Still waiting for that Thank You card

I have been under the impression that blogdom has the ability to cross pollinate.

That's good.

Sometimes I link to people who I think write a good article. I have readers who at my suggestion go there.

Then, they start reading the blog I sent them to more than my own. I see MY READERS showing up in the comment fields of thier blog posts.

Come to think of it, most of my readers came from other blogs.

OK, I'm being petty here.

But, a thank you card would be nice. I think I have a few to send.

Sound Advice for the Single Woman in 2008 - (Man, Am I ever going to be in trouble here)

I won't even link to the article.

This is dangerous and not very holy ground.

I have a blog acquaintance who I have admired for some time as a clever talented writer.

She has been bemoaning her fate along with her friend about how hard it is to meet someone with marriage intentions and maybe even have a family.

I have read both dissertations and am not without some empathy. Yet, I walk thru malls, in parks, at the library and on the street and see some of the most odd parings you can imagine. Ugly men with beautiful women can be rooted in the ultimate sex appeal component, a fat wallet. I get that.

Yet I see women, misshapen, unattractive women who are married apparently happily to men who while not Brad Pitt, could have if looks were a measure, done much better.

I ask myself this all the time. How did this happen?

I have been a man. Still last I looked am one. I know what it's like to be come on to by a woman of less than attractiveness. If she is good at what she does she will make me feel important, attractive, sexy, bright, clever, funny, admired even worshiped. She will find my ego soft spot and stroke it carefully. She will not bite. She will be safe. She will be able to carry on a great conversation and do so without trying to even up the score all the time.

This is the nature of the woman who finds a good man when more attractive brighter women are left in the cold.

I am a fan of the Play Julius Cesar by Shakespeare. As Cassius says to Brutus:

"Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings." --Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

I have no desire to pile on guilt, but if you are going to make friends, you must be a friend. If you are going to find a soul mate you must be a soul mate. There are thousands of lonely bachelors who want to find someone to share life with on the planet, even in North Dakota.

They want to preserve their fragile egos. If you come across as porcupine they will keep their emotional distance. (Encounters with Porcupines hurt most times)

I know from personal family experience that any woman who wants to meet a man of 30 plus will have to be the initiator. They aren't going to come ask you to dance. That day passed them (and you) by. They are single because no one asked them to dance. If you read too many Jane Austen novels you believe that the fresh faced 19 year old is you. NOPE. Not any more.

Heathcliff is going to need to be approached. He is unmarried and unattached because he's shy or has been hurt by other women. Bitten once, twice shy.

The gravitationally overdone less than perfect in the eyes of others girl down the street has no hang ups about going and smiling in his frightened face and carrying him down the aisle. The former paragraph was modified to meet the requirements of the politically correct police. And yes I am still a prophet, just maybe not a politically correct prophet.

Time to be a little aggressive here.

The rules have changed.

I'm sure I will now get hate mail on this. I have couched this so only the person who could read this will know it's about them. Others need not apply.

Obama - McCain - Biden - Warren - Ramble

Random Rambles about the political scene this morning:

I watched the Rick Warren McCain and Obama thing last Saturday Night. I wish I hadn't. I am now of the opinon it was out of line. Oh, McCain looked good, Obama looked clumsy. That should be a good thing. But, it gave me a case of the yucks, icky, smarmyness. Rick Warren with whom I have disagreed I now disagree once again. I think this was a bridge too far and one I wish we hadn't crossed.

Biden for VP. This IS a good thing. Joe Biden has the nicest smile, friendly, amiable and loosest mouth both in Loquaciousness and in content. He will be fun to make fun of. He's good at it. If there is an upside to Biden, he is an adult. He actually has a little experience. BUT two senators as one and two in the highest post in the land politically? Bad plan. Senators make really bad presidents for the most part. Too inexperienced. Well, we have double for our trouble.

McCain is showing strength. Thats good sort of but not.

It will be all Dem all the time on CNN, MSNBC and every other liberal news channel on the planet next week as they convene for the green convention in Denver. What an infomercial will that be. I'm not looking forward to it. I keep hoping Hillary can pull it out of the fire.

