Diary of a Broken Vessel has received more than 10,000 hits since its creation. For many bloggers out there this is not an amazing number, but for me I think it is pretty cool. I want to thank everyone who has visited my blog -even if only by accident or mistake-, taken the time to read a post or two, left comments, or simply used it as a place to find links to much cooler sites.

I hope that my writings have been a blessing to those of you that have stopped by to read. Each piece has been another step in growth and in drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord. I've made some new friends along the way and have acquainted myself with old ones. I have drawn some near, while others have been alienated. In whatever case, it has been an incredible journey that I pray will continue long into the future, and firmly in the path of Christ our Lord.

Special Shout Outs:
A special thanks to those who have touched my life, influenced my journey, or have been a kind companion.

My Wife
My Brother
Calvary Chapel Poulsbo
Jeff
Molly
Roger
Linda
Southern Baptist Convention
Pyromaniacs
Pastor John Piper
Pastor John MacArthur
Pastor James MacDonald
Ergun Caner
The Anchor Fellowship

I'm sure I have missed some. Thank you all!

NOTE: The categories do not all represent this post, but are the categories that I have used through my time writing.

BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training) is a monumental, six-month contest of wills. It's a contest between the student...and himself. Several times a day, relentlessly, the instructor staff reminds the class that, "This program isn't for everyone, Gents"; and, "There's no shame in quitting - this is a voluntary program"; and, "Just step out of that cold water and walk up to the ambulance truck to get a nice, warm blanket and some hot cocoa".

These gentle admonitions are designed as a form of PSYOP (Psychological Operations, or, getting in someone's head) to inspire the half-hearted to throw in the towel and return to the easy life he knew. Only those who really, really, really want to become Navy SEALs will press on through the pain and the endless invitations to comfort.

In our class - I don't know about every class - we had been running, jumping, swimming, and carrying heavy things around for two or three straight days. In other words, with the exception of one forty-five minute nap and four big meals a day, we had been in constant motion for about half the duration of Hell Week. While the students keep going and going, day after day, the school has to activate extra shifts to manage the 24-hour training. We still had two or three days of the same to look forward to.

We had been very cold, very wet, and very tired for the duration. Now, just about halfway through, we were given our once-daily "hygiene" time. This is a brief, frigid, open-air evening shower before pulling on dry "greens", diving back into the 52-degree ocean water, and rolling in the sand once again. (Hygiene time is also a chance for the medical staff to survey everyone for concealed injuries.)

After this evening's hasty rinse off and dress up, we were surprised to find the mood calm and non-threatening. Perhaps "surprised" isn't the right word. Let's use "wary".

The staff formed us up on the beach, parallel with the waterline . We knew the drill. We would be instructed to walk slowly into the hated surf, not run pell-mell without discipline. Walking in before submerging increases the discomfort significantly.

The command to move was given, we trudged forward dutifully, and it might as well have been Groundhog Day for the sameness of this miserable march. Suddenly, mere feet before touching the foam, we were called to a halt. We were told to turn around.

We were then told that the speaker understood how hard all of this had been for us, how he knew it was painful; he'd been there, too. We were told that the staff wanted to reward us with a few precious minutes of rest. We were told to turn back around, facing the beautiful Pacific Ocean, and kneel there in the warm, dry sand. The sun was a lovely, swollen, orange ball on the horizon.

Then we heard a soothing, "Say goodnight to the sun, Gents."

Those five minutes of reflection on past nights, with our joints seizing into this kneeling "rest", were some of the longest of our lives. We willed the sun to slow down, don't go so fast - don't bring another night like the last ones. We were permitted to cool down, motionless, as the night fell without mercy. Finally, far sooner than seemed fair, we were asked to rise and walk into the water.

I don't remember clearly, but I believe some guys quit right there and got some cocoa.

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Powerful Peace is not hot cocoa and fuzzy blankets. A hate-filled terrorist pushing a long knife into the side of a living man's throat and sawing through the front while he gurgles and kicks is real.

Terrorism is stark, and terrorism is real.

One of the crossovers between my reconnaissance days and my antiterrorism days is an expression I coined: "If you would see in the dark, you must first be in the dark." Literally, one must stand in the dark for some time before his physical eyes adjust and he can see through the dark. Metaphorically, one must stand in the darkness of humanity's inhumanity before his psychological eyes can truly see the darkness itself.

I don't recommend this for most decent folk, but one method I use to "become" the enemy is immersion in the darkness. (It takes a thief....) Most readers would not comprehend what can be found on the Internet; most should not. If it has been done to a person, it can be seen - in graphic, living color.

For those charged with defending, as I've said before, innocence isn't an affordable luxury. The fact that one can't bear to see a decapitation is no excuse to avoid its existence. The wringing of hands and the lamenting of the state of the world is the domain of the protected; protectors must wade into the water.

Protectors must find the courage to face down their own urge to hate, knowing that it perpetuates the hate. Protectors must find the strength to bear up through the dark night of retaliation.

-------------

One final point bears mentioning. Following that fateful evening, hours after I said goodnight to the sun, a marvelous thing occurred: it came back up. The sun warmed my frozen bones and lifted my heart with hope. Every darkness seems absolute, and every trial infinite, but the unbreakable resilience of our human spirit has overcome the Dark Ages, the Inquisition, the Holocaust, and even my long-winded postings.

(Congratulations, if you've read this far!)

It should be obvious by now that I'm not going to "get to the point" of Powerful Peace. It is a process. We will succeed, and we will fail.

We will want to get the cocoa, but we will define Powerful Peace through choices.

Say goodnight to the sun, Ladies and Gents.

Well, I was gonna write that I believe God to be a God of reconciliation, but that's quite the understatement - because I actually know that God is pretty big on the whole issue of reconciliation because it says so in the Bible. And that's pretty much the final authority on things, I'd say.

Reconciliation is part of God's plan for our lives. He reconciled Himself to us, but He also desires that we be reconciled one to another, where things have been destroyed, He helps restores those things, in His time. Over the years, we tend to destroy things - things that were not meant to be broken have been. Jesus came to set the captives free and heal the broken-hearted, binding up wounds. In the same way God wants to heal broken relationships, anything broken for that matter.

