Ron Mac Prays (sorta)

Ron is a good theologian but has a sore spot where one shouldn't concerning all things USA. Let me put it another way, Ron doesn't love America like I do. That's OK. He's not from here. He's from New Zealand. I understand actually. I had to go thru "reorientation" every time I returned to the USA from Japan, or South America or Europe after an extended stay there. Particularly if it was over a year. Americans seemed stupid, fat and clumsy. Too much stuff at Wal Mart. Too Many choices for cereal. And those big cars they all drove. Not like those sensible Germans. It would take me a little while to get over it all. Then I came to grasp the American spirit.

When I lived in Europe I spent a lot of time with German friends over food and drink and long deep conversation stumbling into many who condescended towards the USA. Never mind that if the going gets tough it's our phone number they dial up first. Oh, they believe they would dial up the UN. Right. Dial that number and you end up in Voice Mail Hell.

If you want us to send ineffective blue helmeted idiots press 2.

But, that's OK. We need to be put in our place. We need a "Little" humility. Not too much however. I want the American spirit to spread across the world. I want the "we can make this thing work" spirit to be in the heart of every human on the face of the earth.

I love this country. I believe in manifest destiny. I believe that we are in this world for such a time as this. The world would be far worse off today if the USA didn't exist. I believe that even when it's been clumsy it's been right. Going to Iraq for instance. And Afghanistan. Good is coming out of it in spades.

Hope is being birthed in people who had none. American Hope. And meanwhile the witness of the the Gospel is being clumsily propagated. So, my friend Ron, I was amused by your prayer and untroubled by your condescension.

As I was untroubled by my German Friends who asked me if I was really happy that Bill Clinton had just been elected president of the USA when we lived there. I wasn't. They were amazed.

Without the Yanks "tramping round the world, beating up bad guys" British folks would be conducting business in German today, as they would in Paris. The Australians and Kiwi's would be conducting business in Japanese. Condescension forgets Darwin and 1942-43.

In 50 years there will be ivory towered people in Iraq and Afghanistan (and if I had my way Iran) who will be condescending in safety and freedom about that nasty old USA and their doughnut eating gluttons with a sniff and a sneer. We will have fulfilled our purpose on this planet. Giving them the ability to live and sniff in the ivory tower they built on our blood.

Your prayer is humorous Ron, but without understanding that the USA has a place in the Plan of God. I want to be part of it all. He doesn't have to Bless the USA - He just does.

From a comment by Ron:

An American Prayer

Dear God
You know that oil you put in the crust of your earth. You thought it was enough to last for thirty generations. Well, we have used most of it up.

We have not wasted it. We have not built a tower of Babel. No, we have done exactly as you said in Gen 11:8,9 and spread suburbia out across the plains.

And we have used quite a bit oil for tramping round the world, beating up bad guys, and making the world safe for American business. Whoops, I meant your people.

Anyway, the easy oil is all gone. You didn’t create enough of it. So you had better give us some new cheap energy. We do not care what it is, as long as you do it fast.

So jump to it, God. This is important. We have got American living to do. Some families have had to stop eating donuts to pay for gas.

Amen

And God Bless America. You have to you know.

Closed Circuit for anyone living in Chicagoland who is Christian and wants MORE

Wes Campbell (of Wes and Stacy Campbell) are coming to the IHOP in Bolingbrook on the 11th and 12th of July, Friday and Saturday night.  This is a pretty big deal.  Wes was part of leadership in Toronto and was there with Stacy during the ceremony in Lakeland last Monday. 

 

He just called Todd Beery and said, "I'd like to come".  There is no advance preparation.  There is no special venue.  No advertising. This will be a first come first served situation.  Seating is limited.  Under 200. 

 

He is bringing what Lakeland and Todd Bentley is imparting.  I suggest that if you are interested you might want to be part of it.  One of my favorite CD's is a Wes and Stacey Campbell CD.  During Fall on Me (Break these Chains) when Stacey reads from Ezekial 36 and prophesies around the verse it shakes even the most hardened sinner.  Stacey won't be there but Wes will.

 

I'm looking forward to this, but we may not make it.  I have a pastor's conference in OHIO.  We'll see.  

 

The House of Prayer is in the Century Tile Mall on the North East corner of Interstate 55 and IL 53 in Bolingbrook.

 

Come and Get Some.

15 MORE reasons why God heals his People

I watched this last night and didn't write them down. I figured this guy would. He did. I'm thankful. You can watch them all on God TV for the 25th and 26th. They archive the programs. You do need a high speed connection.

Todd is a good teacher. But, I think we need a release of the Healing Power of God in the church. If your church needs healing to flow, you can preach a sermon on any ONE of these points. But when you consider them all together you see the wisdom of God for Todd to share them this way.

Reasons 16-30

16. He does what he pleases – God is sovereign and healing happens because God chooses too.
17. Charitable Giving- (whole chapters but verses) Acts 9: 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor and Acts10:2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Based on these verses miracles happens as a direct result of charitable giving. It would seem that when we take care of the pour, God reaches and extra measure of the miracles.
18. The Gospel – Mark 16:19-20 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Healing is good news and, according to Todd, the Gospel is the power of God as well as the message of salvation
19. I am a friend of God’s – John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. God hears the prayers of His friends. What do you do for your “true” friends? The deeper the intimacy with God, the deeper the friendship. Is God your friend, because there seems to be many who understand Jehovah but do not understand Abba. Abba, is the characteristic of a deep personal relationship.
20. The Glory of God – John 11:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
21. The cures of the Law – Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Healings show that you free from the law of sin and death.
22. Desperation: Mark 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, Sometime people need a touch so bad they push trough to get it. “if only this small amount” They are the ones who are desperate enough to reach out and get healed

23. Connection locked up

24. Name of God – Exodus 15:26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”

25. Communion – 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. This would seem to be a reason why you are not, but if it bring sickness maybe it bring healing (my thought on it, time was short so the last were real quick)

26. Gift of the Spirit- There was no verse give to justify this, but 1 Corinthians12:9-109to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

27. The name of Jesus – Triune God, Jesus is God see #24

28. The nature of the Holy Spirit – God creates when the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit moves. It was after Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. That God said, “Let there be light.” IF the Spirit lives with us, then he is moving, we should expect creation (new body parts is creation).
29. I am Saved – James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Faith is a gift of the Spirit and only saved people have this. So salvation, brings faith, faith brings healing. And, yes because Jesus forgave my sins.
30. Kingdom of God- Mathew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. There is no sickness in the Kingdom, God preforms creation in His kingdom, there are miracles in the Kingdom, let it be so here

These are the second half of the 30 reasons, each with scripture references. People you may not like Todd Bentley, but please be careful arguing against the word of God. For those around Todd, let him know I said “thanks for the teaching, it has meant a lot to me.”

