Comments on: A Live Feed from the Presidential Inauguration

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:36:19 +0000

In response to Chris’ question…sorry bro…wish I could give you a good answer regarding Obama and FOCA. All we have to go on is how he voted in the past, and what he has said he will do in the future (neither of which look too good if you’re an unborn baby).
I feel for you though. I too am being treated with the distant, awkward stares, and the verbal assaults. To be a 20-something Christian in Portland, as well as being a Conservative…I might as well be a leper. For people who claim to be so open-minded and accepting, they labele me a arrogant/self-rightous/condecending/elitist/pious/bigot/racist/homophobe (take your pick) if I ever try to present an alternate viewpoint on anything. And Lord protect and watch over me if I happen to disagree with Obama.
I agree, the bible does not specifically talk about abortion, and it is not a hot-button issue with me…But the bible also does not talk about Government being the solution to eliminating greed and taking care of the less fortunate. Presidents and politicians can talk of these things all they want, but for some reason I always thought that was up to us as individuals and especially as Christ-followers. You wouldn’t believe me even if I gave you the link, but there was a study done that showed people who claim a more conservative political philosophy are more generous with time and finances than liberals. However, with increased taxes that will even out as I won’t have that expendable cash to donate to my church and great charities around Portland…perhaps the government will help better than me anyway.
Sorry, that’s all I have and I have said too much already as I walk around in fear of being labeled and targeted as one of those close-minded pharisees. All I can say is watch and see.

Dave in P-Town

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:49:37 +0000

So when and where do we get to see your pictures? The World Wide Web is holding its breath in waiting to judge the victor between you and Jeremy. Hope you had a great time at the inauguration (I was at the parade and though cold, thought it was quite an amazing experience) and hope to see those pictures soon!

By: colleen

colleen — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:42:15 +0000

you mentioned throngs of high school bands in DC today. this high school band’s story in the NY Times brought tears to my eyes… http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/18/us/20090118_marchingband_multimedia/index.html
i am sure you are having a great time!

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:21:54 +0000

Don,
I’m not sure you’ll get this, but even if someone else does, I’d REALLY appreciate a helpful answer. I am in a real desperate situation when it comes to my close friends, my family and my church. I am being treated with much distance, awkward stares, silent get togethers (so long as I’m in the room) and verbal and email assaults. (The emails are surprisingly worse)

God has changed my heart in the past few years through allowing me to suffer the awful and similar persecution I once thought the ‘real sinners’ had coming to them. (I’m embarrassed to say these things). I was brought up in the usual church with a brand of arrogant self-righteousness, condescending, elite, judgemental, pious, “WE” have special knowledge, etc. type of Christians. It was all I knew or thought serving Christ was about. I took these things, to my ever lasting shame, with me as a youth pastor, and a Christian. Well basically, after being a Christian for 10 years, and then a pastor for 6 years, I finally met Jesus. I couldn’t be more different than I was today.

Many of your books have helped me beyond compare, and I although this isn’t probably the best place to contact you, I didn’t who else to ask for help.

With tomorrows amazingly historical moments ready to introduce our country into something more beautiful in so many areas of ugliness, I, like many, have begun to receive a multitude of the typical fear ‘emails’ about FOCA that Obama is going to overturn.

Now I, again-like many in here I’m sure, serve as the single bridge to my former group of close-minded Pharisees, and its very hard to try to bring them to a healthier view of themselves in light of the cross. I mostly enjoy the journey, because it makes me feel alive to help people see truth. God has just opened my eyes to what I thought truth was along. Its like being a brand new Christian and Pastor all over again. I am so very ALIVE!

I do, however, have a hard time coming up with a healthy piece of encouragement, explanation, and/or dialogue regarding the FOCA conversations with my family, the emails and passions of some very close friends of mine. I know there is some, I’m just at a loss.

I really do grasp the other components of Biblical responsibility regarding my choice of a vote: the poor, eliminating greed, deception, widows, orphans, unclothed, the marginalized, the oppressed, the forsaken by men, and the need to restore Kindom priciples to them. I don’t see them as the ‘less’ important to abortion and/or other issues that the typical Judeo Christian Republican.

I might disagree on MOST things with them, and although my perspective on how to lower abortion is vastly different, I really needed some help articulating how, and to quote what I get in response: “how someone who cares about so many Biblical issues like you say he does, could make his first act as President something that allows partial-birth abortions, a lack parental contact, etc” and on & on they go with what FOCA will allow. They can’t rationalize it with my new picture of this man who loves and fears God.

If there is untruths in these worries, I’d love to know. I just am looking for something that can help my friends see the heart our new President has for God when it comes to some of the key issues of FOCA. Anyone who can help me, I’d appreciate it. I literally have had to fly ‘undercover’ at a relatively large church where I am making silent changes and loud statements about what Christ really values. It has often been a lonely road and I am relieved to even believe I could receive some support here, and I just needed some help on this one.

I’m so sorry for the long post. Please count it as it is, my real desperate attempt to help bridge people to truth that can liberate them of bondage to ideals that aren’t Biblical.

Chris in SoCal.

By: Kat

Kat — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:35:08 +0000

I look forward to getting your take on the inauguration. I am actually leading a group of people reading Blue Like Jazz, and we start that night. I am sooo going to use whatever you have posted that night. By the way, I live in Kansas….and I totally mini-golf.

By: boone

boone — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:24:31 +0000

just remember the stuff i showed you at the mentoring for president event! kick his ass bro.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:21:43 +0000

I’m jealous even though I’ll be there too but not w/ real tickets or entry into some of the other events. Can’t wait to see these pics.

By: Melissa Szydlowski

Melissa Szydlowski — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:23:41 +0000

I live just outside D.C. in Maryland. I’ll be staying far, far away from all the madness. I would love to be there for the historic event, but I have a fear of having no available restrooms in large crowds.

the end.

I look forward to your tweets and photography.

By: stephanie

stephanie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:46:23 +0000

“…12 minutes in kansas” dude, that’s the funniest thing i’ve read in a while. (c: thank you ever so much for the amusement.

By: Larry Shallenberger

Larry Shallenberger — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:08:06 +0000

I read this post to my wife, who lived in Kansas during her high school days. She wants the record to show that there are recreational options beyond mini-golf.

Teens would flock to the cemetery and dare each other to run around Ole’ Crazy Nelly’s tombstone thirteen times. Rumor had it that those who did would die seven days later.

She also told me that there’s a Beer and Pop distributor with reasonable prices.