GOBAMA: God, Us and the man who would be president

Tonight, was so much more than an election – it was a moment frozen in time, captured in school textbooks for generations to come and a time to tell your kids, “I was there… when…”

It is also the inception of a new “Brickhouse Series” to become the amalgamation of God and Barack Obama (hence, “God & Obama” or “GOBAMA”. Kitschy, huh?)

As much as I would enjoy ranting about his political wiles, I’ll leave that up to my other bricks in the wall, WOW newsers and other blogs I thoroughly enjoy like this one, this one and this one.

But anytime he brings up faith and politics, church and state and all the various and sundry mutterings in between, you will catch it painted on the Wall.

Now then, about what happened this evening… breathtaking.

Regardless of who you voted for, this was historic. Imagine, only 40 years ago… 40!… the man who delivered a rousing speech in front of 125,000 would have been lynched for even thinking such a thing only four decades ago.

Tonight, people of all races and regions were faceted in front of a TV or stood silent in Grant Park and clamoring “Yes we can!” Yet, there was that significant portion of this country who couldn’t say a word or utter a prayer because the memories were too powerful.

Thoughts of being maligned because they were darker than the average citizen…

Images of dogs shredding the arms of black men and women who chose to lend a helping hand of democracy…

Words echoing in their minds of racial slurs and epithets so heinous they shouldn’t be typed on any blog, anywhere…

For those people who held on to a dream and an address from Gettysburg, I proudly type, “Wake up, and welcome to reality.”

I am attached to that dream only because of a proud organization I call, “Frat” (Side note: Martin Luther King was a Too Cold, Servant of All Alpha Phi Alpha). I only know about the race riots in Selma and Montgomery because of history books and fabled stories I hear from others. However, it all came to a head this evening.

Don’t believe me? Did you see Jesse Jackson?

This man who has become a caricature of himself and a HUGE media whore touting anything from his organizations to others’ causes stood there, buried in a sea of people watching the culmination of a dream he heard orated those 40 years ago.

And although Jesse has done many significant counter racial things to bury that memory in apogee – such as “Hymeytown” and note this fun little story – there he was, a shell of the man he has created since the march on Washington.

Stoic, empty, riddled with emotion and crying… silently.

He remembered the words his close friend bellowed from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and for certain he was thinking about them while president-elect Barack Obama recollected memories of “We Shall Overcome.”

There, in that moment, was a microcosm of remembering the Civil Rights movement, hearkening to the inspiration of the past and emotionally passing the torch for the future.

Jesse, you have had more than 15 minutes… but they are officially up.

And now for those young black kids, this will be the picture of folk who look like them and how politics should be about all people. For those a little more seasoned, it’s a reckoning. Enjoy this moment. Despite his party, his politics or even his former pastor, what happened tonight is worth saving the headlines.

It’s been a long time comin’, but I know a change gonna come. Oh yes, it will!

Would Jesus Vote?

During the many foolhardy months of “M.O.V.E. 2008“, the main premise of this particular “Brickhouse Series” is to shed some light on the musings of McCain and Obama as they work to earn (or vie) the vote of evangelicals.

See there? M.O.V.E., all spelled out.

And today, that momentum comes to its precipice, its climax with the push of a button or the turn of a lever. But, for those of us involved in the Body of Christ and saturated in God’s word, I ask you, “Does it really matter?”

Whether your guy is up or down 10 points today is frankly inconsequential. The merit of your motive should be when you vote today – and believe me, if you haven’t, you should – do you even know why?

And if you answer:

1. Because he looks like me,
2. Because he ain’t George W. Bush,
3. or because he is pro-life

Then you are wrong because none of those equal justification to vote for the leader of the free world. Everything, not just one thing, should be considered when voting.

If you want to vote based on biblical principles, then pray earnestly… about all of those principles, issues and reasons. The problem with organizations like the “Religious Right” is that they are political in nature, not religious. Christians should be religious in nature, not political. Pray about that. Fast about that. Then vote.