On a personal note: I blew out my knee today, while walking down some stairs. It hurt to move or even put pressure on it. Tonight, during the broadcast, I WAS HEALED. Proof of this, I wrote this whole blog standing up.

I am hopeful that this flow will come to every church in America. We need the healing touch of God. We have enough Doctors in the church. Seems like everyone who leads a church in America is Dr this or Dr that. How bout some real healing instead.

The Platform that will WIN the White House

The engine of freedom runs on gasoline and diesel, not carbon credits, offsets, cap and trade, empty promises or wishful thinking.

God has supplied everything we need to do the work, to dream the dreams, to solve the problems this country faces if we just will tap into what he has already supplied.

Our creator filled our souls with this energy and filled the resources for us to discover and exploit. We just need the will. The courage. We have everything we need to solve our energy problems except the will to do it.

Vote for ________________________.

This will be filled in by the candidate who really wants to quit pandering and clearly solve the central Issue in America today.


Hat Tip to Art Gara

I'm Sick of the Candidates for President, so I'm IN!

One More Thump on the Oil Drum

If you read this blog fairly often you know that I am not convinced of the fundamentals in support of anything close to the current world oil price. I think a lot of people believe and therefore are buying in hopes that the price will go higher. As long as news supports shortened supply due to political unrest or some sheik wants to deny me access to the oil I should rightfully own under his sand pile, I become more and more convinced as every day's market closes. Not higher. Just closes. Today was actually no exception. Oil banged away and crossed into 140 range for a few minutes. That's not a break. That's just trading range. 130-140. We are stuck and there is nothing on the horizon short of a war to move it higher. There is a ton to things to make it go lower. That's where the real pressure is.

We are awash in Oil. Only rumor and innuendo keep the price high. I suspect some of that is people hoping to cash out at these high prices soon.

The rest of us are biding our time in expectation of the absolutely inevitable crash to come.

If it looks like a bubble it is
Bye Bubble, It looks like the price of oil is peaking
Dotcom Crash, Credit Crunch, Oil Bubble

When the longs have exhausted all hope of driving the market higher it will, it must, it is guaranteed to head south. Then the question is how far. Far. Very far.

I may not know Jack, but I know a bubble when I see one.

Could this be the Big E?

I'm looking for the big breakthru that allows us to break free from my oil under their sand.

Could this be it?

Grieving the Holy Spirit or Blaspheming Him?

I was so grieved in so many ways when I listened to this whole program on Crosstalk USA.  I was driving across Wisconsin hauling Plants back.  There isn't much to listen to except two kinds of Wisconsin music.  Country and Western.

So I tuned into the affiliate of Crosstalk and listen to the program noted above. 

If you listen to it you will be walking into a den of thieves saying, "please sirs, rob me of all my faith and trust in God.  Take away the Hope I have.  Rob me of my Love for a loving God."

That is the net effect that this program had on most of those who listened.  I would have called in but I didn't. Cell phones and Wisconsin don't mix. There were only people angry and bitter at believing Christians.  People characterizing people of faith as hucksters and charlatans. 

To be clear, there are some goofy things that go on.  I can handle goofy.  Jesus could handle goofy.  His disciples one day came to him and said, Hey, those guys over there aren't like us, they are teaching something goofy, should we go tell them to stop?

Jesus said, he that is not against me is for me:

Then John said, "Teacher, we saw a man using your name to force demons out of a person. He is not one of us. So we told him to stop, because he does not belong to our group." Jesus said, "Don't stop him. Any person that uses my name to do powerful things will not soon say bad things about me. The person that is not against us is with us. I tell you the truth. If a person helps you by giving you a drink of water because you belong to the Christ, then that person will truly get his reward. "If one of these little children believes in me, and another person causes that child to sin, then it will be very bad for that person. It would be better for that person to have a millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea. If your hand makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body but have life forever. That is much better than to have two hands and go to hell. In that place the fire never stops. If your foot makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body but have life forever. That is much better than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. If your eye makes you sin, take it out. It is better for you to have only one eye but have life forever. That is much better than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. The worms that eat the people in hell never die. In hell the fire is never stopped. Every person will be punished with fire. "Salt is good. But if the salt loses its salty taste, then you can't make it salty again. So, be full of goodness. And have peace with each other."

— Mark 9:38-50 (ERV)

Why do these people make extra efforts to destroy peoples faith in God?   Why are they so confident in the Devil and so faithless toward God?

The one question I would have loved to ask Justin Peters is this:  "Do you believe in Healing?  Have you ever seen or know of anyone who was ever healed by the power of God?  Not doctors.  If so why does healing cause you distress.  If not, why do you believe?"

The cessasionists and anti word of faith police are of the word of doubt and unbelief theology.  I think Jesus had something to say about them too.

God is pleased by a person who has faith (Heb. 11:6).

God will work miracles on behalf of a person who has faith (Matt. 9:22, Luke 18:42).

God limits or even refuses to work in a person's life when that person's faith is weakened by doubt or unbelief (Mark 6:5, James 1:7).

I just don't know how close you can get to the edge until you no longer are just grieving the Holy Spirit and how close you can get until you are in fact Blaspheming?  Blaspheming the Holy Spirit means you account to Satan those things that are God's actions and reject them. 

Matt. 12:22-32 says, "Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. ²³And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?" ²⁴But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons." ²⁵And knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand. ²⁶"And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? ²⁷"And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges. ²⁸"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹"Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. ³⁰"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. ³¹"Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. ³²"And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come," NASB

This sounds a great deal like what I heard on Crosstalk yesterday.  Assigning miracles of God to the Devil. 

