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 ...
“Who are the 3 people you listen to the most for advice?”
Karl Marx?
you are very bad...(:
2 wisest people Obama listens to:
1st: Wife, Michele
2nd: his Grandmother (remember that “typical white person...)
3rd: Sam Nunn ...
Reality:
Obama’s advisors are Rev. Jeremy Wright, George Clooney, President Ahmadinejad
Bama gonna poke and prod - Shades of Bill Clinton
Shaun Casey, who has been informally advising the Obama campaign on faith issues...
‘Jesus Was an Illegal Alien’
Casey is a visiting fellow with the far left Center For American Progress which, along with Media Matters, is heavily funded by billionaire George Soros.
Moral failure -———— Gay sex (?)
RW is doing this for his own publicity, and the more controversy it engenders, the better for him.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
I can’t focus on what he’s saying because of that mole on his honker. Has that always been there?
lol, I promised Mr.FF we’d watch a movie any-who. But really, I can’t stand the smarm, mute button or no!
I wonder if the Secret Service has a Cheeseburger alert out!
Looks like RW might EXPLODE if one was brought out near him!
Gads....... he just took a week vacation in Hawaii and he looks tired & rancid........
something about me just can’t like Rick Warren
Rush will have a 19 minute UMmmmmm, wha wha wha........ clip tomorrow!
So mccain is not on til the 2nd hour??? O great!
I hear Hawaii is hard on a person. Wouldn’t know myself, can’t afford to go there.
Already stumbling around.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.