Michael Wolfe

Study up. Stand up. Speak up. Pray up!

Posts Tagged ‘Barack Obama’

« Previous Entries

Restoring Honor: Take up your cross

Posted by americana83 on August 31, 2010

August 29th, 2010

This Saturday on August 28, Glenn Beck hosted a rally at the Lincoln Memorial. I have been to many rallies and tea parties, both locally in Ohio and in Washington, DC. They have been exciting events, giving direction to many Americans newly awakened to the new and ongoing threats to our country. The information and passion has served as a catalyst to do something more than just complain. However, the Restoring Honor rally was an event in a league of its own. Beck and company avoided anything overtly political, though I must say that faith, living faith, will impact not only your personal prayer life, but your public life, your words, beliefs and actions. (Time magazine was apparently ignorant of this fact when they criticized Aldeva King for her stances on abortion and marriage). No candidates were endorsed, and no political speeches were made. The closest reference one could get was Sarah Palin’s comment that we do not want to see our country “fundamentally transformed,” a reference to the cryptically ominous statement made by the now president Barack Obama. But even this statement is easily defensible. To “fundamentally transform” this country is to change more than parties or politicians, but the very fundamental bedrock of this country: God, the Constitution, and the family. President Obama has made great efforts to transform and distort these fundamentals of American freedom and prosperity.

The Beck rally was amazing. I would say absolutely not one soul less than 500,000 men and women (and very likely many more) of diverse colors and ages came together to rally around the principles of “faith hope and charity.” Prayers were offered up to the Lord Jesus Christ and pleas were made for divine intervention in the course and direction of this country. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s best legacy of a dream of racial equality was honored throughout the event, and by his niece Aldeva King, who’s mere presence at the rally was a defiant stand of faith against those who would use race as a wedge to divide Americans against each other, including Al Sharpton, who chose to stage a protest rally against “faith hope and charity.”

It was a call for all Americans to turn to God and seek to be on his side. It was a time of thanksgiving and gratitude for the brave men and women who have given life or limb to defend the freedoms we hold dear. As to which ‘God’ was honored I will say this: Glenn tipped the hat to the religious liberty we have in this land (the freedom to worship as we choose and to engage in the religion of our own free will), but the knee was bowed to Jesus Christ. Hundreds of pastors and rabbis of all colors were present on the stage as part of a modern black robe regiment, the pastors who dared to spark the brushfires in peoples’ spirits that kindled the American revolution and lead to a new birth of freedom.

It was a call for Americans to stand together, with a firm reliance on Divine Providence. Not a dead, vague faith, but a living and active faith in the Living God who was and is and will always be. A faith that is not afraid to pledge the life, liberty and treasure of its bearer for the sake of future generations, for the sake of the truth of God, for the right.

It was a fearful and amazing experience, to hear the name of Christ resounding across a croud a million strong, (plus a hundred thousand or so streaming it over the internet), to see Americans united in a noble and holy cause.

How can we raise up a new generation of leaders to restore honor in America? It will be impossible without recognizing the Founding Principal upon which this nation was founded. Before we can succeed in restoring the honor of the political entity that is the United States of America, we must first restore honor in our families, in our own souls. Man’s honor is restored by turning towards the grace granted us by God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16). George Washington recognized the vitality God and the Bible gave to a young nation. The founders were by and large men of God. We cannot succeed in this endeavor without being on the side of God. We must walk uprightly, we must take the high ground. We must be honorable. We must be truthful. We must be charitable. We must not let corruption or deception or violence destroy us. We MUST pray. We MUST seek his face. The Bible says if we draw near to God, he will draw near to us. Let the following verses guide us in our lives and our quest to recover and restore the greatest elements of America. Read Proverbs, read the Gospels. Study the Scriptures. For in them you will see the heart of God, the words of the Author of Liberty. These are words written in stone that no man, no congress, no politician, or any man can destroy or deface or nullify. Our rights are Unalienable, they are endowed by our Creator. Among these are life (eternal to those who ask), liberty (including freedom from the bondage of sin and evil), and the pursuit of happiness (including the true happiness that is found in Christ alone).

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2nd Chronicles 7:14

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(Matthew 16:24)

Posted in politics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Meet the Candidates Night: 15th Congressional District

Posted by americana83 on February 27, 2010

Recently, nearly all the candidates for Ohio’s 15th congressional district were invited to participate in a “meet the candidate night.” Of these, Dave Ryon, Steve Stivers and John Adams filled out the questionnaire and participated in the Q & A. There was apparently one other candidate who showed up, but had not filled out the questionnaire, or have knowledge of what 9/12 was (The Union County 9/12 and Central Ohio 9/12 groups were hosting the event). Mary Jo Kilroy, the current representative, ignored the invitation, though her presence was made known throughout the night as candidates explained how they would strive to bring responsive, constitutional representation back to the 15th congressional district.

