5 Questions at the Beginning of Obamalot

A few thoughts after the last 8 years with the new president:

1. Will I be allowed to criticize, heckle, make fun of, disagree with our new president without fear of being called names?
2. Will Lord Barry keep staying to the center as he has been displaying, or will he finally cave to his liberal roots?
3. Will Oliver Stone or Michael Moore make a movie ridiculing him? Will they get away with it?
4. Will the church of Obama officially open? With the amount of worship and idolatry that has been displayed over this man, there needs to be a church building built.
5. Will Obama singlehandedly turn this country into France? Will he destroy capitalism and socialize health care? Will he pay for my mortgage? Will he bail ME out?
   

Things I Learned From Dubya (W)

As the Obamessiah regime takes over the White House, I am continued to be struck at the character we have experienced over the last few years. He's been called a liar, stupid, right-wing (far from it!), cowboy and ignorant. What continually sticks out is how strong this man was with the attacks that were daily hurled at him. Protests, Cindy Sheehan, Michael Fatboy Moore, the Baldwins, Jimmy "One-term" Carter, Eminem...all of them hounded him for who he was. And there he stood...never reacting...never changing course to appease weak-minded people.

I voted Bush but will admit many let-downs in immigration, a bloated government and the economy (especially the housing market which is personally affecting me). As with Clinton, Carter and now Obama, you can always learn things from leadership, whether good or bad.

What I learned most from Bush is sticking to your decisions in the face of intense scrutiny. Iraq, whether right or wrong, was a decision he refused to back down on even when the media said we were losing. Instead of backing down, he only intensified his efforts. Several of my friends served in Iraq and respected the firm and confident leadership given by W.

W kept things simple. He was ridiculed for suggesting there was something called "evil" in the world. Some would mock his simplistic answers as stupidity on his part. In a country who has a short-attention span (remember 9-11?) and has dropping educational standards (and stupid kids), I can understand why he might try and simplify. The president before tried to make words confusing (it depends on what the meaning of "is" is). George tried to simplify them to give them substance. His main points of interest were clear.

He was a man of faith. Whether or not we would agree on every point isn't the point. He never backed down from his faith at any opportunity. In a country growing more and more atheistic, that says a lot. Even Obamessiah has to play the Christian card. His attendance under Jeremiah Wright and not being effected by it tells you the level of respect for the teachings of a pastor.

Graciousness to his enemies. Even yesterday in the midst of the planets aligning, the lion laying down by the lamb, and the inauguration of Obamessiah, people had the chutzpa to boo and heckle the president who kept us from terrorist attacks for the last 7 years. And how did he respond? He smiled, waved, was gracious even when his replacement, the Lord Obama, blatantly tore apart his policies in front of a crowd. And W took it.

W kept the office of president and the country before himself. After Obamessiah had been voted in, after all that had been said to bash W, Bush still graciously reached out and opened the doors for the Lord Barry and Michelle. Bush knew that fights were less important than a smooth transition in power. Even Barry had to acknowledge this. Laura was fantastic in spending time with Michelle to prepare her for being first lady. These are by all rights- their ENEMIES...and yet with graciousness and respect for the office, they took the high road. Bush also promised to step out of the light when his time had passed. Unlike Carter and Clinton who lust after the spotlight, he said he would disappear...

And that's what I'll miss. Imperfect? Yes. Bad calls? Yes. Humble? YES! Patriot? Yes.

Good luck Barry...you have big character shoes to fill.

Mark Driscoll on Election Day and Government

He's only saying what I've been thinking and he makes it even clearer:

http://tinyurl.com/5sfava

Predictions of the (Almost) Inevitable Obama-ship

Been already thinking ahead to the ramifications of Obamessiah being the president. I have predictions based on him having a full democratic congress and senate. This isn't fearmongering. I don't believe the sky is falling. Obama can't do anything that God won't LET him do.

• One of the first big ones will be the passing of the Fairness Doctrine which is their attempt at shutting up Rush Limbaugh and other conservative talk show hosts. They hope to put them out of business (good luck with that)
• Appointment of 2 of the most liberal Supreme Court judges we have seen. Darth Bader Ginsburg and Grandpa Stevens will step down.
• Penalizing of the rich under the pretense of "sharing the wealth." The result will be the rich leaving America to live in other countries. This is going to lead to a lack of funds for an oversized government. As a result, the middle class will get taxed harder.
• Government will continue to inflate as they look for more ways to get their fingers on more of our lives.
  
• With the financial district tightening up and loans not being as readily available, more and more students won't be able to go to college. Within the first four years (and hopefully last) of Obama, the idea of socializing college will at least be brought up. Free education for all at the expense of the taxpayer.
• There will be at least one vote on socialized health care. It won't pass.
  
• There will be a vote on gay marriage. It will pass.
  
• The church will continue to become more and more liberal. I don't believe there will be any clampdown on any religious rights other than the typical "hate mongering" charges we always get since the time of Ancient Rome.
• The GOP will continue to split into moderate and conservative. The conservatives will become louder and prouder. Palin will be their candidate of choice in 2012 if she decides to run.
• My life, other than the government starting to try and run it more, will be unchanged. I will be as loud, opinionated and anti-state and church affiliation. Keep the government out of the church.
  

The Days of Constantine and Modern Church

Reading in Church History has been one of the most beneficial things I have done in 33 years. It has got my wheels turning regarding even our modern church's state. One of the things I've been thinking about lately with the election going on is the ease of Christianity in America compared to the times of Constantine.

Prior to Constantine coming to power and declaring Christianity the national religion (loosely since he also permitted paganism), Christians were persecuted and killed at the hands of emperors. Christians knew that converting meant they would be in danger of loosing their lives for what they believed in. As a result, the church may have been decently small in number, but the passion and zeal of it was mighty. The martyrs were committed to Christ unto death.

