Near the end of a bumpy first year in office, President Obama readied for a Christmas vacation in Hawaii, but before he left, he called on a group of five ministers for a spiritual recharge.
Like previous prayer calls, this one was more personal than political.
"He certainly does not ask us how we would run the country and what issue to pursue or not pursue," said Bishop Charles Blake of the Los Angeles-based Church of God in Christ, who was on the phone last December.
For 10 minutes, the president and the pastors prayed for peace, an economic recovery, protection for U.S. soldiers, and for Obama to be guided by a wisdom and power beyond himself.
Glimpses into Obama's spiritual life have been rare since he became president. He split with his longtime Chicago pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, after the fiery minister nearly derailed Obama's campaign, and has not joined a church in Washington.
"Having been burned, for lack of a better word, during the campaign and early days of his administration, I would not be surprised that he would be rather discreet about any revelations of his religious life," Blake said.
Still, Obama continues to champion the role of faith in public life, frequently summoning the spirits of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr and even St. Thomas Aquinas to frame his policies in moral terms.
Like previous presidents, he regularly seeks the counsel of longtime Washington insiders, including Sojourners founder Jim Wallis, Reform Rabbi David Saperstein and retired Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, to shape decisions about the Iraq war, health care reform and the economy.
But Obama has also turned to a group of fresh--and relatively unfamiliar--faces to manage religious issues in his administration. They are recalibrating America's engagement with Muslims, revamping the White House faith-based office and tending to the president's own soul. A year into Obama's presidency, each of the following seven people has become an essential member of what might be called his "spiritual cabinet."
Joshua DuBois
His official title is director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Unofficially, Joshua DuBois is the administration's go-to guy for almost all things religious. He travels as Obama's roving ambassador to religious gatherings, connects the president with faith leaders for spiritual counsel, helps scout Washington churches for the first family, and handles the frequent media queries about Obama's faith.
Before stepping into politics, DuBois, 27, was a pastor at small Pentecostal church in Massachusetts, and his approach to the president bears traces of his former calling. DuBois sends daily devotionals to Obama's Blackberry--often a Bible verse or an excerpt from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, or a snippet from the works of theologians Richard and Reinhold Niebuhr, particular favorites of the president.
More publicly, DuBois is tasked with overhauling the White House faith-based office and managing its branches in 12 federal agencies. Under Obama, DuBois is steering the office away from the Bush administration's policy of direct funding to religious charities, and attempting to rescue it from charges that it improperly blends church and state.
Denis McDonough
When Denis McDonough was in eighth grade, he heard his older brother, a Catholic priest, deliver a homily entirely in Spanish. McDonough soon learned Spanish himself, and became an expert on bridging cultural gaps.
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SOURCE: Christianity Today
Daniel Burke, Religion News Service
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Quote from above: "to be guided by a wisdom and power beyond himself." Being....???
Quote from above: "Still, Obama continues to champion the role of faith in public life, frequently summoning the spirits of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr and even St. Thomas Aquinas to frame his policies in moral terms."
Summoning the spirits of any dead person is witchcraft. Pray that Obama will seek God and be saved through Jesus Christ. Then he will come to know The HOLY SPIRIT, not some dead spirit.
Quote from above:
"Having been burned, for lack of a better word, during the campaign and early days of his administration, I would not be surprised that he would be rather discreet about any revelations of his religious life," Blake said.
Hope his religious life will become a Christian life, one in which he places Christ on the throne of his life. Hope and pray President Obama follows Him.
Quote from above:
Like previous prayer calls, this one was more personal than political. Really ?? Maybe I misread.
Quote:
"But Obama has also turned to a group of fresh--and relatively unfamiliar--faces to manage religious issues in his administration. They are recalibrating America's engagement with MUSLIMS...(Many, many of whom hate Christians.)
Quote from above:
"A year into Obama's presidency, each of the following seven people has become an essential member of what might be called his "spiritual cabinet."
Did this "spiritual cabinet" die from him? I don't think so. What President Obama needs, and all others who have not accepted Him, is Christ.
Remember the game "Follow the Leader?" Children love playing it. If you're really concerned about your children's souls, you'll warn them not to follow the leader this time. If Obama means more to you than Christ, he has become your idol. Remember the First Commandment and remember your first LOVE. If you have trouble remembering... something's not quite right.
Anonymous Above = Lorraine
Quote from the Bible:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" - Jesus Christ
1st Quote from above: "to be guided by a wisdom and power beyond himself." Being....???"
