Tribute to GWB

I didn't really feel like wasting my time reading a Democrat bashing article. Maybe I'm wrong and nothing else negative was stated about Democrats and liberals, but that sentence, at the very beginning, made me not want to read something that would demean people I agree with.

As for open mindness, a lot of conservatives could take a clue from some of the more liberal posters on this board who have praised the President for his handling of this situation. I still can't get any conservative I know to admit that Clinton did one good thing.

 

And I enjoy the way that the author of a supposedly uplifting tribute can't keep divisive language out of his message.

You're accusing RM95 of being annoyed by language that was annoying.

I read it all. And I want that minute of my life back. Melodramatic, illogical, and cliched.

 

Rokkit, well said...too bad 95 isn't as congenial and tactful as you.

Rocketman95, your posts are becoming more and more sour because you are letting anger or some strong emotions built up get to you.

 

Timing, my feelings are the exact opposite of yours. Leaving God out of the world's troubles just makes things worse. Unlike most people on this board, I think it's great when sports figures give the glory to the Lord. I do not like, however, when rap stars with vulgar lyrics get up and praise God after winning an award. This is the whole reason I was for Dubya. Because the Bible explicitly guides you through all of life's issues - death penalty, abortion, gay-rights...It was clear who to elect. I think W has done a fabulous job. You know what? I certainly do not idolize Bush. Nor do I idolize anyone else for that matter.

You know why I know there's a God? Because I feel him. I know he's there. I grew up in the bad part of Houston. God got me through so much, it's inexplicable. That's my belief. And it comforts me whenever life get's tough because I know I'll be in a so much better place.

You don't have to flame me. I'm just sharing my thoughts on Christianity and the job that the President has been doing.

 

notice how easy it is to replace "God" with "Allah" and "America" with "Iran" in your post?

 

there is always 3 sides to every coin, outlaw.

 

did anyone ever get the flyer in austin about jesus living in your refridgerator...ahhh...austin...how i miss it...

 

Rich,

My original response was specific to the text which was presented. I said that I felt there was too much attempt to make Bush a holy man and too many eschatalogical imagery. I do not understand why my religious belief syatem should play a part. Are you suggesting that if I were a certain type of Christian, I would not mind the near-deification of GWB? In case you are not aware, many Christian sects could consider such a "writing" as the one you present to be blasphemous.

Tributes are one thing...this, imo, is something different. That is all I am saying, and my "angle." My beef is with the writer, not the subject person. Why the attempt to revive caesaropapism?

 

For the record, caesaropapism has nothing to do with Caesar...it is a Christian title. Perhaps you should read up more on your Christian history instead of giving "piddly-poop" responses.

I see you have changed from all caps to bold now, but that doesn't change the fact that we both had two different readings. Also, I said near-deification, not deification alone.

 

.....I suddenly have the urge to deificate.

 

I dont seem to get the gist of your implications , But I will admit I was a little too hasty in my judgement , Sometimes my fingers get ahead of my brain .

 

Why should I not use words that are the only of their kind to describe certain concepts? Just because my vocabulary is not so limited, I should pretend that I do not know of these words?

If you really want it (and I know you really want to learn), here goes:

"This was the same man...who withstood the political chicanery of the Florida Democratic machine to fix the vote count.

George W. Bush never seemed to get ruffled."

These are just a few examples where Bush is described as being pretty perfect. He was never concerned by anything...sorry, that is pretty inhuman. Only gods are perfect.

Also there is similar word play in "this is the man, etc" with many early christian texts describing Jesus.

"God has a way of honoring those who honor Him. David learned that while he was on the run from Saul's armies. Job learned that after his time of horrible tribulation. The Messiah said so Himself, many times."

Comparing Bush's situation to biblical events, with all of their same implications. Bush is learning truth from/about God just as the holy men of the Bible.




"So this was the man who actually put faith into practice. He actually loves those who hate him. It is a staggering concept, so foreign in daily occurrence that few thought it anything but grandstanding.

"See, this was the man who learned early on how faith worked: by praying for his enemies, you "heap burning coals upon their heads."

"faith business that confounded everyone. We have had such actors and liars in public office that we have looked skeptically whenever anyone used the term faith."

