In response to Douglas Babb, YOU'RE FLAT WRONG. Do some more research.

When I read this article, I see something very different from most of the posts.

I think Obama did a fine job of simply saying that Jesus is the embodiment of a principle of brotherhood.

I thought Jesus was all about brotherhood. Obama said that the church represented a principle of brotherhood, and represented the ideals that Jesus evokes, The church did this following Hurricane Katrina by helping the victims. The government failed in this by failing to respond compentently to the disaster.

He did not say the government should be the rock, the government should simply be competent.

I don't think Obama was trying to be a theologian, or to push any religious viewpoint at all. He was simply using the principles of Christianity as a medium of common understanding with the people of N.O. who have had to rely on faith (and not so much government) during the past two years. IF it is true that much has been spent and little has been accomplished is not the people of N.O. who should be blamed, it is the incompetence of the government.

This speech had very little to do with religion, and everything to do with caring about human beings. This appears to be a concern that most of the people complaining about this or that in their posts seem to ignore.

The people listening to Obama in that church must be woefully lacking in Bible knowledge; anybody who knows Scripture would have booed him off the platform for such cynical twisting of that passage (in Matthew 7), which has nothing at all to do with goverment and everything to do with repenting and placing your faith in Christ. Obama should be ashamed — if he's still capable of feeling shame.

Forget the 'Rock', Here is a Liberal, One who thinks the clinical murder of unborn children should be not only a legal but should be paid for by tax dollars…Here is a liberal, one who believes that if a pastor does not want to marry 2 people of the same sex that pastor should be put in jail even if it is against his religion…Here is a liberal who says an obese society is starving to death and that taxes are not high enough already…he wants to throw more money (funneled through his own pockets) at do nothing for themselves obese starving people…Here is a socialist, communist, elitist minded LIBERAL who wants nothing more than a brain dead society who believs without government, the people are nothing…Here is a Liberal…

The question of whether Christ's teachings resulted from His divine nature is not much different from the question of whether His claim to be the only Son of God is true. To answer that, one must look at the totality of the evidence. As an attorney, I am impressed by the unmatched historical and scientific evidence of the reliability and authenticity of the New Testament manuscripts; which begs the question: on what basis would one doubt Christ's divine claim?

How ironic…Obama quotes from a Bible passage when it appears convenient within the Bible belt; the devil quoted directly from Psalm 91 when he attempted to fool Jesus…

Oh well………Just add another idiot to the mix of candidates. This chump has no concept of Biblical teachings.

From what I've seen and heard in media — mostly via "live" television interviews/broadcasts — Obama is a member of a self-defined, "BLACK CHURCH."

The other titling comes afterward, but first and foremost, as per their very minister (who has said as much on various televised interviews), he is minister of "A BLACK CHURCH" of which Obama (and family) are members. When questioned about why they use that definition of their church, the minister grew immediately rude, impatient, angry and was obviously condescending to and about the very question, suggesting that the "White" man who asked that question was just "too dumb" to understand.

How would any of you Liberals here respond if a Republican, Christian male (or female, for that matter) went before the world and proclaimed that they were members of "A WHITE CHURCH."

I can barely stand to consider just to what extent the outcry would ensue, if ever so…

About the "Separation of Church and State," another thing about Liberals that can always be relied upon to happen without balance, is, that WHEN you hear A LIBERAL who you "like" mention Christ and/or refer to the Bible (New Testament or Old), you support the statement/s. WHEN, however, you hear a Conservative refer to Christ, Christianity, the Bible (Old and/or New), you revile them.

It comes down to the fact that you dismiss and denigrate Conservatives when and if there is mention of Christ and Christianity, while you promote those Liberals who do even when they obfuscate their references (and in this case, I refer to Obama, his "black church" and the use of this Biblical context to politicize his intents).

I never grow weary of hearing or reading anyone quoting Christ, or for that matter, any part of the New Testament (while the Old Testament is sometimes used to dismiss the New Testament and to denigrate Christ, and that's a problem for those locked into the Old Testament only — the two Old and New are to be taken and regarded together).

But I am weary of hearing mostly Liberals refer to the Bible without context, often, of Christ, for political reasons, while doing their utmost to stamp out mention of Christ nationwide along with harassing anyone who believes in the morality proclaimed by Christ (and in the New Testament).

Obama is a politician. I like his wife. I'd never vote for either of them, however, but that does not mean I don't find them both charming (I do). I think they are confused and misled as to Christianity and especially as to what democracy means and is, and how it is to be maintained. Obama is essentially a Marxist, as is Hillary Clinton, as are most Democrats and Liberals today. They are also essentially intolerant of Christ, the New Testament and Christianity except when they assume the use of any/all will gain them footholds as to sympathy and support. Christ warns us about people like that, especially their actions.

As a group, the dems have fought over and over to disallow religion in any form to be associated with politics. Now we have this empty suit from Chicago invoking the Bible as part of his latest stump speach to convince you that he's the man for the job. No doubt if he gets elected (God help us) we'll see his true attitude and anyone embracing religion will be duly banished from this land.

PHONEY!!!!!!!!!!!

What does someone speaking at a church have to do with "Congress making a law respecting an establishment of religion"?

We should not however "prohibit the free exercise thereof".

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" Jeremiah 1:5

I guess he will use that one in his next speech reaffirming his pro-life stance

oooopssss

Jesus was talking about people making PERSONAL changes and changing the inner man. So, Obama takes the exact opposite approach and demands that the inner man does not need to change but he must be controlled, pampered and proteced by some government.

Obama is lame. He does not have a clue about this man Jesus.

Essentially Obama says that we need to put our trust in the arm of flesh. Hmmm, Jesus said to do just the opposite.

Obama quoting the Bible is fine. The sad part is that Osama has more experience running a well-rounded organization than Obama does.

Yeah republicans… blame the people for living below sea level. How sad are you? Is it necessary to blame it on the victim? Honestly your president botched what should have been the biggest rescue operation on US soil ev er. We were a great country before these crooks took office, we still are great but we will have to atone for the past 7 years.