I see reconciliation as a bridge God builds, and we need to walk across it as He is building it. It's a construction site actually, but we don't need to sit back and wait until He is done, rather, as soon as there is space on that bridge, we can take the first step. As God restores, we respond. We don't need to make everything ok, we just need to be obedient. There are some relationships that aren't ready for mending (different than forgiveness, because forgiveness is necessary long before reconciliation can happen). I think by taking those initial steps (walking through the doors as they open), we are then working with God in this ministry of reconciliation.

To me, reconciliation doesn't mean 'going back to what was'. In fact, many times, relationships are broken because they weren't right, and new definitions need to be made. Reconciliation isn't going backwards, it's taking steps towards new things, new possibilities and most of all, moving in the direction that God is leading, not in the direction of 'men' but of the Master.

I don't know much about it but I feel God is in the business of reconciliation and He has been teaching me that I simply need to take the baby steps on the path He is making straight before me. I don't have to push anything through on my own, nor do I have to search out where I need to head next. God is making things very clear to me as I seek Him and as He reveals His plans, my feet just need to move forward over that bridge crossing some unsettling waters, sure, but it is a very well-constructed bridge and the pastures on the other side are spectacular. ♥er

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God's Purposes:

What does the Bible reveal about God's ultimate purpose in his dealings with mankind? What is the theme that runs from Genesis through Revelation and that transcends both testaments?

Some may say it is Jesus Christ. That is true - the whole of Scripture reveals Him. He appears on every page and Jesus Himself said that the Scriptures speak of Him. (John 5:39). But what is God trying to achieve through Jesus? What is that ultimate purpose?

Many say that God's ultimate purpose is to save man and that the Bible is the account of God's great plan of salvation. Some even refer to it all as "redemptive history" - the account of God working out His plan of salvation for man. This view is very popular, but is it true?

Personally, I have a problem with that idea. Yes, we read about God's attempts to save man, in spite of himself, from the very first pages. But what has His dealings with Israel to do with that purpose? If His purpose is to save man, then why did He not go straight to the nations, rather than spend two thousand years dealing with Israel first? And what did the two thousand years between Adam and Abraham have to do with that purpose?

The problem is that if God's ultimate and highest purpose is to save man, then God is man-centered and not God-centered. This makes man an idol to God and that surely cannot be. Yes, we like to think that it all revolves around us, and that everything that God does is about us, our salvation and our ultimate happiness. But that kind of thinking takes us straight back to the garden where Satan tempted Eve to think about things from her perspective, rather than God's.

Others will say that the church - the bride of Christ - is God's highest purpose. For them everything revolves around the church, and the church is the ultimate end of all of God's dealings with mankind. But that is also not true since it once-again makes us, the members of the church, the focal point, and makes Old Testament saints inferior since they are not part of the church.

Unfortunately, modern Christianity has become so man-centered so that the Lord and His purposes hardly figure in any of our thinking. It has all become about us and what God can and does for us. We have forgotten that the highest of all beings is God Himself. He is greater than you and me and He is greater than the church. God himself said that we should not have any other gods before or next to Him (Exodus 20:3). To many, their salvation, the church or themselves have become things they worship and that has become the end of all things.

But God is the end and center of all things. "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:33-36).

Look at the end of that verse again. "...of Him and through Him and to Him are all things." He is the source of everything, everything has to be done through Him and, most importantly, all things are to Him. This means He is the purpose and end goal of all things. Jesus said "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 21:6). Everything begins and ends with Him, not with me, you, the church or our salvation.

Colossians 1:16-18 says: "All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." There is the key - all things are so that He might have the preeminence - that He might be the first, the only, and the most important of all. 1Corinthians 8:6 says: "there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him." Did you get that? We are for Him and His purpose, not the other way around.

So God's highest purpose is Himself. This does not make God selfish or prideful. He is the Supreme Being and He is the First, the All-in-all. Thus He is entitled to the preeminence. What makes man's self-centeredness wrong is the fact that man is not entitled to being the center of the universe - that is God's place, and when we place ourselves there we usurp God's position.

To be more specific, the ultimate goal of all things is to bring glory to God. The angels exist to give Him glory and even the earth was not created as a wonderful place for man, but rather to give glory to God: "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). Man was created to glorify God, but rather "although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God... and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man..." (Romans 1:21,23).

In the Millennium we will see Jesus restored to His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords as He becomes the focus and Sovereign of the whole world. "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 14:16).

Even Heaven, the New Jerusalem, is not about us as many think. Heaven is about the Lord and about the worship of the Almighty. The glories of the New Jerusalem are not primarily for our enjoyment, but are a perfect setting to reveal the Glory of the Great King, just as a ring is crafted to display the glory of the stone it houses.

When the angels announced the arrival of the man Jesus, they did not begin their announcement with the words "mankind is so fortunate;" no, they began by saying "Glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:14). Jesus, in giving a model for prayer opens with bringing glory to the name of God and closes with "Yours is... the glory for ever" (Matthew 6:9-13). Almost every book in the New Testament contains the words "to whom be glory forever and ever," yet we never pay it much attention to those words.

Creation, man, our salvation and the church are not the end goal. These things are all simply there to bring Glory to the One who is the source and end of all things. God's goal should be our goal as well. Everything we do and say should have one purpose - to glorify Him. If we do things for any other purpose we have lost the point of it all.

Does every aspect of your life glorify God?

The Truth:

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen" (1Timothy 1:17).

by Anton Bosch

~*~*~*~*~*~

Excuse me if I ramble, but I just want to get my thoughts out before I head to bed on this historic night...

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Recently, I’ve been thinking about what it means to be an American. This is due in large part to two things: The Presidential election and the Summer Olympic Games. Isn’t it ironic that these two events are inextricably linked on the same four year cycle? As Americans, we spend the primary season splitting into two factions, pointing out every possible difference between us and why one side is greater than the other. Then, for one week, we put aside our political and ideological differences to come together under the guise of the Olympics as “Team USA”. I am not claiming to be above this, because I fall for the same sucker move every four years as well. I took pride in American gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Nastia Lukin when I have absolutely no interest in competitive gymnastics outside of the Summer Games. I stayed up until 2:30 in the morning to watch Team USA (aptly dubbed the “Redeem Team”) win the Olympic Gold in basketball while talking to many friends of different religions, races, sexual orientations and political leanings about how proud this moment made us.

