Wednesday, November 5, 2008

If you wanna know how we feel...


Please direct yourself to Donald Miller's blog entitled "From Reagan to Obama, a brief Political History" located here: http://donmilleris.com/

If you don't have time to read the blog...here are some highlights that really spoke to us and reflect why we supoorted Obama because of our faith, not inspite of it...

"a few days ago I did an interview with a writer for The Today Show, and after the interview she asked how it was evangelicals could come to believe the many lies being spread about Barack Obama. In answer I came back to the insular nature of the suburban church. “When we’ve never met people,” I said, “we are easily manipulated into demonizing them. We are easily made to fear.” And I’ll add there has been a great deal of fear in this campaign. I just received a letter, yesterday, from a prominent church leader in Georgia that accused Michelle Obama, who I have met and found to be a lovely and humble woman, of being be a racist. This was not a small-town backwards preacher, this was a best-selling Christian author, who, honestly, should be ashamed of himself."

"Last year I vowed I wouldn’t make decisions out of fear. And because of that I’ve had one of the greatest years of my life. I went to Uganda and got to meet with the man who helped write their constitution. I wrapped up an evangelism project I believe will introduce more than a million people to the gospel. I rode my bike across America. All of this stuff took some degree of risk. But when calculating those risks, I realized the only reason not to try was fear. What if I was wrong, what if I couldn’t make it, what if the project didn’t work? But none of my heroes are controlled by fear. The commandment most often repeated in scripture, in fact, is “do not fear.” Fear is often something unrighteous trying to keep you from doing something good."

"While in Denver I met people from the Obama Campaign. I met Joshua Dubois and Paul Monteiro, Obama’s faith-policy advisors. Paul, like me, had been a Republican until recently. He is a staunch pro-lifer who got tired of Republicans not making enough strides on the issue and was won over by the dramatic effect economic policy has on unwanted pregnancy and the bottom-up effects of economic stimulation as opposed to the conservative, supply-side policy. And Joshua spoke to me about Senator Obama’s personal faith, his commitment to close his events in prayer, his daily morning devotions and his twenty-year history of talking openly about Jesus. I didn’t need to be won over. I’d started a mentoring foundation in Portland two years before and was attracted to Obama’s message on responsible fatherhood (along with his backing of The Responsible Fatherhood Act.)"

"I voted for Barack Obama (we vote early in Oregon) because I think he is right on healthcare (his plan will allow 27 million more Americans, including young, pregnant mothers to be cared for) and he is right on responsible fatherhood. I voted for Barack Obama because he will keep George W. Bush’ Faith-based Partnerships Program in play, only increasing its funding. I voted for Barack Obama because he has the respect of world leaders, which will be necessary to deliberate an American agenda around the world, and I voted for Barack Obama because he had the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq. I’ve taken some blows from the conservative right on my stance, but, even in public debate against McCain representatives, have not been deterred. I will not be guilted, shamed or controlled. I am not going to vote for one candidate because I have been made to fear the other. I support Barack Obama because he has beat back the dark hour of cynicism and irrational fear, and provided hope to a country closing in on itself. I believe there are great days ahead."

We stand with our Christian brother in celebrating this historical day

6 comments:

Jenn said...

I myself am VERY nervous. Couldn't even sleep last night. I hope you are right.

Davenports said...

avilas--obama is not a savior, just a man...and like all men (and women) who hold a political office, he's going to make mistakes and will need our prayers. we would have supported mccain if he'd won, so i hope you guys can find it in yourself to support president obama. he's going to need it.

but all this aside, we hope you guys still like us despite our differing view points. and we look forward to getting back to less controversial topics...
-sarah

THE WHITTINGTONS said...

i was just reading donald miller's blog and was LOVING it, and i saw you beat me to posting this post on your blog. :)

miss your sweet family.

Holls said...

last night rocked!!! i couldn't agree more. nice to hear that insight. i read blue like jazz, but haven't thought about him since... thanks for the highlights!

Cheer up, Old Bean! said...

Yay Davenports- great blog!!! I couldn't be happier about last nights results- i feel hopeful and proud again!!!!

Jenn said...

jenn wrote the above comment, but I can say for both of us that we ABSOLUTELY love you guys! don miller's words were great and i completely agree with him on the whole "decisions based on fear" thing. personally, i don't buy any of the nasty rumors people are spreading around about Obama. my concerns were about his economic policies. although i'll admit that McCain's weren't any better. oh well, just differences of opinion. i'm over it. jenn and i will get behind Obama now and pray that God leads him, which we know He is faithful to do!