This is a one way ticket to Hell.  I would be very careful if I were Crosstalk America, Ingrid Schlueter or Justin Peters.   Our names are written in the Lambs book of Life when we are created.  Only the Devil can cause them to be blotted out on account of our sin.  Except for that one last verse.

whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come," Matt 12:32b

Dangerous ground.  I think it's hard for a Christian to Blaspheme the Holy Ghost.  I think most people who think they have, didn't and haven't.  I do think that people who tread on this ground may not be Christian at all.  They know about Jesus, know even his word and call him by his name but they are of the "I never knew you" category.

This is a call for the hosts of this program to repent.  Hell is very hot and a miserable place to end up because of religious pride.

 

Fifteen Reasons God Heals His People

Last night I caught just the end of the broadcast of the Florida Outpouring. Todd Bentley was teaching 15 reasons God heals. I didn't get it all. This guy got some. He got the reasons, but missed the verses in some cases. I think this is good solid stuff and some I will ponder for a while. If you need healing or know someone who does, perhaps there is meat here for feed them from. The verses that this man who wrote this is missing are obvious. I won't fill them in. But I know where they are. If you know your Bible so do you.

15 reasons:

1) The Love of God: Mathew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Todd seems to see compassion and love as similes for this example. The final thought seemed to be, “A loving God wants to heal, and God is love”

Here, I heard Todd mention prayer as in “God answers prayer” John 14:14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If I am asking for the healing in the name of Jesus, shouldn’t I see healing, seemed to be the main point this one. Something that I thought was a very good point was this: Do we stop praying for people to be saved (not a salvation prayer, but intercessory i.e. Lord please save my son, daughter, mother, father) because not everyone is saved? We know that God wills that all should have everlasting life, but we also know, not everyone does. In them same light, Todd suggest, that we shouldn’t stop praying for healing, just because everyone is not healed.

2) Gods Word – He promises to heal us (missed this verse).

3) God Wills It – see prayer side note

4) Mass Evangelism – “Healing is the #1 tool for soul winning” John 6:22 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. People come to be healed, all people. Whether it is Todd Bentley, Benny Hinn or some guy on street corner, people will go where they see healing. When you say this is the power of Jesus Christ along with the healings, people want to know more.

5) Missed this one all together, but I think it might be Todd missed a number J

6) To Fulfill the Prophetic Word (again missed it)

7) Faith- James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. This is not a gift of healing. To be honest I have missed this verse several times, but it is hard to argue with the word of God. I have heard faith presented form the other side. Mathew 9:21 “She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

8) Healing Anointing- I came in at the end of this one and missed the verse, but I will listen to this one again, because I have questions about the Healing Anointing.

9) Healing accredits a ministry – Acts 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This is the first time I have heard this verse used in such a manner. But if one pairs this with Mathew 10:7-8 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a]drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give and John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father, as Todd did, then it’s not that far of stretch.

10) Healings Point to God -John6:26 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. The idea presented was that healing is a sign that leads people to a place where they can be filled. All healings, done in the name of Jesus (which Todd Bentley has said those done through him are) point to God and salvation. The people looked for Jesus because he offered to fill their hunger. Today, people are hungry for truth, love and God. The healing signs, point people to the means to be filled.

11) HE IS RISEN! – Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. If we are believe Jesus is alive (which both I and Todd Bentley do) and Hebrew 13:8 is true, then Jesus must still be our healing. In addition Jesus did not reserve this power for himself, Mathew 10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. If we are disciples of Jesus Christ and Hebrews 13:8 is true then we have the power.

12) The Healing Commission = Mathew 10:7-8 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give and Luke 2:9 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. This is not an “or” statement it is an “and” statement. If someone is preaching the kingdom of God they should also be healing the sick. This one is plan and simple even if you leave out Mathews verse.

13) Repentance – Hebrews 13:18 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. I must have written down the wrong verse. The point here was simple; if someone is confronted with the Power of God, then the will be faced with conviction. Conviction leads to repentance and repentance leads to salvation, deliverance and, overall, a closer relationship with God.

14) To believe in the supernatural - John 11 (really the whole story of Lazarus was used) but verse 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” The supernatural is a manifest sign of the glory of God. The sign is not His total glory but part of it. Jesus said with faith we would see the glory of God and then the dead was raised. These verses were also used to point out that sometimes Jesus waits to do the miraculous.

15) God is a good God – Mathew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! God’s children are asking to be healed, why then would God not grant them this good thing?

The Truly Great President George W Bush

I know this will be blogged on a lot. My $.02 worth is that this action on North Korea is the result of a resolute firm policy and one we won't have again soon no matter who wins in November.

We will rue the day that George W Bush leaves office.

Thank you Mr President for standing firm.

Good News.

Revival will cause a Great Falling Away

There are two verses are not related except to those who are part of the Church Police, (or as I call them, the Spanish Inquisition):

1. 2 Thes 2:3 (NKJV)

"Let no one deceive you by any means, for that Day will not come unless the falling away ("apostasy"-NASB) comes first."

2. Matt 24:24 (Amplified)

"For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's chosen ones)."

The first describes a falling away, people somehow leaving. Something causes them to leave the faith.

The second describes people coming to, following false leaders, mass deception.

One is not like the other. It's two different actions.

The problem described is interesting however. People too interested in stopping or identifying number two do not understand why number one takes place.

Jesus had a great revival. Fed 5000 men plus the families. Maybe 25,000 actual people.

Yet in a few verses he was down to 12 or if you don't count Judas, 11.

Moses had a great revival. Led millions out of Egypt. God did mighty acts thru him. BUT in the middle of it all half the congregation settled for less than all of God for some phony gold bovine.

Today is no different. If true revival ever came to your church it would most likely destroy it. Or at best half it. Man made religion can't stand a move of God.

If a real move of God takes place in a church half the congregation will leave because they don't like the "Change". Here's an article written by a man who knows of these things.

