B. O. Courting "Evangelicals?" Surely You Jest!

"Obama Courting Evangelicals" --- Internet news headline - July 1, 2008

DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate Barack Obama has promised a more active approach to faith-based social programs in a bid to bolster his support among evangelical and religious voters. --- opening statement of news release - July 1, 2008

Yes, Virginia, it's really happening -- B. O. is going after the "evangelicals" -- you know, that group of persons which claims to believe the Bible and at times mentions that evangelism is a mission in which all Christians are to be involved!

B. O. and "evangelicals" make for strange bedfellows, to say the least. Part of B. O.'s latest strategy is to suggest that faith-based groups ought to be involved in bringing about some degree of improvement in the condition of our republic.

Religiously speaking, B. O. has yet to be explicit in going on public record that his faith is centered in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, that he is committed to serving Jesus Christ in whatever capacity he finds himself as a politician, and that he views the holy Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God. Further, that the Scriptures are the final authority in all matters having to do with human relationships, personal and collective accountability to Almighty God, faith and the practicing of that faith in daily experiences wherever one may be.

Will "evangelicals" scramble to get on board the B. O. bandwagon as it gains momentum heading toward the presidential election in November 2008?

They might as well since they have pretty well caved in on a number of rather critical issues already.

There are signs of backing away from the central truth that Jesus Christ is exclusively the way of salvation for all human beings -- no exception whatsoever! Doing "dialog" with representatives of various world religions has helped to bring about compromise on this issue -- after all, it's not nice to be so narrow-minded in times such as these, is it? So bend a little bit on this one.

Doing "dialog" also with those who practice sexual behavior that is condemned by Almighty God is further indication that there are those in the "evangelical" camp who should have little objection to B. O.'s approach to same-gender issues. And he has gone on record as to what he intends to do about helping same-gender "couples" with their various dilemmas.

One thing is certain -- for whomever the majority of those who claim to be "evangelical" cast their votes, that presidential candidate will have a powerful asset in his quest to be the one who sits in the Oval Office in January 2009.

B. O. and "evangelical" support? No, Virginia, it may not be as far fetched as you tend to think!

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty." --- 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Fairy Tales 2008!

"When I become the next president in 2008, I am going to....." (insert anything in place of the periods -- it will be helpful if you let your imagination kick into overdrive for a few minutes before inserting the whatevers!). Now after that insert any name from the "wannabe" candidates for president of the U.S.A. at any location, any day of the week, any hour of the day or night! This applies up until the conventions later this year -- then you can still do the above exercise, but the names will be limited to Democratic and Republican nominees plus whoever else may jump into this 3-ring circus!

Circulating on the Internet is this little gem of a granny with a couple of her grandchildren -- granny, having lived for quite a number of years, has developed an immeasurable amount of wisdom when it comes to the subject of "politics!"



Now then, a modest proposal which will transform this repugnant practice every 4 years in the matter of choosing a president:

• each aspiring candidate would be given $100,000 out of the U.S. treasury to use to convince us as to why he or she should be president. No other funds, including private contributions by groups, corporations, or individuals would be permitted. The candidate would not be permitted to even use money out of his or her private bank accounts -- only the 100 G's could be used and a public record would be revealed as such funds are used up, making the individual accountable for that amount. If the amount is exceeded, then the candidate would be automatically disqualified from further involvement in seeking public office. Once the funds are used, that's it. Media could not give "free" time or space to the candidates during this time. It would be illegal for private citizens to "buy" advertising space for a candidate.
  
  

  Don't forget -- more elections are "bought" than we would want to admit -- in far too many cases, he or she who can garner the most bucks, usually takes the cake -- or more accurately, the political office which that person coveted intensely!
  
  

• political "conventions" would be eliminated -- the primary voting tallies added up for all states would determine who would be the candidate -- runner up would be the VP candidate, whether the presidential candidate liked him or her or not!
  
  
• during the week before the election, the media would give one half hour to each candidate to make a speech to the whole country as to why he or she should be elected president. After the speech no media hatchet men (or women) would be permitted to hash and rehash and rehash and rehash what has been said. Printed media would permit each presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate to write in 1,000 words maximum a listing of reasons why they should be elected to lead our nation for 4 years. The expense for that half hour and printed space in news media would also be paid for from public funds -- no political parties involved in this! That would be it -- nothing more!
  

