[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Apr. 5, 2011]
Suffice it to say that Todd Bentley knows what colour his parachute is.
An e-mail, quietly released a few days ago, reveals that the evangelist is making plans for every scenario.
Saturday, April 09, 2011
"Faytory"?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, April 2, 2011]
Although she is deep in newly wedded bliss, Faytene Grasseschi (nee Faytene Kryskow) is paying attention to the Canadian election.
On her main Facebook page on March 25, she posted this about the dropping of the writ:
Faytene Grasseschi
It's official, we are in an election. Please join me in prayer for our leaders & nation at this pivotal time.
A very appropriate suggestion, but in the comments below her post was what I thought was an appropriate question:
Although she is deep in newly wedded bliss, Faytene Grasseschi (nee Faytene Kryskow) is paying attention to the Canadian election.
On her main Facebook page on March 25, she posted this about the dropping of the writ:
Faytene Grasseschi
It's official, we are in an election. Please join me in prayer for our leaders & nation at this pivotal time.
A very appropriate suggestion, but in the comments below her post was what I thought was an appropriate question:
Force radio stations to run conservative, christian ads, the former Alberta radio broadcaster said
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs on, March 23, 2011]
Imagine an election where radio stations were forced to run small-c conservative and Christian radio ads against their will. The idea has been floated.
And at least a semi-retired (and right-leaning) Alberta radio station owner has mused publicly that that would be a good idea. And the CD in which he told an audience at his church that this was a great idea has now been pulled from the site where it had been sold. But not before I got a copy.
Imagine an election where radio stations were forced to run small-c conservative and Christian radio ads against their will. The idea has been floated.
And at least a semi-retired (and right-leaning) Alberta radio station owner has mused publicly that that would be a good idea. And the CD in which he told an audience at his church that this was a great idea has now been pulled from the site where it had been sold. But not before I got a copy.
Faytene prepares to step back and release the mini-Faytenes
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, March 21, 2011]
Faytene Grasseschi (nee Faytene Kryskow) appears to be preparing to step back somewhat from political activism in Canada. But if you're a fan, don't worry, she's been training replacements.
She is being very coy, but I sense that she is feeling a "call to the nations" now. Especially as being a leader of Canada's theocratic minded Christian youth is a hard living to make.
You can perceive what she is leaning towards doing in the future in a 19 minute "personal update" that she put on YouTube on Saturday night.
Faytene Grasseschi (nee Faytene Kryskow) appears to be preparing to step back somewhat from political activism in Canada. But if you're a fan, don't worry, she's been training replacements.
She is being very coy, but I sense that she is feeling a "call to the nations" now. Especially as being a leader of Canada's theocratic minded Christian youth is a hard living to make.
You can perceive what she is leaning towards doing in the future in a 19 minute "personal update" that she put on YouTube on Saturday night.
-30- for the B.C. Christian News
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Mar. 21, 2011]
I've belatedly discovered why a stack of the B.C. Christan News is no longer arriving at my church each month.
The monthly free paper, geared towards and distributed to Protestant churches throughout B.C., ceased publication with its February 2011 issue. The paper was founded as Christian Info in 1982.
The board of the newspaper, citing a slump in the demand for dead-tree media, hopes to channel its resources into their website and a relaunched youth periodical. There is hope, theboard chair writes that a "christian entrepeneur" will launch a general interest publication soon.
As someone who read the B.C. Christian News each month, and is saddened by the ongoing prade of deaths of dead-tree newspapers, this is a lttle sad for me.
I've belatedly discovered why a stack of the B.C. Christan News is no longer arriving at my church each month.
The monthly free paper, geared towards and distributed to Protestant churches throughout B.C., ceased publication with its February 2011 issue. The paper was founded as Christian Info in 1982.
The board of the newspaper, citing a slump in the demand for dead-tree media, hopes to channel its resources into their website and a relaunched youth periodical. There is hope, theboard chair writes that a "christian entrepeneur" will launch a general interest publication soon.
As someone who read the B.C. Christian News each month, and is saddened by the ongoing prade of deaths of dead-tree newspapers, this is a lttle sad for me.
Winston Smith, Lakeland revival archivist?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Mar. 19, 2011]
A fellow blogger makes an excellent observation about what may be happening to the history of Todd Bentley and his "Lakeland Revival".
The blogger at Available Light Online, whose name I unfortuantly do not know, has often kindly linked to posts by Bene D and I in their weekly newsy update "Articles of the Week".
In commenting on my recent post on Todd Bentley (thanks for the link!), the Available Light Online blogger makes an excellent comment that I hope would be all right to share here as well, due to the nature of what they are asking.
They write:
....I went back to some old documentation of YouTube links about the Lakeland Revival and noticed that some of them had been removed and I am now wondering if there is now an attempt to rewrite the history of the Lakeland Revival / Florida Outpouring by getting the apologetic media censored and removed and eventually trying to replace it with “their versions”.
I would wonder about this as well. I would ask if YouTube starting to pull videos after complaints from Bentley and his friends? Are they being pulled for copyright reasons, not being perceived as meeting "Fair use standards"? Are the makers of the apologetics minded videos just going off-line for their own reasons?
If videos are disappearing, why they are disappearing might certainly be of interest.
This looks like it may be productive line of inquiry. Hopefully by working together, we can learn what is happening.
Whatever we can learn, please be sure to share at Avaialble Light Online as well...
A fellow blogger makes an excellent observation about what may be happening to the history of Todd Bentley and his "Lakeland Revival".
The blogger at Available Light Online, whose name I unfortuantly do not know, has often kindly linked to posts by Bene D and I in their weekly newsy update "Articles of the Week".
In commenting on my recent post on Todd Bentley (thanks for the link!), the Available Light Online blogger makes an excellent comment that I hope would be all right to share here as well, due to the nature of what they are asking.
They write:
....I went back to some old documentation of YouTube links about the Lakeland Revival and noticed that some of them had been removed and I am now wondering if there is now an attempt to rewrite the history of the Lakeland Revival / Florida Outpouring by getting the apologetic media censored and removed and eventually trying to replace it with “their versions”.
I would wonder about this as well. I would ask if YouTube starting to pull videos after complaints from Bentley and his friends? Are they being pulled for copyright reasons, not being perceived as meeting "Fair use standards"? Are the makers of the apologetics minded videos just going off-line for their own reasons?
If videos are disappearing, why they are disappearing might certainly be of interest.
This looks like it may be productive line of inquiry. Hopefully by working together, we can learn what is happening.
Whatever we can learn, please be sure to share at Avaialble Light Online as well...
Faytene Kryskow's activism in Canada? "Bigger and better"
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, mar. 19th, 2011]
A few days ago, Faytene Kryskow answered a question on her Facebook page that I, and perhaps others who have an interest in her Canadian activism, was wondering about.
I'll pass on what she wrote:
Faytene Grasseschi-Was Kryskow
some of you have been asking about what my marriage to Robert means for my role in Canada (MY Canada, TheCRYs etc.). The quick answer is this: bigger and better :). It is all going to the next level. I will be posting a video answering this question in the next week or so. It is all good. Stay tuned!
March 9 at 11:47pm ·
I don't know, off the top of my head, if I had been wondering online if she was planning a move to the US, but it makes sense to me now that such a move would be later and not sooner (if it were to ever happen), given what she says.
A few days ago, Faytene Kryskow answered a question on her Facebook page that I, and perhaps others who have an interest in her Canadian activism, was wondering about.
I'll pass on what she wrote:
Faytene Grasseschi-Was Kryskow
some of you have been asking about what my marriage to Robert means for my role in Canada (MY Canada, TheCRYs etc.). The quick answer is this: bigger and better :). It is all going to the next level. I will be posting a video answering this question in the next week or so. It is all good. Stay tuned!
March 9 at 11:47pm ·
I don't know, off the top of my head, if I had been wondering online if she was planning a move to the US, but it makes sense to me now that such a move would be later and not sooner (if it were to ever happen), given what she says.
Faytene Grasseschi?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Mar. 19, 2011]
There's something new on Faytene Kryskow's primary Facebook page in the past few days.
She's now calling herself, on Facebook, "Faytene Grasseschi-Was Kryskow." Grasseschi, of course, being new husband Robert John's actual last name.
I don't believe that Faytene will choose to be known professionally as Faytene Grasseschi, as there things in her past that people in her audience do admire. Yet, the example of her friend and mentor Patricia King raises an interesting possibility for Faytene.
King is from British Columbia, so I had heard of her when she was using her actual married name Patricia (or Pat) Cocking in ministry.
Then a few years go, she changed her professional name to Co-King for a few months, on the grounds that she was getting obscene contacts of various kinds due to her last name. (Which is a valid reason, perhaps, but one that didn't seem to affect Martin Cocking, a student politician I knew at UBC.)
Shortly after this change, she changed professionally to the name Patricia King.
But something happened as a result of the name change. People on the Internet and elsewhere were finding it hard to link the earliest teachings and activities of Pat Cocking to the Patricia King that she is now.
As I mentioned, I doubt that Faytene would want to reinvent the wheel for her ministry by dropping her maiden name professionally. She might merely add Grasseschi.
But, if, and I am only wondering out loud, she were thinking of dropping "Kryskow" (and thus discourage people from linking a "Faytene 2.0" to all the various teachings and actions that have resulted in both public applause and grief for her over the past few years) in order to re-invent herself to a degree, this would be a convenient way to do it.
I wonder if Patricia Cocking, er, King, is suggesting that she do just that.
There's something new on Faytene Kryskow's primary Facebook page in the past few days.
She's now calling herself, on Facebook, "Faytene Grasseschi-Was Kryskow." Grasseschi, of course, being new husband Robert John's actual last name.
I don't believe that Faytene will choose to be known professionally as Faytene Grasseschi, as there things in her past that people in her audience do admire. Yet, the example of her friend and mentor Patricia King raises an interesting possibility for Faytene.
King is from British Columbia, so I had heard of her when she was using her actual married name Patricia (or Pat) Cocking in ministry.
