Posts with the tag Faith

Unity Brings Faith To The Community

New Hope — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:09:57 EST

We need God to bring us into unity. Let the power of God bring a oneness into each man’s heart. That they would not seek their own ways, not seek to please self. But to please God, to follow after God, to seek him with all their hearts.

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Eph 4:13

Then the liberty and freedom of the Spirit which is in Christ Jesus shall set us free indeed. Free to live for God, free to love our brother, our neighbor as ourselves. Knowing that our freedom is in Christ, and comes from the Spirit of Christ working in us.

Unity comes down from above. If we please God and worship him with all our hearts and want to be a servant to others. To lift others higher than ourselves, to see them prosper and to succeed in their life’s ambition to achieve the goals in their lives, that God has laid before them. Then we shall see clearly to help and instruct others in the ways of Christ.

The power of God operating in our lives will enable us to do his work. Enable them to overcome the snares and hindrances of this world. To overcome the limitations and weaknesses that our in our own lives. Through Christ we can do all things. Through the wisdom of God we can overcome any obstacle, we can have divinely inspired solutions that will solve any problem that this world will try to throw at us.

As we decide to walk with God and continue to follow his ways, we shall obtain favor from God. Victory is ours as we set ourselves to seek God and to believe his promises. To walk in the light, to walk in the love and fellowship of his Spirit to walk in love and unity with our brother. To take upon ourselves the task of helping others who are in need of help. If you see your brother in need, lend a helping hand, offer a good word of encouragement and support in due season. United we can do all things, each person supplying, encouraging, empowering each other to greater heights in God. United we shall bring victory and accomplish the task that the Lord has for us; to change others lives, to release them into the empowering life stream of God’s Spirit. But first we need change in our lives. That the Lord may use us for His glory and purpose.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons

of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

God is looking for a few good men. Faithful men and women working together committed to the purpose of serving Christ, by serving one another. It is not good enough to have an idea or concern for others. But true love knows how to reach out to others to help heal the hurt, Lord gives us true wisdom to be a comfort to others. We have the solutions that this world is looking for both in the natural and in the spirit. Help others with the means and support that God has made available to you. When you give to others, that is like planting a seed, sowing in the kingdom of God that will reap a harvest in your time of need. In your family, when someone you love needs a touch of God, support from the people around them.

We are not able to reach out to everyone, but the love of God breaks dividing walls, penetrates through, beyond the barriers of mankind and will enter the hearts around those in need. And place on their hearts a burden to care and support others also. By grace are we saved, not a work that we can do, but the work of God that He does through us. Helping hands helps others, not self. True love opens the hearts of others and lifts them out of their troubles. Love opens the heart to allow the healing of God to flow into their lives, and to heal the wound, with the oil and the wine, medicine from God. With the love and comfort that only God can give, with human hands and a heart filled with the love of God, we can make a difference, change the world around us, and God will extend your world of influence and increase your effectiveness. Love and good deeds are contaigeous, you do one good deed, share the love of God with someone. And in turn they do good to someone else. There is a spirit of multiplication, when you do the works of God. Just as when the disciples broke the bread that Jesus gave them, and forgot about their selves and shared the bread with the crowd, God multiplied the loaves and the fishes as people hearts were expanded to help those around them.

As wee seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness we shall be prepare to minister in grace to help, enable and empower others to live victorious. Encourage others to believe that God loves them and wants them to get out of the troubles, the problems that they are in. We do not have to be stuck where we are, God wants to move us on, look beyond the shadows of this life and walk forward in the light that God reveals. In the new life, renewed mind and refreshed heart that the Lord with give us. To enable us to endure even through the tough times. Let us move out from the shadows of death. My God prepares a way before me. He goes ahead of me to prepare a place that I might be refreshed, where He will quicken me by his Spirit to give me a new heart, a heart that knows that if God be for me, if God is on my side, no work of darkness shall be able to hinder me. I shall have my mountain; I shall come into possession of the promises of God for my life and for the lives of others that God has entrusted me with. Lord strength our hand for war, strengthen us for the labor that lies before us. We shall labor in the love and comfort of the Lord to enrich others lives. There is power in the Gospel of Jesus Christ to set others free, to bring healing and wholeness, in to their lives and bodies. He sent His Word and healed them of all their disease. He has a cure for every sickness. He has and answer and solution for every problem in our lives. My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

God gives us singleness of God to believe for the victory, Lord grant thy servant vision to see the purpose of God for our lives. Believe that the tide has changed. That the favor of God is on your side. You shall succeed in life. You shall accomplish the work that God has called you to do. What needs to be done, let’s do it with all our hearts as unto the Lord. Whether is putting a hand to a shovel, or climbing the highest mountain. The work and labor that the Lord has given us, we should do it with joy as unto God.

When we know that our heavenly Fathers loves us we can be strong in faith knowing that all things work out for good for those that love God, and for those that know that their God loves and cares for them. Let us be refreshed in the knowledge that God is with us. He said that I will never leave you nor forsake you. But low I am with you. His hand is upon us to empower us, enables us to trust and know that He is with us. Even in the difficult times. Even when things don’t look good, God has a way out.

We need to have confidence in the Lord our God. Believe with all our heart. Take possession of the promise of God for your life. Take possession of the healing that you need for your body. God want you to have all that he has prepared for us.

Jesus said that I am the bread of life that has come down from heaven. If we eat of him, if we believe on him, if we trust in his word then the Word will work for us.

Jesus relied on the Word of God to work for his life. Jesus said to the devil, said to that mountain, said to that problem, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Every word of God that he has given for us will work in your life. Believe in God and you shall be established, trust in his prophets, trust in the living word of God and you shall prosper in every situation. Lord wants us to prosper as our soul prospers. As we renew our faith and trust in God daily, he shall renew our faith to be more than over comers, we shall conquer we shall defeat the enemies, overcome any obstacle and problem. For at the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. Every thing will work out for good for your life and the lives of others.

Peter Kelleher

Life in the Spirit brings us into the fullness of the life of Christ. Believing God for the miracles in your life.

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Gingerbread House Family Christmas Ornament

I am looking for a few good men, women, children!

Contenthermit — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:42:52 EDT

I stand here, weeping for my country.

Where is the country I grew up in? Where are the jobs? Where is the faithfulness of a grateful nation. One Nation United?

Honesty, Integrity, faithfulness, honor, respect for all kind?

We the People......................WE THE People.................We are the people...........are we full of anything worth saving?

1. Find healthy food (DEMAND REFORM)

2. Return to your faith, whatever that may be

3. Throw away all your pills. (yes, all of them! Western Medicine does not cure you, only addicts you to harmful chemicals that hurt you)

4. DEMAND equality in health care, all available health professionals should be allowed to practice medicine. This includes, herbalists, natural healers, chinnese medicine, Shamans, and whatever.

5. If doctors do not know how to correctly diagnose and cure, do not keep them as licensed health care professionals! First do no Harm

6. OUtlaw all drugs. Do not support these proven killers with tax dollars.

7 . Give WE THE People more choices in health care. Drugs are not the answer. They are the problem in America. And we are infecting the whole world with our harmful chemicals that are a poor and harmful copy of what God has given us for our health and wellbeing.

8. Clean up our food! Remove all the harmful chemicals, additives, hormones, antibiotics and GMO vegetables. Our people are starving because there is no food fit for human consumption in our stores. There is more nutrition in the cardboard! This is a sorry state we have fallen into.

If you want to live..................read, learn............grow healthy food and stay as far away from Doctors who only push drugs for big business as you can. They do not even offer you a cure for anything anymore. They do not posess the skills to diagnose and treat illness.

They only treat symptums. They listen to the big pharma companies and prescribe harmful chemicals to pacify our weak, pathetic need to be drugged into a stupper.

I am poor.

I am ill.

I will not eat anything that comes in a box or that has been processed.

It cost too much to find meat that is free of harmful chemicals, hormones, antibiotics and feed that is not fit for the animals to consume. Do not feed it to your families anymore, if you want to live, be healthy, energetic and vigerous. Find clean, healthy whole grain foods and fresh vegatable that are grown organically and without genetically altering the genes of the plants.

There is warnings in the good book not to alter our plants, yet we are. We are in danger of releasing these GMO's into the ecosystem and distroying this planets ability to sustain life.

SPEAK UP NOW .......................It may already be too late to save mankind.

Just because a scientist CAN do something, does not mean they SHOULD do it!

WAKE UP AMERICA before it is too late to save yourself, your family and this beautiful world our Creator blessed us with.
ContenthermitCriesOut.blogger.com has some other information you might like to read.

Rich Christians In An Age of Hunger!

Greg M — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:59:14 EDT

Dear Friends,

I have recently been re-reading Dr. Ron Sider's seminal book, "Rich Christians In An Age of Hunger," in its most recent updated publication, 1999.

This is a life-changing, and challenging, book to read. I have become convinced that world hunger, both in and outside of the United States is indeed the human cause dearest to the heart of God. Yes, certainly there are others nearly as important, general poverty, world-wide disease, fair trade, human rights. However, hunger is certainly the most basic and important to human life itself. And yes, there are certainly causes that are particularly near and dear to my heart because they effect me directly and those I love dearly. However, again, while there are a Billion of my neighbors in the world who are literally starving to death, my personal causes admittedly shrink in importance. This does not mean that they are not important, and not a priority for me, but, it does mean that I am compelled to fully, biblically, prioritize my efforts if I am to feel certain that I am working where Christ would most want me to be working first, and where Christ is obviously working.

In my mind, conquering the world hunger issue first would provide the working basis to begin to conquer all of the remaining issues. We simply cannot expect starving people to highly desire to learn and incorporate effective economic practices, education, apporpriate health practices and focus on human rights issues. Also, in general, poverty is the root cause of disease, violence, terrorism and violations of basic human rights, and hunger is a prominent feature of poverty.

I hope many will be gripped by the Holy Spirit and galvanized to the cause of ending hunger in our time and for all time, so that we can then work toward ending poverty, effectively battle disease, conquer all issues of human rights so that each of our neighbors experiences freedom to be who they were created to be, and thereby end the causes that recruit for violence and terrorism.

I know that many of my peers in the upwardly mobile, white, Christian world still today only care to react to these issues in fear. For whatever reason we tend to recoil and act defensively when someone dares to suggest that we may play a significant role in the causes of world-wide hunger, poverty, disease and violence, and therefore play a significant role in the causes of terrorism. No matter how vehemently you attempt to deny this truth, you will never be able to escape it. I have come to peace with it and fully accept my responsibility in it all. And, therefore, have chosen to do all that is in my power to continue to work toward being part of the solutions, rather than living in denial and fear, which only leads to the continuation of the vicious cycle we are in.

I love my country, and I love my faith, and I certainly love Christ. It is Christ at work within me through His Holy Spirit that brings me to these convictions and gives me peace about my part in world-wide sin. I am a major patriot. I'm the crazy guy you see at the fireworks displays on July 4th standing, shouting, clapping, cheering, and yes, crying! I love the United States of America. However, historically, as much good as our country has done for the world, we have also carelessly wreaked havoc in the name of democracy, while the real impetus was our own selfish economic ambitions. Prior to that, my European ancestors, both governments and religions, also wreaked havoc throughout the world for centuries, all supposedly in the name of God, but actually for the same selfish ambitions. And, still today we are dealing with the aftermath of efforts in dominating the world, colonialism, slavery, wars, and even Enlightenment/Modernist philosophy that provided learned arguments for white supremacy.

I fully realize that many of my friends and family reading this, if they read it, are angry at this point that I would say such things. However, they are most certainly true. I don't mean to acuse or cause anger in anyone, but, rather, to motivate toward actively seeking out answers to these problems. I am not promoting that we grovel in the dust and moan and groan for our sins, although, that too would be in order. I am promoting that we simply begin to acknowledge the truth of these realities, to open our eyes and our hearts to repentance, and to take responsibility for our part in becoming part of the answers rather than ignoring and denying everything and thereby bolstering the continuation of the problems.

If you feel so moved, and desire to look more deeply into these things and take a step toward becoming part of Christ's life-giving, reconciling, restoring, mission of bringing about the Kingdom of God here and now in this current dimension, please do some reading and study, and praying, and fasting, and see if God's Holy Spirit doesn't begin to lead you to the same conclusions that I have come to. I have solidly decided that asking "What Would Jesus Do?" is not the correct question to ask. I now ask "What Is Jesus Doing?" and when I see it, I try to do likewise.

There are many good books on these topics, but I highly recommend Dr. Ron Sider's, "Rich Christians In An Age of Hunger," and Brian McLaren's, "Everything Must Change." I also highly recommend Brian McLaren's novel triology, "A New Kind of Christian," "The Story We Find Ourselves In," and "The Last Word, and the Word After That." I also highly recommend any works by Rev. Jim Wallis, of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, especially, "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It!" Other great books can be found by viewing my Virtual Library here on Facebook.

Finally, please take a few minutes to view this series of 5 short videos, video journalism from World Vision, "5 Days of Hunger," athttp://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/advocacy-newsletter-200906-five-days-hunger?Open&campaign=1139052&ppi=

Blessings to you as you seek God's direction... Greg McCaw

The News From Buffetville: Kansas Church Protests at Easter Services

Greg M — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:56:46 EDT

OK, the following is not my writing, nor that of one of my favorite bloggers, from whose blog I stole this post. It is, of course a fictitious newspaper article, but I found it as enlightened as Eric did, so I wanted to post it to my notes here. I found this in the blog of Eric Reitan, an award-winning scholar and writer who teaches philosophy at Oklahoma State University. His blog can be found at this link... http://thepietythatliesbetween.blogspot.com

As follows from Eric's blog...

The News from Buffetville
Just yesterday, a loyal (if fictitious) follower of my blog sent me the following fabricated clipping from the Buffetville Scallion-Picayune. I thought it worth sharing with other followers of my blog, and so I reproduce it here.

Kansas Church Protests at Easter Services

By J.J. Loganberry
Senior Staff Reporter

This past Sunday, Easter services at Buffetville Baptist Church were disrupted when the congregation of Kansas-based Eastburro Church, led by Pastor Phred Fleps, came to Buffetville.

Lining the easement surrounding the Buffetville church, Fleps and his congregation of relatives greeted approaching families with jeers, derisive laughter, and signs declaring “New car owners die, God laughs!” and “New car owners burn in hell!” As services began, the Eastburro group began chanting, “God hates new car owners!”

Lilly Thesbit, a retired school teacher who has been attending Buffetville Baptist Church all her life, was distressed by the group and its message. “I don’t understand it,” she told reporters. “They’re ruining my Easter. Nobody even noticed my new hat.”

Others were equally dismayed. “I don’t know why they have to come here on Easter Sunday of all days,” said 17-year-old Joey Dick. “I mean, if they’ve got a problem with our pastor’s new Acura, why not protest it on the third Sunday in Pentecost or something? Why Easter?”

The offending vehicle, which Pastor Bill McCune of Buffetville Baptist Church purchased less than a month ago, was parked throughout the protest in the designated pastor’s space behind the church. Police were on the scene to make sure that none of the protesters vandalized the car.

“It’s bad theology,” declared Pastor Bill. “They read a few scattered passages in the Bible that say we should care for the poor, and they interpret it to mean I can’t enjoy a new luxury car with my hard-earned money. I mean yes, technically I could make do with a used car, and technically the money I saved could be sent to Oxfam and would help save the lives of a few thousand malnourished children. But come on. I really liked the leather seats!”

Fleps has a different view. “Jesus tells us that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And you remember what he told the young rich man who asked about what he needed to do to earn eternal life? Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give it all to the poor.”

“It’s not just about the pastor’s new car,” Fleps continues. “That’s a symbol of a bigger problem. Just look at all these people flouncing into church in their brand new outfits. Look at all those fancy cars in the parking lot! These people who claim to be Christians are spending money on luxuries while children are starving! It’s an abomination! The least he could've done is gotten himself a hybrid car.”

But Steve Lisp, one of the deacons at Buffetville Baptist, thinks that for Pastor Bill to keep driving that six-year-old Cadillac “would give the wrong message.”

“We’re not one of those poor churches that can’t afford to pay our pastor a nice salary,” insists Lisp. “Half our congregation belongs to the country club!”

“I don’t understand why they can’t be like those Wetsboro folks, and protest real problems like gay marriage,” says Pastor Bill. “I mean, the homosexuals are destroying this country, right? The Bible’s full of stuff that condemns those homos. Me, I’m just living the American dream. God wants his obedient followers to have nice things.”

“For a pastor,” says Fleps, “Bill doesn’t know his Bible very well, does he? Jesus never mentions homosexuality. And aside from a couple of verses in Leviticus, a book that no Christian today treats as authoritative, the only unambiguous mention of same-sex acts is a passing comment in Romans. But the Bible is obsessed with caring for the poor. Let’s face it, if you’re going to be biblical about things, the controversy shouldn’t be about gay pastors, but about pastors who enjoy luxuries while there are people in the world who go to bed hungry. That’s why we’re here.”

But little Jenny Fisher, who attends Buffetville Middle School, knows the truth of the matter. “They just want attention. I mean look at them. They’re dressed like the nerd contingent at my school. They weren’t popular in school, and now they’ve found a way to get people to pay attention to them.”

As this reporter’s mother used to say, “From the mouths of babes…”

Letter to An Unnamed Evangelical Leader... Garry Wills

Greg M — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:50:12 EDT

Those who know me are aware that I am a voracious reader. A book I have recently acquired and am currently enjoying is What Jesus Meant, by author Garry Wills. "Garry Wills has written many acclaimed works on religion. His Papal Sin and Why I Am Catholic were New York Times bestsellers. He studied for the priesthood, took his doctorate in the classics, and taught Greek for many years at the Johns Hopkins University. He is now Professor of History Emeritus at Northwestern University. His works on American history have received many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Lincoln at Gettysburg." (…quoted from the jacket of the book)

While reading this morning I came across this letter that Garry includes in his book from an unnamed writer to an Evangelical leader. Garry admits not knowing the source of the letter, but seems to simply omit the recipient. Still, the letter is so poignant that Garry felt it was well worth including in his book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought many of you would as well. Here it is straight from Garry's book, What Jesus Meant, C. 2006 by Garry Wills, published by Penguin Group, Inc., chapter 2 The Work Begins, sub-chapter Are Some Still Unclean?, pages 33 – 35.

"Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from you, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination – end of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is: how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor to the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there degrees of abomination?
7. Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev. 24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident that you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging."

Stewardship of God's Creation!

Greg M — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:47:32 EDT

I would encourage any Christian who holds to that always distinctive and classic evangelical notion that was deeply planted within us from very young that "Jesus is coming again soon and this world's going to burn, so I don't want to waist my energy focusing on the enviornment, but rather keep an eternal focus," to go back and truly look into what the scripture actually teaches us and not just blindly repeat what we have all heard for so very long, which I'll admit, up until the past decade of my life I repeated blindly too.

To be honest, we don't really know what will happen with the actual earth after Jesus returns for us. Most hold that it will be utterly destroyed, and perhaps this is the case, but actually the Bible is in no way clear about that. It says that humanity will cease to exist in the flesh, thus, "there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth." (Matthew 24:30 NLT) But, unless you're a hardline dispensationalist fundamentalist, you can admit that there is really no way to know the fate of the earth. Yes, there is the passage, "Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear." (Matthew 24:35 NLT) However, does this refer to actual places? or perhaps states of being? who is to say? And everything Jesus says earlier in this same chapter has probably already taken place just as Jesus prophesied when the Temple was destroyed in Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70; at least this was the actual perspective of Matthew himself.

Either way, the way Matthew 24 ends is the clincher for me, as to our role as good stewards of God's Creation. Jesus uses the example of a faithful and sensible servant in the household of the Master. Of course, if we're to honestly translate Jesus' meaning here we have to recognize what God's household is. It is certainly not some actual house on the earth, nor would God's household servants who need to be fed only be humans in an earthly house. Jesus is certainly referring to all of God's creation in this passage.

"A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant is evil and thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:45-51 NLT)

I'll take the frightening challenge of putting this scripture into words we might be able to relate to our situation today: "A human who is a Jesus follower is one to whom Jesus can give the responsibility of being a faithful steward of all of God's creation. One who will see to the proper use, protection and distribution of the resources of the earth, even the universe. If Jesus returns and finds that his follower has done a good job, there will be a reward... But what if that human believes that Jesus will not return in a very long time and begins to treat God's creation in ways that please himself or herself or only select humans? What if this human says 'I have everything I want at my figertips and I will use it all as I see fit and will eat, drink and be merry, and so will my friends. Besides, Jesus won't care all that much anyway since He is going to just throw it all away right after He returns!' Jesus will return unannounced and unexpected, and will be deeply hurt and disappointed with how the human He entrusted God's creation to as a steward of it has utterly misused and destroyed God's creation." I'll be kind and leave the rest for everyone else to translate for herself or himself.

As for me, I've decided to throw out the old picture from my fundamentalist past of being a Christian on a sinking ship (the earth) with my eyes to the sky waiting to be rescued off the ship before it sinks with everyone else on it! I don't even necessarily believe I'm on a sinking ship anymore. But, even if I am, I've discovered that my eyes had better be fixed on caring for the ship and all of the people on it as best I can so that when Jesus does come for rescue, many, many more will hopefully be rescued, and who really knows? maybe even the ship itself! Blessings... Greg

A step of FAITH

SummerLovin77 — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:07:10 EDT

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. -Martin Luther King Jr.

I reflected on this quote for a minute. I was very hesitant before I decided to become political. I felt I was not experienced or educated enough when it comes to politics. President Obama was the first person I ever voted for--I'm 32.

Before Mr. Obama became president, I honestly did not have faith in our GOVERNMENT for obvious reasons (The last 8 years). I took the FIRST step of faith, became a registered voter, and decided to make change in my own life. Maybe it was Mr. Obama's powerful & very moving speeches or the drive of other volunteers during his campaign that sparked the flame that is burning within me to serve as a volunteer for HEALTH CARE reform.

I'm learning! I anticipate to learn more for I believe all Americans should support our LEADER and our great NATION. My prayers goes out to President Obama, his family and staff.

God bless us ALL.

Thanks for reading. ^_^.

Controversial Author Claudette Milner is now being represented by WWSA (Wise Women Speakers Association)

Claudette Milner — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:15:55 EDT

Claudette Milner is the author of a five book series entitled Children of Plains Estates. The current books in the series include “Children of Plains Estates”, “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates and the third book will be entitled “Unshed Tears”: Children of Plains Estates. In December 2008 Ms. Milner’s current release “Unheard Voices”: Children of Plains Estates received honorable mention at the London Book Festival.

Ms. Milner has given interviews on Let’s Talk Honestly with George Cooper, The Maxine Shaw Show, Artist First, and Global Talk Radio and has been featured in the Charlotte Post, Pasco Times, Black Coffee Magazine, and The New York Review. Ms Milner has conducted book signings in several NC libraries, and bookstores and festivals throughout the United States. She recently joined Jerome Imes and Edward Garnes in conducting the James Weldon Johnson Seminars and Workshops in Durham North Carolina for the upward bound program and facilitated an economic education seminar for middle school students for Citi-Bank. Her most recent speaking engagement was entitled a Call to Service delivered to the Village of Louisville, a nonprofit organization for At-Risk children.
Ms. Milner has worked in several capacities as an educator, CRA officer, Trainer, Manager, CSR, and Counselor but her mission is to minister to all God’s people worldwide through her writings and the visions that God has placed in her heart. God's will for her life is to minister to those that do not know God’s unconditional love and compassion and to bring them closer to God by being a follower of Jesus and not just a Christian. Join her in reaching the world with the love of God by ministering to the lost.

Wise Women Speakers Association (WWSA)™ is a faith-based national all-women's speakers bureau. While most bureaus focus on secular speakers (usually with a much higher emphasis on male, secular speakers), we have identified the top faith-based female voices of today and tomorrow. We provide the top motivators, leaders, experts and entertainers to all audiences, for all occasions.

Wise Women Speakers Association (WWSA) was founded primarily to fill two needs. Whether you need a speaker for your event or you are a speaker who needs someone to coordinate your engagements, we can help.

For Speakers
From booking engagements to negotiating contracts to travel arrangements; WWSA can help. WWSA can do as much or as little as you like, depending on your desires.

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Founded in 2007, WWSA is the fruit of a God-given vision of its founder, Carrie Johnson Pegues. It's purpose is to impact lives of individuals for Christ and by extension their families, churches and communities through professional and wise presentations inspired by a love and knowledge of God.

WWSA is a faith-based for-profit ministry. It serves as a Godly channel through which Christian female motivational speakers and artists can share their God-given gifts, talents and abilities in a way that is honoring to God. WWSA is a premier speakers organization through which Christian, civic and community organizations will have access to qualified, professional and wise female speakers and artists who will engage and inspire their audiences on issues of importance to them.