I realize, however, that in order for our country to decide a direction, we must have this division that creates difficult discussions. Alliteration aside, at this moment, we stand as one nation at a crossroads. To the right stands a continuation of the last 8 years; to the left, growth and change. Identifying as a Democrat, this has been a particularly trying presidential campaign, as a tightly contested primary between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Democratic nominee Barack Obama left the party fractured. Both factions and camps were very invested in their candidates, as the nomination of either of them would be historic. Either the first female or the first black nominee of a major party would be named. Ultimately, Barack Obama won, and so going into the Democratic National Convention, liberals waited with bated breath to see how the party would be healed.

As an Obama supporter, I came into the convention with my own fair share of animosity towards the Clinton camp, but I was willing to buy into the platform of party unity. Over the course of the convention, I hope that Americans everywhere, regardless of political affiliation were able to see that change is indeed necessary. On the opening night of the convention, we had an appearance from an ailing Sen. Ted Kennedy, one of the last bastions of the darling family of the party. Sen. Kennedy’s message was clear: as a nation we cannot afford to continue down the road we are headed and we need to come together as a party to do everything necessary to elect our candidate, Barack Obama. Barack’s wife Michelle then entreated our human side by telling us more about Barack and the type of loving, caring father and husband he is, while still hammering home why he is ready to lead this nation. After this first day, I was a bit concerned that while those already converted would love the messages of the evening, there wasn’t much to sway the undecided voter. America needed to know why Obama was the right choice, not just the other choice.

Tuesday night brought what many had been waiting for and what some feared: Hillary’s address. What she did was truly magnificent. I have been a very outspoken opponent of her campaign, but what I saw Tuesday reminded me that we are all playing for the Democratic team. Hillary could have taken the moment to be divisive, but rather took the moment to shine light on Barack Obama and his qualifications to lead. She implored her supporters to recognize the greater plan of this election: restoring order to a country headed down the wrong road. By asking her 18 million supporters whether they’d gotten involved for her or for the people and policies she fought so vigorously for, she immediately refocused the party. While that message of reconciliation may not have quite sunk in immediately to some of the hardened hearts of her supporters, it did not fall upon deaf ears. Former Virginia governor Mark Warner also gave a fantastic speech highlighting the economic implications that weigh upon the November election. In a rousing oration, Warner asserted himself as a prominent source of knowledge on the economy and also as a young star of the Democratic Party, much as Barack himself did at the 2004 DNC.

Wednesday led us to two Democratic heavyweights: Vice President-to-be Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton. Joe Biden gave us evidence as to exactly why Obama tapped him to be his running mate. He is strong where Obama is (perceived) weak: foreign policy and national security. He is also the everyman that is necessary to get the blue-collar vote. Joe’s story of humble beginnings in middle class Scranton, PA serve to appeal to the meat and potatoes portion of America that so far has not been able to connect with Barack’s message of change for fear that the little that they are holding onto right now might be in further jeopardy. What Bill Clinton did, however, was finally provide Obama with the triumphant proclamation that he needed by saying “Barack Obama is ready to be President”. Those 7 words went a long way into trying to repair a broken relationship that grew out of a bitter primary fight where both Clintons laid out the framework that the Republican Party is running with in their ads: Obama is not ready to lead. Clinton went one step further by comparing himself and Sen. Obama. He reminded America that Republicans questioned in 1992 if Clinton was too young and too inexperienced to be commander-in-chief. Since Clinton’s presidency is widely regarded as one of the most prosperous periods in recent history, it is safe to say that any association with his time in office is favorable.

Thursday left one very important speaker, Obama himself. After a week of others building him up, this would be Obama’s primetime slot to prove himself to America. The aide from friends was not finished, however, as Al Gore gave a fantastic speech to the crowd at Invesco© Field. Gore took the conversation to the environment. He also reminded those fence voters and Hillary supporters of the importance of every vote, citing his own “oh-so-close” 2000 Presidential campaign as evidence. He again brought the campaign down to the simple issues. He reminded voters that this next presidency could see as many as three Supreme Court justices vacate their positions and that a civil liberty like Roe v. Wade would be in jeopardy under a McCain presidency.

Now, I try as much as I can to try and look at politics objectively and try not to let emotions get in the way of what I feel is best for me and my country. I always fear that as a black man, my support for Obama would be viewed as me simply rooting for the “home team”. I feel extra burdened to really have a sense of why I support this man in his run for the most important office in the country, if not the world. Truth be told, I initially didn’t even want Barack to run for President in 2008. I thought, let him get some experience under his belt, get his name out there a little more and then he can make a run in 2012 or 2016. “He’s young enough”, I figured. Like many Democrats outside of the state of Illinois, my first introduction Barack was at the 2004 DNC when he gave a fantastic keynote address. I was curious and intrigued, but not really swayed until June 29, 2006, the day after he gave a speech to the Call To Renewal conference in Washington DC. I heard the speech and was immediately moved. I couldn’t stop talking about it. I sent the text to friends in email, loaded it on my iPod for quick access to share clips with others, but my reservations about him running still stood. Was the country ready for a black President? Were people ready to accept someone so new and fresh to the political world? All I knew is that I believed in him, and I believed in the power of his message. A simple return to values, which is often what Republicans preach, is exactly what we needed to turn this country around. However, my values oftentimes didn’t match up with the values of the right wing. I saw in Barack a chance to pin my feelings of the religious left on a candidate. The religious left is a way that I like to define myself on certain issues. Do I like abortion? Absolutely not, but I realize that a woman’s right to choose that reality for herself is far more important that what I personally think she should do. My thoughts on gay marriage? I do think that marriage is a sacred religious institution, but I recognize that people deserve the right to be with whomever they choose and that partner should have the same benefits as a married couple. The religious left has strong opinions but recognizes that those opinions are theirs, and that what is most important is that people have the right to their own reality. Poet and musician Labi Siffre sums it up perfectly when he says:

it matters little

that something is true

or not

till someone says you must live

a certain way

because they believe

something is true

or not

So then, I, too, was going along for the ride to be convinced that Barack was ready to lead. I read his biography and recognized that he grew up like many Americans. Not wealthy, but with a desire to be better, and a belief in an America that would afford him that very opportunity. I saw glimpses of it the first time I saw him speak live while campaigning for Bob Casey in Pennsylvania. His message of unity, diplomacy, and a return to the ideals of the American credo showed me a capable mind and a strong yet not overbearing temperament that would serve to keep a cool head in times of duress. I saw the readiness in the address he gave following the Iowa caucuses. This was a man stepping into his moment in time, but not stepping into his spotlight alone, rather sharing it with us, the American people. I saw it once again in the message he gave right here in my beloved city of Philadelphia responding to terrible attacks based on his association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. His ability to not only deflect the proverbial mud being slung but also to use the opportunity to show us the right path and offer us a helping hand to lead us down it was incredible. It was gallant and regal. It made me proud to be a Barack supporter, proud to be a black man, but also proud to be an American.

I’d had so many discussions, so many heated arguments over the last 18 months or so about his readiness to lead that I was definitely ready to sit back and enjoy the fanfare of evening. The moment was set up beautifully. Obama stood ready to accept the nomination on the 45^th anniversary of Dr. King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech, truly the living embodiment of that very dream. When Barack uttered his acceptance of the nomination, I found myself getting a little misty, truth be told. I recognized the gravity of the moment in American history. It was part pride, part catharsis, but I truly savored the moment. Once Barack started getting into the speech, I almost started to tune him out, as I’ve heard him speak so many times and heard some of the same lines I’d been hearing for months. Then, right around the time the Phillies blew a 3 run 8^th inning lead, I noticed a change in Barack’s tone. I saw Barack speak with a force and clarity I’d never seen before. Sure, as a supporter, I’d investigated his stances on the issues, but I was hard pressed to find a rebuttal when people told me that while they found him inspirational, he was often vague when it came to his exact plans for the country.

In his speech, Barack challenged McCain on every one of the issues:

· He outlined his plan for $150 billion for renewable energy research and implementation

· His plan to have our country free from dependence on Middle Eastern oil within 10 years

· Revamping the educational system to have higher standards and better trained teachers who earn a more competitive wage (something close to my heart and my future wallet)

· His plan to make healthcare available to those who don’t have it and more affordable for those who do

· Fiscal concerns of regulating equal pay amongst genders and keeping pension protection ahead of executive bonuses

· A refocus on family values and parental accountability (Government can’t replace parents)

· A direct challenge to McCain on his judgment, citing differences in Iraq and Afghanistan

· Directly addressing the issue of Iran and Russian and potential new arms issue

· Ending partisan politics by pointing out that patriotism has no party affiliation

· Treating the source of societal ills, not putting harsher penalties into action

· Focusing the election on the people, not himself, countering the “celebrity argument”

It was exactly the kind of precision and lucidity that the American people needed to hear from him. He drew a sharp contrast between himself and John McCain and left the decision up to the voters. Do you want more of the last 8 years of ruin and decay, or do you want change for the better? Showing his true compassion for the American people, he reminded us that “this campaign has never been about me […] it’s about you”. For those fearful of change, he offered that “change doesn’t come from Washington, it goes to Washington” (my italics).

What I saw from this convention was a country yearning for change and a leader ready to roll up his sleeves, dig in and start going about bringing that change forth. Many will argue in the coming weeks and months that he doesn’t have the résumé to suggest that he can bring about change. To those detractors, I simply offer this: if Barack Obama’s lack of a trail of decisions is what worries you, why aren’t you afraid of John McCain’s lengthy record of bad decisions? To quote the Boondocks, “the absence of evidence is not necessarily the evidence of absence”. In this situation, I say that to say that the absence of a long record in Washington for Obama is not the evidence that he is not capable of making prudent and wise decisions. It is only when we give change the opportunity to occur that it will arise. However, by putting more of the same poor decision making in power, we are guaranteed to wander in the wilderness while looking for answers. If you were faced with a poor history, would you a) set yourself up to continue the circumstances that led to that poor history, or would you b) change your outlook and whatever you were doing as to avoid more of the same? The choice is simple here.

So as we stand at this moment in time where our country will seal its fate in the history of the 21^st century, where we as a voting population will either be the group that changed the course or the group that signed the moral check that would come back “insufficient funds”, one thing is true: after November 4^th, will we go from being on two sides of a heated debate to being one union once more. Why is it that we must wait for August every 4 years to remember that we’re all playing for the same team? Must the unity that is bred out of sport leave us once the final buzzer has sounded, or can those principles of harmony and accord be practiced every day of the year? We can learn a lot about redemption from USA Basketball. For 8 years, we were headed down the wrong road. The wrong personnel, a lack of interest in what was really important, a cavalier attitude that made us believe that we simply had to show up to get a medal brought us to a rude awakening. What, then, led us back to Gold in Beijing? We revamped the system! We brought it back to the core values: team play, defense, smart decisions and effective personnel choices. Once we were reminded of what had brought us success in the past, it was easy to see what the future would bring once those ideals were once again implemented. The same can happen here, folks. We must renew our spirits and ideals; destroy and rebuild. Reinvigoration and renewal will lead us to our redemption and reconciliation, but as Barack said “we cannot turn back, we cannot walk alone”. This has to be a team effort. Team USA. We’ve restored our standing on the hardwood. Let’s restore our standing in the eyes of the world.

"There is hardly a saint who has remained so close to us, so understandable, despite the lapse of centuries, as Saint Augustine, for in his writings we encounter all the heights and depths of the human spirit, all the questioning, and seeking and searching that are still ours today."

Augustine was a prolific writer, but the work of his that was most important to me during the time of my conversion back to Christianity from Buddhism was his Confessions. His humanness and his brokenness are evident, as is his intense sorrow for his sins and his equally intense longing for God. At a time when I was having great difficulty finding my way, I found it very helpful, comforting even.