Who knows exactly with the author of this article meant when he probably PARTIALLY quoted this statement. We dont even know "his" religious preference or background even though he is a writer under "Religion News Service")...the whole scope of Religious views...not specifically Christianity. We can assume THE MOST HIGH (GOD) and/or other religious advisors, perhaps because of the credentials of the five ministers he called on for prayer are Christians. Judging from the article those five appear to be Bishop Charles Blake, Joshua DuBois, Joel Hunter, Sharon Watins and Dennis McDonough or either Lt Carey Cash.
2nd Quote from same commenter: "Summoning the spirits of any dead person is witchcraft. Pray that Obama will seek God and be saved through Jesus Christ. Then he will come to know The HOLY SPIRIT, not some dead spirit. Anonymous"
"Summoning the spirits"....Please keep in mind words can be taken out of context from the viewpoint of the author. We do not know if this writer Daniel Burke physically eye witnessed Obama committing such an act of witchcraft "Summoning the Spirits". I highly doubt he did cuz if that were the case this article's focus would have been completely different. This term is probably more of a subjective term Daniel Burke used to summarize, for a lack of a better word, his own interpertation of how Obama gathers his resources based on the legacies left by Dr. MLK, Reinhold, and St. Thomas Aquinas in their study of theology...in which I think Burke was trying to convey...how Obama relies on their teachings/experience to HELP frame his policies in moral terms.
3rd Quote from same commenter: "Having been burned, for lack of a better word, during the campaign and early days of his administration, I would not be surprised that he would be rather discreet about any revelations of his religious life," Blake said.
Hope his religious life will become a Christian life, one in which he places Christ on the throne of his life. Hope and pray President Obama follows Him."
I would have to agree with Bishop Charles Blake the Presiding Bishop of the COGIC Christian Denomination. We have to be careful how we judge people whether Christian or non-Christian not knowing fully what their preference is. As far as what I have seen, Obama appears to be following Christian faith although many say he is a Muslim and/or among others religious affiliation?? However, knowing the slander that was publized in the media during Obama's campaign about his "Christian Faith" background from the very UNTACTFUL Rev. Jeremiah Wright...I would be discreet to a degree about my personal religious beliefs at this point. Yes we must, as the body of Christ, all continually pray that Obama IS a true born again believer and following Christ Jesus!
1st Quote from the next commenter "Quote:
"But Obama has also turned to a group of fresh--and relatively unfamiliar--faces to manage religious issues in his administration. They are recalibrating America's engagement with MUSLIMS...(Many, many of whom hate Christians.)"
Recalibrate is to check, adjust, or determine by comparison with a standard of sum sort, so I too question the motives to this...I speculate that it is to bridge the gap in America's relationship with Muslim communities all around the world and the dissentions created between Christians and Muslims. I will be keeping an eye on the relevance to the standpoint concerning this agenda item. :-\
1st Quote from the 3rd commenter: "A year into Obama's presidency, each of the following seven people has become an essential member of what might be called his "spiritual cabinet."
Did this "spiritual cabinet" die from him? I don't think so. What President Obama needs, and all others who have not accepted Him, is Christ."
It is a great thing for the President to establish a spiritual panel of advisors...i see no error in that. Most on this panel are Christian theologians and leader of demoninations and chruches. I would say that he knows WHO is above those spiritual advisors he is entrusting to help guide him in his spritual and moral matters personally and for America and that if there is any skepticism pray that Christ Jesus becomes his Savior and he seeks GOD first above everything else so that he is probably guided and led by the holy spirit.
***edit***
spelling correction to the last sentence (I meant PROPERLY not probably)**
Only God knows.
You've made it very obvious whom you put your trust and faith in.
I used to think you were prejudice against the white man. Now I'm convinced you're in love. Don't you know the man's married??
Quote from above: We can assume THE MOST HIGH (GOD) and/or other religious advisors, perhaps because of the credentials of the five ministers he called on for prayer are Christians.
But Obama says he's a Christian, yet he doesn't believe Christ to be the only way to receive eternal life. He stated that Christians should stop telling people this. No Christian would ever say a thing like that!!! Have you noticed...People just flippingly use the word "Christian" now days??
Christians know who Christ is. They don't doubt His Words.
This article leaves a lot of speculation. Saints of God are always so critical and negatively opinionated on every level of a discussion. Reading the article u can tell the author's quotes were subjective and not objective...it is just to give a summary of the religious activities going on in the white house and with the president. smh