All of the candidates were asked if they would sign a “fiscal responsibility pledge.” All candidates were then provided with one, and all appeared to sign it. There was an addendum on the pledge about “ear mark reform transparency and up or down votes.

NOTE: If a candidate, agreed with another candidate on an answer, go to the same number under that candidate’s responses. I have added some notes following certain questions. I have done a minimal amount of editing to the following transcribed answers to make it more readable. If you see any errors, please contact me.

The questions were as follows:

  1. What does the oath of office mean to you?
  2. What type of tax system do you think would be ideal?
  3. What is wrong with our current healthcare system. And how would you fix it?
  4. Earmarks (that you are against) in a bill you and your constituents are in favor of, how would you vote on that bill and why – best interests of the country, or your special interest?
  5. “Putting the axe to government” What are to 2 steps to shrink deficit
  6. What do you plan to do to beat [Kilroy] in the general election. How’s your war chest (Campaign cash)
  7. How would you handle unemployment: what role does the fed government actually have?
  8. What is your solution to illegal immigration? (Est 20 Million illegals burdens infrastructure).
  9. How do you feel about gun rights and the second amendment, and… (two part)
  10. who do each of you turn to for advice and favorite person. “you admire” (alluding to the statement Anita Dunn made about who she turns to for political wisdom, Mother Teresa and Mao Tse Tung).

Dave Ryon

  1. “The oath of office … is to listen” “if you listen to the people you have more answers” I will listen to article 1 section 8” “You can take that to the bank. PLEDGE: No vacations if I am elected, will be on call” “You will here back from me right away”
  2. “Wouldn’t mind seeing it a lot flatter, 0%, repeal 16th amendment. 1.2 trillion over seas every year, Feds collect 1.2 trillion dollars from individuals like your self. “Have you pay the state revenue department to decide how to distribute federal tax dollars.” “Can hold back the dollars those federal programs are spending now, and giving the power back to the states”
  3. Agrees with Stivers, health care tax deductions. “Steve gave a good answer”
  4. “Is it moral, is it constitutional, do we need it, and can we afford it” If the answer is no to any of these 4 questions, then I will vote no. If I vote yes, “I have read the entire thing”
  5. Would not support increasing debt ceiling. Next move is a balanced budget amendment.”Federal Government should too”
  6. “I am offering you a constitutional conservative that is running. Pro life, pro 10th amendment. Pledge to follow Art 1 sec 8. “if women have a right to an abortion, what we are saying is that the children in their womb are property.” “That is slavery… was abolished long ago.”
  7. Go back to the fundamental promise. “we need to deregulate” “Forcing companies to put out so much money… they have to drop jobs” Monetary policy is terrible in this country” -Fed Reserve. Devalued $ = job loss. “once we have a strong dollar, you will see a boost in employment”
  8. Agree with Steve. “There was talk of outsourcing port security” If you are here illegally, you should be sent back immediately.
  9. “Against any legislation that would diminish right to bear arms.” “the man who inspired me to run for office was congressman Ron Paul.” [Paul] has a finger on the “constitutional pulse” “He’s my inspiration to be running today.”