Interestingly, after writing his Confressions, Augustine asked himself whether it was good that he had done so. He wondered: If I’ve come to regret my sinful past and if I believe God has forgiven me, why not simply put my past behind me. Why bother putting all this bad stuff from my past down on paper? His answer to that question was that it was the recognition of his own sinfulness that had led him to recognize the love of God. It was only when he realized the depth and extent of the presence of sin in his life that he was able to see who God is and how God worked in his life. Thus, for Augustine, recalling his sinfulness was a necessary part of his praise of God.

That seems to me to be a useful perspective for all of us to keep in mind. But it may be especially useful for those people who have difficulty with the idea of Reconciliation and the idea of confessing their sins. What Augustine understood, in the words of theologian Michael Himes, was that confession “is not about how wicked I have been but rather about how good God is. Like all sacraments, reconciliation is not primarily about my action, whether good or bad, but about God’s action.”

To turn, turn will be our delight, 'til by turning, turning, we come 'round right.                                               —Joseph Brackett, "Simple Gifts," Shaker dance song.

Here in Illinois, the Democrats currently rule the day. Those of you from the Land of Lincoln (and now Obama) know that the state's top Democrats have been bickering amongst themselves so much and for so long that hardly anything gets done. It's actually become something of a joke---a depressing joke. That's why I was blown away by an excellent public radio report I heard on the way home from work today. Apparently, an unexpected gesture by U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. sparked a reconciliation hug fest among Illinois Democrats. I love stuff like that, whether it's Democrats or Republicans. Read and listen to the story from WBEZ in Chicago here.

↑ She looks defenseless, and she is. Look at the way she curls up almost like an infant, while her son pretty much kicks away at her as if there is no tomorrow. The afghan looks nice and cozy, but it hardly provides any protection againt this attack of youth.

..

↑ There is clearly an increase in intensity of the attack at this point. The young man, whom I now hardly wish to call my cousin any more, lashes out his left foot. What shoe size would this be, anyway? No small number, I think. Poor mother. She deserves better than this after all these years of nurture, provision and pouring out her self-less love for the child.

..

↑ And here he is, in full view. The rascal. Smiling, if not grinning.

.. 

↑ But revenge is sweet as the mother now reclaims the territory she first lost. Is he defenseless? No, not really. He looks like he is in fact enjoying the shift of powers. But, what is it about her hand? Is she perhaps showing a gesture of love, rather a than a gesture of revenge? Oh dear, I think that might be the case. The power of self-less love reaches untold heights.

..

↑ But then again. Now she is pulling his ear. But the rascal deserves it. Fortunately, it looks as if he feels some level of discomfort. But look at the way he almost touches his mother with th left hand with a friendly touch, but then in the end does not go that far. Perhaps he is finally feeling the pangs of guilt and pain of having treated his mother in this unreasonable way.

.. 

↑ But all sons have tricks they can pull on their mothers, do they not? Like playing the soft card. Reconciliation settles on the relationship. All is well.

..

Is Christian forgiveness akin to sticking our heads in the sand and ignoring a brother's bad behavior? Is that really the picture of forgiveness?  In order to forgive, do I just have to get good at pretending?

I believe the answer to all of these questions is a resounding "no".  There is a great deal more to forgiveness than just pretending it never happened.  Frankly, that would be too easy.  If it were that easy, everybody would be doing it.  But they're not, because it isn't.

I am no Hebrew scholar, but commentators smarter than me have explained that the word for "offense" which is used in Proverbs 19:11 is not the Hebrew word most commonly used for sin.  Rather, it is a word whose connotation is more about "annoying" or "irritating".  To use an American colloquialism, When someone rubs you the wrong way, you might just need to build a bridge and get over it. This wisdom from Solomon has more to do with not being overly sensitive than it has to do with actual forgiveness.  It is about patience. It is the right response when your spouse squeezes the toothpaste in the middle of the tube instead of the end of the tube, or when she puts the toilet paper on the roll backwards (or not at all).  It is the right response to annoying behavior (and who would know more about annoying spousal behavior than Solomon, the guy with a hundred wives...but I digress).

Irritating behavior is an entirely different scenario from the kind of behavior that warrants forgiveness.  When you have sinned and God forgives you, there is nothing about that forgiveness that says, "Don't worry about it Blake because this is no big deal at all, it's not important, etc."  Rather, God's forgiveness says, "This hurt me more than you will ever know...now, let's move forward...no condemnation."  Likewise, our forgiveness must include an appropriate expression of pain ("Ouch, that hurt") along with a promise of forgiveness.

When you have been deeply wounded, pretending it didn't happen is an inappropriate response.  Similarly, when you're just being overly sensitive to annoying behavior, forgiveness is an inappropriate response (eg., "Honey, I just want you to know that I forgive you for ruining my tooth brushing experience this morning by squeezing the tube in the wrong place.")

As Christians, we are called upon to recognize when overlooking the offense is the right response and when forgiveness is the right response.  Not always easy, is it?

My niece learned to read this year and she is gobbling up everything she can find. In my ongoing quest to be the coolest, hippest — and therefore her favorite — aunt, I scoured through my boxes of books to find her some old treasures I used to love. I stopped when I found A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein. She's going to flip when she reads this stuff! Anyway, I ran across a poem I had forgotten:

ATIONS

If we meet and I say, "Hi,"
That's a salutation.
If you ask me how I feel,
That's consideration.
If we stop and talk awhile,
That's a conversation.
If we argue, scream and fight,
That's an altercation.
If we later apologize,
That's reconciliation.
If we help each other home,
That's cooperation.
And all these ations added up
Make civilization.

(And if I say this is a wonderful poem,
Is that exaggeration?)

—Shel Silverstein

Sure, the target audience here may have been children, but I work for an organization that could sometimes use a little reminder about how this stuff works. Do you, too? Conversation, consideration, communication, celebration... what other "ations" should we apply to help the civilization (and plain old civility!) in our workplaces?

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. - 2 Cor 5:14-20

Over the last two or three years years our church has had more than it’s usual share of broken relationships. Personnel issues, musical styles, lack of communication, and the normal stupidity that accompany the petty consumer mentality so prominent in the evangelical wing of the Body, have all contributed their part to a number of folks being at odds with each other.

