Rumor has it that McCain is calling around asking grassroots republicans what they will do if he chooses a Pro-Choice VP. Upon hearing this rumor I thought it might be a good question to ask.
McCain really shined at the Saddleback forum. In my opinion he gained the support of many evangelicals and brought a sense of “comfortableness” to conservatives going out to vote for him. However, he is still highly suspect when it comes to Christian values, close to the middle on many issues. He obviously will side with liberals in many things he feels will be best for the country.
However, he did state in the forum that he believes life begins at conception. He is also for overturning Roe v. Wade and states on his website that he believes:
Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench.
McCain has said he’ll choose Supreme Court justices like those who have already cast votes to restrict abortion rights. “I will look for people in the cast of John Roberts, Samuel Alito, and my friend, the late William Rehnquist — jurists of the highest caliber,”.
However, McCain does also support embryonic stem cell research, which makes him less than 100 percent Pro-Life. Also in the past McCain has flip-flopped on wanting to overturn Roe v. Wade (in 1999 he told the San Francisco Chronicle that he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade). However, on McCain’s website he has in bold that he is for legislation that will overturn Roe v. Wade. McCain also is in favor of an exception to opposition of abortion in the cases of rape and incest with no testing requirement for rape.
I heard it said today that if McCain chooses a Pro-Choice VP then there will be 3 democrats or liberals on the Presidential ticket, so people will be more inclined to vote for Obama.
So here it is:
What Will You Do if McCain Chooses a Pro-Choice VP?
We all know the effects ending the life of an unwanted child has on the child. However, what effect does it have on the mother? The adverse effects an abortion had on anyone other than the child has often been debated and never stated with any scientific certainty. Yet on August 14th, 2008, that has all changed. The Supreme Court, the 8th Circuit, the British Royal Academy of Psychiatrists, 100 American Scientists, Medical and Mental Health Professionals and 3000 post-abortive women, and men agree that abortion can and does cause severe depression and loss of esteem.
Here is an excerpt of a media advisory released a few days ago:
Allan Parker, President of The Justice Foundation, announced today that 100 scientists, medical and mental health professionals, based on their training and experience, have released a joint statement today saying abortion hurts women. They agree with the following statements:
“As a scientist, medical or mental health professional, I agree with the following conclusions about abortion:
THE FACTS
It is common for women to experience feelings of anger, fear, sadness, anxiety, grief, or guilt after abortion. The United States Supreme Court is correct that “some women come to regret their choice to abort the infant life they once created and sustained… Severe depression and loss of esteem can follow.”
Women’s reaction to these feelings vary considerably with their emotional coping abilities and pre-existing functioning. It is undeniable that significant numbers of women are injured by abortion and should not be ignored by the medical profession and that significant numbers of women suffer serious physical, mental or psychological trauma as a result of abortion.
The conclusion that there is a causal connection between abortion and negative problems is supported by three independent lines of evidence: (a) the self-attribution of women themselves, (b) mental health professionals who have successfully diagnosed and treated post-abortion reactions, and (c) statistically validated studies controlling for a large number of confounding factors which have been published in peer reviewed journals.
The Justice Foundation’s president, Allan Parker, also stated that the women of Operation Outcry, who have been personally hurt by abortion, also confirm that abortion hurts women. Women themselves offer the best evidence of how abortion affected them. The Justice Foundation has now collected over 3,000 testimonies from women and men hurt by abortion. It is the largest body in the world of legally admissible evidence on the harm of abortion.
As most of you know Saturday night Rick Warren of Saddleback Church hosted a civil forum between the two Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. There has been some controversy over Warren’s involvement in hosting the forum, however after the debate it seems that much of that has subsided and from my perspective it was a very well hosted forum by Pastor Warren.
I thought the idea of having the candidates interviewed by Warren individually, asking them the same exact questions, but without either hearing their opponent’s answers was brilliant. It gave us as viewers the ability to compare apples to apples. This really brought out the differences in the candidates responses and approaches to the issues.
This is what Pastor Warren has stated as the goals of this forum:
Although Rick Warren’s primary calling is to proclaim the Gospel Truth of salvation in Jesus Christ, he created the Civil Forums to further three additional life goals: helping people accept responsibility, helping the Church regain credibility, and encouraging our society to return to civility.
Obama came off very conversational, and I did find him very compelling. He definitely answered the questions from a post-modern point of view, wanting to find balance from all points of view. McCain came off very decisive, sometimes answering the questions before the questions were finished. McCain was a story-teller, bringing the audience into his life through stories.