Steve Stivers

  1. “Very Seriously” “Privilege” “Stand up for the folks that sent you there” “I take that pledge very seriously as a member of the armed forces…very seriously…”
  2. What kind of tax reform would be appropriate. “I support a flatter, more simple tax system than we have now.” “Close loopholes” “Won’t have to pay as many people to work for”
  3. “First, scrap the bill in front of Washington right now” “Start from scratch” “best health care in the world” first problem- “healthcare not portable, no one knows what anything costs.” 5 stitches: $1750. give incentive to healthy living – Defensive medicine, tort reform “Insurance across state lines” There are “billions dollars of waste in Medicare and Medicaid we have to go after”
  4. “I like the way David answered it.” “the public needs to have time to understand them”
  5. 1st balanced budget law immediately. 2nd balanced budget amendment. LINE ITEM VETO. Performance based budgeting. And move to a 2 year budget cycle from a 1 yr budget cycle. “congress only made it through 2 of their budget bills” NOTE: A line item veto is unconstitutional, as it would transfer legislative power from Congress to the president. Congress already ignores laws, they would almost certainly ignore any sort of balanced budget law.
  6. He is a “Battle tested candidate” My focus is to beat Mary Jo Kilroy. I will make sure that happens” “I will make sure MJK not in congress. His war chest is over 600,000 by end of December. 515,000 on hand. Raised 2.3 Million last time. About 3K volunteers. MJK is on record on “cap & trade” HK bonuses, GM, “I’ll have the money and resources and the man power” Like John said, Mary JO must Go. NOTE: Was the only candidate that appeared to answer the question about their financial status.
  7. “Government’s role is to provide a sound climate for business. Government doesn’t create jobs” “Role of government is to keep taxes low.” NOTE: This is great.
  8. what “we absolutely have to NOT do is give amnesty. we can’t allow people to commit illegal acts and not have there be no consequences.” “you don’t have a border unless you secure your border.” “active and passive measures” “if someone is here illegally and we capture them, they should go home.” “Eventually, we need to do immigration reform” “Should be based on what our economy needs” “help, not hurt the country.” “We cannot continue to thrive and prosper unless we deal with this issue…its costing trillions in additional resources
  9. Co-sponsored concealed carry, castle doctrine. Endorsed by NRA in 2008 and is a member. “I have been and will always be a supporter of the 2nd amendment of the constitution.”
  10. My wife and James Madison, “one of the smartest men that set up our constitutional framework.

John Adams

Note: At the beginning, when candidates were supposed to introduce themselves, John launched into an attack on Steve that took him well past the 10 minutes allotted to each candidate to introduce themselves. He jibed Steve: “We can not defeat her [Mary Jo Kilroy] with a [sorry Steve] moderate.” and used some of Kilroy’s attack ad points to attack Steve Stivers. While there are appropriate venues to do so, this was setup to introduce the candidates and get them to answer questions submitted to the Union County 9/12.

  1. “So help me I do, I would take that oath… Solemn oath…There to serve the people” “all politics is local. take that seriously” “Trying to find the word here, I’m 64…”
  2. “You reduce taxes at same time (you) reduce the size of the federal government.” “hundreds of thousands more employees [Feds]. “Reduce it, make it work smarter”
  3. “The first thing we have to do is stop government run healthcare.” “That’s not America” “Encourage free market system” Insurance should be allowed to sell “anywhere in the United States” “Tort reform “vast amounts of money for insurance [doctors]” “Real tort reform” “millions of people out of work…how do you buy health insurance if you don’t have a job?”
  4. “No way.” “They [issues] should be separated out”
  5. First step. “fire Obama.” [shrink it “in a gradual way” “realistically we could bring it down with a new congress -10%” Cut congress pay 10%. 10% per year. “not wasting the people's money
  6. “Focused on Mr Stivers right now. I go no where after may 4th if I don't win” Kilroy is a “socialist progressive” “She's a rubber stamp for that crowd [obama-reid-pelosi]” would address abortion issue with Kilroy. Roe V Wade “one of the worst decisions we have made in our country.” “abortion must come to a stop”
  7. “we start working on our own energy sources” We have vast amounts of oil reserves nationwide. Coal oil natural gas. “2000 years of our own resources.” “energy = your economy” Work on domestic energy to put people back to work. “we could become a net exporter [of energy]”
  8. We need to seal our border “still porous” “Free transportation back to where they came from” Should have to come like “every other immigrant.
  9. “Absolutely support 2nd amendment.
  10. “My wife – she is my inspiration…”

Final thoughts: I felt Steve and David performed quite well. Both behaved respectably and followed the rules and for the most part answered the questions. I felt that John, despite his newness to the area, handled himself most like a traditional politician, launching into attacks and providing formula answers. David Ryon appeared to have the strongest grasp of constitutional limitations, in the rapid fire questions, he was the only one not tripped up by the hypothetical “national right to work” law, which would go beyond the article 1, section 8 limitations on congress. Steve Stivers also responded very professionally to the attacks unexpectedly launched by Adams. Adams, apparently dissatisfied with the forum, has removed all references to tea parties and 9/12 from his website. A Google cache from February 23rd still shows the sections referring to Tea Parties and 9/12. If this is not the case, I invite comment.

The candidates’ websites are listed below:

Dave Ryon: http://www.ryonforcongress.com/

Steve Stivers: http://www.stivers4congress.com/

John Adams: http://www.johnadams2010.com/

The Union County 912′s homepage:

http://912unioncounty.org/

The Union County 912 meetup:

http://www.meetup.com/We-Surround-Them-ULC/

Disclaimer: This review and commentary is not endorsed by the Union County 9/12 and contains the work and opinions of Americana83.com.

