Noah

Twice in one year my wife and I have been in the midst of yet another flood. It is not as bad as Febuary (thank God), but it was far more public knowledge this time around, as i was on the local news and the front page of the saturday edition of the Grand rapids press sported a handsome couple wading through a foot of water trying to get to their car.i anyone reads this, couls you pray that the waters will go down for good, and that we can get out of this house for good.
Thank you.

The not so burning 'Bush'

Well in an interview on Nightline, Preident George Bush, or W if you're and Oliver Stone fan, claims that he does not believe in a 'literal' bible. meaning he may or may not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. he may or may not believe the earth was created in 7 days, and he may not believe a few others things in the bible as actual truth. Now i have met my fair share of these kinds of thinkers. They believe in God and such, but they only can read the bible as a document for teaching and not a book of real history. So where do you draw the line? What is to be considered actual, and what is to be considered just a lesson? Allthough i would be more of 'I believe the word of God wholly' I am open to hear this side.
Hopefully George Bush's Foundamental fans won't turn their back on him like most of the world has at the moment.

Good read

In light of many ministers going around preaching the end is nigh, go buy a gun and defend yourself from the government, i would like to introduce you to a book that is full of sound theology and escatology, that will having you reaching for the word instead of an AK-47.
Stand strong in your faith, prayer for signs wonders and miracles, and let the LORD have the glory, For in these bad times God will show himself strong to his people and he will defend the downtrodden and renew their strength.

John Hagee

As a Christian minister i would hope that this man gives hope to the people he oversees, and finds it his ministerial responsibility when preaching to the masses on television. But no John Hagee has no intention of giving a message of hope. No, his only hope rest in the notion of the 'rapture' where he sailing away from the earth as God's furious anger burns up his creation using atomic bombs and the like. So for the rest us, on this side of the second comming there is only destruction to come, where the Power of God and the authority of Jesus' name is tied up in 'prochecy' and other best laid plans that the Lord is apparently powerless and bound to comply with.
In light of the recent economic disaster that is prevailing at this moment in time, John Hagee does not turn to the camera or to the flock at his church with hope and encouragement (which is the purpose of prophecy). No, he comes with his new revelation called the ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON!!!!!!!! Where everything sucks and all we can do as Christians is hold tight and be happy for all this stuff, because these are the signs that follow the LORDS return. Im as happy as the next Christian to see Jesus face to face. I will welcome him as a born again Christian and watch as he heals the nations ( and not bombs them to the ground) as i'm sure mercy triumpths over judgement, right?
So it is safe to say that there is nothing good to watch on TV. You watch the news, which feeds bad news after bad news, and then you turn on John Hagee and get some more bad news and bad news, and then you turn it to friends; because lets face it; watching a bunch of immoral people prance around for half and hour is a lot better for the soul than being beaten down well meaning ministers and anchor men and women.
Im youngblood, and that's what i think.

(Dr) James Manning

This preacher obviously believes that his ministry is to 'expose' false teachers around America, thus making him a prophet of doom. He basically has a ministry that tears down walls and has no intention of building up. He is a brother causing many to stumble. In a nut shell: Dr. James David Manning is a dork.

Nothing to add, nothing to contest

I have these days when i am at a loss for words, i can't think, talk, or do anything. Its days like these that i like to look at something beautiful. Today i chose to look at...

Gold from R.A Torrey

The poverty and Powerlessness of the average Christian finds its explanation in the words; 'Ye have not, because ye ask not' James 4;2

Gold from Kathryn Kuhlman

Faith is that quality or power by which the things desired become the things posessed

Good To Be Saved

In the book of Psalms There is a word used called; Selah, and it means to pause, and calmly think about. It normally occurs between verses of a Psalm. When you read this next verse take a Selah moment in your day to pause and calmly think about it.

Matthew 7;13-14 -
Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there at; because straights is the gate and narrow is the way that leads unto life, and few there be that find it.'