OK, OK! So it qualifies for something of the most radical kind rather than being just modest! Yes, yes -- I know this doesn't stand a chance of surviving -- even much less than the proverbial snowball has in that very hot place you may have heard about -- which is denied by a number of theologians, seminary professors, and pastors -- but alas, I digress -- the hot place subject is for another time and eventually will be discussed in this blog at some point in the future.

Stop and think about the criminality and profanity of it all -- millions upon millions of dollars spent by a number of very ambitious people who are trying to convince us that the U.S. government under their leadership will take good care of us from "the womb to the tomb!"

What really is disturbing to the first magnitude is this -- all that money which could really be used to help the needy -- those victimized by the goons of greed in high places -- skyrocketing prices in about everything and no plausible explanation other than powerful people in high places can pull strings at will and the low income people get kicked again, even when they are already down!

Actually, we're probably talking money in terms of billions instead of millions when the dust has settled a bit come January 2009! And that doesn't include the congressional election mess, or equally so, the elections at the state level!

One thing sure -- if those radical proposals just mentioned would become a reality, it would end a lot of this thing of politicians being "beholden" to certain special interest groups and powerful individuals who have helped "finance" their campaigns -- but hold on, it will come to an end.

Perhaps God will step in soon -- and we should expect that since none of the candidates have really addressed the ethical, moral and spiritual crises which threaten the ongoing survival of this republic!

But there is good news -- a day is coming when all politicians will be booted out of office -- the control of this nation, if it is still standing at the time, and all others in the world will be in the hands of One Who holds the title, King of kings and Lord of lords."

For a few of us, we can put up with the political antics a while longer, though it be very frustrating -- do our voting according to conscience for the time being, but at the same time look forward to the day when God in effect says, "Now we are going to do everything MY way!"

Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."..........Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" --- Psalm 2:1-6; Revelation 11:15

And a P.S. on this -- I am a "non-affiliated" registered voter in Cambria County, Pennsylvania -- I like it that way, especially when I get calls from political groups seeking my vote for their candidate -- funny thing, as we engage in conversation, it seems they convey a feeling of regret that they dialed my phone number -- now, I wonder why?????

The TV News Channels -- Can Those People Really Be Trusted?

"You know what’s really frightening? You actually have an influence on this presidential election. That is scary, but it’s true. You’ve got stoned slackers watching your dopey show every night and they can vote." --- Bill O'Reilly (talking head par excellence of Fox News) as quoted in a remark to "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart, Sept. 22, 2004

We are a people practically smothered in surveys and polls with no sign of any relief in the near future -- especially in a presidential election year!

Competition is extremely fierce among those 24/7 news channels with at least two making the claim that they are number 1 and the most trusted!

Those are Fox News and CNN with others nipping at their heals.

Fox News with its razzle-dazzle display of graphics gives one the impression that here is a beauty pageant of females with nearly inch-thick layers of make-up masquerading as news -- there are a few males sprinkled here and there! The claim of this whole bunch is that they are "fair" and "balanced" and "surveys" taken are used as proof that they are trusted and the most "conservative," whatever that word is supposed to mean anymore!

CNN also does a great job of flashing all kinds of stuff before your eyes when it comes to graphic images and all that kind of stuff, being so similar to Fox News. One of the king pins on this network is "Wolf the Blitz" -- he, along with other CNN males and females, is an expert on just about any topic you want to name.

The networks are really scrambling to outdo each other in this election year -- you know how it works don't you? Higher ratings always mean more revenue for the network and fatter wallets and purses for the guys and gals who do the reporting! So it's a bare knuckle brawl out there as we move toward November 2008!

If these people were really honest with us, they would paint their faces white, put a red rubber ball on their noses, and dress up in a baggy purple suit with yellow polka dots!

Trust them? Why should we? They have an "agenda" which they will try to keep concealed as much as possible -- they are masters at the use of words and phrases -- the "tilting" of information and not really "reporting" objectively but telling us how we ought to think about the issues of the day.

One accessory is an absolute must in each household if you choose to view and listen to these people -- have an air sick bag at your side at all times -- and maybe two, especially when they conduct one of those presidential candidate "debates" -- you'll fill more than one bag after an episode such as that!

Be careful as you try to sort out truth in the massive flow of information with which we are bombarded daily from many different sources -- TV, talk (yak) radio, printed media, and what purports to be "news" magazines!

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. --- Colossians 2:8

The good news is that anyone can know the truth if he or she really wants to and to be able to discern the right from the wrong -- but there are conditions to be met in order to experience those things.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. --- 1 John 4:1-6