I guess in summary, with Obama Biden we have a weaker ticket than I thought the Republicans would have to face. That's good, UNLESS McCain pull some bonehead move and picks some Pro Choice Liberal as a running mate. Lord knows he's capable of reaching across the Aisle and giving it all away.

We'll see.

Fame and Infamy

Some left wing wacko has determined that I am a right wingnut.

Ha, I could have told him that. But coming from him, I consider it an honor to have achieved a place in his hall of shame. It means I'm effective in doing my job in wingnutdom.

I wrote a piece in Feb for Say Anything. It was pretty good. I just reread it. Wouldn't take a word back. It's worse now than ever.

I must have hit a nerve. Nobody ever kicks a dead dog. His head wouldn't be exploding:

Blogger Gene over at the Say Anything Blog has also noticed Obama's fascistic tendencies and thinks that Obama fills a savior void for liberals, who are "mostly godless" people who spend too much time "relying on reason" and who "have empty souls." And because liberals are so soulless and reasonable, they "need a person to invest their faith and trust in. ... In Germany that person was Hitler, today that person is OBAMA.

Still true, Brad, still true.

I wonder if Brad isn't just one of those self appointed Obamadefensebloggers who troll the net looking for bad things said about their guy.

Stick around Brad, I'll make life much easier for you.

Why We are Here

Last Night Peggy and I had dinner at the home of the man who 22 years ago brought us here to the Chicagoland area to lead his company in Lombard.

It was pleasant to see him and Carol again.

They live life well with grandkids all around. And lots of Golf.

Good on them. I don't know if I thanked him for prying us out of NODAK 22 years ago. Should have. But, his path has been one of good success.

We share a deep passion for Jesus. The stuff of the world has grown strangely dim for us as time goes along. I suspect they will for him as well. He has much to offer a lost world. I hope he will continue to do so.

Thanks Merrill.

Punishment

In case you were at all
fuzzy on this issue:

I thought this was funny

Barry Kolb over on his blog has a clearcut definition between Hymns and Praise Choruses.

I know you may have seen this before, but it's worth seeing again. You could use it in Church.

Global Warming Demonstraters Freeze Trying to Protest Global Warming

God has a great sense of Humor. In Australia some protesters against Human Caused Global Warming were going to carry a Solar and Wind powered "Torch" across the continent in protest.

BUT, it was too cold.

And God Laughed.

Oh and if you want a chuckle, take a peek at the picture in the article. I used to hang out with these sort of folks. Well meaning dupes. Been there but no longer have the tee shirt.

Are you instantly obedient to God?

I have asked that question of Godly men and women from time to time to see what limits they put on God. They always answer with a Holy YESSSS. Head bowed. Religious posture engaged fully.

I ask them, "If God told you to bark outside a gas station like a dog all day Thursday would you do it?". Of course not they will say. "God won't ask me to do that".

I didn't ask that. I asked if you were instantly obedient or not. If God told you to cook and eat using human Dung for a fire would you?

IF God told you to walk around naked for 3 years, would you?

You see, God told his men of God to do at least two of those and I might argue from experiences at Toronto Three.

The answer I always get even from Pastors is, "MY GOD WOULD NEVER ASK ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING BIZARRE". OK, Pastor, Maybe YOUR God wouldn't, but the God of the Bible has a habit of asking his people to do some pretty outlandish things. Your god must be someone else.

I bring this up because we are now in a season of deciding what God would or wouldn't do thru his ministers. We have as a church decided that as long as God doesn't ask us to do something weird or unusual we are OK with that. We certainly don't want to do anything that might end up on You Tube over and over again. We Say, "I have no problem doing what God asks me to do if it causes me no inconveniences". It's when it's out there that it pushes the envelope. It tests our obedience quotient.

My friend Barry has said to God, "Before you finish asking me God, My answer is YES". I think that's a dangerous place to be. God might JUST take you up on all that.
I think HE might have the guts to do what God asks him to do. How about you?

This article by Lee Grady that I found on another Blog is a good example of why we have turned the move of God into Milquetoast. He says:

We may say the Holy Spirit is moving, but—more often than we want to admit—our chaos may be a sign of our immaturity.

