Of a Pastor and The President:

[ByFaithAlone]

I thought this was both an uplifting an encouraging story that may be a shock to some Obama critics so I decided to post it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-mansfield/president-obama-pastors-joel-hunter_b_1311348.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

[Guest Butero]

The only problem with this story is that there is no way to verify it, since there are only two people that know if it is true. That would be Obama and this Pastor. Perhaps it is true, and perhaps it is not? Obama may have felt close to this man since he was willing to reach out to him in spite of political differences? There is no way to know? I have no feelings about it one way or the other because I don't know if it really happened?

By the way, it will have no effect on who I vote for. I am solidly behind the generic GOP nominee.

[ByFaithAlone]

The only problem with this story is that there is no way to verify it, since there are only two people that know if it is true. That would be Obama and this Pastor. Perhaps it is true, and perhaps it is not? Obama may have felt close to this man since he was willing to reach out to him in spite of political differences? There is no way to know? I have no feelings about it one way or the other because I don't know if it really happened?

True... technically there is no way to verify this... but I would hope that a pastor/president wouldn't lie about something like this. It seems a bit extreme to just call it a lie.

By the way, it will have no effect on who I vote for. I am solidly behind the generic GOP nominee.

I had no intention of changing your mind on who to vote for. This is just intended as food for thought.

[Matthitjah]

It's the HuffPo and it's an Election year, enough said.

[gdemoss]

I am not surprised in the least. I believe that the president believes in God and is sincere in his beliefs. We can expect that he will, as will all others, have works to match his faith. That said, most men of false faiths have moments like these just as do the true. It is the overall day by day works that are displayed by a man that define his true faith.

The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord.

Gary

[Babbler]

It is the Huffington Post. Before this have you ever read a story from them putting a positive post on Christianity. Seriously can anybody believe Obama's Christianity when he celebrates Ramadan at the White House.

[John Robinson]

Obama loves abortion from conception through birth, wealth distribution, championing perverted lifestyles, and Islam. The dude is no more a Christian than my pet schnauzer. And the fact Huffington, the left's main publication, is trumpeting him as such tells me all I need to know.

[SavedByGrace1980]

The only problem with this story is that there is no way to verify it, since there are only two people that know if it is true. That would be Obama and this Pastor. Perhaps it is true, and perhaps it is not? Obama may have felt close to this man since he was willing to reach out to him in spite of political differences? There is no way to know? I have no feelings about it one way or the other because I don't know if it really happened?

By the way, it will have no effect on who I vote for. I am solidly behind the generic GOP nominee.

I am as harsh a critic of Obama and his policies as there is - so please don't take this as defending him or endorsing him in any way.

Yet . . .

According to the pastor's own website, where the article is reprinted, one can assume from his vantage point it is true.

Perhaps this is to remind us ALL that - indeed - God DOES work in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.

Blessings!

-Ed

[Guest]

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. Joel 3:16

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Before bringing his family to Northland, Dr. Hunter served as a United Methodist pastor for 15 years in Indiana.

http://www.northland...joel_c._hunter/

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I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:2

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Christ at the Checkpoint, a conference sponsored by Palestinian evangelicals took place this week at Bethlehem Bible College.

According to the conference’s press release:

For the first time, a broad spectrum of evangelical believers met literally at the “checkpoint,” and engaged biblically on issues that have historically divided them. Subjects included, Christian Zionism, Islamism, justice, nonviolence, and reconciliation. These themes were intended to create an ongoing forum for Christian peacemaking within the context of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. These issues were discussed in the form of inspirational messages, Bible study, interactive workshops, panels and site visits.

Defying the temptation to despair, Palestinian Christians demonstrated renewed hope to continue to stand against the injustice of occupation nonviolently and forms of Christian Zionism that marginalize them. They also acknowledged the right of the State of Israel to exist within secure borders.

Speakers included John Ortberg, Bishara Awad, Chris Wright, Doug Birdsall, David Kim, Tony Campolo, Lynne Hybels, Munther Isaac, Shane Claiborne, Joel Hunter, Ron Sider, Salim Munayer and Colin Chapman. Participants from 20 nations and a sizeable delegation of university students including Wheaton College and Eastern University, were moved by the testimony of Palestinian men and women who shared the pain and suffering they experience on a daily basis caused primarily by the continuing occupation.

A unique aspect of the conference was the presence and presentations by members of the Messianic community including Richard Harvey, Evan Thomas and Wayne Hilsden, who provided an integral contribution to the dialogue.

Conference organizers challenged the evangelical community to cease looking at the Middle East through the lens of “end times” prophecy and instead rallied them to join in following Jesus in the prophetic pursuance of justice, peace and reconciliation.

The conference organizers included: John Angle, Alex Awad, Bishara Awad, Sami Awad, Steve Haas, Munther Isaac, Yohanna Katanacho, Manfred Kohl, Salim Munayer, Jack Sara, Stephen Sizer. They also published the following manifesto:

1. The Kingdom of God has come. Evangelicals must reclaim the prophetic role in bringing peace, justice and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel.
2. Reconciliation recognizes God’s image in one another.
3. Racial ethnicity alone does not guarantee the benefits of the Abrahamic Covenant.
4. The Church in the land of the Holy One, has born witness to Christ since the days of Pentecost. It must be empowered to continue to be light and salt in the region, if there is to be hope in the midst of conflict.
5. Any exclusive claim to land of the Bible in the name of God is not in line with the teaching of Scripture.
6. All forms of violence must be refuted unequivocally.
7. Palestinian Christians must not lose the capacity to self-criticism if they wish to remain prophetic.
8. There are real injustices taking place in the Palestinian territories and the suffering of the Palestinian people can no longer be ignored. Any solution must respect the equity and rights of Israel and Palestinian communities.
9. For Palestinian Christians, the occupation is the core issue of the conflict.
10. Any challenge of the injustices taking place in the Holy Land must be done in Christian love. Criticism of Israel and the occupation cannot be confused with anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of the State of Israel.
11. Respectful dialogue between Palestinian and Messianic believers must continue. Though we may disagree on secondary matters of theology, the Gospel of Jesus and his ethical teaching take precedence.
12. Christians must understand the global context for the rise of extremist Islam. We challenge stereotyping of all faith forms that betray God’s commandment to love our neighbors and enemies.

http://www.examiner.com/methodist-in-national/christians-palestine-hope-for-reconciliation-despite-occupation

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And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 1 Samuel 3:1