Whatever you need to help your speaking ministry, we stand ready to assist. Don't delay starting on your journey. WWSA is here to help you follow your vision and reach your goals.

To Book Ms. .Milner or for additional information VISIT – WWSA.biz

The "Right" and wrong

Soi Disant — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:08:05 EST

Professor Frank Furedi in an article entitled "More Than the Facts" (appearing in the April 2008 issue of Ode) argues that "the language of right and wrong has been displaced by the phrase 'the research shows' ".

It would be hard to refute the assertion that scientists and their disciples are capable of behaving dogmatically. Paradoxically, this most often unfolds in areas of inquiry where what is definitively known remains still in doubt, or in fields (e.g. anthropology, psychology) where the act of staking a claim carries with it inevitable political or philosophical implications.

However, Professor Furedi seems to skirt around some important reasons for this--even as he cites instances of agenda-driven 'science-chopping'. Recent US political events suggest why many people are choosing the language of fact over the language of belief.

Perhaps the single most important reason in the US for this as been that the Right (as in the political neo-con Right) has successfully sought to rhetorically (and illegitimately) capture the right in "right and wrong" as though an accident of the English language automatically verified their opinions and views.

They made this capture, those sitting in prominent positions of power and influence on the Right, in the name of an agenda that those who are not-Right find dangerous and ethically repugnant, hence a renewed interest on the part of the dissenting not-Right in basing what is to be believed on what happens--on checkable information--and not on what is wished to be true, or is believed-in on basis of a comforting mythology applied to situations outside its proper domain.

It is precisely the self-corrective aspect of science which "...still invites criticism and skepticism..." and renders its authority subject to scrutiny and critique that for many people gives science its authority.

Dogmatism anywhere is dangerous, science not excepted. I am as much an enemy of dogmatism in science as I am in anything else. (In fact in other media I have written against just this.) That being said, still, in politics and religion (and in religion-as-politics) there seems to be no mechanism for self-correction, other than total defeat of the entire system of thought. (In saying this, I would point to Bishop Spong's telling observation that "Christianity must change or die," further remarking that it looks like Christianity isn't particularly interested in changing.) In science we do have a built-in self-corrective mechanism that makes it possible for mistakes to be corrected, for blind spots to be filled in, and for the arrogance of dogma to be replaced with renewed humility.

Why does this matter now? Because, with upcoming political debates around legislation having to do with stem cell research, abortion, when a when human life appears in the womb, the science of global warming, and other matters for which the agenda has been dominated by the Right, we can be sure the familiar rhetorical devices that have worked so well over the past 14 years will be dusted off and oiled up for another try.

Here is the answer that all dissenting replies need to include, explicitly or implicitly: "You're right because you're Right? Wrong. Check the facts."

The Access Process

Minister Tee — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:49:48 EST

During these economic times it is important to understand what is happening and how and where does it effect you as a person of faith.Join us for this this forum on Sunday as we share...united together, bridging the gap!If you're in the Chicago area....The Bridge Network International invites you to 'The Access Process' -- click here to view the invitation and submit your response:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptdtc

BEST OBAMA SONG EVER-Change Is On The Way

Jason from Pittsburgh, PA — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:17:22 EST

This is my way of congratulating our new President, his staff, First Family, and our nation. Please watch, enjoy, and leave comments if you wish. click or paste this link to watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWsXbXTQHj4&fmt=18

We Have A New President!!

Ani — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:53:48 EST

Barack Obama transformed himself from a candidate claiming his campaign is about the voters to a President putting the nation in our hands, as his partners. I muse today just how I may transform my self from a believer that a new day will come to an informed citizen dedicated in loving service to my neighbors, country and world in this new day that has come.

Livingstons of Orangeburg County, SC genealogy

Howard Livingston — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:08:51 EST

Looking for LIVINGSTON descendants of slaves from Orangeburg County, South Carolina and the following towns: North, Livingston, Elizabeth TWP, Bull Swamp P.O., Neeses, Norway, Willow.

Also in Cannon, Newberry County, SC.

Tony Livingston - 1820
   Wesley Livingston - 1862
           John W. Livingston - 1896
             Ernest Livingston - 1915
             Idella LIVINGSTON - 1916
            Victor Livingston - 1919
        Charley Livingston - 1900
          Herman Livingston - 1924
                Howard Livingston - 1953 (me)
     Paul F. Livingston - 1897
         Pauline LIVINGSTON - 1918
           Gertrude LIVINGSTON - 1920
             Paul F. Livingston, Jr. - 1922
             Edith LIVINGSTON - 1925
             John W. Livingston - 1928
            Clifton Livingston - 1929
       Phillip Livingston - 1901
         Dorothy LIVINGSTON - 1919
       Dan Livingston - 1903
        Clifton Livingston - 1904
             Emily LIVINGSTON - 1905
        Lonnie Livingston - 1906
        Wilson Livingston - 1908

The Wonder of Christmas

James — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:37:48 EST

Those two newspapers were leaning against my front door this morning. I can't find the envelope with my cash tip inside. What am I going to do? I stood, newspapers in hand, and looked down my long driveway. It is a white nightmare down at the end of it. Overlapping plows in unwitnessed combat have crisscrossed the cul-du-sac and left jumbled 'Tiger Teeth' of piles strewn everywhere down there. I cannot imagine making my way into that mess to find my papers. I have got to tip this mysterious elusive newspaper person. Christmas stress. I read Judith Warner, a replacement columnist for David Brooks in the New York Times. Where is David? Oh, he needed a break for Christmas, I guess. These 'princes of press' must have their rest. I mean, after all, it takes intensive labor to sit and write something interesting. Another Christmas crock. Like the garbage Judith wrote this day. Brainless. Let's see, she writes about the fact that reason and logic are triumphing over the forces that make Christmas what it should be...wonder, marvel and faith. I am paraphrasing, as her stuff is not worth memorizing. She calls this the 'Woody Allenization' of Christmas. I do like that line, however misplaced and addled it is. You see, Judith is lost in the combating and overlapping mythologies of Christmas in our culture. She is all caught up in the Santa Claus thing, I guess. I am so very sorry Judith, but even though Norad has been tracking Santa's Christmas Eve flight ever since 1955, he is not real. We made it all up to have fun with our kids...and quite possibly for control and discipline purposes as well.

Christmas is filled with wonder, marvel and faith. You just have to look beyond the mythologies. The wonder that people can take a bit of time and think about the plight and condition of others around them. The marvel that they will go out and spend time and money to get something for somebody else that is just right, just to have that person feel a little bit better about life, and maybe them. The faith that something is at work of goodness, driven by, well, you don't have to know. You just have faith that there are more people like you out there, buying stuff not totally out of obligation but because you really want to get stuff for them. There was an old school joke about faith that always liked, even thought the underlying premise was discomforting. Johnny is sitting in the back of his grade school class when his teacher asks the big question. what is faith? Johnny raises his hand, which the teacher tries to avoid, as Johnny is a notorious trouble-maker (i like that part as I was always in that coat closet in my Catholic School for shameful questions). But the teacher caves in when there are no other hands. "Alright Johnny, go ahead...," the teacher says, with disappointment and a bit of trepidation. "Faith is believing in something that you know is not really true," Johnny responds, in his normal fashion. Johnny went, of course, straight to the coat closet, to inhale the aroma of all the little girl's coats hanging there, if he was like me. But the premise of that story is not true. You can have faith in any number of things that may or may not be true. We just don't have enough data or life experience to know. God is like that too. Is He there? Is He a He? What is the deal? I think He is, but I am not sure. I am beginning to sound like Woody Allen, who I never liked, although he is funny...but with some real bad personal habits.

About teaching. The Times had an article about teaching in it. The writer combined the plight and conduct of my beloved auto workers with that of teachers. They are unappreciated. That part is true. But auto workers do not stay up nights working on their stuff, worrying about their charges and taking extra time and effort to help a small person who really needs it. Teachers are different. I know one well. I mean one right now, sleeping and shopping away because she is off for the holiday (one of the few small benefits of the profession). This teacher is kinda normal I think. She asked me to write a short story for her grade school classes. So I wrote The Treasure Pool, which is found somewhere back there in these blogs. She gave out forty-nine copies and then had all the students write reviews back to me. She copied and stapled, read the story to make sure I had not slipped in any filth (I am, after all, an ex-Marine!) and then spent time and trouble helping these kids to come to terms with the plot, the theme and the elements of English such necessary educational arrows to have in their quivers. The critiques came back, and they were wonderful. Oh, I got dinged pretty good on my grades in certain areas. I wrote back to those kids who had given me bad grades for the most minor of things. I was stung. I was nice, but I had to say something! But the story is not about me. It is about the extra time and effort this teacher, Mrs. Machado, takes to really help and advance her students. She is an example of what it is all about out here, and in this holiday season. She follows Sister Sarah Fogarty (my fourth grade teachere) and Sister Michael Marie (my fifth grade teacher) in being one of those unknown and unsung saints. Maybe here, in this lonely blog, she will get the only public recognition she ever gets. But she is all about Christmas. The embodiment. And she is filled with reason and logic and understanding the universe. But she is also a thing of wonder, marvel and faith. Merry Crhistmas Anise Machado. We love you.

FIRST JEWISH PRESIDENT

WEBMASTER — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:02:05 EST

Barack Obama: The First Jewish President?
Chicago circle nurtured him all the way to the top

By Tom Hundley, Tribune reporter

December 12, 2008 / Writer Toni Morrison famously dubbed Bill Clinton "the first black president" - a title he fervently embraced.

Abner Mikva, the Chicago Democratic Party stalwart and former Clinton White House counsel, offers a variation on that theme. "If Clinton was our first black president, then Barack Obama is our First Jewish President," says Mikva, who was among the first to spot the potential of the skinny young law school graduate with the odd name.

"I use a Yiddish expression, yiddishe neshuma, to describe him," explains Mikva. "It means a Jewish soul. It's an expression my mother used. It means a sensitive, sympathetic personality, someone who understands where you are coming from."

Obama, of course, is a Christian. And his middle name is Hussein. In the presidential election, he won 78 percent of the Jewish vote and about 70 percent of the Arab-American vote, according to unofficial exit polling. Obama collected 52.8 percent of the overall vote.

Don't Forget The Shovel

TonyXavier — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:10:59 EST

One Sunday morning many years ago the preacher said, "Together, you and God can move mountains. Just remember to bring your shovel."

I never forgot that morning's sermon. It has helped me remember great change is possible, but to help bring the change about I have to do my share. I have to remember to bring my shovel to help move the mountain faith alone cannot budge an inch.

If we all bring our shovels when we seek to achieve the changes we need to make to help President Obama make the changes he envisions so totally possible, we have a chance of success -- an excellent chance. If we believe and work together we can make it happen.

Yes we can.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

Events for change

Davemc — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:07:08 EST

Greetings all and thank you for reading this blog. At this time we are creating an event we hope many will come to participate in. We have been fortunate enough to secure a facility for 150 people to have seats but we can squeeze a few extra into the space if needed. We have noticed many of the small gatherings can facilitate perhaps 20 persons, and they have been turning people away. Now we have the space for meaningful numbers, so if you are in the Portland area, then come on and sign up for the event.

As our soon to be President said, we have the person in the White House to facilitate change, but we still need the people to make it happen. He cannot do it himself, and we all know how Congress and the Senate are rife with special interests and agendas for the status quo. Change HAS to come from US. We have to be prepared to voice our desire for change from the grass roots level. We HAVE to participate in this change, instead of leaving it for others to do for us. We have to be ready to let the career politicians who would stand for the ststus quo, know that we will not stand for obstruction to the plan we are developing here in the trenches of our neighborhoods.

OBAMA FOR SOUTH DAKOTA

WEBMASTER — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:37:05 EST

Aberdeen * Alcester * Alexandria * Arlington * Armour * Ashton * Avon * Baltic * Belle Fourche * Beresford * Big Stone City * Blunt * Bonesteel * Bowdle * Box Elder * Brandon * Bridgewater * Bristol * Britton * Brookings * Bruce * Bryant * Burke * Canistota * Canton * Carthage * Castlewood * Centerville * Central City * Chamberlain * Clark * Clear Lake * Colman * Colome * Colton * Columbia * Conde * Corsica * Crooks * Custer * Deadwood * Dell Rapids * Delmont * De Smet * Doland * Dupree * Eagle Butte * Edgemont * Egan * Elk Point * Elkton * Emery * Estelline * Eureka * Faith * Faulkton * Flandreau * Fort Pierre * Frankfort * Freeman * Garretson * Gary * Geddes * Gettysburg * Gregory * Groton * Harrisburg * Hartford * Hecla * Herreid * Highmore * Hill City * Hitchcock * Hosmer * Hot Springs * Howard * Hurley * Huron * Ipswich * Irene * Iroquois * Jefferson * Kadoka * Kimball * Kosmos * Lake Andes * Lake Norden * Lake Preston * Lead * Lemmon * Lennox * Leola * McIntosh * McLaughlin * Madison * Marion * Martin * Mellette * Menno * Milbank * Miller * Mission * Mitchell * Mobridge * Montrose * Mount Vernon * Murdo * Newell * New Underwood * North Sioux City * Oldham * Onida * Parker * Parkston * Philip * Pierre * Plankinton * Platte * Presho * Rapid City * Redfield * Roscoe * Salem * Scotland * Selby * Sioux Falls * Sisseton * Spearfish * Spencer * Springfield * Sturgis * Tea * Timber Lake * Tripp * Tyndall * Valley Springs * Veblen * Vermillion * Viborg * Volga * Wagner * Watertown * Waubay * Webster * Wessington * Wessington Springs * White * White Lake * White River * Whitewood * Willow Lake * Wilmot

Giving Thanks

Vince from Boston, MA — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:14:55 EST

Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on what we as American's are greatful for.

Thanks to all of you on the MYBO blog who cajouled, rallied, donated their time and money and shared their thoughts and ideas on all the pressing issues of our time. I'm greatful and proud that I live in a country in which we as a people can come together and move this country forward. Its a true testament to the vitality of our democracy.

I'm greateful that for the first time in my life I could cast my vote for a presidential candidate without any reservations and that a great majority of Americans have vindicated my long held beliefs on what needs to change in this country.

For President-elect Barack Obama and his incredible team of advisers who are moving forward with the presidential transition.

I'm grateful for a great American ... Howard Dean who paved the way for the presidential and congressional victories that will help in transforming our nation as we move forward. Howard's Fifty State strategy has made all the difference and I wish him well in what ever endeavor he pursues next .

Know this .... we in the blogosphere influenced the outcome of this past election and that we will continue to play an important role in the direction our country.

Many people have posed the question about what comes next.

My short answer ....This is only the beginning .... of a new American democracy.

A journey that will require all of us to participate on the pressing issues of our time.

Lets be thankful for everything we have and remember that we live in a country in which our goals and aspirations can be fulfilled .... if we believe in ourselves and our fellow citizens.

Its time to dream again .... Big Dreams .... not of what is .... but a bright new future for America and the world.

Happy Thanksgiving !

Vince Cipriano ;-}

P.S. Say a prayer for peace in Mumbai India that has been under seige by terrorists.

http://www.cnn.com/

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hope, Trust and Faith

Marcia--One who believes in Dreams! — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:07:32 EST

Trust and faith is what we need to have right now for the men, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, we elected to lead our country. We carried this hope and determination all through the primary and the general election. We must hold on to that and believe in this magnificent team, President-elect Obama and Vice-President elect Biden. These are troubling times and it's easy to become disenchanted, but this is the time we must forge on and be positive and help in every way we can to reclaim our country. Change is coming. Please continue to carry the banner of hope, trust and faith!

OBAMA’S INAUGURATION POEM

Tom from Lenexa, KS — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:17:38 EST

Obama’s Inauguration Poem

Obama’s Inauguration Poem
FELLOW AMERICANS

FELLOW AMERICANS

Will we battle terrorism as it should be fought

Or run away and let evil doers chase us to our door?

Will we protect our freedom and system of life

As our fathers and grandfathers sacrificed before?

Will we secure our borders against illegal entry

Or let our economy and security be destroyed?

Will we finally stop runaway wasteful spending

By leaders who are self-serving and void?

Will we continue to pledge our help to the less fortunate

Who suffer from war, hunger and disease?

Will we preserve our heritage and our future

From those who wish to bring liberty to its knees?

Never be afraid to be proud of America

And march with the thankful, honorable and just.

Never surrender our freedom of choice

Standing firm for what we believe and trust.

Sometimes it’s hard to protect what is right

Sometimes we’re scorned as for others we fight.

Some of us are willing regardless of loss

To commit our soul to save the cross.

Evil prospers on greed and human hate

Always eager to destroy and defecate.

God’s grace descends on the souls of man

Cleansing the impure wherever He can.

As long as man has struggled on earth

Life has had its troubles from birth.

God’s seed of goodness has delayed man’s demise

Thank Heaven for his heroes the strong and the wise.

The Lord adores his heroes of yesterday

Just how numerous, only He could say.

God loves his soldiers who line up to serve

By standing against evil His grace they deserve.

God Bless America

By Tom Zart

Most Published Poet

On The Web

You can hear all of Tom Zart’s 324 poemsof love, war, faith and more 24-7 on web radio at http://internetvoicesradio.com/Arch-TomZart.htm Tom Zart ARCHIVES: Global
Special
Operations
101 http://www.globalspecialoperations.com/tomzart2.html

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

WEBMASTER — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:30:21 EST

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.

The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies for taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms:

Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren.

We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.

We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here.

We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence.

They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.

We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

PEOPLE IN THE USA CHOOSE TO UNITE

HELP US HELP OTHERS

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SEARCH QUERIES
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GENERATION O

WEBMASTER — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:59:08 EST

The continuous expansion of HOPE THROUGH GENERATION O rest on the continuous support of active participants. Obama 'Generation O' members include –

AFRICAN AMERICANS for Justice
AMERICANS OVERSEAS
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
ARAB AMERICANS for Freedom
ASIAN AMERICANS for Human Rights
COLLEGE STUDENTS for Education
CONSERVATION Groups
FAITH, FAMILY AND FELLOWSHIP Assemblies
GENERATION O for Opportunity
JEWISH AMERICANS for Civil Rights
GOP For Obama
LABOR UNIONS for Better Pay
LATINOS for Fairness
NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES
OBAMA KIDS for a Better World
OBAMA FARMERS for a Better System
OBAMA SENIORS for Social Security
OBAMA VETERANS for Peace
OBAMA WOMEN for Women
WORLD STUDY BIBLE
and the ANGELS MESSAGE

GENERATION OBAMANATION SEARCH QUERIES
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The Faith Backlash

bh316 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:09:04 EST

Yesterday I was listening to POTUS 08, a political channel on XM radio, and I heard an interaction that troubled me enough that I started talking to the radio. You know those times when you're saying to yourself, "Hey, that's not right. You're mangling the point! There's something important here, and you're trashing it like a SUV backing over a kid's toy in the driveway!" Well, I had one of those moments.

The host was looking for a Palin supporter who was not Pro-Life. His original point, I think, was that Palin's main contribution to the McCain ticket was her appeal to the far right wing of the Republican party, which is closely aligned with the pro-life stance.

Then, the host went sideways and asked a caller, "So, do you think Jesus supported the death penalty?" This was the host's way of showing his self-avowed Christian caller his hypocrisy in being pro-life and pro-death-penalty. The caller, as you could imagine, had no good response to the host, and the host tied the caller in knots. This also put my stomach in knots, and it got me to talking to the radio. Here's why.

. . . Here's My Concern . . .

Harold from Stafford, VA — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:25:24 EST

It may seem like a small thing, well a couple of things. You mentioned using your gut feelings. President Bush said something similar. That bothers me because I know that few people know Cognitive Therapy. That says that all feeling have a thought behind them. We have to bring the thought into mind and test it to see if it's true. Feelings have a thought or thoughts behind them and they can be true or false. Everything, then is subject to logic. If we have a gut reaction, it's often true. It shouldn't be dismissed easily at all, but you have to ask yourself, what does it mean. Why do I feel that way and since they are so important, even after understanding them it's good to keep looking for more information. The free world is hanging on those decisions. Scripture might say to test them to see if they are from God, that is to say, workable, reasonable, true and fit with everything else you know and believe. Sometimes it takes a lot of asking yourself questions, not making judgments, just asking for explanations. Those rules are consistent scripturally and scientifically, from the results of extensive study and confirmation. That's my first concern. If you need help, be humble, ask.
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Secondly, the thought you expressed of working 16 hours a day, or some such. No way. If you follow the rules of how to think, ask if you don't know. Bush deligated, but didn't follow up on what they where doing. The government needs an administrator or many such, but it needs an inspired person overseeing. A good adminstrator is worth their weight in gold, but they still come a dime a dozen. Not many people are as inspired as your going to need to be. None were quit good enough except one. You also need to be listening to solutions from the people, 100 million strong. You have incredible geniuses out here. Why do all the work yourself? And intuition. Let the brain do the work and access it with intuition, better than a gut reaction. The rule is the same test it rigorously also, but only after you find out what sense it's trying to make and why the intuition came. It has a reason to be, so take it seriously. Why you had that intuition comes with the intuition. so look deaply into it. Don't listen to me. Test it yourself and listen to Einstein when he said, the only real thing is intuition, the only valuable thing is intuition. I believe that that saying is more important than his other theories, which he said he intuited also. Oprah said she followed her intuition. You can hardly find anyone famous who didn't. That's inspiration. Do that and you can get home to your family sometime and set a good example for all of us. You can do some work at home, but keep humble like me.

America - Together (post election)

Alex Karoub — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:44:40 EST

..... Contact: http://Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

WHO IS THAT GUY BARACK OBAMA? HE IS US.

We have made historic headway by together pointing our nation in the right directions. After decades, we have America focused on the issues of fundamental importance. Now, each of us acting in concert can together move our country to lead the world to the fruitfulness of moral goodness. I have no doubts about my abilities and the abilities of fellow Americans to work smart and hard to achieve these goals.

Barack Obama has the visions, leadership, and integrity for us to correct and redirect our country to once again lead the world for the fruitions of good. Let's closely listen, learn, and move forward based on that which we know deep inside is good and which we can validate with our hearts.

I hope that those who had but a few reasons to support Obama, look further into the other issues more deeply. I found the more I explored, studied, and listened to Obama the more I found us in agreement. The couple of issues that I did not have depth of knowledge of, quickly became obvious in need. This was unusual for me since I have always refused to be any kind of a follower, and still am not. I find Obama to be a deep thinker who is articulate and inspirational; and, of most fundamental importance, Obama makes excellent moral sense.

Hopefully, our country has learned lessons from the past of mistakenly following leadership blindly, as was done with Nixon and Bush. There are leaders who are simply in it for themselves and will cater to individuals or groups in order to grab for their own benefit. Corrupt and bad leaders hide at all levels. This is especially true in city government as well as county and state government. The corrupt deals of politicians need to be exposed, and those responsible need to be weeded out in the coming local elections. Others need to be investigated by law enforcement and be prosecuted for illegal dealings; for deals they often make for their hidden personal agendas. Let’s look at the bad experiences of the past as bitter medicines, let’s eliminate the need for such bad medicine in the future. Let us use what we know is good to go forward.

I believe we have chosen wisely, not by greed and not by misguided retaliatory anger. I believe this time our country has chosen with open eyes, with each of us listening and examining our choice of leadership closely, driven and validated by our hearts.

I hope we can continue to make our efforts even more inclusive (in many more ways than I touch on here). Far right republicans will be stubborn to change, but we will need to include them to change if we are to succeed. Sure a few more will leave our country, but that is not the American way. No, we really don't need their false fronts of power, money, insider knowledge, or other trappings that they have taught many to 'respect?'. Let's recruit as many as we can, that's the American way, evolving and changing together as one nation. Try to be understanding as we move forward; by better understanding each as individuals and people with various desires and needs we will find ways to reach out with friendship and have them join our causes of good.

Be on the lookout, and root out bad leadership in government and business. Do not be intimidated by those who use the false fronts of power and give a false sense of security in order to lead. Be extra leery of those who say or imply ‘Trust me’; those who give a sense that they somehow omnipotently know better. No longer will Americans be dazzled by phony displays of brilliance or baffled by baloney. There are government aristocrats and business leaders who still believe in the old adage of: “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle em with bullshit”. We can embrace complexity by demanding true, fundamental, and understandable explanations. We can root out falsehoods by not accepting double speak. We as Americans know how to grow ourselves by first believing in ourselves. Don’t be a follower. Don’t be a follower of followers.

However, when we find leaders who are good; a leader that thinks, speaks, and acts from their heart; one that is honest, has integrity, and leads by sincere examples; then we need to in a big way, join them, support them, and promote their causes of good. From much research, investigation, and scrutiny, I believe Barack Obama is such a person. I hope we search for and find many more who are similar, who we can add to service at all levels of government. We need to add/replace leaders in business with ones that have honesty, integrity, and show quality in leadership. We need more people in leadership roles who are moral, like Barack Obama.