To all republicans just remember its your fault.. The dollar fell

Its your fault the world hates us.

Its your fault we are so divided in this country.

You must ATONE!!!

Where in the US Constitution does is say "Separation of Church and State"? I just read the Constitution and I couldn't find it anywhere.
Posted By C, Middletown, CT : August 27, 2007 3:02 pm

Come on, this isn't hard. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…"
Not to mention the fact that Jefferson cited the establishment clause and the free exercise clause as supporting the separation of church and state. And there's the small matter of it being accepted in theory by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Political candidates should not be speaking in churches nor should churches invite them to do so! It clearly smacks of endorsement unless each and every major canidate is invited to speak in a particular church.

To both Dems & Repubs - remember even the devil can quote scripture.

Rick Moore…your post is priceless! You need to trademark that.

When are these idiots (Obama) going to stop exploiting the poor, uneducated and ignorant for their own political gain?

***************************

The wise man may build his house on a rock, but the foolish man builds his house 16′ below sea level in an area surrounded by lakes and rivers, and is then greatly astonished when a hurricane floods the city.

There's not enough government in the world to fix dumb.

Posted By Rick Moore, Mission Viejo, CA : August 26, 2007 11:27 am

What would the media, especially CNN, if, oh, Fred Thompson stood in the pulpit of First Baptist - Atlanta, whipped out his Thompson Chain Reference Bible and a sermon folder and preached a 30 minute message of the evils of modern American liberalism. What if he ripped the Dems over and over again pointing out their comments and refuting them with scripture? They would want him hanged by the neck until dead and the ACLU would want him stoned. Its much easier to preach a sermon putting down the liberals who are so easily targets from the scriptures. I applaud Obama for finding a message that can be preached in a pro-liberal bent, but he is very poor in his theological teaching. Those of us who preach, pastors like myself, would call his "message" a tremendous reach - attempting to make lemonade out of rotten lemons. Before you begin using the Bible as a support for your political stances, read it well.

Katrina: One good outcome: It got some kids out of the South Louisiana schools and into Texas schools. Here at least they will have a chance at becoming educated adults.
The levees are not the disgrace. It is the school system.

I'd love to see Obama as President.

The use of the word "principal" rather than the appropriate word "principle" suggests something about the English language skills of your reporter of this article.
Was this item edited and/or sub-edited?

The First Amendment to the Constitution reads:

“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

In letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1802 Thomas Jefferson called the first amendment a “wall of separation” between church and state. The Supreme Court of the United States used the phrase first in 1878, and later in a series of cases starting in 1947.

Liberals not only read the constitution… they wrote it.

If would be great to hear a big government Democrat give a sermon from 1 Samuel 8:9-18! Well, maybe; they'd probably be as off base as the "Reverend" Obama.

Not peace, but a sword. - Jesus

Why A Republican Vote Is A Racist Vote, Paul Krugman

…[There is a] difference between the goals of the modern Republican Party and the strategy it uses to win elections. The people who run the G.O.P. are concerned, above all, with making America safe for the rich. Their ultimate goal, as Grover Norquist once put it, is to get America back to the way it was “up until Teddy Roosevelt, when the socialists took over,” getting rid of “the income tax, the death tax, regulation, all that.” But right-wing economic ideology has never been a vote-winner. Instead, the party’s electoral strategy has depended largely on exploiting racial fear and animosity.

Ronald Reagan didn’t become governor of California by preaching the wonders of free enterprise; he did it by attacking the state’s fair housing law, denouncing welfare cheats and associating liberals with urban riots. Reagan didn’t begin his 1980 campaign with a speech on supply-side economics, he began it — at the urging of a young Trent Lott — with a speech supporting states’ rights delivered just outside Philadelphia, Miss., where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964. And if you look at the political successes of the G.O.P. since it was taken over by movement conservatives, they had very little to do with public opposition to taxes, moral values, perceived strength on national security, or any of the other explanations usually offered. To an almost embarrassing extent, they all come down to just five words: southern whites starting voting Republican.

In fact, I suspect that the underlying importance of race to the Republican base is the reason Rudy Giuliani remains the front-runner for the G.O.P. nomination, despite his serial adultery and his past record as a social liberal. Never mind moral values: what really matters to the base is that Mr. Giuliani comes across as an authoritarian, willing in particular to crack down on you-know-who. But Republicans have a problem: demographic changes are making their race-based electoral strategy decreasingly effective. Quite simply, America is becoming less white, mainly because of immigration. Hispanic and Asian voters were only 4 percent of the electorate in 1980, but they were 11 percent of voters in 2004 — and that number will keep rising for the foreseeable future.

Those numbers are the reason Karl Rove was so eager to reach out to Hispanic voters. But the whites the G.O.P. has counted on to vote their color, not their economic interests, are having none of it. From their point of view, it’s us versus them — and everyone who looks different is one of them. So now we have the spectacle of Republicans competing over who can be most convincingly anti-Hispanic. I know, officially they’re not hostile to Hispanics in general, only to illegal immigrants, but that’s a distinction neither the G.O.P. base nor Hispanic voters takes seriously.

Today’s G.O.P., in short, is trapped by its history of cynicism. For decades it has exploited racial animosity to win over white voters — and now, when Republican politicians need to reach out to an increasingly diverse country, the base won’t let them.

Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists referring to the First Amendment to the Constitution as a “wall of separation” between church and state. The Amendment itself reads:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . ."

The Supreme Court of the United States used the phrase “separation of church and state” first in 1878, and later in a series of cases starting in 1947.

Liberals not only read the constitution… they wrote it.

Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists referring to the First Amendment to the Constitution as a “wall of separation” between church and state. The Amendment itself reads:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . ."

The Supreme Court of the United States used the phrase “separation of church and state” first in 1878, and later in a series of cases starting in 1947.

Liberals not only read the constitution… they wrote it.

