Saturday, August 30, 2008

Obomination

In his acceptance speech, Presidential candidate Barak Obama cited Scripture. Here is the quote of his concluding paragraph:

America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

The closest verse I can find to the "hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess," is Hebrews 10:23 (with a little bit of Hebrews 3:6 included). Here is Hebrews 10:23 (NIV):

NIV Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Notice the difference. In the Bible, we hold to our profession in Christ because God is faithful. In the speech, we must conclude our hope is either in America, Government or Mr. Obama. Lets get it straight. Our hope is in Christ, not America, Government or Mr. Obama or any other candidate. All of those replace God with a person or place. All of those are an abomonation, or in this case, an Obomination.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Convention Thoughts

I have been watching the Democratic convention from Denver. I expect to see much of the same from Minnesota next week when the Republicans take to the air. I can't believe what I see!

The parade of legislators is endless, each with the same message. Things will change when we get a new President. Failed legislative policies of the past will be replaced by new, better ones. Bills to cut or raise taxes (depending on who you want to tax or let off) will flow down the aisles of Congress. Health Care will change overnight. Everyone will get free money!

Well, lets just stop a minute and do a Constitution check. The President, covered by Article II of the Constitution, gets about 18 lines of text to spell out his powers and duties, including five that spell out his duty to receive and appoint ambassadors and commission officers of the US (military and foreign service). The Legislature, which is the Senate and House, gets 71 lines of powers and duties, including the duty and power to make all laws. Did you read that--they make the laws, not the President. If he vetoes them, they can override the veto. THE POWER IS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

So, do you get the irony in legislators parading before the cameras calling a president to task for failing to the the thing they, and only they, have the power to do?

What could be worse than that? I'll tell you: the people who clap and possibly believe this stuff, aka the electorate.