Archive for Barack Obama
Review: The Faith of Barack Obama
Policial conservative and author of The Faith of George W. Bush, Stephen Mansfield, has written a new book entitled The Faith of Barack Obama.
“For Obama, faith is not simply political garb, something a focus group told him he ought to try. Instead, religion to him is transforming, lifelong, and real.” … “He embraced religion long before he embraced politics. Indeed, it was his faith that gave him the will to serve in public office, and the worldview of that faith that shaped his understanding of what he would do once he came to power.”
I saw the video above long before I read the book, and I sure wish there were more people like Stephen Mansfield around. He set his political leanings aside and actually took the time to explore the faith of Barack Obama, objectively, with an open mind.
Barack has an amazing story, one with an extraordinary spiritual timeline. Stephen pulls no punches and covers all aspects of Barack’s faith. But he does so with the grace of someone who grasps that Jesus didn’t just die for Republicans. That the faith of Democrats are just as real. That Christians need to show the world that we are better than the hate we’ve been spewing in the political arena.
This was a fascinating read, and it made me want to go back and read his previous work on George Bush’s faith. George Bush changed the game when it came to faith and politics, and Barack is taking his baton and running like Usain Bolt. I recommend this to anyone that is considering voting in this upcoming election. You owe it to yourself to know, as Paul Harvey always says, “the rest of the story.”
Elections
I’ve jumped in feet first this year with the election. Last night I was recalling how the last few elections went down for me.
1992 – 17 years old and couldn’t vote, but Ross Perot was on the scene and Saturday Night Live was appointment television. I was happy to see Bill Clinton do well since I had previous ties to Arkansas.
1996 – In college and happy to vote in my first election, but I had no clue about anyone running, or any of the issues. I voted straight Republican because I knew that was what everyone I know always did. Bob Dole by default.
2000 – This is the first time I can remember getting pressure from friends and relatives to vote, and to vote Republican. I remember distinctly hearing often that “the possibility of Al Gore in the White House is terrifying.” They worked me up enough that I voted for George Bush. I tried my best to stay up and see who won on election night, but it turns out it was all for naught anyway. It wasn’t decided for weeks. Ironically I just received the documentary Recount in the mail. Looking forward to revisiting that period.
2004 – At this point I had been working for 3 years in an über hippy/liberal environment, and had become great friends with a very articulate and well educated new designer from New York. We would debate at length politics, policies and religion. I actually saw very valid points in a lot what they said, but I was currently a one issue voter and had no choice but to cast my vote for the pro-life candidate of George Bush. (I sure wish I would have watched the DNC that year, I missed a great speech!)
2008 – Another 4 years in this environment, plus the addition of a very diverse blogosphere, not to mention a complete paradigm shift in my spiritual awareness, has brought me to this point. I will be proudly voting for Barack Obama this November. My christianity and patriotism have both been called into question by many because of this decision, but I’ve never been more excited about making my choice for President of the United States.
It’s been sort of fun to sit back and watch all of the pundits, both on TV and in my life, pontificate about the options. Nobody really talks about the issues, it’s always personal attacks with no relevance, or false propaganda brought to you from double talkers (you owe it to yourself to watch this entire video). We should all just sit back, take a deep breath, and stop trying to pull down the opponents, and start speaking positives about why you like your guy/gal. Start actually listening to what the other people are saying without running them through the filter of whether they’re on your side or not. Then you might actually get something accomplished (and I might actually take you seriously). John McCain isn’t a horrible person and has a lot of great ideas, just like Barack Obama isn’t the “savior” and I disagree with a few of his positions. Face the facts people, the world isn’t going to hell in a hand-basket with either option.
I just happen to think Barack is what we need at this point.
For many reasons.
Did you know Jesus was a community organizer?
Just saying.
Hope, In Perspective
By: Becky Garrison
Here in Manhattan, the city streets hum with hope following the announcement of the first African American to be nominated for president by a major political party. According to news reports, similar scenarios are taking place across the world. As we celebrate this historical moment in electoral politics, Sara Cunningham, author of Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation, offers this cautionary tale to her fellow Christians:
When we market ourselves as the hope of the world, or when we believe that other humans hold the hope of the world for us, without proper acknowledgement of Christ as our source, we foster disillusionment.
So how do we keep this hope alive should one’s preferred candidate not win the coveted presidential prize? My prayer is that regardless of who resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, we can keep singing a hopeful tune. As I’ve reported elsewhere on the blog, I keep seeing glimpses of the kingdom here on earth that are led not by polticos but by ordinary radicals who are transformed by the words of Jesus Christ. My buddy Shane Claiborne reminds us all, “No matter who is elected on Nov. 4, what matters is how we live our lives as faithful Christians on Nov. 3 and 5.”
Sara Cunningham concurs with Shane’s assessment:
We Christians were never the hope. Yes, we were and are carriers of the hope. But we ourselves are only reflections—often dim reflections—of the hope we internalize: Jesus Christ.
In his latest book, Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright explores how we as Christians can implement this hope here on earth. He reminds us:
The kingdom will come as the church, energized by the Spirit, goes out into the world, vulnerable, suffering, praising, praying, misunderstood, misjudged, vindicated, celebrating: always—as Paul puts it in one of his letters—bearing the body of the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed.
So, as we see hopeful signs all around us, let us remember that as Christians our declaration of hope lies ultimately with the Risen Christ.
(Copied in full from Becky Garrison’s post on the God’s Politics blog.)