Looks like the Drudge nut job knuckle dragged their way in.

"Studies of the Dead Sea Scrolls indicate that the passage in the Bible known as the Sermon on the Mount is actually an ancient Essene prayer dating to hundres of years before the birth of Christ.
Posted By Douglas Babb, Princeton_KY : August 26, 2007 10:44 am "

Well, not at all, actually. There are some points of contact, but it is not simply an Essene prayer:
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qdssmnt.html

"Separation of Church and State" was a term coined by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to a Virginia Baptist association, in which he said that, in his view, the establishment clause meant that there was to be a "wall of separation" between Church and State.

This was a valid opinion of Jefferson's, but a questionable one - he was in France at the time of the writing of the constitution.

It is unlikely that the actual authors of the constitution intended this "wall of separation". During the convention, they temporarily halted work on the Constitution to write the "Northwest Ordinance" regarding the entry of new states into the union. In the Northwest Ordinance, they wrote that religion was essential for public education and good government.

Hillary all the way. Obama sounds like a preacher for Islam or Farrakhan. Spare me either one of those !

Wake up Carolina Dude,

Name one thing Obama has done legislative-wise or business related.

As for Edwards, can you seriously spout praise of him as a candidate? Here is a multi-millionaire who HEAVILY invested in hedge funds (post Katrina mind you)- thereby posting significant personal financial gains from the vast numbers of foreclosures - guess where? - that's right, New Orleans. THEN, he posses with Katrina victims on a political platform.

Please wake up and become educated. This Democratic party is NO LONGER the party of JFK and McGovern. It has become a socialist platform steering more towards Marxism than anytime in history.

Local government and the people who moved into a city well below sea-level in hurricane central are to blame - not the White House. Compare what the Mayor of Houston did when they had a cat 4 inbound - without Fed help BTW and see if you can draw a comparison.

Your Obama/Edwards ticket will send us all into a socialist nightmare. If you want to focus on the average American you might want to look at Romney. But whatever you do, please become educationally rounded.

Christ is the "rock. Mr. Obama's life is built on muhammod. Mr. Obama will crumblke in the end. He has built on sand. As has everyone not standing on Christ.

Total perversion of scripture, but then again, to a liberal, the government is the rock.

Once again the Dems show how flip flop they can be. They scream "Separation of Church and State" and then go to a church to speak.
Come on Dems, which way do you want it.

Rick Moore is right on!!! or, kinda“ ,,,the foolish man builds his house 16′ below sea level in an area surrounded by lakes and rivers, and is then greatly astonished when a hurricane floods the city.” But that’s the easy answer.

Sure, New Orleans was, and may still be a disaster waiting to happen (again) and yeah, it’s difficult to keep reading every rant about how the government (at all levels) let these poor people down. And, sure, a strong case in that direction, can and has been made.

But the victims of this incredibly predictable natural catastrophe do and must have some self responsibility in all of this too, beyond the manic finger pointing that stared, seemingly, only hours after the storm was over.

What's more worrisome about the Obama's, the Clintons, the Edwards and all the rest is the persistent message about victim hood, and how "we" (the Democrats) will help "you" (the underclass), in this case the victims of a terrible natural disaster. It’s such an old ploy. We’ll help you, we care, we want to make your lives better. Let government take care of you.

Common folks! From the so-called War on Poverty under the Johnson administration to the present day, has it ever worked, or better, worked as promised? But there’s Obama in a New Orleans church making the same tired pitch, sadly to some very weary, and likely still very desperate people. Still, it’s sad.

Where's Barry Lynn and his "separation of church and state" lawyers? He should be beating down the door of this church for "endorsing" a presidential candidate.

I've never been to a church where somebody got up and "preached" about how the government has let us down. My churches always talked to us about loving our fellow man and helping them ourselves…not relying on Big Brother to do it.

Get up off your lazy butts, New Orleans!

why anyone takes him seriously or anything the Lunacratic party says seriously is beyond me. "We are killing Al Qaeda in Iraq and the surge is working but we need to get out of Iraq and go fight Al Qaeda elsewhere"….Brilliant stuff.

Hussein Osama BananaRama is a fraud and a true amateur and anyone who can't see this is a) a fool b) gullible c) a scuker d) on drugs e) an ignoramous=A LIBERAL!!!

Context is always important. A good scripture can usually stir a crowd, especially a church crowd. But, I think the "Rock"in this case is not the government, but dependence on God and God alone….

Where in the US Constitution does is say "Separation of Church and State"? I just read the Constitution and I couldn't find it anywhere.

Posted By C, Middletown, CT : August 27, 2007 3:02 pm

Liberals don't read…don't you know that? Someone fabricated the church/state myth and the libs hopped aboard…

Wait a minute! What about separation of church and state!!! I guess it is okay for the Democrats to go to churches and campaign but whoa if Republicans do it!

Can we please let the myth of Obama's "paper thin record" disappear? He's been in the State Senate for 7 years. I think that counts a little bit more than 8 years as the President's wife. They cooked it up in haste as something to pin on Obama's squeaky clean rep. 'No wonder there's no dirt on him..he's got no experience!' It doesn't fly.

Obama must believe in Jesus since he can quote him so well…but what would Jesus say about his stance, and the democratic position on abortion???? Must not be something convenient for him to bring up to Jesus at this point in his campaign….although every republican debate it has been brought up and in none of the democratic debates…I'm surprised to see a democratic in church…I just didn’t realize they went

Mr.. Obama lacks even the most basic understanding of our Constitution. Nowhere in our nation's founding document is the Federal government tasked with providing even emergency relief to disaster victims. The 10th amendment to the Constitution gives all power not explicitly granted to the Federal government to the States and the People and there for prohibits them from spending Federal money on such aid. Obama is dead wrong. It's the job of those very churches Obama was speaking of and other non-governmental organizations to provide disaster relief. If the Federal government didn't take, by force, such a large percentage of private citizens' money those organizations would be more than adequately funded to do so.