Posted in politics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

EPA decree constitutional?

Posted by americana83 on December 9, 2009

The Washington Times reported this:

“The Environmental Protection Agency is already holding 79 surface mining permits in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. The EPA says these permits could violate the Clean Water Act and warrant “enhanced” review. And, (the) agency went even further in October, announcing plans to revoke a permit for the Spruce No. 1 Mine in West Virginia.” SOURCE

Obama has not made it any secret that he opposes coal, in part because of his devotion to global warming and the globalist agenda that is supported by it. From the Whitehouse website:

“Our focus is to ensure that there is a strong science and policy basis for our environmental policy, to move the nation to greater reliance on clean energy and increase energy security, to combat global warming while growing the green economy, to protect public health and the environment, especially in vulnerable communities, and to protect and restore our great ecosystems.”– Chair Nancy Sutley.

The problem is that Obama is completely ignoring that the highest levels of the international man-caused global warming promoters have been severely compromised in their integrity, with the ClimateGate emails detailing “tricks” and attempts to suppress contrary scientists.

Some automatically assume that “global warming deniers” are self serving ideologues. However, there are people who invest in “green” technology that will only become viable when conventional energy sources are taxed and regulated beyond affordability.

However, there are strong political implications for supporters of the Global Warning agenda. Namely, in the name of the “crises” of Man-caused global warming, the UN seeks broader wealth redistribution, greater power and some global taxes to fund it.

1.4. The developmental and environmental objectives of Agenda 21 will require a substantial flow of new and additional financial resources to developing countries, in order to cover the incremental costs for the actions they have to undertake to deal with global environmental problems and to accelerate sustainable development. Financial resources are also required for strengthening the capacity of international institutions for the implementation of Agenda 21. An indicative order-of-magnitude assessment of costs is included in each of the programme areas. This assessment will need to be examined and refined by the relevant implementing agencies and organizations. Source

Global Warming lecture by Dr. Wagner here.

This is heightened by the EPA stepping over the bounds of the Constitution and declaring Carbon Dioxide a pollutant, giving it the ability to regulate it. However, creating regulations is a legislative action, and the Constitution clearly says that this ability rests with the US congress, which has stalled economy crushing cap and trade legislation. Unaccountable bureaucrats have no business creating legislation.

QUOTE:  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday declared emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, to be a danger to human health. That clears the way for the EPA to limit emissions, initially from power plants, refineries, cement plants and other big factories. SOURCE WSJ.com

“All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” -US constitution.  The constitution clearly says ALL federal legislative powers reside with the 2 houses of Congress.

According to the government, the EPA is an “independent” agency in the Executive branch, therefore even granting the generous  assumption that such an agency is constitutional, as part of the executive branch, it has NO constitutional authority to create regulations (legislation).

Posted in politics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Ebay Birth Certificate Seller Claim hoax

Posted by americana83 on July 20, 2009

WorldNetDaily has uncovered shady links the seller had, plus seller has refused to prove he even has something. This still does not answer the mystery swirling around why the president has refused to prove his eligibility by releasing evidence that would provide certainty about his meeting the Constitutional requirements for the presidency.

Source: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104495

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Should Christians be involved politically?

Posted by americana83 on May 18, 2009

I have contemplated at various times the virtues and demerits of Christians being involved in politics. Politics is messy, and what reason do Christians have to be involved in it?

One verse that I’ve considered is rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s(Matthew 22:21) . In America, it is the civic duty to vote, not only that, but to make an informed vote. If one avoids baseless personal attacks, and uses the Bible as his compass for all things moral/social/political/spiritual, then he can render service to his voting age fellow believers and further the cause of wisdom and knowledge. Ignorance is not bliss.

Some active believers included King David, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (not to mention whole groups of prophets (like Moses) decrying spiritual/moral wickedness on throne, and calling out for repentance. Many people would place these men above us all saying that they were inspired by God. We have in our possession the word, deeds and actions of both sides. If God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then those things which resulted in judgment of kingdoms and nations then, will they still not result in condemnation today?Does the moral positioning and laws of a country matter?

