Rick Warren to Give Inaugural Invocation for Soon To Be President Obama

And some gay activists are not happy … (more after the jump)

Rick Warren to give inaugural invocation (CNN) — President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony will feature big names like minister Rick Warren and legendary singer Aretha Franklin, the Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies announced Wednesday.

Warren, the prominent evangelical and founder of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, will deliver the ceremony’s invocation. The minister hosted a presidential forum at his church last summer that challenged both Obama and Arizona Sen. John McCain on a host of faith-related issues. Warren did not endorse either presidential candidate.

His public support for California’s Proposition 8 — the measure that successfully passed and called for outlawing gay marriage in the state — sparked the ire of many gay rights proponents, who seized on a comment in an October newsletter to his congregation: “This is not a political issue — it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about.”

But Warren has long sought to broaden the focus of the evangelical agenda to include issues like the reduction of global poverty, human rights abuses, and the AIDS epidemic.

[From CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Rick Warren to give inaugural invocation « - Blogs from CNN.com]

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Letter From A Christian in 2012 - Focus Action Letter

Focus On The Family Action released this letter as a possible scenario of life in 2012 after the potential election of Obama as President. It’s a frightening prospect for conservative Christians to consider. Some would consider it hyperbolic fear mongering. Regardless, I think it raises important considerations.

What do you think? Do you think it is possible that America could become a place where Christians are forced into silence, stigmatized, run out of the public square and thrown into bankruptcy or jail because of their religious beliefs?

Can I Vote for this Guy for President?

I dare you to invite this guy to debate Obama. Wow.

I don’t quite agree with everything and he is shocking on a couple of points … but … I don’t think you have ever heard a conservative give a speech like this before. I am interested to know your reaction to this.

Hat Tip: La Shawn

CatholicVote.com - Amazing Video

I was moved by the video below. This video is very well produced and compelling. It hits on the social issues, especially the right to life issue.

What do you think?

Is Palin Just an Opportunistic Woman? … No

Have you heard enough about her already? Are you *done* with the blahbitty blah blah banter concerning her chances for Vice President? Well … get over it because I am about to add another chorus to the wall of sound. ::: laugh ::: But, first, here is a video of the highlights of her speech last night. My thoughts are after the jump.

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Crunchy Con, Andrew Sullivan, Obama, Palin, Gustav … Oh and Happy Labor Day!

Today, I have been either watching the news about Hurricane Gustav or working out. I just remembered that it is Labor Day … Happy Labor Day!

I also just learned that the liberal blogs have started a ridiculous rumor that Trig wasn’t Palin’s own son but her daughters son. And now they are attacking her daughter for being pregnant. Crunchy Con remarks about Andrew Sullivan’s attacks:

I’m honestly shocked, appalled and really disappointed that even after the new photo of Sarah Palin has surfaced, and even after the news about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy has surfaced, Andrew Sullivan continues to puff the disgusting rumor about Trig Palin’s parenthood. Honestly, this kind of thing from someone whose work I often disagree with, but who I respect, leaves me speechless

[From Andrew Sullivan and the Palin smear - Crunchy Con]

This just goes to show that intolerance and stigmatizing people isn’t limited to the conservative wing of things Also, the amazing Charmaine Yoest has a post up about the whole situation. Charmaine is the President of Americans United for Life. I also LOVE that Obama came to Palin’s defense as well.

Thanks Fay for the tip.

Donald Miller Video Interview Before Praying at DNC

My thoughts after the jump. Read more

Rick Warren’s Faith Forum with Obama and McCain - Ask It Basket

Greg asks …

*Should Rick Warren court Presidential Candidates and possibly support an abortion rights candidate just so he can promote social justice and Green policies?”

When I think of “courting” in political realms I think of superficial flattery and pandering. So, I might be thrown by that word. But this question, for me, points to the broader issue of the merit of Warren’s event and who should Christians support. The last I checked, neither candidate has stated, “I want to be President to glorify Jesus Christ and bring more people into relationship with Him.” It’s very complex. Both candidates could be accused of promoting sin in public policy. Both candidates could be accused of ungodly decisions. At the same time, both candidates must be very talented to be the two men being considered for President. I think Pastor Warren is doing a great thing by having this forum and I hope it is very revealing for the Body of Christ and the country at large.
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Schaeffer’s Manifesto: A Revolution Realized

The following was originally published on Boundless last October.  I thought I would add it here as well.

***Begin***

Schaeffer’s Manifesto: A Revolution Realized
by Randy Thomas

The culture war is coming to an inevitable and dangerous turning point and Francis Schaeffer knew it would. The battle between Christianity and secular humanism - absolute Truth versus personal truth - is one that cannot be ignored or mixed.

Sadly, absolute Truth is being drowned out by the myriad chorus of personal truths shaped in the over-arching context of secular humanism and its materialistic end. In the end it is the Truth of God versus the lies offered by secular humanism that mankind is self-sufficient - that mankind can determine what god, if any, they individually serve instead of submitting to the one Creator’s divine intent.

Every generation has faced some sort of cultural issue which directly challenges the application of the gospel. Church history is replete with the battles brought against the gospel, from direct opposition of pagan or secular forces to the Reformation battles starting with Luther against the Catholic Church. There have been “culture wars” over baptism, prohibition, evolution and most recently human sexual ethics. Francis Schaeffer’s A Christian Manifesto speaks powerfully to the true condition of the modern Christian church in the United States and the battles currently being waged.

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New Study Finds Abortions can Lead to PTSD

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A new study published in the journal BMC Psychiatry finds that women who have abortions typically experience high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder. The findings mirror other research reports showing women are more likely to suffer mental health issues following abortions compared with keeping the baby.The study appeared in the July 2007 issue of the professional psychological publication but it only coming to light now.The research involved 155 women from South Africa who had abortions and were evaluated one month and three months afterwards.

Approximately 20 percent of the women had post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms just one month later. The results led the authors to note that “high rates of PTSD characterize women who have undergone voluntary pregnancy termination.

Looking at the women three months after the abortion, the number of women experiencing the PTSD symptoms increased 61 percent.

Read the whole article >>

It’s always perplexed me how abortion is promoted as some sort of boon to women. You can read more of my thoughts on the subject here, if you’re interested. It’s sad that the data is there to collect–but hopefully it will open more women’s eyes to the lie that the “pro-choice” movement has ever had their interests at heart.

“Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women.” — Alice Paul

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