I experenced a very sober moment reading this verse while i was reading Destined For The Throne by Paul E. Billheimer. God's redemptive plan ahas always been for all humanity (John 2;2 - And he is the propitiation for our sins, and no only for us, but for the sins of the whole world), yet God knew that not all will be saved. the word says that the glory of the LORD will fill the whole earth, as the waters cover the sea. Now the waters of the sea only cover around 75-80% of the earth, and we are the 'glory of the LORD in Christ Jesus'.
So here in the passage above, Jesus clearly states that not everyone will be saved, aren't you greatfull he saved you? Before you point out minority groups of society, before you make reservations in heaven that excludes different classes of people; simply take a Selah to calmly meditate on the fact that you are saved. For some reason God's grace fell on you. Don't let make you sad with shame and guilt because you're not living a good Christian walk, but rejoice in the fact that he loves you so much that he gave his one and only son so that he may have 'unborken fellowship with you'.
Amen.

Jesus Wants to Save The Christians, a review:

After reading Rob Bell's book i had a cluster of mixed feelings; about the man, the idea, and Christianity at large.
From a literary position, it is a little long winded. An extensive look into the exiles, freedoms, and further exiles of the Israelites was repetative. Unless you have no idea of the history of God's people, this is a narative that is worn out; played. But when Rob Bell makes actually points for his meandering (which matches the 40 year wanderings of the Jews), he pulls quite the punch, saying things i have longed a prominant Christian writer to say in print. His jabs are quick, and you could miss them on first read, but they are contary to the evangelical norm, which would be refreshing in and of itself, but its Rob's style that is a pleasure: Written in allmost narative form, this is a teaching book that reads much more personally, more of a journey, like a novel.
It's a shame that he rounds everythgin up in the last chapter rather quickly, but his thoughts on Empire, rememberance, social responsibility, which have allways been centeral in Rob's teaching, are very grounded, biblical, and very provoking. He is an American Christian with a world view, in a country of very introverted diciples.
As a whole it could have delivered a harder punch, more distinct, less polite, and maybe we would have a small controversy on our hands; but instead we have a brief biblical overview and a few points to think about for personal and social consideration.

New Movie Coming Soon

Birds of America is one to watch this Fall. Staring mathew Perry, Ben Foster, and Lauren Graham.
Enjoy.

Rob Bell

just bought Rob Bell's new book and it is awesome!! Buy It.

Jesus

Some people think Religious art is cheesy, but i love it all, and i am far from religious, i would advice anyone to never get a sentimental image of God or Jesus stuck in their heart. religion has done a fine job of making God irrelevent, yet these pics (which mostly of from painters From Finland)really do capture beautiful images which should make us adore our creater and savior each time we look at them.

Proverbs

Every now and then i will go through the book of Proverbs, and i seem to find the wealth of it astounding to my life. it's far more than; 'the upright do ths, but the wicked do this...' It is even far more than what you just read on the pages concerning good conduct, righteous living, and learning to stay away from scoffers!!
When i read the word, i try to find where Jesus is in every part to it, because Christ needs to be in the center of everything....Amen.
there are two words in proverbs; one is Christ Centered, and one is Holy Ghost centered.


Wisdom - 1 Corinthians 1;30 - But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us WISDOM from God and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
Takin loan from T. Austin Sparks who encourages believers to find Christ central on every page of the bible, says that if Christ has become Wisdom then all wise thought is foudn in him. So when you read the word Wisdom, try putting Jesus instead and you will have the same effect, if not, find more of an impact to your reading of the Proverbs.


Counsel - In Isaiah 9;6 speaking of Jesus, the prophecy calls him a counseler, and when Jesus introduces us to the Holy Ghost, he to reveals him as a counseler, one who will guide us into all righteousness.
Proverbs 19;20 - Listen to counsel and accept discipline.
So in your reading interchnage this word for again, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit.
This is not play on words, neither is it altering the meaning of the scripture. it is simply showing you the centrality of Christ in scripture and then also the very breath of of life, The Holy Ghost living in all things and teaching us all things. you do not have to just read the gospels to find Christ, nor read Acts just to find out about the Holy Spirits activities. explore the bible with the intent on finding Jesus everywhere, and where you find him you will find the Holy Ghost too.

