I heard a political strategist saying that the Democratic party needs to nominate a moderate candidate. In other words, one that rides the middle of the road; not too much to the left or right; all things done in moderation.

Now, even the Bible backs up moderation to an extent, because many times in many things of life we can over do it. Of course, some use the word moderation to okay the consumption of alcohol as long as it's done in moderation, which in the end very few accomplish. The Bible does endorse moderation in eating. We are not to be a glutton. It's hard for some because some folks live to eat and others eat to live. Moderation can be good depending on what you are talking about. When taken out of context, it can be bad.

In living the Christian life we can go left or right, too far to the extreme either way. We can be liberal and take on too much of the world. You see, the devil subtly entices us to

become more liberal an inch at a time, but we must sink our heels in the ground and say, "Devil, in the name of Jesus, get thee behind me!" We've got to draw a line

in the sand, so

to speak, and not cross over it; not compromise and not give way to satan. That line, as the old-timers would say, is the blood line. Don't cross over the blood line. You will grow weary and give out physically, but don't give up spiritually and don't give in morally.

We can also go overboard the other way by becoming a pure unreasonable fanatic. I'm a fan of the Lord Jesus, but I don't want to be a fanatic because we can drive off more than we bring in. My father always preached that the devil don't care which way you go as long as you miss the mark. There is a middle ground and it's not straddling the fence. We've got to get on one side or the other. We can't serve two masters. I want to be on God's side living a holy non-compromising life.

You are either hot or cold. Lukewarm living will get you spit out. I want to be hot, holy, and on firefor God -- not a liberal, but rather one liberated by the power of the blood of Christ; not a fanatic, but a fan of my Lord; one fervent and zealous of good works; peculiar, yet non-partisan with a love for all; a moderate in my Christian walk and witness, but very conservative in my Christian standards and principles.

With political parties they are deemed conservative or liberal. My wife's aunt had never voted and when she did they asked her if she was a Democrat or a Republican. She said, "Good Lord, no! I'm a member of the Church of God!"

Well, I'm a member of God's party, in the Lord's army, and on His side, tooth and nail! Can you say amen?