I had time with a pastor friend of mine from South Dakota Saturday and I asked him how many of his pentecostal people would stay if true revival with true confession of sin, with true repentance, with manifestations of sorrow and joy all at the same time were to take place, with people experiencing God and trying to explain it, with outpourings of worship that went on for hours, with passion that drove the people to their knees in fear and trembling, with doors that never closed. I asked him. how many would be there in 2 months if God broke out like that.

He said half. I wonder if half.

How much more would it be if true revival broke out in denominational churches. It would have to be stopped. It would have to be controlled.

I saw a little of that recently and it disturbed me.

The Church of Jesus Christ doesn't really want revival except on their terms. I know Jesus, he won't come with conditions. Never had never will.

Church - stop. Jesus wants to break out among you. You can't have him unless you let him.

Here's the bottom line, if you really had revival in your church it will cost you members. You will operate with less, sometimes much less, for quite a while. Then what?

Do you really want revival? Can you afford revival? Can you afford not to have revival?

We are being called to answer that question. Can you?

Embarrassed by the Truth

I have good friends who I like very much that from time to time take me to task. 

 

I'm not the best debater in the world.  In fact I wouldn't consider myself very good.

 

My only advantage is I have the truth on my side.  It's embarrassing to take the opposite side from truth and try to defend it.  It usually fails.  Flat falling our your face failure can be embarrassing.

 

I have no example I am willing to give.  I don't want to embarrass you. 

How far John Murtha has fallen

Rep John Murtha was at one time a friend of the military. Now he's become an enemy.

He was behind the persecution of the Haditah Marines.

The whole thing fell apart. As it should have. You don't prosecute people for conduction war. In war which is horrible people die, things get broken and blown up.

Now that the whole thing is falling apart Murtha is begging for just ONE conviction.

He's a bad man.

Evangilism or what??

I recently was invited to visit the home of an acquaintance. He's a bigtime hobbyist and they are all expensive hobbies. Sports cars, trains, etc. He has spent hundreds of thousands of Dollars on these toys.

He and his wife are about my age. Maybe a bit older. Retired. They are not Christian except in name only. Sort of as opposed to Muslim or Buddhist. This couple are wealthy but friendless. They would love real friends. They already have all the friends money can buy.

They would be good additions to the kingdom. Financially. And since he likes to work maybe in other ways. I know God loves him and Jesus died for his sins.

Unfortunately they are not people I would seek out as friends. My friendship would be one of narrow purpose. Salvation for him and her. Manipulation. They need to be saved. That much is sure.

So, now the question is, how? I am pulled and tugged a hundred ways from Thursday with people. I don't really want to be his friend. If I were to move that direction it would be for the wrong reason.

I'm confessing my sin here. I don't know if I have the want to open another door in my life that I would rather keep closed. As it is I have to be careful to maintain boundaries with some people I am in relationship with now.

I'm selfish I know. I'm not that important. I just don't know what to do with this.

I know he needs Jesus. He's alone and filling his life with expensive things and toys and liquor and who knows what. Those are all substitutes for the real thing.

So, what of it?

Here's the quandary. I'm not interested in what he is interested in. I don't want to live in his world. I would welcome him into mine but it will look like my world complete with Jesus. If his desire is to be part of that I'm more than ready to welcome him with open arms. If not I don't think I can enter his world and feign interest where there is none.

I'm actually struggling with this and want to be real. I'm not much for phony baloney good time rock and roll veneer. I'm pretty much out there.

I'm wondering what Jesus would do. Pretend interest in cars, booze and trains or what?? Or ask for a drink of water and invite him into my world.

UPDATE:
I have decided to just be frank with him and tell him what I know and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. I don't want to be his best friend. I want Jesus to be his best friend. He can be.

Instant Climate Change without Greenhouse Gas

Scientists have discovered by way of ice cores that in the past climates changed. Sometimes fast. Sometimes in as little as one year. It's been a long time since a drastic change but one is due.

No SUV's. Nothing.

Yet climates changed.

Still some jerkwater at NASA says we should arrest folks who doubt global warming caused by man.

That's how bad it's become. Beware the Religious Zealots of global warming.

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

Even Monty Python was never as silly as these people have become.

Sideways Oil - What does it mean?

Newscasters are funny people.  OK.  Not that funny. 

 

Oil prices for the last month or so have been stagnant trading within a sideways trading range.

 

DIDN'T KNOW THAT?

 

All you hear is rising oil prices.  They haven't been rising.  They go up. News is drastic.  Prices went up 3 dollars.  Then they go down 5.  Silence.  Then they go up 4 dollars.  Largest price rise in a month.  (same territory)

Then they go down. More silence.

 

So between 130 and 140 the price bounces back and forth.  Goes up, big headlines.  Goes down, Silence.  This sideways movement which doesn't merit much headline also tends to feed pessimism and fear.  That translates to the market.

 

Now as a trader I'm asking myself this question.  What does this mean for me?  What is the outcome of this kind of back and forth?  When markets trade sideways for a long time like this it means 3 things.  One is all the bad news is in.  Even if something bad happens (Nigeria blows a fuse) the upward potential is little or none.

 

It means that trader sentiment to take it to 150 or 175 is not there without some catastrophe.  War in Iran perhaps.  And that would be short lived.

 

It also means that there is a building vulnerability to a downward move.  There is a top, strong resistance.  It can't break out.  The speculative pressure is dying off.  The longs are no longer being rewarded for being long.  It was easy a while back, buy and hold.  Now no more return.  So if you are a long you are holding a position you wouldn't take if you didn't already have it.  If you are a short you are nervous too but with every passing day you become a little less nervous.  Things are looking better.

 

It only takes a little good news, a little production bump, a little trend changing reaction and this thing will get weak fast.

 

50-70 dollars. 

 

The politicians are all in uproar.  And the genius Obama is going to FIX this by dealing with the speculators.  I wish someone would give him a basic lesson in economics.  The speculators take the risk out of the market.  I won't go into that here.

 

That's the fear I have of the liberals taking over in the fall.  Just look at the congress, house and senate.  The leadership are tone deaf ignoramuses without a clue as to how economics, supply, demand and trading curves work.  Pelosi, Reed and all the rest are just plain stupid.