Then a few years go, she changed her professional name to Co-King for a few months, on the grounds that she was getting obscene contacts of various kinds due to her last name. (Which is a valid reason, perhaps, but one that didn't seem to affect Martin Cocking, a student politician I knew at UBC.)
Shortly after this change, she changed professionally to the name Patricia King.
But something happened as a result of the name change. People on the Internet and elsewhere were finding it hard to link the earliest teachings and activities of Pat Cocking to the Patricia King that she is now.
As I mentioned, I doubt that Faytene would want to reinvent the wheel for her ministry by dropping her maiden name professionally. She might merely add Grasseschi.
But, if, and I am only wondering out loud, she were thinking of dropping "Kryskow" (and thus discourage people from linking a "Faytene 2.0" to all the various teachings and actions that have resulted in both public applause and grief for her over the past few years) in order to re-invent herself to a degree, this would be a convenient way to do it.
I wonder if Patricia Cocking, er, King, is suggesting that she do just that.
A taxing time for Trinity Western and other Christian schools?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Mar. 18, 2011]
Trinity Western University, along with four Canadian bible schools and seminaries, might take a hit in their giving after the Federal Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling last week.
At issue is a charity called the National Foundation for Christian Leadership. During 2002 and 2003, parents of students attending TWU, along with other interested donors, gave to the charity. In return the students of the donating parents received bursaries and scholarships. The CCRA denied the donations, the parents sued the CCRA and last year, the Tax Court ruled that the parents had not given a true gift in tax terms to National Federation for Christian Leadership (NFCL), a charity set up to handle the cash, and give it to Trinity Western which then, in turn, gave the students of the donating families the money.
Trinity Western is getting the ink in a note on the National Post's website and a story two days later in the Province, as it was parents of kids in this school who lived the suit. How ever, the original tax court ruling has found that students from "ACTS Seminaries, Briercrest Bible College, Briercrest Biblical Seminary, and Columbia Bible College." were involved in what went on.
As the Federal Court, in its own ruling last week, merely upheld Campbell J. Miller's ruling after the case was tried in the Tax Court of Canada in January 2010, in Vancouver, I will be concentrating on that. It's possibly a far-reaching ruling that could affect churches, seminaries and denominations in regards to how they could apply charity law.
Trinity Western University, along with four Canadian bible schools and seminaries, might take a hit in their giving after the Federal Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling last week.
At issue is a charity called the National Foundation for Christian Leadership. During 2002 and 2003, parents of students attending TWU, along with other interested donors, gave to the charity. In return the students of the donating parents received bursaries and scholarships. The CCRA denied the donations, the parents sued the CCRA and last year, the Tax Court ruled that the parents had not given a true gift in tax terms to National Federation for Christian Leadership (NFCL), a charity set up to handle the cash, and give it to Trinity Western which then, in turn, gave the students of the donating families the money.
Trinity Western is getting the ink in a note on the National Post's website and a story two days later in the Province, as it was parents of kids in this school who lived the suit. How ever, the original tax court ruling has found that students from "ACTS Seminaries, Briercrest Bible College, Briercrest Biblical Seminary, and Columbia Bible College." were involved in what went on.
As the Federal Court, in its own ruling last week, merely upheld Campbell J. Miller's ruling after the case was tried in the Tax Court of Canada in January 2010, in Vancouver, I will be concentrating on that. It's possibly a far-reaching ruling that could affect churches, seminaries and denominations in regards to how they could apply charity law.
The mischief caused by Lisa Ling's portrayal of Todd Bentley continues
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Marach 17, 2011]
Lisa Ling, host of Our America on Oprah's new TV network, is still doing evangelist Todd Bentley a good turn even after her episode on "faith healing" has been pulled off the OWN website.
Standard procedure for the show's online excerpts, it looks like, is to only post the latest epsiode and highlights from previous episodes. The featured clips from the faith healing episode are Ling's interview with Todd Bentley, and the story of the wheelchair-bound man who wanted so badly to be healed. [I'm glad that some of the commenters on the Bentley interview clip picked up--as I did in my comments on the full episode--that perhaps some journalistic "sins of omission" were in play.]
But although the Our America episode with Todd Bentley is now not fully online, and may not be rebroadcast for a while, a column in the Denver Post newspaper a few days ago shows that the evangelist may still be benefiting from the program.
Lisa Ling, host of Our America on Oprah's new TV network, is still doing evangelist Todd Bentley a good turn even after her episode on "faith healing" has been pulled off the OWN website.
Standard procedure for the show's online excerpts, it looks like, is to only post the latest epsiode and highlights from previous episodes. The featured clips from the faith healing episode are Ling's interview with Todd Bentley, and the story of the wheelchair-bound man who wanted so badly to be healed. [I'm glad that some of the commenters on the Bentley interview clip picked up--as I did in my comments on the full episode--that perhaps some journalistic "sins of omission" were in play.]
But although the Our America episode with Todd Bentley is now not fully online, and may not be rebroadcast for a while, a column in the Denver Post newspaper a few days ago shows that the evangelist may still be benefiting from the program.
Day and Strahl's decision to leave politics a blow for "so-cons"?.
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On March 14, 2011]
I see that three federal Tories from B.C. plan not to run again in the next election.
Everyone is familiar with Stockwell Day, who says that he wants to move on from politics. However, I remember Chuck Strahl and John Cummins as sources from my days when I was a B.C. reporter reading comments and coverage including these then Reform/Canadian Alliance MPs.
There's speculation that John Cummins wants to emulate Davie Fulton and lead the B.C. Tories in the next election. Stockwell Day, perhaps remembering what happened to Fulton, says he will pass on the leadership. Meanwhile, Day and Strahl are both saying to the press that they just want to do something else with their lives, as retiring politicians often do
I don't fault any of the men for wanting to step down. Politics is a long, hard business. Families can be missed. Sometimes these are very valid reasons to leave.
However, I wonder if "social conservatives" in Ottawa are speculating about some other possible reasons.
I see that three federal Tories from B.C. plan not to run again in the next election.
Everyone is familiar with Stockwell Day, who says that he wants to move on from politics. However, I remember Chuck Strahl and John Cummins as sources from my days when I was a B.C. reporter reading comments and coverage including these then Reform/Canadian Alliance MPs.
There's speculation that John Cummins wants to emulate Davie Fulton and lead the B.C. Tories in the next election. Stockwell Day, perhaps remembering what happened to Fulton, says he will pass on the leadership. Meanwhile, Day and Strahl are both saying to the press that they just want to do something else with their lives, as retiring politicians often do
I don't fault any of the men for wanting to step down. Politics is a long, hard business. Families can be missed. Sometimes these are very valid reasons to leave.
However, I wonder if "social conservatives" in Ottawa are speculating about some other possible reasons.
The Lakeland documentary is (sort of) released
[Posted at bene Diction Blogs On, March 11, 2011]
Filmmaker Roy Petersen kindly advises that his documentary on the "Lakeland Revival", featuring Todd Bentley, is now readily available.
It's not on DVD, or at your local theatre, but for a small fee, you can rent the ability to temporarily view it on your computer.
I'll let Roy explain in his own words:
Filmmaker Roy Petersen kindly advises that his documentary on the "Lakeland Revival", featuring Todd Bentley, is now readily available.
It's not on DVD, or at your local theatre, but for a small fee, you can rent the ability to temporarily view it on your computer.
I'll let Roy explain in his own words:
Faytene Kryskow is now married
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On. Mar.3, 2011]
Congratulations to Faytene Kryskow and her new husband Robert John who, according to her primary Facebook page, were married a few days ago.
Best of luck to them both.
(This follows up on several posts on the pair on BDBO.)
Their Engagement video
Congratulations to Faytene Kryskow and her new husband Robert John who, according to her primary Facebook page, were married a few days ago.
Best of luck to them both.
(This follows up on several posts on the pair on BDBO.)
Their Engagement video
Acting like Todd Bentley's publicist
{Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Feb. 26th 2011]
Todd Bentley, the bush telegraph reportedly says, is pleased with the recent Oprah Winfrey Network program on faith healing, which features him. I think, sadly, that he has some reason to be.
Lisa Ling's OWN program, "Our America" is reportedly so good that it has alreday been renewed for a second season on the network.
Now that the entire episode featuring Todd Bentley has been put online, we can see how she did.
Please judge for yourself, but here are some brief things that jumped out at me.
Todd Bentley, the bush telegraph reportedly says, is pleased with the recent Oprah Winfrey Network program on faith healing, which features him. I think, sadly, that he has some reason to be.
Lisa Ling's OWN program, "Our America" is reportedly so good that it has alreday been renewed for a second season on the network.
Now that the entire episode featuring Todd Bentley has been put online, we can see how she did.
Please judge for yourself, but here are some brief things that jumped out at me.
EFC lays formal complaint about Radio-Canada news program on Faytene
[Posted at bene Diction Blogs On, Feb. 15, 2011]
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is not happy with Radio-Canada's recent program about Faytene Kryskow and her allies. The evangelical lobby group appears to have submitted a formal complaint with the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council-- the private governing authority for participating TV broadcasters.
Yesterday (Feb. 14th), the conseravtive website and blog Lifesite, did its own item on the Radio-Canada news program last week which focused primarily on Faytene Kryskow and the influence that she and her like minded friends may have in Ottawa.
The Lifesite writer reports on the exchange between a Bloc MP and a Tory cabinet minister in the House of Commons last week They also quote Don Hutchinson, vice president and general legal-counsel for the EFC.
Mr. Hutchison commented yesterday on the EFC's blog Activate CFPL. The bottom of his post includes a link to the EFC's complaint "as filed"--meaning it has been submitted--to the CBSC
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is not happy with Radio-Canada's recent program about Faytene Kryskow and her allies. The evangelical lobby group appears to have submitted a formal complaint with the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council-- the private governing authority for participating TV broadcasters.
Yesterday (Feb. 14th), the conseravtive website and blog Lifesite, did its own item on the Radio-Canada news program last week which focused primarily on Faytene Kryskow and the influence that she and her like minded friends may have in Ottawa.
The Lifesite writer reports on the exchange between a Bloc MP and a Tory cabinet minister in the House of Commons last week They also quote Don Hutchinson, vice president and general legal-counsel for the EFC.