Viva la Coldplay

Since seeing them in a small club in wales before they hit the big time, i have allways enjoyed Coldplay's journey. Musically they are not the most inovated, but by sticking to their tried and tested formula for four albums and still managing to succeed is quite impressive.
On their fourth album viva la vida or death and all his friends, Coldplay have moved on yet remained familiar.
but the main thing to note is that there are not writers in pop or rock music today that's worth taking note of, but i consider Chris Martin to be a wonderful writer. he is a very gifted man and his lyrics are allways profound and well thought out. As a whole i am very impressed with their new album, more precice than XandY, more consitent than A sudden rush of blood to the head, and just better than their debut because they didn't put an annoyingly transparent pop song called 'yellow' right in the middle of a collection of other great songs.
So big up to Coldplay. Viva La Vida.

One Day As A Lion

I just picked up Zack De La Rocha' new project; One Day As A Lion. It's a five track EP, and it is awesome - I thought i'd give you a taste of his writting, as he is truly a gifted poet.

"They say that in war that truth be the first casuality"

"Your god is a homeless assassin who roams the earth to save here digging for buried treasures leaving nothing but fields of graves"

"The tears will fly birds of vengence - the sky will bury us all"

My advice, pick this up.

Peace.

Revival Still Continues

Please continue to be mindful of the lakeland revival at this time. it has gone way over the 100 day mrak, and it is still going strong. Todd Bently and all the amazing people there are serving everyday. Pray for strength and guidance, and pray for (and do yourself) provision for this wonderful move of the LORD. This revial will not end, it will continue on throughout the world.
Last night at my church we stopped doing a bi-weekly meeting, and i was glad, because it was realy a time of eqipping and encouraging, but now it needs to be practiced. SDont go to meetings out of habit, or tradition. If it's got life, live in it, if it's dying, get out.

I took ths at our meeting last night....tough crowd

Book

I am happy to inform the three people who read this site, that i will be releasing a book of poetry in about a month. it s being printed as you read this. I am very excited. It will be available in line as soon as it is released on places like, Amamzon and barnes and Noble.com so be sure to pick up a copy. It will titled:
Punchbag; short phrases from a short life.
This is a picture of the New York, public Libary. i think my book will beonthe second shlf to your right...three or four over.

'Change' in the middl east -

I heard a comedian the other night talking about 'change' in the middle east. So as i am incapable of telling jokes, i thought i'd write it down.

"They say that if you throw a quarter off the Empire State Building by the sheer orce of its drop, it would crush a car. If that is true, why are we droping bombs over the middle east? Why can't we just drop 73 cents?

People over there complain that we don't send them enough money to help rebuild their countries, now they have no excuse,w e dropped money at you.

We should feel proud of this war against terror, if we do it this way. We can confidently say, that we are bringing change to the middle east".

Cha Cha China!!

The front cover of the Sunday edition of the Chicago Tribunal had the headline; Jesus in China. The article is about the rapid growth of Christianity in a once self proclaimed 'aethiest country'. The article continues to talk about how it is reshaping the country, and the view Chinnese people have on the world. That is what i call nation changing!!!
So continue to pray for this great nation that all of its people will give their hearts to the one is able; Jesus Christ..