 

Now in fairness, the republicans aren't much better.  I think we find really stupid people and then send them to Washington.  There should  be an economic literacy test given before you can take the oath of office to any political position.

 

Look at Maxine Waters.  How dumb can you be and still breathe.

 

So, the market works, it actually works well.  It's laying a bear trap.  I thought it would snap before this.  But it will SNAP! 

Democrat Oil Policy

Hand of the Prophet

Tonight on the way to Rockford a hand appeared in the sky.  Clouds and light rays but a hand none the less.

I didn't understand it, I wondered if there was meaning. 

There was.  Tonight was a raucous wild wonderful night in the fullness of the Holy Ghost.  We danced, yelled, jumped up and down and had a wonderful time in the Spirit.  I love when that happens.

Then it hit me.  The hand had to do with what was happening.  I got up and told of it all.

God really moved.

The prophetic releases worship and faith.

Get some.

 

The Longest Day - Midsommers

Saturday was supposed to be the longest day of the year.  I remember long days.  In North Dakota.  Daylight would kick off about 4:30 am  and shut down at 10:30 pm.  Long days.  Wonderful to do outside work.  9pm was a nice time of day.

 

Last night I was out working in the nursery.  I came in quickly to watch one of Peggy and my favorite shows about 7.  I went back outside till 8:30 and couldn't see what I was doing.

 

So much for late night longest day work.

 

I don't miss much about North Dakota.  I do miss the long days sometimes. 

 

Obama Calls us out

I think I'm getting the Message.



From Our world as we see it.

I need this truck

This is Navistar's (International Harvester to those of us from North Dakota) bid to replace the aging Humvee. IHC hasn't built a good truck since the Travelall. Looks pretty good to me. I can see Mr Gene rolling across the prairie chasing deer and jackrabbits in one of these. I'll bet it gets great mileage too. HA!

I AM WRONG

This post which remains for a comment from my Friend Chuck has been removed for ignorance.

I mistakenly identified Hallmark Corp (greeting Card folk) as the culprits in a story.

I was wrong.

Thanks Chuck

STOP DRILLING FOR OIL!!

Nancy Pelosi says,

“"You can’t drill your way out of this problem”

She’s the speakerette of the house and third in line to be the President of the USA. Her wisdom as a national leader must count.

Then, according to her word: Let’s stop. All drilling. Now. Today.

There’s no point drilling another hole in the ground. Ms Pelosi says so. It won’t solve any problems and that's that.

Full stop. Not another hole. Let's see how that works out.

What a Joy to be a Democrat.

Idiots.

Oh and the Democratic persumtive nominee agrees with her. See former comment.

Tozer for the Weekend

I know that I have several pastors who read this and they sometimes argue with me.
John Armstrong, has written a fabulous piece on A W Tozer. It's in 3 parts.

What should we make of Tozer

Conditions to be saved part one

Conditions to be saved part two

If you are a Christian this will have the net effect of challenging you at a deep level. Read the comments and see the hunger for more of God mixed with lost religiosity. A man writes who is relying on church and sacraments to save him. WOW. Hell celebrates when anything other than Jesus is relied upon.

Then, my friend Steve Scott has asked a profound question that should rattle your cage. Why do I believe what I believe.

Go to Church Sunday and be prepared for battle.

Christians being salt and light in the world but not maybe fulfilling the great commission

Jesus didn't say, "Go ye into all the world and feed all the downtrodden you find there".

I'm happy that Christians step up and do good things.

Let's just make sure that what we do carries out Jesus Commands.

Here's a good example and maybe a bad one too. What think ye?

Are the Midwestern Floods the Judgement of God on America?

I have a "friend" in blogdom who has often said that the USA is under judgement for many things. He would point to the war, I might point to Abortion.

I'm not fully convinced. If it were so there would be judgement all over the earth.

In any case there is a pastor from the Southern Baptists who might agree with my friend. Judgement is here.

I think that when the New Orleans Hurricane came it was Judgement at some level. It certainly has worked out that way. If the floods are judgement it might be in contrast.

I know what the Judgements of God look like. I have seen them in Scripture. This is a bad flood. I'm not convinced it's judgement.

Tech Support for Idiots From VERIZON WIRELESS

I have had a verizon phone for over 10 years.  This year is my last. 

 

There are several reasons.  Cost.  Verizon is more expensive than other phone plans.  Contracts.  I don't like the way they do them and hope the government clips their contracting wings soon.  Not crazy about government intervention but less crazy about the arrogance they show as a company.

 

COVERAGE.  Here's my prime complaint.  Verizon mobile phones coverage map is a joke.  More than a joke it's an outright lie.  I can drive any Verizon tech or customer a dozen places within 5 miles of St. Charles IL and challenge them to find a signal.  I used to get good service 7 years ago.  But as Verizon "Improved" service it got worse and worse.  I recall once when I did the network update I went from 5 bars to 3.  I begged Verizon to take me back.  They said they couldn't and that it was impossible.  I should get used to bad service.

 

So bye bye Verizon.  I'm not the biggest customer you have and you probably don't care but as you have become larger and more dominant you have grown worse and worse.  Verizon has problems.  Verizon is bad for business, their own and others.

 

THE LAST STRAW:  I called Verizon tech support and spoke to a nice lady. I recognize that tech support in America is only one of two options any more.  One is in India with people for whom the English language is at best optional.  Oh they all have "Anglo" names like Sheryl.  But who's zooming who? 

 

The other tech support option is a person like I got at Verizon who's English is also optional.  Let's just say the language is Urban American.  Let me axe you mizter Retlin.  I can deal with that.  Like the guy on the Airplane in the movie of the same name I speak it...

 

So she nicely told me that the reason I have so many dropped calls is because my phone is old and if I were to get a new phone and sign up for two more years of service all my problems would be over.  Wait I said, "this phone works, it's electronic, that means it's either on or off, not partially worn out.  There is no partially worn out in electronics.  Plus this phone is less than 2 years old."

 

Her support screen at Verizon clearly said that if a person complains about dropped calls, poor reception and a myriad of other problems that the answer is a new 2 year contract and a new phone.

