At the invitation of a friend of mine, I attended a night of worship at the Arcada theater in St Charles. It was being put on by Global Celebration. There is a worship conference. I don't know these folks, Georgian Banov and his wife. Different Streams I guess. I did know of Kim Walker. Jesus culture and all. And some of the other worship leaders there. It was inspiring to see the place full. Main Floor and Balcony (where I sat). The worship was great. The conference goes on today... People from all kinds of worship groups are teaching worship leaders today on how to do it better. That would have been great except what happened next.
After the first 90 minutes Banov took the platform. He spoke for nearly an hour. Ostensibly to take an offering. He seems like a nice fellow. It was his ball and bat. He has as a heart for the poor. But within 30 minutes nearly the whole balcony was vacant. The folks leaving weren't standing outside. They left the building. Back to the hotel I'm guessing. They came for a night of worship. Mr Banov went on and on and on and... infinitum.
Cleared the room. I had a nice offering in my hand... but he never called for it before as a last hold out I left the building about ten PM my offering still in hand. Instructive. IF you are going to take an offering.. do it. We get it sir. You do good work, we appreciate you coming and bringing these people together, we will sow into that.. just don't kill us off before you receive.
I have been part of and helped put on some big events.. this guy needs to go to school on this. I know he goes around doing this. It must work for him, it just didn't for me and most of the folks in the balcony. Some good folks were part of this effort. PMI and Life Church of St Chuck. I know them and they would not have so conducted.
I hope the conference turns out OK. It sure started out rough.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
"I'M ALL F__KED UP"
I was in a bible study Monday invited by a friend. The young pastor of a new church plant in our area was conducting the study. During the meet and greet portion of the night discussion about the Sunday Service there was a story that was told. A guy had come to the altar for prayer and when he was asked by the Pastor what his prayer need was, he responded (not a religious person) "I'm all F___ked up".
Fortunately the young pastor is not a religious person and took this as a cry for help and began to minister to him. It was frankly refreshing to hear someone so transparently in need and willing to come for help without a load of religious jargon.
IF the all f'd up offends you, you would have been offended by Jesus who said: "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" 12But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13"But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matt 9:12
We have sanitized this too much in our cultural context.. the fact is the all f'd up are the ones who most need Jesus.
Tuesday night I was ministering at Crusaders, a young man came. Maybe 30. He didn't use the phrase exactly, but he certainly described the situation he was in and it was all messed up. I spent a long time with him. Till they were kicking us out of the building. I hope he finds peace. I prayed with him, for him, laid hands on, prophesied, counseled... loved on him.
I wonder if any ministry would have the courage to say, "We are looking to help people who's lives are all F'd UP", that's who Jesus spent time with.
Fortunately the young pastor is not a religious person and took this as a cry for help and began to minister to him. It was frankly refreshing to hear someone so transparently in need and willing to come for help without a load of religious jargon.
IF the all f'd up offends you, you would have been offended by Jesus who said: "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" 12But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13"But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matt 9:12
We have sanitized this too much in our cultural context.. the fact is the all f'd up are the ones who most need Jesus.
Tuesday night I was ministering at Crusaders, a young man came. Maybe 30. He didn't use the phrase exactly, but he certainly described the situation he was in and it was all messed up. I spent a long time with him. Till they were kicking us out of the building. I hope he finds peace. I prayed with him, for him, laid hands on, prophesied, counseled... loved on him.
I wonder if any ministry would have the courage to say, "We are looking to help people who's lives are all F'd UP", that's who Jesus spent time with.
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
Monday, July 07, 2014
"America, Imagine the World Without Her"
I wanted to wait until the first flush subsided. Saturday night I went with a friend to see Dinesh D'Souza's documentary "America, Imagine the World Without Her". I waited because I wanted to clear my eyes. To see it for what it is and is not. I am going to give the benefit of the doubt regarding the veracity of the film in it's assumptions and arguments.
One revelation that stunned me was the fact that there were hundreds of BLACK SLAVE OWNERS in the south before the civil war... They were as cruel and heartless as any white man. Had huge plantations. Bought and sold in the slave market.. even bred slaves for strength like cattle. Supported the confederacy when the civil war was on.
Here's my observations and impressions.. take them for what they are worth.