Mr.. Obama lacks even the most basic understanding of our Constitution. Nowhere in our nation's founding document is the Federal government tasked with providing even emergency relief to disaster victims. The 10th amendment to the Constitution gives all power not explicitly granted to the Federal government to the States and the People and there for prohibits them from spending Federal money on such aid. Obama is dead wrong. It's the job of those very churches Obama was speaking of and other non-governmental organizations to provide disaster relief. If the Federal government didn't take, by force, such a large percentage of private citizens' money those organizations would be more than adequately funded to do so.

Wow. Talk of religion really brings out the stupids. Coincidence?

Where in the US Constitution does is say "Separation of Church and State"? I just read the Constitution and I couldn't find it anywhere.

How about separation of church and state? When the right invokes God, the left howles. Don't be hypocrites here. Obama is an empty suit.

C'mon folks, the problem isn't with Obama "sermonizing" America from The Big Easy…. THE PROBLEM is ANY CHURCH ALLOWING ANY POLITICAL FIGURE TO USE THEIR PULPIT TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS WITH AN AUDIENCE GULLIBLE ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THAT THE CANDIDATE ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN GETTING ELECTED!!!! And saying whatever needs to be said at the pivitol moment i.e. Sunday church service to get their carcases in office!!

Again I say………. C'mon folks?!?

"Whoever hears these sayings of mine AND DOES THEM, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock."

Jesus was not referring to himself in this verse. To hear the words of Jesus AND TO DO THEM will help people withstand the storms of life, and death. So lets look at modern-day America in this light. Taking the lives of innocent babies is not following Jesus' sayings. Neither is focusing on riches and ignoring the poor among us.

This country is divided and will fall because neither political party will follow the words of Jesus as found in the Bible. Instead, the liberals have banned it from the walls of our schools, the conservatives hypocritically follow it in word only, but not in deed, and the rest could care less.

"Whoever hears these sayings of mine AND DOES THEM, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock."

Jesus was not referring to himself. To hear the words of Jesus is to build a house. Doing what Jesus says is building on a strong foundation. So lets look at modern-day America in this light. Taking the lives of innocent babies is not following Jesus' sayings. Neither is focusing on riches and ignoring the poor among us. This country is divided and will fall because neither political party will follow the words of Jesus as found in the Bible. Instead, the liberals ban it from the walls of our schools, and the conservatives hypocritically follow it in word only, but not in deed.

Ok, maybe someone has already commented on this but not from what I have seen so here goes…Are you kidding me??? Invoking a passage from the bible?? These are the same people who compare Christians to terrorists, support the clinical murder of unborn children and support the arrest of a God fearing Pastor to be arrested if he will not marry two or more people of the same gender because of his belifs…thats all

Separation of church & state anyone? I guess it's only an issue if your a conservative.

I, for one, am so happy to see there are plenty out there willing to call BS on this idiot, when it needs to be done.

Don't drink the kool-aid.

Many of the people commenting on this blog have conveniently forgotten that Christians from all over this country were among the first to respond to the tragedy in New Orleans.

Motivated by Jesus Christ's love, and without any thought of personal gain, thousands of Christians not only gave their money, but personally went to New Orleans to give of themselves to relieve the suffering of the people there.

While your city, county, and state governments whined and cried and did nothing, and while the federal government didn't even pick up the ball they dropped, these Christian folks were working…hard…to help.

While government stood by, paralysed and helpless, Christians went into the battle zone and got to work!

That's the difference between real Christians and many of the do-nothing atheists and God-haters posting on this blog.

Anything any atheist or atheist organization might have done in service to the poor, is vastly overshadowed by the thousands of organizations in this country founded by Bible-believing, Jesus-loving Christians to relieve the suffering of the poor, the helpless, and the powerless.

Real Christians don't wait for the government to do something…they get their hands dirty, and they do it at their own expense!

You ought to get down on your knees the thank the God you hate or do not believe in, that in spite of the efforts of the ACLU and others who would like to drive Christians out of the public arena and confine us to our own spiritual ghetto, that real Christians are still out in the world, serving Christ by sacrifically serving others.

And speaking of loving your neighbor…you'd better hope if disaster ever strikes your neighborhood, that you'll have a real Christian living next door, who'll be there for you in your hour of need, instead of a selfish, whining, frightened little atheist or God hater who won't do a damned thing for you.

Signed, Ex-Atheist

Funny how he speaks in a church,reading God's Word , being a Muslim from birth.He is very deceitful.America is smart enough not to vote for him.Alot will come to the surface if and when he wins the democratic nomination…Go Duncan Hunter….

Yet another politician showing his ignorance of the Bible … the "rock" that the wise man builds upon is not "the principle of brotherhood"; it's Jesus.

OBAMA THIS, OBAMA THAT…WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF OBAMA'S WHITE MOTHER AND HIS INDONESIAN STEPFATHER WHO HELP HIM IN HIS EARLY DAYS, WHEN HIS BLACK FATHER LEFT HIM…WHAT AN INSINCERE HUMAN BEING…OBAMA IS…SELLING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS AN ALL 100% BLACK AND ALSO REMEMBER AMERICA IS NOT AN ALL CHRISTIAN COUNTRY EITHER….LIKE ALL MEN IN HISTORY OBAMA IS STILL HUMAN…DOING ANYTHING TO GAIN POWER…BY THE WAY HIS SPEECH AT THE DNC STINKS AND BEING A SMOOTH TALKER IS NOT WHAT MAKES A TRUE LEADER AND A PRESIDENT EITHER…THE OBAMA BLUES WILL SOON LOOSE ITS LIGHT AND THE TRUE LIKE OF OBAMA WILL BE A BIG…BIG…DISAPPOINTMENT….AMERICANS OF ALL RACE AND COLOR…IS THIS THE MAN YOU WANT AS PRESIDENT WHO DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THIS WHITE MOTHER AND HIS INDONESIAN STEPFATHER'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS SUCCESS, WHEN HIS BLACK FATHER IS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND…WAKE UP OBAMA…STOP SELLING BS TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC…IF YOU READ THIS MR. OBAMA, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG FOR I WILL APOLOGIZE AND WOULDN'T DARE TO SAY ANYTHING STUPID TO A GOOD AND SINCERE MAN, IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH IN WHAT I JUST SAID…PLEASE COME FORTH AND BE TRUTHFUL. THESE ON THESE…BY THE WAY BLACKS AREN'T THE ONLY VICTIMS OF KATRINA…WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO THE OTHER RACES, DIDN'T THEY SUFFER FROM KATRINA TOO? KATRINA HAS BECOME A POLITICAL WEAPON AND MAJOR EXECUSE FOR SOME. ENJOY!!!

isnt he a Muslim?