Blind within the Darkness

I recently went on a trip down to Tennessee to visit family and we happen to go out to some caves in a town called Spring water. It was a fun day, and the cool temperature of the caves gave much relief from the eighty degree weather that was growing hotter and hotter outside (roughly a 150 feet above). The tour guide went through boring things like rock formations and the fact that it takes 100000000000000's of years for a rock to grow an inch, but she got my attention when she turned off all the lights at one part of the tour. She told us (in the complete darkness) that if you were to spend any more than a week or two in this complete darkness, you would actually go blind. Apparently it is because your eyes will be searching and searching for something to focus on. it would look and look for some resemblance of light of shadow; anything. but in the end, in complete darkness, the eyes would grow so tired, they would go blind. This struck me.
I believe that the natural world gives us (Spiritual beings) insight into Spiritual things. I felt the Holy Spirit tell me that the cave was the world, and the blindness that came from habitually living in the world. darkness causes blindness after long uninterrupted lengths of time. Romans 1 speaks about how because the world (who had no excuse not to believe in God) did not give God glory and praise, he allowed them to turn to their own devices, their own unnatural lusts and passions, their worship of unknown and created gods and beings. the world worships itself, like darkness exalting the darkness.
it can only take the light of the world, Jesus himself to burst in on such people, and because we are co-labors with Christ, we have the honor to be light bears for him. We have to go into the dark places, we have to talk to to the lost and the weak, and give them light and hope. As Christians we deliver the light that has been shed abroad in our hearts, and the Hope of God in Christ Jesus the LORD. help this world that lives and See's that which is in caves and dungeons of sin and destruction.

Youngblood is back!!

Took a trip to California last week with my wife. I will have pics up on myspace and some video footage on youtube soon. It was a great time, didn't want to come back. I wanted to stay in Santa Cruz forever. i dont think anybody noticed i was gone but ohwell.... (violin cued up)

Ben

Christian Politics

I read an article on AOL news saying that a group of over 80 evangelical ministers have signed a document stating that Christians have been using their faith to sawy the next presidential election, and they are in fact CONDEMMING it!! its a miracle...
Church and state is seperate for a reason. Christians in America are trying to change this country using man's political angle, when God has said that his ways are not our ways. He will do it through the average man, and the average man with the annointing of God.
This is kind of a blah post, but i suppose Christians who are heavily involved in Politics and speak very little of the word of God, scare me.
Peace out.

Revival People

For all of you revival watchers (people like Arthur Wallis r.i.p) there is a revival going down in lakeland florida. Todd Bently was supposed to be down there for a conference, and ended up staying there for a whole month; and its still going on!! My Senior elder Andrew Hughes is on his way down there because Todd made an appeal to pastors and elders, and bishops, and heck, even priests, to go down and get an impartation to take back to your church and community!!!
It started in the lakeland church Ignite, and then it grew and had to be moved to an 8000 seat audatorium, but now it had to be moved to one of the cities football stadiums!! Its growing like glory!!
So if you can, leave your job now, run down there as fast as you can, come and see the glory of the LORD fill the city!!!

Tongues

And they spoke in other tongues as he gave them utterence. I was at a prayer meeting on wednesday and it was off the chain. Everyone in the room spoke in a new tongue, some of us spoke a whole other language, and it was powerful to see the gift of tongue and interpretation being used. It was a refreshing time and it really took me back to whole power of speaking in tongues. It edifies you and builds you up, when you do it on your own. in my own experience, when i speak in tongues for about ten minutes i flow right into the slow of the Spirit. Paul tells us to pray 'in the Spirit' and it is when you are in total hamrony with the holy Spirit that you can pray in this manner. The Holy Spirit will direct you in your prayer times. he might just tell you to worship God and not ask for a single thing. he may require you to be still and let the presence of God flow over you, and speak hushed, blessed words to your very soul. He may ask you to pray over the nations, your family, bind and loose, open doors, curse the devil, or direct an angel to an assingment. There is so much in the life of prayer than just going through your 'shopping list' of prayers. I have a friend who tells me that he has close to 50 people on his prayer list, that he goes through every day. First of all i think, man this guy is disciplined (which he is) but then i think, it sounds a little too much like the rosary too me, to be anything close to 'praying in the Spirit.' He is faithfull in prayer, but he is not led in prayer. I'm not sure if he will ever know if God has answered any of his prayers unless he listens to the Holy Spirit on them. Prayer cannot be just about that. The presence of God is where we should be at home, and God never makes anything borning for those who are expecting a move of the Spirit.
So stick out your tongue, wag it around, and pray in the Spirit, using the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Choka block