Mr. Hutchison commented yesterday on the EFC's blog Activate CFPL. The bottom of his post includes a link to the EFC's complaint "as filed"--meaning it has been submitted--to the CBSC
Todd Bentley gets onto Oprah's TV channel on Tuesday
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Feb 14, 2011]
Todd Bentley is getting back onto secular TV, tomorrow night on Oprah Winfrey's new TV channel in the United States.
There's been a bit of chatter about this, and Todd Bentley has been alluding to the program on his Twitter feed.
Our America, with host Lisa Ling, debuts on Tuesday the 15th at 10 PM Eastern. The first episode is on "Faith Healers" and the promo clip for the spisode is now online.Todd Bentley is a featured player.
I'll bet dollars for dougnuts that you won't see two things on the show. Apparently, the Operation Save America activists staged their public rebuke in the middle of Todd's church service while Lisa Ling was there. That'll be on the cutting room floor.
And the "healed" people that World Magazine found had actually gone back home from Lakeland and died? I predict no reference to them as well...
Todd Bentley is getting back onto secular TV, tomorrow night on Oprah Winfrey's new TV channel in the United States.
There's been a bit of chatter about this, and Todd Bentley has been alluding to the program on his Twitter feed.
Our America, with host Lisa Ling, debuts on Tuesday the 15th at 10 PM Eastern. The first episode is on "Faith Healers" and the promo clip for the spisode is now online.Todd Bentley is a featured player.
I'll bet dollars for dougnuts that you won't see two things on the show. Apparently, the Operation Save America activists staged their public rebuke in the middle of Todd's church service while Lisa Ling was there. That'll be on the cutting room floor.
And the "healed" people that World Magazine found had actually gone back home from Lakeland and died? I predict no reference to them as well...
Tories questioned in House about Faytene Kryskow's 4MyCanada
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Feb 14, 2011]
Faytene Krskow also fielded the sort of attention in Parliament that she might not want last week.
Last Friday, Bloc MP Mario LaFramboise asked how and why Faytene, the head of "a powerful evangelical group that lobbies members of the Conservative government, has received privileged access to Parliament thanks to an exclusive security card, a sort of VIP pass".
Tory cabinet minister John Baird deflected the question by saying that "the government meets with literally thousands of people every year to hear their ideas and suggestions on how we can build a better and stronger Canada. Just in the last few months, I have had the great privilege to meet with Jewish groups, Sikh groups, Muslim groups, Hindu groups and, I want to say something remarkable, I have even met with a few Christian groups myself."
Thanks from me to the conservative blog "No Apologies", which records the exchange in the House of Commons.
While No Apologies sees this as possible anti-Christian bias, on behalf of the Bloc, a different observation first came to my mind.
If Faytene Kryskow is starting to make it into Hansard, will she start to be seen as radioactive by the Tories? Will the Tories decide that the grief that they field about her is not worth the support she can lend? Will MPs start to get the quiet word to send her to Coventry?
Given that Stephen Harper told his cabinet ministers to vote against Roxanne's Law, maybe they might be having second thoughts about being friendly towards social conservatives.
Faytene Krskow also fielded the sort of attention in Parliament that she might not want last week.
Last Friday, Bloc MP Mario LaFramboise asked how and why Faytene, the head of "a powerful evangelical group that lobbies members of the Conservative government, has received privileged access to Parliament thanks to an exclusive security card, a sort of VIP pass".
Tory cabinet minister John Baird deflected the question by saying that "the government meets with literally thousands of people every year to hear their ideas and suggestions on how we can build a better and stronger Canada. Just in the last few months, I have had the great privilege to meet with Jewish groups, Sikh groups, Muslim groups, Hindu groups and, I want to say something remarkable, I have even met with a few Christian groups myself."
Thanks from me to the conservative blog "No Apologies", which records the exchange in the House of Commons.
While No Apologies sees this as possible anti-Christian bias, on behalf of the Bloc, a different observation first came to my mind.
If Faytene Kryskow is starting to make it into Hansard, will she start to be seen as radioactive by the Tories? Will the Tories decide that the grief that they field about her is not worth the support she can lend? Will MPs start to get the quiet word to send her to Coventry?
Given that Stephen Harper told his cabinet ministers to vote against Roxanne's Law, maybe they might be having second thoughts about being friendly towards social conservatives.
Radio-Canada's indepth news story on Faytene and her allies
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Feb. 11, 2011]
I hope that Faytene Kryskow, after that damning story that ran last night on the Radio-Canada news program Enquete, has her Laroussse's at hand.
If she was hoping to build support amongst francophones for her work, she may now be hard pressed to do so, as the Radio-Canada story was pointed and critical.
I hope that Faytene Kryskow, after that damning story that ran last night on the Radio-Canada news program Enquete, has her Laroussse's at hand.
If she was hoping to build support amongst francophones for her work, she may now be hard pressed to do so, as the Radio-Canada story was pointed and critical.
Radio-Canada examines Faytene and her Christian Right allies
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, February 10, 2011]
Tonight, on a Radio-Canada news program, Faytene Kryskow will perhaps be making a case for her points of view en francais.
The French version of the CBC is promoting tonight's episode of Enquete on Radio-Canada television, which examines the topic of "parliamentarians under the influence of evangelicals". (The program airs at 8 PM where I live.)
(Big hat tip to deBeauxOs, whose post let me know of this. My French being middling, if not somewhat rudimentary, I don't watch much French TV.)
My guess is that Radio-Canada's program may be trying to do a "matcher" story to see for themselves whether Marci McDonald's thesis was right.
I'd also hazard a guess that as a lot of their interview subjects might be Anglos, they may let them talk in English and just use subtitles for the Francophone audience.
Anyways, it might interest you too.
UPDATE: Watched and taped the program. Please expect a somewhat in depth seperate post on it.
Early reaction on Faytene's Facebook page...her friends are very supportive but no comment from Faytene herself.
Tonight, on a Radio-Canada news program, Faytene Kryskow will perhaps be making a case for her points of view en francais.
The French version of the CBC is promoting tonight's episode of Enquete on Radio-Canada television, which examines the topic of "parliamentarians under the influence of evangelicals". (The program airs at 8 PM where I live.)
(Big hat tip to deBeauxOs, whose post let me know of this. My French being middling, if not somewhat rudimentary, I don't watch much French TV.)
My guess is that Radio-Canada's program may be trying to do a "matcher" story to see for themselves whether Marci McDonald's thesis was right.
I'd also hazard a guess that as a lot of their interview subjects might be Anglos, they may let them talk in English and just use subtitles for the Francophone audience.
Anyways, it might interest you too.
UPDATE: Watched and taped the program. Please expect a somewhat in depth seperate post on it.
Early reaction on Faytene's Facebook page...her friends are very supportive but no comment from Faytene herself.
Once more, with feeling
[Posted at bene Diction Blogs On, Jan 31, 2011]
The largest church affected by the B.C. Court of Appeal decision that said that the local diocese leadership Anglican Church of Canada retains control of their buildings should they choose to leave the denomination, has appearently, I am told, decided to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.
St. John's Shaughnessy Church in Vancouver has sided with the conservatively-inclined churches in a theological dispute with the local, more liberal, bishop of the ACoC, Michael Ingham. As the court's ruling stands, congregants are free to leave the ACOC, but they must leave the building behind too.
Members of St. John's, a congregant told me, see this as unfair, reasoning that it is their tithes and offerings that pay for the building's upkeep--if not its original construction in the first place. They fear that Ingham will change the locks on andy dissident church and appoint new leadership for the church, when its congregation likes the leaders that it has.
Why St. John's? Well, I am led to understand that the current church leadership feels an obligation to do so, to assist other churches that may not have the money or resources to follow this up.
The Supreme Court of Canada may or may not decide to hear the appeal. St. John's retains their "Plan B" if the court decides to let the lower decision stand.
The largest church affected by the B.C. Court of Appeal decision that said that the local diocese leadership Anglican Church of Canada retains control of their buildings should they choose to leave the denomination, has appearently, I am told, decided to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.
St. John's Shaughnessy Church in Vancouver has sided with the conservatively-inclined churches in a theological dispute with the local, more liberal, bishop of the ACoC, Michael Ingham. As the court's ruling stands, congregants are free to leave the ACOC, but they must leave the building behind too.
Members of St. John's, a congregant told me, see this as unfair, reasoning that it is their tithes and offerings that pay for the building's upkeep--if not its original construction in the first place. They fear that Ingham will change the locks on andy dissident church and appoint new leadership for the church, when its congregation likes the leaders that it has.
Why St. John's? Well, I am led to understand that the current church leadership feels an obligation to do so, to assist other churches that may not have the money or resources to follow this up.
The Supreme Court of Canada may or may not decide to hear the appeal. St. John's retains their "Plan B" if the court decides to let the lower decision stand.
None dare call it conspiracy, except for these guys
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Jan. 22nd 2011]
Political conspiracy theories usually make me laugh. But I don't think it that amusing when Christians, who should know better, wander into the fever swamps. And I've found a new example of all these poisoned streams starting to mix.
Rick Joyner was recently on Sid Roth's TV show It's Supernatural, with a prophetic dream, that the "foundations" of the United States are burning and it is up to the church to run and get a garden hose and put out the fire. Fair enough, but in addition to selling his message "Will America Survive 2011" through Roth's program, he is still peddling the wacky conspiracy theories of William Boykin.
The retired US lieutenant-general's latest video message is available along with Joyner's message through Roth's program. in addition to this a few minutes of this episode of Sid Roth's program with Rick Joyner is given over to several of Boykin's theories. Namely, that the financial bailout in the US is a defacto nationalization of property in a Marxist way, as happened in Castro's Cuba. Obamacare will be a socialist redistribution of wealth. Moreover, the enabling leglislation of Obamascare contains a small clause that allows Obama to set up his own private citizen army.
As someone who is conservative, I believe that you can critique Obama and his policies. But, lapsing into the nutty, or helping people to spread their nuttiness, is disrespectful. It's also unChristlike.