I’ve come to a conclusion about this.

The problem isn't the broken relationships. 

Broken relationships are par for the course living in a world where everyone is the little lord of his own two foot square realm. That’s just the way it is, has been, and will be until Glory.  And (I shouldn't have to say this, but...) of course we should do our best to live at peace with one another. That’s part of being a grown-up.

The problem is what happens after feelings are hurt and relationships broken. Or more truthfully, what doesn’t happen.

The real problem is that we aren’t willing to reconcile.

A large segment of christianity in the West has taken "being missional" as almost a mantra. And maybe I've just missed it, but I’ve yet to hear one of the proponents of missional talk about reconciliation as the center point of the ministry of the church. I hear “re-thinking the gospel”, "story", “relevant”, and “post-modern”. But I don’t hear “If you’re at the altar and remember that a Brother has something against you, leave your offering there, first go and be reconciled to him.”, or “Why not rather be wronged, why not rather be cheated, than to act this way in front of unbelievers?” 

The ministry we have been given, the mission of God, in and through us, is a ministry of reconciliation.

We are ambassadors of reconciliation. We are called to show people that they can be reconciled to God. One of, if not the primary way we show that to a watching world (and make no mistake about it, they are watching) is by being reconciled with each other.

Why don't we do it? Just a couple of reasons that come to mind. One, because it requires us to actually do something instead of just talk about it. And two, because what it requires us to do is practice the three most difficult virtues in Gospel living; self-sacrificing love, forgiveness, and true humility, toward those we feel inclined to treat like enemies. 

Is it hard to do? Yep.

Is it time consuming? Almost always.

Are things always better right away? Nope

Does it always work? Unfortunately, no.

What if I don’t want to? Tough.

Can I even do this? Not without Jesus. Not without knowing how much he loves me. Because it is the love of Christ that compels me to live this out.

I know this sounds like Christianity 101, and it is. 

But here’s the deal. If I don’t do this hard work of the kingdom, no one, and I mean no one, will believe that they can be reconciled to God. If I can’t even be reconciled to the guy next to me in the pew over some stupid, silly squabble over how many time a chorus is repeated, no one should believe it.

One of the most impacting books I remember reading in college was Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl, a survivor of the Nazi death camps during WWII. The primary point that I came away with was that the one thing that cannot be taken away from you is your ability to choose how you will respond to or view your life’s circumstances.

The concentration camps did an excellent job at taking away people’s family, their freedom and even their dignity. But as Frankl saw so many people, even after the war, slip into the living-dead state of despair, bitterness and hatred, he realized he had a choice.

We get to choose our perspective. I know from first-hand experience just how easy it is to allow oneself to feel like someone has stolen your hope or your joy. It is easy to say, “They made me so mad!” But in truth I am the only one capable of choosing whether or not I will become angry, or bitter, or hopeful or anything else.

As we wrap up month four of fundraising for church planting I am realizing just how important Frankl’s point is in our lives. Several weeks ago I found myself struggling to maintain a positive outlook. It seemed like there was no end to the list of folks who were saying, “We think that what you’re doing is great, but we can’t help you. Good luck.” Most frustrating were those who expressed confidence in us personally, in our passion, our calling and our ministry…but because of the non-traditional nature of our church plant they weren’t going to be able to officially support us.

This was beginning to have a negative impact on my perspective. And then God decided it was time for me to stop acting like a baby!

Through a series of events I met and had coffee with a church planter from the Assemblies of God. After having visited Tammany Oaks and talked with me only once he offered some incredible encouragement and affirmation – both on our calling and the content of our message. He even expressed a desire to maintain contact as his church plant may be interested in helping us once they get established.

I left that conversation with a choice. I could continue in my frustration at minor setbacks or I could realize that God has been so much more than faithful in sending us a constant stream of blessings, reminders of his love and affirmations of his calling.

I decided that I was going to choose a better perspective. And I believe that (in part) because of that choice, God has opened even more doors. At the time of my conversation with this other church planter we had no congregations seriously considering support. As I am writing this there are four different churches who are going to be making decisions about substantial one time gifts and/or continuing monthly support.

We have raised 35% of our total goal from individuals and families and we’re expecting confirmation of at least two more commitments in the next few days. We are heading to San Antonio this weekend for a fundraising dinner and Chris is meeting with another mission’s committee regarding our support.

Our family here at Tammany Oaks continues to remain supportive of us and I’m constantly being told how much we’re appreciated here. Our biological family continues to make sacrifices, work tirelessly and pray constantly for us. And 22 different individuals and families have already expressed their support through special gifts and monthly commitments. Chris and Heidi have been focusing on raising support for us, when they could justifiably say, “Sorry we’ve got our own mountains to climb.”

It seems that every time I turn around I’m talking to someone who just had a conversation with someone else who was telling them about what we’re doing. We are getting very close to seeing this dream become a reality!

At the end of the day, I have nothing to complain about. I have cried out to God in my despair and he has continually shown himself to be quick to save. I will continue to put my hope in the Lord for in him is full redemption.

I am very grateful to everyone who has partnered with us so far – either financially or in other ways like hosting events, spreading the word, etc. Many of you have committed to prayer, I believe that these prayers have provided a buffer between us and exhaustion, frustration, anxiety, and so many other forms of darkness.

If you’ve been thinking about making a financial commitment but have been unsure because of the economy – I understand…trust me I REALLY do! Let me encourage you, if you haven’t done so, to put this before God and ask if He is calling you to step out in faith in this way. I will not make any claims that if you send this money that God will send it back ten-fold…you guys know what I think about that business.

Honestly, your participation with us in this ministry may bring you much persecution. But I believe that we will be blessed and refined by this fire. I believe that partnering with God in his mission will ignite within us something rich and deep…something we were created to experience but often miss because we are afraid. I look forward to sitting down with you sometime in the near future and telling you about the individuals who have hope and light and life where before there was nothing but despair, darkness and death. This is God’s mission of reconciliation and God will not fail.