Sometimes i go through seasons where i listen to a lot of preaching. i read many books and it thrills me to learn more and more. and then all of a sudden, like a theological hangover, i get sick of it all in equal measure, and like most people who wake up with a hangover, they vow never to drink so much again.
The fact is, it has nothing to do with the word - it is endless and eternal, vast and exciting. the issue of my sudden distatse for all things Holy (Ghost), is that i have not applied the things that i have learnt. There has been no excercice to what has fed me. I have stuffed my mind with theology and now it is choka block.
Ezra a great man of God showed us how to live a Christian walk before Christ walked it on earth.
Ezra 7;10 -
I turned my heart to the word
I practiced it
And i taught it.
The three tier cake of Christian walking.
the study
The Application
The discipleship

You must learn it for yourself - live it for God - and teach others how to do the same.
Dont get full - get going.
Peace.

Church history Lesson

I have been reading a lot of blogs and myspace pages lately involving American Christians, and one thing that is more frequent than the LORD's name, is Politics. Now Politics can be good and bad, but as a Christian i do not put my faith in human goverments, regardless of how 'righteous' they claim to be. George W. Bush claimed to be a Christian, and now we are in a stupid war that reminds most people of a another conflict called Vietnam.
This is not the point of this post.
The point is that why are we as Christians putting so much effort into plugging who our next president will be or who will be in the surpreme court justice? Why are we not putting our faith in the one who has the government resting upon his shoulders?
Here is a fact; China has millions of Christians. the church grows way faster that the birh rate does in that country, and yet they have live under a cimmunist goverment. India see's a turn over rate of new born again believers is 100% every year, and they are opressed by their goverment which is mostly made up of Muslims and the also Hindu's. So why are we do we believe that if we get that so called righteous goverment in office (normally republican...boo!!!) then God will finally bless this nation?
Whatever and whoever we are under must be considered of no consequence to us as born again people, since we have a high priest who sits on a throne that is above all rulers and kingdoms, principalities and powers.
Don't go and have a mona - get with the man who sits on the throne.
peace.

Fargo

i just watched fargo by Joel and Ethan Cohen and it is by far one of my top ten movies of all time. I would strongly advise anyone to watch it; allthough it is not for the squimish. Wood chipper anyone?
Do yourself a favor stop watching the dull and fomulated movies like say; underworld (underpants), do what's right whatch Fargo instead.

ROCK AND ROLL BABY!!!!

Yesterday i officially formed my first band in over six years. We are called;
Wink Wink
and the line up is as follows.
Justin Gunnick - Drums - drum machines
Marrisa Bero - Vocals - Violin - Keys
B.J James - Vocals - Acoustic guitar - keys

I have around six songs and a few covers in mind, and this is all the name of Fun.
We will make a demo soon and have a myspace set up, and then we will practice for a while untill we sart getting a few gigs.
Playing in the city in the summer is going to be so fun.
Our music style as of this moment is - Folk - Pop - experimental
keep poseted for more Wink Wink news and music.

Love

I went to church and all i got was this lousy T-shirt

This is the statement (probably) of a lot of church going Christians these days when describing there so so church experience. With most things in life, if something is not working out its a good idea to take it from another angle; a different approach.
And usually when it comes to the things of God, his way is always the best.
Through his Apostle Paul (a gift of the acended Christ) God brings order to church in the only great way that God can; Spirit led.
1st Corinthians 14;26 - what is the outcome then brethen?
When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revalation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
There are many wonderful truths and principles to be discovered in this scripture; the thousands of verieties that all these songs, psalms and revelations can come in. But the one main truth is that when you come together you bring, you give, you offer, you volunteer, you share, you build, you edify...
The problem is that most churches call their Sunday gatherings 'Services' seemingly to imply that 'we the church will be providing you, the congregation, a service' WRONG. The church builds itself up.
So when you come away from church on a Sunday morning, you will feel satisfied that you gave, and like Jesus after talking to the woman at the well, you will have food that you do not know.
Peace.