The ubiquitous question heard in churches all around the country this past Sunday, “How would Jesus vote for” is passe. You see, his birth certificate doesn’t read “U.S. citizen” so his right only becomes righteous in theory. That whole being from Israel thing.

Besides, with all the references to the “KINGDOM OF GOD”, I would think the Almighty is biased to more of a Monarchy. That said, his write-in vote could be for the Queen.

God bless America, yes. God save the who, again? I’m just sayin’. Enjoy your trip to the polls, Wall Watchers.

Is calling a politician “godless” too far for a vote?

Forget the presidential mudslinging and namecalling. Who needs it when we have 12 rounds of bloody pugilism in the North Carolina Senate race between the familiar incumbent Elizabeth Dole and Democratic challenger Kay Hagan and a horrific claim that Hagan is “GODLESS”.

“Godless Americans and Kay Hagan. She hid from cameras. Took godless money,” the ad’s narrator also says. “What did Kay Hagan promise in return?”

See, what Dole just is too doltish to comprehend here is the difference between atheism and godless. Here’s “Theology 101” dufus.

• Atheism – A philosophical stance one takes when there seems to be no logical deduction for the existence of a supreme being. In other words, “If I can’t see, touch, taste or hear it, I can’t believe it’s there.”
• Godless – A religious occurrence when no matter how strong and how divine the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, there’s not enough blood in the Messiah’s veins to cover this poor soul’s sin.

MEMO to Liz: Look here, toots. That barbaric yawp is reserved for one dude in particular, and despite what more than 90 percent of Americans believe about politicians (you included, Missy), let’s just not go there. I’m not sure if your shoulder pads are broad enough to carry that burden.

And for your entertainment, note the CNN clip below.

After Wolf Blitzer and his sensory blitzkrieg, “The Situation Room” corrals his daily sides of beef, Alex Castellanos – generically entitled “Republican Consultant” – adds a brilliant quote that summarizes all this inane ballyhoo from Elizabeth Dole:

When you are making ads that say ‘There is no God’, it typically means your campaign doesn’t have a prayer.

Right on! Maybe that’s why John McCain does nothing to dismiss and shroud the “Obama is a Muslim” rumors?! Oh well, I suppose we will find out on Election Day, huh?

VOTE: Because, that’s why!

You have an opinion. You have a feeling. You have an unction from God. But do you have a reason?

WHY are you voting? Because you should.

Don’t believe me? Peep just a few musings by orators and existentialists much greater than yours truly. See you at the polls tomorrow!

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Demons and devils, but deities? Oh my!

Not Alex, but nice beard nonetheless.

Meet eighth-grader Alex Woinski.

A mild-mannered boy who in his half-Jewish/half-Catholic ecumenical roots decided he had a novel idea for this past Halloween – your favorite Savior and mine, Jesus Christ.

Evidently, that’s what the heathen principals of West Brook Middle School in Paramus, N.J. exclaimed in the school cafeteria when they first saw young Alex, shortly before they kicked his tail out of school for wearing such a heinous costume!

Woinski, who has shoulder-length brown hair, wore a white robe, a red sash, sandals, a fake beard and a crown of thorns. His mother told The Record of Bergen County that Alex was told he could keep the costume on if he removed the beard and crown of thorns. Superintendent James Montesano said the district doesn’t want students wearing costumes that could be distracting.

OK, we’ll let the Birkenstocks and tattered bedsheet slide. But proof of puberty and tree shrubs adorning your brow is something we can’t allow at West Brook Jr. High. Because with the many parents who allow their kids to go door-to-door dawning the Grim Reaper or that dumb mask from SCREAM, I suppose the visage of a young Messiah would be alarming.

Trick or Treat. Smell my feet. Give me some unleavened bread to kosher ham to eat.

Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, huh? Yeah, I would have sent that brat home too. Good on ya’ New Jersey public schools.