I'm reminder of something that William F. Buckley, who worked to discredit the John Birch Society amongst conservatives, once wrote. I won't be able to remember it in his articulate way, but he argued that it is wrong to assume that people always know the bad effects of what they might advocate. Thus, it's usually safer to assume that your rhetorical opponents aren't part of a big bad conspiracy.
The John Birch Society published a book that argued Buckley was a "pied piper" for the communists' allies, but I think that he was very wise. If conservative Christians in the US want their critique of Obama to be listened to, they need to be sure that their concerns are solid and factual. Speculating that Obama may be readying to have a new version of Hitler's brown shirts makes you sound incredible, and not like Jesus, at the same time.
Political conspiracy theories usually make me laugh. But I don't think it that amusing when Christians, who should know better, wander into the fever swamps. And I've found a new example of all these poisoned streams starting to mix.
Rick Joyner was recently on Sid Roth's TV show It's Supernatural, with a prophetic dream, that the "foundations" of the United States are burning and it is up to the church to run and get a garden hose and put out the fire. Fair enough, but in addition to selling his message "Will America Survive 2011" through Roth's program, he is still peddling the wacky conspiracy theories of William Boykin.
The retired US lieutenant-general's latest video message is available along with Joyner's message through Roth's program. in addition to this a few minutes of this episode of Sid Roth's program with Rick Joyner is given over to several of Boykin's theories. Namely, that the financial bailout in the US is a defacto nationalization of property in a Marxist way, as happened in Castro's Cuba. Obamacare will be a socialist redistribution of wealth. Moreover, the enabling leglislation of Obamascare contains a small clause that allows Obama to set up his own private citizen army.
As someone who is conservative, I believe that you can critique Obama and his policies. But, lapsing into the nutty, or helping people to spread their nuttiness, is disrespectful. It's also unChristlike.
I'm reminder of something that William F. Buckley, who worked to discredit the John Birch Society amongst conservatives, once wrote. I won't be able to remember it in his articulate way, but he argued that it is wrong to assume that people always know the bad effects of what they might advocate. Thus, it's usually safer to assume that your rhetorical opponents aren't part of a big bad conspiracy.
The John Birch Society published a book that argued Buckley was a "pied piper" for the communists' allies, but I think that he was very wise. If conservative Christians in the US want their critique of Obama to be listened to, they need to be sure that their concerns are solid and factual. Speculating that Obama may be readying to have a new version of Hitler's brown shirts makes you sound incredible, and not like Jesus, at the same time.
Faytene's fiance
{Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Jan. 20th, 2011]
Evangelist Faytene Kryskow is engaged, according to her primary Facebook page this morning.
There, she changed her relationship status this morning:
Faytene [Kryskow] went from being "in a relationship" to "engaged.".
She's on the way to marrying Robert John, if all goes well. For some background, have a look at my previous post on the subject.
Congratulations to them both! Hopefully they will be happy together.
Evangelist Faytene Kryskow is engaged, according to her primary Facebook page this morning.
There, she changed her relationship status this morning:
Faytene [Kryskow] went from being "in a relationship" to "engaged.".
She's on the way to marrying Robert John, if all goes well. For some background, have a look at my previous post on the subject.
Congratulations to them both! Hopefully they will be happy together.
Now you see it, now you don't
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Jan. 19th, 2011]
There's been a bit of a fuss recently on The Elijah List, Steve Schultz's e-list for charismatics, which sends e-mails to thousands of people worldwide.
Evangelist Dennis Cramer sent an e-mail to the list critiquing what he sees as some of the failures and abuses of some teachers in the charismatic movement. The e-mails on The Elijah List are sometimes sent in partial format--in order to see the full items, you have to click on a link to The Elijah Lists' own website. So, if you waited a day or so, and wanted to read what Cramer had to say, you were out of luck. The full e-mail message of his critique had been pulled.
There's been a bit of a fuss recently on The Elijah List, Steve Schultz's e-list for charismatics, which sends e-mails to thousands of people worldwide.
Evangelist Dennis Cramer sent an e-mail to the list critiquing what he sees as some of the failures and abuses of some teachers in the charismatic movement. The e-mails on The Elijah List are sometimes sent in partial format--in order to see the full items, you have to click on a link to The Elijah Lists' own website. So, if you waited a day or so, and wanted to read what Cramer had to say, you were out of luck. The full e-mail message of his critique had been pulled.
Faytene Kryskow remains unmoved
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Jan. 14, 2011]
There has been a rumor floating around that evangelist Faytene Kryskow has moved from Ottawa to Toronto. I’m happy to report that this is not the case.
But you would forgive me, perhaps, for wondering if Faytene had moved, especially since she announced, in a 2009 teaching CD, that she was going to move to Toronto. Why, she did not know. But it was urgent for her to do what the Lord said.
There has been a rumor floating around that evangelist Faytene Kryskow has moved from Ottawa to Toronto. I’m happy to report that this is not the case.
But you would forgive me, perhaps, for wondering if Faytene had moved, especially since she announced, in a 2009 teaching CD, that she was going to move to Toronto. Why, she did not know. But it was urgent for her to do what the Lord said.
Faytene Kryskow, David Mainse and "Bible Bill"
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs on, Jan. 7, 2011]
Faytene Kryskow and David Mainse, as Bene D has noted, may be two fingers of the same hand when it comes to how they handle the media and blogging. (That is, they share similarities in their outlooks.)
And this leads me to wonder whether Christians with dismissive attitudes towards old and new kinds of reporting might be tempted to want to repeat one of the greatest threats to freedom of speech in Canadian history.
Do I say they certainly will be? No. But I am reminded of the historical precedent and how "reasonable" it sounded...
Faytene Kryskow and David Mainse, as Bene D has noted, may be two fingers of the same hand when it comes to how they handle the media and blogging. (That is, they share similarities in their outlooks.)
And this leads me to wonder whether Christians with dismissive attitudes towards old and new kinds of reporting might be tempted to want to repeat one of the greatest threats to freedom of speech in Canadian history.
Do I say they certainly will be? No. But I am reminded of the historical precedent and how "reasonable" it sounded...
Faytene Kryskow curses bloggers, and the media as well
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Jan. 6, 2011]
I had no idea that bloggers and reporters were doing the work of Satan. Until Faytene Kryskow set me to rights.
I am being sarcastic, of course. But I want to put what she had to say in an unguarded moment last year on the record. If nothing else, I want my fellow bloggers to be able to guess what she really wants to say to them when she drops her facade.
And reporters who cover Faytene Kryskow, by the way, should know that she might feel a need to cast demons out of them before any interview.
I had no idea that bloggers and reporters were doing the work of Satan. Until Faytene Kryskow set me to rights.
I am being sarcastic, of course. But I want to put what she had to say in an unguarded moment last year on the record. If nothing else, I want my fellow bloggers to be able to guess what she really wants to say to them when she drops her facade.
And reporters who cover Faytene Kryskow, by the way, should know that she might feel a need to cast demons out of them before any interview.
Can't say they haven't been warned
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Jan. 4, 2011]
Todd Bentley may be on his way to minister in Haiti soon, but a warning advisory to the Haitian church is preceeding him.
Online Christian apologist Bud Press has written a brief letter to Christians in Haiti, urging them to avoid Bentley and his ministry helpers. Press has translated his letter into the main languages used in Haiti, so it should be spread around fairly easily.
(I mention this to note that this is something unusual. A pre-emptive warning to residents of an area, that someone they may wish to avoid is coming, is a tactic that I am unfamiliar with. Defintely something new, to me anyways, I believe.)
If you are interested, you may read what Press has to say here.
Todd Bentley may be on his way to minister in Haiti soon, but a warning advisory to the Haitian church is preceeding him.
Online Christian apologist Bud Press has written a brief letter to Christians in Haiti, urging them to avoid Bentley and his ministry helpers. Press has translated his letter into the main languages used in Haiti, so it should be spread around fairly easily.
(I mention this to note that this is something unusual. A pre-emptive warning to residents of an area, that someone they may wish to avoid is coming, is a tactic that I am unfamiliar with. Defintely something new, to me anyways, I believe.)
If you are interested, you may read what Press has to say here.
"Jesus heals a zombie"
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Dec. 27, 2010]
In recent months, evangelist Patricia King has been working on developing a Christian influence in Hollywood. But unfortunately a bit of Hollywood hype crept into her ministry this morning.
I figure that I had better post on this quickly before this goes "Pfft!" as sometimes happens at King's XP Media site.
The heart of King's email this morning reads like this:
DEMONIZED ZOMBIE SET FREE BY JESUS - WATCH TESTIMONY NOW
Dear Friends,
A ministry associate of ours, Shawn Gabie of Kingdom Culture Ministries in Ottawa Canada (info@kingdomculture.ca), came back from a missions trip to Haiti recently. He shares on video an amazing interview with a fully delivered, ex-zombie to share with you. JESUS IS AWESOME!!! Some of it you might question and wonder if some of these things are really possible? Shawn does help walk you through much of it on the video....
I scurried to the site to see whether they were going to brazenly claim that the healed fellow was a zombie, and found Jesus Heals A Zombie Sigh...
The bulk of the video is Gabie interviewing a Haitian Christian who says he has been delivered from demonic spirits through prayer. This is something that some Charismatics believe and preach and try to find Biblical support for. So, if this fellow has been blessed through prayer, as he says, that would be a great thing.
Introducing the interview in the studio, Gabie says that the man's mother received a mysterious vision. "A cow spoke to his mother... while he was in the womb," Gabie says. "That was obviously demonic."
Fully warned, if we have discernment, that we are in "Here be dragons" territory, the video rolls and the man begins to share his story.
The gist of his story is that the Haitian lapsed into a catatonic state, and was healed of it. But the Haitian describes it as his "spirit was taken out of the body" by a voodoo practicioner.
Gabie: "And you became what people in Haiti call 'Zombies'?"
Haitian: "Yes."
How Gabie sums up the story is at least a bit dodgy. It's starts at 17:23 of the video.
"That's a crazy [story]" Gabie says. "The devil wants to take him out at an early age...At six years old, there's a thing place on him, a curse placed on him. The spirit leaves his body. He becomes a zombie, which is very common here in Haiti. I have issues with that, but its very common here in Haiti, if you talk to people in the small villages they will tell you..."
