The Faith of Barack Obama

I recently finished this book, written by New York Times bestselling author, Stephen Mansfield, and published earlier this year by Thomas Nelson. Although the book premiered before the election, indeed before Obama's nomination by the Democrats, I read it a mere day or so after our new president was elected this past November 4th.

I was hooked early in the Introduction by Mansfield telling a story which had appeared in the March 2008 issue of Vanity Fair about events of the day of the 2004 Democratic National Convention, when Obama was to give his now famous speech in support of John Kerry. As Obama and his friend, Martin Nesbitt, walked the Boston streets, excited crowds gathered around Obama at every meeting place. Nesbitt remarked that he seemed like a "Rock Star," to which Obama replied that if he thought that was bad, he should wait until that night. Nesbitt asked his friend what he meant, and Obama said, "My speech is pretty good."

That statement struck me because it told what a lot of us had been wondering all along: Did Barack Obama have this planned from the beginning? Sounds like he knew that night in 2004, on that stage, that there was no turning back after that speech. He knew he was going to get the country fired up. Indeed, Mansfield attests, "Clearly, he already had some sense of his destiny."

The author recounts Obama's life in these pages, his earliest years and his growing up years, so that the story of his faith falls into place naturally. When Mansfield traces the roots of Jeremiah Wright, we can no longer dismiss him as a crazy, anti-white militant. This is Wright's story too, and one that needs to be told to be able to understand the young Barack in search of his family as well as his faith. The "Black faith." Mansfield takes us on a journey through that faith in our country, and you can hardly emerge without taking to heart the inhuman sins some of our fellow American citizens have had committed against them.

The speech at the 2004 Democrat Convention where Obama asserted, "We worship an awesome God in the blue states," tries to point out another faith left wanting, as he raises the bar with, "No longer will we be painted as the nonbelievers."

Those became the famous nine words. Nine words on which perhaps rested Obama's presidential victory. Nine words, as told by the author, that "echo the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the religious faithful" who fought that earlier battle back in the 1960s.

The Religious Right's strong accusations that they alone own Christianity may be the greatest reason for the huge popularity of our now President Elect. Mansfield writes, "... It may well prove that this [is] the more important meaning of Barack Obama's presence in our history at this moment...because of the unprecedented scale of national wounds and sins."

For the part of America who fear the Islamic ties of Obama more than they fear our country's loss of faith, this book should put that issue to rest, as the author describes the very minute influence and short-lived nearness Obama had to the Islam of his step-father, who is pointed out as not being "very religious." Additionally this early influence happened before Barach reached puberty, and during part of that time he attended a Catholic school while living in Indonesia.

Another part of our country still clings to the shredding remains of racial bigotry and used the Jeremiah Wright issue to condemn him, and this part of the book gave me an awareness, a much needed view on this issue, as author Stephen Mansfield beautifully paints what this picture really looks like up close. The author admits that the core issues raised by Jeremiah Wright "ought to be the concern of more than just black ministers," and goes further to say, "Any citizen who takes American values to heart should be both astonished and ashamed." Mansfield proves many of Wright's allegations to be true; he gives the facts and figures and backs them up.

There remains also in our country those who consider the only moral issues worthy to be upheld are abortion and gay rights, and therefore these citizens can't vote against their conscience and their belief in God's calling. On another core belief, the afterlife, Mansfield points out that this is neither believed nor disbelieved by Obama. It is ignored, he says, because Obama believes it "unknowable" and should not affect what we do here on earth. Mansfield contends, however, "This is a central truth of the New Testament," but admits that "We should draw conclusions cautiously...At the very heart of Obama's faith is a Living Word of God that ever reveals and expands...."

Mansfield contends that for Obama, "Religion is transforming, lifelong, and real...who he is at the core." And so the author believes that our President Elect will continue to grow spiritually as we watch over the coming years.

This is an excellent book written in a neutral spirit and seeking truth. The author also delves into the faith of Obama's initial running mate for the nomination, Hilliary Clinton, which I found parts of surprising, Senator John McCain, then presidential nominee, as well as George W. Bush. Mansfield wrote a former book, The Faith of George W. Bush, from which he quotes. The book was written before Sarah Palin was picked as vice president candidate.

I would encourage all Americans to read this book because it is about our next President and will add needed understanding on many issues facing us.

The closing words of this book remind me of the story of Esther from the Bible:

Part of the impact of Barack Obama in our generation may be for just such a purpose; to help wed faith to a political vision that leads to a meaningful change in our time.

Esther's Uncle Mordecai said to her when she was appointed Queen, and was therefore able to save her race, the Jewish nation, "Who knows that for such a time as this..."

Kick off the holiday season with Blurb

Received this email several days ago. If you don't know about Blurb, it's a site where you can design and create a digital photo book. There are lots of these sites of course. Naturally, I prefer my own Creative Memories Storybook Creator, but for those of you interested in this avenue, the info is below.

