Posted on 08/16/2008 11:59:35 AM PDT by XR7
LAKE FOREST, Calif. — When John McCain and Barack Obama appear on the same stage today, they will vividly demonstrate the reach that has made the Rev. Rick Warren among the most significant evangelists of his generation.
He's a megastar who leads the nation's fourth-largest church and reaches thousands of ministers through the Internet and crusades against poverty and AIDS. That globe-trotting work and his successful book — "The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" — puts him at the vanguard of a movement that inspires young, socially conscious Christians.
But his willingness to soft-pedal political issues once central to U.S. evangelicals, such as opposition to abortion, has opened him to criticism that he has strayed from his calling to spread the Gospel.
Today's forum also is a sign of religion's importance in the 2008 presidential campaign, and the emergence of a new style of evangelical leadership on the national stage that is not tied to a single party and has broadened its social agenda beyond that of the religious right.
"This is absolutely a changing of the guard, and it suggests that the new guard of the evangelical movement is able to generate the attention and focus of both parties," said D. Michael Lindsay, a sociologist at Rice University and author of "Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite."
Warren personally invited the two candidates — "friends of mine" — via their cellphones. His event at the Saddleback Church will be broadcast live on CNN and Fox News Channel and streamed on the Web. It has among its aims "helping the church regain credibility and encouraging our society to return to civility," he said.
It's likely that fans and critics will be watching closely...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
I agree, dear - we need a president who will uphold our laws. But I know that if we don’t support McCain we will bow to Obama. If the Republic is ever to survive, we have to make sure the leftists who support Obama do NOT gain power.
I support teachers doing their job period.
Get that commie and disproven evolution crap out of our schools as well as sex ed (back to parents), hold parents responsible also for kids.
Obama’s fine with his girls going to the Loop School for 15K but continues to refuse vouchers or hold the teachers union responsible.
Is 59:14--Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter
"...we shall not 'demonize' anyone here...." Rick Warren...Nope not me, I just see the fruit of the labors of man encouraging man, not man humbling too much to God, like the Pharisees of old, no prayer prior to the debate in the HOUSE of God?
" Therefore whatsoever they tell you to observe and do but do not according to their works; for they say, and do NOT do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear , and lay them on mens shoulders ( still listening to Obama stuttering , Rick Warren finishing sentences for the bumbler and a lot of clapping for ...what??); but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries( or in this case presidendial cufff links and little American flags while the man that was tortured is too "old" where once wisdom applied to age,now the 'world view...) broad and enlarge the borders of their garments...Mt 23:3-5
---Now stumbling on the 40,000,000 dead babies...oops zygotes??---pro choice but not because he's pro abortion" what the heck is he saying??--- ---limits on late terms abortions...did I just hear a lie? Oops take the beam out of my eye Karliner and shove the sliver deep in the politicians..----
Mt 23:11 and etc---( Jesus words[while listening him hem and haw on gay marriage....whoa] "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself among will humbled and he who is humbles himself will be exalted.But woe to you ( paraphrased,Senators and politicians and big church pastors that have lost their way)for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves nor do you allow those with your entering in. Woe to you (paraphrased________ and_______ for you devour widows houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
Woe to you______ and ________ for you travel land and sea( Afghanistan for three hours to play basketball, and Iraq to pretend he's the rezident prezident[oh my heart do not judge])to win one proselyte(vote?) and when he is won, you will make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you blind guides( more clapping for all the change) who say,'whoever swears by this temple( maybe swear on this Bible regarding upholding the constitution and amendments and fight for freedom---oh slams Rick Warren regarding his book sales..I'm clapping on that one)it is nothing but whoever swears by the gold of the temple he is OBLIGED to perform it( either candidate).'
Fools and blind! For which is greater the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold( was that Obama's grandfather who liberated Auschwitz for the USSR??)?And, whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing: but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is OBLIGED to perform it. Fools and blind! For which is greater the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and all things on it. He who swears by the temple swears by it and by HIM who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.( Why do you want to be president....uh oh an analogy by his mother...the atheist)."
Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and and have neglected the weightier matters( which issues are primary/secondary?) of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." End Mt. 23:23
Hmm, Here comes McCain, to readers, I'm writing this as not just a typing exercise, a biblical study for myself, but to listen to both views and Rick Warren also. Yep I don't really like all three of them for one thing or another but that doesn't mean they're bad people. I won't buy or listen to Warren because he's strayed and watered down the doctrine. I don't believe over half of Obama's and about half of McCains political mumbo jumbo ...but I'll respect and honor the CiC ....might not like him like Bubbha and others but I'll pray for them throughout their term)This will also be a great thread to bookmark, not for my post but for ALL the other intelligent posters that have incredible insight not just in politics, but in the history of the candidates, and so much more. I am humbled daily by freepers, keep it going
"Blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.( ha ha Daily KOS..I couldn't help a shot at the moonbatville/code pinkos socialists)[ yay offshore drilling gets cheers, but needs to work on Arnie's accent]Woe to Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white washed tombs which indeed appear clean outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,( sort of like McCain's analogies, especially the one of the Vietnamese guard and the prisoner,he.)( "From the moment of conception" YES read Jer 1:5)...and say,'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'"
" Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves( Defeat evil wooooOOOOOO!!!...dang I hope this isn't all glitter)that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers, How can you escape the condemnation of hell?" Jesus Matthew 23:3-33 with some omissions due to time with my paraphrases, inceptions, analogies while watching Rick Warren's interview, at his church McCain vs Obama....)I may have leaned a bit more toward McCain...like a LOT
Home schooling works...buh bye ACLU...defamation of religion....UN time to face your own evil!!
Definitely!!!
I can't wait to see their post-game analysis.
Help!
I’m starting to like him!
Snort. If he gets a hardball question on that issue, I'll be mighty amazed.
Warren has sour grapes
LOL
I am horrible at public speaking and I think I could have at least actually answered the questions. Obama just skirted around
McCain spunk was way underestimated
Plus I think they had dinner at Starbucks.
He doesn’t want to take money from anyone. He wants us all rich. Wow, he is right on tonight.
I’ll go out on a limb and predict that MSNBC will give McCain a poor grade.
Amazing, isn’t it?
He’s really doing great tonight. Impressive!
Obama is the kid who knows everything and thinks McCain is a dumdum until he grows up.
Obama hasn't grown up yet.
The contrast is stark.
5 million!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Correct me if I'm wrong, but my guess is that you have the controls right in front of you, with different icons to go to other places on the web. In other words, you can switch channels!
From what I'm reading, the folks are liking what they're hearing. About time.
“Help!
I’m starting to like him!”
Shhhhh, shhhh, just close your eyes and go to your happy place... the Reagan Library...
At this rate I might even think about sending him some money.
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