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. - 2 Cor 5:14-20

Over the last two or three years years our church has had more than it's usual share of broken relationships. Personnel issues, musical styles, lack of communication, mistrust of leadership, and the normal stupidity that accompany the petty consumer mentality so prominent in the evangelical wing of the Body, have all contributed their part to a large number of folks pissed at each other.

I've come to a conclusion about all this.

The problem ain't the broken relationships. Broken relationships are par for the course living in a world where everyone is the little lord of his own two foot square realm. That's just the way it is, has been, and will be until Glory.  Should we do our best to keep it from happening? Stupid question. Of course we should. That's part of being a grown up.

The problem is what happens after feelings are hurt and relationships broken. Or more truthfully, what doesn't happen. The problem is that we aren't willing to reconcile.

A large segment of christianity in the West is agog over being missional, but I've yet to hear one of the proponents of missional talk about reconciliation as the center point of the ministry of the church. I hear "gospel", and "relevant", and "post-modern". But I don't hear "If you're at the altar and remember that a Brother has something against you, leave your offering there, first go and be reconciled to him.", or "Why not rather be wronged, why not rather be cheated, than to act this way in front of unbelievers?" 

We are ambassadors of reconciliation. We are called to show people that they can be reconciled to God by first being reconciled with each other.

Is it hard to do? Yep.

Is it time consuming? Almost always.

Are things always better right away? Nope

Is it humiliating? Potentially.

Does it always work? Unfortunately, no.

What if I don't want to? Tough.

But here's the deal if I don't do this hard work of the kingdom. No one, and I mean no one, will believe that they can be reconciled to God, if I can't even be reconciled to the guy next to me in the pew over some stupid, silly squabble over how many time a chorus is repeated.

Part 2

Part 3

Another short video in response, titled The Apology, was made from some of the footage from the apology to the Stolen Generation.

"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. if he hears you, you have gained your brother."

raise the bar:

i thought it was pretty noble to forgive those who come to me after they've offended me. even more so if they never asked for forgiveness out right. but this passage says essentially that if i'm offended by someone's actions toward me, i don't wait for him to come a-knockin' on my door with an apology. it "ups the bar", commanding us to totally humble ourselves for the main goal of reconciliation. and as john bevere states in "the bait of satan", it "parallels how God restores us to himself ('demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ dies for us' romans 5:8)."

i'm so the type of person that would use this verse to justify confronting someone in my 'righteous' anger. but it's key that we let all thoughts of anger, or attitudes of "you owe me an apology" die before confronting. otherwise, we just make it worse. there's a great song that says 'its your kindness, Lord, that leads us to repentance'. we can reflect that same kindness in the face of offense, with the Holy Spirit's help!

even if you feel you were right, maybe you could say, "hey, i think that i was hurt by what you said because your friendship means more to me than i realized. i care about 'us', and i totally forgive you. could you forgive me for assuming (or resenting, talking about you to...etc.)? " if they don't listen, see matthew 18:16-17. we can only do so much. that's why it's written: "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."

the point is to restore. this one's a toughy, but it humbles the offended and the offender, plus you'll have the bonus peace of knowing you acted in obedience!

Q 4 U:

how do you feel about asking forgiveness? is it always worth it?

When South Vietnam fell in 1975, its government had owed the United States $76 million. The United States had continued to assess interest on the loan until 1997, when the “new” government of Vietnam agreed to repay this debt as part of the price of reconciliation with the United States. By then the loan had swollen to $146 million. [Surviving Twice: Amerasian Children of the Vietnam War, 222]

"Sports figures symbolize the possibilities of excellence for all of us - and at the level of the champion, they represent mastery.

"High states of consciousness are also frequently experienced by athletes.... This phenomenon is commonly described in terms of pushing oneself to the point where one suddenly breaks through a performance barrier and the activity becomes effortless; the body then seems to move with grace and ease of its own accord, as though animated by some invisible force.

"It's notable that this transcendence of the personal self and surrender to the very essence or spirit of life often occurs at a point just beyond the apparent limit of the athlete's ability. The seeming barrier is predicated by the paradigm of one's own past accomplishments or of what has been recognized as theoretically possible. Take, for instance, the historic "four-minute mile": Until Roger Bannister tore down that barrier, it was universally accepted that it wasn't humanly possible to run any faster; Bannister's greatness wasn't just in breaking the record, but in breaking through that paradigm to a new model of human possibility. This breakthrough to new levels of potential has correspondences in every field of human endeavor; in many diverse enterprises, those who have achieved greatness have given parallel accounts of the circumstances surrounding their accomplishments."

[P2: Powerful Peace proclaims a higher plane of Understanding upon which we can directly impact human conflict, including terrorism. This requires the "transcendence of the personal self and surrender to the very essence or spirit of life" referenced above.

It is so damn hard to find the willingness to consider our enemy's waywardness instead of his evil; yet until we bite that bullet and embrace that painful obligation, we remain trapped in a spiral of vain belief that destroying the enemy will ultimately result in peace...unless, that is, we recognize that the true enemy is dis-ease of the heart, mind and soul.]

"The most highly developed martial arts clearly demonstrate how motive and principle are of ultimate importance in extraordinary athletic achievement.... Schools devoted to these arts produce masters whose overriding concern is victory of the higher self over the lower through control, training, and commitment to goals aligned with true power.

"Athletes in the traditional martial arts employ specific exercises to overcome any tendency toward egotism. The dedication of one's skill, performance, or career to a higher principle provides the only absolute protection."

[P2: I'm called "jujutsu-ka", because I practice traditional Japanese jujutsu. My black belt is in this destructive art, characterized by its "gentle" redirection of energy and non-linear movements. I have also studied aikido, and my spirit recognizes the profound validity of that art.

The founder of aikido, honored as O-Sensei (Great Teacher) by practitioners of many different martial arts systems, became a great jujutsu-ka during the first few decades of his life. In the wisdom of his later years, he developed (or evolved) aikido from this foundation. He would explain that the highest goal of the art was to protect against the aggression of an attacker...to protect the attacker from the aggression of the attacker.]

"True athletic power is characterized by grace, sensitivity, inner quiet, and paradoxically, gentleness in the noncompetitive lives of even fierce competitors.