I have issues with that, you could say. I would like to give the Haitian the benefit of the doubt and assume that he was healed, by God, of whatever he was suffering from. But something that would be great is being turned into something tawdry by the way that it is being handled by his Western friends.
I suspect that it would be unBiblical to teach, or say, that the Haitian's spirit fully left his body.
Also, anyone who knows his horror movies recalls that "zombies" are *dead*. This man, whatever happened to him, did not die.
This is a shame. Although the Haitian man's tale seems a bit fantastic, if you can reduce it to saying that he was sick in ways that all can agree with and then healed, God can be praised by those who believe that He heals today.
But fantastic talk of zombies will lead the sceptical to rightly discount the man's story.
A bit of Hollywood style hype has wrecked this man's story. And if God has helped him somehow--in a way that Westerners can understand--that would be a big shame.
So shame on Gabie and his partner in medacity Patricia King.
[Update: My apologies to Gabie for misspelling his name in places. Now fixed . Mom wanted her computer back and I wrote this quickly.]
In recent months, evangelist Patricia King has been working on developing a Christian influence in Hollywood. But unfortunately a bit of Hollywood hype crept into her ministry this morning.
I figure that I had better post on this quickly before this goes "Pfft!" as sometimes happens at King's XP Media site.
The heart of King's email this morning reads like this:
DEMONIZED ZOMBIE SET FREE BY JESUS - WATCH TESTIMONY NOW
Dear Friends,
A ministry associate of ours, Shawn Gabie of Kingdom Culture Ministries in Ottawa Canada (info@kingdomculture.ca), came back from a missions trip to Haiti recently. He shares on video an amazing interview with a fully delivered, ex-zombie to share with you. JESUS IS AWESOME!!! Some of it you might question and wonder if some of these things are really possible? Shawn does help walk you through much of it on the video....
I scurried to the site to see whether they were going to brazenly claim that the healed fellow was a zombie, and found Jesus Heals A Zombie Sigh...
The bulk of the video is Gabie interviewing a Haitian Christian who says he has been delivered from demonic spirits through prayer. This is something that some Charismatics believe and preach and try to find Biblical support for. So, if this fellow has been blessed through prayer, as he says, that would be a great thing.
Introducing the interview in the studio, Gabie says that the man's mother received a mysterious vision. "A cow spoke to his mother... while he was in the womb," Gabie says. "That was obviously demonic."
Fully warned, if we have discernment, that we are in "Here be dragons" territory, the video rolls and the man begins to share his story.
The gist of his story is that the Haitian lapsed into a catatonic state, and was healed of it. But the Haitian describes it as his "spirit was taken out of the body" by a voodoo practicioner.
Gabie: "And you became what people in Haiti call 'Zombies'?"
Haitian: "Yes."
How Gabie sums up the story is at least a bit dodgy. It's starts at 17:23 of the video.
"That's a crazy [story]" Gabie says. "The devil wants to take him out at an early age...At six years old, there's a thing place on him, a curse placed on him. The spirit leaves his body. He becomes a zombie, which is very common here in Haiti. I have issues with that, but its very common here in Haiti, if you talk to people in the small villages they will tell you..."
I have issues with that, you could say. I would like to give the Haitian the benefit of the doubt and assume that he was healed, by God, of whatever he was suffering from. But something that would be great is being turned into something tawdry by the way that it is being handled by his Western friends.
I suspect that it would be unBiblical to teach, or say, that the Haitian's spirit fully left his body.
Also, anyone who knows his horror movies recalls that "zombies" are *dead*. This man, whatever happened to him, did not die.
This is a shame. Although the Haitian man's tale seems a bit fantastic, if you can reduce it to saying that he was sick in ways that all can agree with and then healed, God can be praised by those who believe that He heals today.
But fantastic talk of zombies will lead the sceptical to rightly discount the man's story.
A bit of Hollywood style hype has wrecked this man's story. And if God has helped him somehow--in a way that Westerners can understand--that would be a big shame.
So shame on Gabie and his partner in medacity Patricia King.
[Update: My apologies to Gabie for misspelling his name in places. Now fixed . Mom wanted her computer back and I wrote this quickly.]
Caveat emptor
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Dec 21, 2010]
From Todd Bentley's Twitter feed three days ago. Emphasis mine:
"It's not my job to produce results. But it is my job to lay my hands on the sick, the oppressed, and to preach the Gospel." ~Todd Bentley
10:29 PM Dec 18th via Twitterrific
Retweeted by 8 people
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
Hmm, I thought that one of the reasons that urged the restoration of Todd Bentley was the need for his specific skills and abilities in ministry, not someone else who can do the same things.
I stand corrected, perhaps?
From Todd Bentley's Twitter feed three days ago. Emphasis mine:
"It's not my job to produce results. But it is my job to lay my hands on the sick, the oppressed, and to preach the Gospel." ~Todd Bentley
10:29 PM Dec 18th via Twitterrific
Retweeted by 8 people
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
Hmm, I thought that one of the reasons that urged the restoration of Todd Bentley was the need for his specific skills and abilities in ministry, not someone else who can do the same things.
I stand corrected, perhaps?
Faytene's beau
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, De. 18, 2010]
Evangelist Faytene Kryskow has a boyfriend. That’s great for her and her boyfriend, but some of you are supposed to know, and others of you are not supposed to know. Shh! It’s secret.
Faytene has two Facebook pages. On the first, where she keeps a tight rein, censoring and unfriending people who may be critical, she mentions her boyfriend. That’s the one that is usually maxed out at 5,000 friends. The other Faytene Facebook page, which still has new spaces for friends, doesn’t mention her boyfriend at all.
I would have gone “That’s nice” and not blogged on this if Faytene had mentioned her beau on both pages. But, given that Faytene recorded a long video about how she almost fell for the wrong guy-- and the crucial spiritual lessons that she learned-- this partial reticence strikes me as an odd choice that I would respectfully suggest may not be helpful to her and her boyfriend.
Evangelist Faytene Kryskow has a boyfriend. That’s great for her and her boyfriend, but some of you are supposed to know, and others of you are not supposed to know. Shh! It’s secret.
Faytene has two Facebook pages. On the first, where she keeps a tight rein, censoring and unfriending people who may be critical, she mentions her boyfriend. That’s the one that is usually maxed out at 5,000 friends. The other Faytene Facebook page, which still has new spaces for friends, doesn’t mention her boyfriend at all.
I would have gone “That’s nice” and not blogged on this if Faytene had mentioned her beau on both pages. But, given that Faytene recorded a long video about how she almost fell for the wrong guy-- and the crucial spiritual lessons that she learned-- this partial reticence strikes me as an odd choice that I would respectfully suggest may not be helpful to her and her boyfriend.
Todd Bentley offered to buy a church for $30 million
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Dec. 16, 2010]
A very interesting news story sheds some light, in a backhanded way, on Todd Bentley's finances during the Lakeland revival.
The story is by Cary McMullen of the Lakeland Ledger, who did a lot of fine reporting during the revival.
Have a look at the photo next to the story. Really big and fancy, right? Must be expensive...
The building in question belongs to a Lakeland church, Without Walls Church, which has decided to move to a different building.
McMullen's background on the church, lower on in the story, has an eyeopening note:
I work with a lady who used to work in a bank for many years. I asked her, "If I were going to buy a church for $30 million, how much would I need to put down to secure a mortgage?
She hazarded a guess that since the mortgage crisis, "You'd probably need $2 or $3 million at least."
Go back to ther revival for a moment. Todd Bentley gives the impression that the revival barely paid for itself. But, when BDBO looked at the 2008 Canadian tax returns for Bentley's old ministry, it was listed as having about $4 million in assets.
A big chunk of that was the house near Lakeland that Bentley intended to live in with his starter family, which has since been sold.
The return for 2008 lists just over $8 million Cdn. in revenues and just under $5 million in expenses.
Bentley, then, could have made a down payment with ministry money, but mortgage payments would have been a stretch. I am pondering whether Bentley, had he bought the church, would have been tempted to keep the Lakeland revival--and its donations--going somehow.
What is certain, though, is that this story reveals that in the spring and summer of 2008, Todd Bentley had enough resources to consider buying a $30 million US church.
However, shortly after his divorce from Shonnah Bentley--Bentley said in a Sept. 2009 "webinar", he was down to having only $20 in his wallet.
What happened to all the money that could have bought Todd Bentley that $30 million church?
A very interesting news story sheds some light, in a backhanded way, on Todd Bentley's finances during the Lakeland revival.
The story is by Cary McMullen of the Lakeland Ledger, who did a lot of fine reporting during the revival.
Have a look at the photo next to the story. Really big and fancy, right? Must be expensive...
The building in question belongs to a Lakeland church, Without Walls Church, which has decided to move to a different building.
McMullen's background on the church, lower on in the story, has an eyeopening note:
Randy White said two churches, including Family Worship Center in Lakeland, had offered to buy the Central church facility. He also said that evangelist Todd Bentley who conducted a faith-healing revival in Lakeland in 2008 attended by hundreds of thousands of people from around the world, offered to buy the sanctuary for $30 million. White said Scott Thomas asked him not to sell.
I work with a lady who used to work in a bank for many years. I asked her, "If I were going to buy a church for $30 million, how much would I need to put down to secure a mortgage?
She hazarded a guess that since the mortgage crisis, "You'd probably need $2 or $3 million at least."
Go back to ther revival for a moment. Todd Bentley gives the impression that the revival barely paid for itself. But, when BDBO looked at the 2008 Canadian tax returns for Bentley's old ministry, it was listed as having about $4 million in assets.
A big chunk of that was the house near Lakeland that Bentley intended to live in with his starter family, which has since been sold.
The return for 2008 lists just over $8 million Cdn. in revenues and just under $5 million in expenses.
Bentley, then, could have made a down payment with ministry money, but mortgage payments would have been a stretch. I am pondering whether Bentley, had he bought the church, would have been tempted to keep the Lakeland revival--and its donations--going somehow.
What is certain, though, is that this story reveals that in the spring and summer of 2008, Todd Bentley had enough resources to consider buying a $30 million US church.
