There have been countless objections to both canadates concerning eligibility and aptitude for the presidential position. Everything from youth and inexperience to standings on social issues have been questioned but now a new and perhaps more serious issue is presented:
Is Barak Obama actually an American born citizen of the United States with undivided allegiance? (see Worldnet Daily and Cleaveland Leader )
Oddly enough, the issue of his citizenship isn't as straightforward as some might be inclined to think. Rather, if he is a citizen it is probably that 1) He was NOT American born as the constitution demands, 2) He is also a citizen of Kenya and Indonesia, and 3) He has apparently lied on his preliminary paperwork for the bar exam. There is also evidence to suggest that he has known all along that he is not a citizen and that he has continualy lied about it and tried to cover his tracks. Oh yeah, and he is a muslim?
But he's such a nice guy! He makes us feel good and he's such a great speaker (even though he's not too keen on answering questions in a specific manner -- oh, wait. that's what it means to be diplomatic). Great. Do we really want a young, lying, infanicide endorsing, Indonesian citizen to rule our nation...? Every reason under the sun seems to be staring us in the face. Vote for Obama? I think not.
23 August 2008
02 August 2008
13 July 2008
Distinctly American (A Few Days Late)
When I walked out my front door this evening, camera in hand, I wondered about what adventure would lie ahead for me. I wasn’t halfway down my front walk when it came to me. There before me, as countless times before, hung my neighbor’s American flag. Not at all a strange sight, yet for some reason it caught my attention as I set out down the sidewalk. “Click” – my first shot of the evening, and the thought came to me, That is decidedly American.
As I continued down the street, I began to count all the things that shout “Only in America!” There were stickers on cars, boldly proclaiming opinions and desires. There were political signs displayed with pride on front lawns. Strange garden decorations, bikes left conspicuously lying in the yard, a young couple on seminary lawn practicing their golf swing – every imaginable sign of wealth and leisure, distinctly American.
Three houses down a lady was watering her lawn. She greeted me, introductions were exchanged, and weather discussed. Small talk. Something that is American not in concept but in execution. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that I doubt she remembers my name, let alone thinks of me at all. That is America for you. All politeness and no care, or at least not outside of one’s own personal life. This is entirely the point. Individualism is king.
Welcome to America! Make yourself at home. You can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to do. After all, this is the American dream: to be free and live a life that is moral in your own eyes, whilst procuring every comfort and enjoying life to its fullest. How selfish and spoiled we are – or at least have the propensity to be.
On my walk this evening, I met a young couple. These are the ones who were practicing their golf skills on the lawn. Unlike, the neighbor lady’s small talk, this conversation I am not likely to forget soon. Following brief introductions, it was discovered that we lived on the same block, went to the same school, and they had visited my church. Small talk again but this was different. The conversation passed into an open air discussion of Christian missions abroad and theology. Ah, there it is again, distinctly American, religious freedom -- not just the freedom to be something, but also to speak openly about it.
Finally, I come to my favourite discovery this evening – incredibly American simply because it is not at all American. After leaving the young couple I wandered up a street and down another side street and suddenly it struck me. For an instant I forgot where I was. Through the viewfinder in my camera I saw European styled multiplexes along a steep hill, cars lining the paved yet unpainted road. I looked up and still it was before me: generations of influence from outside of ourselves. I looked up the road behind me and saw Japanese lanterns outside one home while the one next to it proudly displayed Italian mosaic in the garden.
This is far more American than any of the other discoveries. It is the idea of a melting pot: a land that is not of one people yet has become one people, where cultures blend together and form a new one, and people are encouraged to remember their old roots while putting down new ones. America -- the land of the free, the spoiled, the outcast, the African, the Chinese, the Arab, the Muslim, the Christian, the rich, the poor, and everyone else -- she invites anyone who will come to settle in her and bear her name: American. That is most distinctly and decidedly American.
As I continued down the street, I began to count all the things that shout “Only in America!” There were stickers on cars, boldly proclaiming opinions and desires. There were political signs displayed with pride on front lawns. Strange garden decorations, bikes left conspicuously lying in the yard, a young couple on seminary lawn practicing their golf swing – every imaginable sign of wealth and leisure, distinctly American.
Three houses down a lady was watering her lawn. She greeted me, introductions were exchanged, and weather discussed. Small talk. Something that is American not in concept but in execution. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that I doubt she remembers my name, let alone thinks of me at all. That is America for you. All politeness and no care, or at least not outside of one’s own personal life. This is entirely the point. Individualism is king.
Welcome to America! Make yourself at home. You can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to do. After all, this is the American dream: to be free and live a life that is moral in your own eyes, whilst procuring every comfort and enjoying life to its fullest. How selfish and spoiled we are – or at least have the propensity to be.
On my walk this evening, I met a young couple. These are the ones who were practicing their golf skills on the lawn. Unlike, the neighbor lady’s small talk, this conversation I am not likely to forget soon. Following brief introductions, it was discovered that we lived on the same block, went to the same school, and they had visited my church. Small talk again but this was different. The conversation passed into an open air discussion of Christian missions abroad and theology. Ah, there it is again, distinctly American, religious freedom -- not just the freedom to be something, but also to speak openly about it.
