Top Ten Reasons Obama Stayed 20 yrs. BECAUSE:

10 The Audacity to Hope was a powerful sermon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H73WqSj1- aI&feature=PlayList&p=7C19AC20C5 E410F8&index=13
Obama heard the Christian gospel thru good old-fashioned preaching from the Word of God, and music that stirred the soul; it was a joy / privilege to learn from one who studies, thinks and preaches deeply and broadly.

9...Obama sought/found something bigger than himself"faith in the love and presence of God. How ridiculous to say he was "trying to affiliate with a big church for "street cred" for when he"d one day run for POTUS." That"s not why African Americans attend church. Besides, America usually prefers its presidents to be atheists and to not bring God into the equation at all.

8 Obama felt he could be free to be who he is"whether identifying with his White, Black or African heritage. Worshippers include the impoverished/ affluent, uneducated/well-educated, laborer/professional, worshipping side by side. Trinity UCC embraced, affirmed and taught, the value, potential, love, dignity, and respect of ALL people despite race, gender, economic class or creed. INCLUDING Black people"despite how they"ve been conditioned to regard themselves or how they are portrayed to the rest of the world.

7 He saw active ministries; "doers of the Word and not hearers only." He watched Rev Wright turn the bitterness, frustration and rejection many Blacks experienced every day in America, into understanding, forgiveness, accountability and empowerment to address their issues and society"s ills.

6 some people hate America. Rev Wright is NOT one of them. Not a demon or saint, just a MAN (dimples and warts) who loves God and his people, recognizing you must name and face a problem before you can address it. He didn"t "pimp" this parishioners, rather he greatly sacrificed to uplift, encourage and empower them.

5 you don"t have to agree with everything a preacher says. They"re not there to entertain or debate you; but to instruct, challenge, chastise and minister to you about and through the Word of God. They themselves are only humans who may falter or fail, whereas the Word does not.

4 The message of a sermon may not be politically correct, but the truth of it can be empowering. A sermon, like medicine, is not always palatable, convenient, or comfortable, but it"s necessary for healing. The stronger or deeper ingrained the dis-ease, the more potent the medicine.

3 Education, critical thinking and excellence are strongly encouraged and respected. Rev Wright also modeled the ability to work with and move effectively among thinking whites/Blacks, Jews/Muslims, Protestants/Catholics, professors/students, men/women, adults/children, straight/gay, young/old, educated/uneducated; to respect their differences and make it possible for them to work and reason together.

2 Rev Wright is a prophetic preacher, master teacher, and Biblical scholar, who encouraged Christian principles, educational excellence, personal responsibility, compassion for others; and who taught about acceptance, love, forgiveness and reconciliation. And ?

1 Because it was his right to do so.