 

I guess I must have sounded like an idiot when I spoke with her since I am confident that on the menu was an option that said:

 

"IF the customer sounds like an idiot click here" 

 

That took her to a screen that treated me like one from then on.  Oh I had a little girl talk to me before and she (being educated in the public school systems and with a real attitude dismissed me).  When I redialed I got urban American help.

 

So, for that fine lack of customer support, for trying to sell me a new phone rather than try to fix my problem, for overcharging me, for being all around tone deaf in dealing with me I will now say goodbye.  Oh you won't miss me - yet.  But let's hope that real competition will set in and help us shed some of these behemoths without souls.  AT&T is next.  I'm plotting a coup.

 

They won't miss me, but there are lots of like me's.  Not all of us are sheeplings.  We will not be fooled forever or again.

 

So Long Verizon, it's been bad to know you. 

Late Night Rude People

Last Night we went to a big time outdoor concert.  Allison Krause and Robert Plant.  They are touring all over the place.  It was at Ravinia.  Kind of our local Tanglewood.

 

In any case I got to hear half the concert.  The other half was occupied by people talking.  Blah Blah Blah.

 

What could anyone have to say that is so important to treat good concert material like background music.

 

I'm an active music listener.  When I listen I listen.  Deeply.  Not here.  Too noisy.

 

I was disgusted.  I won't do that again.  Not that kind of concert.

 

The only good thing was when the reprised some of the old Zeppelin songs old ex hippies who are now housewives and mechanics got up and danced to the music - without restraint - abandoned.

 

I'll bet they don't do that in church.  WHY NOT? 

 

We need more abandoned unrestrained dancing in Church.  They do it to Lead Zeppelin music, why not music to Jesus.

 

I wondered as I watched this late 40 something twirl like she was back as Woodstock.

 

If you go to a concert with or around me - let me say this in the most fruit of the spirit way I know how - Shut the Heck UP!

 

Hybrid Tomfoolery

When the Hybrid Automobile was introduced I named it a hula hoop embraced by the easily fooled.

Many people point to the success of the hybrid to prove me wrong. I have kept my powder dry until the pudding's proof is found.

It is.

I am in favor of all electric plug in vehicles and even those with on board gasoline chargers (which makes sense where hybrids don't). I won't explain the difference. You'll just have to think about it.

The trade off in convenience and battery life is offset by basically running your transportation on Nuclear Power (we get our power from the Byron Nuclear station in IL).

I like that Idea. So batteries have to be replaced every 5 years for $2500, wash that against the miles driven and it's a pretty good bargain.

Fuel cells are a lost cause. I'll get to that some other time. Technology can't get over some humps that exist.

The argument against hybrids is it works so so in town, giving illusory savings but on the road is about the same as my Buick. For that you pay big money, suffer huge resale discounts (a 5 year old Honda Civic Hybrid and a 5 year old gasoline Civic have a $4000 gap to the hybrids discount). Used hybrids are not high value.

Add to that after you have driven the dumb thing for 5 years it will need new batteries for about $2500 plus labor ($500). Never mind that you have highway wise achieved the same mileage as the Buick but in town you only enjoyed a 1/3rd improvement. It's all smoke and mirrors.

10 years from now junkyards will be full of these carcasses. Oh, the appeal of a hybrid SUV is great. Kind of. Except that's phony too.

What we really need to spend our energies on is alternative fuels and better batteries for our plug ins.

Plus when the price of oil drops so will the resale value of those worn out hybrids. They always were and always will be a hula hoop.

Now can we get past hybrids, ethanol and wind power and all the other stupid energy jokes and on to making some sense of true alternatives?

I challenge anyone to do the math and demonstrate that Hybrids save any money at all over a 10 year 200,000 mile ownership curve.

They don't.

Speculation Regrets

I came into a great deal of money some years ago. I considered investing in "High Priced" land between 47 and Sycamore on IL 64. But, it seemed too far out of the loop so to speak to be worth much.

Meantime 7 years later a man I knew bought land for $6800 per acre. A wacky price. It was stupid. He just sold it for twenty grand an acre.

A few months ago Wheat broke $15 briefly on the fall delivery months and almost 10 in the July delivery month of 2009. I said on this blog that a sure thing was selling that far out wheat. I didn't.

Now all the absolutely classic overbought conditions are in commodities with oil leading the charge. None of the fundamentals can support this market. Fear and panic have driven prices to the point of pure insanity.

Oil should be $50 in 2002 dollars. It will be. That's all the fundamentals can support. Demand is dropping like a rock. Supply is coming on line faster and faster. Refining is increasing. The trend has to change. The cure for high prices is high prices.

Now would be a good time to stock up. Buy that big SUV for half price, get a nice motor home, maybe buy some cheap airline stock and go short a market basket of commodities.

The millions of acres underwater are peanuts in the grand scheme of things. Much will be replanted. The phony technologies will be eliminated.

OH, good times will not be here again, but they won't be as bad.

One other thing, as a long time commodity market guy, when markets badly overbought collapse it is it sudden and drastic. If it takes 3 years to go to new highs, it takes 3 months to hit new lows.

Look at the chart from the early 80's.

If I had the guts I'd have a million dollars. Know the song.

Church should be for Sinners not Saints

According to this article the sign of a healthy growing church is sexual immorality and outright heresy.

Maybe he's on to something.

I mean, if every one is "Perfect" (which of course they aren't) then what's salvation and repentance for?

Maybe we need more Heretics and Sexually Immoral people in the Church. What think ye??

Why the Charismatic Church is Exploding in Germany

Because the Lutheran Church is Imploding.

Question on Lakeland

I got a question from an old friend Mike who in large part is responsible (guilty) for my living in Chicagoland today.  I don't forget. 

 

Thanks Mike.

 

He had a question of my take on the whole situation in Lakeland.  I suspect many of my friends are confused by my take and the take of many of this event and "move of God". 

 

Since I know that Barry and others wince when I wax eloquently about all this I think it's high time I put it all in perspective at least from my point of view and using all the discernment (which is not the same as  critical spirit) and prophetic insight I can release.