However, shortly after his divorce from Shonnah Bentley--Bentley said in a Sept. 2009 "webinar", he was down to having only $20 in his wallet.
What happened to all the money that could have bought Todd Bentley that $30 million church?
If Roxanne's Law doesn't pass, try try again...
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Dec. 15th, 2010]
Following the defeat of "Roxanne's Law" in the House of Commons earlier today, evangelist Faytene Kryskow writes that she and the other proponents of Roxanne's Law are nothing if not persistent.
In a statement that her lobby group posted on the Internet this evening, Kryskow--I assume she writes on behalf of her group--found it "absolutely stunning" that Harper and his cabinet voted against the proposed law.
But she remains optimistic. "This is not a defeat as much as it is a step on the road to victory..." Kryskow writes.
Her title to her statement, which says that the law was "opposed" not "defeated" in the House gives a clue. Just win the last vote!
But the vote count today would give me pause. If memory serves, when Mulroney's Tories were in power, with healthy majorities, pro-lifers in the House tried, and failed, to pass abortion restrictions based on the term of the pregnancy.
If "Roxanne's Law" was "no brainer" legislation, the fact that the pro-lifer vote in the House is shrinking would indicate that pro-lifers have a lot more work to do.
If I were to summarize my big problem with the act, it is that it may not have been based on solving a valid problem. The "Roxanne" of the law, the Crown Counsel and the defence in her case agreed, died due to her relationship with a man. Whether or not an coercive abortion was at issue was not addressed in court...but many advocates of the law said that it was. This struck me, and pro-choicers on the other side of the issue from me, as a dishonest foundation for the bill.
And any legislation that needed to be "tightened up" before a final, third reading, is sub-par, and not worth being the "main bill" for pro-lifers to try and pass.
Faytene Kryskow doesn't say that she and the other pro-lifers supporting this bill made a mistake, but they may be doing so in a backhanded way. Kryskow plans to encourage more women who believe they have been coerced into abortion to step forward. (Thus creating, from their point of view, the idea in the public mind that there is a problem.)
"When the vote comes back around, in another form, we will have a great chance at a strong victory," Kryskow writes.
If Stephen Harper thought he was now done with pro-life legislation--voting today against "Roxanne's Law"--he will have to realize that he is not done, as Faytene's views may be shared.
Neither side of the issue will be giving up, and laying down their rhetorical swords. At any rate, whatever side you endorse, it would clearly seem that the pro-choice side's rest on this issue only lasted for the latter part of an afternoon.
And Faytene Kryskow is hoping to make today's vote a Phyrrhic victory for the pro-choice side.
Following the defeat of "Roxanne's Law" in the House of Commons earlier today, evangelist Faytene Kryskow writes that she and the other proponents of Roxanne's Law are nothing if not persistent.
In a statement that her lobby group posted on the Internet this evening, Kryskow--I assume she writes on behalf of her group--found it "absolutely stunning" that Harper and his cabinet voted against the proposed law.
But she remains optimistic. "This is not a defeat as much as it is a step on the road to victory..." Kryskow writes.
Her title to her statement, which says that the law was "opposed" not "defeated" in the House gives a clue. Just win the last vote!
But the vote count today would give me pause. If memory serves, when Mulroney's Tories were in power, with healthy majorities, pro-lifers in the House tried, and failed, to pass abortion restrictions based on the term of the pregnancy.
If "Roxanne's Law" was "no brainer" legislation, the fact that the pro-lifer vote in the House is shrinking would indicate that pro-lifers have a lot more work to do.
If I were to summarize my big problem with the act, it is that it may not have been based on solving a valid problem. The "Roxanne" of the law, the Crown Counsel and the defence in her case agreed, died due to her relationship with a man. Whether or not an coercive abortion was at issue was not addressed in court...but many advocates of the law said that it was. This struck me, and pro-choicers on the other side of the issue from me, as a dishonest foundation for the bill.
And any legislation that needed to be "tightened up" before a final, third reading, is sub-par, and not worth being the "main bill" for pro-lifers to try and pass.
Faytene Kryskow doesn't say that she and the other pro-lifers supporting this bill made a mistake, but they may be doing so in a backhanded way. Kryskow plans to encourage more women who believe they have been coerced into abortion to step forward. (Thus creating, from their point of view, the idea in the public mind that there is a problem.)
"When the vote comes back around, in another form, we will have a great chance at a strong victory," Kryskow writes.
If Stephen Harper thought he was now done with pro-life legislation--voting today against "Roxanne's Law"--he will have to realize that he is not done, as Faytene's views may be shared.
Neither side of the issue will be giving up, and laying down their rhetorical swords. At any rate, whatever side you endorse, it would clearly seem that the pro-choice side's rest on this issue only lasted for the latter part of an afternoon.
And Faytene Kryskow is hoping to make today's vote a Phyrrhic victory for the pro-choice side.
Roxanne's Law defeated in House of Commons
[Posted at Bene Diction B;ogs On Dec. 15th, 2010]
Various MPs are tweeting that "Roxanne's Law"--blogged on by Bene D and I--has been defeated in its second reading in the House.
The vote, cast about 15 minutes ago, defeated the pro-life bill 178-97.
Various MPs are tweeting that "Roxanne's Law"--blogged on by Bene D and I--has been defeated in its second reading in the House.
The vote, cast about 15 minutes ago, defeated the pro-life bill 178-97.
Nobody does any research anymore?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Dec. 15, 2010]
Today is scheduled to be the day that Roxanne's Law goes to a second reading vote in the House of Commons.
This leads Brian Lilley of the National Post to urge that the bill be passed:
"The bill would make it a crime to coerce a woman into having an abortion and is named after Roxanne Fernando, a young woman murdered after refusing her boyfriend’s demand that she have an abortion.
Canadians have complex view on abortion and are not as clear cut as activists on each side would like. But I have to say, I don’t know how people could be against this bill. It is about protecting a woman’s choice to have her baby...."
I can see how pro-choicers could be against this bill, as it is based on a falsehood and seeks to solve a problem that may not exist in the widespread form that the bill's proponents say.
Thus my worry about Mr. Lilley, who is content to take a pro-life press release and run with it.
When I blogged earlier on the subject, I came across this CBC story on the case.
The odd thing is that the CBC story doesn't mention enforced abortions at all. And the following is quite peculiar, if the Roxanne's Law proponents are correct:
In a brief summary of the facts of the murder presented in court Thursday, Crown attorney Mark Cantor said Plourde and the youth hatched a plot to kill Fernando if she wouldn't agree to break off pursuing a relationship with Plourde.
The entire story is about this relationship. The abortion, forced or otherwise, isn't mentioned in the story.
Assuming the story is correct, and I think it is, the crown counsel in the case, who would want to sock it to the accused, didn't seem to argue that the abortion was a big deal.
Is Rod Bruinooge, the MP pushing the bill, unable to find an iron-clad, clear cut case? One where an abortion was corced, complete with a "poster girl" able to smile and tell reporters "They made me do it! Pass this law!"
As I have noted, I am very prolife...but I don't think that a bill based on stretching the truth is ethical.
Today is scheduled to be the day that Roxanne's Law goes to a second reading vote in the House of Commons.
This leads Brian Lilley of the National Post to urge that the bill be passed:
"The bill would make it a crime to coerce a woman into having an abortion and is named after Roxanne Fernando, a young woman murdered after refusing her boyfriend’s demand that she have an abortion.
Canadians have complex view on abortion and are not as clear cut as activists on each side would like. But I have to say, I don’t know how people could be against this bill. It is about protecting a woman’s choice to have her baby...."
I can see how pro-choicers could be against this bill, as it is based on a falsehood and seeks to solve a problem that may not exist in the widespread form that the bill's proponents say.
Thus my worry about Mr. Lilley, who is content to take a pro-life press release and run with it.
When I blogged earlier on the subject, I came across this CBC story on the case.
The odd thing is that the CBC story doesn't mention enforced abortions at all. And the following is quite peculiar, if the Roxanne's Law proponents are correct:
In a brief summary of the facts of the murder presented in court Thursday, Crown attorney Mark Cantor said Plourde and the youth hatched a plot to kill Fernando if she wouldn't agree to break off pursuing a relationship with Plourde.
The entire story is about this relationship. The abortion, forced or otherwise, isn't mentioned in the story.
Assuming the story is correct, and I think it is, the crown counsel in the case, who would want to sock it to the accused, didn't seem to argue that the abortion was a big deal.
Is Rod Bruinooge, the MP pushing the bill, unable to find an iron-clad, clear cut case? One where an abortion was corced, complete with a "poster girl" able to smile and tell reporters "They made me do it! Pass this law!"
As I have noted, I am very prolife...but I don't think that a bill based on stretching the truth is ethical.
Bet the protestors won't make the show
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Dec. 11th, 2010]
Happy news from Todd Bentley's Twitter feed yesterday:
Got word that our one hour show documentary show on Faith with Lisa Ling on Oprah's new Tv network ( OWN) sets to air Feb 16 primetime!!
about 23 hours ago via Twitterrific
Retweeted by 2 people
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
This was filmed as Todd Bentley fielded a public protest at one of his sermons at Morningstar on Feb. 5, 2010. I blogged about it several times, and this is a good detailed post.
I don't know how Ling happened to come across Bentley, and think that he would be a good subject for her program, but she interveiwed him for her show.
My guess is that Todd will get only a segment in the program.
Also noted at the time on the internet, was that the Oprah channel crew also talked to the Operation Save America protestors.
One blogger, noting this, speculated that Oprah might "help" the protestors' efforts.
If Todd Bentley gets only a few minutes in the show, I can guarantee that the OSA point of view won't make it onto the show.
I doubt that anything much critical of Bentley from a religious point of view will make it on the show. Oprah's point of view has always been hopeful, so anything that implies that Todd Bentley may not be a great faith healer, or may not know what he is talking about, will hit the cutting room floor.
That is too bad. Although the protestors did not address, as World magazine did, Bentley's skills at facilitating healing, their comments on his character might have provided a useful, corrective, note.