Remember, we are not fighting a battle, we are the artisans and sculptors of the future for ourselves and generations to come. Rarely do societies have opportunities to make such dramatic moves forward as we now have in this opportunity of today. Take pride and practice in being inclusive as we stride forward. In moving forward, create opportunity not only for yourself, but also for all. Hope is a wonderful thing to behold; but without opportunity, hope can become but a dream never achievable. We can, will, and must, create opportunity.

In the coming year I hope that we do not lose our spiritedness, but instead continue to build and make headway. I hope we all continue our campaign for change in government and business. We will succeed in moving forward once again, it will take much effort and good oversight on the part of each of us. We will make great strides in the months and years ahead in order to achieve the fruitions of good. Let's keep our enthusiasm progressing through these coming toughest of times. Let us use the light of goodness and love to motivate us with historic momentum.

I have chosen Barack Obama because he best represents my deepest beliefs in America. Please take time to read the issues that Barack Obama has published on this website. Also, give your attention to see how he leads us to move our nation forward in the time ahead. Most importantly, be part of America's great future, participate in the greatness that together we will make. Participate!

We will each and all flourish, if we think, speak, and act, by using the love in our hearts.

Your reply is welcome. Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

MIND TRANSFORMATION

Nadirah — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:33:57 EST

I wrote the blog below, Deconstructing the Media's Political Role, on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at the outset of Barack Obama’s run for the highest office in the land, the Presidency of the United States of America on www.blogger.com (http://violet-mindtransformation.blogspot.com). I think it is fitting to reproduce this blog here for posterity. I chose "Violet" as my blogger name on that site because it is the name of one of my favorite aunts, my mother's sister, who died a few years ago. I also used "Violet" for what the word signifies in the color spectrum. I was thinking royal, regal when I wrote on that cold Canadian winter day. On this bright autumn day those thoughts of royalty and regality have manifested. The WORD has been made "flesh" - Barack Obama is indeed the President-Elect and Michelle Obama, the First Lady-Elect.

I knew that Barack Obama was the right candidate for the Presidency from everything I had read and studied about his life. My dear 89-year old mother did not live to see history in the making. Her great-grandmother was the daughter of a slave woman, making my mother five generations removed from slavery. I am the last female on the matrilineal line tied to that slave woman, i.e. the last surviving daughter of a daughter. My mother lived with the belief that the American electorate would never elect "a Black man" to be President of the USA. She died on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 just four months before her 90th birthday which would have been on October 26th and right on the heels of her birthday, 9 days later, Barack Obama's historic victory.

Deconstructing the Media's Political Role

Saturday, February 16, 2008

I have been watching the race for the political nomination of the Republican and Democratic Parties in the USA from the outset and it never fails to amaze me the extent to which the media, in particular, CNN, creates and promotes issues to distract the masses from thinking about what is really important. Even though Obama has done his best to demonstrate that he is running for the presidency to serve ALL Americans, irrespective of race, gender, social class, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or any other "label", CNN has seen fit to play both "the race card" and "the gender card". Obama is a bi-racial man who unlike most of us can identify with blackness and whiteness given that his father is Black and his mother is White. He has also been blessed with the opportunity to live in different cultural settings in his early years thus preventing him from becoming ethnocentric and narrow-minded. He understands the immigrant issue because his father was an immigrant from Kenya.

When one looks at Obama's entire life, beginning with his interracial birth, his education and political ascendancy it is clear that Obama is literally "a man for all seasons". He understands critical issues such as poverty; the plight of women raising children alone (his father left the family when he was 2 years old); the need for quality education in public schools so that more young men and women can realize the dream of higher education and, like himself, one day attend universities such as Harvard; the necessity for affordable health care; the urgency to create jobs and to implement sound economic plans that will work towards eradicating marginalization of both men and women at the lower levels of society; and, stemming the tide of the underclass that is being created by allowing corporations to profit from the labour and disenfranchisement of illegal immigrants.

After we deconstruct all the media spin, what any right thinking person can see is the stark difference Obama, as the Democratic presidential nominee presents in terms of all the other candidates. He is a man who came from humble beginnings and rose to the top through his determination, perserverance, faith and commitment to excellence. He was not born with a gold or a silver spoon in his mouth and was not the child of privilege and wealth. The continued cry that he is lacking in experience is nothing but a red herring because Obama has experience that none of the other candidates can claim on their resumes. He has the experience of having to fight to prove that he is worthy and capable in a society where, unfortunately, people are still judged on the basis of their skin color and their race. Not only has Obama transcended the race issue but he has also transcended the class issue and pulled himself up by his boot straps with the love of a wonderful mother, grandparents and other significant others in his life.

When Obama uses the phrase "We Can", he is not simply speaking platitudes but he is speaking from experience. Harvard could not have taught Obama the things he learnt in the school of life, in the real world where he had to deal with his mother not having money to give him all the things children whose parents were better off were able to afford. He can understand the plight of poor people irrespective of skin color because he's lived the life with a poor White teenage mother. Obama can also relate to the middle class and the importance of ensuring that the middle class stays economically strong because that is the class that led him to this moment in history. He can relate to the rich because unlike his opponent he did not reach into his pocket and lend his campaign $5 million dollars but has benefitted from the contributions of wealthy patrons to his presidential run, as well as those who could only give him the proverbial "widow's mite".

Obama is truly the best choice for the presidency of the USA. He alone can unite Black, White, male, female, poor, middle class, rich and make America once more the great nation that it used to be both domestically and internationally. Obama is a fine tapestry and all these strands come together in his life. He is at one and the same time every American in terms of his birth, his life and this incredible journey that he is on. I wish God's continued favor, prosperity, blessings, protection, peace and love for he and his beautiful family. Michelle Obama is in a word not just "once, twice but THREE times a lady". She fully represents dignity, integrity and real class. America would be more than blessed to have Barrack Obama as President and Michelle Obama as First Lady.

We're all ONE in Spirit because we've all proceeded from THE ONE, the Divine Source and Sustainer of All Life. Barrack Obama is an American first and foremost, irrespective of the circumstances of his birth. I will be more than overjoyed when he takes the oath of office and becomes President Barrack Obama.

Peace and Blessings ..... Violet Posted by Violet at 7:23 PM 0 comments Links to this post Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF WORLD WAR III

Tom Zart Most Published Poet On The Web — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:18:08 EST

SATAN’S HORDE SHALL BE REMOVED

Overrun with war and uncontrolled leaders
Our world becomes more dangerous each day.
Dishonest politicians, criminals and the media
Survive by their falsehoods at play.

Bible believers preach, that the end is near
Our world as a whole is beyond reform.
God will eradicate all which is wicked
By His fire of eruption and storm.

To evil’s victory, I will never concede
May its supporters anguish in hell.
By the grace of God and the power of faith
The goodness of man will prevail.

What we accomplish is heaven’s measure
As patriots respond to the threats of man.
Protect and defend what we love till death
As the soldiers of Satan arise from the sand.

SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF WORLD WAR III

Our sons and daughters serve in harms way
To defend our way of life.
Some are students, some grandparents
Many a husband or wife.

They face great odds without complaint
Gambling life and limb for little pay.
So far away from all they love
Fight our soldiers for whom we pray.

The plotters and planners of America's doom
Pledge to murder and maim all they can.
From early childhood they are taught
To kill is to become a man.

They exploit their young as weapons of choice
Teaching in heaven, virgins will await.
Destroying lives along with their own
To learn of their falsehoods too late.

The fearful cry we must submit
And find a way to soothe them.
Where defenders worry if we stand down
The future for America is grim.

Now's not the time to fight one another
Or kiss our enemy's cheek.
All through history it remains the same
The strong enslave the weak.

May God continue to bless America
Refusing evil, the upper hand.
It's up to us to stay resolute
Defending the liberty of Man.

UNYIELDING HONOR

Tom Zart Most Published Poet On The Web — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:48:24 EST

UNYIELDING HONOR

Weakness invites moral plight, war and aggression

Encouraged by mistrust, misjudgment and delay.

All we love can be destroyed and transformed

By the powers of darkness maneuvering our way.

When something wicked stares us in the face

To corrupt our morals, faith and resolve.

God gives us courage to defend what’s right

No matter the sacrifice or danger involved.

Evil seeks to destroy the good in man

And silence the memory of God’s law.

It’s up to the faithful to stay unyielding

Defending the liberty and justice of all.

Our men and woman who serve in harm’s way

Are the armor of what the free world depends on.

Without their sacrifice of body and soul

All that we stand for is gone.

GOD LOVES HIS SOLDIERS

Sometimes it’s hard to protect what is right

Sometimes we’re scorned as for others we fight.

Some of us are willing regardless of loss

To commit our soul to save the cross.

Evil prospers on greed and human hate

Always eager to destroy and defecate.

God’s grace descends on the souls of man

Cleansing the impure wherever He can.

As long as man has struggled on earth

Life has had its troubles from birth.

God’s seed of goodness has delayed man’s demise

Thank Heaven for his heroes the strong and the wise.

The Lord adores his heroes of yesterday

Just how numerous, only He could say.

God loves his soldiers who line up to serve

By standing against evil His grace they deserve.

NEVER BE AFRAID TO BE PROUD of AMERICA

America, the abundant, the place I was born
I'll cherish till the day I die.
Where the bones of past heroes lie buried in the ground
Who loved her the same as I.

Her mountains are so tall they reach for the sky
With prairies where the green grasses grow.
There's billions of trees where wild birds nest
With creatures that flourish below.

That blue gold called water with which we are blessed
As raindrops or crystallized snow;
Changes to rivers and fresh water lakes
While the winds of our seasons blow.

There's the haunt of a whistle from a lonely freight train
Racing on ribbons of steel
With the harvest of farms and from the factories
Balanced in a box on a wheel.

Some cities have buildings a hundred stories tall
Structures of concrete, glass and steel.
A statue in a harbor, a present from France
Describes how, inside, we feel.

That flag on the moon with red and white stripes
Proves America’s dreams come true.
A country of heroes who line up to protect
The past, the present and the few.

We’ll defeat terrorism as it should be fought
Never letting Satan’s horde chase us to our door.
Safeguarding our borders and system of life
As our forefathers sacrificed before.

Never be afraid to be proud of America
And march with the brave, faithful and just.
Refusing to submit to the will of our enemies
Standing firm to preserve what we trust.

America wins the election!

Nanci — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:53:56 EST

I'm certain I will only repeat what has been said hundreds of times since the electoral votes came in proclaiming Barack Obama the next President of the United States. Our Barack Obama! This is a wonderful day for America, and we need to bask in it and congratulate ourselves as well as President-elect Obama for a job well done. We need to do this because there will be hard times ahead calling for faith and sacrifice. Barack has told us that. We have faced hard times before. The difference this time is that we have a real leader to lead us, to encourage us, and to give us hope. We saw that hope last night on the faces of everyone. I hope to see more of that hope in the days ahead. Let us all send our prayers and good wishes and thoughts for strength to President-elect Obama and pray that he knows we are behind him and will follow his lead.

I hope our brothers and sisters of color will allow us to also be elated by the election of the first African-American president, and that we can continue to work together to heal the past and work for the future. Our best thoughts for one another will create the energy that will continue the change that has been too long coming, and spread it to others and future generations. Some of us love them more than they know; mostly it is fear that has come between us. The antidote for fear is love. (I think Jesus said that in some way or another).

I have learned much already from this man and his campaign. I have learned the power of taking the high road regardless of the arrows thrown at us, to be less judgmental, to speak only encouragement and hope, to call on and believe in the best in others, and to hold firm to my beliefs no matter what the cost. This is what won the election, make no mistake. This is a beacon to follow, the beacon continuing from the light of Dr. Martin Luther King, who followed the lead of Gandhi. In all the terrible arrows slung at Dr. King, he never took the lower pathway, but followed his belief and faith and held to his ideals even unto death. That is a man of courage and integrity. They are too few and far betweeen, but they are a standard to which to aspire. Barack Obama is another such a man, and that is why I am SO thrilled at the election of this man to President of the United States.

I am thrilled to have seen this in my lifetime. I am thrilled to believe once again that the future for America can only get brighter. I believe in Barack Obama, and in his ability to make this future possible, and I pledge to support him in the days ahead as well.

Keep the Faith!!

BELIEVE THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON

WEBMASTER — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:45:52 EST

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, OF BARACK, of Samson, of Jephthah; and David also, Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had test of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, moreover of chains and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were cut in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered around in goatskins and sheepskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise:
God having provided something better for us, that without us they would not be made perfect.

Text is available in 35 GLOBAL LANGUAGES

UPDATE: 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and THE GOVERNMENT OF CHANGE

We are extraordinary...let us not forget it!

Sophia — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:54:35 EDT

Barack Obama’s phenomenal campaign which has been run completely on his faith in himself, his loved ones, and our faith in him truly hit home with me last night while watching his 30 minute “infomercial”.

You see, I have been an avid supporter of Senator Barack Obama’s since the summer of 2007. And I am SO grateful that I became a supporter. But I did not realize how my contributions with my time, my money, and my efforts to engage my family, friends, and loved ones, even in simple discussions about his campaign, have contributed to Senator Barack Obama being in the current position that he is right now to even air that informercial and have contributed to my understanding of my own power as an individual.

And it hit me that it truly only ever takes just one. It takes just one individual to stand, one individual to go against the grain, to question the status quo…..JUST ONE PERSON. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE POWER INHERENT IN WHAT I JUST WROTE? JUST ONE PERSON.

Knowing, not just saying, but knowing and truly believing that it only takes JUST ONE PERSON to change the world – that concept is mind-blowing.

Imagine if Barack Obama had not decided to run for President because the odds were so highly stacked against him?

Imagine if Michelle Obama had decided to not endorse her husband and nurture his dream and instead discard it some crazy concept?

Imagine if that one individual who first decided to support Barack Obama’s campaign and not to spread his/her endorsement to those around him/her?

Imagine if that one individual did not engage another individual, who then engaged another individual, and so on and so forth…which has now created this movement that has brought Senator Barack Obama to this point in time, in history?!

Imagine? Can you just imagine? Now imagine the fact that this has all been a long, long road that began with just one step…just one step…and you will realize that….

WE DID THIS! WE BROUGHT THIS MOVEMENT TO THIS POINT….WE DID! And NO MATTER what happens come Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - we are left with the understanding that truly nothing, truly nothing is impossible. Nothing at all. If we can contribute to this individual, with everything stacked against him, and get to this point where he is quite possibly going to become the next President of the United States of America - then my God, we can do ANYTHING. ANYTHING at all.

Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, John F. Kennedy, Harriet Tubman, Gloria Steinem, Madeline Albright, Prince, Michael Jackson, Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Jefferson, Sidney Poiter, Janet Jackson, Benjamin Franklin, Sojourner Truth, Abraham Lincoln, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry…oh..I could go on and on with the list of people who have been game changers. People who have accomplished things beyond their wildest dreams and beyond anyone’s conceptions. And you know why?

These people got to the point where they literally changed the game by FAITH. Let me say that again.

These people changed the game by FAITH.

Without faith in themselves, faith in people to change and to want something more for their lives, and without the faith from people — these individuals would not be in our minds as heroes, as extraordinary human beings.

The beauty of this is not just that it only takes one and that we all can be extraordinary by believing in our dreams and holding on dearly to our faith in those dreams, even when things go dark, eve when we have no concept as to how to get to that huge dream - no, the beauty of all of this is that we are all extraordinary.

Yes, I said it. We are all extraordinary. There is no other way to look at it, except for just as that. You see, there can be no leader without followers. There cannot be a conductor without the orchestra — there is no music without the orchestra nor without the conductor. So you see, there is no way that the people we call extraordinary can be extraordinary without US also being extraordinary.

Our faith in them, our contributions to their efforts, our support of them takes FAITH and FAITH is an extraordinary concept seeing as how it is is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

So when you look at the massiveness of the movement that pushes Barack Obama forward, whether or not you support the man, understand this very well. We are all extraordinary and we recognize that we are extraordinary when we exercise faith. When we just believe in something with faith the mere size of a mustard seed, and work hard on our dream, we can truly move mountains. And Senator Barack Obama’s campaign has done that…we have literally moved mountains. And he could not have done that without us and we could not have done it without him….he is no more extraordinary than us and we no more extraordinary than him. And if we can do this, then why not be extraordinary in our lives, all of the time? Why not step out on faith in ourselves, as we have done for him, and lead our extraordinary lives that are just waiting for us? Why not?

"Just keep swimming...just keep swimming!" - Dory

http://oshunlife7.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/the-conductor-cannot-exist-without-the-orchestraboth-are-crucial-to-the-equation/

Faith in the Election

Kamden — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:38:22 EDT

As a grad student at a Pentecostal University and an Assemblies of God minister, my support (rather vocal, at that) for Obama has made me the target for quite the number of email forwards, personal notes, phone calls, Facebook posts and messages, and, of course, the occasional sarcastic comment. Inevitably, these concerned friend, University officials, and random acquaintances all have the same primary complaints: Abortion, gay rights, and the faith of Obama himself.

It's A New Day

Patrice from Williamsburg, VA — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:22:03 EDT

The dawning of a new day is here, both for America as a whole and for those who call ourselves "compassionate conservatives," a code name for politically active Christians.

It's a time when our nation has the opportunity to break from the tradition of the past--from racial and class division, from partisan politics, from us against them--and to ride into a bright, new future of unified effort for the good of all Americans, truly non-partisan policy making and cooperation in Washington.

The undeclared but clearly evident leader of this new effort is Barack Obama, an American of mixed racial background (half white, and half black), and of mixed socio-economic background, a recent graduate from the struggling middle class to the echelons of upper class America. He is the leader we need right now not just because of superior intellect, highly effective communication skills, and his high level of educational attainment, but also because of the character and the temperament with which he has been divinely blessed. Character he has demonstrated in this election in quite distinct contrast to his Republican contender, John McCain.

It is for this reason that I, a social activist at heart for the poor and for the good of all men, and a Christian conservative as it relates to the two most pivotal moral issues of our time--abortion and homosexuality--have decided to vote for Senator Barack Obama to become the next president of the United States.

Though the Republican party may attempt to portray it--God is not the God of one political party. He is not more concerned about small government than he is about helping those in need. He did not only send His Son to die for upper class and upper middle class whites. He does not want us to lock-up first time, young non-violent offenders for most of their young adult lives and throw away the keys. He does not want us to ignore the social causes of crime. He does want his people involved with both parties so that both parties ultimately represent His interests, which are the best interests of us all.

This is our opportunity. In this election, we have the ability to show the rest of America that "conservative Christians" can make a balanced, intellectual, and still spiritual choice for President. We can choose to vote for Barack Obama, not because we agree with him on every issue, but because we agree with him on many. And we can make our voices heard during his administration to affect the way he governs on issues with which we do disagree.

Make the change. Take the leap. Make a new choice, and encourage other like minded people to make this choice as well--praying all the way for Christ to grant Sen. Obama the wisdom to make the right decisions at the right time, not swayed by what's popular, but based on the right foundation--God's Word--at "such a time as this" in our nation's and the world's history.

--Pat Perry

Thoughts on Politics in 2008

Drew Dixon — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:58:16 EDT

A Responsibility to Vote

Just before leaving Earth, Jesus speaks these words to his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus has all authority and he passes a measure of it to his disciples. He gives them the authority to disciple others, to baptize others, and to teach others. What if the disciples he was speaking to decided not to do this? What if they decided to make light of the authority Christ had passed on to them? I doubt it would have been sinful, but it would have certainly been irresponsible and negligent of God’s wishes.

When God gives people a measure of authority over something it is important that they act. For instance, parents are given a measure of authority over their children, but if parents neglect their children it is irresponsible and negligent of God’s wishes for them. God expects parents to actively play a role in their children’s life but also not to abuse their authority: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

The same can be said of husbands and wives. Paul writes that “the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does [and that] the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.” (1 Corinthians 7:4) If a man mistreated his wife or vise-versa it would be abusive of this authority because God expects a husband to love his wife and a wife to respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:33)

Another example of authority is the authority God gives older people over younger people. It is important for older people to act responsibly with their authority over younger people. (Titus 2:1-8) Authority brings responsibility. The whole spider-man “greater power brings greater responsibility” thing. It is important for parents, spouses, and adults to actively use their authority in responsible ways.

In Romans 13 Paul writes, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1) This is yet another place where God has given authority. We would expect the government to act responsibly and justly in its rule over those subject to it. Here’s an interesting observation: in a democracy the people are the government. In a republic we have the ability to elect government officials who best represent us. In our government we have a small measure of authority.

This is why I believe we have a responsibility to vote. God has given authority to the government which has given us a measure of authority. It would be irresponsible and negligent of the authority entrusted to us as citizens to not. At the same time we must not take this authority lightly. A voter who did not look seriously at the issues would be like a father ignoring his child or like a preacher who did not study the scriptures.

We must vote. And we must use this authority responsibly, weighing the issues in contemplation and prayer.

The Issues

There are numerous issues in this election that have weighed heavily upon me. There are values that my faith leads me to hold and I want to use the authority our government has given me as a voter to vote in such a way that will bring these values to fruition. I want to discuss some of these issues and why I have chosen to vote for for Barack Obama in the upcoming election.

Money

It’s funny how we often draw lines between moral issues and economic issues. My faith leads me to believe that monetary issues are moral.

I was talking with Greg earlier today about positive and negative obligation. He said that negative obligation would be something like “I am obligated to not drown a child” while positive obligation is something like “If I see a child drowning I am obligated to save him.” I know that the first is true. Is the latter one true? My faith tells me - YES!

The most challenging thing about Jesus is how he does not only prohibit us from murdering, committing adultery, and divorcing (to name a few) but he asks us to love, respect, and be faithful. (Matthew 5) His story of the Good Samaritan tells me that I ought to stop and care for the wounded man on the road. (Luke 10:25-37) Jesus tells me to care for “the least of these” and that if I don’t it is the same as rejecting him. (Matthew 25:31-46)

Also, it is interesting to note that of all the people Jesus hung out with (many of whom were not in poverty, but were more similar to the middle class) the ones who he asked to sell their possessions and give money to the poor were those who were rich. (Luke 18:18-23)

Furthermore, In Acts we see that the early church had “everything in common” which simply means that they shared and took care of each other. (Acts 4:32) In the epistles we can see that the church cared for the poor and weak. James writes that true religion is caring for orphans and widows (James 1:27), which in our culture translates over to caring for single mothers and their children.

I want to be the citizen of a nation whose government shares these values. I think that my faith does not only oblige me to not steal, but it also obliges me to give. I want the government to do the same. While McCain has economic policy that will cut taxes for the rich, Obama’s economic plan is one that takes money from the rich and gives it to the poor and middle class - the same way that Jesus asked for the rich to give up their possessions and give money to the poor. As a voter I want to vote for a candidate who bring this care of the poor to reality.

Life

Life is most notably publicized in the issue of abortion, but it is also seen in the issue of war which unnecessarily has killed thousands of Iraqi citizens and our own soldiers.

Many people may ask, “How can a Christian vote for a pro-choice candidate?” I think of it this way: Is the end goal to outlaw abortion or to dramatically lower it? We can easily outlaw something without ever affecting it at all. Consider the prohibition. This was a 13 year period in which the manufacturing and sell of alcohol was illegal. This, however, hardly had any affect on the amount of alcohol manufactured and sold.

Now consider abortion. The Republican agenda is to overturn Roe v. Wade, a court case which preserves a woman’s right to choose. If Roe v. Wade is overturned the decision would go back to the states. Immediately about fifteen states would legalize abortion, fifteen states would outlaw it, and the other twenty would refight the civil war on this issue. The fact of the matter is this would do nothing to lower the number of abortions. If someone lived in a state where abortion had been outlawed they would only have to cross lines into a state where it is legal to carry out the abortion. Nothing would change. Also, it is strange to me that the Republican platform stands firmly on the fact that abortion is wrong, yet (as we discussed earlier) their economic policy makes it very difficult on a poor, single, pregnant woman to financially support her child.

Although I disagree with Obama’s support for a woman’s right to choose, I agree with the actions he wants to take. First his economic policies will actually help single women in tough financial situations. The government will actually help her out enabling her to care for her son or daughter instead of turning to abortion. Another answer to the problem is preventing unwanted pregnancies. Obama wants to do this by increasing sex education in schools.

When I was seventh grade, I remember getting about two weeks straight of “ABSTINENCE! ABSTINENCE!!!!” Which students either agreed with or ignored. The truth of the matter is, teenagers will either choose to have sex or not. The way to prevent unwanted pregnancies is not to tell teenagers to abstain (because the ones who don’t want to won’t), it is to educate teenagers about how to have sex that does not result in pregnancy. Teaching teenagers about birth control would no doubt lower the number of unwanted pregnancies, which in turn would lower the number of abortions.

