This is a great video-log of what Obama stands for... or doesn't.
Empty suit or gifted politician?
Check it out.
Vote with your mind, not your heart.
Don't take this freedom for granted.
Truth matters.
Know the issues; stay informed; move beyond the rhetoric.
He's now targeting evangelicals. Is he a man of faith, fiction, or facts?
What do you think?
"By justice a king builds up the land,
but he who taxes heavily tears it down."
but he who taxes heavily tears it down."
-Proverbs 29:4
21 comments:
I can only think of one good thing that can come out of this upcoming presidential election. Namely, that the men and women of God in these United States, joined with our family of faithful believers throughout the world will be driven to our knees in humble, contrite and tearful prayer. Our focus must be on Christ, our deliverer. Our faith must be placed in Him. There is not a doubt in my mind that we are in for a bumpy ride.
rosemarie
Some good thoughts...
Q -Do you think the bumpy ride is one of political fall out; economic fallout; or one of spiritual fallout or possibly all three?
Campi
Campi,
Easy answer? Spiritual fallout. All our ills are ultimately spiritual in nature. How will it manifest in our lives is a more difficult answer. I think we have had it too easy for too long and been far too presumptuous on the mercies and providence of the Almighty. It seems to me that God generally gives us what we ask for when our presumption turns to whining. Example: When God called Moses he whined that he was unable and asked that his brother Aaron help him. God gave Moses what he asked for and didn't Aaron help by building a calf of gold?
For years here in the US the church has abdicated its responsibility to care for the poor, the widow and the orphan to the government. This was most notable during and after the Great Depression. We depended on our government because we were faithless and didn't believe God was greater than our economic condition. I think we are going to reap what we have sown. Not that God wont prevail. He is always faithful. It's just that we are often short sighted.
I have read the back of The Book. We don't all join hands and sing Kumbaya at the campfire of tolerance or democracy. While I am not a proponent of being apolitical, I am an advocate of keeping our politics in submission to a biblical worldview. I appreciated this post. It reminds me that I have to keep my focus on Him or I will go nuts and despair... ok... I am already a bit nutty, but that's beside the point. :)
This guy put Psalm 121 to music. It's a great song that really helps me keep things in perspective. Ever hear it? ;)
Knowing where my help comes from,
Rosemarie
sj_camp: “What do you think?
Well, personally, I think I’m suddenly feeling a bit obamanauseous.....
Jeremiah Walker: ".....it's in the Bible.....for killing innocent people……for treating our citizens as less than human……”
(Wow, If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought Jerry was referring to the murder of unborn children).
Three words to consider as a possibility come inaugural: An Obama cabinet.....(Feel like “group-chugging” the Oba-maalox, fellow believers?……drinks are on me).
Islamic Trifecta: Not one, not two, but three Islamic names……I think we have a shot at winning the Islamic lottery here, folks.
As a sidenote, Teddy K’s “Freudian slip” would have been hilarious if it weren’t so disconcerting.
But bottom line, at the end of the day, I'm grateful for the knowledge that our God is still in complete control.
Steve
I have said before on this blog (the 2008 April fools post to be exact) vote your conscience, grab your wallet and run for the hills. That statement, while partly in jest, certainly does reflect my personal frustration with this election cycle. And probably exposes my sin as well. My candidate did not make it past South Carolina, and I have been relatively grumpy about.
Funny, as addicted as I am to watching politics (a condidtion which I have been able to verify goes back at least 3 generations in my family), the Lord has been gently gracious in confronting my idolitry. He reminded me that"...Isa 40:22 It is He Who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
Isa 40:23 Who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
I cound not find the reference for the Lord raising up princes and kings, and brings them down, but the Isiah refrence gets to the point. If the Lord has appointed Obama to sit in the Oval Office, nothing will stop it, because the Lord has ordained it. I can take comfort that, regardless of who sits in the Oval Office, it is the Lord, Who reigns soverign over all of human affairs. I am freed from the discontent I have over the likely candidates available. I am free to vote according to the leading of the Lord, as He reveals His expectations of a political leader in Scripture.
Does Obama fit the mold? I do not believe so. His name is of little concern to me, but his record is. His record, greatly lacking though it is, does not reflect a heart that is captured by the Gospel. He votes to kill more unborn. He votes to take more form those who, I believe are already overtaxed. He sits in a church (or use to) that preaches, not the Gospel of Jesus and Him crucified for our sins, but a gospel of race based "liberation".
