More on Rick Warren Controversy and Paul Weyrich Passed Away
December 19, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Activism, Christianity, Church, Culture War, Current Affairs, Election '08, Gay, Homosexuality, Life, People, Politics, Public Policy, Worldview, marriage
Well, my day was consumed with editing a booklet, talking with staff, editing a booklet, reading, reviewing church applications, editing a booklet, hauling a couch up a flight of stairs at work, editing a booklet and a Christmas party tonight.
I am very grateful for good food. At the same time, I think I could fast for the next three days and not miss a beat.
Interestingly, gay activists, including (Rep.) Barney Frank, are still hopping mad about Rick Warren giving the invocation at the Obama Inaugural. Even so, I liked this post by Chris Crain. Be warned Chris is not friendly to people like myself, who have a redemptive view of homosexuality (he referred to us as a myth), but every once in a while he shows a really good ability to keep the community he is a part of accountable. He comes at the Warren controversy from a different angle but I think his questions are sharp and conclusions interesting.
Rick Warren to Give Inaugural Invocation for Soon To Be President Obama
December 17, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Abortion, Activism, Christianity, Church, Culture War, Current Affairs, Gay, Homosexuality, Life, Politics, Prayer, Public Policy, marriage
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.
Happy Thanksgiving 2008 Video
Pastor Joel Hunter Prays with President Elect Obama
November 8, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Christianity, Church, Current Affairs
My former Pastor and friend gets the honor of praying with Obama (more thoughts after the jump.)
As Joel Hunter explains it, his telephone prayer session with Barack Obama on Tuesday, roughly 10 hours before Obama was declared winner of the presidential election, was not intended to be as intimate as it ended up. Obama, says Hunter, “just wanted to pray with some folks,” and his religious liaison arranged a conference call with Hunter, Dallas pentecostal megapastor T.D. Jakes, the Houston Methodist minister (and George Bush favorite) Kirbyjon Caldwell and and Otis Moss II, the retired pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland. But Obama was delayed, Jakes had to go on live TV, and Caldwell had to get onto a plane, explains Hunter; so the candidate ended up praying with just Moss and Hunter.
Hunter won’t divulge the prayer’s content other than to say that Obama “trusts God and the American people and just wanted to commend himself to each.” The 60-year-old champion of what some call the New Evangelicalism also downplays the session’s possible importance for his own status, noting that Obama has always been “very good about keeping religious leaders in the loop.” Though he says he has prayed with Obama twice before, Hunter adds, “I find it hard to believe that I’m in the inner prayer circle.”
…
Hunter shares his movement’s typical pro-life and anti-gay-marriage social commitments. But he became best known to the mainstream press in 2006 when an arrangement for him to take over as head of the Christian Coalition, the Pat Robertson-founded political machine, imploded as it became clear that Hunter intended to steer it into more moderate waters. He has since made a name (and fundamentalist foes) combating global warming, championing comprehensive immigration reform and extolling a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Less ambiguously than any other leader (including Purpose-Driven Life author Rick Warren, who hedges more bets) Hunter is the avatar of the New Evangelicalism, which is increasingly contesting the priorities of classic religious right figures such as James Dobson. Given all this, it was not surprising that Hunter delivered the closing benediction at the Democratic convention in August, or was asked to join in Tuesday’s prayer circle.
Pondering “Change” and The Future
November 6, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Book Review, Christianity, Civil Rights, Culture War, Current Affairs, Life, People, Religion, Worldview, family
Today I was talking with a friend via email. I love my smarter than me friends … which is all of them. They get me to thinkin’.
I have been reading a lot of commentary today. The constant theme I am seeing is dissatisfaction with the established mindsets of both sides of the culture war. And it isn’t simply the Left hating the Right and vice versa. It’s also a dissatisfaction of both sides with both sides. I am sensing that a true “change” is coming to the United States but I think Obama is just one symbolic part (at the moment) of the overall picture.
Bad Metaphor Alert: It would seem people don’t want a game changer … they want a different game altogether. I know I do (without abandoning the core principles of my faith and the country we live in.)
No Gloating Zone - A Weird Mix of Emotions
November 5, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Activism, Christianity, Culture War, Current Affairs
***MORE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST***
Two of the elections outcomes brought out two emotions that had me flip flop between sadness and hope.
First …
Since I was a McCain supporter it is just a matter of fact that my “team” lost the Presidential race. I was of course sad about that and while I am committed to praying, I am deeply concerned about the Obama Presidency. Even so, I am elated and proud of our country’s amazing voter turnout and that a HUGE racial barrier came crashing down. I welled up with pride (the good kind) and tears watching my African American brothers and sisters rejoicing in the streets. I am absolutely thrilled over that historic milestone.
The Morning After The Election - Initial Thoughts
November 5, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Culture War, Current Affairs
Albert Mohler has an *excellent* article for conservative Christians. My favorite part is below. You have to read the whole thing. (more after the jump.)
That victory is a hallmark moment in history for all Americans — not just for those who voted for Sen. Obama. As a nation, we will never think of ourselves the same way again. Americans rich and poor, black and white, old and young, will look to an African-American man and know him as President of the United States. The President. The only President. The elected President. Our President.
Every American should be moved by the sight of young African-Americans who — for the first time — now believe that they have a purchase in American democracy. Old men and old women, grandsons and granddaughters of slaves and slaveholders, will look to an African-American as President.
Congratulations President Obama
I promise to pray for President Obama and seek new ways to deal with old issues. I am going to be honest, I am very concerned for the next four years. Even so, I commit to prayer, service and pressing on.
I can say that I am very proud of our country on the level that we can say we have elected our first African American President. Given our history, I love that we have come to a day where that is even possible.
So… congrats President Obama. May God bless you with wisdom, peace and a revelation of His will for your time as President.
Amen.
Election Night LIVE BLOGGING!!
***UPDATE: As usual my ever watchful fan blog (said in a wry manner) doesn’t give the full context of my views on the marriage amendment results. Yes, they parsed out my quotes from the below transcript but if you really want to have a broader look at my overall impression. Read this post too. ***
Well, Here we go. The LIVE BLOG will start at 7pm Eastern. Until then feel free to leave comments. Once the Live Blog goes live you will be able to contribute directly to the conversation through an input box on the window embedded in this post. Please also read this post to kind of give you an idea of what this round of LIVE BLOGGING will look like.
Why am I putting LIVE BLOG! in all caps? ::: shrug shoulders ::: It’s going to be an exciting evening!
If I Had A Nickel …
November 2, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Asides, Health, Homosexuality, Humor, Television
If I had a nickel for every time I have run into an Obama or McCain *something* today … add that to the nickel I could get for every sniffle and cough … and I would be a doubly rich man.
Could being sick of politics manifest in a cold? ::: shrug shoulders :::
Although, I finally watched Mr. Deeds today … I actually liked it.
::: yawn :::
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is a really twisted show and I just saw a homosexual couple advertising for chemistry.com.
Ah well … If I am going to be the Grand World Potentate someday I have to quit whining and start charging a quarter for every politician rudely interrupting my television/computer/radio/print time.
Merry November 2nd.