Honestly, I don’t care about laws; I care about lowering the number of children who are murdered. If outlawing it will bring that about I’d vote for that, but if there are other answers then I want to take those actions. I believe voting for Obama will bring this about.

As far as war goes, I don’t know a whole lot. But I do know that thousands upon thousands of people have been killed during the War in Iraq. I also know that we’ve been in Iraq for five years and need to get out. The Iraqi government has a surplus in money and plenty of troops to pick up the ball and take responsibility for themselves. What we need to do is get out of the way and encourage the Iraqi government to take action.

Unity and Faith

Two other issues that have lead me to supporting Obama.

McCain talks about “walking across the isle” all the time, but Obama wants to destroy the isle altogether. Obama talks about how “there’s not a liberal America and a conservative America – there’s the United States of America. There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America – there’s the United States of America.” He speaks about unity across the board and this is important to me.

Obama has talked about how important he thinks our faith is in the role that it plays in our public lives. He wants the government to team up with faith communities. He has said, “I’m going to have my Council on Faith-Based Partnerships review all our policies, review relevant law and regulations, executive orders and court cases. But the simple principle is that we should not discriminate against faith-based organizations in being able to carry out terrific programs [funded] by the federal government.”

In Closing

In closing, I simply want to once again press on you the importance and the responsibility of voting. There is still time in this election to look at the issue and make a prayerful decision. If there are any other issues you would like to talk about with me I would love to listen and talk. Please comment on this blog, send me an email or a message on Facebook. Furthermore, please share this with others so the conversation can move on to more and more people. I want to continue this conversation - but ultimately, I want this conversation to result in action.

On Life & Faith, please share this video

Ms_CongenialityHI — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:19:19 EDT

This is a timely, thought-filled conversation with Martin Sheen, actor, devout Catholic and Obama supporter. Please share the link and bookmark the page:

"Can you be pro-life and support Senator Obama?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IczsKEe6es0

Sign Up To Be A Prayer Warrior/Intercessor for Obama

One of Those Women — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:47:46 EDT

With only 14 days left before the election it is time to turn up the heat. We that know our God and are willing to repentr and humble your self and stand inthe gap for a mighty move of God are being called to join this group and stand in agreement for Senator Obama and Senator Biden and their families.

I am asking all to set up a prayer chain that covers the next 14 days for 24hours a day. Pray for their safety, peace, rest, health, strength, faith, joy, brilliant ideas, creative and innovative thoughts, support, provision, and anything else you can think of that they have need of. Also pray for this country and the nations, pray for the economy, families, etc.

It's time for us to activate that which got us here to this point, based on 2 Chron 7:14.

See you in the group.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/ObamaPrayerTeam

America will Overcome the Hatred!

Angela from Columbia, SC — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:27:26 EDT

America, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will overcome the greed and hatred of people like, John McCain and Sarah Palin and the likes thereof. THE END TELLS IT ALL!

<br>

<tabranri@gmail.com>

Keep the Faith

Rev.E.L. — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:02:46 EDT

To the people of America who believe in a better more compassionate America for all people, keep the faith!

The Metamorphosis of Sen. McCain

ODEH ODEH — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:29:25 EDT

There is nothing that stands the test of time like authenticity, sincerity and love. Retrospectively man has never positively impacted his community without having to deal with these three essential qualities that transcend mere political culture and realism.

In life changes do happen otherwise nature remaining static is a clear reminder of the dogmatism and archaism of the school of thoughts that does not give credit to God as the creator of heaven and earth nor recognizes the necessity of renewal and reawakening for the sake of prosperity and reality. We could decide therefore o change for the better or otherwise.

Given the prevailing circumstances and especially in the current political dispensation, the fierce urgency and necessity for an exponential change in the right direction can never be over emphasized and nevertheless it is regrettable and at the same time painful that some of us are yet to get the message of hope, faith and love in this great country.

There is no time that the limitations of man is as obvious as when he decides to hate rather than love, exploit rather than explore, discriminate rather than being unprejudiced and objective. While it may be true to say that many of us have been guilty of one or many of these inclinations, nevertheless there has been none as guilty of these maladies in the fashion that Sen. McCain has been.

Neutralizing Fear

Patreece from Norristown, PA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:19:55 EDT

There are two strategies that I would like to see implemented in the Obama campaign -divide and conquer and painting the vision of hope for the American people. These would help to neutralize the fear that McKain is propogating that Obama is wrong for the job and the fear that is palazying the country.

Divide and conquer: Divide and conquer would be to have Biden (or even better a female spokesperson who can be diplomatic, plain-speaking and to authentically empathize with Palin's situation) to simply identify Palin's contradictions (have quotes/documentation) and attack McKain for placing her in such an untenable situation where her strengths are not being showcased. Might even reinforce how he is simply using her as a negative mouthpiece against Obama as if that is all she is good for. That would free Obama to address the real issues and show the difference in leadership that he (Obama) is focused on issues and not digging up dirt especially things that occurred in distant past and have no relevance now. People are suffering; you have no time and energy to be trading insults and sucuumb to lies. That's how Bush won last time and you will not be defeated with those tactics. The American people can see the truth more clearly now and how they have suffered from lies, lack of transparency and greed.

Vision of Hope: I believe that Obama is most successful when he paints the vision of hope and change. The Bush regime is characterized by fear and it is this vision of fear of terrorism which has us locked in a war that cannot be won (how do you have a war on terrorism? It is like a war on drugs. The concept is not framed in a way that you have a sense of what clear victory is). He should speak to current evidences of where America works, where honesty prevails where we need to have faith in our economy to rebound not necessarily because of what government has done but because of what the people can do. people have no faith in Bush because he has lied to the American people or made vacuous statements of economy being fine despite evidence to the contrary. You are a realist. Things are bad, however, ordinary people can still prevail. Collect those stories, provide suggestions to how people can live with less fear and more common sense. McKain clearly operates under fear and give examples of especially his resorting to dirty debating because he believes he is losing. Point out how that emotion betrays true lack of faith in Americans and America. What is the reality? If people spend wisely, monitor their expenses, focus on doing their best on jobs and continuous education so that if they lose their job as a result of economy, they will be marketable. Perhaps fireside chats would be useful. Little soundbites on what individual/families can do to survive and thrive in this negative economy. ALSO, keep staying with truth with no exaggeration. From my reading Obama campaign has fewer lies. That also needs to be pointed out.

call for intellectual honesty

Unknown user — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:27:30 EDT

I realize this is a political hot potatoe because so many people profess a faith of some kind in the United States and throughout the world.

That said, there is a growing number of people calling for intellectual honesty. Being intellectually honest means you do not hold sacred cows, you allow all claims to be open to scrutiny. The overwhelming majority of the scientific and academic communities do not hold the Bible to be a source of anything further than myth and philosophical ideal. It is not a historical, factual account of history. It is not the basis for science. They hold that God is not an actual being. God is imaginary.

I am calling on our world leaders to stop pacifying us, telling us what they think we want to hear, and instead they need to stand up and publicly state that God is imaginary. God has no place in government. Religious superstitions and beliefs have no place in public office. They may be a source of comfort to some, but they are not real, and should be viewed as myths worthy of some ideological lessons but not historical fact or a basis for science.

Evolution happened. The earth is Billions of years old. God is imaginary. Please show the courage of integrity and truth, and dont be so afraid to tell it like it is.

"Imagine all the people living for today."

Thank You
Ryan Cameron.

Freedom of speech, or an attack on sanctuary safety?

bh316 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:37:51 EDT

The New York Times had an article today about a group of pastors who are now willing to risk their 501(c)3 status in order to have the freedom to speak about political issues from the pulpit. They are challenging the IRS to take action against them, so that they can then have this matter adjudicated by the courts -- in the hopes of getting them some more wiggle room.

This does not give me a good feeling.

Bigoted Religionists Redefine Love for Agenda

Mikey — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:45:37 EDT

What is love? Love is the foundation of the Christian Gospel. Without Love, God would not have cared if His creation had no way to heaven, and thus would have had no reason to provide a way though Christ. According to Webster's, Love is:

To regard with a strong feeling of affection; to have a devoted attachment to; to feel great tenderness for; as, to love one's family. 2. To regard with the feelings of one sex towards the other; to be tenderly affected toward; to be in love with; to be passionately fond of. 3. To delight in; to have great pleasure or interest in...(Webster's pg 1007)

What does the Bible say about love? There are many passages about love, and they reflect closely to how Webster's defines love.

Is love based on precondition?

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8-10)

We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1 John 4:19-21)

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (Matthew 5:43-47)

It is because of verses like these that Dr. Cone must go through great efforts to redefine Love, and thus redefine Christian love. He rightly asserts that a "new way of doing theology" is needed, because without it "there will always be this barrier between Black Power and Christian love(Cone, 50). Thus he seeks to reinterpret "the message of salvation(49)" so that it will be palatable to those within the Black Power movement, whom Cone has no desire to make Christians out of, nor to "twist their language or to make an alien interpretation of it.(Cone 48)." While he has no problem preserving and accurately interpreting the words of man, he apparently sees no problem with forcing an interpretation on the scriptures that, as he willingly admits is alien to the life of Christ, and thus to the Biblical interpretation of love.

Cone goes through the two parts of the Great Commandment:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)

He rightly says that when God's love has gripped a someone that they should behave as if Christ is at the core of his being (Cone, 51). However, just a page later, he says that, "because God is a God of power; of majesty, of might, to love man means that he wills that the black man "reflect in the immediacies of life his power, his majesty and his might (Cone, 52)." He also erroneously says that "to respond to God's love in faith means that he accepts as truth the new image of himself revealed in Jesus Christ (Cone, 52). The Bible teaches that our response to God's love is to believe on Him:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)

That the man becomes a new Creature, and does not merely emulate an image of such is a Bible truth:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We do not see an image in Christ, by accepting Christ in faith, we become a new creature, God's spirit indwells us and empowers us to do his will, to show his love and deliver his message to a world in need. As far as power we as individuals are called to:

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.(Matthew 10:16-18)

It is not for us to attempt to emulate God's power and might. Throughout the Bible, God does occasionally use people to show his power, as was the case with Moses and the plagues. However, the showing of power was related specifically to giving glory and honor to God, as Pharaoh was scoffing and rejecting God's revealed will. It was not an act channeled through the unbelieving, or the worshippers of false gods. Since Dr Cone has "no desire to make Christians out of those who see no relationship between their understanding of truth and Jesus Christ (Cone, 48), he asserts that God's power, majesty and might can be demonstrated though sinful unrepentant man by accepting a new image "revealed in Christ." Many religions have images of Christ,

Cone asserts that the black man take Paul's teaching of being a "new creature" literally by telling him to "glorify blackness" as an acceptance of the black self as a creature of God. (Cone, 53)." It is absolutely clear that Dr. Cone misses the concept of the "new creature" The new creature is a direct product of the new birth, which Jesus described in his discussion with Nicodemus:

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

(John 3:1-7)

The new creature is spiritual in nature. Man was born once as flesh and blood. The birth of the "new creature" is a spiritual event, an event open to "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord." It has nothing to do with the glorifying or uplifting of the physical self.

By combining these unbiblical distortions of the new creature and God's love, Cone has set the stage for his radical redefining of the word Love.

Dr. Cone says that "to love the white man means that the black man confronts him." He goes on to assert that whites see blacks as "its" and the black man must confront them as a "Thou" The emphasis is not on the person hood, but on the confrontation as the manifestation of love between the "races."

Cone further asserts that,

The black man must, if he is not to lose sight of his new-found identity in Christ, be prepared for conflict, for a radical confrontation. As one black man put it: "Profound love can only exist between two equals. The new black man refuses to assume the It-role which whites expect, but addresses them as an equal. This I where the conflict arises(Cone, 53).

There is no grounds for a "radical confrontation" for one not to lose sight of his identify in Christ. In fact, the one time where it was attempted, Jesus himself rebuked Simon Peter:

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:10-11).

Also, consider the actions of Stephen who's preaching of righteousness resulted in severe injustice:

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.(Acts 7:51-60)

Probably one of the most damnable heresies which Cone proclaims is the assertion that "profound love" can only exist between equals. With how much the Bible talks about God's love for man, this sets up two situations, each equally heretical. Either God does not truly love man, and the Bible lies regarding this, or man is equal with God, in which case man has no need of God, or his salvation. So the question arises, are we gods, or is God a liar? Man's fall in Genesis was at the beckoning of the serpent to "become as gods." Cone here introduces that man is equal with God again offering up the same temptation, the quick and fleshly way of a bloody confrontation to lift up the self, the flesh.

It is this heresy that allows him to encourage the carnal demonstration of "God's power" by ungodly men. He continues by saying that the "christian" love of whites makes the black man a nonperson. Cone goes on to say:

The black man's response to God's act in Christ must be different from the white's because his life experiences are different. Christian love is never fully embodied in an act(Cone, 55).

This is false. Christian love was fully embodied in one act: the selfless giving of Christ on the Cross. To willingly give one's self for his friends is defined as the greatest love in the Bible:

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13)

From this the greatness of Christ's sacrifice is magnified, for not only did he give his life, but he did so, "While we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8)!" Such an act, by God completely embodies Christian love! There is no greater love, or demonstration of love!

Now compare this to the example of love offered up by Dr. Cone:

The violence in the cities, which appears to contradict Christian love, is nothing but the black man's attempt to say Yes to his being as defined by God...If the riots are the black man's courage to say Yes to himself as a creature of God, and if in affirming self he affirms Yes to the neighbor, then violence may be the black man's expression, sometimes the only possible expression, of Christian love to the white oppressor(Cone, P 55).

Where in the Bible does it say we are to affirm our selves? Where in the Scriptures does it say that violence is a legitimate expression of Christian love to the neighbor? Remember, that Dr. Cone subscribes to Malcolm X's description that theologically, calling whites the devil is not far from the truth. All whites are oppressors in the eyes of Dr. Cone (Cone, P 24).

However, Cone also insists that

White people should not even expect blacks to love them, and to ask for it merely adds insult to injury. "For the white man," writes Malcolm X, "to ask the black man if he hates him is just like the rapist asking the raped...'Do you hate me?' (ellipses in original quote) The white man is in no moral position to accuse anyone else of hate." Whatever blacks feel towards whites or whatever their response to white racism, it cannot be submitted to the judgments of White society.

Basically Cone's definition of the love offered up to whites from blacks is the same as the hatred which whites should expect from blacks. Based on Cone's definitions:

Love = Hate

Hate = Love

Further, he has attempted to insulate his perspective from any criticism. However, despite his linguistic and mental gymnastics, Love, Christian love does not equal hate.

Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

It is clear from Dr. Cone's radical redefining of Christian love, that his primary purpose is not to show how Christianity is compatible with Black Power, as he claims(cone, p48), but rather to conform the image of Christ and his love to that of the extremists in a movement that is diametrically opposed to Christian Love and everything it stands for.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)

References:

The Holy Bible, KJV

Rock the Vote

Jimmie Fair — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:00:14 EDT

We are at a point in America were we do not have the time to stand by and wait for things to change. It seems as Americans that we are waiting for change to take place. As a child of the rural south, I have spent countless hours within the church walls, and within those walls I have heard many messages based on the ideology of "wait on God." Well, this worked well when the great emancipator decided to historically, as we have been taught, free the slaves. How long did we wait when FDR, realized, hey, we need to do something to change what was going on in the economics of the thirties. There is nothing wrong with waiting on God, but I believe that sometimes God gets tired of waiting on use to, when he has given us all we need to be the change he desires.

Oh yea, the Bible says that God had been listing to the cries of the Hebrew slaves for 400 years when Moses came on the seen. Moreover, that time had come for the people to be freed, the same is here now, the time has come. Yet still, many people are trapped by the ideals of waiting. Not only that but we as believers in a higher power, at least many of us who are of African decent, seem to stand by and watch Politics happen rather than lend a voice of action. Millions of people around the globe are lending their resounding voices to the inhuman things that have been happing in the world of the economy. However, millions of voices have yet to be heard. These words are not for those who are working hard to do more than just vote, these words are for those who have the audacity's to say that their vote does not count.

I am a man of faith, but I am a man of Politics, a man of change, and a man of history, I believe that there should be a separation between church and state. However, a separation of church and state does not qualify me to not use the powers of my craft not to lend a voice to what I believe in. Do I agree with either parties on most issues, no, but I do believe that we as the people should not have to bail out the millionaires who made this mess, many of which are friends of McCain and Bush.

Since, it looks like "we the people," will have to bail out these guys, lets use their millions earned this year as the start. Anyway, back to my topic. African Americans, not only have to speak up, but we have to do all that our parents, grandparents and great parents died for. I have heard that many people of color have the fear that they will get called to jury duty, if they register to vote, this is crazy, and anyone who thinks this way are giving in to a form of Jim Crow. Yea, I know that calling it Jim Crow is exstream, but why is it that many of us are so fearful of Politics. So fearful of understanding the ways of our society.

While many of our black men are trapped behind wall of concrete and guns, we are staying at home and doing the same. As I have surfed the web I have found many people of color lending there voices, but we have many more voices that need to be heard. My fear is that many blacks and other people of color will not show up to the polls not because they are not registered to vote, but because they either don't no the strength of their vote or they are just don't think it matters. I could be wrong, but we have to put aside the traditions we have been brain washed to think and put on the what matters most.

We as a people must learn the balance that many of our color counter parts have learned well. We need to learn how to balance God , work, and social ideology. As I lived in Atlanta, during the 2004 election, I saw an exsteam amount of club flayers. I like having fun just like the next person, but it would be nice if for once, the clubs could have as their party flayer one night a voter registration night, and that is how you get in the door. Yes, I know it would not make much money, but it would sure send a message to the powers that be.

I love my people, but the time is not now for more drunk nights of club banging, we need change, we need freedom from the prison we have been put in, the prison of the mind. There are sites that are screaming loud things of change, but how many of us are listening, I just wrote all of this, but how many are listing, Obama is raising large sums of money, but how many of us are listing. Many of our jobs are leaving town, but how many of us are listing. I Bible also says that, "we have not be given the spirit of fear." if we believe in the Bible the way we say we do, then why then do we live in fear when it comes to Politics, economics, and wealth.

Could it be that we would love to spend hours shouting or speaking in tongues, while not learning Roe v Wade. I guarantee the other side knows about it, and they believe in God as much as we do. Could it be all we want to hear is how God will free us from our trails and tribulations rather than understanding that Sara Palin and John McCain want to stop a womens right to chose. Have we in the Bible belt become so lost in churching that we have lost the true message of "go yea therefore and teach." No it does not speak about teaching politics, but our white brothers and sisters still know this and understand this. Georgia, for the past elections has been a republican state, even when Bill Clinton was running. We have enough people to change that this year and any year in the future. But we can not do that if we don't stop looking for the next Martin Luther King, and start become the dream he had.

I am not saying that we have to knock on a million doors, but we have to use Social Media in more ways than one. Lets, take a moment out of our time on line, and not load pictures of ourselves doing whatever, and lets take that time to get people to vote, tell the world our beliefs, lets use twitter, wordpress, and other sites to change the world. We are so creative in music, clothing and God know s what else, yes, use these same ideals for this. Yes, there are many who do, and I say again this if not for you. But this is for those you may know that seem to do not care about Politics. Even after this race do not fall off, but keep talking, keep pushing the issues and if Obama does not live up to his promises, let him have it to.

I have faith in America

ODEH ODEH — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:04:26 EDT

Notwithstanding the challenges that this great country is facing right now, I am confident that by faith and on the basis of the people’s resilience, toughness, inspiration and aspiration we shall indeed overcome.

There is no doubt that many legitimate issues and scenarios may have clouded the positivism and objective outlook of the nation at home and internationally, nevertheless I am not given up on the country.

I have watched since my adult life the meandering and twisting that successive government in the country have sorted and followed in the hope of making it better than preceding administration and even though some have not lived up to expectation, America is till here and I still have faith in it.

The current political dispensation may as well be one of the indispensable facts as to why I cannot give on America and implored others around the world to join hand and make the country great again. In spite of the nefarious and at times acrimonious propagandas and orchestration about the unlimited influence of race in the race to the White House, the pragmatism and realism of our situation have given the entire world the reason to believe in America again and so I too by faith hope that America will be great again.

somewhere in America...

BRGHTSD1 HOPE & COURAGE — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:50:07 EDT

a mother tucked her child into bed and thought; "it is possible"....

His mother believed!

Thank you Ann, we are grateful for your faith in possibilities.

Faith-Based Initiative Should Be Abolished, Not Renamed

Dwayne — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:25:50 EDT

Just as seven years ago the Foundation condemned Pres. George W. Bush's creation of his misguided "faith-based initiative," today the Foundation protests the shortsightedness of candidate Barack Obama in endorsing its continuation.

This is the wrong direction for our country. The next president should have the integrity and courage to back off from Bush's fiasco and abolish the so-called faith-based initiative. It has been a waste of taxpayers' money, has injected religion into politics, deprived needy clients of the best help, and has punched a huge hole in America's vaunted "wall of separation between church and state."

It's lovely to say, as Obama does, that "I believe deeply in the separation of church and state." But actions speak louder than words. There is negligible difference between Obama's and Bush's stated provisos on the faith-based initiative. Like Obama, Bush claimed the faith-based initiative would not allow religious groups to use public grants to proselytize or discriminate against clients, and that public money going to places of worship was only to be used for secular programs. But there is no accountability and no monitoring provisions, as the GAO audit of 2006 documented.

It's also fine for Obama to say the government and its recipients are going to follow the law. But every day at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, we field complaints about violations of the separation between church and state even over established law, such as school prayer. Obama offers no plan for monitoring the constitutional pitfall of a "partnership" between religion and government.

The Foundation has taken and won many court challenges against the faith-based initiative. For instance, a federal judge in our Faith Works case in Milwaukee ruled in 2002 that $800,000 in direct federal subsidy to a ministry that existed to "bring homeless addicts directly to Christ" was unconstitutional. The funds were spent (and wasted) by the time we won the case. In 2005, we halted the final federal grant to MentorKids USA, in which volunteer mentors had to sign a statement that they believed literally in the creation story before they could go on to openly proselytize children of prisoners. We stopped a "parish nursing program" in Montana in 2003, and in 2007 a "chaplaincy" in Indiana set up to minister to state employees. Important and pioneering as our legal cases have been, they are a mere drop in the bucket in terms of the public financing of proselytization under the faith-based scheme.

Obama praises Take Youth Education for Tomorrow, a program run by churches and church schools to teach reading after school and during the summer, largely in church settings. Churches and the offices of religious organizations are innately coercive environments. What about parents who don't want their children to have to go to church in order to get reading help? When taxpayers are footing the bill, such programs should be held in a neutral setting--there is, after all, no shortage of public schools, already tax-supported!

It is not only the 16% of the population who is nonreligious who is offended. Many Muslims are forbidden to enter Christian churches. Jewish children may not feel comfortable entering a Christian church. Even many Christian sects are uneasy about adherents entering churches run by competing denominations. The idea is fraught with practical and constitutional peril.

Weirdly, Obama criticizes Bush for failing to reach out to faith-based groups about how to apply for federal dollars. Yet this was a cornerstone of Bush's faith-based initiative. At countless regional and federal faith-based conferences, hands-on technical support at public expense (including "free lunches") is exactly what the Bush Administration has offered churches and religious agencies for seven expensive years!

Obama says "we all have to work together--Christian and Jew, Hindu and Muslim; believer and nonbeliever alike--to meet the challenges of the 21st century." True, even laudable. But that does not mean "we" should all be taxed to support churches or religious agencies. Many Americans proudly are descended from immigrants who came here to escape mandatory tithes and taxation in support of churches against their consent.

Obama's tone is more balanced than Bush's. But he spoils the effect by criticizing those "who bristle at the notion that faith has a place in the public square." Secularists have never said faith can't be displayed in public. We do insist that faith should not be part of government, subsidized by government or promoted by government. The genius of the founders of our secular republic was to recognize that keeping religion and government separate is the way to prevent religious corruption and coercion.

Obama's reference to needing "people of faith on Capitol Hill"--as if Capitol Hill weren't at the moment dominated by "people of faith"--is both a naive platitude and exclusionary. How would religionists feel if Obama had said: "We need people without faith on Capitol Hill"?

Let's abolish the faith-based initiative and go back to the days before John Ashcroft first proposed so-called "charitable choice." Religious social services have always been free to bid for social service grants, but they were expected to create a secular arm, keep separate books and take their crosses down. A return to the status quo is the simple answer to the mess created by Bush's faith-based initiative.

Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is merely a renaming of Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Ironically, nearly everything Obama criticizes Bush's initiative for ("it was used to promote partisan interests," "it has to be a real partnership--not a photo-op") can be said of Obama's plan and his "photo-op" speech today. Same taxi, different driver. Where's that vaunted "change" that Obama's campaign has been promising?

