The Obama Effect

I've held off doing an extensive blog on US President Barack Obama on purpose simply because of wanting to wait and see if he can live up to the hype of the "yes he/we can" and the hysteria of being the first African American to hold the post. There are moments when I am impressed with him and his performance, and there are moments when I have to bite my lips and say, ouch.

I think what goes without saying is that he accomplished something simply by being elected, though, I have to admit to also feeling that when McCain paired himself with Palin he didn't help his cause. Kind of like Kerry and Edwards some years ago or Don Brash and Bill English of their times or as I see in the future, Goff and King.

I do however see that there is still a lot of polarization amongst the American people about their president. Some have commented that they are hanging out until the next election. I do wonder if he will be a two term president...some part of me hopes so but time will tell.

I do not envy him. One of the largest economies in the western world. A health care and insurance system comparable in its shambles to our ACC programme. Millions of Americans are without basic health insurance. The worlds biggest recession since the 1930's depression. I can't say that Obama's efforts were the sole factor behind the recession now coming to a close, again like any economy it will have a very sharp growth spurt and drop again before beginning its normal recovery.

The insurance issue and the health programme will be his next biggest domestic issues to tackle and neither have answers that will satisfy everyone. Some will say it goes to far, others not far enough. Some will say it punishes those that do have good coverage, and helps others too much. Some of that I guess is just the nature of the 'industry', the requirement of having a largely privately funded health system. Then you see here in New Zealand the dangers of having the exact opposite, a publicly funded health system that in some cases even the poorest people cant even go and visit a doctor.

Before I switched to my current doctor even a subsidised doctors visit was over $40. To health is a big thing everywhere. I don't envy him having to be the person to make the decisions like that. Of course, we as the general arm chair critics we are will have our two cents worth to put in. its only natural...but the key with being critical of governments is that in our cases, we don't see the pictures they do.

That's in part why I am not being overly critical with the National Government here with their proposed changes to ACC. I believe them when they say ACC has blown its budgets. Hells really knows the conditions of the books when Labour was bounced out of office. Plus I was also suspicious of Michael Cullen when he always announced budget surpluses. That meant one of two things. Either some area's weren't getting the funding they could have been, or the populous were being over taxed.

Then there are the international matters that Obama in some cases has to clean up. I give him credit the other morning for being there when a body was unloaded off a plane. As commander-in-chief I think thats important. The ongoing conflicts in the middle east, Afghanistan and Iraq. Do they withdraw, do they stay...In Iraq alone, over 4,500 dead and over 31,000 injured/wounded and another almost 1000 in Afghanistan, another 4,000 wounded.

These are not easy decisions to make of any leader, especially one of the perceived power of the office of the President of the United States. Its not about Air Force one and the White House.

My only criticism of President Obama is I don't like the amount of times he spends using the teleprompter when he speaks. While I understand this is an important tool especially in high power situations where even the best of speakers can fumble lines, but for the most part he should be speaking without it.

Overall, one year into his presidency I think he is doing ok. There is a long way to go and many decisions that are varied and difficult to make that only he can make based on the advice and counsel his is given. More to see I'm sure.

W.T. Fudge? Brian Tamaki now a king?

Oh my hell...something I had long wondered about has finally happened.

I had always wondered what was next for the self proclaimed Bishop Brian Tamaki. Seems like he is now a king. Kind of skipped a few steps there and missed the plot all together...but hey...happens at times.

That is not to say that as a religious and Christian believer that I have not made covenants which I, in order to remain in good stead in the church must follow and that is normal within any organisation. But nothing like what has been publicised about what happened at this mens conference of Destiny Church.

I gladly give 10% of my income to the church. I have no issues with this. There are other requirements of me which I have agreed to of my own free will to abide by...but nothing as militaristic as what I have seen in regards to Destiny and its 'Bishop'.

The only person who receives the level of deference I have seen being required to be shown to Bishop Tamaki would be in our church, the president, one of his counsellors, or one of the 12 apostles. Not even our local bishops get this kind of deference. They get respect, acknowledged in the office they hold.

Years ago, a late president of the church spoke about how uncomfortable he felt when people arose when he entered a room or how they acted around him, but said they acknowledge the office he holds and not him personally.

I had to laugh though that the biblical scholar that Bishop Brian claims to be that he could have picked better role models than some of those old testament kings. Saul,David and Solomon weren't the best people to follow. Saul got jealous when Jonathan was more favoured and David killed more than he did. David deliberately had a man killed so he could take this mans wife as his own. Solomon against the command of God married women who were not of the covenant, and eventually ended up worshipping their false idols.

Of all the kings of the Old Testament the king admired by Abraham named Melchizedek who was King of Salem (Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:1-3).

But what I do not get is that the message of Jesus Christ seems to have gotten lost here. Members seem to be spending more time funding Brian Tamaki's national if not global domination goals and worshipping, not reverencing him, than worshipping God or Jesus Christ. As the cult watch dude said, Brian or Bishop is mentioned 100 times or more where as Jesus Christ is mentioned twice. What does that say?

I believe that the president of my Church has the status Brian Tamaki is trying to impose about himself, but the expectation of bowing, laying gifts at his feet, looking at him in the eye are not expectations. I have stood in the presence of some of these men in my life and have felt awed by their presence...but never once have I ever felt the need to drop to my knees. I have felt very humbled to be able to shake their hand and speak with them. I know from personal experience they speak with power and authority and I have even come to know when they are speaking the will of God. I accept that as being their role. Its a faith thing.

I bow to one king and one king only...Jesus Christ the Lord. Acknowledge and revere his prophets and servants, but first and foremost is the Saviour Jesus Christ.

I've always had my doubts about Destiny Church and its leadership, especially about Brian Tamaki. If he wanted to do this right, following the New Testament guide in Pauls letter to the Ephesians which clearly tells us on what foundation a church truly following Christ is built on...Paul, in talking to the already baptised members of the church is telling them "now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Eph 2:19-20 emphasis added). Not some deluded guy.