I get so sick of Democrats always invoking the Word of the Lord while supporting political positions on moral issues that are an abomination to God. They twist the Words of God for their political gain and somehow decieve themselves into thinking that appearing in liberal churches will gain them any ground with conservative Bible-believing Christians. And they always make sure to pose for the token photo ops shaking hands with a preacher or having the congregation pray for / bless them. If he ever showed his face in the kind of churches I've attended, the congregation might reach out their hands to pray for him too, but only for his repentance / true conversion or to cast away spirits of spritual blindness and self-desception. It is wrong for someone to call themselves a Christian then do / openly support the rights to things which God has declared earns you a one-way ticket to the lake of fire if you don't repent. But then Obama belongs to a liberal, theologically heretical denomination anyway so what you can you expect? I wholeheartedly agree with the comment someone posted earlier that Christ is the Rock, not brotherhood, not government. Jesus didn't come to "bring people together." People who think that don't know their Bible. Jesus said "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Matthew 10:34-36. Righteous living brings persecution.
If too many people are cheering for you in this world (i.e. Obama), you better watch out cause you're probably on the wrong side… God doesn't ask for brotherhood, he asks for / demands holiness. Brotherhood exists when people submit themselves to God and follow the laws he has made for us.

I get so sick of Democrats always invoking the Word of the Lord while supporting political positions on moral issues that are an abomination to God. They twist the Words of God for their political gain and somehow decieve themselves into thinking that appearing in liberal churches will gain them any ground with conservative Bible-believing Christians. And they always make sure to pose for the token photo ops shaking hands with a preacher or having the congregation pray for / bless them. If he ever showed his face in the kind of churches I've attended, the congregation might reach out their hands to pray for him too, but only for his repentance / true conversion or to cast away spirits of spritual blindness and self-desception. It is wrong for someone to call themselves a Christian then do / openly support the rights to things which God has declared earns you a one-way ticket to the lake of fire if you don't repent. But then Obama belongs to a liberal, theologically heretical denomination anyway so what you can you expect? I wholeheartedly agree with the comment someone posted earlier that Christ is the Rock, not brotherhood, not government. Jesus didn't come to "bring people together." People who think that don't know their Bible. Jesus said "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Matthew 10:34-36. Righteous living brings persecution.
If too many people are cheering for you in this world (i.e. Obama), you better watch out cause you're probably on the wrong side… God doesn't ask for brotherhood, he asks for / demands holiness. Brotherhood exists when people submit themselves to God and follow his laws.

How does brak Hussen Obamma getby with speaking in a supposedly christian church. He hasn't got a clue or a chance

Umm… I may be mistaken, but isn't it a violation of the IRS tax-exempt status provisions for a church to have a political candidate directly address their congregation? Tax-exempt organizations such as churches cannot expressly or implicitly endorse a particular candidate.

OBAMA THIS, OBAMA THAT…WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF OBAMA'S WHITE MOTHER AND HIS INDONESIAN STEPFATHER WHO HELP HIM IN HIS EARLY DAYS, WHEN HIS BLACK FATHER LEFT HIM…WHAT AN INSINCERE HUMAN BEING…OBAMA IS…SELLING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS AN ALL 100% BLACK AND ALSO REMEMBER AMERICA IS NOT AN ALL CHRISTIAN COUNTRY EITHER….LIKE ALL MEN IN HISTORY OBAMA IS STILL HUMAN…DOING ANYTHING TO GAIN POWER…BY THE WAY HIS SPEECH AT THE DNC STINKS AND BEING A SMOOTH TALKER IS NOT WHAT MAKES A TRUE LEADER AND A PRESIDENT EITHER…THE OBAMA BLUES WILL SOON LOOSE ITS LIGHT AND THE TRUE LIKE OF OBAMA WILL BE A BIG…BIG…DISAPPOINTMENT….AMERICANS OF ALL RACE AND COLOR…IS THIS THE MAN YOU WANT AS PRESIDENT WHO DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THIS WHITE MOTHER AND HIS INDONESIAN STEPFATHER, WHEN HIS BLACK FATHER IS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND…WAKE UP OBAMA…STOP SELLING BS TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC…IF YOU READ THIS MR. OBAMA, PLEASE CORRECT IF I WRONG FOR I WILL APOLOGIZE AND WOULDN'T DARE TO SAY ANYTHING STUPID TO A GOOD AND SINCERE MAN, IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH IN WHAT I JUST SAID…PLEASE COME FORTH AND BE TRUTHFUL. THESE ON THESE…ENJOY!!!

Funny thing. A Dem candidate can make Biblical (incorrect) statements in church speaking the name of Jesus and all, but if a GOP does the same its automatic "church-state separation" violation. WHY IS THAT??????
Also, if liberal left-leaning church leaders do the same its OK. But if a conservative evangelical church leader does it, its wrong and automatic "church-state separation" violation! WHY IS THAT!?

Jesus was not speaking about Katrina; He was speaking about his Word being the rock you can build on as the only way to survive the certain coming judgment from the Father.

Let's be theologically honest, that comment was heresy and self-serving.