I think that sometimes we attempt to keep the Chaos down and the result is ineffectiveness. We miss God because we want to stay in control. That's a spirit of witchcraft. The church has fallen into a trap of wanting to avoid anything that might make outsiders think we are just a little weird. We are supposed to be a peculiar people. But we want to stay just inside the mold the world has formed us into.

It's time we start to respond to what God is asking us to do without so much navel gazing. Let's be like the men who ate poop cooked food and walked around naked, see God on his throne and say, "Here am I Lord, Send ME".

Too many of us are conditionally obedient when God is calling for instant obedience.

Can God really use you? Are you willing to say, here am I Lord, send me? I think the events of the last few months are causing this important question to be asked.

Now it's up to us to each answer for ourselves.

The Lakeland Revival - NOT DEAD YET

I just wanted to set the record straight. Todd Bentley has stepped back from what is going on in Lakeland.

The Revival has suffered damage. But like the old Monty Python Skit, it's NOT DEAD YET.

THE OUTPOURING CONTINUES Without Todd.

Here is a current schedule for who and what is happening in Lakeland. I like Bobby Conners. I like Joan Hunter (I like Charles and Francis too). I would like to rub shoulders again.

I know Carl Strader personally, Steven Strader's dad. Have great affection for him. Makes me feel a little old that his boy Steven is doing the work of God. I think I'll just go and support his efforts.

It's like a lot of revival meetings, like Evan Roberts in the Welsh revival, it's great for a little while, then something happens, a spirit gets in. But thank God for the Apostolic Structure put in place by Peter Wagner and crew.

The waves of this outpouring are going on all around the world. Evenso Come Lord Jesus.

The revival goes on.

Does if it's not Broke don't Fix it Apply here??

You've heard it said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

That is used by many to tell people to stay away from things that seem to be working. In this political season lots of things seem to be broken at one level or another. Some need to be left alone, others need fixing.

For instance:

Public Education. Doesn't seem to be much agreement on it's brokenness. I would call it broken. Others who want to pay teachers for doing little would disagree. I think it needs fixing.

Our Military. Not broken. Breaking things and killing people right on cue.

Our Tax system. Kinda Broken, but usable.

Our infrastructure, broken but repairable.

Our economy, broken a little but coming around.

Free Speach - Just fine, but the Libs want the unfairness doctrine back.

Energy Dependence, broken badly but being repaired as we speak. We'll get this fixed.

Health Care. This one is really the conundrum. It's broken. OH, it works OK for those who are government employees, it works OK for Retirees, It works OK for some corporate workers, but for 25 million Americans who are uninsured or under insured it doesn't seem to work very well. I would call that broken. Oh we have health care available. It seems like however that the only two options available are 1. Don't get sick or 2. Get sick, go to hospital, go bankrupt.

Not really options now are they? Those who have coverage of some kind or another will say that we should be happy that we have good health care available to all. Really? I pay almost 20% of my AGI for health Insurance from a private company. I know they have to make a buck. But, for that I get the most marginal of insurance coverage and I pray every day I never have to use a dime of it. To date any claim I have submitted has remained unpaid by them.

None.

Here's the problem. I don't want the government in the business of DMV or Post Office style health insurance administration. I don't want regulation on Doctors. I don't know what I want actually. If I had an answer it would be GENE for PRESIDENT. It's not.

I do know that we spend as a percentage of or GDP and Per Capita more on health care in the USA than anywhere else in the WORLD. And we are NOT healthier for it. On a healthy index we are pretty low.

And I hear all the stories about people who come from far and wide, Canada, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia to access our Health Care system. Oh, for those who can afford it, it's a wonderful system. Just not to the marginally insured which by some estimates is almost a third of the US population today.

I'm just not sure who can afford it, from here. I don't seem to be able to.

I think our health care system is broken. As is Medicare, Medicaid and while we are at it the whole social support system. It's a giant black hole. We keep pouring money into it. Nothing is being fixed.

I'll make this observation. Our social costs including the upward spiral of health care will kill us all off. We are in deep weeds in this country. This in my opinion is more important than the price of oil.