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
(Proverbs 14:34)

God himself says that it is righteousness that exalts a nation, and that its sinful actions will bring it down. But, you say, God is in control, things will happen whether or not we do or say anything. Using that logic, one could refuse to witness, merely saying that, “God will save them whether I do anything or not.” The same could be said of any number of things:

working “God will get it done”

eating “God will feed me”

taking care of your children “God will feed them”

Just as there is a time and a place for us to engage in witnessing, working, eating, and taking care of children (those of us who have them), then surely there is a time and a place to stand up for righteousness in the public square.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 5:10)

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:13-16)

Silence is acceptance, a quiet admission that everything is ok. It is this that permitted slavery to so long stay in America, because godly men said nothing. It was silence that permitted the rise of evil men in Germany and the slaughter of many innocent Jewish people.

God created the principle of reaping and sewing. That which you sew sparingly shall be reaped in abundance. God has set up these laws, He does not always step in to bail us out of the consequences of our own action or inaction. It is not God that will be called to answer for the atrocities of man, but rather 2 groups: those who committed the national sins, and those who knew better, who felt the pressing of the Lord to stand up, who instead dead bolted their jaws shut and sat down.

Apathy is never a Christian virtue. We can be quiet, as sin is forged into the Law of the Land. We can do nothing as the freedoms recognized by the founding fathers as flowing from God are dammed up and their exercise forbidden by decree. Such inaction, compromise and “tolerance” will be commended by the powers that be, but the works of wood, hay and stubble that are based on it will be consumed by the fire at the judgment seat of Christ.

Every action a Christian takes in in love of God and people, messages delivered by the seemingly harsh prophets of old, were designed to bring repentance in the hearts of their recipients, to let them know “thus saith the Lord.”

In fact, Jonah, out of the hardness of his heart, wanted to withhold a harsh, condemning message from the people of Nineveh, because he knew God was a gracious God, and that if the people repented, then God would halt the judgment he intended to bring upon them! Hard messages must always be given for the right reasons, and they must be delivered in a way becoming a servant of God.

And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
(Jonah 3:1-10)

Now see Jonah’s response. He did not want to give the message to the people. And here’s why:

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not labored, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
(Jonah 4:1-11)

Is there not a cause? Forsake apathy and rise up in Christian love and truth, and actively seek to restore God’s blessing on this country.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Barack Obama paralleled in New Testament Scripture!

Posted by americana83 on August 17, 2008

Many of you have probably seen or heard about Obama’s performance in Rick Warren’s debate. I would like to draw attention to this part of that. Did you know a similar exchange occurred in the Bible? The context may be different but it is the first thing I thought of after I read Obama’s beautiful dodging maneuver (reminiscent of his dodging of votes on important or controversial issues…)

(Matthew 21:25)  The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

(Matthew 21:26)  But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

(Matthew 21:27)  And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Now let me give you the BSV (Barack Substandard Version)

Obama 1:1 And the mediator asked: The rights of a child, from whence to they begin? And Obama reasoned with himself, saying, If I say “sometime after birth” I will lose the moderates and conservatives?

1:2 But if I shall say “at conception” I fear my party, moveon.org, the clintons, NARAL and NOW.

1:3 And He answered and said, “It is above my paygrade to have an opinion on such things.”

And thus it was continued, not in the so-called “new politics,” but in the politics of the old, for behold the answer given a controversial topic was like unto nothing, and it was.

Posted in Barack Obama, Christianity, Election, Election 2008, Obama, Presidential, deception | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Dr. Cone’s Black Liberation Theology: Love Redefined.

Posted by americana83 on June 30, 2008

Note: This is the beginning of a series of posts I hope to make regarding the Theology of Trinity United Church of Christ, Barack Obama’s home church of ~20 years. TUCC’s pastor Jeremiah Wright based his theology and values system on Dr. Cone’s Work: Black Theology & Black Power. These are the values that Wright used when he mentored Barack Obama, and these are the underpinning of the beliefs and values that could influence the next President of the United States. I have and will expend considerable amounts of time both researching and writing these articles, not because I have a personal vendetta against any man, but because I believe that the truth must be known. Dr. Wright, when questioned on Fox News rigorously used Black Liberation Theology as a defense of his values system, and railed against his questioners for their ignorance of it. I wish that they had done their homework, because knowledge is power.

Dr. Cone’s Black Liberation Theology: Love, Redefined.

What is love? Love is the foundation of the Christian Gospel. Without Love, God would not have cared if His creation had no way to heaven, and thus would have had no reason to provide a way though Christ. According to Webster’s, Love is:

To regard with a strong feeling of affection; to have a devoted attachment to; to feel great tenderness for; as, to love one’s family. 2. To regard with the feelings of one sex towards the other; to be tenderly affected toward; to be in love with; to be passionately fond of. 3. To delight in; to have great pleasure or interest in…(Webster’s pg 1007)

What does the Bible say about love? There are many passages about love, and they reflect closely to how Webster’s defines love.