 

Todd Bentley and the Lakeland revival is a precursor to what God wants to do.  It is a breaker.  It is breaking off, breaking in and breaking thru the religious infrastructure of the land.  God never modifies he always recreates.  When you were born again you were not modified, you became a new creation.  Some people live like they are modified.  That's not God's best. So for God to do what he wants to do he does it by a break out.

 

This has been true thru history.  God breaks out, the church is rattled, skeptics rail, church police try to arrest the activity, denouncement takes place.  But in the end God breaks out of the box the Church tried to put Him in. 

 

It started with Luther:

MARTIN LUTHER SAID, "GOOD WORKS DO NOT BENEFIT THE SOUL; ONLY FAITH CAN DO THAT"

God can do whatever He wants, but will always honor the faith of His people. He is fascinated when He discovers a human being responding and living outside of their present limitations - limitations that are dictated by fear, sin, doubt, etc. He is searching for people like this because when He finds them, it gives Him an opportunity to MOVE; Move against or move for. IMAGINE THAT!

When God wanted to move against the religious system that had controlled the European people in the 16th century, He found a German monk by the name of Martin Luther, who had rebelled against the lies of the church of that time. The church had taught the people that it was only by their penance and good works that they would attain salvation. Martin Luther challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority, and that baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood.

He argued in his book, The Sermon on Good Works, "that good works do not benefit the soul; only faith can do that." His belief that salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state and being excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.

God found someone who was prepared to lay down his life for this truth, and due to this passion and faith, Martin Luther created an opportunity for God to free the people from the grip of religious control, making the Bible more accessible to ordinary people. At that time, the ordinary people could not read the Bible, as it was not in their language.

Due to this "opportunity" created by Luther, there was a furtherance of a standard version of the German language, an addition of several principles to the art of translation, and his act influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. Hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.

Imagine all of this happening because someone defied the control and limitations of that time, and believed that God would honor his courage and acts of faith and show up! He affected the future. Luther saw himself as returning Christianity to its roots. He believed that he was setting the clock back. In reality, his ideas irreparably changed the world and pushed it kicking and screaming, not into some ideal past, but into the modern future. God was fascinated once again. (from Kim Clement's most recent newsletter)

In other words he broke out of the box.

 

This has been true in my lifetime 4 times.  I remember Oral Roberts in the 50's.  I was only 8 or 9 but I remember it.  We ridiculed it in the Lutheran Church, a practice I'm not sure I have been forgiven for yet.  I repent of it -often.  We called them Holy Rollers, they had a church on our block.  We made fun of them.  What blindness we exhibited.

 

After the healing revival quieted down and became part of the traditional, the church believed more in healing like it had not before.  People didn't forget.  God had broken out and changed the face of Christianity.

 

In the 70s the Jesus People Movement took place.  I came from the end of that.  It changed worship from Hymns to Choruses.  Preaching changed from dry sermonizing to living Christianity practicality.  Even the traditional churches were changed or they emptied out.  IT was railed against by the same demons of religion.  I remember the song, Jesus is Just alright with me, Spirit in the Sky.  I wasn't saved but those silly songs spoke to me.  Even Superstar stirred me. Pop.  Stupid but it was getting the religion out of Christians.  God broke out.  Long haired hippy freaks for Jesus.  The face of Christianity changed once again. 

 

That quieted down and Christianity became an industry.  Churches grew but not MEGA (yet).  We belonged to a big church.  NOT YET Mega.  Then the crisis in the late 80's we all lived thru.  Scandal in the Church.  Ministries fell.  Ministry got a bad name.  Churches were shaken up.  We all retreated for a while.  God wasn't happy with what it had all become but wasn't satisfied leaving her in that shape.  Rumblings were rumbling.

 

There was the prophecy of June 9, 1994.  God was about to change everything and reveal his glory.  That was spoken by a prophet no one remembers.  It's only record is by a few heresy hunters who point to it as false prophesy.  That's the link above.  I didn't see it that way.  Whatever prophetic discernment I had at that time was stirred up.  I had met Rodney Howard Browne shortly after he came to the USA.  That was right after the scandals in the Church.  I knew something was up.  I started anticipating what God was doing.  The June 9th prophecy began to weigh on me.  June 9th came and went without any discernable event.  Yet a year later nothing was the same in the church.  The Toronto Outpouring was in full flow and Pensacola Brownsville began.  It caused havoc and offended almost everybody.  Manifestations, music that no one had heard before, messiness, and worse messages from people without seminary degrees.  It rattled the church.  People lined up on both sides.  As John Wimber has said, 'God will offend the mind to reveal the heart.'"

 

People went by the millions, it was transferable.  Many took back to their churches what was happening.   From that time till now the music and worship in most churches is reflective of what happened in Those two revival outpourings.  God changed everything.  Brand new. 

 

I was at a wedding last weekend and we sang a song from Brownsville as one of the wedding songs.   Turn on our very traditional WMBI Christian radio station and most of the songs they play even today come from people at that time.  I had a worship leader say to me at that time that all songs coming out of that revival and the spirit of worship that is coming from that will change the face of the church. That these songs will be sung in worship in the Episcopal churches of America in 10 years.  It's 10 years and it's all true.  Oh sure, there are a few hangers on, but they will die off or die out soon.  God changed everything and revealed his glory starting on June 9, 1994. 

 

Brownsville is gone.  Toronto is occasional.  But the changes those two outpourings had still affects the church.  The rise of the Mega Church embracing some of those elements is an outgrowth of all that.  But that too is not God's best.

 

NOW, Todd Bentley goes to Ignited Church.  Carl Straders Son Steve is Pastor.  Carl Strader had tried to ride this wave but things had moved on.  Even Rodney Howard Browne had said, "Where's mine Lord"?  It seemed like the whole thing had past him by.  Revival will divide and even destroy a church if it doesn't understand it all.  Most don't understand and are destroyed.  Look at Brownsville for a textbook case.  Look at Strader One. 

 

If you are in the Church Building business you don't want revival.  It's divisive.  If you are in the Kingdom Building business you hunger for it.  That's where I am. 

