Posted on 11/16/2006 5:33:58 AM PST by Mr. Brightside
WASHINGTON -- Like many fellow Democratic politicians, Sen. Barack Obama is no stranger to the pulpit.
But in December, Obama will go where few progressive Democrats usually venture--to a large, conservative evangelical church that boasts a Sunday attendance of more than 20,000 people.
Even more unusual is that he'll attend at the invitation of megachurch Pastor Rick Warren, evangelical icon and author of the popular Christian book "The Purpose-Driven Life."
Aides to Obama say he will appear at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day.
"Sen. Obama has a deep respect for Mr. Warren's commitment to fighting AIDS and poverty," said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor.
While he was working on his latest book, "The Audacity of Hope," Obama asked Warren to help by reading one of his draft chapters. Warren issued the invitation to Obama to speak at the church next month.
The messages that Friday will focus on AIDS and HIV, a key area of ministry for Saddleback Church. While many conservative Christians have shied away from AIDS because of their discomfort with its connections to premarital sex and homosexuality, Warren and his wife, church co-founder Kay Warren, have been vocal advocates for patients living with the disease.
Shortly before the release of his latest book, Obama issued a call to progressives to shed bias against religious people and to recognize "overlapping values."
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Why are your writing to me. What do you hope to accomplish?
Do you know who Sen Brownback is and if not, why not?
Do you know who Sen Brownback is? And if not, why not?
"Nice people are always happier than mean peopple. To expand and extend the love in my heart creates in me an innocent vision. It doesn't reform other egos, but it does see beyond them. This seeing is not mere illumination, like shining a flashlight on a trash heap. Spiritual sight is spiritual reality. What is seen in love is at one with the seeing. Nothing has more substance and presence than accurate perception. Ego perception is arbitrary and unstable, but to look gently is to begin to see heaven at hand." - Hugh Prather
Purpose Driven or Holy Spirit Led - that is the choice! I had to chuckle reading a lot of the comments posted; especially given that the NT was written to Jews (e.g., Mattityahu,Yochanan-Moshe, Yochanan, Maaseh Shlichim, Yaakov, Ivrim, Romiyah, Qorintyah Alef, Galutyah, Phylypsiyah, Qolesayah, Gilyahna, etc.). HalleluYAH!
"Look at the world today. Is there anything more pitiful? What madness there is, what blindness, what unintelligent leadership, a scurrying mass of humanity, crashing headlong against each other, upheld by an orgy of greed and brutality. A time must come...when this orgy will spend itself, when brutality and the lust for power must perish by its own sword....For when that day comes, the world must begin to look for a new life, and it is our hope that they may find it here, for here we shall be with their books, and their music, and a way of life based on one simple rule: be kind. When that day comes, it is our hope that the brotherly love of Shangri-La will spread throughout the world. Yes...when the strong have devoured each other, the Christian ethic may at last be fulfilled and the meek shall inherit the earth." - James Hilton
I haven't answered your questions because they are based on the false supposition that telling the truth is cruel.
A surgeon cuts out cancer with a knife, but that doesn't mean he's cruel.
Anyone who speaks with a propetic voice may falsely be seen as cruel by those whose primary god is the false kindness that blinds people from the truth.
That's the god I believe you worship.
I didn't answer your question relative to Senator Brownback because political party affiliation has nothing to do with the issue at hand (as I posted earlier).
Political party affiliation, including any/all of the parties, is not a consideration in the qualifications for speaking at an Evangelical, Christian church (unless maybe you are talking the socialst party, the communist party, or so forth).
Guilliani would get as much grief as Obama, (if not more) if he was invited to speak at Saddleback.
Reply: The only answers I have to give you are from God's Word (The Bible). See previous post for specific response. It is what God says about eternity.
Again, as I posted earlier, the Bible has external evidences of manuscripts, archeology and fulfilled prophecies proving that it is the Word of God. Do an honest comparitive study, but don't ignore the evidence.
The Bible also claims that it is more than just a book. It also claims that it is written by more than just human authors (Holy Spirit superintended...origins not in the will of man - 2 Peter 1:20-21). Is it, then, a book of lies?
Answer: I am writing to you because you posted on a public forum. I hoped that your position would be refuted and that the Gospel would be clearly stated.
ACIM students become "far more separate and egocentric with many losing the ability to carry on a simple conversation" and Prather and his wife "...ended up less flexible, less forgiving and less generous than we were when we first started our Path!" (Hugh Prather, What is the Course? Will it Exist in the 21st Century?")
And you quoted the fictional Buddhist/Catholic beliefs from a work of fiction...because?
To be held Nov 30 and Dec 1st (a Thursday and Friday )
Your answer is nonsense. I did not ask you what you believe. If I had asked you what you believe it might have made sense to offer quotes. I asked you what you *understand*. I'll ask it a third time: are you claiming to *understand* eternity?
I am a fan of Hugh Prather. I have read several of his books. I like what he has to say a lot more than what you have to say.
Because it is so much better than what you are quoting.
Much ado about nothing.
On the contrary, i've said plenty, you merely have refused to hear. In light of the fact that you have chosen to believe fiction, i'm not surprised that you do not recognise truth. You have made my point repeatedly, namely that your hypocritical condemnation of those who criticise Warren's actions in this matter demonstrates that you have no understanding of what you write on this thread.
Are you honestly wanting to say that the history of mankind shows that there is no pain or suffering here? Or that condemnation doesn't contribute to pain and suffering?
Two unrelated concepts. None the less, you asked, so my answer is below:
I'll ask again - do you understand that condemnation hurts? Do you understand what I am talking about when I use the word condemnation?
Why don't you define the word for us. Let us see if your definition is acceptable. After that is accomplished, we will again test your unsubstantiated thesis.
Others that are writing at this time - acknowledge that condemnation does hurt but they think it is ok to hurt others.
i'm not resposnible for what others think, nor does it particularly impress or influence me.
What is your belief about condemnation? And I am not talking about what government does - I am talking about when one person condemns another as has been demonstrated here by those on this thread who condemn Rick Warren.
i thought you didn't want to discuss dogma? Yet you continuously cite dogma in your posts (note that i said DOGMA, not BIBLE a dogmatic statement does not have to quote the bible).
Your posts about talking doctrine are tiring. I am talking about what I want to talk about. Others have wanted me to discuss *their* doctrine.
Simple solution to that: Stop quoting doctrine while condemning others for doing so. If you don't want to discuss doctrine, then stop asserting your doctrine as true.
I have no problem discussing what I choose to. There is nothing to solve there.
I have condemned no one here...even you... who seem to change your position with just about every post.
What I have had to say here has been born out. This thread contains needless condemnation of Rick Warren - a man who has helped many. Those who have condemned Rick Warren are adding to the suffering in this world. If you are unable to grasp that condemnation causes hurt - that is your problem - not mine. Any honest person would acknowledge that and as I say - others on this thread have. You say:
i'm not resposnible for what others think, nor does it particularly impress or influence me.
And yet you refer to yourself as "us" and "we". Are you speaking for some group? And if so, do they influence your opinion?
In an Acts 17:11 comparison, I do not think that some of Warren's teaching and activities line up with Scripture. This is not condemnation.
Why would the fact that the AIDS Summit is on a Thursday and Friday give reason for me to apologize? I knew the date (Dec. 1) and day from the content of the article.
The issue has never been with the day that Obama was going to speak at Saddleback...It has always been that he is an unbelieving, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual individual and that he was going to speak at all, at Saddleback.
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