Is love based on precondition?

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8-10)

We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1 John 4:19-21)

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (Matthew 5:43-47)

It is because of verses like these that Dr. Cone must go through great efforts to redefine Love, and thus redefine Christian love. He rightly asserts that a “new way of doing theology” is needed, because without it “there will always be this barrier between Black Power and Christian love(Cone, 50). Thus  he seeks to reinterpret “the message of salvation(49)” so that it will be palatable to those within the Black Power movement, whom Cone has no desire to make Christians out of, nor to “twist their language or to make an alien interpretation of it.(Cone 48).” While he has no problem preserving and accurately interpreting the words of man, he apparently sees no problem with forcing an interpretation on the scriptures that, as he willingly admits is alien to the life of Christ, and thus to the Biblical interpretation of love.

Cone goes through the two parts of the Great Commandment:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)

He rightly says that when God’s love has gripped a someone that they should behave as if Christ is at the core of his being (Cone, 51). However, just a page later,  he says that, “because God is a God of power; of  majesty, of might, to love man means that he wills that the black man “reflect in the immediacies of life his power, his majesty and his might (Cone, 52).” He also erroneously says that “to respond to God’s love in faith means that he accepts as truth the new image of himself revealed in Jesus Christ (Cone, 52). The Bible teaches that our response to God’s love is to believe on Him:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.(John 3:16-18)

That the man becomes a new Creature, and does not merely emulate an image of such is a Bible truth:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We do not see an image in Christ, by accepting Christ in faith, we become a new creature, God’s spirit indwells us and empowers us to do  his will, to show his love and deliver his message to a world in need. As far as power we as individuals are called to:

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.(Matthew 10:16-18)

It is not for us to attempt to emulate God’s power and might. Throughout the Bible, God does occasionally use people to show his power, as was the case with Moses and the plagues. However, the showing of power was related specifically to giving glory and honor to God, as Pharaoh was scoffing and rejecting God’s revealed will. It was not an act channeled through the unbelieving, or the worshippers of false gods. Since Dr Cone has “no desire to make Christians out of those who see no relationship between their understanding of truth and Jesus Christ (Cone, 48), he asserts that God’s power, majesty and might can be demonstrated though sinful unrepentant man by accepting a new image “revealed in Christ.” Many religions have images of Christ,

Cone asserts that the black man take Paul’s teaching of being a “new creature” literally by telling him to “glorify blackness” as an acceptance of the black self as a creature of God. (Cone, 53).” It is absolutely clear that Dr. Cone misses the concept of the “new creature” The new creature is a direct product of the new birth, which Jesus described in his discussion with Nicodemus:

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.(John 3:1-7)

The new creature is spiritual in nature. Man was born once as flesh and blood. The birth of the “new creature” is a spiritual event, an event open to “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord.” It has nothing to do with the glorifying or uplifting of the physical self.

By combining these unbiblical distortions of the new creature and God’s love, Cone has set the stage for his radical redefining of the word Love.

Dr. Cone says that “to love the white man means that the black man confronts him.” He goes on to assert that whites see blacks as “its” and the black man must confront them as a “Thou” The emphasis is not on the person hood, but on the confrontation as the manifestation of love between the “races.”

Cone further asserts that,

The black man must, if he is not to lose sight of his new-found identity in Christ, be prepared for conflict, for a radical confrontation. As one black man put it: “Profound love can only exist between two equals. The new black man refuses to assume the It-role which whites expect, but addresses them as an equal. This I where the conflict arises(Cone, 53).

There is no grounds for a “radical confrontation” for one not to lose sight of his identify in Christ. In fact, the one time where it was attempted, Jesus himself rebuked Simon Peter:

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:10-11).

Also, consider the actions of Stephen who’s preaching of righteousness resulted in severe injustice:

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.(Acts 7:51-60)

Probably one of the most damnable heresies which Cone proclaims is the assertion that “profound love” can only exist between equals. With how much the Bible talks about God’s love for man, this sets up two situations, each equally heretical. Either God does not truly love man, and the Bible lies regarding this, or man is equal with God, in which case man has no need of God, or his salvation. So the question arises, are we gods, or is God a liar? Man’s fall in Genesis was at the beckoning of the serpent to “become as gods.” Cone here introduces that man is equal with God again offering up the same temptation, the quick and fleshly way of a bloody confrontation to lift up the self, the flesh.