 

Todd goes to Ignited Church for one meeting.  Things break out.  It messes up his whole planned out life.  I didn't know much about Bentley. I had read some things he had written, not books, pronouncements.  I sensed the power of God in them.  I had never seen him live except once or twice on God TV before.  So my interest in him was no more or less than anyone else.  In fact before the Lakeland events the I watched on God TV with dedication was Rodney Howard Browne.  I liked his evangelism traveling school outreach.  Going to Churches to teach people how to be evangelists. 

 

Then Lakeland broke out.  We began watching almost from the beginning on and off.  I saw all the flaws, tattoos, weirdness, radicalness and everything every heresy hunter sees.  But I saw something else.  I saw people needing a touch from God getting it.  People needing healing receiving.  I saw unity (initially).  I saw religious demons screaming.  If you google Todd Bentley you will get a full load of religious demons screaming.

 

People all have opinions.  Opinions are like noses, everyone has one.  I read them but I depend more on what I have seen and heard.  That's what Jesus told John the Baptists.  What do you see and hear?  I don't depend on the some says of the world.  Jesus asked his disciples "who do people say that I am? "  They answered, some say you are Elijah returned, some say Jeremiah, some say John the Baptist resurrected, some say a great prophet. 

They had read all the google spam on Jesus.  The some says. 

 

Then he asked them, Who do YOU say that I am.  And Peter gets it right.  YOU ARE THE CHRIST. 

 

The crowd, the religious police (Pharisees), the traditions, the reporters, the experts, the heresy hunters of his day were wrong about Jesus.

 

Todd Bentley isn't Jesus.  In fact, I'll go out on a limb here.  This is going to die out. There's something more coming. Something bigger.  Something even less palatable to religious folks.  God is breaking out again.

 

I appreciate Todd's willingness to be used.  I suspect he will struggle with what is next.  The past revivalists always struggle with the new.  Every past revival criticizes the new revival. 

 

Is this of God?  Of course it is.  Does it Glorify Jesus?  Yes.  In spades.  Is one man leading is and is he weird?  Yep.  Like John the Baptist.   

 

This is the beginning of the Beginning. 

 

Oh, and one other thing, most of the critics of the Revival haven't actually seen (at length) the revival or been there.  They are operating on Hearsay, (somesay).  What people aren't up on they are down on. 

 

I suggest to people.  Spend a few hours and discover if in fact this is real.  Otherwise keep quiet about it.  Gamaliel the Elder is right. 

 

So, tonight once again as I did last night I will engage myself and watch the Glory of God poured out.  It is precious but it is transient.  God is up to something and he is going to mess with us to do it. 

 

I know where I want to be when it all comes down. This looks very much like a dream of revival God gave me 12 years ago.

 

It's radical, fresh, weird and wonderful.  Peculiar. 

 

Isn't that Just Like GOD?

 

Isn't that what he called us to be?

TRIPTICK

Returned late last night from Iowa and Nebraska.  A few impressions.

 

Lots of water. Went thru Ottumwa which is downriver from Des Moines.  They are sandbagged and bracing for the worst.  It's not good.  If the river goes up a couple feet they are all underwater.

 

Same in Burlington on the Mississippi.  If the water breaks thru there will be no downtown.

 

And the flooded fields.  Lost of lost corn.  Huge expanses of things not even planted.  Too wet I guess.

 

Good time to be in the Soybean Seed Business.  You can plant beans till the fourth of July.  This year that may be normal.  Lots of subsoil moisture. HA.

 

We were at a wedding.  It was nice.  But I went to a ball game.   In Nebraska when they sing "Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks" at the 7th inn stretch, it's Russian peanuts they are talking about.  Sunflower seeds.  My mouth is still sore.

 

Girls softball is something.  Funny to hear field chatter, "Go Amy, strike her out Christy, Come on Sarah, Swing Tammy".  Seems a little strange.

 

I did think that the emphasis on softball and baseball is a bit over the top.  I think that those girls would miss their mothers funeral because they have to pitch a game.  Balance people.  Balance.  It's only a game.  Life happens more than between innings. 

 

The stories of the flooding in Iowa in the paper were marred by the accounts of looting of the Wal-Mart stores, People pushing large screen TV's they had just stolen down the street in a floating container they stole. 

 

People complaining about the treatment they were getting from George Bush.  Heck he didn't even send Brownie.  All those Iowans who wouldn't evacuate stranded on their rooftops needing rescue. 

 

Wait, wrong story.  Oh, yea, this is Iowa not Louisiana.  I'm so impressed with them.

 

It's always interesting to see relatives cleaned up that normally don't wear suits.  They clean up real good.  That's all I'll say about that (Russ).

 

Gasoline is cheap (relatively) and potent in Iowa and Nebraska.  I paid between 3.77 and 3.85 everywhere. 

I also bought only non ethanol gasoline.  My gas mileage in chicagoland with the phony fuel they sell us is barely ever much above 27 MPG.  On the road yesterday using the more pure gasoline and refining mixes we don't use in IL we got 34 MPG.  The Buick capable of this easily. Which I don't get.  Why are we messing with Hybrids when Gasoline autos easily get 30MPG?  And, using the badly refined mixes got almost 20% worse mileage and we pay more in IL.  I don't get it.  Yes I do, that makes it worse.

 

Sunday Morning we went to King of King's Lutheran Church in Omaha.  I think it might be either the largest Church in the LCMS Denomination or one of the largest.  I'm not sure. 

 

It was a precious service.  Music, a prophetic word, preaching, an altar call to which perhaps 80 men responded and knelt a the front.  Moved me greatly.  Passion and freedom.

 

I have seen the future of the LCMS and it looks like this church.  If the LCMS doesn't take this route it will die.  Those churches that embrace this model will prosper and eventually split the LCMS unless the confessionals die out first. 

 

I know what side of that equation I'm on. 

 

By the way one song we sang I had not heard for a long time was a Matt Redman Song.  You Never Let Go.  They have a new worship leader.  An Aussie.  Very sensitive.  They really milked the song for all the emotion it has.  I was impressed and moved.

 

We sat with Barry and Nancy Kolb who happened to be in town for the world series.  It was good to see them but they haven't been away that long such that they seemed like long lost friends.  Just friends away for a bit.

 

A year from now it will be different.

 

It was still good to see them.  Enjoy the Games Barry.