On a related topic, we are appalled at the arrogant, presumptuous hubris of politicians who claim to know "God's will." Obama joins an unfortunately long line of political candidates and public officials (which includes more than its fair share of despots), who talk about "fulfilling God's will" and "doing the Lord's work." Why are these politicians so special that they possess a direct pipeline to a divinity? The presidential candidates have crossed the line between acknowledging sincere personal faith to wearing faith on their sleeves and unapologetic political pandering. Both John McCain and Obama have been burned by their past close associations with pastors. Why can't they see that religion mixed with politics is always a combustible mixture?

--Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, The Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Put Away Falsehood - Christians Supporting Barack Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:40:35 EDT

While puttering purposefully around my Facebook page, I noticed that there is a new Chrsitian group in town that endorses Barack Obama. I am heartened to see more people turning toward truth and beauty as this campaign struggle comes to the heated last few weeks. This IS the message, whether you're a practicing worshipper or just have a good heart. By golly, let's spread the good word! Power to the People and Peace to all Brothers and Sisters! Finally!

http://www.matthew25.org/paf/index.htm

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are all of the same body."

Ephesians 4:25

Abortion Issue Bigger Than We Thought

Change O'8 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:16:19 EDT

Every undecided voter I've spoken to likes Obama, but are repelled by his stance on abortion.

I think Obama's public discussion of abortion, so far, is inadequate. But Obama has left his view on abortion a little wiggle room, such as, when during the PA debate he said he was unsure about when life began. Then, during the Faith Forum, he said this difficult question was "above [his] pay grade."

I agree with Hillary's comment that abortion should be rare and safe. I think Obama should welcome a vote, once he becomes president, to overturn Roe vs. Wade to state law, and communicate this within the next 45 days to undecided voters.

Message from a recovering republican

Andrea from Tacoma, WA — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:48:05 EDT

I realize this blog will rankle many of my liberal friends and many other Obama supporters. However, I feel it might help some people who see it as a crisis of faith to switch from the Republican ticket to the Democratic ticket. Please share this blog with your friends who are conservative Christians and are either on the fence or voting for McCain on the basis of religious beliefs.

One of my dear friends said during her hasty speech at the community caucuses so many months ago, “Barack Obama has the power to unite liberals and conservatives.” She was referring to our friendship. In Obama’s candidacy, we had mended our political fences. We had also found hope again. She is a card carrying member of the ACLU, and I have been active for most of my life in a Christian religion and community.

In 2000, I voted for George W. Bush against my better judgment. I heard many people say, and believed (at least in 2000), that he was a prayerful man. I admit to being duped. But that only partly explains my full, wholehearted support of Obama’s candidacy.

Unity, hope and faith are empowering, ennobling principles. And they are the principles upon which Obama’s campaign rests. He calls upon us to unify ourselves over common concerns, to hope again for change and goodness and responsiveness in our elected officials. No religion has the corner on faith. Faith is a principle of action and progress, and that is the central tenet of Obama’s promise to the American people. Just look up: "I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours."

Over the past eight years, the Bush Administration has simultaneously squandered our once burgeoning treasury and the trust of the American people. When Bush took office, our economy supported the global economy, and the US dollar was stronger than most in the world. Today, the IMF and several foreign prime ministers have not so subtly called for global monitoring of US fiscal policy, and the dollar is weaker than at any other time in my lifetime. Congress is deadlocked in partisan bickering. Our people have lost faith in governance, and the world has lost faith in the fiscal and social integrity of the United States. The Bush administration repeatedly lied to our people to justify taxes, war, and everything in between.

Throughout my life, I have struggled to find a candidate who will best protect and serve this country that I love and who I feel will best represent my interests. It is the very right of a United States citizen to do so, and from the moment Obama announced his candidacy, I have explored within myself both questions of politics and faith and find his values to coalesce nearly perfectly with my own.

Why have I felt separate from my religious community in supporting Obama/Biden? For one thing, Republican Party rhetoric targets conservative Christians. The wealthy represent only 5% of the voting block. Since the Reagan administration and the promulgation of “trickle down” economics, the Republican Party has served big business at the expense of all else. How do they garner the votes necessary to attain the White House when they serve only 5% of the population? Primarily, they achieve support by fanning the flames of a faith-based social war to define “American values.”

In supporting the Obama/Biden ticket I stand united with most Christians in believing the following:

Social Programs

It believe it is my duty to be my brother’s keeper, to love and care for the afflicted. We are all beggars before the Lord. We are commanded to serve and fight for the rights of the downtrodden, the persecuted, the weak, and the voiceless. Because of this belief, I also stand united with Obama/Biden:

Obama has promised to cut taxes for 95% of US families. Still, I would support and happily pay increased taxes for universal health care, increased support for single mothers, and any action we take to improve the broken welfare system.

Again, Obama has promised to cut taxes for 95% of US families. Still, I support and would happily pay for increased educational opportunities for all children who live in America, and would happily pay more taxes for increases in teacher’s salaries, increased technology in the classroom etc.

Energy Policy

I believe God created the earth, and requires His children who inhabit it to take care of it. Based on this belief, I support Obama/Biden because:

McCain’s energy policies are built on the “drill, baby, drill” premise. His solution to the energy problem is to stay at war and to drill locally, continuing to deplete local and global resources while supporting, at worst, tyranny - and at best, foreign economies at the expense of our own.

Obama’s energy policies draw upon the innovation, intelligence, and creativity of the American people. His proposed energy policy is green in two ways, simultaneously stimulating the economy (making green jobs and keeping them in the country) and preserving the planet.

Life/Choice

I believe in choice. I also believe in natural consequences. My views aren’t popular. They certainly aren’t politically correct. As a woman and a Christian, I see it this way: If, as a result of a conscious choice to have sex, a woman becomes pregnant, then she already exercised her right to choose. It is against both the laws of God and the natural order to terminate that life. Except in cases of rape and incest, I see abortion as a myopic response to a difficult situation. How can I support Obama/Biden if this is my personal belief?

Since Roe versus Wade, several Republican administrations have inhabited the White House. Not one of them has done anything to reverse Roe versus Wade. Yet, they’ve all garnered the conservative vote by speaking openly against abortion, politicizing a very personal issue and promoting division.

Although Obama’s stance on this important issue is more liberal than McCain’s, Obama’s message is one of unity. He proposes workable solutions. Rather than playing politics and manipulating the conservative vote, he asks us to find common ground. He recognizes that this is a complex and emotional issue. We, as an American people, are not likely to agree on abortion legislation. So, Obama proposes that we search for ways to work together to reduce unwanted pregnancy. We can all agree on the role of education and providing workable options. Additionally, it is likely that many women who would otherwise choose to terminate a pregnancy would actually choose to give birth if they had the opportunity to engage in affordable higher education, good health care, a reasonable wage, and equal pay for equal work. All of these issues are at the center of Obama’s campaign.

War

McCain seconds The Bush Doctrine. (I’m sure Palin would, if she actually understood it). The Bush Doctrine supports pre-emptive war. Christian doctrine eschews invading other countries and cultures on the basis of property or power. Although in modernity and historically many fundamentalists co-opt(ed) God for these purposes, all monotheistic interpretations of God and God’s doctrine clearly contradict The Bush Doctrine. We should not invade another country unless we are first attacked. We have a duty to defend our nation, but only to protect our homes, our lives, our families, and our way of life. So far, I see no proof that Iraq invaded or attacked the United States. The Bush administration now admits to this fact. Yet, we are still at war and McCain has committed to more war, indefinitely.

As anyone who follows voting records or the news knows, Senator Obama voted against the war in Iraq from the beginning, even when it was enormously unpopular to do so. His plan includes timelines for bringing home our troops, and bring them home with honor and respect.

Religion

America is built upon the separation of church and state for good reason. As a Christian, I fully support this separation. The right to worship God as we understand God, including no God at all, has made the United States a safe haven for every follower of a moral code. This separation must be protected for the sake of all citizens, including Christians. However, since Kennedy’s nomination (and probably even before then) religion has been an issue in the race for the White House.

McCain’s smear tactics decry Obama as Muslim. First, this hateful prejudice alone is problematic. Islam is not a terrorist organization. It is a monotheistic religion in which jihad actually refers to the inward struggle between good and evil. Even if Obama were Muslim, we would do well to understand that the Koran’s teachings are consistent with democracy, as well. That being the case, Obama is a Christian. This is how he defines himself, and he has publicly described his conversion process and his faith. McCain’s campaign of prejudice and manipulation should serve as fair warning that we would see more of the same, should they take office.

Democratic Principles

McCain’s proposed economic policies further the claims of a plutocracy, which is the right of the wealthy to govern. His campaign is supported by the wealthy, and his campaign advisors are among the most powerful lobbyists in Washington. Their campaign and their choices thus far clearly demonstrate a desire to increase and garner ever greater power for the wealthy, disenfranchising the middle class and obliterating the poor.

McCain’s smear tactics have denounced Obama as both an elitist and a socialist. (This web of lies converges to illustrate one great truth: McCain cannot even get his slanders straight.) Obama is neither a socialist nor an elitist; rather, he is a populist. He is a man of the people. Populists built this great democracy, this country that I love. Obama’s history speaks for itself. From humble beginnings, he attended the finest schools in the country. After graduating from Harvard Law, he pursued civil rights advocacy, a far less lucrative form of advocacy. For many years, he organized and galvanized his community. He became a Senator by stumping from the northern spread to the southern tip of Illinois, asking his people questions and listening to their answers. Sometimes he was received in the town hall; more often his audience consisted of a few people. He met with the few to be able to eloquently define and politically support, over time, the desires of many. And, despite his so-called “celebrity” status today, he is still meeting with people in small towns everywhere: Elko, Nevada is one very recent example.

From the beginning of this race and of his career, (some might even say the beginning of his life) Obama has represented the power of the people and of the American dream.

Inspire us with hope

Candice — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:34:17 EDT

Barack Obama, you changed the tone of the campaign this week. You brought it back to politics and policy. With all of the right policies, you should be winning in the polls.

Now look at the electorate. The stock market is in crisis and the Gulf coast is reeling from Hurricane Ike. We are eager for change, yet catastrophic change is already upon us. Now more than ever, we need our leaders to stand up with a message of hope, and deliver.

Again, I say it: Barack, take the highest of high roads. Right now, be the change you want to see.

You want a campaign free of smears? Praise your opponents.

You want a campaign based on truth? Tell us the truth about you. Your plans. Bring it back to you.

Barach Obama, you inspired a nation during the Democratic convention. You inspired us to believe for so many months. We learned all we could about you. We had the audacity to hope.

Then McCain pulled a rabbit out of his hat and inspired his own base.

You have no more rabbits. We all know your message.

All you can bring us is you.

Inspire us again. Speak only kindness. Focus on helping in Texas, even before the financial markets. Go to Texas. Fix things! Be the hope you talk about! Be the change you promise! Start your presidency of hope and kindness and fairness today. Lead us now! Inspire us again. We need you.

McCain's Faith

H from Cave City, AR — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:04:08 EDT

In an interview with Beliefnet in September 2007, McCain said that "the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation," and added that "the lady that holds her lamp beside the golden door doesn't say, 'I only welcome Christians.' We welcome the poor, the tired, the huddled masses. But when they come here, they know that they are in a nation founded on Christian principles." During his 2000 presidential campaign, McCain said the nation was founded on "Judeo-Christian values" but added that "political intolerance by any political party is neither a Judeo-Christian nor an American value." From: http://pewforum.org/religion08/compare.php?Issue=Church_and_State (emphasis mine)

Really? The United States of America is a Christian Nation? The President is not called upon to be our moral or spiritual guide, but rather takes an oath to defend the Constitution. Perhaps this presidential want-to-be should pursue that document and review his history a bit more carefully. In establishing the Constitution, the founding fathers wrote in its preamble one of its major goals, that of securing “The Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” Further the FIRST Amendment is non-preferentialist in nature and continues to so be interpreted by the Supreme Court. In fact, the word “Christian” or any reference to Jesus is conspicuously absent in both the Declaration of Indepenedence and the Constitution. True, the overwhelming majority of the founding fathers were Christian. Many denominations were represented including Roman Catholocism. There were also several diests and even an atheist or two among the ratifiers of the Constitution. Many Jews participated in the revolution and some 24 served as officers in George Washington’s army. The USA is a religiously neutral country where the majority of its founders and residents were/are Christian. And while we’re on the subject let me state without fear of contradiction that the “Judeo-Christian” ethic is a myth. Show me one legal or ethical precept used in the United States based upon a new idea found in the “New Testament” and I will gladly retract this statement. “Turn the other cheek” and “If a man steals your coat give him your boots too” have not found their ways into the law books (thankfully).

McCain supports overturning Roe v. Wade and banning abortion except in cases of rape, incest or threat to the life of the mother…McCain supports abstinence-based initiatives and has said that he hopes there might be "a point where [Roe v. Wade] is irrelevant … because abortion is no longer necessary." From: http://pewforum.org/religion08/compare.php?Issue=Church_and_State (emphasis mine) Would that overturning Roe vs. Wade would only affect abortion. Even the most die-hard pro-lifer would likely dismiss abortion as a method of birth control. But that’s not really the issue. Roe vs. Wade affirms the right of privacy as an unalienable right. If overturned, not only would the decision of abortion be sent back to the states, but likewise whether any right to privacy is gauranteed by the Constitution would again be called back into question. Do you really want the state governement deciding how you can and cannot sleep with your wife? How about whether birth control is legal in your state (how about that? Let’s get rid of birth control and abortion in the same stroke. Talk about oxymorons and conflicts of interest). How about having your children brought up on charges for buying condemns or making out on your couch? If Roe vs. Wade is repealed, the consciousess defender of the Constitution would make sure the right to privacy is defined by Constitutional ammendment first. I heard a wise person recently say that they’d also like the lives of their grown babies protected, yet the McCain administration would undoubtably continue this unholy war and continue the slaughter of thousands of such children each year. There are numerous destractors this year as during Bush’s two campaigns (i.e. abortion, gay marriage). If you’re in need of a big daddy to take care of you, McCain certainly may merit your consideration. But if you’re not dyed in the same wool as he, you will undoutably find yourself poorer and with less rights during his tenure than had you voted out the current administration and its successor.

The Decision

colby — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:48:11 EDT

i posted this on my facebook, and it's generated pretty good conversation, with some heat thrown back and forth, so i figured i's post it here...oddly enough, i haven't been to this page since they changed things, so it's like i'm new all over again...whatever the case, my passion has been renewed, reignited since the conventions

is the choice REALLY that difficult? honestly?

is it not obvious that if you choose to vote for McCain, you are voting for at least four more years of the the eight we've just endured? McCain can try and latch onto the "Change" banner and throw Palin on the stage with himself every day, but does that change his positions? does that change his vision for America? honest to God people...just do the research...just dig a little and you will see that the McCain/Palin ticket isn't just lying about Obama's record and Obama's attitdue, but they are lying about their own... LYING...straight faced.... why does nobody care that they are lying? what is it you use to say, harv? and the peasants rejoice? i don't get it.

listen...if you're happy with the place america is at, if you are happy with the direction we are currently heading, then McCain/Palin is your ticket. if you like reading about banks closing everyday, people losing their homes and everything they own, college students (speaking from experience) drowning in school loans, billions being spent in a war that should have never been waged, broken ties with all of the world, then McCain/Palin is your ticket...go for it

real quick aside...on Iraq...it's pretty popular, always has been, to say that people who don't support the war, people who say we shouldn't be there are unpatriotic...i don't say this in vain, but for God's SAKE, people, don't you see that we aren't fighting for freedom there, we aren't fighting to protect America...it's the great lie force fed to us...if we truly cared about liberating oppressed people, why would we not be in Darfur, or Tibet, or one of the many countries that struggle with leadership like that of Saddam's...do you not understand that in our lifetime we will see this administration, surely Cheney, and possible Bush, charged with war crimes? it was all a lie, every readon they gave us for going was a lie...A LIE. it's not fighting for freedom..it's not defending America...God bless the people who volunteer to serve in the military, but this isn't what they volunteered to do...have you heard the story of the soldier who hired a hitman to shoot him in the leg so he wouldn't have to go back? or the guy who strapped a bag of tools to his back and jumped off a roof and crippled himself so he wouldn't have to go back. these people are destroying themselves...and it's our fault

and if you're voting for the McCain/Palin ticket because ideologically you line up with them, then fine...but consider this...did you not line up with Bush for this reason...is that not what got him a second term? because the people who were against gay marriage, or abortion, came out in droves to push that idea? and has anything changed thanks to bush? i mean, more states offer gay marriage, and roe v. wade stands just as strong, even after bush appointed conservative judges...
don't you get it? McCain's party will keep trying to sell this shit as gold. none of them have any desire to change what is...none of them want to overturn roe v. wade...if they did, why would you vote for them? if they did, they would never win another election...

you're being played. we're being played. i can shamefully admit that i was played in 2004 and have regretted it ever since.

change isn't lying about your record and not talking about the future. change isn't putting up a new face and a new banner.

change is saying, "we shouldn't be happy with what is, but we should be striving for what we can be." change is pushing ourselves to go beyond ourselves, byond our limits on ourselves, to see this country, this world as bigger than my county line, and realize i have to change if i want things to be better. don't you see that's the choice. we all have to change if we want this country to, if we want it to be better.

I'm a God-fearing, Jesus follower who believes abortion should be legal, because my faith shouldn't govern my country. I believe gay people should have the same civil liberties as straight people, whether or not i agree with their lifestlye, because condemning and smearing isn't loving my neighbour...because it's the next step in the evolution of civil rights...CIVIL, not Christian. I believe it's wrong for our leaders to use our military to strong arm themselves around the world, screwing us at home all the while. I believe in equal rights to every faith, because the Lord of mine told me to love.

I'm voting for Barack Obama because i am finding the courage to change myself, and hoping to help change my country for tomorrow.

Separation of Church and State?

Wallace — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:43:05 EDT

I am intrigued by the bandwagon of Palin supporters that at the moment may be shifting the poll numbers. When we get back to real issues like the economy and the war and health care and education, I think the numbers will shift back in support of Obama, the real change candidate, yet it is imporant to note something here.

The very people who claim Palin is the best possible person to represent their vaunted VALUES (prior to Palin, they were at best, lukewarm to McSame), people like Dr. Dobson and others--these very supporters who claim Palin is "their voice" for values in the public square would never allow someone like her to be their voice in the pulpit as a pastor or church leader. The conservative churches (and voters) who could have the ability to shift this election don't believe that women can be leaders in their congregation, but all of a sudden Palin is their annointed leader on the campaign trail.

I guess that is not hypocritical if the overarching "value" is to keep POWER, no matter what. In both their churches and in government, "the good ol boys" will say and do whatever they can to keep power. Perhaps the conservatives value "separation of church and state" after all?

A SWIFT BOAT ATTACK II ON SENATOR BARACK OBAMA

funkfresh01 — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:27:22 EDT

Saturday September 13th the News and Observer will be distributing a DVD to their 160,000 subscribers entitled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" If anyone hasn't heard about this movie you can view the trailer here.

I don't know about you but I do not remember any other time where a news paper has ever sent out a DVD let alone one that his very biased and portrays Islam as an extremist religion!!!!!!!

I find it quite appaling that this type of garbage would be sent out to further instill fear into the public. It again puts innocent Muslims on the defensive and makes them worry about backlash.

http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/trailer.php

Can you change the world?

BRGHTSD1 HOPE & COURAGE — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:18:34 EDT

Saturday, September 13, 2008 – Yes, You Can Change the World

“Most people focus on doing things as the way to make a difference.
What they don't realize is that the most powerful way to make a difference doesn't require you to actually do anything at all!
You start by changing YOUR world; You end up changing THE world.
~Aman Motwane

Today's Affirmation

My world in a reflection of my evolving consciousness.

Today's Meditation

Dear God,

I am grateful for Your presence and power moving in me and into my world.
Living in this consciousness, all things shift into perfect alignment with Your purpose and plan.
My intention for this day is to be an open channel for Your love.
May my life be a clear lens for Your light.
So it is.

Amen

Barack Obama vs. Sarah Palin

mathpol — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:38:18 EDT

Obama
Palin

Is Hawaii really part of America?
Is Alaska really part of America?

Charismatic star power when speaking
Ditto

Sometimes sounds like an egg-head
Sounds like a ditto-head

Opponents try to paint spouse as not patriotic (“Proud“ statement)
Ditto (Alaska Independence Party)

Opposes more drilling for oil in Alaska
Asked churchgoers to pray for a natural gas pipeline in Alaska

His former church pastor doesn’t always watch his tongue
In her church they speak in tongues

Has somewhat rigid position on abortion
Has extremely rigid position on abortion

Believes in faith-based initiatives
Practices faith-based politics

My Protestant Faith Pushes Me To Obama

A Goner — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:20:14 EDT

As my Catholic brethren see the inconsistencies in the Republican party about the abortion issue and poverty. I too as a Protestant see the issues in a similar light.Today, Sept. 9, I was listening to a radio editorial on WMBI - Moody Bible Radio here in Indianapolis. The editorialist commented about the high gas prices, the foreclosures, the daily struggle to make ends meet and then he began to emphasize... this is why we need to drill for oil now and utilize America's resources.... you can guess the rest.This sounded like a talking point straight from the Republican Nat'l Convention to this radio station's editorial board. I'm sure that these comments are repeated in small town America - hundreds of towns - several times a day. I expect no less from Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingram.I was in agreement till he got to the drill for oil now...every thinking person knows who is informed that drilling domestic oil in the Arctic won't do anything for 10 years at the earliest to make a dent on our foreign oil dependency.I saw the RNC. I appreciate John McCain's service to our country. His wife's life of service was highly inspirational and admirable. My father fought in WW II in the Royal Air Force, he was in London (when it was being bombed by the Germans, an enemy to the free world at that time) and my grandfather fought in WW I in the Royal Navy (ditto).Just what did Viet Nam do to the US? Ho Chi Minh, a high school history teacher, went to the UN in 1948 (?) and asked for VietNam's independence from France and said he wanted Viet Nam to have a constitution similar to the US and that George Washington was his hero. The French did not want to let this colony go... must have some natural resource... and so Ho Chi Minh asked China and Russia for help because he couldn't get help from the US to gain independence from France. That's why there is so much discomfort about discussing the Viet Nam War and going to Iraq on false pretenses that there was WMD... has the same cloudy distortion. Robert McNamara met Ho Chi Minh after the war, they sat down together, and after 20 years, he realized the war really was unnecessary. There are videos and books about McNamara that attest to this.That dog of delusion isn't barking in a lot of woods anymore... especially the rest of the world... they are not in denial about the leadership and the direction this country is going... we are in denial. It cost the German people a lot to remain in denial sixty years ago, although we have no one figurehead at this time. we are battling against a mentality, mindset, world point of view - - is John McCain the man of the hour to continue the Bush mentality four more years?Well, it's up to us to vote for him or someone else (thank goodness we have Sen. Obama as an alternative) and I'm at the place where we will get what we deserve if we don't pay attention and get involved.Having said that, this is America, you can fool some of us all of the time, but you can't fool everybody all of the time - we are too diverse.I think in every race, religion, creed and nationality, there will always be a remnant of people that God can use who are not persuaded by the "mob" psychology of racism, sexism, religious intolerance, classism, etc. to exploit, kill another human or group of people. Today, 2008, Hindus are burning Christians out of their homes and villages in India, just like in Darfur....genocide on a large or small scall. Jesus said your worst enemies would be in your own household... who's watching our house? Women are being killed or beaten up by their own husbands right here in the USA... Thank you Sen. Biden for pushing that bill helping women who are victims of domestic violence!It is no secret that the Southern Democrats who were Baptists and Pentecostals (segregated until Azusa St. Revival) who believed in segregation and racist ideology based on the Bible ran to the Republican party back in the 60s as Lyndon Johnson said they would. That mentality (I'm better than you), although more subtle today, is more of an elitist distinction of educated vs. non-educated, rich vs. not rich, then merely race, nationality or religion... Amazing the fingerpointing is at the blacks who respond with Liberation Theology such as Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Thank goodness he exhorts his flock to trust that vengeance is to be in God's hands and they should turn the other cheek and forgive while making progress in society, get educated, contribute meaningfully and maintain their dignity while serving their community and country. Rev. Wright was a Marine. The majority of Church folk have not quite caught on to the subtle fact that the RNC has evolved into the party of: millionaires, billionaires and the almost at my first million nouveau riche. It is the party of the Jones's not the Barney Smith's. Small town America really still naively believes only the RNC stands up for God, guns and pro-life and marraige, as if somehow Democrats and Independents are not God-fearing people who share common interests with them. Just how insane is that assumption that 50% of Americans are evil liberals!Some people will never vote for Sen. Obama even if it is against their own best interests to vote for four more years of Bush/McCain. Even if it would actually be helping the work of Christ in a meaningful secular way... dealing with poverty, homelessness, health care, etc. to vote for Obama, some will never sway this way. But many have and many will... there's hope.When Jesus comes.... He'll straighten out everything and everybody... He just asked us to "hold the fort." Be salt... Be light in the darkness... Watch and pray.. Give hope.. Have Faith and Show Love. Bottom line "Love your Creator... Love your fellow man as you love yourself... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."I'm voting for Barack because he represents CHANGE I CAN BELIEVE IN!Barack the Vote '08!!!

