Election Thoughts I - Why did I support Barack Obama?

OK this is a personal note/rant/rave etc.

I write this as a Christian, African-American woman UNAPOLOGETIC in holding to the testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as being LORD and fully God, so I do not expect most of you to agree with the points I am about to make here... Oh well... I'm used to that :)

Despite many misgivings about both candidates as a Christian woman, I weighted the pros and cons and decided pretty early on to vote for Barack Obama. John McCain had a pretty good chance of getting my vote early on ESPECIALLY if Hillary Clinton became the Democratic Presidential Nominee, and that is real. I didn't like the kind of campaign she ran, or HER for that matter...

McCain flipped on his policies all of a sudden become buddy buddy with George W. Bush, and let's not even talk about Sarah PAIN... (misspelling intended.)

I am also pro-life and against gay marriage, (oops loosing lots of friends now... ROFL) which Barack Obama has voted unanimously to uphold many times during his tenure in the senate.

I have reason to dislike both of them, so... why did I vote for Barack Obama?

The bible says that by their fruits you will know them... right? (Matthew 7:16, 20)

So I looked at their "fruit" the deeds they have openly done and it seems to me that while McCain does vote in accordance to what I believe, he totally flipped on issues he has spoken openly about. I have heard him attack Bush's policies in the past, only to flip when he became the Republican Nominee. Now it would be different that if the man realized the error of his ways and turned away from those beliefs, but it was OBVIOUS he was doing this to appeal to his Republican base that still support Dubya. He also seems to have a temper which is not a quality that I want in a president who has access to the nukes, and let's face it, the type of campaign he ran was just dirty and despicable.

I have followed the career of John McCain for the last 7 years, and I believe if McCain ran a TRUE to himself campaign of being a Moderate, without selling out to the far right Republicans, this election would have been much closer than you saw Tuesday night. Looking at his concession speech, it reminded me of the McCain that I remember, one who was a TRUE maverick, and didn't let anyone dictate what he believed. He would have gotten my vote if he approached his campaign with that kind of honesty PLUS didn't slap us in the face with an joke of a VP pick like Sarah Palin, who was chosen SOLELY as a means to grab scorned Hillary supporters and as appeal to the white redneck supposedly Christian right wing base. He criticized Bush's policies in the past only to turn around and support them to win over the Republicans and ran one of the dirtiest campaigns of our time... AND to add insult to injury, he supports a war Bush started on false pretenses. With all the misgivings I had about Obama (being pro-choice, sometimey etc.) I just couldn't endorse McCain.

AT LEAST Barack Obama is mostly forthright with his policies, and stayed true to himself. AT LEAST he showed he has some integrity, and did not go on attacking McCain so negatively that I would lose all respect for him. Don't believe for one second I haven't pondered who this man Obama his and why his star has risen so high in the last few years. (Next note) Some people are inherent leaders, and I see that quality right now in Obama. Not to mention the prospect of having the first Black president, I was glad to participate in history Tuesday.

So the Christian asks me: "How can you vote for Obama when he is pro-abortion and pro gay?"

Answer: I don't have to fully agree with your politics to vote for you. I know there are some people who will never vote for a Black person as president, or vote for someone who supports gay marriage or abortion. They are fully in their right to do so, but just because there is someone on the far left of your policy concerning ONE OR TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES, does not mean the OTHER CANDIDATE is your ideal in the opposite direction.

And as much as Christian radio and other outlets are sold on McCain concerning his stance on abortion, and gay marriage, these are not the ONLY ISSUES IMPORTANT TO CHRISTIANS.

Don't get me wrong, ABORTION IS A HORRIBLE PRACTICE THAT SHOULD BE BANNED, and Marriage is meant for one biologically born male and for one biologically born woman.

If you don't agree, I'll sleep like a baby.

This war we are fighting in Iraq with over 3,000 of our soldiers, and countless Iraqi citizens being killed under a FALSE PRETENSE is equally as wrong, and McCain SUPPORTS IT. Which evil outweighs the other? Both concepts are born out of greedy depraved minds. Both are wrong. I can't respect that any more than Obama fronting like he didn't know Rev. Wright was a G, (gangsta for you other folks) or his other aforementioned policies.

People treat their pastors like family and for many just "disowning" their pastors is not an option. There is a lot more to this: Barack was married here, his kids were baptized here, and I am sure he has many friends who are members of the church. The church is supposed to be a family environment and you just don't leave unless the pastor is making comments that are not biblical. Rev. Wright has not crossed that line IMHO in what I have seen in those clips they re-run in the media.