Constantine took over the empire and brought an end to years of persecution. He declared Himself Christian and stopped the martyrdom of believers. As a result, throngs of people in the Roman empire "converted" to Christianity. It was the thing to do. It seems as those everyone was doing it. Christianity's cost was diminished due to ease in the Empire. This continued till persecution once again reared it's ugly head. As a result, many recanted their belief and again Christianity was costly. Under persecution, many of our great church fathers were born and led. Their impact goes on till today.

Fast forward to today. Honestly, converting to Christianity is as easy as saying you prayed a prayer and getting dunked in your local baptist church. Rarely are you examined to see if the fruit of the Spirit is evident in your life. Rarely is their much cost to being a Christian in America other than some harassment. As a result, much of modern Christianity is a lifestyle, not a life endangerment. We've adapted Christianity to America, not vice versa. Modern American Christianity cost so little. Even our political candidates proudly assert their Christianity with little fear of backlash. Throngs fill our churches and go through the motions of the lifestyle of Christianity.

I wonder...how full would our churches be if persecution were to rear it's ugly head in America? I mean real persecution...life endangering stuff. Would Saddleback, Willow Creek, Lifechurch, and Thomas Road Baptist still be as full as they are today? Would we focus on seekers or survival and surrender? Would the "giants" of modern Christianity still be considered giants or be seen as feel-good motivational speakers? Are we today, calling people to a life of complete rejection, surrender and rejection? That is the Christianity I know.

When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die...

The Inevitable Sarah Palin Blog

If you check my past blogs, I've not been a fan of McCain. I still believe Obama will pull this one out. That being said, I move on to Palin.

Sarah Palin is the BOMB. This pick is brilliant on so many levels. McCain deserves some credit for it even though I still have no intention of voting for him (or Obamessiah). The nomination of Palin emasculates Biden who will have to debate her and Obama will have to appear as the chaeuvinist (and already has because of him calling her a "beauty queen"). The inexperience card played by the GOP for Obama, now has to be used by Obama for Palin. Palin is pro-life, pro-gun and a conservative GOP...something that McCain is not. She has expertise on energy and ANWR. No one better to tell of the need to drill in ANWR then the one who has been overseeing the plot of land. She specifically refused an abortion when she found out that her youngest would be a Down's Syndrome child which is a "stick it to you" to the pro-choice crowd. Her husband is a dude...the man's man. Her son is going to Iraq (defeating the System of a Down crowd that screams that president's never send their own to war) on September 11.

The beauty of the day of selection- it totally sucked the air out of the great Obamis speech in front of his Roman columns and fake Air Force One. The post-convention boost has literally deflated all by a former beauty queen from Alaska! It doesn't get any better than this! The libs are freaking out right now not knowing what to do!

To add some fuel to the fire, the Dem's are praising the second destruction of Louisiana (Hurricane Gustav) as a sign God hates the GOP. So instead of the GOP continuing their plans to go ahead and wine and dine while Rome is burning, there are plans for the convention to continue, but for Palin and McCain to relocate some of the convention to help Louisiana. BRILLIANT! One- it is needed...the GOP was complained about not helping after Katrina. Two- it portrays the heart of GOP as the ones who are willing to leave the party to help others.

I would be more inclined to vote for Palin than McCain. I wish there was a way I could. Forget the RINO McCain. Palin is what we all want.

Why Obama Will Win...my prediction

It's 100 days till the election and there have been a lot of things going down. I thought early on Obama might make it past Hillary, but I figured she was closer to the center than he was. However, he pulled it out. Since he has gotten the nomination for the Democrats, he is now moving to the center to pull the votes of moderate GOP and Democrats. Looking at his matchup against Obama has me making my prediction. I believe Obama will win a close one. I don't think it will even be a contest. My reason why?

• People want a new face...something different than a Bush or Clinton. Obama is so new to the political scene, people know little about him and aren't tired of him. Since McCain ran one other time, people know him and he is old news.
• Obama is slick and good looking. In a rock star culture, he's in. He has an inspiring wit to him. McCain is old and flat. It reminds me of Bush 41 and Clinton.
• For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. 8 years of Bush and people are going to counter the experience with the opposite...Obama.
• People are voting on feeling this time and honestly not logic. They will vote to end the war, cut gas prices, and they will all think that Obama will answer it. He won't, but they will think he will.
• World opinion of Obama will help his chances. Sadly, there are those that think the world's opinion of our presidential candidates is just as important as our own. It is in a sense, appeasement of the world. Appeasement never wins. It only asks for more.

Update 7.22.08

-School is three weeks away. I'm excited??? I hated school for 16 years of my life and now I can't wait to get going. Help....me.....
-Still reeling over Batman. I will probably see it again on Tuesday. Heath Ledger gets a thumbs up from me.
-Eagles training camp begins today....YES! GO GREEN!
-McCain and Obama will be having a forum at Saddleback church in CA next month. And Warren takes another step towards taking Falwell's mantle into politics. Sad thing is he is more centrist. Not crazy about that...not that I have a candidate in the race.
-McCain has already turned into the reactionist. Everything Obama does, he attacks. To me, sounds like he knows he's probably going to lose this things already and he's not moving ahead.
-Started my Hebrew studies. I hope I do well because I really want to learn this language.
-I have started counting down to Christmas. I will be hitting NYC with the sister and bro-in-law sometime before it. There is nothing better!
-Three Starbucks are closing in Willow Grove, PA including the two I spent a LOT of time at. I am really saddened by this. Thanks goodness none in Lynchburg are closing.