Barack Obama lets his faith show

The president has gone to church again and Politico thinks it is worthy of a lead article.

The main focus of the story is the one-liner from scripture that the president often uses about being our brother's keeper. I have a few thoughts about the repeated use of the line.

Politico story

HONOLULU — President Obama’s trip to church Sunday followed a steady rebirth over the past three months in public expressions of his Christianity.

Obama has publicly mentioned his “Christian faith” more times in the past three months than he has over the past year. He has more frequently cited passages of the Bible, including repeated references to the spirit of Genesis 4:9 — “I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper” — which was a mainstay of Obama’s 2010 campaign stump speech. And he’s taken his family to church twice, a shift for a president who has preferred to worship privately since the end of the 2008 campaign.

“He presents his Christianity as an important aspect of his identity but one he doesn’t want to foist upon anyone else, and he would rather risk downplaying it than offending somebody,” said Jeffrey Siker, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount University, who has studied Obama’s use of the Bible in his speeches.

“One recurring phrase — and I’ve noticed this frequently of late — this notion that we are our brothers’ keepers, which is kind of a mantra for him,” Siker added, noting that Obama “would see the notion of being our brother’s keeper as something that crosses all religious lines.”

Obama has used the reference, which was a regular feature of his on the 2008 campaign trail, in two dozen speeches since September. Before then, he’d used it just four times as president. References to his “Christian faith” also have appeared more times in Obama’s speeches since September than they did before....

It's really sad that with our president we have become suspect of his religious references... with the thought that they are nothing more than politically motivated. But... that is what he has left us with... esp. with this continual reference to being "our brothers keeper." For we conservatives we actually hear him saying that we are responsible to provide everything any person might desire instead of people being responsible for their own lives and actions.

I would love to hear him quote the verse that says,

"If anyone isn't willing to work, he should not eat."
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Now... I can't help but wonder what kind of political capital that would harvest for a politician these days... esp. the president?

xtnyoda, shalomed

H/T Jeremy

On April 19, 1971... chuck aka xtnyoda was on a visual reconnaissance mission... flying as a door gunner... on a Marine helicopter... over the Republic of South Vietnam.

After first flying over the first of 3 North Vietnamese Army base camps at the altitude of 1,500 feet... at the request of the infantry lieutenant on board for a closer look... to gather visual information for a Marine unit that was going to conduct a strike that night... we then descended to an altitude of only 400 feet for a second pass-over... suddenly our lone helicopter came under intense automatic weapons fire.

Long story short... we were shot down... and by the grace of God and an excellent co-pilot... we managed a controlled "landing" nearby.

Because of our desperate situation... I was not able to make the afternoon flight I had been scheduled for. My best friend, George Vangundy, took my place.

Shortly after his flight took off the helicopter experienced catastrophic mechanical failure... George died instantly.

Thirty-nine years later to the day, April 19, 2010, our first born son and I traveled some 650 miles to the resting place of my friend... to place a simple rose of remembrance... over his grave... and say a prayer in memory.

We were able to find the location of the grave after having been united over the internet with one of George's sisters, Judy, several years ago. Judy and her husband, Larry, graciously met us at the grave site in the north-western corn fields of Indiana.

I had always felt... and often said that George had died in in my place. I had shared the same with Judy in our e-mail correspondence... it was a heavy weight on my heart... for 39 years.

We had a blessed time together in that small, rural, cemetery... words cannot describe how grateful our son and I felt that Judy and Larry would make what was for them a 4 hour journey to... meet us there... at the grave of her brother.

The picture above is xtnyoda... and Judy.

I shared with her again my deepest feelings of... grief at the loss of life... and the emotions that go with feeling that somehow... it should have been me.

Judy was gracious beyond description... and delighted to meet us. It was one of the greatest and rewarding moments of my life... to get to look into her accepting eyes and gentle unassuming smile.

As we approached each other for the initial greeting... after John and I got out of our car... she quietly asked, "May I hug you?"

I don't know what to say about the embrace... except to say... for a fleeting moment... it seemed I could actually feel the heart-beat of my friend... in her heart.

After our sharing and grateful meeting... it was time to say good-by. Judy asked, "How long was your journey?" I responded, "It only took about 11 hours driving."

Her husband, Larry, gently responded, "No Chuck... it's been a 39 year journey." His wisdom struck home.

Then... a couple of days later I received an e-mail from Judy that I wish to share part of with you. This paragraph is one of the greatest statements of personal redemption I have ever received... save the cross of Christ.

"You have said several times that George died in your place. I think this thought has caused you a lot of pain over the years. I wanted to tell you that I don't think George died in your place. I think George died in his own place, and one day, you will die in your own place.

I don't think one can choose to decide who dies in who's place. The Lord is the only one who decides.... and then He calls us to Him when He is ready for us. I understand how you might feel about what happened, but please don't continue to think about it as you do. George died in his place and you will die in your place when the time comes.

Nothing more."

That statement friends... is priceless.

Thank you Judy.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Below I am going to post a picture that I happened upon of the helicopter that I was shot down in. I was shocked to find it... it was on a web site that had photos from Vietnam... and the person that took the picture must have been on the recovery effort after we were evacuated. You might be able to read his writing at the bottom of the picture that says, "Shot Down!"