Overall I thought Obama’s performance in this forum was good, but McCain’s was great. I think much of the expectation was on Obama’s flair, which did present itself, but the country was not ready for McCain’s positions, decisiveness, and his compelling stories. McCain was on his game Saturday. He also really won over the Saddleback crowd that was at the event.
McCain did flounder on one issue, which was the issue of the definition of “rich”. He stated that 5 Million was considered rich, and Obama stated anything over $250,000 was rich. But with McCain’s responses to abortion “at the moment of conception” and being Pro-Life, being very strong in his selection of conservative pro-life judges, and extremely strong in Foreign Policy and National Security, he really came off well after this forum. However, Obama’s personalization of his relationship with Jesus Christ will bode very well with Christians. I believe this will confuse many young evangelicals who are taken in by his charisma, his age and his platform of “change.”
This is what Pastor Warren has stated as the goals of this forum:
Although Rick Warren’s primary calling is to proclaim the Gospel Truth of salvation in Jesus Christ, he created the Civil Forums to further three additional life goals: helping people accept responsibility, helping the Church regain credibility, and encouraging our society to return to civility.
Here are a few of what I thought were the highlights:
Question: I’ve seen a lot of good legislations get killed because of party loyalty. Can you give me an example of where you went against party loyalty and maybe even went against your own best interest for the good of America?
Obama: Well, I’ll give you an example that in fact I worked with John McCain on and that was the issue of Campaign Ethics Reform and Finance Reform.
McCain: You know by a strange coincidence I was not elected Miss Congeniality in the United States Senate this year. I don’t know why… Climate Change, Out of Control Spending, Torture. The list goes on and on a large number of issues that I’ve put my country first and I’ve reached across the aisle.
Question: What’s the most significant position you held ten years ago that you no longer hold today, that you flipped on, you changed on because you actually see it differently?
Obama: I think that a good example would be the issue of welfare reform where I always believed that welfare had to be changed. I was much more concerned ten years ago when President Clinton initially signed the bill that this could have disasterous results… it worked better than I think a lot of people anticipated and you know the one thing that I am absolutely convinced of is that we have to have work as a center piece of any social policy.
McCain: Offshore Drilling. We’ve got to drill now and we’ve got to drill here and we’ve got to become independent on foreign oil. I know that there’s some here in California that disagree, that disagree with that position. Could I also mention very seriously about this issue of my friends you know that this is a national security issue much we’re sending $700 Billion dollars a year to countries that don’t like us very much, that some of that money is ended up in the hands of terrorist organizations much we cannot allow this greatest transfer of wealth in history and our national security to continue to be threatened.
Question: What does it mean to you to trust in Christ and what does it mean on a daily basis?
Obama: As a starting point, it means I believe in that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that I am redeemed through Him. That is a source of strength and sustenance on a daily basis. I know that I don’t walk alone, and I know that if I can get myself out of the way, that I can maybe carry out in some small way what He intends. And it means that those sins that I have on a fairly regular basis hopefully will be washed away. But what it also means, I think, is a sense of obligation to embrace not just words but through deeds the expectations that God has for us. And that means thinking about the least of these. It means acting — well, acting justly and loving mercy and walking humbly with our God…
McCain: Means I’m saved and forgiven and we’re talking about the world. Our faith encompasses not just the United States of America but the world. (REALLY GREAT VIETNAMESE STORY WHERE A VIETNAMESE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER MADE THINGS EASIER FOR HIM AND IN A SMALL WAY THEY WORSHIPPED GOD TOGETHER).
Question: Let’s Deal with Abortion. 40 Million abortions since Roe v Wade. Some people who believe that life begins at conception would say that’s a holocaust… At what point is a baby entitled to human rights?
Obama: Well, I think that whether you are looking at it from from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade. But let me just speak more generally about the issue of abortion because this is something obviously the country wrestles with. One thing that I’m absolutely convinced of is there is a moral and ethical content to this issue…so that would be point number one. But point number two, I am Pro-Choice. I believe in Roe v. Wade and come to that conclusion not because I’m pro abortion, but because ultimately I don’t think women make these decisions casually. They wrestle with these things in profound ways…
McCain: At the moment of conception. I have a 25-year Pro-Life record in the Congress, in the Senate. And as President of the United States, I will be a Pro-Life President and this presidency will have Pro-Life policies. That’s my commitment…
Question: Does evil exist, and if it does do we ignore it, do we negotiate with it, do we contain it or do we defeat it?