Happy news from Todd Bentley's Twitter feed yesterday:
Got word that our one hour show documentary show on Faith with Lisa Ling on Oprah's new Tv network ( OWN) sets to air Feb 16 primetime!!
about 23 hours ago via Twitterrific
Retweeted by 2 people
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
This was filmed as Todd Bentley fielded a public protest at one of his sermons at Morningstar on Feb. 5, 2010. I blogged about it several times, and this is a good detailed post.
I don't know how Ling happened to come across Bentley, and think that he would be a good subject for her program, but she interveiwed him for her show.
My guess is that Todd will get only a segment in the program.
Also noted at the time on the internet, was that the Oprah channel crew also talked to the Operation Save America protestors.
One blogger, noting this, speculated that Oprah might "help" the protestors' efforts.
If Todd Bentley gets only a few minutes in the show, I can guarantee that the OSA point of view won't make it onto the show.
I doubt that anything much critical of Bentley from a religious point of view will make it on the show. Oprah's point of view has always been hopeful, so anything that implies that Todd Bentley may not be a great faith healer, or may not know what he is talking about, will hit the cutting room floor.
That is too bad. Although the protestors did not address, as World magazine did, Bentley's skills at facilitating healing, their comments on his character might have provided a useful, corrective, note.
Roxanne's panacea, redux
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Dec. 8, 2010]
Even though "Roxanne's Law"--a proposed piece of legislation that would target coercive abortions in Canada-- is "done like dinner" as Stephen Harper has ordered his cabinet members not to vote for it, its proponents, such as MP Rod Bruinooge, are soldiering on.
It's scheduled to go to a second vote in the House of Commons on December 15, and Faytene Kryskow, another proponent of the act, has posted a video asking for prayer for the legislation.
Although I am quite pro-life myself, I saw some potential problems and concerns when the legislation was introduced a while back. For example, the crown counsel in the case of Roxanne Fernando, the lady whom the legislation is nicknamed for, didn't emphasize in court that she was killed due to her refusal to have an abortion.
Even though "Roxanne's Law"--a proposed piece of legislation that would target coercive abortions in Canada-- is "done like dinner" as Stephen Harper has ordered his cabinet members not to vote for it, its proponents, such as MP Rod Bruinooge, are soldiering on.
It's scheduled to go to a second vote in the House of Commons on December 15, and Faytene Kryskow, another proponent of the act, has posted a video asking for prayer for the legislation.
Although I am quite pro-life myself, I saw some potential problems and concerns when the legislation was introduced a while back. For example, the crown counsel in the case of Roxanne Fernando, the lady whom the legislation is nicknamed for, didn't emphasize in court that she was killed due to her refusal to have an abortion.
From Todd Bentley to Rick Joyner?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Nov. 30, 2010]
A news story about Rick's Joyner's woes might partly explain why Todd Bentley is on the road right now with his 12 state/city/region revival.
The local TV station has a story about Joyner's ongoing problems with the old PTL Heritage tourism centre, which Morningstar now owns.
The latest story, from local tv station WSOC, notes that there has been a long dragged out dispute between morning star and the local municpal government's developement authority regarding whether Morningstar could, or should, finish the old PTL development.
A local politician says that Morningstar has missed deadlines, including one set in concrete as it were. But while he doubts that Morningstar can make good on its word, Rick Joyner has a sunnier view:
An older newspaper story from back in March, paraphrased this as being an issue. I'm adding emphasis:
What has changed? Is the economic sitation so much better thatMorningstar has seen a rise in donations? Or has Todd Bentley hit the road to preach after agreeing to give some of his donations to Morningstar to get things moving again at their renovation project? All Morningstar needs is some earnest money to hire a construction company and put them to work. Satisfied, the local politicians could the nagree to allow Morningstar a few years to finish up.
I wondered out loud, a few months ago, whether Rick Joyner needed Todd Bentley to get out on the road to save Morningstar's project. Unless Joyner is coming across large amounts of money, I might have been correct in my guess. If Todd Bentley is the only Morningstar-connected draw that could earn the necessary money...?
A news story about Rick's Joyner's woes might partly explain why Todd Bentley is on the road right now with his 12 state/city/region revival.
The local TV station has a story about Joyner's ongoing problems with the old PTL Heritage tourism centre, which Morningstar now owns.
The latest story, from local tv station WSOC, notes that there has been a long dragged out dispute between morning star and the local municpal government's developement authority regarding whether Morningstar could, or should, finish the old PTL development.
A local politician says that Morningstar has missed deadlines, including one set in concrete as it were. But while he doubts that Morningstar can make good on its word, Rick Joyner has a sunnier view:
On Thursday, Joyner said the church is now ready to move forward.
"Let's gets the permits and get this thing going. We're ready to move on it," he said.
An older newspaper story from back in March, paraphrased this as being an issue. I'm adding emphasis:
Since 2004, MorningStar has worked to restore the 345 rooms, suites and office spaces of the old [PTL] hotel.
So far, though, the ministry hasn’t been able to get enough people to commit to buying into the retirement facility – which has made it more difficult to get the financing the ministry needs to bring the building up to meet county safety codes.
What has changed? Is the economic sitation so much better thatMorningstar has seen a rise in donations? Or has Todd Bentley hit the road to preach after agreeing to give some of his donations to Morningstar to get things moving again at their renovation project? All Morningstar needs is some earnest money to hire a construction company and put them to work. Satisfied, the local politicians could the nagree to allow Morningstar a few years to finish up.
I wondered out loud, a few months ago, whether Rick Joyner needed Todd Bentley to get out on the road to save Morningstar's project. Unless Joyner is coming across large amounts of money, I might have been correct in my guess. If Todd Bentley is the only Morningstar-connected draw that could earn the necessary money...?
Marci McDonald on tour
[Posted at bene Diction Blogs On, Nov. 20, 2010]
Several months after the release of The Armageddon Factor, Marci McDonald is still talking up the ideas in her book, most recently in B.C..
The B.C. Christian News, if it hasn't already done so, will no doubt put their two online reports on McDonald's visit in the print edition of the newspaper.
In late October and early November, McDonald spoke at the University of Victoria and the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford. This leads to somewhat of a point-counterpoint apporch in the online coverage as reporting on the Victoria talk is Steve Weatherbe, a freelance journalist who was a former colleague of mine at B.C. Report (he was our Victoria legislature correspondent). He is somewhat critical.
Less critical is progressive christian academic Ron Dart, who arranged for McDonald's talk at the University of the Fraser Valley. In reporting on her talk there, he is more sympathetic to McDonald's point of view.
The link is above, if this piques your interest.
Several months after the release of The Armageddon Factor, Marci McDonald is still talking up the ideas in her book, most recently in B.C..
The B.C. Christian News, if it hasn't already done so, will no doubt put their two online reports on McDonald's visit in the print edition of the newspaper.
In late October and early November, McDonald spoke at the University of Victoria and the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford. This leads to somewhat of a point-counterpoint apporch in the online coverage as reporting on the Victoria talk is Steve Weatherbe, a freelance journalist who was a former colleague of mine at B.C. Report (he was our Victoria legislature correspondent). He is somewhat critical.
Less critical is progressive christian academic Ron Dart, who arranged for McDonald's talk at the University of the Fraser Valley. In reporting on her talk there, he is more sympathetic to McDonald's point of view.
The link is above, if this piques your interest.
Conservative anglicans must give up buildings, court rules
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Nov. 18, 2010]
A BC court ruled earlier this week that four Vancouver area churches may leave the Anglican Church of Canada, but if they do, their building and property must remain the property of the denomination, the ACOC.
"The plaintiffs cannot in my respectful opinion remove themselves from their bishop's oversight and the diocesan structure and retain the right to use properties that are held for purposes of Anglican ministry in Canada," Justice Mary Newbury of the BC Court of Appeal wrote in the decision on Monday.
The case delved from an issue in the Diocese of New Westminster that I covered for the Report magazines when it first began to brew a decade ago. The diocese's bishop, Michael Ingham, had decuded that he would allow gay marriages to be blessed in the diocese.
The four churches, along with some others in the diocese, disagreed with Ingham's decision, arguing that gay marriages were not bibilcally sound.
Those opposed to Ingham's decision tried to get the bishop to change his mind. Failing to do so, several of the opposed churches left the diocese quickly, and left their sanctuary buidings as well for the ACOC to take possession of. (Ed Hird's church, in North Vancouver, for example, now meets in a school.)
Four local churches, including St, John's Shaughnessy (one of the biggest Anglican churches in Vancouver),perhaps looking at the very high cost of property in Vancouver and its suburbs, were attempting to persuade the court that the church is the congregants, and they own the property.
The Vancouver Sun and the National Post, among others, covered the court's decision.
The CP story in the Winnipeg Free Press, also says that the churches lose their bank accounts as well to the ACoC, but as this is only place I have read that, that should be double checked.
The churches may appeal to the Supreme court of Canada. But they won't necessarily go without. I visited St. John's Shaughnessy a few months ago, and one of the congregants there told me that the church had a "Plan B". If they were to lose their building, he said, another church had offered them space for their services.
A BC court ruled earlier this week that four Vancouver area churches may leave the Anglican Church of Canada, but if they do, their building and property must remain the property of the denomination, the ACOC.
"The plaintiffs cannot in my respectful opinion remove themselves from their bishop's oversight and the diocesan structure and retain the right to use properties that are held for purposes of Anglican ministry in Canada," Justice Mary Newbury of the BC Court of Appeal wrote in the decision on Monday.
The case delved from an issue in the Diocese of New Westminster that I covered for the Report magazines when it first began to brew a decade ago. The diocese's bishop, Michael Ingham, had decuded that he would allow gay marriages to be blessed in the diocese.
The four churches, along with some others in the diocese, disagreed with Ingham's decision, arguing that gay marriages were not bibilcally sound.
Those opposed to Ingham's decision tried to get the bishop to change his mind. Failing to do so, several of the opposed churches left the diocese quickly, and left their sanctuary buidings as well for the ACOC to take possession of. (Ed Hird's church, in North Vancouver, for example, now meets in a school.)