Kissing under water

I was thinking about Worship recently, and i was remembering that one discription for worship is to Kiss...I love this discription, because it talks about intimacy with God, and that is deep worship. We're not called to sing a few songs, but we're called to make a connection, and intimate connection. Jesus commands us to worship in Spirit also, so our worship is a Spiritual kiss. And when i was thinking about this i started seeing people kissing under water. water in scripture is a symbol for the holy Spirit, the means in which we worship a Spiritual God. So kissing under water seems a fitting analogy for worshiping in the Spirit. i also like the fact that there are many people who try and break a world record for kissing under water. they way they stay under water for so long is that while they kiss, they are constantly exchanging oxygen to one another, and it seems a natural way to say what jesus meant when he asked us to abide in him and he will abide in us. breath into him and he will breath into us. We are sustained and held up by our constant Spirit filled worship; and realy, is there any other way to worship a living loving God?
So go find a pool, or a river, or an ocean, and go and kiss underwater with God.

Writing, on the bathroom stall

I was in a local shop the other day and i went to the bathroom and on one of the bathroom stalls there was a phrase written by an unknown, and i found it quite beautiful. For reference sake, the store i was in is soon to be demolished and torn down.
'i don't normally vandalize these kind of places
but i suppose being as this store is closing
i'll make my mark
like writing in the sand
at low tide.'

wonderful.

van gogh

I had a good chat with a painter friend of mine about van Gogh. he was so good, his paintings umistakable, yet he was such a depressed man. in his suicide note he wrote; the sadness will never go away.
However i can totally understand the misery that comes with such talent. I believe that these painters, writers, and other creative people go to such places of beuty in life that it is as though they are knocking on the doors of heaven, yet they can't seem to get in. they experience God's beauty but they have no idea about him. this is why i can sympathize with artist sadness. Its like traveling all your life to reach a destination only to find that the vanishing point keeps on moving away with each step closer that you take. As a writer (like i am) it can be truly frustrating, but as a Christian it is rewarding to know the one whom inspires all things and makes them beauiful in their time and place.
So dont look at artists with disdain and contempt, but consider that their work is an image of God painted or drawn by strangers.

Macho Macho Man (of God)

Get this, God made you Strong!!
Psalm 148;14 - GOD MAKES HIS PEOPLE STRONG
not Wimpy or whiny, not shriveling away from their enemies, not lying in bed ill, looking for sympathy, not cowards or shy like hedghogs.
I'm not saying that we are impervious to the things of this world, such as fear, or anxiety, sickness, or sadness. I feel all those symptoms from time to time, but i have to remember and encourage myself in the LORD, that he made me STRONG. He did not create his people weak and flimsy, but Strong. This is where the word will do battle to your emotions and your soul, you may not feel like this person, but that is your Spiritual DNA. So say it loud and say it proud; I AM STRONG.
When the preasures of the world seemt o want to buckle you under its preausre, you are STRONG. When you are facing a temptation to great; you are STRONG. Its not a matter of discourse or theology, the word is clear, God's view on you is set in stone" God makes his people STRONG.

Psalm 112 -

I always look to the psalms when i am feeling a little anxious; like today.
Psalm 112 is a wonderful passage, please read -
112; 6b-8 -
Those who are righteous will be long remembered
They do not FEAR bad news;
They CONFIDENTLY trust in the LORD to care for them.
They are CONFIDENT and FEARLESS and
They can face their foes TRIUMPHANTLY.

Only Believe

When in Doubt, quote Smith Wigglesworth - December 2 1922 -
When one dares to trust God on his bare word, then peace flows freely, wavering is passed, there is nothing to be done, all is finished and you enter into possessions that cannot come in any other way. So keep the test before you and be still and see the salvation of God. Nothing but love counts, so be full of this all prevailing charity that knows not fear and is blind to everything but the object of this perfect choice.Christ and him alone.
To have faith like this...

Marie Antoinette $4

Hey i just bought a beloved movie; Marie Antoinette for a blockbuster price of $4. Worth it. And a word of advice; watch this movie, it is awesome. Sofia Coppola takes a new spin (daring) on this historical story and makes it more intimate, more about the 14 year old girl who was forced to marry King Louis XV1 in order to bring two countries together by way of a child. But Sofia takes a new direction that only she can. It is unmistakable and a thoroughly enjoyable movie.

Care Bears