I'm quite sure the Sermon on the Mount is about Christian Discipleship rather than forming a bond of brothers with a goal to creat a government that instead of empowering a people to make lives for themselves, actually rips the will from man to make a life and leaves in it's place a man on the roadside or in his government housing waiting for his monthly food supply and welfare check.

Funny, I was thinking the Sermon on the Mount had more to do with Christian Discipleship than it is about building a bond of brotherhood to construct a government that will take the will out of man to work for himself to put a life together, instead, leaving him sitting on the roadside, or in his government housing waiting for the government to ring his door bell and drop off this month's food supply and welfare check.

Quick Liberals…RUN….your savior Obama is sounding like a….dare I say it…..AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN…..RUN FOR YOUR LIVES….you hypocrits…

Half of Ohio is under water now, people are being pulled off their roofs now, worst flooding in Ohio ever, now, where is Obama?

In response to Rick Moore's post calling New Orleanians "dumb" for building below sea level: If our coastline wasn't eroding daily and our swampland drained for shipping, we would have a natural defence against hurricanes. The real disaster is that we have allowed our environment to be ravaged for the sake of shipping goods to ungrateful Americans such as yourself. If you think we are all so dumb, sell us back to France. Please, sell us back to France.

Another politician begging for votes at a church.
Another politician using the ignorance of his audience for political gain.
Another politician who simply READS a speech that someone else wrote.
If you like a politician for the speeches he/she delivers, then you need help. Look at their voting history and the laws passed. That's a "record". Once you see their record, then you can decide in a more rational way whether or not you will support them (both dems and reps alike). No politician should be immune from this standard.

Ok there are way too many Republican idiots who don't know what they are talking about posting on this article. First off Barack Obama's father did not take him overseas because he only met his father once before his father died. Secondly it was his mother and step-father who took him to Indonesia where he studied at a good public school. Not a madrassa. Also he has been a member of the United Church of Christ for over 20 years now. HES NOT MUSLIM.

I assume this church will retain its tax-exempt status and continue to hold political meetings. After all they only invite Democratic Lefties.

No problem for the IRS.

Linda what is truely frightning is that people like you vote.

isn't it the democrats screaming separation of church and state, yet they slime their way into every black church they can find. Democrats represent everything that is opposite of what a real church stands for. To them, religion to them is another way to push politics.
Heaven help a Republican if they were even caught in a church… as usual, liberal hypocrisy.

So even though it's illegal for churches to come out in support of a Republican (or lose their tax exemption), it's OK for a democrat to speak in a church and throw in some politicking. The same standard has to apply both ways.

So Lance, are you going to vote for him because he can make a free throw? I bet I can hit a 3 without warming up, will you now vote for me? A lay-up is actually easier and worth more than a free throw, how about that? Get a clue, people. As correct as he is for including the state and local govts along with the federal, he still denies to have the people of New Orleans take responsibility for their share of the disaster.

Don't know how John Edwards made it into this conversation but I find his hypocrisy stunning. He's invested significantly in a company that is foreclosing on Katrina victims and confiscating their homes. If he's so compassionate, why isn't he just forgiving the loans and donating more of his own money to help them rebuild? As for Obama, I wonder if this political presentation inside and addressed to a church has done anything to jeopardize their tax free status?

So, after 400 years, Baby Doc Obama has declared America's "…foundation wasn't built on the rock" What an idiot.

Amazing how its OK for Obama to talk at a church and rail against the administration, talk of change, etc - but let a Republican try to "use" the pulpit to get to the faithful on issues like abortion and the Dems lose their minds! Hypocrites!

This is priceless…

Obama went from church Sunday morning in New Orleans to a Miami nightclub that afternoon, which featured "Sunday Striptease".

What gets to me is why are the people of New Orleans still sitting around two years later still whining about the government. They need to learn how to help themselves and stop sucking the government teat.

What about seperation of Church and State? Oh! that's only for the other side..

Im glad some people have pointed out that he completelty miss used scripture, what was the pastor of that church thinkig?? Almost as bad as kerry saying that job was his favorite New Testament book……If you dont use the Bible dont try to sell it like you do cause those that do cant tell the difference!!!

Why does this church still have its tax exempt status?

The first shall be last and the last shall be first. Shrub is going down, down to perdition.

"There are points of similarity between the Sermon on the Mount and various known teachings and phrases in use at Qumran, but there is no single document that comes even remotely close in content/structure to the Sermon on the Mount." See: http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qdssmnt.html

Anyone who supports Abortion has no place in the Church!

"Brotherhood?" Please! Very sexist of Obama. Also, his mixing of religion with politics is most unwelcome. He seems to be taking a page right off the Republican hate mongers who use religion to impose their cruel, sexist and discriminating political agenda. Separation of church and state is the need here, not comingling. Obama is a loser. President Hillary Clinton cannot come fast enough.

Obama in church doesn't raise the nervous level of lighting strikes near as much as when the Clintons attend.

Obama's ignorance and foolishness show through in his comment, "Our foundation wasn't built on 'the rock." It sure was! The United States was founded as a Christian nation. And while we respect all religions, we are a Christian nation! Of course, government schools don't teach this important truth (not to mention that our founding fathers were sincere Christians or at a minimum had a Biblical worldview)!! There is NO other nation like the United States of America!

And as for the myth of separation of church and state….WAKE UP! You know the old saying 'tell the lie enough, and the people will believe?' Read the Constitution yourself. The only separation suggested is that the government cannot control the church (as was the case in England at the time our WISE founding fathers wrote the Dec. of Indep.)!!!

I hope the IRS takes away this churches 501c tax status. If a republican did this at a baptist church in Alabama, that would happen.

The Rock is the principle of brotherhood? Obama may know politics but he doesnt know the Bible. His interpretation and application is severly lacking.

Mr. Obama should brush up on his US history. Even a cursury examination of the writings of our founding fathers clearly indicates this country WAS founded on The Rock.

