From the Home Place

August 18, 2026

Good morning. Starting this one at 56, headed for 78. Maybe a bit of rain in places this afternoon???

Well, here it is, election day. I pray that each of us will go vote; and may I also encourage every voter who claims to know Jesus as Savior to vote based upon biblical guidelines. Regardless of the candidate’s gender or race, vote for the person who will stand for what is right and wrong according to biblical standards. Thanks for voting!

So now, may I jump on one of my favorite ponies for a moment this morning. As a born-again Christian, I encourage each of us to be involved in our community. Remember, no contact no impact. If we are going to impact the folks around us with the ability to make good moral decisions, we have to be around those folks to have such influence.

There is no argument on my part, the United States of America is in a serious downward spiral! If this ‘ol country doesn’t quickly begin to step back to some of the old standards, I don’t see much hope for her. Somehow, we need to return to valuing life and people. By valuing life, I mean that every person has the God-given right to be born and to live. That means that every person is important because according to the Bible, people are still made in the image of God. As a result, people are important to God, so they should also be important to us.

Perhaps one simple rule would be of great benefit within the American culture today: “Treat others as you would have them treat you.” That’s right, in my opinion, the Golden Rule should still be the primary rule of life. We must get back to understanding that from God’s point of view, life is about we, not about me.

If I don’t want people to cheat me, then I can’t cheat them. If I want people to be honest and kind, then I must deal will all people in an honest and kind manner. If I want folks to respect me, I must first respect them, even those who are different in opinion and action than I am. You see, another biblical principal falls into place here, “That which a person sows, so they will reap.” Or maybe we should remember, “As a person thinks within their heart, so are they.”

Here’s a Hughes-ism that you have been exposed to before, but I’m going to slide it past you once again, “The issues of America are not just the results of who is in the White House, they are the results of who is in God’s house.” If we Christians would live the kind of life the Bible encourages us to live, if we would stand on biblical standards at all times in all ways, dealing with people as our Heavenly Father deals with us, our churches would change. When our churches change to be more biblically balanced, then so will our communities. As a result of communities returning to a common respect for others, then our nation would change.

I agree fully, this process is going to take generations to make significant changes. But hasn’t it taken us generations to get into the mess we are in today? You see friends, if we Christians of today don’t speak up and stand up, then we can’t expect the next generation to do so. Remember this last principal, “It is always easier to fall down than it is to stand up.” Yet, to stand on biblical principles is exactly what God is calling His people to do, today!

“If my people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Perhaps I should revise my previous “ism” to read “the condition of American depends more upon who is in God’s house than who is in the White House”; and who is in my house has significant impact on those who are in God’s house! Remember, revival always starts with 1.

Living for positive impact with you, Neal