From Oregon to Afghanistan
Our friends, Pete and Johanna Lessing, recently took a trip with YWAM’s PhotogenX team to serve in South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Germany, Spain, Morocco, and Costa Rica.
The PhotogenX team will be putting photos together at the end of the “track” to raise awareness of injustice issues around the globe and to call the church to prayer. (Note: above is an image Johanna took in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan).
Their journey is going to last one complete year - photos and stories of their trip will also be published in our new magaine, RETHINK Monthly - so you’ll want to check that out too.
But let’s get down to it: they need my help and your help to get them to where they need to go and to get the message of Christ into the lives of people who might not get another chance to hear. Please take a moment and check out their website … and at least … pray.
Thank you.
Brian McLaren on Barack Obama
Shouldn’t McLaren have said something like …
“I’ve been thinking lately, well pondering something I guess. I’ve been asking a lot of questions about Barack Obama and have been asking more questions. I lit some candles and then painted a big mural while I was pondering my thoughts. Then, as I sat back to observe the painting and take in the ambiance of the candles, I thought about thinking about the possibility of the thought of Mr. Obama as the potential president and what that would look like, you know, potentially. Then I asked some of my close friends to think about and ponder what I’ve been thinking and pondering about … and well, I’ve come to conclude that I don’t really want to conclude but in a round-about way I will conclude that Mr. Obama might be a good president. But then again, I’m not really sure on that…”
That would be commercial I could listen to…
Todd Bentley Announces Divorce
Fresh Fire Ministries, Todd Bentley’s base ministry organization, announced this on their website:
“It is with considerable sadness then, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with the sobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been. Undoubtedly the pressures and the burden of the Outpouring, which approaches 144 days on August 23rd, have helped to create an atmosphere of fatigue and stress that has exacerbated existing issues in their relationship. We wish to stress however, that the Outpouring is not “to blame” for the current chain of events and that in effect we have no interest in blaming anyone, but rather we deeply covet your prayers for Todd and Shonnah and for Fresh Fire Ministries during this time.”
As many of you know, I have not been a big advocate of Todd Bentley or the “outpouring” current going on in Florida. In fact I’ve been actively against it.
But, regardless of my personal opinion of his ministry, the recent news of Todd Bentley and wife Shonnah is very unfortunate for me to hear. I can’t help but think if that it were me and my wife, has much stress and turmoil we’d be under.
So my prayers go out to everyone involved, for their separation and so they will truly seek God in all that they do in their lives and in their ministerial practices.
READ MY OTHER POSTS REGARDING TODD BENTLEY
Todd Bentley’s Financial Situation?
Todd Bentley and the Assemblies of God Concerning Revival
God Is My Friend
I was weeding through some old data CD’s from times past tonight and came across this little ol’ gem. It’s a video I ripped from an old VHS tape. The song is called God Is My Friend, a little ditty I wrote back in the day, like 20 years ago.
Check it out. My sister Heidi and I are rocking out. And don’t forget the facial expressions we both make. Classic stuff my friends, classic.
What do you think?
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
Just the other day, like mentioned before, we bought a digital camera. So as the little one was taking her nightly bath, I snapped a few pictures for ya’ll. Isn’t she the cutest girl in the entire world? I thought so.
A Day at the Zoo
A while ago our neighbors invited us to go to the Portland Zoo. We planned it. Made a date. That date just so happened to concur yesterday. And what an experience it was.
It’s always quite the pleasurable experience when we take Benjamin to places for longer than - let’s just say - 7 minutes. He’s patience span isn’t the longest - and neither is his fathers. But regardless of the 10 hours we spent there, it was loads of fun.
We got to see monkeys, giraffes, zebras, polar bears, snakes, hippos, and even dinosaurs. Go figure. We also go the privilege to spend about $25 on a corn dog, hamburger and small salad. Wait, wait. That also included a $5.95 collectors cup of soda; 32 ounces.
Here are some images of the event. Enjoy my friends. Enjoy.
6 Years and counting…
Today marks the day of my wife and I’s sixth anniversary. That’s right folks. It’s been 6 wonderful years so far together as husband and wife and I just asked her today for 60 more… How sweet. But at the same time how true. I am fortunate enough to have the greatest wife anyone could ever ask for, the greatest mom that any child could imagine and the greatest cook - I mean - the greatest friend anyone would want.
Thank you Melissa for fulfilling my wildest dreams and giving me a shot at a life-long relationship with you. I pray I will never let you down.
Today also marks the day my best friend Anthony, his wife Susan and their two kids, Zion and Kylie, are moving away from Salem to take a ministry job in Canyonville, Oregon. Though I do not like to see them go, I am very excited that they will be actively involved in full-time ministry. I am also excited that they will be moving into a place named after the great Benny Hinn. Holla to my pentecostal friends. You can find out more about my friend Anthony on his website - www.anthonytrask.com.
Who Am I: Part Three
I was 13 years old when I got my first true glimpse at homelessness - volunteering for a new outreach ministry in our church. At first it wasn’t so bad. I made some sandwiches, opened some extra large cans of peaches and watched elderly ladies smile as they poured their hearts out, giving their best possible, in a way they knew well.