Debunking Some Myths About Obama One-By-OneShare

Michelle — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:38:44 EDT

My mom just called me flabbergasted about the support for McCain in Miami among Cubans and Cuban-Americans -- hardly a surprise to me or her for that matter. What was surprising to us is the reasons these people give for supporting McCain and therefore voting against Obama. Because I have heard these same "myths" as reasons for not supporting Senator Barack Obama from others outside of the Cuban sector, I thought it would be beneficial to take a "mythbusters" type approach to each and debunk them all, one-by-one. After all, if they are all false, then that leaves no reason not to vote for Obama, now does it?

"OBAMA IS RACIST AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE" or "OBAMA IS NOT REALLY BLACK"

Obama is biracial, born of a white mother and a Kenyan father. He is an African-American male who has never denied his African roots and has embraced both the issues facing Black people in America and the importance of his culture and upbringing. As Time Magazine stated on February 1, 2007:

"Back in the real world, Obama is married to a black woman. He goes to a black church. He's worked with poor people on the South Side of Chicago, and still lives there. That someone given the escape valve of biraciality would choose to be black, would see some beauty in his darker self and still care more about health care and public education than reparations and Confederate flags is just too much for many small-minded racists, both black and white, to comprehend.Barack Obama's real problem isn't that he's too white — it's that he's too black. "

When people say that Obama is racist against Black people (or anyone else for that matter), I can't help but wonder if that is their way of hiding the fact that they are too racist to vote a Black man into the oval office, but are too afraid to be politically incorrect and racist enough to say so. And when they say he is not Black enough, I wonder what more they want? As the same Time article said, Obama has been called "the 'first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,' implying that the black people who are regularly seen by whites are none of these things. Clearly the problem lies in those evaluating Obama's "Blackness" not in Obama himself.

Looks like this myth is BUSTED.

OBAMA IS A MUSLIM

Throughout his time in public office there has been much controversy about Barack Obama's religion, many believing he either grew up Muslim or is still Muslim.

As Newsweek points out, Obama was "born to a Christian-turned-secular mother and a Muslim-turned-atheist African father, [growing] up living all across the world with plenty of spiritual influences, but without any particular religion." Growing up appreciating all religions but ascribing to none, he found Christianity and was baptized in the early 1990s as a Christian in Chicago at Trinity United Church of Christ.

Of his time at Trinity, Obama stated:

"For one thing, Trinity insisted on social activism as a part of Christian life. It was also a family place. Members refer to the sections in the massive sanctuary as neighborhoods; churchgoers go to the same neighborhood each Sunday and they get to know the people who sit near them. They know when someone's sick or got a promotion at work."

In the same Newsweek article, Obama states that "[his] family says grace at mealtime, and he talks to the children about God whenever they have questions." He also says that, on the campaign trail, "thanks to the efforts of his religious outreach team, he has an army of clerics and friends praying for him and e-mailing him snippets of Scripture...to think about during the day."

Looks like this myth is BUSTED.

OBAMA'S MOM HAD HIM AT 18. THAT SHOWS NO FAMILY VALUES.

You know, I'd rather not go here given the grace that the Democratic party has show on this issue thus far, so I will keep it short and sweet. Yes, Obama's mother had him at the young age of 18. His mother's decision to bring him into this world, however, does not affect who he is as a Senator or the family values that he instills in his two young children. We all know by now that Palin's unwed daughter, Bristol, is pregnant at age 17. How can a McCain supporter back the McCain/Palin ticket where Palin's own daughter is 17, unwed and pregnant and yet attack Obama for being brought into this world by an 18 year old mother. While Palin had the chance to instill family values in Briston to make informed decisions on sex, Obama did not have the same chance to influence his mother and her decision to have him.

As Obama said, "I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits." Let's hope that the Republican party has the same respect and leaves Obama's mother out of the family values debate.

ESPECIALLY FOR CUBANS - MCCAIN HAS BETTER POLICIES FOR CUBANS

I know that since the time of Kennedy, Cubans have held contempt for Democrats and have thrown their vote into the Republican hat. Rather than continue to follow this blindly, I ask that Cubans evaluate where Republican policies have gotten us since and whether it is wise to continue being led by the Republican party and it's promises of a non-Communist Cuba. Reagan didn't end the reign of Castro. Bush didn't end it either. And now that Castro's brother, Raul, is in power, what makes you think McCain will be any different?

McCain has said that "Obama's policy of offering talks with the Cuban regime and easing some US trade restrictions 'would send the worst possible signal to Cuba's dictators,'" but where has the strict Bush-era embargo gotten us with Cuba? The answer is - nowhere different than we were before. Cuban-Americans that have decided not to follow blindly and to actually evaluate what is being said by Obama and McCain are supporting "Obama's call for lifting parts of the five-decade-old sanctions against Cuba. . . amid frustration over travel and money transfer restrictions imposed by President George W. Bush in 2004."

The media in Miami does not always provide the full story and it's time Cuban-Americans focus on the facts and disallow themselves to be led by a party spouting what they know Cuban-Americans want to hear for the sheer purpose of garnering another vote. How does the embargo help Cubans on the island? After the island was recently hit by Gustav, CNN reported that two prominent Cuban dissidents wrote a letter asking "President Bush to loosen restrictions temporarily on travel and sending money to the communist-run island to help tens of thousands left homeless by Hurricane Gustav." The Republicans talk about smaller government but when it comes to sending food and money to your family members left in Cuba that are suffering in the wake of a tragic storm do you want to wait for your government to decide if it's okay for you to help your family? How much bigger can government get than this?

A Washington Post article notes that "if elected, the Illinois senator would lift restrictions imposed by the Bush administration and allow Cuban-Americans to visit their relatives more frequently, as well as ease limits on the amount of money they can send to their families." The article also notes that:

" 'Senator Obama feels that the Bush administration has made a humanitarian and a strategic blunder,' spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in an e-mail. 'His concern is that this has had a profoundly negative impact on the Cuban people, making them more dependent on the Castro regime, thus isolating them from the transformative message carried by Cuban-Americans.' "

Before the Bush-era restrictions on Cuba, Cuban Americans could visit their family once a year and send up to $3,000 but now, Cuban-Americans can only visit the island once every three years and can only send quarterly remittances of up to $300 per household to immediate family members. (Washington Post)

The embargo has been in place for 45 years and now, Cuban-Americans have less ability to see or help their families than ever before and less of a chance to have any ties to their homeland. Obama is gaining ground with leading Cuban exile groups for this reason.

Joe Garcia, a former head of the Cuban-American Foundation said of Obama and his stance towards bringing change to Cuba and its people:

"It shows courage, and it shows commitment to move beyond the status-quo politics of rhetoric, which is all the Cuban-American community has received from any party for the last half century."

It is time Cuban-Americans stand to bring real change to Cuba, to bring down the communism that cripples the Cuban people and to have control over when they visit Cuba and how and when they can help their family. So far, the Republican party has offered nothing but words -- 45 years and the embargo has not helped Cuba one bit.

Looks like Obama is the better choice here too. This myth is BUSTED.

Conclusion
Hopefully, this helps debunk some of the myths that I have heard of late about Obama. If you have others you have heard that you would like facts on to see what is true and what is not, please leave a comment. I'd be more than happy to check out their veracity and include it in a future note.

THE GIANT IN OUR LAND

Firm Foundations Literary Ministry — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:55:51 EDT

THE GIANT IN OUR LAND | Report to Admin Reply By Firm Foundations Literary Ministry 33 minutes ago (Updated 33 minutes ago) By Flora Williams AndersThis was written by Obama supporter, eighty- five year old Bunny from Long Island:
"The first vote I ever cast was for Franklin D. Roosevelt; my next (and not last!) will be for Barack Obama on November 4th."

High five to Bunny!

She is a senior who truly represents the type of strong, youthful spirit demonstrated by King David against Goliath--the type of spirit needed to win this most important election in American history.

It is the True American, no matter what color, age, political party,ethnicity or religion, who will help bring this Great Terror of Domestic Neglect down to its knees. All courageous Americans must take off their heavy armor of fear,racism,apathy,naivete,hop elessness and jealously to find that One Smooth Stone of Effective Change and aim it right at the voting booth on November 4th for Barack Obama.

Barack has asked us to believe in our ability to bring change to Washington. We do believe. We must also demonstrate the wisdom and calling of a mighty faith in a mighty nation and talk back to this Goliath like Bunny does, even after 85 years, and aim every fiber in our bodies toward bringing this giant of hate down.

We're beginning to see the true size of America's greatest enemy as the McCain/Palin campaign huffs and puffs and insults the calling of Barach Obama. Palin exposed her disdain for the sanctity of his honesty and brilliance when she inferred that Barach thought too highly of himself to the point of believing he could accomplish miracles in service to the people of America if he wins this election. Once the press covers this battle objectively, Palin and McCain will be exposed before all the world for their stand on the issues alone.

McCain and Palin have called out their giant to battle Obama and his supporters. This is the Giant in Our Land that has kept Americans so fearful and unproductive for 8 years--Hate.

God Bless Bunny for her faith, patriotism and her victorious spirit.

Flora Williams Anders
Firm Foundations Literary Ministry, LLC
Coonyers, Georgia

Leave Palin's Pastor & her faith alone!

RevSkull — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:22:58 EDT

We need to leave it alone. All you have to do is go to the GOP website and you can see what they're (we're I'm one) planning to do. Any attack on Palin's Pastor will bring hell fire and brimstone from the religious right and we don't need to stir them up. If our side manages to get them to turnout in the numbers they did for Bush then we'll have done the same stupid thing for the third election in a row...elected a Republican.

There's a huge difference between the religious right and us...forget that they out number us...they will outspend us by a factor of ten if riled up.

The WORST thing we can do is keep bringing up Palin's faith and anything relating to it. While nobody on the Obama site seems to go to McCain's site or the GOP site, they go to the Obama site and they look at these emails and our blog posts.

Folks I've been in the GOP for 30 years now, I have many friends in the party and know how they think. I've always been a Liberal in the tradition of Nelson Rockefeller. Even so, Barack will be my first Democratic vote for President. I've voted statewide and locally for many Dems in the past. If you had nominated breathing human beings the last two times I would have voted for them but I went with Nader.

Please, let's not lose this one. The country needs Obama.

Palin: question of consiistency

LPeters — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:36:10 EDT

Another thoughtful email:

________________________

From: Hughes, Robert <rhughes@seattleu.edu>

Sent: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 7:16 pm

Subject: can someone tell me...?

Please pass along to your networks. I'm hopeful that someone must have an answer to this question that my 12 years of college (including a major in theology, though that was admittedly 30+ years ago) haven't prepared me to answer.

Here's the question: How do Sarah Palin and any other fundamentalist women reconcile their lives and a literal interpretation of their Bible with the following statement attributed to Saint Paul from I Timothy 2:8-15 (King James version):

[8] I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

[9] In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

[10] But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

[11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

[12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

[13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

[14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

[15] Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

It seems to me if you make the argument that this is a historically contextualized statement and not applicable to modern life, you've just denied that the Christian Bible can be only interpreted literally. If this one passage can't be interpreted literally, then what else in the Bible requires a historical contextualization? If people who demand literalism go down that road, they've just agreed that the Bible can't be interpreted literally. And they're no longer fundamentalists. It's an exercise in logic that I just can't reconcile.

So I'm open to any and all other explanations. People can answer to the address below if they have an answer. I'm hopeful that by sending this out to my networks and having people send to their networks, eventually someone will send me an answer that makes sense. If I get interesting answers, I'll compile them and e-mail them out to this same list of initial recipients.

Bob Hughes, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Adult Education
Seattle University
901 12th Ave; PO Box 222000
Seattle WA 98122
Ph: 206-296-6168
E-mail: rhughes@seattleu.edu

Pray For Barack Obama

Christian For Obama — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:59:56 EDT

Barack Obama has been campaigning for over 19 months. He needs our support and prayers now more than ever.

THIS IS OUR TIME,
THIS IS OUR MOMENT!

I created two blogs two days ago. Please visit http://prayforbarackobama.blogspot.com/

and the French version of the blog: http://prionspourbarackobama.blogspot.com/

Feel free to post your comments or read other posts/comments as I exclusively publish words of encouragements.

God bless you all!

PS: I have just found out that Barack stands for "Blessed" in Swahili!

How Would Sarah Palin handle Israel and the Middle East in a Foreign Policy Crisis?

Robin Z — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:26:23 EDT

All evening I've watched the latest news clip of Sarah Palin, from June 2008, speaking in her church and flagrantly blurring the lines between religion, politics, and the Alaska pipeline.

I respect people of all faiths, creeds, colors, and backgrounds. Each and every one of us has the right to practice what we believe, including Sarah Palin.

My concern is that our political leaders, who choose to run for, and are elected to, their positions, need to be able to separate their personal life from their public life, and be able to represent all Americans, of every faith, creed, color, and background, without using their own religion as prominent basis for their words and actions.

Seeing and hearing Sarah Palin, Governor of the State of Alaska, invoke her religion into her politics is not a separation of Church and State.

Palin's lack of foreign policy experience is troubling enough in its own right. But if McCain wins the election and Palin is called upon at some point to assume the role of president, how would she handle Israel and the Middle East? Is she even capable of making unbiased decisions of behalf of people of faiths other than her own?

This is frightening to me beyond all measure.

Sarah Palins Pastor Problem

stillonline — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:23:13 EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/sarah-palins-churches-and_b_124611.html

Sarah Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949. This is the same 'Spiritual Warfare' movement that was featured in the award winning movie, "Jesus Camp," which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord. At least three of four of Palin's churches are involved with major organizations and leaders of this movement, which is referred to as The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation. The movement is training a young "Joel's Army" to take dominion over the United States and the world.

Along with her entire family, Sarah Palin was re-baptized at twelve at the Wasilla Assembly of God in Wasilla, Alaska and she attended the church from the time she was ten until 2002: over two and 1/2 decades. Sarah Palin's extensive pattern of association with the Wasilla Assembly of God has continued nearly up to the day she was picked by Senator John McCain as a vice-presidential running mate. Palin's dedication to the Wasilla church is indicated by a Saturday, September 7, 2008, McClatchy news service story detailing possibly improper use of state travel funds by Palin for a trip she made to Wasilla, Alaska to attend, on June 8, 2008, both a Wasilla Assembly of God "Masters Commission" graduation ceremony and also a multi-church Wasilla area event known as "One Lord Sunday." At the latter event, Palin and Alaska LT Governor Scott Parnell were publicly blessed, onstage before an estimated crowd of 6,000, through the "laying on of hands" by Wasilla Assembly of God's Head Pastor Ed Kalnins whose sermons espouse such theological concepts as the possession of geographic territories by demonic spirits and the inter-generational transmission of family "curses". Palin has also been blessed, or "anointed," by an African cleric, prominent in the Third Wave movement, who has repeatedly visited the Wasilla Assembly of God and claims to have effected positive, dramatic social change in a Kenyan town by driving out a "spirit of witchcraft."

The Wasilla Assembly of God church is deeply involved with both Third Wave activities and theology. Their Master's Commission program is part of an three year post-high school international training program with studies in prophecy, intercessory prayer, Biblical exegesis, authority and leadership. The pastor, Ed Kalnins, and Masters Commission students have traveled to South Carolina to participate in a "prophetic conference" at Morningstar Ministries, one of the major ministries of the Third Wave movement. Becky Fischer was a pastor at Morningstar prior to being featured in the movie "Jesus Camp." The head of prophecy at Morningstar, Steve Thompson, is currently scheduled to do a prophecy seminar at the Wasilla Assembly of God. Other major leaders in the movement have also traveled to Wasilla to visit and speak at the church.

The Third Wave is a revival of the theology of the Latter Rain tent revivals of the 1950s and 1960s led by William Branham and others. It is based on the idea that in the end times there will be an outpouring of supernatural powers on a group of Christians that will take authority over the existing church and the world. The believing Christians of the world will be reorganized under the Fivefold Ministry and the church restructured under the authority of Prophets and Apostles and others anointed by God. The young generation will form "Joel's Army" to rise up and battle evil and retake the earth for God.

While segments of this belief system have been a part of Pentecostalism and charismatic beliefs for decades, the excesses of this movement were declared a heresy in 1949 by the General Council of the Assemblies of God, and again condemned through Resolution 16 in 2000. The beliefs and manifestations of the movement include the use of 'strategic level spiritual warfare' to expel territorial demons from American and world cities. Worship includes excessive charismatic manifestations such as hundreds of people falling, 'slain in the spirit,' and congregations laughing, jerking, and shrieking uncontrollably.

In early 2008 an outbreak of those phenomena commenced at the palatial former ministry estate of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, recently bought up and restored by prominent Third Wave author and leader Rick Joyner's Morningstar Ministries. The (spiritual) "breakout" lasted for many weeks and was publicized in an extensive collection of video footage available on YouTube. Healing services in the Third Wave movement claim to heal the sick and injured through methods that in some cases can appear bizarre - including, as in recent cases involving Todd Bentley, the patient being head butted or kicked by the anointed healer. Recipients of such "spiritual" or miraculous healing make a wide range of astonishing claims - to have been cured of life-threatening illnesses, had joints repaired or replaced, been given gold teeth or gold fillings, regrown stunted limbs and even had deformed skeletal structures straightened and reshaped. Worldwide mission efforts of the movement are built around the idea of combating witches, warlocks, and generational curses, which prevent churches from being able to take root.

Mike Rose, senior pastor of Juneau Christian Center has a long relationship with Rodney Howard -Browne, credited with being the instigator of the outbreak of 'Holy Laughter' around the world, including the Toronto Airport Revival. Thomas Muthee visited Wasilla Assembly of God and gave 10 consecutive sermons at the church, from October 11-16 2005. As both Palin and Wasilla AoG Head Pastor Ed Kalnins have attested, Thomas Muthee 'prayed over' Sarah Palin and entreated God to "make a way" prior to Palin's successful bid for the Alaska governorship. Muthee made a return visit to the Wasilla Assembly of God in late 2008. Thomas Muthee's Word of Faith Church is featured in the "Transformations" video which details an account on how Muthee drove "the spirit of witchcraft" out of Kiambu, Kenya, liberating the town from its territorial demonic possession and enabling a miraculous societal transformation. The "Transformations" video set is used as an argument for social improvement through spiritual instead of human means, and as the best method for fighting corruption, crime, drugs and even environmental degradation.

In the video, producer George Otis declares that after Thomas Muthee and his followers banished the "spirit of witchcraft" from the town, the crime rate in Kiambu dropped almost to zero, along with the rate of alcoholism, and according to Otis most of the residents of the town joined churches. The "Transformations" video has helped spark a network of 'Transformation' ministries and mission organizations and 'transformation' has become a buzz word for change based on supernatural instead of human efforts.

The Third Wave, also known as the New Apostolic Reformation, is a network of Apostles, many of them grouped around C. Peter Wagner, founder of the World Prayer Center. This center, which was built in coordination with Ted Haggard and his New Life Church in Colorado Springs, was featured in an article by Jeff Sharlet in Harpers, May 2005, "Soldiers of Christ." Sharlet was one of the first to write in the secular press about the World Prayer Center which is often referred to by those familiar with the Third Wave as the 'Pentagon for Spiritual Warfare.' It features computer systems that store the data of communities around the world, mapping out unsaved peoples' groups and spiritual mapping information for spiritual warfare. Wagner has his own group of about 500 Apostles in his council and each of these Apostles has ministries under their authority, sometimes hundreds or thousands. Recently various networks of Apostles came together to form the Revival Alliance. Leaders of the Revival Alliance including Rick Joyner of Morningstar anointed Todd Bentley whose Lakeland Healing Revival has recently been a controversial topic in the Evangelical world.

Wagner's top leaders often conduct spiritual warfare campaigns against the demons that block the acceptance of their brand of Christian belief, such as 'Operation Ice Castle' in the Himalayas in 1997. Several of their top prophets and generals of intercession spent weeks in intensive prayer to "confront the Queen of Heaven." This queen is considered by them to be one of the most powerful demons over the earth and is the Great Harlot of Mystery Babylon in Revelation. (The "Great Harlot [or 'whore'] of Mystery Babylon" theme also figures prominently in the sermons of Texas megachurch pastor and Christians United For Israel founder John Hagee, former endorser of John McCain's 2008 presidential bid.) Wagner and his group also claim that the Queen of Heaven is Diana, the pagan god of the biblical book Ephesians and the god of Mary veneration in the Roman Catholic Church. Following the 'Operation Ice Castle' prayer excursion which included planting a flag for Jesus on Mt. Everest, one of the lead prayer intercessors from the excursion, Ana Mendez, reported that there had been dramatic results including, "millions have come to faith in Asia... and other things happened which I believe are also connected...an earthquake had destroyed the basilica of Assisi, where the Pope had called a meeting of all world religions; a hurricane destroyed the infamous temple 'Baal-Christ' in Acapulco, Mexico; the Princes Diana died... and Mother Theresa died in India, one of the most famous advocates of Mary as Co-Redeemer."

Church of the Rock, led by Senior Pastor David Pepper, has taken their youth to participate in 'The Call, Nashville.' This event is held at various locations around the country under the leadership of Lou Engle, also featured in the movie "Jesus Camp." At these events youth are worked into a frenzy of anger and consternation at supposed national moral corruption. Engle, who shuffles while he preaches in imitation of Jewish prayer, is featured toward the end of the "Jesus Camp" video documentary.

The Third Wave movement is cross-denomination and is not synonymous with any specific denomination, nor is it synonymous with Evangelical or Fundamentalist. Although the movement emerged from Pentecostalism, it draws its support from a variety of denominations and religious streams. They believe they are forming a post-denominational church to take the world for the end times. To date, all of the writing and objections to this movement have emerged from other Evangelicals and Fundamentalists who believe the movement to be unbiblical. Also, it is other conservative churches that refuse to embrace the 'outpouring of the Spirit' that are targets of much of the anger of the movement.

You can find more information on the Third Wave movement and additional links to the activities of Palin's churches on www.Talk2action.org in the following articles:

Sarah Palin's Churches and the Third Wave, Part One

Sarah Palin's Churches and the Third Wave, Part Two (with embedded video.)

The video is also posted here.

Hey Muslim Rumors!

stillonline — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:19:01 EDT

Answer to the hateful rumors:

"I am not Muslim, but I respect all people of faith. And....by the way...I take exception to all those who would use religion as an excuse for brutality. Those who attacked us on 9/11 were not being true the the teachings of the Muhammad. Just as those who supported slavery were misreading the teachings of Christ. Even in this country, today, we have people who profess to be people of faith and yet they do not practice what they preach. My own faith has been tested recently. The man who brought me to Jesus, has said things that betray everything I believe in. Everything I thought he believed in. More recently, another man of God, misrepresented himself in a way that I find very troubling. But my faith is strong in spite of the disappointments. We were never promised that the path would be smooth. I believe that religion should be a force that unites us for the greater good. Helps us to find common ground. Helps to lift us up rather than tear each other down. We must reject the religious extremist of all faiths and reach out to the moderate leaders of the world to work together to solve our problems. Because of my background, I feel that I am uniquely qualified to do that.
Amen. Thank you Jesus!"

GOP's Cynical Play to the Faithful

Andrew Edwards — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:05:51 EDT

With the McCain-Palin ticket now leading in the polls, it may be instructive to observe how they got there:

GOP's long-term strategy: downplay education + pander to churches = victory by getting the faithful to vote against their economic self-interest.

It seems like religion is the current that runs through every GOP victory.

Without religion, Sarah Palin does not "work" for the campaign. With religion as her bulwark, she is very suddenly the exalted heroine of a churchly flock looking for a reason to cast their vote in favor of their faith.

By pandering to the churchgoer's unreason, the GOP neatly avoids having to address any substantial issue in the real world. The cynical leadership of the GOP (wealthy, white, no-tax, no-regulation millionaires) can provide absolutely cost-free lip-service to "faith" and "values" while loading up the truck with swag.

In order to defeat this, the Obama campaign needs to shake the (typically working-class) faithful out of their waking dream; make them see that the party that panders to their church is also an economic predator upon their work-effort.

The biggest problem is, religion confounds reason. When the GOP discovered they could connect with the faithful by promoting a thin veneer of so-called "values"(with Reagan), they realized it might be (and so far has proven to be) a magic formula for winning elections. As long as the GOP promotes religion, the faithful live up to their name--and ask no reasonable questions.

Democrats (like myself) may have a tough time even talking to these folks while they are "under the influence" of their pastors.