Just a few snippets about his understanding being above the masses, essentially. He is more enlightened. He truly "loves" his enemies. I thought only Jesus could truly accomplish that, as we humans are too riddled with sin.

"I have never seen a more peaceful face than Laura Bush, whose eyes seemed as though they were already gazing at the final outcome . .. not just of this conflict, but of her reward in Heaven itself. "

Even his wife understands and knows. Her mind and vision are in a "holy" place, which others cannot see (since she is more peaceful than anyone else).

"But I firmly believe when the history of this time is written, it will be acknowledged by friend and foe alike that President George W.
Bush came of age in that cathedral and lifted a nation off its knees."

Obviously, Bush will lead us to a kind of "holy land."

"It was as if God's hand, which had guided him through that sliver-thin election, now rested fully on him.

"He was virtually alone in the scene, alone in that massive place of God, just him and the Lord.

"In that brief time it took him to return to his seat, I believe he heard words to the effect of, "You can do this, George.
I am with you always. And you can do this well, because I am going before you. And don't worry about the weight. I've got it." And I saw in his eyes a quiet acknowledgment. "I know. Thank you, Lord.""

This is some great stuff...the hand of God imagery is always to announce Christ, it has never been used for mortals. The closest would be its association with Mary, but that is only because of her role in Christ and her own form of intermediary status. Not only that, but God is talking to Bush...and he answers back. He has been priveleged, he did not die. According to many passages, mortals would die in that kind of presence. Indeed, this insults Catholocism (the original Christianity, the reason it is still around, etc), as there is no direct communication with God...or Jesus for that matter. Bush, apparently, transcends this.

Also, Christ is at the right hand of God in heaven. Whil side is not proclaimed, there is clearly a comparison with Bush sitting alone with God.

"who never once gave in to the temptation to get in the gutter with his foes"

Use of the word temptation is obvious here...Bush does not sway, that is Saint-like, at the least.

It proves nothing and I'm not intimidated.

Ah yes, the argument that using vocabulary is a scare tactic...I haven't heard that since high school. Believe me, my language has no concideration of you or anyone else. My words were there before I used them, I merely borrow them, claiming no originality or genius.

 

RR:

Illogical? It makes gradiose assertions without the least evidence. It is illogical to argue without first establishing the premise. Such is nothing more than silly rhetoric.

I saw no facts in the passage. No attempt at consensus. No understanding or grasping for enlightenment. Merely arbitrary statements concerning the spiritual value of Bush's victory.

*yawn*.

I don't see how you can read it without giggling hysterically.

 

I am a Christian. I am neither a conservative nor a liberal - I'm somewhere in between. Yes, Dubya is the President of the United States and yes he has been placed in a difficult spot. I will support him and the decisions he makes because we need the country to be united.

However, that doesn't mean that I have to support piece of trash articles like the one in question.

Comparing him to FDR and Churchill made this article and the author lose any credibility that they might have had with me.

 

the arrogance on these boards is astounding. a serious dose of humility is needed.

manny -- i doubt that those who lived in the days of Churchill and Roosevelt would have compare them to the Lincolns and Washingtons of their history books.

rimbaud -- to be a follower of Christ is to have an eternal perspective. it allows one to not get ruffled at things that seem eternally trivial. i think that's all it's trying to say. It's not deifying him...if you humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, He will lift you up. that's all. but thank you for at least having the humility to read the article before judging it!

 

Rich,

You are right, it is terribly biased of me to point out parallells between this article and imagery of Christ that has been used for ~1700 years. I notice you are very selective in your response.

The article mentiones him being unruffled, un-daunted, etc on many occasions, despite all of these liars, actors, cheaters, etc going against him. Obviously, you did not pay much attention to the original article, much less my responses.

Where did I ever criticize Bush for wanting to learn from the bible? You are just being silly.

"Fancy" words, huh? Again, you are being silly and juvenile. Words are words, they are descriptive. What makes these so fancy? The fact that you don't know about Christian history? Sorry, I thought you would be familiar.

If the author of this really did not understand the imagery upon which he/she was playing, these are terribly amazing coincidences. Learn a little more before you accuse me of bias.