Finally, I come to my favourite discovery this evening – incredibly American simply because it is not at all American. After leaving the young couple I wandered up a street and down another side street and suddenly it struck me. For an instant I forgot where I was. Through the viewfinder in my camera I saw European styled multiplexes along a steep hill, cars lining the paved yet unpainted road. I looked up and still it was before me: generations of influence from outside of ourselves. I looked up the road behind me and saw Japanese lanterns outside one home while the one next to it proudly displayed Italian mosaic in the garden.
This is far more American than any of the other discoveries. It is the idea of a melting pot: a land that is not of one people yet has become one people, where cultures blend together and form a new one, and people are encouraged to remember their old roots while putting down new ones. America -- the land of the free, the spoiled, the outcast, the African, the Chinese, the Arab, the Muslim, the Christian, the rich, the poor, and everyone else -- she invites anyone who will come to settle in her and bear her name: American. That is most distinctly and decidedly American.
09 July 2008
Intermission
This brief entry is to assuage any concerns of my disappearance. I have been enjoying a recess from the blogging world but rest assured I will return to write again soon :)
22 May 2008
Another Sad Story
"Then the news came today of a “Shadowlands piercing” closer to home in so many ways…of a little 5 year-old girl…Maria Chapman, adopted daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman. She lost her life in her own driveway when an older brother backed out with Maria obscured from sight. Agony beyond comprehension for this family of Christ. How much can a father’s heart take?…his sweet daughter…his beloved son. “Speechless.” Steven’s music sings his theology…his is the great and glorious God revealed in Christ alone. God will be enough…barely enough, but enough."
-excerpt from The Shadowlands by Daniel Scott Cummings
(Pastor of Five Points Community Church in Auburn Hills, MI)
Sad times such as these require much prayer and petition -- not only on behalf of those enduring but also on behalf of those of us who standby. May God grant grace and strength to those who suffer. And may God grant wisdom and perseverance to those of us that don't. How difficult to suffer but how much harder is it for those of us who become complacent from a lack of suffering... In the midst of trial God is clearly seen but in the midst of ease He is often lost sight of.
-excerpt from The Shadowlands by Daniel Scott Cummings
(Pastor of Five Points Community Church in Auburn Hills, MI)
Sad times such as these require much prayer and petition -- not only on behalf of those enduring but also on behalf of those of us who standby. May God grant grace and strength to those who suffer. And may God grant wisdom and perseverance to those of us that don't. How difficult to suffer but how much harder is it for those of us who become complacent from a lack of suffering... In the midst of trial God is clearly seen but in the midst of ease He is often lost sight of.
15 May 2008
The "Bad" News
Many of you know that I have had a rough past semester. The reasons are many but I don't think anything has caused as much prayer nor as many tears as the illness of my home pastor. I haven't been very vocal about it but now I am ready to write. I have been wondering what is best to say but I think this says it all. It is not by me but it gets the point across. I think there will be more to come.
--Laura--
"It’s a nice warm day in the Downriver by Sunday morning the lilacs
will have burst into bloom here at the church. While spring is
bursting into life around us it seems that we have been visited with
dying of late. On the way home from the church to Granville Cottage
there is a cemetery. There are at least a half dozen fresh mounds
there. It’s good to be alive, but it is better to know that in Christ
we will never, never die.
Dan Cummings is a pastor friend who I admire in so many ways. He is one of the finest preachers in the state. He is a marathoner. He is a good dad and a fine husband. He is a leader of men. I admire him more than I can say and often listen to his preaching on my iPod.
A few weeks ago it was announced that he has inoperable cancer. If God does not choose to intervene in a miracle, he will not live. He is trying to write and preach to the glory of God while he is dying. He is writing and preaching through his affliction. This is his blog.
There are links to his preaching, too.
We often quote Richard Baxter who said; I preach as a dying man to dying men. We all preach as dying men to dying men. In light of Dan’s condition the reality of that is very sharp now. May God give Dan grace to die if that is what He has chosen for him. May he give each of us grace to live and die.
May each of us seize every moment of life we are given for the Glory
of God and for things eternal that will never pass away. It’s good to
be alive but it is much better to know that in Christ we will never,
never die."
Pastor Ken Pierpont
The Study
Evangel Baptist Church
May 2, 2008
--Laura--
"It’s a nice warm day in the Downriver by Sunday morning the lilacs
will have burst into bloom here at the church. While spring is
bursting into life around us it seems that we have been visited with
dying of late. On the way home from the church to Granville Cottage
there is a cemetery. There are at least a half dozen fresh mounds
there. It’s good to be alive, but it is better to know that in Christ
we will never, never die.
Dan Cummings is a pastor friend who I admire in so many ways. He is one of the finest preachers in the state. He is a marathoner. He is a good dad and a fine husband. He is a leader of men. I admire him more than I can say and often listen to his preaching on my iPod.
A few weeks ago it was announced that he has inoperable cancer. If God does not choose to intervene in a miracle, he will not live. He is trying to write and preach to the glory of God while he is dying. He is writing and preaching through his affliction. This is his blog.
There are links to his preaching, too.
We often quote Richard Baxter who said; I preach as a dying man to dying men. We all preach as dying men to dying men. In light of Dan’s condition the reality of that is very sharp now. May God give Dan grace to die if that is what He has chosen for him. May he give each of us grace to live and die.
May each of us seize every moment of life we are given for the Glory
of God and for things eternal that will never pass away. It’s good to
be alive but it is much better to know that in Christ we will never,
never die."
Pastor Ken Pierpont
The Study
Evangel Baptist Church
May 2, 2008
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