Obama, Edwards, Rudy, Mitt, it does not matter. Unfortunately it took segregationist Governor Wallace to reveal the truth that "there's not a dime's worth of difference between" Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats willingly went along with the War in Iraq, suspension of Habeas Corpus, detaining protesters, banning books like America Deceived (book) from Amazon, stealing private lands (Kelo decision), warrant-less wiretapping and refusing to investigate 9/11 properly. They are both guilty of treason.
Support Dr. Ron Paul and save this country.

With all due respect, Senator Obama's use of Scripture was not accurate. The "Rock" referred to is NOT "a principle of brotherhood exemplified by the church." The rock is the Word of God! The house, is anything that man attmpts to do. It is teaching that unless everything you do is based on the Word of God, then there is no solid foundation that can be relied upon. Secondly, America was built on that foundation, the Word of God, but we have forgotten that, hence we have a loss of brotherhood. I may not agree with Senator Obama on most issues, but I believe his point is valid: we must learn to rely upon one another more and government less.

The "ROCK" referred to in the Sermon on the Mount was Jesus Christ Himself. Obama doesn't even know basic Christian theology!

Be careful what you wish for. Churches are at the forefront in katrina response. Government no where to be found, maybe thats because we "separated God"and He wasn't there to make sure we do the right thing.

"That rock, he said, was a principal of brotherhood exemplified by the church during Hurricane Katrina — but not the federal government"

So the central them of the Sermon on the mount was "Brotherhood?!"

Anyone who has a high regard for scripture can see that Obama does not know how to handle exposition of the Word of God (comparing Scripture with Scripture). While This was only a portion of his comments, and perhaps out of context, we should be reminded that 1 Corintians 3:11 says "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

The "Rock" in scripture is Christ and if Obama wants to quote Jesus and run the country according to God's authority, I would vote for him. But I don't think that's his intention. Scripture interprets scripture. You can not apply your own meanings to the Word.

The rock is not some principal of brotherhood, the rock is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

As he did say though, I do agree that Christian Organizations "the body of Christ" will do a better job than the federal government 10 times out of 10 of taking care of the needs of the American people.

I did what everyone was saying on here to put Barracks name in the search and it didnt pull anything up but his fans,and his websites!Is that what you are talking about the mans own website for truthful info!Hahahaha by the way almost all elected officials have the local or state experience,they just dont brag about it!If you played AAA baseball all your life does that make you a MLB star.

Why are Christian people allowing this man a venue? Our America was founded on The Rock, unfortunately our government has moved away from the Christian principles of our founding. Look to the muslim countries and see how much religious freedom is enjoyed there!

So why hasn't this church's tax exempt status been pulled?

It's a shame really. If Barak actually read the Bible he would know that many of the issues he is for are considered and abomination to the Lord.
Like leaving babies who survived an abortion alone to die.
Sad days indeed. The democrats are a pathetic and morally blind party.

Loser. Politicing in a church. Being an independant, I was quite interested in him when he first came on the scene. He's proven time and again he's not 'old enough/mature enough/educated enough' at this time to claim the roll of POTUS. What a shame it will be to have the purchased votes wasted on him that don't quite make it to hillary.

Wow, Libs are the first to fight for the church to stay out of politics, but are willing to embrace any church that will let them campaign from the pulpit. This church he spoke at should immediatly lose it's tax exempt status. I wouldnt want a politicain campaigning from my church, not the place. Church is about God, not the advancement of one's career.

Someone needs to tell Obama that the "rock" is Jesus himself. A child in sunday school would know that. The Bible says that Jesus is the "stone which the builder rejected". He is the foundation.

..touched upon ingredients necessary for the city's rebuilding, namely more employment opportunities for residents to rebuild, community-based law enforcement to tackle the city's crime epidemic, and improved health care.

If anyone can see a rational connection in his statements, he is a miracle worker!

Time to change the Church's status from a religious to a political organization, and collect taxes.

ok… i think that Obama or any political candidate should be able to speak in a church… if that same right was afforded to conservative candidates and/or churches. The ACLU and others have threatened pastors with their jobs and churches with their non-profit status for having "church-sponsored political endorsement" for/against candidates and/or issues. If Romney, or McCain or anyone else for that matter spoke in a Church and quoted the Bible the would be accused of propigating religion for their campaign and the validity of the "non-profit" church would be called into question. I guess i just do get the double standard? If First Emmanuel Baptist Church wants to have Obama in the pulpit… that's fine with me. Lets just not have a double standard for candidates with other views and churches/pastors that want to speak their minds oni their convictions as well!

As a pastor I would like to know what "rock" Mr. Obama is referring to. I really don't like to see anyone take the Bible out of context to try to score politcal points. The rock Jesus is talking about is Himself not the government.

Golly, a democrat campaigning at a church!!!! Guess he doesn't care about the atheists vote, eh? Oh, and where is that "rights watchdog" the aclu insuring "speration of church and state"?

Hypocrisy is too good a word/

I see when Democrat Presidential canidates invoke religion and bring politics into church they are just speaking the truth, but when Republicans do this the country is on the path to a theocracy and the line seperation of church and state is preached ad nauseum.

Why should my money be confiscated to pay for misfortune of others? "Thou shalt not steal" - just because you are the government does not mean you are immune to the Bible's Commandments.

Charity is one thing but for people to expect (demand!) money and help when they experience misfortune is backwards thinking. especially when their free "Help" does not get there in the time frame that they demand. Be thankful and count any help as a blessing and stop the blame game! This is just another polititian playing politics with our money!

I guess Obama has no sense of irony using the house built on sand analogy…and what happened to New Orleans?
Just let the portions that are below, or very close to sea-level go, another storm will just wipe them out, killing more people.
Go find a rock to re-build New Orleans…not a sandy, low-lying swamp!

Why is it OK for a Democratic political candidate to speak at a church, but it's not OK for a Republican candidate?

Why not base your dreams on hope? New Orleans was a city of Hope. The immigrants who make up 90% of our population and ancestors came here for hope. America is the land of hope. We need a President that embodies it.