All I have been able to do to keep sane this political season, is to remember the Lord is soverign, I have a responsibility to vote, the Lord has appointed the one who will be POTUS, and I am called to pray for that person. I do not want Obama, I don't wnat John Mc Cain for that matter either (no, not Bob Barr or Ron Paul either).
As we cast our votes, let us all pray that the Lord would continue to visit us according to His great mercy, and in judgement according to our sin.
Paul
Sorry,
That last line should have read "...and NOT according to our sin."
Hi Campi,
It is very telling that we have a candidate on the Democratic side that can't state a single position that ISN'T out of line with any Liberation Theology textbook. He's dangerous.
That said, I'm not a fan of McCain either. I can trust him to run this country much better.
~Dave
Paul
I share the frustration. Obama is an extreme liberal trying to move toward the center. He is a chameleon par excellence. Senator Elle Woods really fits him well.
But McCain is a moderate conservative who could be an independent or conservative democrat. I do think as Monica Crowley has recently said that McCain will endorse drilling in ANWAR within a month and will support tougher immigration enforcement as well.
But with that said, the Lord is Sovereign and will have the man "in power" as President whom He ultimately desires to accomplish His divine purposes in the world.
What an election year it has been and will be...
Dave
I agree.
I am a conservative more than I am a Republican. I also trust McCain to run this country more than I do Obama. McCain is tested and found worthy; Obama is a great orator, but a complete unknown commodity. That is why the more people learn about him, they are concerned and see dramatic inconsistencies (including democrats as well).
Not many have said this yet, but Hillary hasn't signed over her delegates to Barack as of today. Why? What does she know that we don't know? What is she waiting for?
This is long but over.
"Not many have said this yet, but Hillary hasn't signed over her delegates to Barack as of today. Why? What does she know that we don't know? What is she waiting for?
This is long but over."
Agreed. I am ashamed to say I didn't know about Clinton's withholding gambit. :)
The political camel hasn't just stuck his nose under the tent, he has been invited to come in and sit down. And this camel wears both political hats.
And like Hezekiah of old, we have shown the Babylonians what is inside God's house. Politicians seeking votes and not God are invited to speak a word behind evangelical pulpits, and "stance cards" are passed out in the house of worship.
How long will we halt between two opinions? If the gospel is our message let us preach and live it. But if politics can provide moral change then let us do that. We cannot serve two masters.
As George Bush leaves office abortion is still legal, marriage is closer to being redefined, which would have been the same had John Kerry been elected. There will be 1 billion dollars spent this election year just to elect another person to fill the top office in a fallen system. Obscene.
Jeremiah Wright believes that there are forces within America seeking a genocide against the African American community and beleieves that God will (or should)damn the United States for that. Steve Camp has also suggested that (through abortion) there are forces within the U.S that are seeking a kind of genocide (Steve did use that exact word. In a post directed to me) against African Americans. Steve seems to me to be damning in his condemnation of this sinister plot. In a sense, Steve's view could be seen as a "conspiracy theory".I'm not saying Steve's view of Palnned parenthood/abortion drives directed against Afrcan Americans is kooky. I'm just trying to highlight a point of similarity, however slight it may seem, with the context to Wright's "God Damn America" statement . Now, I don't necessarily agree with Steve on his "genocide" claims. And I don't necessarily agree with Rev Wright's "genocide" claims either. But if both men are sincere in their beliefs would either be wrong in denouncing America in the most fiery language for it? As the song says, "God says in the end just give me justice...." I was convinced of Steve's sincerity when he claimed a genocide was being perpetuated against the African American community. I don't know about Jeremiah Wright's sincerity in regard to how much he believes of his claims, but in either case only God knows the heart, right? If we accept the possibility of sincerity of the belief, the strong language can be understood and Obama's attendance of the church is less sinister. And as far as Obama refusing to wear a lapel pin, or the matter of his name (!) yes, those things are very sinister sounding when you're playing spooky music in the background.
Paul- I so agree with you. The worry over Obama's name is ludicrous to me. Frankly, I think it is a shameless attempt at hype. Such tactics devalue our opinions and helps folks look at us like we are in the lunatic fringe. It is the man's inability to think critically and his character, or lack of it, that make him a horrible candidate.
I am not thrilled with either candidate. Our choices are bad, some are just worse than others.
Dan 2:21 "And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding.(NAS)
Steve,
I really think that the video was over the top. While there were some things within it that were factual I do believe it was closer to a conspiracy theory video than a helpful expose of Barak Obama.