My personal opinion is that the long-term strategy for a better-run country will require us to promote education (and especially critical thinking); and reduce the influence of religion in public life.

Is Mrs. Sarah Palin's speech consider Manifest Destiny

funkfresh01 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:00:35 EDT

Is Mrs. Sarah Palin's speech consider Manifest Destiny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a--9ZEf42rE

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-77413

What is your Opinion?

Change is in the Air for Disabled Friends of Obama!

evstevie — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:15:47 EDT

Greetings to Everyone visiting this blog.

I am a 55 year old citizen of the United States that for the past 8 years has been made to feel invisible, disregarded, and sent out to pasture to die. From my youth I dedicated my life to God, family, and service. However, in May of 2002, my entire world was changed when I had to retire from my job due to a Chronic illiness, Systemic Lupus Erythmitosis (Lupus). I had to apply for Social Security Insurance Benefits (SSDI) to survive. I wasn't comfortable with being labeled "disabled"...I have two degrees (BS in Behavioral Science, and an AS in Business Administration). This may not seem like a great deal to some, but being the first in my family to attend and graduate from two universities made me feel quite proud. But now, I am legally blind with Advanced Glaucoma and a myriad of other ailments that causes me to have to take over 16 different kinds of medications a day. Each time I heard that President Bush was going to tweak with SSDI my heart would sink, wondering and praying to God that the meager benefit that I receive would not be taken away. I became increasingly depressed, and considered taking my life on several occasions. BUT THEN CAME HOPE! Barack Obama has provided hope for me and others who, through no fault of their own, had just about given up. His messages are so inspirational and encouraging. The platform that he has presented, and the hope given to senior citizens, who are strapped with ridiculously high medical bills, medication, and nursing home cost - as well as those like me, who are forced-at this age- to learn a new skill or trade in order to earn enough money to live.

I encourage you to join me in this grassroot endeavor to help elect a man, who HAS THE AUDACITY OF HOPE to be our next Commander and Chief. Remember, little becomes much when we place (our hope, dreams, and efforts) behind a man who is willing to sacrifice and heed the call of hurting people in the UNITED States of America.

Double Standard?

Wallace — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:47:00 EDT

The Repuplicans claim that Sarah Palin has been measured with a "double standard" and that she has been unfairly treated by the media and by Democrat pundits. I agree with Barack Obama that family members should be "off limits" in discussions about qualifications for office, but I'm not sure if they are completely off limits in discussions about character. Because our families and our relationships are a major part of our true character.

Even so, I'm not going to talk about Palin's qualities as a mother or even as a female. I believe very strongly in equality and that is a non-issue for me. In fact this blog is not about Palin's own double-standards, such as saying one thing and doing another, or making promises that she cannot keep, or making judgments that she is not qualified to make (such as questioning or measuring another person's experience or qualifications).

No, this is about the double standards of all the people who are suddenly, feverishly, major supporters of Sarah Palin. Case in point: for the same length of time that Palin has been serving as governor of Alaska, GOPers and conservatives across the country have been attacking Senator Obama's experience in public service, questioning his faith, and claiming things about him that simply are not true. Many of the people we have seen in the past 5 days on the Palin bandwagon had never even heard of her before last week, and now are lock-step behind her because she's "Christian", "Conservative", and "one of us". Without question they have claimed her and say that she represents their values even though they don't know about her faith--except for what she has claimed on the campaign for governor and because Dr. Dobson stamped her with his approval, so it must be right and true... More disturbing is what these followers think makes her "one of us" when they know very little about her and don't know her personally (is that a hockey mom "one of us" or something more along racial lines, or just about the one-value "pro life"/war/gun value voters?) For months and months, people have hammered at and lied about Obama's faith (is he a Muslim?), questioned his Christianity (is he "Christian enough"? and by whose judgment?), and questioned his patriotism (again, by whose measuring stick?) But those same people are up in arms because Palin is getting questioned at all about anything.... talk about a double standard.

If we were measuring her political experience, about the only strength I noticed was her ability to smile energetically while lying through her teeth: Palin's most famous quote so far has been "...and as for Washington and that bridge to nowhere, I told them thanks but no thanks, if we wanted a bridge we'd build it ourselves..." which implies that her administration turned down pork barrel money when the truth is that they kept the federal funds that the corrupt Ted Stevens had helped appropriate for that famous bridge to nowhere, and all Palin really did was redirect the $25 million or so (of all of our tax dollars) for other pet Alaska projects. Pretty smooth political scheming and then misleading of the public. Palin should be further measured on her political savvy--she has a high approval rating in Alaska, and you would too, if you took refunds from big oil and put the dollars in the hands of local citizens instead of using those funds for statewide infrastructure (why pay for infrastructure when you can get that paid for by taxpayers from the lower 48 states?) That is kind of like giving "tax breaks" and "stimulus checks" in attempts to appease the public when the government is borrowing from countries like China to pay oil debts to countries in the Middle East... Palin's experience could also be measured regarding her 20 month old administration already under investigation for illegal attempts to fire a state trooper because he was divorcing Palin's sister, and a history of firing anyone who crossed her or got in her way from her time in "city" government up to her current administration.

In her very short tenure as governor, there is plenty to question about her motives, character, values, and whether she truly serves "the people" or is simply serving her own recently skyrocketing career goals. But what I really question, double standard or not, is her ability to represent "all of us" and the best interests of this country and the world as VP, a heartbeat away from the Presidency, the most powerful position in the world. This is one person who believes that the self described "pit bull with lipstick" is NOT the right person for the job.

For the Obamas, The Bidens, and all who have been mugged by the RNC this week

Cactus Wren from Tucson — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:20:05 EDT

In the Primary, we prayed alot. The RNC thinks they have some sort of patent on faith - friends do join me for our strength over the next 60 days, as we are definitely being tempted to go far astray, and basically just beat the daylights out of the closest Right winger...

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

We have come this far - celebrate who we are and where we are going, and thank God that we are not THAT BITTER and ANGRY as those folks in St. Paul!

Obama on Faith

Tal from NPR/Trinity — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:31:10 EDT

In a speech he gave on June 28, 2006 at the Call to Renewal's Building a Covenant for a New America conference, Barack Obama made the following observations about faith in the public square:

"There are some liberals who dismiss religion in the public square as inherently irrational or intolerant, insisting on a caricature of religious Americans that paints them as fanatical, or thinking that the very word "Christian" describes one's political opponents, not people of faith . . . Not every mention of God in public is a breach to the wall of separation - context matters. It is doubtful that children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance feel oppressed or brainwashed as a consequence of muttering the phrase "under God." I didn't. Having voluntary student prayer groups use school property to meet should not be a threat, any more than its use by the High School Republicans should threaten Democrats."

Change

Tim from Chicago, IL — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:03:32 EDT

Words cannot express what happiness and relief I feel after watching the people in the crowds, of the Democratic Convention 08. The speeches were inspiring and make me once again, feel proud to be a US citizen. I think the reason the applause went on so long before each speech, was the audience felt total elation in their united purpose...and Mr Obama was dead on when he said "this isn't about me, it's about us"... I know the change is coming, I know Mr Obama is the CORRECT agent of that change...If God has a moment from His busy schedule to watch over us in this election, may He please make sure Mr Obama wins the election of 2008 by a margin of at least 10 perecnt so that we don't have to recount ballots...but we will if we have to.

Interesting Article from the Huffington Post

Amanda Thompson — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:04:11 EDT

Arianna Huffington

Saving the GOP and The Unbearable Lightness of Being Sarah Palin

Posted September 1, 2008 | 12:15 PM (EST)

Minneapolis-St. Paul -- Even without George Bush in the Twin Cities, the GOP cannot escape its miserable record over the last eight years. (Indeed, trying to spot a recognizable Republican in town has become a favorite early-convention game.)

So you can see why Sarah Palin was such an appealing pick for John McCain. Along with all the things she brings to the table -- fresh face, mother of five, hockey mom -- Palin is notable for what she doesn't bring: a track record.

If McCain had picked any of the far more experienced candidates on his short list, they would have come fully equipped with a long paper trail implicating them in the horror show that is the Republican Party of the last eight years.

Palin has barely left a footprint on the GOP scene. And the McCain camp immediately scrubbed one of the few marks -- an ad on her campaign website featuring an endorsement from newly indicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens.

So with a party brand as damaged as the GOP's is right now, lack of experience isn't a bug, it's a feature.

On HuffPost today, Bob Borosage is asking a question that all of us who value at least a a two-party system (and I would definitely prefer more than two) are wondering: How can we salvage the Republican Party?

Having a vice presidential nominee with no paper trail is a good campaign ploy, but the full-scale overhaul needed cannot be accomplished with Palin's antediluvian beliefs.

As Borosage writes, "on issue after issue -- from the Iraq War to Katrina, from contraception to consumer protection, from health care to fair trade -- a growing majority of Americans are abandoning the Republican position. The new center is progressive, not conservative."

McCain doesn't just need someone with a fresh face; he desperately needs someone with fresh ideas. That would have been the real maverick choice.

Instead, he's got someone who, in perfect agreement with the Republican platform, believes abortion should be illegal even in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother.

He's got someone who, in defiance of science, doesn't believe global warming is man-made.

He's got someone who, in defiance of science, wants creationism taught in schools.

He's got someone who wants to further increase the health-care burden on the patient.

He's got someone who wants to ban all stem-cell research.

The Republican Party isn't in dire electoral straits because Middle America loves these ideas but just wants to see them implemented by a woman.

The Republican Party is in dire electoral straits because its ideas are outside the mainstream. And in choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has moved his ticket even further from the center of the country. Yes, she energizes the GOP base -- a fact that should scare the hell out of any Republican who cares about the future of the party.

The problem with today's GOP isn't the packaging; it's the product.

So read Borosage's post and let us know what you think the Republican Party should be doing to save itself. Electing McCain/Palin clearly is not the answer. What do you think the answer is?

Wow! My Own Blog!!!

Lauren — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:26:26 EDT

Hi, I'm Lauren, a.k.a the Button Lady. I started selling Obama campaign buttons in mid-july, in Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard and PG Counties, because I couldn't find any at the campaign offices... and the ones on line are soooooooo cool! So, now I buy them on-line in bulk and sell them at events. If you want to see them, or have me come to an event, please just ask. I've even designed some myself. www.zazzle.com/qwlauren35aol

But actually, I want to talk about something more important. Grassroots campaigning. If you've never participated in a presidential campaign, then welcome. We were all new at some point. If you're an old hand, PLEASE share your knowledge. The thing is: all of us, as different as we are, are needed in order to reach enough voters to enable us to win the election. I think everyone knows that unless it's a 60-40 split, it will be manipulated out from under us. It cannot be close. And that's going to take work.

PLEASE. Be as visible in your support as you COMFORTABLY can. Buttons, shirts, car stickers, etc. Now, don't feel bad if "visibility" isn't you. Working behind the scenes is also important. Registering voters is important, and doesn't require that you proclaim your candidate from the rooftops. And making calls can be relatively anonymous.

In the end, though, whether we win or lose depends on how much ground each of us will break and how far out of our comfort zones we will go to get Obama elected. The biggest thing we need is for people to be able to talk about the aspects of Obama and his campaign that have the most meaning to them. When we have those one-on-one conversations, it's more powerful than any ad the McCain campaign can throw at us. If we do NOT have those conversations with people on the fence, as many as we can, then McCain will win, and no number of great speeches will make a difference.

I know why I'm supporting Obama. For me, it's 3 big things.

Faith Based Initiatives - as someone who has done a LOT of volunteer work, I truly know that we'd (the US) be dead in the water if it weren't for churches and other religious organizations around the country that open their doors to the homeless, the hungry, to Scout groups, to Alcoholics Anonymous, and so many other NON-SECTARIAN groups who need the space and/or the charity of these religious organizations. I support giving them grants, and hope that many will rethink the possibilities of the Faith Based Intiatives program when done with proper oversight.
Next, I ***LOVE*** Obama's position on service. PeaceCorps, AmeriCorps, YouthBuild, Foreign Service... he has thought through so many avenues and recognized that we simply need to let the American people know how they can serve, and many who did not know will step forward to make a difference in this country. And not just for the $4000 college tuition tax credit! I really want to see this mushroom.
And last, (not because Iraq, abortion, women's rights, civil rights, healthcare etc. aren't important, but to me, this last one is part of what defines him), I value Obama's commitment to alternative energy and how he plans to integrate it into revitalizing the nation's economy. So much of the technology for alternative energy exists on a small scale, but simply needs to become factory scale. And the factories have to be run by SOMEBODY! Why not us! And then, if we're going to use these goods and services, why not make them in the US???This is Obama's plan, and I think it's a darned good one.

So, those are my reasons. And I can talk about them 24/7. Please have your reasons for supporting Obama handy at all times. It's not just because he is a great speaker, has a great smile, a nice family, an honest face, a fascinating personal history... hopefully it's not JUST because he's black (hint, Clarence Thomas is black...). There's got to be something about him, his message and his candidacy that's driving you. Please don't be afraid to let it show.

I've created a yahoo group where I can store a Maryland based flyer for canvassing. It's a double-sided tri-fold pamphlet with information about Obama, his stance on issues, how to get involved, and how to contact the local MD offices. The file is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mforo/files/ (you have to register w/Yahoo, but it's otherwise pretty painless.) I hope anyone who would like to distribute the flyers will download it.

It's late (12am), it's time for me to tuck in for the night. Tomorrow, I'll be back at work, earning a salary so that I can donate part of it to the campaign!!!! And in my spare time, I'll be thinking of ways to help this visionary man win the Presidential Election.

Fired up; ready to go.

Lauren F. Brooklyn, MD - qwlauren35@aol.com

Is Obama going Jesus Freak on us?

Martin from Lompoc, CA — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:21:40 EDT

Loved the speechifying and pagentry at the the convention, but what was all this God Bless and God Speed and Judeo-Christian prayer stuff. I wish the dems would fight the urge and tone that stuff down. Language is important, and this is the language of the current administration and all it implies.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't about bashing faith.

Obama is a Constitutional scholar, after all, and should know that keeping religion out of politics is good both for religion and for politics.

I find it disturbing that there is apparently a powerful need to mention prayer and an endorsment from an all powerful, all loving, omnicient being etc. Kinda freaky when you think about it.

Danielle Was There

Madama Ambi — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:26:29 EDT

While she's waiting for her shuttle to get her back to D.C., Danielle phones it in: her excitement about being at Invesco Field on the night of Obama's acceptance speech, her deepening sense of what it means to be a Democrat, how her faith informs her politics, and where she's going next...

click here to listen...35:11 min.

The Speech of a Lifetime (For Barack Obama)

Author and Poet for Obama — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:15:10 EDT

Tonight you invoked

The spirit of the ancestors

You spoke

Simply, eloquently, without bitterness festered

From weeks of being unjustly accused

and viciously attacked

For months withstanding the pressure of being verbally abused

At times your own party turned their backs

On you

But as you stated while neutralizing the opposition

It’s not about you

As the country prepares for a new transition

You spoke only what is true

It IS about us

You resurrected sentiments we can all relate to

Hope Change Faith a Better Tomorrow

No party lines no red and no blue

Solemnly lifting us from the depths of sorrow

Of a mother not alive to see her son

Of a deceased reporter who would have wholeheartedly embraced the fun

Of a slain party member who would have proudly cast their vote during roll call

Of a congressional black caucus representative who would have undoubtedly had a ball

With the sheer emotional, historical headiness of it all

You brought the fire

Leo that you are

Had more people watching you than the final show of the WIRE

You have literally and figuratively raised the bar

In politics for action for movement for the “ies”

Responsibility, Accountability, and family

It IS about us

On the anniversary of a “dream”

Articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King

You wove the fabric of a quilt made with one seam

Connecting people in the US and the world with such clear vision and a sparkling gleam

In the depths of your eyes offering pieces of your soul

As Michelle and your daughters are forced to share your whole

With the world

It IS about us

So thank you, Senator, for the speech of a lifetime

Thank you for taking the time

To find

Yourself, to tell your story, to walk in our shoes

For respect of persons for depth of character for supporting human rights and the right to choose

For laying down the plan and supporting the gray

Not all is black and white and you’re right, it doesn’t have to stay that way

Enough is Enough

It’s time to move on

New problems new solutions

Old guard thinking is gone

Character, dignity and integrity has become the new resolution

It IS about us

As you embark upon a new chapter in your journey, stand up and take note

Sam Cooke was right, A Change Is Gonna Come

Despite color and gender lines many of us are in the same boat

Willing to work together to get things done

Because, after all, it IS about us

www.latebloomer2000.com

www.myspace.com/monda_latebloomer2000

Tears of Joy

Ms_CongenialityHI — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:28:39 EDT

It is the morning after the opening remarks of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and my eyes still burn from the tears shed last night. Speeches and presentations rich with history, and making history, before our eyes were such a moving sight. I could see that even some of the usual stoic news anchors and commentators developed flushed noses and tear-rimmed eyes as the stage makeup faded and the minutes passed. It isn't the first time I've cried during this campaign, and I know it won't be the last. In fact, it was a reminder to pull out my "crying towel" for our Convention Watch Party this coming Thursday evening.

My green towel with the character "Eeyore" embroidered on one side, was given to me as a Christmas gift from a direct "disciple" of Saul Alinsky (credited as a pioneer of grassroots community organizing today) after my third year as a community organizer. Up until the presentation of this gift, I had not known that five years prior, my pastor had pointed me out to my future mentors at a church service where I happened to tearfully ask for prayers for a friend's mother. At the time, he and his spouse (also a seasoned organizer) said, "You must be joking, she's such a cry-baby!" Even worse, there was doubt all the way around that I could handle such demands of time with a preteen, preschooler, spouse and fulltime job. Still, they kept enough of an open mind to "talk-story" with me and challenge me to take a mix of baby-steps, with a few leaps and bounds, into their world... tears, fears and all.

This is not only a story of what is possible, but another illustration of what a family can do when they support each other to reach their goals with little more than a bit of faith in things not yet seen. My tears of joy this week are for the Obama Ohana (family) who share this faith in each and every one of us!

New Inspiration and Personal Message to The Candidates

Christyl — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:55:22 EDT

I posted this on the Internet this evening (MySpace etc.). It was on my heart for hours. I hope it sums up how I feel and what people should do. The video of Senator Kennedy was embedded below.

"I don't normally jump on the band wagon with anyone or anything. I am a unique individual who has her own thoughts, morals, and strong faith. In my heart, I feel that the only path that can lead to the country we used to have, and one that we have dreamed of begins with voting on Election day.

This year is the first time I have --EVER-- voted in my ENTIRE life. I was so proud to turn in the registration at the Clerk's office downtown, and to walk into the Fire Dept and cast my vote for the Primary.

This is election is not the same as every other election. The reason I hadn't voted before was because it was the same ol' smart ass politician that didn't have a clue what was really going on. I thought that my vote didn't matter..but this time I really..REALLY feel in my heart it does.

It is REAL with people actually identifying with the problems that many of us have daily. Excuse my language, but I personally can smell bullshit a mile away, and I have analyzed; at times overanalyzed what is really going on here. It is real, and as an American you need to stand up and voice what you believe. This election will set the premise for the Government that will shape the way our children live and grow up as adults. It is our generation's time to stand up and make the difference we all used to talk about.

I know some of you may have been alive when President Kennedy was assassinated while others like myself learned about it in school and through our parents. It is imperative that you watch the video below and listen to Ted Kennedy give what will likely be one of the last great speeches he gives in this arena. He believes in Obama as he believed in his brothers. If that doesn't tell you something, I don't know what will.

I have never donated to a single campaign or even thought about voting. I donated to this campaign today because the people behind the Democratic side are real. They are speaking from their hearts and are almost just like one of us getting up there and running. They identify with us!! Finally someone has heard what the people living paycheck to paycheck have been screaming. I know they can't fix everything overnight..but at least they are giving it an HONEST shot; not just appearing to do so while lobbyist line their pockets.

If you want a sincere change, it is time to do something. You have to register to vote likely within the next 3 weeks or so to be eligible. If you are registered..GO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. Vote for a fresh real perspective on our country. That is what I see when I look at this Election....A true inspiration to do the RIGHT thing.

Watch the movie below. If you believe in what he says and are not scared of change..REPOST this video to your friends. Get the message out there so everyone knows what is really going on..""

A Personal Message To The Candidates

Just know that if your family had any doubts of whether you reached anyone this evening..you did. We were all in tears because it is so surreal to us that this magnitude of change could happen. Myself and many of my friends/family had basically given up on change because of the deep rut we as a country are in now. We had accepted that if it made common sense, the Government would do the exact opposite. We have now a renewed vision similar to what our parents had so long ago. The idea that if we do something it DOES matter and people will hear us...just as they have heard you.

This Democratic Ticket is a breathe of fresh air and of hope in what we all dreamed of. You all are doing the right thing, and because of that, God has put you here. Keep having faith and putting the struggle on him. Do not ever stray from what you believe in and stand for. Be who you are and please don't turn into the next President that "Washingtonified". You and your family are unique with very good hearts..and you need to reiterate the fact that you and your family won't change to suite people that pressure you. America with a backbone is what is needed.. I believe you will do just fine..

By the way..Michelle.. I can't remember a time when I have been more proud to be an adult woman with children in the United States then I was this evening. You knocked it out of the park and it would be an honor to have you as a First Lady representing all of us that know what really matters--our children.

and that is how the young lady from South-Central Indiana feels....

Phillip Butler,1961 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a former light-attack carrier pilot; tells a personal account of why he can't vote for his POW cell mate John McCain as President

Johnathan Waters | Advocacy4change — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:16:32 EDT

Butler gives the following account,

As some of you might know, John McCain is a long-time acquaintance of mine that goes way back to our time together at the U.S. Naval Academy and as Prisoners of War in Vietnam. He is a man I respect and admire in some ways. But there are a number of reasons why I will not vote for him for President of the United States.When I was a Plebe (4th classman, or freshman) at the Naval Academy in 1957-58, I was assigned to the 17th Company for my four years there. In those days we had about 3,600 midshipmen spread among 24 companies, thus about 150 midshipmen to a company. As fortune would have it, John, a First Classman (senior) and his room mate lived directly across the hall from me and my two room mates. Believe me when I say that back then I would never in a million or more years have dreamed that the crazy guy across the hall would someday be a Senator and candidate for President!John was a wild man. He was funny, with a quick wit and he was intelligent. But he was intent on breaking every USNA regulation in our 4 inch thick USNA Regulations book. And I believe he must have come as close to his goal as any midshipman who ever attended the Academy. John had me "coming around" to his room frequently during my plebe year. And on one occasion he took me with him to escape "over the wall" in the dead of night. He had a taxi cab waiting for us that took us to a bar some 7 miles away. John had a few beers, but forbid me to drink (watching out for me I guess) and made me drink cokes. I could tell many other midshipman stories about John that year and he unbelievably managed to graduate though he spent the majority of his first class year on restriction for the stuff he did get caught doing. In fact he barely managed to graduate, standing 5th from the bottom of his 800 man graduating class. I and many others have speculated that the main reason he did graduate was because his father was an Admiral, and also his grandfather, both U.S. Naval Academy graduates. People often ask if I was a Prisoner of War with John McCain. My answer is always "No - John McCain was a POW with me." The reason is I was there for 8 years and John got there 2 ½ years later, so he was a POW for 5 ½ years. And we have our own seniority system, based on time as a POW.

John's treatment as a POW:

1) Was he tortured for 5 years? No. He was subjected to torture and maltreatment during his first 2 years, from September of 1967 to September of 1969. After September of 1969 the Vietnamese stopped the torture and gave us increased food and rudimentary health care. Several hundred of us were captured much earlier. I got there April 20, 1965 so my bad treatment period lasted 4 1/2 years. President Ho Chi Minh died on September 9, 1969, and the new regime that replaced him and his policies was more pragmatic. They realized we were worth a lot as bargaining chips if we were alive. And they were right because eventually Americans gave up on the war and agreed to trade our POW's for their country. A damn good trade in my opinion! But my point here is that John allows the media to make him out to be THE hero POW, which he knows is absolutely not true, to further his political goals.

2) John was badly injured when he was shot down. Both arms were broken and he had other wounds from his ejection. Unfortunately this was often the case - new POW's arriving with broken bones and serious combat injuries. Many died from their wounds. Medical care was non-existent to rudimentary. Relief from pain was almost never given and often the wounds were used as an available way to torture the POW. Because John's father was the Naval Commander in the Pacific theater, he was exploited with TV interviews while wounded. These film clips have now been widely seen. But it must be known that many POW's suffered similarly, not just John. And many were similarly exploited for political propaganda.

3) John was offered, and refused, "early release." Many of us were given this offer. It meant speaking out against your country and lying about your treatment to the press. You had to "admit" that the U.S. was criminal and that our treatment was "lenient and humane." So I, like numerous others, refused the offer. This was obviously something none of us could accept. Besides, we were bound by our service regulations, Geneva Conventions and loyalties to refuse early release until all the POW's were released, with the sick and wounded going first.