Obama: Evil does exist. I mean, we see evil all the time. We see evil in Darfur. We see evil sadly on the streets of our cities. We see evil in parents who have viciously abused their children and I think it has to be confronted… Now, the one thing that I think is very important is for us to have some humility in how we approach the issue of confronting evil, but you know a lot of evil has been perpetrated based on the claim that we were trying to confront evil… just because we think our intentions are good doesn’t always mean that we’re going to be doing good.
McCain: Defeat it. Couple points, one, if I’m President of the United States, my friends, if I have to follow Him to the gates of hell, I will get Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice… Of course evil must be defeated. My friends, we are facing the transcendent challenge of the 21st Century, radical islamic extremists. Not long ago in Baghdad, Al-Qaeda took two young women who were mentally disabled and put suicide vests on them, sent them into a marketplace and by remote control, detinated those suicide vests… and the central battle ground according to [General] David Petraeus and Osama Bin Laden is the battles — is Baghdad, Mozil and Iraq and we are winning and we are succeeding and our troops will come home with honor and victory…
Question: Which existing Supreme Court Justice would you NOT have nominated?
Obama: …Clarence Thomas…Scalia…I wil tell you that how I’ve seen [Roberts] him operate since he went to the bench confirms the suspicions that I had and the reason that I voted against him.
McCain: With all due respect, Justice Ginsburg, Justice Breyer, Justice Souter and Justice Stevens. And by the way, Justices Alito and Roberts are two of my most recent favorites…
Question: Okay. Taxes… Define Rich… Give me a number. Is it $50,000, $100,000, $200,000?
Obama: …If you are making $150,000 a year or less as a family, then you are middle class or you may be poor… I would argue that if you are making more than $250,000 then you are in the top 3, 4 percent of this country.
McCain: I think rich is — should be defined by a home, a good job and education and the ability to hand to our children a more prosperous and safer world than the one that we inherited. I don’t want to take any money from the rich I want everybody to get rich… So I think if you’re just talking about income, how about 5 million.
Question: John, most people don’t know that there are 148 million orphans in the world growing up without parents. Could we do a pepfar for the emergency plan for 148 million orphans?
Obama: [Didn't get to this question]
McCain: Well I think we have to make adoption a lot easier in this country. That’s why so many people go to other countries to get — to be able to adopt children… 17 years ago cindy was in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She went to Mother Teresa’s orphanage. The nuns brought her 2 little babies that were not going to live. Cindy came home. I met her at the airplane. She showed me this 5 week old baby and said meet your new daughter. She is 17 and our life is blessed and that’s what adoption is all about.
So I’m sure you’ve all heard by now. The California legislature has approved what amounts to “Gay Day” in all California public schools. This proposed day will be in support of the late San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. If this bill is signed into law it will mean that all public schools, on May 22nd of every year, will have an official day commemorating homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality. It will harm children as young as those in kindergarden by portraying in a positive light, homosexual experimentation, homosexual marriages, sex-change operations, and anything else that is “in the closet.”
The text of the bill says this:
“On Harvey Milk Day, exercises remembering the life of Harvey Milk and recognizing his accomplishments as well as the contributions he made to this state” should be conducted; specifically, “all public schools and educational institutions are encouraged to observe…and…conduct suitable commemorative exercises.”
Now I’m torn here, because on the one hand California politics is finally trying to promote a positive message; and who doesn’t want 5 and 6 year olds being given a positive spin on marriage, sexual experimentation and sex-changes from our government funded public schools?
But on the other hand, who are we to disagree and get up-in-arms on an issue like this when TIME Magazine listed Harvey Milk as one of the “Heroes and Icons” in the “Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century.” I mean come on! If Big Media counts him a hero/icon why shouldn’t our 5 and 6 year olds?
But seriously, how much more forest is left to burn in California before they see the writing on the wall?
So if you live in California, have some vested interest there, actually care about what happens in that state at all, or if you are able to breathe (at minimum through a plastic tube), then I would urge you do something about it in whatever capacity you are able within these ranges (PRAY —- Call/Email/Write Gov. Schwarzenneger).
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you probably know that I have a little bit of passion when it comes to managing money. I’m one who will tell anyone that in order to get on the flip side of debt, you have to have an aggressive motivation and start attacking it. Many in this country are upside down in their personal finances and aren’t quite sure how they got there, or how to flip the boat back over.
However, there are many who just laugh and brush off those like myself who are so intently against credit cards, against car loans, personal loans, any kind of loans (that are not your mortgage) and who think making a budget is for those who have a lack of self-control when it comes to money.