This is very broken but let's not try to fix it without knowing what we are doing. I think as a conservative this is one issue where the Republican Party Must become aware of. Just hoping it will go away is death to any victory. I don't want OBAMACARE. But, we must have a clear conversation.

I suspect that Private Health Insurance must be the Supplement with Public overarching coverage of catastrophic. Paid for HOW? I don't have all the answers.

I would hope one of the wise ones on this blog will tell me.

OH, I am healthy, 63, Not terribly overweight or sick. Yet, in trying to find any alternative to the home wrecking insurance costs I carry I am told over and over again that I better hold on to what I have, that's all there is, there are no options. This by insurance professionals. I am fully hostage to my insurance company.

That would be broken in my estimation.

There is No Other One

I have been studying the supremacy of Jesus. I don't think we really grasp who He is.

Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Yes, we trinitarians deal with it all in as the second person of the trinity. Part of the Godhead. Sort of God in man clothes.

But the writers of the new testament knew him. Knew who He is. He is GOD. He created all things. He is the one who holds everything together by the power of his word. You or I take one more breath because He allows it. He is the Man on the Throne. Everything that is GOD dwells and dwelt fully in him.

Hebrews 1:2
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

I think the anemia in the Church is we are too abstract in our Worship. We worship GOD. That's good. But lots of entities claim to be God, or as Harry Hein said yesterday, THE MAN UPSTAIRS. (Some people are living on a lower floor). Or cows. OR Allah. Or Krishna.

When we put a name to it all, Jesus the anointed one and the anointing he carries, (Christ) that becomes something else.

I just thought you would want to know what I am thinking about right now. Jesus is true GOD and (lower case) true man. He is all God. That means this is true of Jesus too:

Romans 11:33-36

33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
35"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
36For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

My encouragement is next time you sing a hymn or Chorus with the name of God in it, Praise God from whom all blessings flow, or a Mighty Fortress is our God, or Mighty is our God, Mighty is our King.

Just for kicks, put the name Jesus in the place of the word God. See if that doesn't become a little uncomfortable. See if assigning what the Writers of the New Testament assigned to him isn't just a little more focused and intimate than you thought it would be.

Jesus is God, the fullness of the Godhead. God is Jesus. Holy Spirit is God. God is Holy Spirit. Jesus is Holy Spirit. Etc.

They are all one. If you figure out how that works, drop me a line. I just want to remind my few precious readers of the Supremacy of Christ. There is no OTHER ONE but YOU Oh Lord.

Targeted by the Enemy

I have been reading with interest a series put together by a Pastor Friend of mine, Barry Kolb.

I commend it to you.

The question he asks is, Are You Flameworthy.

The last of the series had this excerpt:

But, let's also pray for the Christians who are being blessed; who are receiving a lot of money. Let's also pray for the Christians around the world who have great leadership positions because the evil one is coming after these men & women. So we should pray for those in adversity & also those that are being blessed.

I thought of the Todd Bentley situation. I thought of my own. I thought of many many people, great men and women of God who have been human too much. They were targets of the Enemy. It's like when God puts a man up, the enemy does all in his power to take him down. Sometimes they do. They took a bullet. Maybe a spear. Yes, they were flameworthy until they lost sight of the 4th man in the fire with them.

And, I have to admit that I didn't pray for Bentley's protection.

I think Pastor Barry's admonition to pray for such is right on the money.

In fairness, I will post what the board of Directors of Fresh Fire Ministry released on Friday. It clears things up and heads off the rumors. I appreciate an anonymous commenter in referring me to this.

August 15, 2008

From the Board of Directors

We wish to thank all of our friends and partners for the overwhelming flood of support and compassion we have received as a ministry on behalf of Todd and Shonnah Bentley. The many phone calls and emails of concern from people who genuinely love the Bentleys and Fresh Fire Ministries have been a great encouragement to all of us here during these past few days. In particular, the rallying of support and prayer for Todd and Shonnah by prominent leaders within the Body of Christ has been a beautiful indicator of the maturity and grace the Lord is bringing to his Bride.

We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisers, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.