4) John was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart for heroism and wounds in combat. This heroism has been played up in the press and in his various political campaigns. But it should be known that there were approximately 600 military POW's in Vietnam. Among all of us, decorations awarded have recently been totaled to the following: Medals of Honor - 8, Service Crosses - 42, Silver Stars - 590, Bronze Stars - 958 and Purple Hearts - 1,249. John certainly performed courageously and well. But it must be remembered that he was one hero among many - not uniquely so as his campaigns would have people believe.

John McCain served his time as a POW with great courage, loyalty and tenacity. More that 600 of us did the same. After our repatriation a census showed that 95% of us had been tortured at least once. The Vietnamese were quite democratic about it. There were many heroes in North Vietnam. I saw heroism every day there. And we motivated each other to endure and succeed far beyond what any of us thought we had in ourselves. Succeeding as a POW is a group sport, not an individual one. We all supported and encouraged each other to survive and succeed. John knows that. He was not an individual POW hero. He was a POW who surmounted the odds with the help of many comrades, as all of us did.

I furthermore believe that having been a POW is no special qualification for being President of the United States. The two jobs are not the same, and POW experience is not, in my opinion, something I would look for in a presidential candidate. Most of us who survived that experience are now in our late 60's and 70's. Sadly, we have died and are dying off at a greater rate than our non-POW contemporaries. We experienced injuries and malnutrition that are coming home to roost. So I believe John's age (73) and survival expectation are not good for being elected to serve as our President for 4 or more years. I can verify that John has an infamous reputation for being a hot head. He has a quick and explosive temper that many have experienced first hand. Folks, quite honestly that is not the finger I want next to that red button. It is also disappointing to see him take on and support Bush's war in Iraq, even stating we might be there for another 100 years. For me John represents the entrenched and bankrupt policies of Washington-as-usual. The past 7 years have proven to be disastrous for our country. And I believe John's views on war, foreign policy, economics, environment, health care, education, national infrastructure and other important areas are much the same as those of the Bush administration.

I'm disappointed to see John represent himself politically in ways that are not accurate. He is not a moderate Republican. On some issues he is a maverick. But his voting record is far to the right. I fear for his nominations to our Supreme Court, and the consequent continuing loss of individual freedoms, especially regarding moral and religious issues. John is not a religious person, but he has taken every opportunity to ally himself with some really obnoxious and crazy fundamentalist ministers lately. I was also disappointed to see him cozy up to Bush because I know he hates that man. He disingenuously and famously put his arm around the guy, even after Bush had intensely disrespected him with lies and slander. So on these and many other instances, I don't see that John is the "straight talk express" he... markets himself to be. Senator John Sidney McCain, III is a remarkable man who has made enormous personal achievements. And he is a man that I am proud to call a fellow POW who "Returned With Honor." That's our POW motto. But since many of you keep asking what I think of him, I've decided to write it out. In short, I think John Sidney McCain, III is a good man, but not someone I will vote for in the upcoming election to be our President of the United States.

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are all of the same body."

Ephesians 4:25

A Prayer for Barack Obama

Linette — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:43:42 EDT

This was printed in a Jamaican magazine called Testimony. It's Volume One - Sixth Issue, and Barack Obama is on the cover. The cover story is called "Does Barack Obama Have A Testimony?", and inside are 5 pages of coverage, beginning on page 14. (You'll also see my Aunt Joan on page 39!) Here is the prayer:

Dear Lord: All of the people that You have chosen to use in the Bible had a history, were totally imperfect, but made themselves available to be used by You and were therefore able to change the course of history. Barack Obama has stepped up to the plate and those of us praying this prayer right now believe that You will stand for him, with him, and go ahead of him. We believe that if it is Your will that You will enable Barack to walk through, around, and over every obstacle. We believe Lord Jesus, that it is the very obstacles that are placed in his way that will make him stronger. They will build his character, Lord, they will cause him Lord Jesus not to rely on his earthly advisors, not to rely on his family, Lord, but to lean completely on Your for his direction and his strength. Your Word says Lord, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" and that, Lord, is our prayer for Barack Obama today. It is clear, Lord Jesus, that the enemy will use the people closest to him to distract and destroy him, but as Job was able to recognise and Your greatness, Lord, and Your power, we pray that Barack will also recognise that the only One that can get him to sit in the White House as President of the United States of America is You.

We stand against every principality and power that seeks to exalt itself against our Heavenly Father and we declare that at the name of JESUS, EVERY knee must bow. We ask these things, Lord Jesus, in Your name. We ask that you protect Barack and his family, his team, and each and every person that has lent their sincere and honest support to the campaign. We speak exposure over everybody and every organization overt and covert that is seeking to undermine the work of God. We ask that if there is anything that is obstructing Barack that he will recognise it, confess it, and move on from it. We thank you Lord, that we can come boldly to the throne of grace, and seek mercy and grace. We now watch and wait to see the manifestation of Your power...Amen

Do I Know You?

J.W. — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:55:04 EDT

Do I Know You? Last week, I told a group of the subscribers to this blog that I was going to talk about faith and politics. More specifically, my faith and politics. As some of you may have noticed, my posts have become increasingly political over the past several months, to the point where I rarely talk about anything else. To some, that presents a problem, particularly because this blog started off as a very spiritual, borderline religious one. So, how can you, then, mix faith and politics? Aren’t you abandoning your original focus?
What happened to God? I can hear my critics now.

So, for those who think I’ve gotten off track, off center, and off focus of my original purpose for this blog, allow me to answer your questions and address your concerns.

To do so, let me first address the REAL reason why I started this blog.

As many of you know, my blog was originally called “Journal Your Journey,” named after a section in the popular book “The Purpose Driven Life.” In it, its author, Rick Warren, stresses the importance of journaling your journey so that others might learn from your story. After reading the section in the book, I began to think about all the things God has and continues to impart to me, and how selfish I was being with the wisdom He bestowed upon me. I say this not in a braggadocio way, in that I am somehow smarter than other people and that they will somehow benefit from the wisdom I impart, but rather, I say it humbly, thankfully, graciously, and stressing the fact that we all have stories, testimonies, and lessons that are given to us to be a help to others. And so, I decided to begin to share, with not only those I knew, but with the world. It was my time to share my thoughts and opinions on the things that happened around me, in hopes that somehow, it might touch other people and inspire them to share their stories and opinions with others as well.

And so, I began to write, initially serving the purpose of reminding people how important it is to keep God first and to see Him in both the big and small things in life. And with that in mind, I not only shared my own stories, but those of others, my family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers who stories had impacted me in the same way I hoped to impact others.

Then, here comes this guy Barack Obama. A very well-spoken, well-dressed, intelligent man bringing a new vision for our country. A vision where there was no longer any racial divides that would hinder one and advance another. A vision where America would no longer act like the playground bully, but would try to rise above to become the most popular kid in class once again. A vision that not only included the rich and the wealthy, but the down and out, the poor, the homeless, the underprivileged. A heard that vision and I became inspired. Inspired to be an even greater force for God. Inspired to change things in my community, my city, my country, my world. Inspired to begin to display the fruits of the Spirit at a much higher level than I did before. Inspired to give to the poor, fight against injustice, and to love my neighbor as myself.

It takes a lot of faith to support Barack Obama, to be out there in the trenches fighting to get him elected. It’s not an easy road to travel or mountain to climb. So, when someone suggests that I’m somehow off track in supporting something I believe in so much that I’m willing to give up my time, money, and energy to fight for it, I can’t help but ask, how do you figure? How do you figure it’s wrong to support a guy who unapologetically represents the Christian faith? How do you figure it’s off track to support a man who lives by the principles of hope, love, and faith?

You see, I see no difference between my religious views and my political views. They’re one in the same, two peas in a pod, two parts of the same whole. But unlike my conservative brothers and sisters, I see God’s agenda as more than just being anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage. But God teaches us to give to the poor, to love our enemies, to do good to those who seek to harm us. It’s not biblical to provoke conflict, to disobey laws, ignore those less fortunate than ourselves, and even, dare I say, to force people to act a certain way. But that’s exactly what our President has done over the last 7 and a half years.

You see, my conservative brothers and sisters would have you believe that if you vote for any Democrat, particularly Barack Obama, that you will end up living in a world full of immoral, sexually perverse, homosexual terrorists. But to vote on that would be to vote on fear, and the Bible clearly teaches us that the opposite of fear is faith, that God did not give us a spirit of fear, and that without faith, it is impossible to please God. So what does that mean for the prospect of us pleasing God based on our last two Presidential decisions as a nation? What does it mean when a Christian doesn’t hold his or her candidate to the standards that the Bible gives us for our leaders? What does it mean when a Christian goes against another Christian in favor of someone who never mentions his faith at all? Not to say that somehow our Presidential candidates need to mix their faith with their politics to win our votes. But, if you base your political views on your religious views, don’t you have an obligation to know where your candidates stand on their faith? If you’re Christian beliefs guide your political positions, shouldn’t the leaders you vote for be born again, saved, sanctified, and holy-ghost filled? If you’re going to use the Bible as a basis for your politics, shouldn’t you make sure that your candidates read the Bible? Or goes to church? Or pray at all.

You want proof that Barack Obama prays. Check this out.

You want proof that Barack Obama goes to church, see the Rev. Wright controversy. (Like it or not, Barack Obama and his family were integral parts of Trinity United Church of Christ.)

On the other hand, if you want proof that John McCain prays, you’ll probably have a harder time finding evidence. Want proof that he goes to church, well, again, you may have a difficult time. Want proof that John McCain reads the Bible, I doubt you’ll find anything.

Again, I’m not saying that a candidate has to be religious, but, as a voter, if religion determines the way you vote, shouldn’t you be interested in knowing the depths of your candidate’s faith?

I know where my candidate stands on faith; I hear it almost every time he speaks. The question is, do you?

Peace,
J.W.

Short people got no reason.

goodog — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:10:27 EDT

Short answers! Really? That's the criteria for winning, even while you essentially acknowledged Obama's otherwise flawless performance. It was the short string of syllables that warrant the feting of McCain, even when we all know the only reason he avoided explanation is because he falls apart completely in an array of inconsistency and displays of unfamiliarity on any topic he discusses.

The press praises McCain for his coping mechanism, not acumen or prowess on these topics, but his ability to hide his deficiencies in front of the press by way of clipped brevity.

This is how we pick our winners in the so-called information age.

An Open and Honest Conversation on Faith

Marc R. Peters — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:35:50 EDT

by Josh, Boston College

Pastor Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, hosted a forum for the presidential candidates on Saturday night. Senator Obama responded to questions about his was world-view, faith, family, and the future direction of our nation.

Pastor Warren's opened with, "who are the three wisest people you know in your life, and who are you going to rely on heavily in your administration?" Senator Obama answered with several names (seemingly unrelated to one another), including his wife, Michelle, former Senator Sam Nunn, Senator Dick Lugar, Senator Ted Kennedy, and Senator Tom Coburn as some voices he'd look forward to hearing as President:

"What I found is very helpful to me is to have a table where a lot of different points of view are represented, and where I can sit and poke and prod and ask them questions, so that any blind spots I have or predispositions that I have, that my assumptions are challenged. And I think that that’s extraordinarily important."

He made sure the audience knew that his wife was the one to always call him out on a boneheaded mistake.

That sense of working together and listening to solve important problems continued throughout the rest of Senator Obama's time with Pastor Warren. When asked about America's greatest moral failure, Senator Obama replied:

"I think America’s greatest moral failure in my lifetime has been that we still don’t abide by that basic precept in Matthew that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me, and that notion of — that basic principle applies to poverty. It applies to racism and sexism. It applies to, you know, not having — not thinking about providing ladders of opportunity for people to get into the middle class. There’s a pervasive sense, I think, that this country, as wealthy and powerful as we are, still don’t spend enough time thinking about the least of us."

Senator Obama also included the idea of empathy and working together when describing what his Christianity meant to him:

"But what it also means, I think, is a sense of obligation to embrace not just words, but through deeds, the expectations, I think, that god has for us. And that means thinking about the least of these. It means acting — well, acting justly, and loving mercy, and walking humbly with our god. And that — I think trying to apply those lessons on a daily basis, knowing that you’re going to fall a little bit short each day, and then being able to kind of take note and saying, well, that didn’t quite work out the way I think it should have, but maybe I can get a little bit better. It gives me the confidence to try things, including things like running for president, where you’re going to screw up once in a while."

The Saddleback Forum on Saturday allowed Senator Obama the chance to speak to the faith community across America, and emphasize the role of faith in his particular spiritual journey and how that faith might influence his public policy as President.

It is important to bear in mind the differences between us and those we disagree with, we must try to follow the Senator's example in trying to have a open, honest dialogue about our views. It's only through discussion and debate that we will come to know others as equally concerned citizens and not as people who are pursuing a radical agenda that we don't agree with. Pastor Warren urged the audience to find a way to disagree with out demonizing the other side. I think that is something we should all strive for.

For a full transcript of the exchange click here.

Obama wins a voter/volunteer with Saddleback Forum

V, aka VCubed/Virginia V — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:15:39 EDT

I was watching with a local organizer-volunteer, Stephanie, mother, black female, Christian, veteran, who got a text msg from a fellow black female student who had not committed to vote until then - saying she will now definitely vote for Barack, and volunteer too, after seeing Barack at Saddleback.

Letters From The Field: I Do Believe in Him

Josh In Michigan — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:25:35 EDT

I just got this letter from C. Hobbs in Jackson Michigan that I want to share with you.

"I am a 52 yr. old nurse. I have only voted one time in my life and that was for Ross Perot. I just finished watching Mr.Obama with Pastor Rick Warren. I am going to vote for Mr.Obama. I do believe in him and his vision for what America can be."

Thank you
C. Hobbs
Jackson, Michigan

Interview with Rick Warren

Linette — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:49:06 EDT

Hopefully, Americans are tuning in to CNN, because there are some difficult issues being discussed, and instead of getting the bizarre musings from right wing opponents, they can hear Barack Obama talking about his beliefs himself.

Motivational Note

Friends of President Barack Obama — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:19:02 EDT

Even though it may not look like it or feel like it, you are making progress.

Continue working towards progress instead of perfection.

Nothing or no no one is perfect.

Just keep taking steps.

Keep making those phone calls.

Continue following your plan.

Remain focused on your goal.

Do what you have to do right now to get to the next level.

Complete every task.

Keep every promise and commitment.

Don't look back.

Stay on track.

Let no one weaken your walk of faith and determination.

Remain teachable.

Place yourself in a blessing position by associating with people on-the-grow.

Talk with teachers.

Walk with winners.

Climb with champions.

Study successful people.

Something great is about to happen for you!

Start giving thanks right now before you can even see the outward manisfestation of your prayers and desires.

Everything you do from this day forward will take you further away or closer to your potential for successful living.

-by Dr. Jewel Diamond Taylor, Motivational Speaker & Author

Show the better world we want.

Robert Michael Foster, MA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:52:36 EDT

In 1957 I was a painfully shyteen, that had just taken a 2 credit college course on our US Constitution in high school. I later found out that my shyness went away my fears were transformed. I also was selected for an engineering co-op program for the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, and I also joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves. I raised my right hand for the USMCR, and swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. I was one of the few, that knew our Constitution I was swearing to defend. Later, my co-op I was sent to a course in New York on a naval fire control system. I paid extra to return to California, via my nations Capitol, Washington DC. I was shocked to find that in my nation's Capitol, the hotels were listed in the telephone book as "whites only". I decided to make my peaceful protest right there, in violation of my culture, and even part of my family. I found a black hotel, and instructed my cab driver to take me there. His eyes got big, and he asked me if I was sure that I wanted to go there. Even though that shy young man was feeling his fears, he said yes. I was demonstrating peacefully, that I wanted my nation to live up to its Constitution. No one but the hotel clerk spoke to me and others appeared uncomfortable. I felt good that I was demonstrating what I wanted in spite of my fears, and still do. The Marines had taught me the difference between healthy and unhealthy pride. I have since learned how to go to the deeper levels where there are no differences. I can only hope that many others, will also defy their cultures, feel uncomfortable, and peacefully demonstrate, for what they want to see transformed. What are you interested in demonstrating peacefully that our culture is not ready for yet?

Very Respectfully, Michael

Resume: http://RecoveryByDiscovery.com/resume.htm

As a system engineer, I am especially interested in our energy challenges. If we do not solve our energy challenges, we will not have the resources to solve our other challenges. I am also especially interested in helping our troops PTSD challenge because I have some unique insites from my training and experience.

Heart of the Matter

J.W. — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:48:26 EDT

Heart of the Matter

The following prayer was written by Barack Obama during his trip to the Middle East last week. While there, he visited the Western Wall, a Jewish religious site, in Jerusalem. Tradition dictates that upon approaching the wall, visitors are to place special notes of prayer in the crevices of the wall to ask for God’s forgiveness and blessings over their life.

Well, Obama did just that, placing a small note in the crevices of the Western Wall. Upon his departure, an Israeli student snuck up to the wall, retrieved the note, and passed it along to the Wall Street Journal, where it was published the next day.

While many religious leaders in the Jewish community have argued that publishing the note violated Senator Obama’s privacy and relationship with God, I see differently. I see it as God ordained, Him granting us permission to look into the window of a man’s soul. So, check out the note and get a glimpse of that which our next President of the United States truly values in life.

Peace,
J.W.

GObama discusses Belief, Faith, Knowns

Wayne from Atlanta, GA — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:53:53 EDT

David,

First and foremost, I want to say "I love you man!".

I enjoy your educated outlook on the status quo, and your viewpoint, which is undoubtedly valid.

However, in all these points are very ambiguous and provide for great opportunity for debate. Isn't it a great thing? Makes life interesting I think.

I didn't mean to question your values, just wanted to add a bit of fuel to the fire we got going here.

Lets continue:

Faith in Iowa Youth Getting Involved

Zachary Scott Edwards — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:28:24 EDT

We’ve seen a tremendous outpouring of support at our 20 local offices across Iowa, especially from people who are getting involved in their first election. Yesterday, about a dozen young supporters who had been attending a Jewish summer camp stopped by our Des Moines office to volunteer. Between making phone calls and signs for our office, we had a chance to hear why they had decided to get involved.

“It feels good to be part of Obama’s campaign, doing something useful and historic.” - Laura
“It was really fun and educational to talk to the people of Iowa about their opinions and views of politics – it expanded my knowledge about the American people’s viewpoint of politics.” - Hannah
“It was cool to represent one of the presidential nominees, and to help their campaign.” - Zach

As school kicks back up here in Iowa, we are happy to announce that there are now even more opportunities at our offices and on campuses across the state to get involved and join our campaign. For more information about becoming a youth organizer, click here.

If you don’t have time to join our campaign through one of these programs, our 20 offices are always buzzing with excitement. Even if you haven’t ever been involved in a campaign--- now is the time to get involved and make a difference!

Are people voting on blind faith?

A. Moses — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:31:38 EDT

The high percentage of voters out there supporting McCain don't seem to know much about his history or his positions. His nebulous and constantly flip-flopping ways actually help him keep everyone guessing what he's for or against. These people are not willing to spend a lot of time thinking about the man, his positions, or what will happen if he actually is elected.

It is these same people that don't associate bush with McCain as "the same" and they hear rumors and innuendo about Obama on a regular enough basis to actually believe them no matter how ridiculous. I've talked to a few and they honestly tried to argue he's a secret Muslim born in another country that doesn't care about wounded troops and who wants only to be the worlds #1 liberal, raising taxes for all and to turn America into a socialist state. And you know what, if confronted with factual statements and arguments to the contrary they withdrawal but they don't abandon their positions.

Right now it's like arguing to a bunch of people who believe the world is flat (in the days since actually going to the moon), and no matter how much evidence you show them, no matter what you try to argue, nothing gets through.

So are these people acting on blind faith?

McPope

A Prayer at the Western Wall

John Cavanaugh — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:44:57 EDT

JERUSALEM - A written prayer that Barack Obama left this week in the cracks of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, asks God to guide him and guard his family, an Israeli newspaper reported yesterday.

"Lord - Protect my family and me," reads the note published in the Maariv daily. "Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will."

The paper's decision to make the note public drew fire. The rabbi in charge of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitz, said publishing the note intruded on Obama's relationship with God.

"The notes placed between the stones of the Western Wall are between a person and his maker. It is forbidden to read them or make any use of them," he told Army Radio.

Many visitors to the 2,000-year-old Western Wall leave notes bearing requests and prayers. Obama did so during a predawn visit there Thursday, after a day spent meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Maariv said the note had been removed from the wall by a student at a Jewish seminary after Obama left.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs would neither confirm nor deny the note was Obama's. But the handwriting appeared to match a message Obama inscribed Wednesday in the guest book at Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial, and was on stationery from the King David Hotel, where Obama stayed.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Barack at the Wall

Naomi — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:53:06 EDT

One of the family stories my Dad likes to tell concerns my Aunt Ethel. She visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the holiest site in Judaism, and was surprised at how moved she felt. She was not prepared for the experience, but she wanted to write a note to God and place it in the cracks of the wall, as is the custom. She searched around in her purse for a piece of paper, but all she could find was an empty gum wrapper. She wrote her prayer on it and put it in the cracks. She always ended the story by saying, "I hope God can read shorthand."

By now you've probably heard that Barack Obama visited the Wall this week, and that he, unlike my Aunt Ethel, came prepared -- he wrote his prayer on a piece of paper ahead of time. I was a little surprised that he chose to do that -- it had never occurred to me that a non-Jew would do it, although of course he is welcome to. And yes, perhaps someone told him it would look good.

What I find stunning is that a Jewish seminary student took the note out of the wall after he left and delivered it to the newspaper, and that Maariv, the evening daily, published it. I don't think I can quite capture how offended I am by this.

My faith and Obama

Chandira — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:18:31 EDT

I have been blogging for the past 4 years at Diary of a Hope Fiend, and I'm not politically motivated in the same way most people are. I try to avoid writing about politics there, as it's an endless pit of dark matter that will suck your soul out through your eyeballs.

Or it has been.. Until Barak Obama came along.

I have been swept up in Obamamania, but I have my feet on the ground also. I know that Obama and the political game are part of the play of Consciousness, and that Obama won't be the Big Saviour that the jaded and crushed are still looking for, and politics are politics and always will be, but I really can see that this beautiful country is in dire need of something different, somebody who is hopeful, and not despairing, not bought, not tired, not smugly self-satisfied and self-congratualtory, not anything but heartfelt and forward thinking.

My own religious beliefs aren't mainstream, and I believe in love, tolerance, peace, kindness, right-relatedness, and that "God" is all of us, humans and non-humans, united in love, and is beyond any kind of politics, and is prior to all this, existing as that love, always, under every circumstance. My beliefs are called "Advaitic non-dualism." The deeply held faith and experience of spiritual awakening and gnosis that tells me that all this IS God. There is ONLY God. In the words of my own Spiritual Master, Adi Da Samraj, 'What religion owns the Holy Brightness?" Indeed.

I read the article in Newsweek recently, about what Obama believes. Seems he's open-minded, and like me, loves a God that he knows is real, lives on the basis of that faith, rather than just using it as political leverage, and doesn't want to exclude other beliefs, secure in the knowledge that none of us has a complete answer when it comes to God. Only God has that, in His/Her Completeness. Obama seems to have dispensed with the arrogance and narcissism of a one-religion reality, and yet somehow remains true to his own freely chosen faith, Christianity. Here is a man who chose, after deep consideration, rather than lazily went along with the prescribed mainstream religious diet. I can respect that, a lot.

"Barak" means "Blessing" in many languages. I'm all for that. God Bless us all, not just America.

Evangelicals Need to Look To Obama

actionsauce — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:04:20 EDT

All reports show a lack of enthusiasm by evangelicals regarding John McCain. At the same time, Barack Obama is courting the evangelicals with a message of hope, while revealing his own spiritual beliefs at the risk of alienating atheist, and God-less supporters on the left. Still, the polls show a majority of evangelicals still rally their support behing McCain. This only appears to be because he is a republican. Evangelicals wait to hear any faith based rhetoric from McCain, whose past has clearly shown that he is not a faith based man. I say WAKE UP EVANGELICALS!!!. You need to live passionate lives of action, and positive change. You need to vote with your consciences, not with sheep like tendencies, and attitudes that have you convinced that the republican party is God's party, and everyone else is the enemy. Bush is leaving, and no matter how devout a christian he may be, I am certain that McCain will not hold your values true. And when it comes down to the line, McCain will not lead this country based on faith in God. Barack Obama is much more likely to offer solutions, and perspective that of a man devout in his faith. A man who believes that putting your trust in God, not man is a worthy investment. And a man who will bring together red and blue alike to lead this country into brighter days.