But I Thought Presidential Politics Was Irrelevant to the Abortion Issue?

Only for two and a half days, apparently...

"President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions, officials told The Associated Press on Friday." - from USA Today

Just remember: President Obama wants to reduce abortions - by offering people overseas your money to go get one.

HT: Vitamin Z

Life - Imagine the Potential

Great ad.



HT: Between Two Worlds

John Newton Is Rolling Over In His Grave

Oprah Winfrey, on her feelings upon arriving at the Obama inauguration...

"It's beyond the dream. We're just here feelin' it with the throngs of people. It's amazing grace personified."

Do people even know what that song is about anymore?

Easy as 1-2-3

Let the ads end. Let the pundits cease. Let the water cooler debates quiet. The election is over.

So now what? What should you do if you, like me, cast your vote for the McCain-Palin ticket? What do you do if your excitement that our nation has elected a black man as President (unthinkable when my father was born) is severly tempered by the fact that Barack Obama's policies show total disregard for the unborn? I've got three suggestions.

1. Calm down. The kingdom of Christ is not of this world. The gospel flourished under Nero - an insane, murderous tyrant. I think we'll be fine under Barack Obama.

2. Pray for President Elect Obama. Thank God for men like Obama who dedicate their lives to public service. The next four or eight years will be incredibly difficult on this man and his family. Look at pictures of George W. Bush in 2000 and again in 2008 if you'd like a visual representation of the stress that Obama has just taken on. If it weren't for presidents and senators and judges, you wouldn't enjoy the life of peace and security you do. Our brothers and sisters in Christ in places like Sudan and Afghanistan would be quite grateful to live under the government of Barack Obama, I think, imperfect as he may be. If you still don't feel like praying or thanking God for Obama, then read 1 Timothy 2:1-7 and get over your sinful hatred. That sounds harsh, I know. But if you look at your political enemy and fail to see a human being created in the image of God, then harsh words are in order.

3. Read Eric Redmond's "Living Soli Deo Gloria Under Obama." It's the best post-election piece I've read, easy.

One Out of Two Don't Cut It

Did you vote today? Good for you, citizen. Have you prayed for the future of our country today? If not, then remember this...

For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. - Psalm 22:28

Not sure how to pray? Mark Altrogge has some good advice.

What is the Freedom of Choice Act?

As I said the other day, the only reason I really care about the upcoming election at this point is the issue of abortion. More than just the judicial future of Roe v. Wade is at stake. Obama has pledged that “the first thing I’d do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.” What is the Freedom of Choice Act? Justin Taylor has a great analysis.

And BTW - if you find me silly for really only caring about one issue, I don't even care anymore. Other issues matter, but they all pale in comparison to the legally sanctioned killing of innocent human life. Randy Alcorn summed it up well in a great recent blog...

"Please don't tell me abortion isn't the only issue. Of course it isn't. Treatment of the Jews wasn’t the only issue in 1940 Germany. Buying, selling and owning black people wasn’t the only issue in the United States of 1850. Nonetheless, both were the dominant moral issues of their day."

Obama on Abortion - The Definitive Look

I know what you're thinking - "D.J., if you hate politics so much, then why are you still talking about it?" Point taken. However, with the election coming up soon, I think this needs to be shared. I've talked with a lot of people over the past few months who are Obama supporters and pro-life. I find this extremely odd. If you're an Obama supporter and pro-life, I implore you to take 20 minutes and carefully read this article. Dr. Robert P. George has written a level-headed, well-reasoned, fact-based look into Sen. Obama's record on abortion. This respected scholar of both law and theology comes to the conclusion that Obama is "the most pro-abortion legislator ever to serve in either house of the United States Congress." Yes, he chooses the term "pro-abortion" purposefully and no, the article isn't filled with Fox-news style sensationalism. This article is the definitive summation of why my conscience will simply not allow me to pull the lever for Obama come November 4th. In our country, millions of human beings are killed each year with the full approval of our government. Not only does Obama see no problem with this, but - and this is a matter of his voting record - he thinks we need to go further.

