I haven't seen the concession speech, but at 6 pm Singapore time ( +8:00 GMT) it looks like Barack Obama will be President of the United States again.  I don't usually comment on US political events, but this election was so close - 50.2% to 48.3% of popular vote, though Obama had an overwhelming lead in the Electoral College.  I'm thinking more about the mood my family and I will meet as we arrive in southern California in two and a half weeks for our GBGM mission itineration.  We will be speaking to supporting churches there, before moving on to central and northern California.  California is a blue state in the elections, with the majority supporting Obama, but that doesn't mean it is uniformly Democrat or liberal. Hardly.   In fact, my inland California moderate Democratic views are considered conservative when I go to the Bay area.
I can imagine from the Gospel passages about Jesus walking up and down first century Palestine that he did a lot of listening and observing.  Of course, he preached and taught, but the imagery of the expressions show an intense awareness of his cultural context.  I will be praying for the grace to see and hear like Jesus, so that whatever I say may be authentic.

georgos

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