"The Olympic spirit resides within the heart of every man and woman.... The nurturing of excellence and recognition of its value in any area of human endeavor inspires us all toward the actualization of every form of man's yet unrealized greatness."

[P2: We can begin to explore additional routes to undermine terrorism (such as growing and practicing Powerful Peace) while engaged with all the current means (bullets, rockets, and spy satellites) at our disposal. Our race will not be free from hate and fighting while we sit on this rock together, but it is possible to sit together better.

At one point in America, when the Civil Rights movement was in its heyday, the idea was rejected by some who would lose their privilege, and by others who simply thought it unrealistic. At one point, the idea of an integrated society seemed like fantasy.

Today, the concept of fighting terrorism with compassion and an intense desire to understand seems like a fantasy to many....

There is a terrific story by one of O-Sensei's first Western students that sums up the "paradigm shift" of discovering an enemy's motives as human pain and fear. Remind me to tell that story one day.]

If you feel you are not well accepted by someone you wish would accept and admire you, you have to conquer this person.

This person could be the one you love, or your boss, your teacher, your friend, whoever. The lessons I’m going to give you here are general and can be applied in all cases.

First of all you have to try to understand the other person’s psychology.

Analyze their personality, try to understand their reactions: why they act the way they do? Who are they really?

Try to find out everything you can about this important person and pay attention to their behavior. Pay attention to what they like and to what they dislike.

Do that without being noticed, of course! Your research is secret.

After observing and examining everything you can about the other person, try to do things that they like, in the way they like them. You have to please them, having the behavior they admire. This is why you have to learn first of all what their preferences are, analyzing their personality and everything else.

You have to study the other person’s behavior if you want to be successful in your relationship.

Now, if you want to be admired, you must do more than simply “please” the other person doing something they like.

Who do we admire?

We admire people that do something heroic, people that are successful, people that have a good character, people that help others, people that know many things, people that have a great sense of humor, people that always have the courage to say the truth, people that have an ideal in life, people that are not empty but have many qualities and do many things, people that work, people that are original… just to give you an idea.

So, if you want to be admired, you have to be somehow like the examples I mentioned: you have to be very good in certain point.

Which point? The one that the special person admires.

Depending on what they like, you have to adjust the ideal attitude for your case. Be a hero, according to their idea of a hero.

If for them a hero would be someone that works a lot, be an excellent worker. If for them a hero would be a person that makes a lot of money, try to make money somehow, in order to impress them; if they like generosity, be the hero that saves the poor, and so on.

There are many other things you can do!

Try to discover them by yourself, now that you understood how to begin.

Prevent Depression and Craziness through the scientific method of Dream Interpretation discovered by Carl Jung and simplified by Christina Sponias, a writer who continued Jung's research in the unknown region of the human psychic sphere.

Learn more at: http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com and http://www.booksirecommend.com

Click below to download your copy of the Free ebook
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Submit your dreams while you can because I really am not going to do it for too much longer!

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"Moses" by Rembrandt

Disillusionment is not the correct word to describe the state of the devoted followers of the Lakeland revival. .. although some perhaps may be disillusioned. I am not. Disappointment fits better. I am desperately disappointed at the last turn of events. If you don't know, click Fresh Fire Ministries for a recap and apology.

What I do know for sure is that Todd's separation from his wife and family, lack of character, and selfishness does not diminish God's power to heal, pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, raise people from the dead, or change lives forever. God delights in using imperfect vessels.

Who hasn't had similar temptations in married life or otherwise? We all have some kind of weakness that could and should disqualify us from representing Jesus Christ or proclaiming his glorious name around the world.

It doesn't mean that Todd is not God's anointed either.

Todd is in some pretty good company with Abraham who lied about Sarah being his wife and almost lost his family and his nation. Moses reacting in anger at the rebellion of the Hebrews. For this he could not enter into the Promised Land. Jacob who deceived and usurped Esau, even though he had a prophetic right and calling to being "first born."

But my personal favorite is the story of David's adultery and then murder to cover it up. He carried on the deception until he was confronted by the prophet of the day. When David deeply repented, God called him "a man after God's own heart." And still he suffered the consequences of his sin in his lifetime... he could not build the temple he envisioned and his children were wayward.

If my sins were displayed publicly, how ashamed I would be. I am broken before God and grateful that they are hidden and covered by the blood of Jesus. God is willing that we come to him because of his kindness rather than his severity, but he will use severity if we refuse. This is what the New Testament means when it says fall on the Rock or it will fall on you.

Jesus is the Rock. And all of us have sinned and are in great need of God's mercy. David fell on the Rock and became "a man after God's own heart." What a title!

The only sin that separates us from God is unconfessed sin. We should be loving in regard to the body. Whenever there is sin, confessed or unconfessed, we should seek to restore in tenderness and love.

God loves to use people who are helplessly flawed and aware of their weakness and sin. And as hard as it is to understand even the lack of repenting of sin does not shut down the gifts God gives, for they cannot be revoked and remain in operation even if we have not repented. That is God's mystery.

And that is exactly why Todd Bentley or anyone else can be in sin and be used to do miracles. Of course, this comes to an end, if a person continues to rebel against God. He then becomes reprobate and has no chance to recover.

I pray that Todd Bentley has deeply repented and is taking time to heal. Fresh Fire Ministries indicates this is happening, and that proper steps are being taken to restore and heal.

Although many are discrediting the complete outpouring of God, I am not jumping on that band wagon. Many were healed and saved. I believe it was genuine. And I believe the outpouring will continue. Yes, the lack of character in Todd's life is sad and the enemy tried to bring him down and the whole movement. But the God I know and serve is bigger than one man's mistakes (many made mistakes here). I believe we haven't seen anything yet.

The days are coming when the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the water covers the sea... God loves mankind and strives with them in compassion. He loves to heal and manifest his power and love.

I would encourage you not to cut yourself off from something wonderful by dismissing the whole thing because of Todd's failings. (BTW, I think many people were to blame for this, not just Todd. And I am sorry his poor wife and children must suffer.) I believe in God's ability to redeem and reconcile and to make things even better for all...

You may find Dutch Sheets public statment interesting. Here's his letter.