. I confess I am feeling edgy because while all indicators are that Mr. Obama will win - you just never know. My brother-in-law, who is an American wrote a lengthy and challenging post about his thoughts on American politics. I just grabbed one of his last lines because it echoes my own heart. Regardless of who is sitting in the White House tomorrow and for the next four years - it is God who is in control. It is He and He alone who brings change.

... Bottom line is that the hope for the world is neither Barak Obama nor John McCain. As much as it may pain us to say it, it’s not the United States of America, Canada, or even freedom. It’s Jesus. And if we take the time to read what He says in the gospels…and really wrestle with how we live that out, we begin to be used by the Holy Spirit to change hearts. And that’s what I want to give my life to. ~Jeff Kuhn