Translations of Bible verses must consider the context, with the interpreter looking at verses before and after the verse in question. In this case, the first part of the verse tells us what the "rock" is - "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man that built his house on the rock." The rock, therefore, is the word of God ("these words of mine") and our putting them into practice. What the verse is saying is that those that are wise live according to God's word, the Bible. While Mr. Obama is not completely accurate in his interpretation of the verse, he's hit on one theme of God's word - he calls it "brotherhood" - neighbor helping neighbor during a time of crisis (as in Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan). I guess the church helping out during Katrina would be a good example of living by the word of God, wouldn't it?

A few salient points:

1) We are Katrina SURVIVORS, not victims.

2) The storm was not a direct hit. We were not "destroyed" by it, but by failed levees, a responsibility shared by federal, state, and local authorities.

3) Almost every area in this nation is prone to some sort of natural disaster. The current midwest floods, wildfires, earthquakes, tornados, tsunamis. There was a very deadly hurricane in NY in the '30s. Should we forbid building there since the area is vulnerable to them?

4) It has become de rigeur for any nationally known political figure to use us as a backdrop in their political theatre. We make a compelling backdrop for what ever point they wish to make, and are forgotten as soon as the landing gear is up. It is they, and not the storm, who intentionally victimize the survivors.

5) What has plagued us both before and after is a failure in leadership, mostly on a state and local level. It is not a federal responsibility that New Orleans had only 3 convictions for over 160 murders last year. It is not the Feds who chose to select an overpriced, highly inefficient, and probably corrupt organization to waste and delay the "Road Home" funds. It was not federal levee boards that merely went to lunch once a year for huge salaries, and never got around to actually inspecting the levees.

6) Given 4 and 5 above, I consider any apearance here by a national candidate spouting the usual platitudes as JAFP. (Just Another Friggin Politician)

7) All of the above is written from the perspective of not just a survivor, but someone who took part in the relief in the immediate aftermath and saw the glory, and ineptitude, firsthand.

The Rock to which Jesus referred is not a "principle of brotherhood" but faith and trust in the living God. If the candidates are going to invoke the Bible, they need to get it right.

Hey Linda, I am not particlarly relgious but, show me where the Constitution seperates church and state. Which article, what clause? Your post is nothing more than a Deomcratic talking point based on a fiction.

there is and was never seperation of church and state.

Obama is a faults prophet, a man how said he is a christen and yet supports parcel birth abortion .

Obama…another LIB darling with the press.He can do no wrong.And he's articulate! And clean! Oh wait…that was Biden talking about him.Maybe Barack can have Biden as his Veep if he gets the nomination…or at least have him be his valet.

more people taking the bible out of context. Christ was speaking of those whose foundations are built on faith in Him. Thats exactly what the dems are stripping the US of, identity with Christ. Hyprocrisy.

How unfortunate, those who profess to be Christians allow the time meant for worshiping Christ to be used for political propoganda. Does anyone who is a Christian see the problem with allowing that which is not Holy to be substituted for that which is Holy? The church leadership should be ashamed and the worshipers should pray for discernment to know the difference because if they did they would not worship at that church. Rather they would find a real church.

Is this the same guy that sponsored the do not resuscitate bill allowing babies born alive after an attempted murder to be left for dead; the man that attends a denominational church which advocates homosexuals in the pulpit, and the same man which believes it's ok to steal someone's money in order to give it to someone whom the federal gov't thinks may need it more?
By the way, the correct interpretation of the "Rock" is revelation into God's Word not brotherhood but nice try my communist friend.
I know America is changing fast but I do not believe our Spiritual eyes are that dim yet. Pray for revival in this nation.

The first comment here, from Douglas Babb, was that the Sermon on the Mount was actually an Essene prayer dating hundreds of years before Christ. Mr. Babb, your contention is a myth. The similarities between the Sermon on the Mount and Dead Sea Scroll documents are in certain expressions and one or two beliefs expressed in the Sermon, which of course can be said of virtually any Jewish body of literature.

According to Gaster, one of the original editors of the DSS [The Dead Sea Scriptures, Theodor H. Gaster (ed.), Anchor/Doubleday:1976(3rd ed.), p.20].

"In order to get this whole question into the right perspective, it should be observed that just as many ideas and phrases in the Dead Sea Scrolls as can be paralleled from the New Testament can be paralleled equally well from the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament–that is, from the non-canonical Jewish 'scriptures' that were circulating between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D.–and from the earlier strata of the Talmud. Moreover, many of them find place also in the ancient doctrines of such sects as the Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran and the Samaritans, so that even if they have not come down to us through Jewish channels, we can still recognize in them part of the common Palestinian thought and folklore of the time. Accordingly, to draw from the New Testament parallels any inference of special relationship is misleading. "

Now, I do think a case can be made for some Sermon on the Mount sentiments being present in nearly all religions. This is because Moral truth, Mr. Babb, is a reminder - never an innovation.

As far as Mr. Obama's use of Scripture in his campaign, I think its application was misguided in this instance. Jesus likened the man who built his house on a rock to someone who listened to Jesus' words in the preceding verses/chapters and put those words into practice. Among those words was an exhortation not to worry about what to eat or drink 'like the gentiles do' or the cares of tomorrow, but to focus on the Kingdom of God. On the other hand, Mr. Obama's criticisms of the Federal Government following Katrina mostly involve lack of preparation, including not thinking ahead to the food and drink requirements of the victims. The Senator would have done better to paraphrase a different Scripture, since in this instance Obama of Illinois and Jesus of Nazareth seem to be speaking of different issues.

Barack Obama is probably the most decent man among the Dem. candidates, but those who are afraid of their Pres. candidates being the slightest bit spiritual and relgious can't stomach the thought of their President in an actual church.

Obama making a "campaign stop" at a church?!

Shouldn't you liberals be agog? Should you liberals be aghast? Shouldn't you be acting the same way as when you found out Mitt Romney was a memb. of the Mormon church? (I thought those who support Clinton and/or Obama and/or Democratics don't want the church to be mixed with politics.