Friends: Occasionally the words I need just aren’t there … and then they show up. See the column ... Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #1043

November 10, 2026

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

‘Thanks, I Needed That …’

By Bob Walters

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” – Paul, Philippians 4:4

To say I was a little rattled Wednesday morning upon learning the midterm election results doesn’t quite cover it.

You may have seen a rebuke of an American president you don’t like, prices you find uncomfortable, a war you think unnecessary, or morality you consider passe.  

I saw a rebuke of the U.S. Constitution, which I love, honor, respect, rely on, and teach. My problem was that I had to go into school that day and teach high school U.S. History and American Government classes about a Constitution that the American vote count had, evidently, roundly rejected. And it is the U.S. Constitution we are currently studying.

The hue and cry and jeering of anti-Trumpers, for me, wasn’t the issue. There are many in that crowd – family and friends – I dearly love.  And I long ago rejected as fraudulent – and dangerously misleading – the mainstream American media. It does not traffic in truth; it traffics in globalist propaganda and emotional narratives, not American sovereignty or greatness. The leftist media’s anti-republic bias is loud and clear.

But the true perils are socialism and Islam, which too few people understand.

The congressional oath of office demands its members preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. Socialism’s U.S. platform seeks to rewrite the Constitution, do away with the Senate and the executive (president), and turn the Supreme Court into a rubber stamp for a one-house congress. Islam, in 1,400 years, has never assimilated peacefully into another culture. Its Koran erases our Constitution.

Ongoing domestic liberal/progressive DEI, Woke, CRT, etc. charades are minor, laughable annoyances compared with these two ascending anti-constitutional forces.

I wasn’t sure what I could say to my Christian high school classes. Thankfully I found a think-piece Peter Heck wrote late on election night. Pete is a preacher, high school civics teacher (in Greentown, Indiana), and crack Christian political commentator who is no Trump fan. I read this excerpt from his post Thoughts on Tonight to all my classes:

“The political idolater will spend tomorrow gloating or mourning, celebrating or fuming, depending on which side of the aisle he finds himself. Christians have an opportunity to set a better example and to demonstrate a different kind of perspective, one rooted in a joy that survives every political outcome. We can care deeply about the direction of our country while remembering that our ultimate hope rests somewhere far beyond its political fortunes.

“Paul commanded, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!’ (Philippians 4:4). Notice where he locates our joy. It rests in the Lord, whose goodness and faithfulness remain unchanged regardless of who occupies the seats of earthly power. Our circumstances may shift dramatically, but the foundation of our hope remains secure.” Pete writes and podcasts as Dashboard Jesus at Substack.com.

I sent Pete a thank-you email, subject line “Thanks, I needed that,” an allusion to a 1970s commercial about the refreshing, jarring slap of a now-forgotten after shave lotion.

Admittedly, my Christian life is occasionally overridden by earthly concerns. That morning I had been prayerfully able to get only as far as, “Keep your eyes upon Jesus,” knowing He came for all humanity. So, I thanked Pete for the words I needed and went about a productive day knowing the tomb was still empty and my true life had not changed.

I suppose I ought to work on consistency; idolatry is a bad look.

Rejoice always.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) wrote this, Jan 23 2007, about Islam and America. His mentor George Bebawi taught Islam, friend Fouad Masri founded the Crescent Project, and Walters recommends the book What Went Wrong by Bernard Lewis.

Btw, Walters read the Lewis book 25 years ago with his new friend Russ Blowers. Walters had just started a life in Christ, 9/11 had just happened, and at lunch with Russ they both realized they needed to know more about Islam. Russ died 19 years ago today, November 10, 2007.

And … the aftershave was Mennen Skin Bracer.  Walters had to look it up. Here’s a link: Mennen Skin Bracer Commercial (1972) - YouTube