I agree with 90% of Rev. Wright has said in those clips. America's sins are piled high, but white Americans seem to think that this is God's country and God won't punish us for the mess we as a country perpetrate..... PLEASE. My God is NO respecter of persons. These white folks with all this FALSE OUTRAGE about what Rev. Wright is saying need to get out of their perfect white bubbles and accept the fact that they have indeed benefited from racist attitudes in this country... that is just true.

As for Barack, I respect his opinion not to agree with his pastor's comments but it does present a conflict... you were under his leadership for 20 years and didn't know he was like this at ALL? I frankly find this hard to believe, that is of course you were in church roster and did little to nothing else those 20 years... which is quite possible too LOL. I think Barack DOES INDEED agree with his pastor... but is lying to appease the whites that still are in their bubble. I say tell the truth, but if this is the way he chooses to do this... is he any better than McCain in this department?

All I know is that there are many folks who don't agree with what their pastor says and still come to church every Sunday... it is evident in the lives they live whether they believe the Bible or not... hopefully your pastor is preaching the REAL GOSPEL and not mess and virtual gospel concerts/tomfoolery every week... but that is another post for another day. I am sure Barack warmed the pew with his behind the same way.

When is the last time you heard of John McCain’s church? Of course you haven’t … by their FRUITS YOU WILL KNOW THEM. THEY RARELY GO!

The Republican party IMHO have been using issues that are important to Christians to pimp us FOR VOTES. They don't actually do anything of worth to AFFECT CHANGE in the issues they run on. The last 8 years have been about war, and the deregulation of many business practices to get more of our $$$. The other stuff has been used as window dressing to ensure election.

Obama isn't an "on fire" "radical evangelical" Christian and at best he is simply a social church goer. The Democrats aren't stupid and know the Evangelical base won this election for Bush in 2004... oh and Florida… They need our votes.

READ BETWEEN THE LINES CHRISTIAN and STOP being so GULLIBLE.

My pastor was talking about this last night in service... I'm glad to know we were on the same page. God lead to me read Amos, and skimmed over this passage, but my pastor re-emphasized last night... the Spirit is awesome!

Amos 5:11-13
You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts. Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times, for the times are evil.

Yes members of BOTH PARTIES are guilty of this offense.

The truth of it is that BOTH OF THESE MEN ARE FLAWED, and IMHO... both are PLAYING CHURCH. Take that however you want. I believe Obama will be the better leader out of the two.

How many men and women have you elected to offices and know they didn’t know the Lord? The far right would have you believe that just because you voted for Obama that you can’t be Christian... who are you to judge the work of my sovereign Lord? They neglect to mention that many in their parties support policies that are just as heinous to God? So should I not vote at all? One will become president...

Now that Obama is our president elect, we need to pray for him as the bible commands. He is there not because of anything we have done, but what God has done.... like it or not, he will be this country's next leader. I personally pray for his safety, that God give him wisdom and surround him with wise people with a heart to do good, and that God turn a heart of stone for a heart of flesh.

So there it is. I think you may begin to understand how I tick and why I voted Barack Obama :)

Some (Tough) Food For the Soul

God has moved it upon me to share these videos with you all. You can watch in your spare time and let me know what you think about them, remember to keep your bibles out. :)

The persons speaking is first Pastor Mark Kielar, and he is the Teaching Pastor of First Boynton Baptist Church in Boynton Beach, Florida.

The second person in the next set of videos is Paul Washer, he is the Director of Heart Cry Missionary Society and spent 10 years of his life as a missionary in Peru.

I think the Church has a lot to think about... The doctrine of regeneration has been thrown to the wind for "decisionism" and praying a "simple prayer" to "make" Jesus the Lord of your life, INSTEAD of God, as supported by the bible, choosing his elect, and doing a regenerative work in the heart of the believer who then can confess, AFTER they have been regenerated with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. The sinner heart is incapable of making a confession AND believing in their heart, for even the demons believe and tremble. "Who then can be saved?" you ask... watch and learn, and ask the Spirit to lead you into truth in this matter.

All Our Righteousness Are As Filthy Rags (Kielar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWez3EZG5jE

How do I Know if I'm one of God's Elect? (Kielar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RClNArrlt7A&NR=1

Ten Indictments on the 21st Century Church (Washer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7wzfvYkCW0&feature=channel

Regeneration v. The Idolatry of Decisional "Evangelism" (Washer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shxQcczYuAA&feature=channel