It is this heresy that allows him to encourage the carnal demonstration of “God’s power” by ungodly men. He continues by saying that the “christian” love of whites makes the black man a nonperson. Cone goes on to say:

The black man’s response to God’s act in Christ must be different from the white’s because his life experiences are different. Christian love is never fully embodied in an act(Cone, 55).

This is false. Christian love was fully embodied in one act: the selfless giving of Christ on the Cross. To willingly give one’s self for his friends is defined as the greatest love in the Bible:

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13)

From this the greatness of Christ’s sacrifice is magnified, for not only did he give his life, but he did so, “While we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8)!” Such an act, by God completely embodies Christian love! There is no greater love, or demonstration of love!

Now compare this to the example of love offered up by Dr. Cone:

The violence in the cities, which appears to contradict Christian love, is nothing but the black man’s attempt to say Yes to his being as defined by God…If the riots are the black man’s courage to say Yes to himself as a creature of God, and if in affirming self he affirms Yes to the neighbor, then violence may be the black man’s expression, sometimes the only possible expression, of Christian love to the white oppressor(Cone, P 55).

Where in the Bible does it say we are to affirm our selves? Where in the Scriptures does it say that violence is a legitimate expression of Christian love to the neighbor? Remember, that Dr. Cone subscribes to Malcolm X’s description that theologically, calling whites the devil is not far from the truth. All whites are oppressors in the eyes of Dr. Cone (Cone, P 24).

However, Cone also insists that

White people should not even expect blacks to love them, and to ask for it merely adds insult to injury. “For the white man,” writes Malcolm X, “to ask the black man if he hates him is just like the rapist asking the raped…’Do you hate me?’ (ellipses in original quote) The white man is in no moral position to accuse anyone else of hate.” Whatever blacks feel towards whites or whatever their response to white racism, it cannot be submitted to the judgments of White society.

Basically Cone’s definition of the love offered up to whites from blacks is the same as the hatred which whites should expect from blacks. Based on Cone’s definitions:

Love = Hate

Hate = Love

Further, he has attempted to insulate his perspective from any criticism. However, despite his linguistic and mental gymnastics, Love, Christian love does not equal hate.

Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

It is clear from Dr. Cone’s radical redefining of Christian love, that his primary purpose is not to show how Christianity is compatible with Black Power, as he claims(cone, p48), but rather to conform the image of Christ and his love to that of a movement that is diametrically opposed to Christian Love and everything it stands for.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)

References:

Black Theology & Black Power, 8th Printing, Nov 2006. James H. Cone (c) 1997 James H. Cone.

Webster’s New 20th Century Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged. (c) 1949 The World Publishing Co.

The Holy Bible, KJV

Posted in Barack Obama, Christianity, Election 2008, Obama, Presidential, Racism | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Obama self proclaimed “Devout Christian”

Posted by americana83 on March 4, 2008

I don’t generally nitpick and judge people in regards to their private faith. However, when a person boasts that not only are they a Christian, but a devout Christian, they open their personal faith up to public scrutiny. Let’s see what Obama said about his faith, and compare it to what the bible says, and what Obama does.

In terms of my faith, you know, there has been so much confusion that has been deliberately perpetrated through emails and so forth. So, just here are the simple facts. I am a Christian. I am a devout Christian. I have been a member of the same church for 20 years. Pray to Jesus every night, and try to go to church as much as I can when they are not working me. Used to go quite often. These days, we haven’t been at the home church, I haven’t been home on Sunday, for several months now. So, my faith is important to me. It is not something that I try to push on other people. But it is something that helps to guide my life and my values.

-Barack Obama

Perhaps as a “devout Christian,” Obama should consider these doctrines:

(in regards to his recent regret of trying to save Terri Schiavo’s life from death by dehydration)

For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
(Matthew 25:42-45)

In regards to his choice of church, which has a pastor which exalts racist Loius Farrakhan:

Acts 17:24-26 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (25) Neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; (26) And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Acts 10:34-35  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  (35)  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

In regard’s to his fervent support of abortion and his killing of “Born Alive” in Illinois (you could even put his stance on Terri here too)

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

How he figured out that Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount condones Homosexuality.(see verses here) is beyond me.

