Writings From the Grassroots

An Expressive Politic; Faith

I have been a Christian my whole life.  I have been a Citizen of this country my whole life.  At times the two have melded together.  At other times the two have been at diametrically opposed places.  Can we as Christians be both and?  Or must we choose either or?  With the emergence of the Emergent Christians I have been intrigued with their expressive, creative and experiential faith.  For some this has been a difficult emergence of various expressions of being Christian: Follower of Jesus.  Others have embraced it as they would a second cousin they never knew they had.  I personally, have read most of the books that have come out of emergent and I have enjoyed them.  They have uprooted some tired beliefs, and propelled me to new heights of insight as a living way.  A way beyond personal piety and toward a communal redemption.  The way of restoration and wholeness. So a few days I was reading a CNN report titled, Evangelical touts 'Jesus for President'.  You can read the whole article HERE.  Shane Claiborne is beyond emergent in good ways.  You will enjoy it.
 

My Take on Barack Obama's Campaign

I couldn't let this day go by with posting on this Historic event in our country's history.  I must admit that when the primary season began although I voted and even contributed to the Campaign of Barack Obama I wasn't 100% confident that he would in fact  win.  I hoped he would, but it seemed that everything he got a victroy Hillary Clinton was just around the corner with her own victory.  Then the Reverend Wright controversy surfaced and again I was faced with doubt, yet hopeful.  Last night I was reminded that my hopes were partly fulfilled (they will only be fulfilled on November 4).  He gained enough delegates to become the presumptive Democratic Nominee.  I have never experienced anything as exciting as this Primary Season in my entire life.  Yes we can!

In general we look to historical figures to be reminded of the words they said while engaged in changing the world in their time.  We have heard Barack Obama give renewed  life to the following words "the fierce urgency of now" once spoken by Martin Luther King Jr. These words have become evidently appropoaite for the acheivement of Barack Obama as the first African American to become the Persumptive Democratice Nominee.  I am convinced , that what is truly amazing, about Obama is that he wasn't using the phrase, "the fierce urgency of now" to describe his bid for presidency as an African American, but rather for the movement that has taken his nation by storm.  It is the movement that we do not have to wait for someone else to make things better, or even bring much needed change and reform to the way we understand politics.  This campaign has reminded us, even given, the citizens of this nation our right back to take an active role in the future of this nation.  Which is why I don't like the idea of Hillary Clinton as a VP.  I don't have anything personal against Clinton, but it seems that she is the oppositie of Who Barack Obama is.  As I watch the news broadcast this morning it seems that she expects to be offered that position.  She too has run an enormously historical campaign, but it doesn't mean that her role now is to become Vice President.  Either way, my vote will go for the Obama ticket.

Hillary Clinton for President?

If Hillary Clinton had started her Presidential Campaign with the speech she gave this morning in West Virgina I might have voted for her.  She talked about student loans (Adventist Education is not inexpensive and Pastors don't make much) and how she would take on the student loan companies and have reduced interest rates.  She said she would forgive student loans up to a certain amount ($10,000 or more) if people were willing to do public service (I think that is what she called it).  She said she would bring the troops home.  She said she would provide universal health care for everyone. The key words are 'She Says" and though it all sounds good, I can't help but look at her with a more than skeptical view.  It is so hard to believe anythings she says anymore.  "Hillary, you should have started with this speech." 
Sadly, she did not start with this.  As this campaign has progressed she only gets better as a 'politician'(not a good thing).  She knows what she needs to say to get people to vote for her.  But talk is cheap.  She says that this campaign is not about speeches but about getting things done.  However, how do we know that she will do everything she says she will do?  We don't, and if elected she doesn't have to do anything.  It just seems to me that she will say anything to get the votes, and I hate that.  That is why I like Barack Obama so much, he doesn't say things just to get votes.  His message has been consistent throughout the campaign, but her message seems always to change dependent on what gets her the vote.  I am glad to see Obama back on message and looking good.  I hope he stays that way.  It makes for a winning campaign.  YES WE CAN!