I know that I will never vote for him but this video is not going to convince anyone. It seems too 'tin foil hat' in its connections. (i.e. The flag in the Houston office thing is a bit over the top) Many of Obama's stances are way off and liberal, but perpetuating this video is not helpful.
rosemarie
Thank you for posting the reference I was unable to remember.
Paul
Both the HIV virus and abortion have claimed many innocent lives.....but the outlandish suggestion of the HIV virus being perpetuated as a type of genocide (in Rev. Wright's case) vs. the issue of abortion, and specifically, Planned Parenthood's evidenced role & evidenced willingness in helping to provide them to minorities [African Americans in particular] (in Steve's case) are simply not the same thing, regardless of the sincerity behind the beliefs.
And as for the issue of an individual's sincerity, (which the passion with which both Rev. Jeremiah & Steve communicate seems be an indicator of) when did that become the evidence of correctness or incorrectness? Barack is extremely sincere and passionate about his beliefs in his "audacity of hope," and also sincere in his desire to be the leader of the free world. That doesn't mean it has a biblical mandate. Am I making any sense?
As for the reference to Barack's three names in my comment above, I was being facetious--just trying to add a little levity--it was probably misplaced; guess I tend to come on a little too strong here @ times.
--------------------------
But hey, everything will be alright-"talkin' 'bout Jesus....we got Jesus on our side..."
Steve - Unlike a few others, I think the video is appropriate fodder for discussion. It brings up some facts that can buttress an argument against Obama, such as the Houston flag-thing... it is indicative of Obama's way of thinking.
His positions are certainly socialist - and the Che Gueverra iconic images speak of Obama's followers.
That said, God is in control regardless of who is elected. I've long wondered if the Church would be better motivated & more sincere in matters of faith with a more distinct moral decline in this country. We've too long been complacent. Perhaps a leap over the moral and free speech clff will motivate us.
Littlegal. Yes, you were making sense. Thanks for your message.
I actually found Steve's description of Planned Parenthood taking part in genocide more convincing than Rev. Wright's HIV conspiracy theory, though I know little about that latter.
My mentioning sincerity was only meant to be relevant in relation to the language Rev. Wright used in relation to America in his now infamous "God damn America." quote. To suggest that the quote was not perhaps one of simple hatred for, say, the American people as a whole, as it may appear to be. I'm sorry my post was not clearer.
I feel the association with Rev. Wright was the one issue worth tackling in the video clip posted. the others were trivial and shallow.
I accept that Steve has sincere views on Obama's stance on abortion that seem well thought out are thoroughly worthy of discussion and critical engagement.
On the other hand, this video- ironically preceded by a call to sound reasoning- showed very little:
"Obama's father was Muslim, so he must be."
"Obama's name is Muslim, so he must be."
"Obama said his grandmother sometimes displayed fears of a typical white person. This means he 'betrayed his grandmother' and he is racist."
That's not good reasoning.
Have a great day.
I’m reminded of this line from Tennyson’s poem “Vastness”: “Raving politics – as this poor earth’s history runs; What is it all but a trouble of ants in the gleam of a million million of suns?”
If it were not for the assurance that this political cycle and its eventual outcome lie securely within the absolute purview of all that God has determined for our good and for His glory, we’d have about as much hope as an ant in the gleam of a million million suns!
Thankfully, we don’t need to share Tennyson’s cynicism! It’s all a question of where we’ve put out trust. Jeremiah 17: 5-8 (NASB):
5- Thus says the Lord, cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6- For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness; a land of salt without inhabitant.
7- Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.
8- For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green and it will not be anxious
in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.
I love how Psalm 1 echoes this same theme! What is our part? To make Him our trust (v.7) and to delight in and meditate on His Word (Psalm 1). This will inform all we do (yes, even how we vote :-)) in another election season where what appears on the surface to be nothing more than “raving politics” is at its core more consequential and weighty than we may realize …
In an earlier post regarding Senator Obama’s disturbing stand regarding abortion Steve said, “… aggressively supporting the death of unborn children IS a deal breaker beloved”. It couldn’t be stated more clearly.
The sovereignty of God and elections... Nixon won his second term election with 96.65% of the electoral college vote and we all know what happened to him... When I ponder the ebb and flow of politics I am comforted by the truth proclaimed in Isaiah 6. The "world" was in disarray with the death of the king, but the Lord still ruled from His throne.
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