So I’ve decided to write an article for you Mr. I don’t need a budget, Credit cards are the best thing since sliced bread, Mr. why do I need a savings account when I’ve got a $20,000 limit on my Visa Platinum?
Here are 3 steps to making sure you are living beyond your means:
Step 1: Make SURE You are paying more than 28% of your income on your mortgage/rent payment.
If you add up your taxes, insurance and rent/mortgage payment and it is 28% or less, than you are in major trouble. If this is you, then you have probably experienced the pain and suffering of going to a friends place and foaming at the mouth at what they are able to “afford” making the same income as you. Do something about it. Move into a new house. Rent a nice condo downtown! Why should you have to work your way up, your parents probably have a nicer house than you… Why should they get it and you not?
Step 2: Keep at least 5 credit cards open at all times, only pay minimum balances, and then take out a new loan to pay off / consolidate your debts
If you are not cashing in on the features and rewards that credit cards are offering these days, you are missing out! With 1%, 2% and even 5% cash back bonuses, sky miles, reward programs… how can anyone resist? I mean with the economy like it is we really MUST have the security of a credit card to fall back on in perilous times. And they even pay you to keep the credit cards! These credit card companies really don’t know what their doing if they are giving you money to keep their cards. All you have to do is pay off the balance every month and you’ll be fine. Or better yet, pay the minimum balances and refinance your mortgage and take the equity out of your house to pay off all your cards.
Step 3: Buy a brand new car cashing in on the LOW INTEREST loans with little or NO MONEY DOWN!
Go out and find a NEW car… not a 1 or 2 or (I shiver at the thought) more than 3 year old car. Make sure you talk to the loan officer at the car dealership and let them know you are wanting a 5, 6 or 7 year loan, because this will make sure your car payment is very low. Wheel and deal until you get them to give you this car with NO MONEY DOWN, and a low interest rate.
Only about 40% (1 out of every 2-3 people) of american consumers are upside down in their car loans, but that could never happen to you! Those are just scare tactics from those gloom and doom old people who just want to be pack rats and pay cash for everything.
I mean seriously… The average car payment in America is $374 per month. If you were to drive a quality USED car (that you paid cash for) from age 25 - 65 and invested that $374 in a growth stock mutual fund (averaging 12%), you would have over $4 MILLION dollars. At that point you could give cars away.
BUT THATS A LONG TIME! Who has the self-control to be able to wait that long? Besides When you want to be able to enjoy stuff NOW right? How is anything worth doing now if you don’t get to enjoy it until you are old and wrinkly?
I saw this article in the USA Today and the author was commenting on a quote from Obama in an interview when asked the question “What is sin?” I found his answer to be very revealing, not only of his personal beliefs but in how many in the world today are coming up with their own definitions of sin and what it really means to “sin.”
Sin (as defined by Obama):
“Being out of alignment with my values”
Sin (as defined by the Bible):
1 John 3:4 - “Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (sin is lawlessness)
Romans 4:15 - “…for where there is no law there is no transgression”
Romans 4:23 - “Whatever is not from faith is sin.”
Sin = Transgression of the Law; Sin = Whatever is not from faith
so that would mean:
Whatever is not from faith = Transgression of the Law = Sin
So in Obama’s case, he is saying that if he is out of alignment with his values, then he is sinning. This type of thinking is very normal in postmodern America. Especially among young people and it has unfortunately also entered parts of the Church. We tend to personalize our faith, and rightly so. Our faith is very personal, but our faith in God, and in Jesus Christ isn’t based on a set of values that each of us determines on our own. The values that we as Christians should have SHOULD be determined by the values that God has.
Here is how Wayne Grudem defines sin in his book (which I highly recommend) Systematic Theology:
“Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.”
Sin is here defined in relation to God and his moral law.
3 Biblical Aspects of Sin
Action (Ex. 20:17)
Attitude (Mt. 5:22,28)
Nature (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:3)
Sin in our Actions
This is an easy one to see and the one most people will agree with as being morally wrong. These include individual acts such as stealing or lying or committing murder.
Sin in our Attitudes
Now on this one it starts to encroach on most people’s comfort zones. When someone starts to tell you that things you are thinking are wrong, or desires that you may have are not desires that you SHOULD have, then attitudes start to flare and walls go up right away. However, this type of sin is something Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount (basic foundational Christianity at its core). (Matthew 5:22,28; Gal. 5:20; Mark 12:30)
Sin in our Nature
This refers to our humanity and our inherited sin. We are counted guilty because of Adam’s sin. Paul explained the effects of Adam’s sin in this way:
“Therefore… sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all mean because all men sinned” (Rom. 5:12)
“while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)
“we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph. 2:3)
When we are first introduced to this concept, the tendency is to think it is not fair that we should be counted guilty because of Adam’s sin. We didn’t actually sin. How can we be counted guilty?