We collected as many boxes and paper bags as we could, stuffing them full of our freshly made bologna and mayonnaise sandwiches, fruit, and then topping them off with an NIV Bible. One of the ladies prayed a nice prayer, including something about protection or wisdom and we all felt this sense of closeness to one another and to those who would receive these blessings.
We gathered our things together and I called my mom for a ride home. We were prepared to head out the church door after a long night’s work and that’s when it hit me: What happens next?
Who were these blessed people that would receive this food that we had worked so hard to prepare? But more importantly, how would they receive it? Maybe we were going to create a nice sign and stick it in the front yard of the church; our Children’s ministry had loads of crayons, color pencils and markers. Or maybe we’d place an advertisement in the local Nickle Ads and include words like “free” and “bologna” and “less fortunate.”
But as soon as I opened my mouth to share these miraculous ideas, the ministry coordinator blurted out, “Who’s coming tomorrow to help distribute these boxes? We’re heading out at 8am. It’d be a good idea not to wear your nicest clothes because you might get them dirty from walking through the trees and in the mud.”
Silence. I surely didn’t expect that. Neither did anyone else.
The worst part of it all was the fact that it was summer. No school, no obligations, and no reason to say “No.” Most of the older ladies were retired or widowed and didn’t have anything better to do except quilt or play bingo or do whatever older widowed ladies do. Surely he didn’t expect us to sacrifice this much. After all, we had spent all afternoon and most of the evening preparing these blessed meals.
The next morning I woke up at 7-something am, hopped in the shower and prayed that I wouldn’t get some sort of infection from stepping on fields full of needles because, after all, all homeless people are drug addicts or alcoholics, right?
Emerging from the shower, I was oblivious to the fact that my life would change that very day. My heart would break for a homeless population. I would see things that would give me a different perspective on life and love. My judgment would cease. But it would take several years for me to find out that they, regardless of popular opinion, are just like you and me. They were at one time an infant, a child, a young person, someone’s son or daughter, another’s brother or sister. They’ve made mistakes, just like you and me, and they’ve paid a consequence.
I find it hard to drive around Salem and the surrounding areas and not see the effects of our homeless population, both young and old. I find it hard to drive by and watch as people, yes actual people, live out their life on the streets of Salem.
Just the other day Melissa and I came across a lady on a street corner. The years had obviously taken their toll. Life had settled in far too rapidly. All we had was one dollar.
We couldn’t help but to think that at one point, this woman was in the arms of a loving (or not-so loving) parent. She ate baby food just like our 8 month-old daughter is eating right now. She grew up. She had acne. She cried a lot and smiled as well. She wore pig tails at some point in her life and we’re sure that someone loved her. Even if it was one person, we are convinced she had experienced love. And at some point, one point, her life changed.
Then we showed up, rolled down the window and handed her our dollar; useless to us but treasured by her. And then, of course, we drove off.
We should’ve felt happy. We should’ve looked at each other with joy, relieved that we put our hard earned dollar to work in someone else’s life. But we didn’t.
Let’s just be honest. We’re tired of just giving our coins. We’re tired of just driving by and saying a prayer that starts with “Lord, send someone their way…” Maybe that someone is you. Maybe that someone is me. Maybe we’re supposed to give our coins. Maybe we’re supposed to wonder if they’ll eat another meal. Maybe we’re supposed to feel like this because that’s how God would want us to feel.
Maybe we’re tired of feeling like this. No. We are tired of feeling like this. We don’t want coins - we want change.
Todd Bentley’s Financial Situation?
I must be honest: I’ve had a really hard time with the whole Todd Bentley-Revival in Lakeland-thing these past few months. I can barely watch a clip on youtube.com about him without some sort of condemnation spew from my lips. So I’ve stopped watching.
Well, almost.
I did find myself watching an interview he did with Geraldo Rivera on his show, Geraldo At Large, the other day.
Then I found myself oddly curious with a statement he made after being asked about the fate of the offerings that are taken at the Lakeland Revival. He said, “One news agency in Canada just did a review of my finances, The Province newspaper in British Columbia, Canada and they said ‘Todd lives a modest lifestyle.’ They did a financial check.”
Like I said, I was curious. So I did some research.
Turns out there is a newspaper in British Columbia called The Province. Turns out they did write up an article on Todd Bentley. And it turns out that they did say that he “lives a modest life.” It goes on to say “In addition to an Abbotsford home, he owns a 2007 GMC Sierra and a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle.”
(Send me a message if you want the entire article)
Looks like he’s normal. Well, despite the whole angel thing - but that’ll be saved for another post.
I thought, since I am normally so critical of certain people and things, I would write post saying how much I appreciate Todd Bentley’s honesty regarding his finances. Even though I might strongly disagree with his approach on ministry, evangelism and revival - let me say this with all humility …
“Kudos Mr. Bentley. I appreciate your honesty.”
Other related posts:
Todd Bentley and the Assemblies of God Concerning Revival