HT: Between Two Worlds

John McCain Gets Barackrolled

Oh Yeah, That's Why I Hate Politics

Once upon a time, it was summer in America. The primaries were over, and our eyes looked toward the upcoming election, with two candidates who promised to stay away from politics as usual. Remember when quotes like this filled the airwaves?

"I've pledged to conduct a respectful campaign and I urge, time after time, various entities within the Republican party to also do that." - John McCain

"We don't need John McCain and I to be demonizing each other. You won't get that from my campaign." - Barack Obama

What a respectful, non-demonizing few months its been. Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it? Candidates can shout all they want about mavericks and change, but as long as politicians are people then politics will be business as usual. After paying more attention to politics this year than I have have for a while, today I'm reminded why I'm so fed up with the whole mess. It's days like this that make me so grateful for truth like this...

"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" - Numbers 23:19

Politicians + Biblical Illiteracy = Crap Like This

"Barack Obama was a community organizer like Jesus. Pontius Pilate was a governor." - Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen

Um...wow.

Abortion: Eliminate or Reduce?

Tony Jones, a leader in the emergent movement, posted on his blog about a confrence call with staffers from the Obama campaign that steered into a discussion of abortion. The actual post is pretty pedestrian, but I want to direct you toward the comments section - especailly to a discussion between Zach Nielsen (he of Vitamin Z fame) and Carla Jo about whether to combat abortion by making it illegal or attacking underlying social causes. Their discussion was civil and explored a lot of tough questions, making it great reading for anyone on either side who wants to take this paramount issue seriously. It's a lengthy one, but take time and follow the discussion through to the end. I'll tip my hand (hey, it's my blog after all) and say that I think Z gets it dead-on right. I don't argue for a second with the proposition that we should attack social ills that lead to abortion, but I think that using that argument in place of legal protection for the unborn is a colossal mistake - as well as intellectualy nonsensical.

Abortion and Intellectual Cowardice

I'm not a fan of Barack Obama's views on abortion, but I haven't really posted on the topic here - mainly because other bloggers have already flooded the blogosphere with information. However, after watching Obama at the Saddleback Forum, I have to post his cowardly dodge of Warren's tough question about human rights. I have little respect for one who will support the killing of the unborn yet intellectually runs from any tough questions about the issue. Over at Between Two Worlds, guest poster James Grant passes along this ironic collection of quotes from First Things...

"Dr. Hymie Gordon (Mayo Clinic): “By all criteria of modern molecular biology, life is present from the moment of conception.”

Dr. Micheline Matthews-Roth (Harvard University Medical School): “It is scientifically correct to say that an individual human life begins at conception.”

Dr. Alfred Bongioanni (University of Pennsylvania): “I have learned from my earliest medical education that human life begins at the time of conception.”

Dr. Jerome LeJeune, “the Father of Modern Genetics” (University of Descartes, Paris): “To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion . . . it is plain experimental evidence.”

Rick Warren: At what point does a baby get human rights in your view?
Sen. Barack Obama: Well, I think that whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade. "

Why People Think Christians are Jerks

I'm pro-life, not in favor of gay marriage, and will not be voting for Barack Obama this November. However, I also think there's no place for smug, pretentious Phariseeism - joking or not - in the Kingdom of Christ, which is why I'm growing very weary of Focus on the Family. Take a look at this video, then pray that the church in America will spend more time spreading the gospel of Christ and less time reveling at the thought of humiliating political enemies.

Barack Obama Dance Party

HT: Vitamin Z

What Are They Thinking?

Ever noticed how CNN always seems to pick the worst possible pictures of presidential candidates to use on their website? I figured we could have some fun with it. I'd like to see your best caption for what Barack Obama and John McCain are thinking about in this picture.

How Much Would You Pay...

...for Barack Obama's half-eaten waffle?