But we must remember a few things:
We will be judged for our own sins on the day of judgment. Everyone who is of the mind that this is not fair has committed some type of sin to which we will be judged. (for God “will render to every man according to his works” (Rom. 2:6).
Our sin today also likely demonstrates that if we were in the same boat as Adam, we would have sinned to and wrecked it for the human race.
However the best answer lies in the 3rd one. If we think that it is unfair that Adam represented us and thus we bear the guilt and inherited sin of what he did, then we must also concluded that it is unfair that Jesus represented us and our sin on the cross and so we get to reap the benefits of His righteousness being imputed to us. (”As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous” Rom. 5:19).
Our View of God (and who Jesus really is)
Our values determine our actions, how we walk out our faith. But if our values are faulty, or based off of wrong information, to begin with, then our actions will suffer the consequences of faulty values. It is our view of God, what He is like, and what we as moral beings must do about Him that will shape our values.
As Tozer puts it:
“The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place.
The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true.”
Our View of Jesus Christ
This brings me back to another statement made by Obama in the interview. When asked who Jesus was to him, first he laughed nervously. Then he went on to say that:
“Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he’s also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith… and he’s also a wonderful teacher.”
While those things are all true it is missing one crucial element of the Christian faith. Jesus was and is God in the flesh. Jesus even said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.”
Having a right view of who Jesus Christ is (which really means who God is), will dramatically shape the way you think about everything, and it will specifically shape your values. Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man, He was and is both Fully God and Fully Man. Not half and half. He was not only a great teacher (though He was that), and not only a historical person. Jesus is the ONLY true God.
Obama’s Christian Faith of Many Paths
Which brings me to the other comment made by Obama. When you begin with a wrong view of who God is and who Jesus is, then you too may find yourself saying this statement:
“So, I’m rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe there are many paths to the same place…”
The community at CompelledByReality is growing in size and to continue that trend today I am happy to announce a way in which readers can become a little more involved in the blog by subscribing to a special free members newsletter.
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So a couple friends of mine on Luke Wood’s team (Caleb Culver and Bob Powers) just recently released a music video. It is an original song written just for this video and available (for now) exclusively to youtube viewers. It is extremely funny, so sit back and enjoy.
You may have noticed something different if you are one of my faithful readers. No, I did not get a haircut, and no this is not a new shirt. I got a face lift! Well, this site did anyways. There are a few new things, but mostly its the same site with just a few shifts here and there.
Two things in particular that were changed is the Wordpress Theme (which is probably the most noticeable difference). The other one is not as noticeable, but I upgraded to the latest version (2.6) of Wordpress.
Just so you don’t get lost when you visit the site, here are a few pointers to help you get where you’re wanting to go:
The most recent articles is the one at the top of the page. I’m sure you knew that, but just thought I should clarify.
The “LATEST” column lists the 3 most recent articles.
The “NOTEWORTHY” column lists the 3 most recent articles that I have decided to feature by bringing to the front page (So take a gander if you haven’t seen them yet).
The “Archives” link on the menu up top will allow you to browse through every single article on the site.
The “Subscribe” link on the menu will allow you to subscribe to this blog through either an RSS reader or get the articles delivered to you by email.
The “Downloads” link (a new addition to the site) lists just a few downloadable articles/teaching notes and mp3s that I have found useful and worthy of sharing.
The “Support/Make a Donation” Button can be used by anyone, anywhere through PayPal to send money to support a missionary. If you feel so inclined feel free to press that button more than once.
Have fun browsing around and if you see any bugs, any broken links or just want to chat feel free to leave a comment.
Zack Hensely, a missionary at the International House of Prayer here in Kansas City, wrote a very insightful post on Life is Punishment? that is well worth the read. Go on over and check it out, and leave a comment if you found it interesting.
Obama thanked Planned Parenthood for the “invaluable work” that they do to help young women be saved from unwanted pregnancy.
Let’s talk about how absurd this type of thinking is for a second. Under the logic used by Obama, there should also be an organization that saves women from making bad choices for husbands. They could call in “Planned Matrimony”, if you don’t like your husband they’ll show up in the night and shoot him in the head with a shot gun and take him away.
Rumor has it that McCain is calling around asking grassroots republicans what they will do if he chooses a Pro-Choice VP. Upon hearing this rumor I thought it might be a good question to ask. 
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