Heath Shuler for Congress (NC-11)

Last updated on: May 9, 2013 at 6:20 am by Faithful Democrats

Heath Shuler for Congress (NC-11) 2013-05-09T06:20:04-06:00 Faithful Democrats

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

shuler

On my first day of the eighth grade my mother gave me a note that read, “Heath, make every decision as if I am standing next to you. For when I am not, the Lord always is.” I followed that advice throughout my school years. Now, I make my decisions as if my wife and children were standing beside me. In Congress, I will make my decisions as if the families of this district were standing beside me.

shuler

America is only as good as the families that comprise it. Strong families, blessed with hope and opportunity, filled with ambition and dreams and guided by faith and principle are the heart of America. Growing up in the close-knit community of Swain County, NC I learned from my family and my church to love God, respect life, and to help those less fortunate than myself. Those fundamental principles have shaped who I am today.

Some of my earliest memories of growing up are of going to church with my grandmother. Sitting beside her on those Sunday mornings listening to our pastor taught me lessons that I have carried through my life – lessons that have truly carried me through my life. Those lessons have influenced every decision I have made. Lessons that made me a Democrat and lessons that made me stand up to make a difference in the direction of our country and our children’s future.

I was blessed with the ability to play football and had a successful career at the University of Tennessee and was drafted into the NFL. But throughout those games — and the seeming importance of each one — I never forgot the lessons learned with my grandmother and the importance of my salvation. No award I received or games I won could match the feeling of kneeling at an altar with a young man and helping lead him in prayer to his salvation.

That is why throughout my football career I tried to give back all I could. I traveled across the country speaking to young people with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and discussing the importance of conducting yourself with high moral character through the Character Counts program. I understood that professional athletes were role models, whether we wanted to be or not, and we were responsible for setting good examples. Being an athlete was not about building yourself up for glory and fame, but rather it was about helping others and building up the team so everyone achieved more.

These are lessons that too many of our children are not learning and lessons too many politicians in Washington have forgotten or are ignoring.

I decided to run for Congress because we need to restore integrity and a sense of duty to our national legislature. For too long money and the thirst for power have corrupted those elected to serve the people of this nation. We have watched profits become more important than people. We have watched families struggle because their jobs have been sent overseas, so that huge corporations could make a higher profit. We have allowed millions of people to go uninsured to protect the profits of the insurance companies. We have slashed education funding for working class children, so that the wealthiest among us could have more. It’s not right, and we all need to stand as one and move our nation forward together.

I am often asked how I will be able to maintain my values and withstand the lure of power and wealth. I often share with them this story.

That story goes back to my faith, the lessons I learned from my mother and grandmother, and my belief in the Lord. Proverbs 3:6 tells us that, “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.” It is a verse that has carried me to this point in my life and a lesson that will carry me through the temptations of Washington D.C.

Candidate Spotlights

Previous Post

September 18, 2006

Sen. John Kerry: Service and Faith

Next Post

September 18, 2006 Straight Talk on Abortion

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About Us About Us Action Center Advertise Ask a Theologian Ask a Theologian Blogs Books Campaign Blog Candidate Spotlights Commentary Donate Facebook Featured Writers Fellows Fellows From the Pulpit General Information Hillary Clinton Interfaith Blog Latest Media Center Media Center Media Center MyBlog MyBlog News Newsflash Newsflashes Our Team Reader Blogs RSS Sermon of the Week Shop Social Networking Static Items Support Talking Points Test blogs The Basics Theology Uncategorized YouTube

Select a Month November 2020 October 2020 February 2020 August 2019 July 2018 July 2017 March 2017 February 2017 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 January 2006 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the shortest book in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

3 John Philemon 2 John Jude