EVEN if you are a liberal or even a soft democrat, this would be good to see. It has a lot of things in it that a liberal will find challenging. IF a core belief is not challenged it has no capacity to allow for reason. I have seen all of Micheal Moore's documentaries. ALL OF THEM. And painfully sat thru Al Gore's slide show. IF I can do it, so can you. I challenge you to see if you TRULY have an open mind... or are happily blind.
Some of the conclusions whitewash the truth of things... Native Americans and all. I guess I have been there. Yet.. the argument is a good one.
His indictment of President Obama while not new is pretty hard hitting. It became weaker when he tried to bring Hillary into the mix.
The best part of the movie was a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
Of course most liberals are of the "I won't waste my money on such things I already know what's in it without having to see it". That's strange but I didn't. There were surprises.
I would say that as a truthful filmmaker D'Sousa is more honest than Moore.. but just as doctrinaire.
So if you have an once of intellectual honesty, you will pony up the cash and take this in... you might want to walk out.. but if you stay you will find yourself challenged in ways you didn't know. It's playing somewhere in your market right now...
At least if you are honest intellectually... which sadly most liberals are not.
One revelation that stunned me was the fact that there were hundreds of BLACK SLAVE OWNERS in the south before the civil war... They were as cruel and heartless as any white man. Had huge plantations. Bought and sold in the slave market.. even bred slaves for strength like cattle. Supported the confederacy when the civil war was on.
Here's my observations and impressions.. take them for what they are worth.
EVEN if you are a liberal or even a soft democrat, this would be good to see. It has a lot of things in it that a liberal will find challenging. IF a core belief is not challenged it has no capacity to allow for reason. I have seen all of Micheal Moore's documentaries. ALL OF THEM. And painfully sat thru Al Gore's slide show. IF I can do it, so can you. I challenge you to see if you TRULY have an open mind... or are happily blind.
Some of the conclusions whitewash the truth of things... Native Americans and all. I guess I have been there. Yet.. the argument is a good one.
His indictment of President Obama while not new is pretty hard hitting. It became weaker when he tried to bring Hillary into the mix.
The best part of the movie was a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
Of course most liberals are of the "I won't waste my money on such things I already know what's in it without having to see it". That's strange but I didn't. There were surprises.
I would say that as a truthful filmmaker D'Sousa is more honest than Moore.. but just as doctrinaire.
So if you have an once of intellectual honesty, you will pony up the cash and take this in... you might want to walk out.. but if you stay you will find yourself challenged in ways you didn't know. It's playing somewhere in your market right now...
At least if you are honest intellectually... which sadly most liberals are not.
Sunday, July 06, 2014
Who Should Vote?
I
know this is a sensitive subject, but do you think seriously ignorant
uninformed people should be allowed to vote? People who have no grasp
of basic economics, no knowledge of basic American History, no knowledge
of the civil structure our government work within, no knowledge of what
the rule of law is and what that means. I don't think it is out of
bounds to ask a person who votes to demonstrate
at a basic level some grasp of what they are voting for or on. The
level of profound ignorance and low information in our nation is a
threat to our society. It is destroying us.
Thomas Jefferson spoke of these things and it applies today:
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle." READ THAT TELEVISION TODAY
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell, June 11, 1807
"I, however, place economy among the first and most important republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared."
Thomas Jefferson to William Plumer, July 21, 1816
"bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. education & free discussion are the antidotes of both."
Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, August 1, 1816
"I agree with you that it is the duty of every good citizen to use all the opportunities, which occur to him, for preserving documents relating to the history of our country."
Thomas Jefferson to Hugh P. Taylor, October 4, 1823
"Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights." THE COROLLARY IS UNINFORMED CANNOT BE TRUSTED
Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, January 8, 1789
Thomas Jefferson spoke of these things and it applies today:
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle." READ THAT TELEVISION TODAY
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell, June 11, 1807
"I, however, place economy among the first and most important republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared."
Thomas Jefferson to William Plumer, July 21, 1816
"bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. education & free discussion are the antidotes of both."
Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, August 1, 1816
"I agree with you that it is the duty of every good citizen to use all the opportunities, which occur to him, for preserving documents relating to the history of our country."