On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry for the pain many of you must feel and so regret that in the midst of great revival, the enemy has found a way into our camp. To those who have stood by us, we wish to thank you for what in many cases has been years of support. Thank you for your financial giving towards the vision of this ministry, and thank you especially for your prayers. For those of our partners, friends and supporters who may be struggling with the recent disclosures and finding continued support of this ministry in conflict with either conscience or conviction, we release and bless you with all our hearts and trust that God will redeem in your hearts the good that He has accomplished in your lives through this ministry. It is our sincerest hope and prayer that the Lord bless you and bring you into your fullest destiny in Him.

When this ministry was initially birthed in May of 1998, Todd had but one simple desire in his heart – to see the world come to know Jesus. Now, only 10 years later, Fresh Fire Ministries has grown to become a Resource Center that is literally reaching out to all the corners of the Earth. There have been dozens of associate ministries, scores of interns and hundreds of graduates from the Supernatural Training Center. Over 60 nations have received a combined total of more than five million dollars in humanitarian aid and we have seen well over one million conversions for Jesus Christ.

And so, the question can well be asked... where do we go from here? It is true that we are deeply saddened by these recent events, but it hasn’t shaken our faith in either God or His goodness towards us and with the help of wise and compassionate leaders within the body, we will do everything within our power to see our brother and sister healed and restored.

As a ministry, we can not forsake the vision and heartbeat upon which Todd Bentley founded Fresh Fire Ministries which is simply this:

Matthew 10:7-8
And as you go, Preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

While Todd and Shonnah each go through the necessary steps towards restoration and wholeness, we are compelled, with the resources with which God has entrusted us, to continue to spread God’s love and power all over the world.

There are many noble activities and endeavors in which Fresh Fire Ministries is involved, initiated by Todd, and to which we are still committed. We have the Supernatural Training Centre, our school of ministry, already in it’s fourth full year and with more than 50 students already enrolled we’re believing for an amazing year of biblical instruction, practical application and encounters with the presence of God. Many mature and gifted speakers and associates, graduated interns and teachers filled brim-full with the DNA and fire of this ministry are ready to pour revelation and passion into the hungry hearts of this coming year’s student body.

We will continue to host conferences in our region with speakers and worship leaders from around the nation whose message and mandates resonate with the vision and heart of Fresh Fire Ministries. In addition, we are committed to supporting the growing “OutPourings” across North America and around the world with our Associates, with encouragement and prayer support. In Todd’s own words, “What God is doing is bigger than one man”, and we now have a golden opportunity as the Body of Christ to pick up the baton and to run with perseverance for His glory.

Our missions department is progressing, as previously mentioned, with our major African crusade. With close to 100 team members in attendance, excitement is beginning to build and team members have responded that they are still believing God for the most amazing missions trip ever! Our Uganda Jesus Village in Kampala is forging ahead with the recent acquisition of 35 acres of land 30 minutes drive from our present location. Two of the 15 homes planned for the property are nearing completion, and the expanded village, when finished, will house almost 150 orphans rescued from war torn northern Uganda.

So whether in our Children’s Home in Africa, in our Supernatural Training Centre in British Columbia, in the revival meetings and outpourings spreading around the globe, or in taking teams to minister compassion and practical assistance to the poor in the far corners of the Earth, we have been and still are committed to bringing love, hope and a demonstration of the saving, healing, delivering power of the Gospel to a world in need.

Thank you all once again for your prayers and support. We bless each and every one of you in whatever decision you must make. Please know that our heart in all of this is to see the name of the Lord vindicated, and we take great encouragement from Psalm 23 and the Lord’s promise that He will “lead us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Together we look to the mercy and wisdom of our loving Father and we remain as ever, your brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Fresh Fire Board of Directors

A few weeks ago I spent and evening one on one with one of Bentley's board members at Wheaton College. He had no clue anything was going on. He had just been there at the Lakeland revival.

Todd has demonstrated a truth we all must be aware of from 1st Corinthians:

12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Todd perhaps didn't see the "Way-Out" sign. It's easy to miss it when darkness sets in.

HE was a target, he was put in the flames, just like us all, and he will be restored. It will take time.