Barack’s recent escalated trumpeting of Christ’s name seems merely an attempt to counter the circulating rumors and Farrakhan(Nation of Islam) connection that seem to align Obama more closely with Allah than Jehovah. Perhaps a form of Islamic Christianity? (I mean, Farrakhan would not endorse an infidel)

They surely are Infidels who say, “God is the third of three:” for there
is no God but one God: and if they refrain not from what they say, a grievous
chastisement shall light on such of them as are Infidels.

(The Qur’an (Rodwell tr), Sura   5 – The Table).

When ye encounter the infidels, strike off their heads till ye have made
a great slaughter among them, and of the rest make fast the fetters.

And afterwards let there either be free dismissals or ransomings, till
the war hath laid down its burdens. Thus do. Were such the pleasures of God,
he could himself take vengeance upon them: but He would rather prove the one of
you by the other. And whoso fight for the cause of God, their works he will
not suffer to miscarry

(The Qur’an (Rodwell tr), Sura  47 – Muhammad)

How Obama can claim to be a devout Christian when he promotes the slaughter of the innocent and other abominations is completely beyond me. There can be no doubt this is a political ploy attempting however vainly to present himself as a moderate friendly to Christian values.

Be not deceived. This man is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Posted in Barack Obama, Christianity, Election, Election 2008, Entertainment, Hillary Clinton, Hollywood, International, Islam, Jesus, Legal, Obama, Presidential, Racism, Spirituality, children, deception, intolerance, sexuality, social spending | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Hollywood’s Praise and Worship Video

Posted by americana83 on March 3, 2008

Check out this video. According to Entertainment Tonight, it was put out by Hollywood. In it you will here homage and reverence paid to Barack Obama in a spiritual style. Listen closely and you will hear that Obama is the “hope for the soul.” to the intoning of “Obama! Obama!” This style of campaigning seems to verge on worship of a man, transfiguring Obama into a sort of secular messiah.

“behold the candidate of Farrakhan, which taketh away the ailments of the world!”

-The book of Hollywood 6:66

It is interesting to see how this campaign is transforming from an American Idol/Miss America campaign to a Messiah coronation. In between all the glitz and glam people continue to ignore the MASSIVE spending he freely speaks of.

Some other highlights of the Obama Worship Video:

he is really going to be the president of the united states

I believe in Obama, because he believes in us

A quote from the Dipdive website, host of the Obama Worship Video:

some say this whole Obama movement is “cult like”…
well…
if it comes across cult like…
then…
the cult is called America…

Last I checked, America wasn’t a cult. In fact the founding father’s rejected cultish leader worship by rejecting a kingship for America’s leader. But rather, a leader picked by a vote, who had to be re-elected to retain his power. Titles and majesty were rejected. Certainly the leader was not to be revered as a god-like figure.

Here is the video in all its eerie “glory” :

Posted in Barack Obama, Christianity, Election 2008, Hollywood, International, Obama, Presidential, Spirituality, deception, moveon.org | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Obama praised by Farrakhan as “hope of the world”

Posted by americana83 on February 25, 2008

Despite Obama’s attempts to distance himself from hatemonger Farrakhan, Farrakhan still loves him. According to an article published by the Anti Defamation League:

When someone close to a political figure shows sympathy and support for an individual who makes his name espousing bigotry, that political figure needs to distance himself from that decision.   Senator Obama has done just that.

However, he must not be too distant from Farrakhan. He continues to extol Obama’s virtue. Just a brief exert from his recent “Saviors” day speech will show what Loius thinks of Barack:

“If you look at Barack Obama’s [diverse] audiences and look at the effect of his words, those people are being transformed from what they were,” Farrakhan said. “This young man is the hope of the entire world that America will change and be a better place.”

The Nation of Islam is a “rich blend” of fanatical Islam mixed with violent racial and religious bigotry. It’s embrace of Barack Obama should lead us all to examine Barack’s faith and values. Faith is a personal issues, yes. But the faith of the leader of the United States will affect his views and actions. The Nation of Islam would not embrace a practicing Christian, which Barack professes to be. Barack is a member of a racialist church which espouses a commitment to Africa above anything else(This is an archived copy of the page, you can see the current page here- it was changed because of questions raised about the “Black Values System”).

The president of the United States is to uphold and defend the Constitution above all else. Values and integrity are required to uphold and defend the rights of those who cannot defend their own.

Obama’s riding a wave of Rhetoric that will wash over America should he be elected president. This wave will do to America what Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans and the surrounding areas.

Posted in Barack Obama, Christianity, Election, Election 2008, International, Islam, Obama, Presidential, Racism, deception, intolerance | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

« Previous Entries