If you are interested in the free download of Storybook Creator, go to my CM Website, click on digital scrapbooking, then click on FREE STORYBOOK CREATOR.


Email me for help if you need it.

For Blurb here is the info...

It's November. (We can't believe it either!) The holidays are officially upon us, and the search for the perfect gift is on. If you've never given a book you've made as a gift, you don't know what you're missing. It's awesome, personal and one of a kind – the type of gift that will make you the hero among your people.

We'll even start the giving season early. Beat the holiday rush and order your book by November 18, and we'll give you $10 off your order. You'll get your books in plenty of time for the holiday season, giving you more time to kick back and enjoy the eggnog.
Promotion code: holiday2008

* To qualify for $10 off a purchase of $29.95 or more, you must enter the promotion code in the shopping cart at time of purchase and complete your purchase in USD. Offer is good for $10 off one book made by you. Offer expires 11:59 PM PST November 18, 2008. Limit one-time use per user and cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid towards purchase of gift cards.


Finally, whichever method you choose, why not start getting your memories organized in this new, quick, hassle-free manner? You'll feel so good afterward!

Your Family Story for Charity

A lensmaster on Squidoo is hosting a contest to benefit several worthy charities. You can enter by writing a brief story about your family. Lots of them are about Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check it out -

It’s Family Stories Month for Charity!
Posted: 01 Nov 2008 06:59 PM PDT
We’re celebrating November as Family Stories Month for Charity! And we need your help.
http://www.squidoo.com/family-stories-month

New Book About Scrapbooking Alert

I'm excited today about a new book. Paper, Scissors, Death: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery. Yes! It's a mystery involving scrapbooking! Now, that's just cool.

What teased my ears first, though, is the author's name, Joanna Campbell Slan. I'd read her book, Scrapbook Storytelling, years ago. I saw it in a bookstore and scooped it up immediately because it just spoke to me. Almost out loud. A book about family storytelling? My heart's desire.

That early book about scrapbooking set me on my current path. It gave me the ideas needed to start on my storytelling passion and writing career. God knows our heart's desire, and he puts the right things in your path. I always loved writing and had done a lot of editorial work to that point. But I never had a real focus on what I deep down wanted to do. God knew.

After I read Joanna Slan's book, I just started doing the things she wrote about. I used my family pictures to tell life stories. Then one day I got on Ancestry.com and began researching my ancestors. Poor, Catholic German immigrants who ended up settling in downtown Cincinnati amid the poverty in the 1800s.

Then it became more than just scrapbooking. Learning about my family inspired me, gave me roots I didn't know about, added a lift to a low self-esteem issue, pumped up my life purpose, and I knew I wanted to share my stories, including my own story, with other people who might be interested in, identify with, or gain insight from the events that shaped my life. I didn't feel so lowly about growing up in a poor place anymore. I started feeling proud of my heritage.

That's, in Martha's words, is "A Good Thing!"

And I didn't even have to pay any shrinks or anything.

Then I knew I wanted to teach other people how to write their stories because it's something we all truly need to do for ourselves and our families.

I still believe that. Today more than ever.

But, back to Joanna's book. You can go here to read about this tempting new book and sit in on a Q&A session where she also tells how she's included "great scrapbooking tips, a contest for a weekend in St. Louis, and a coupon for 50 Free Digital Prints from Snapfish.com."

Now, you know you want to get this book if you're a cropper. And who doesn't like a good mystery. I can devour one in an evening or on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

New Inspiration

The Lovely Fountain on the Square in Cincinnati

I wish I could say I've been on Sabbatical. I wish. Since July, life has been major ups and downs for us. I'm still standing, though. And I'm finally getting energized and renewed. There's so much going on now that's positive.

First, though, and BIG!! The election is over. Finally. Now, maybe, we can move forward as a nation and start cleaning up stuff that needs to be put in order. We can do it. We're America. That's part of my renewed energy today. I'm a Christian American, and life is good.

Something else Big. Received word that my story for Gifts II will be published in early 2009. More on that soon.

Fall always brings energy and renewal to my sunburned spirit. Fall reminds me of going back to school, football games, and dances after the games in Cincinnati, where I grew up. The Catholic school I attended had a fall festival every year, and when I was old enough I got to work in the bingo booth. I got a nifty little cloth apron to wear with pockets for the little, round bingo covers, and the money I collected, and made change for. My dad worked at the festival, in the beer booth. Because he ran the church's bowling alley which was downstairs from the school. And the bowling alley served beer. Draught beer. So the festival always had a beer booth, and Dad was in charge of that.

Recently we went up to Cincy for the annual Oktoberfest celebration, and so many of those old memories came flooding back.

It was a fun celebration, and we had an awesome time. My brother had emailed me pictures of our old church, St. George in the University Heights area, after being damaged by a fire. Eerie.

This is St. George before the fire.

And here it is with one of the crosses alfame.

Oktoberfest

... and finally a picture of me and my brother, Bob, in front of our old Cincinnati house.