Thomas Jefferson to Hugh P. Taylor, October 4, 1823
"Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights." THE COROLLARY IS UNINFORMED CANNOT BE TRUSTED
Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, January 8, 1789
Child Abuse Excuse
I
have had FB friends who are schoolteachers in public schools. Many have
unfriended me because of my stand on public education. They were
offended by my continual pointing out of the enormous abuses promulgated
by our public schools. Their singular cry to me is "I don't abuse
children and I am offended by the idea that you say as a public
education teacher that I do". OR "most teachers are good and kind toward children. We are not abusing them. It's the administration."
I don't doubt either. Sentiment. The problem is they are not part of the solution. They work silently and allow this abuse to proceed without objection. They are there on the front lines and horrible policies are carried out by people without a moral compass yet without a voiced objection.
When really bad teachers cannot be fired because of union rules, that's child abuse and as a teacher who belongs to a union you are part of the problem. When an administrator gets crazy and you don't speak up.. you are part of the problem.
Here's the real issue. MONEY. "I need this job. If I speak up I will be fired. I won't be able to feed my family. I can't get out of the union and besides they might be able to keep ME from being fired". Tenure and all that.
I have heard that all before. Nazi Germany. Someone was way removed from the death camps yet had to fill out and process paperwork. They said the same things.
IF you are a public school teacher and you stand by and watch children being abused without speaking up.. you are as guilty as they were.
"In order for evil to flourish, all that is required is for good men to do nothing." From Edward Burke.
I don't doubt either. Sentiment. The problem is they are not part of the solution. They work silently and allow this abuse to proceed without objection. They are there on the front lines and horrible policies are carried out by people without a moral compass yet without a voiced objection.
When really bad teachers cannot be fired because of union rules, that's child abuse and as a teacher who belongs to a union you are part of the problem. When an administrator gets crazy and you don't speak up.. you are part of the problem.
Here's the real issue. MONEY. "I need this job. If I speak up I will be fired. I won't be able to feed my family. I can't get out of the union and besides they might be able to keep ME from being fired". Tenure and all that.
I have heard that all before. Nazi Germany. Someone was way removed from the death camps yet had to fill out and process paperwork. They said the same things.
IF you are a public school teacher and you stand by and watch children being abused without speaking up.. you are as guilty as they were.
"In order for evil to flourish, all that is required is for good men to do nothing." From Edward Burke.
Police State tacticts
I
have FB friends who when I post episodes of Police State tactics and
brutality will nearly always take the side of the police. That it's
right for them to do what they do because of the misdeeds of the victim.
I understand it takes two.
Yet, there are bad cops. There are bad police policies. There are bad police state tactics (I never even HEARD of Swat teams before 40 years ago and now they break up slumber parties with one.
IF no one speaks up about these abuses then they will go on with the passive consent of the abused and the abusers.
I DO blame those who work in Law Enforcement for not cleaning up the act of which they are a part. No company in the private sector gets that kind of a pass. Look at the recent reaction of KFC over the alleged spite of a child. Yet police get a pass even when it's on video. And there are the Police Unions and the Blue Code.
So, who will speak for the innocents and the presumed guilty? The cops won't and don't. So they are legitimately all held accountable. Don't tell me there are good cops if they are silent. Who will police the police? The police don't.
"In order for evil to flourish, all that is required is for good men to do nothing." From Edward Burke.
Yet, there are bad cops. There are bad police policies. There are bad police state tactics (I never even HEARD of Swat teams before 40 years ago and now they break up slumber parties with one.
IF no one speaks up about these abuses then they will go on with the passive consent of the abused and the abusers.
I DO blame those who work in Law Enforcement for not cleaning up the act of which they are a part. No company in the private sector gets that kind of a pass. Look at the recent reaction of KFC over the alleged spite of a child. Yet police get a pass even when it's on video. And there are the Police Unions and the Blue Code.
So, who will speak for the innocents and the presumed guilty? The cops won't and don't. So they are legitimately all held accountable. Don't tell me there are good cops if they are silent. Who will police the police? The police don't.
"In order for evil to flourish, all that is required is for good men to do nothing." From Edward Burke.
fuggedaboutit
One
good thing about all the illegals streaming across the border, at least
liberals will be able to get cheap labor to wash their clothes, cook
their meals and clean their houses for a long time to come. That is the
real incentive you know. OH and if you thought you might want to take
one of those jobs.. fuggedaboutit
Sign me up
If
this weather is global warming.. sign me up. I have not had my AC on
for a week. Cool nights, nice days. Who could complain about this?
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