Four local churches, including St, John's Shaughnessy (one of the biggest Anglican churches in Vancouver),perhaps looking at the very high cost of property in Vancouver and its suburbs, were attempting to persuade the court that the church is the congregants, and they own the property.
The Vancouver Sun and the National Post, among others, covered the court's decision.
The CP story in the Winnipeg Free Press, also says that the churches lose their bank accounts as well to the ACoC, but as this is only place I have read that, that should be double checked.
The churches may appeal to the Supreme court of Canada. But they won't necessarily go without. I visited St. John's Shaughnessy a few months ago, and one of the congregants there told me that the church had a "Plan B". If they were to lose their building, he said, another church had offered them space for their services.
One, two, many Lakelands
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs on, Oct. 30, 2010]
An e-mail from Tood Bentley's ministry on Friday, as he continues to tour the USA, predicts "revivals" in 12 American cities.
Would that it were so, but I hear the Church Lady character from Saturday Night Live saying "How conveeeenient."
I'll reproduce the full e-mail as the first comment, as I see that FreshFireUSA scrubs and deletes regularly. It is here.
Here are some things that stand out to me.
An e-mail from Tood Bentley's ministry on Friday, as he continues to tour the USA, predicts "revivals" in 12 American cities.
Would that it were so, but I hear the Church Lady character from Saturday Night Live saying "How conveeeenient."
I'll reproduce the full e-mail as the first comment, as I see that FreshFireUSA scrubs and deletes regularly. It is here.
Here are some things that stand out to me.
The Lakeland documentary is done, sorta
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Oct. 28, 2010]
In response to my e-mail, Roy Petersen, kindly offers an update on his Lakeland/Todd Bentley documentary.
He writes:
"Currently the film is with a sales agent and is being entered into film festivals so right now it's not for public consumption in the sense of buying the DVD, although we are almost complete mixing a longer more in-depth version of the film, which will be available on Amazon within a few months. We are currently working on a new website which will feature the film and have news and information as it happens..."
He adds that there is a 52 minute version of the film finished at the moment, presumably the one being offered to film festivals. But as he adds that he is planning to sell in a few months what we could call a "directors cut" on DVD on Amazon, what I may do is wait for that instead. (If there are ony problems, say, with the 52 minute version that would be fixed in the "director's cut" perhaps that would be better to blog about.)
I will, of course, pass on what I am able to learn as I learn it.
In response to my e-mail, Roy Petersen, kindly offers an update on his Lakeland/Todd Bentley documentary.
He writes:
"Currently the film is with a sales agent and is being entered into film festivals so right now it's not for public consumption in the sense of buying the DVD, although we are almost complete mixing a longer more in-depth version of the film, which will be available on Amazon within a few months. We are currently working on a new website which will feature the film and have news and information as it happens..."
He adds that there is a 52 minute version of the film finished at the moment, presumably the one being offered to film festivals. But as he adds that he is planning to sell in a few months what we could call a "directors cut" on DVD on Amazon, what I may do is wait for that instead. (If there are ony problems, say, with the 52 minute version that would be fixed in the "director's cut" perhaps that would be better to blog about.)
I will, of course, pass on what I am able to learn as I learn it.
"Todd Bentley forgot his tuque, eh..."
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Oct. 20, 2010]
From filmmaker Roy Petersen's Twitter feed today:
making jokes about canada for my near-final lakeland film voice over
about 10 hours ago via TweetDeck
royzoner
Roy Petersen
...which means that it is almost done.
And don't worry, eh? Canadian Christians are the forgiving type, eh. Even if you burn their back bacon.
:)
From filmmaker Roy Petersen's Twitter feed today:
making jokes about canada for my near-final lakeland film voice over
about 10 hours ago via TweetDeck
royzoner
Roy Petersen
...which means that it is almost done.
And don't worry, eh? Canadian Christians are the forgiving type, eh. Even if you burn their back bacon.
:)
Faytene Kryskow is on a tight fiscal leash, writes board chair
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Oct. 19, 2010]
Pastor Ernest Culley, who kindly responded to my questions about Faytene Kryskow’s newfound ability to use the charity Campus Ministries International for her own work, has added a little information about her fiscal relationship with the charity.
Pastor Culley remains the chairman of the governing board of CMI, which recently agreed to let Faytene put her muscle and ideas into a new vision for the charity. (Do remember that Faytene has a charity of her own and a political advocacy group, and that Culley may only be the chair of one of the governing boards she responds to. She has, as Bene D has noted, saved 25 internet domain names for herself, so her agreement with CMI might be the first of many such agreements. Or a flowering of new charities, perhaps.)
Culley writes:
Thanks to Pastor Culley for the extra details.
The CMI board, then, is certainly on the guard against anything untoward.
But I do wonder about something. Let’s remember that Faytene was at the Canada Awake conference when she said that cheques could be made out to “CMI”. This as far as I am able to tell, was a conference pitched to all ages.
Does “Campus Ministries International's” charitable goals and charter allow for ministry to post-school adults? I’m not an expert on charities, but if that is not the case, I would wonder if Faytene may need to make a similar deal with a charity directed to adults, or start her own.
Pastor Ernest Culley, who kindly responded to my questions about Faytene Kryskow’s newfound ability to use the charity Campus Ministries International for her own work, has added a little information about her fiscal relationship with the charity.
Pastor Culley remains the chairman of the governing board of CMI, which recently agreed to let Faytene put her muscle and ideas into a new vision for the charity. (Do remember that Faytene has a charity of her own and a political advocacy group, and that Culley may only be the chair of one of the governing boards she responds to. She has, as Bene D has noted, saved 25 internet domain names for herself, so her agreement with CMI might be the first of many such agreements. Or a flowering of new charities, perhaps.)
Culley writes:
“Nothing untoward is happening with the money. She is paid expenses and a small honorarium from the CMI account, and CMI is authorized to issue CRA acknowledged tax receipts for donations to CMI. The finances are well administered by the board, who have oversight of all expenditures. CMI follows all the CRA Charities Division guidelines for proper handling and reporting of donated funds. Funds donated directly to her via CMI go to offset the budgeted expenses set forth in the annual budget reports.”
Thanks to Pastor Culley for the extra details.
The CMI board, then, is certainly on the guard against anything untoward.
But I do wonder about something. Let’s remember that Faytene was at the Canada Awake conference when she said that cheques could be made out to “CMI”. This as far as I am able to tell, was a conference pitched to all ages.
Does “Campus Ministries International's” charitable goals and charter allow for ministry to post-school adults? I’m not an expert on charities, but if that is not the case, I would wonder if Faytene may need to make a similar deal with a charity directed to adults, or start her own.
Faytene Kryskow is on a tight fiscal leash, writes board chair
[Posted at bene Diction Blogs On Oct. 19, 2010]
Pastor Ernest Culley, who kindly responded to my questions about Faytene Kryskow’s newfound ability to use the charity Campus Ministries International for her own work, has added a little information about her fiscal relationship with the charity.
Pastor Culley remains the chairman of the governing board of CMI, which recently agreed to let Faytene put her muscle and ideas into a new vision for the charity. (Do remember that Faytene has a charity of her own and a political advocacy group, and that Culley may only be the chair of one of the governing boards she responds to. She has, as Bene D has noted, saved 25 internet domain names for herself, so her agreement with CMI might be the first of many such agreements. Or a flowering of new charities, perhaps.)
Culley writes:
Thanks to Pastor Culley for the extra details.
The CMI board, then, is certainly on the guard against anything untoward.
But I do wonder about something. Let’s remember that Faytene was at the Canada Awake conference when she said that cheques could be made out to “CMI”. This as far as I am able to tell, was a conference pitched to all ages.
Does “Campus Ministries International's” charitable goals and charter allow for ministry to post-school adults? I’m not an expert on charities, but if that is not the case, I would wonder if Faytene may need to make a similar deal with a charity directed to adults, or start her own.
Pastor Ernest Culley, who kindly responded to my questions about Faytene Kryskow’s newfound ability to use the charity Campus Ministries International for her own work, has added a little information about her fiscal relationship with the charity.
Pastor Culley remains the chairman of the governing board of CMI, which recently agreed to let Faytene put her muscle and ideas into a new vision for the charity. (Do remember that Faytene has a charity of her own and a political advocacy group, and that Culley may only be the chair of one of the governing boards she responds to. She has, as Bene D has noted, saved 25 internet domain names for herself, so her agreement with CMI might be the first of many such agreements. Or a flowering of new charities, perhaps.)
Culley writes:
“Nothing untoward is happening with the money. She is paid expenses and a small honorarium from the CMI account, and CMI is authorized to issue CRA acknowledged tax receipts for donations to CMI. The finances are well administered by the board, who have oversight of all expenditures. CMI follows all the CRA Charities Division guidelines for proper handling and reporting of donated funds. Funds donated directly to her via CMI go to offset the budgeted expenses set forth in the annual budget reports.”
Thanks to Pastor Culley for the extra details.
The CMI board, then, is certainly on the guard against anything untoward.
But I do wonder about something. Let’s remember that Faytene was at the Canada Awake conference when she said that cheques could be made out to “CMI”. This as far as I am able to tell, was a conference pitched to all ages.
Does “Campus Ministries International's” charitable goals and charter allow for ministry to post-school adults? I’m not an expert on charities, but if that is not the case, I would wonder if Faytene may need to make a similar deal with a charity directed to adults, or start her own.
Hopefully the pastors Todd Bentley met were dressed for TV
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Oct. 19, 21010]
Evangelist Todd Bentley has now moved on from his Reno casino revival. However, I have noticed something in the online “good news” tales about the events there.
Rick Joyner, in one of his usual weekly updates, adds a brief postscript about Todd in Reno. What I found interesting was that Todd and his new wife were taking time to press the flesh and talk to people.
Joyner writes:
[He quotes Eric Moen]
What I found interesting about this was that apparently Todd Bentley has changed his mind about the value of fellowshipping with pastors. According to Pastor Moen, it is no longer a big factor that crippled the Lakeland Revival in 2008.
Who said that, you may ask? Todd Bentley.
On September 10, 2009, Todd Bentley began to take baby steps back towards being in the public eye with a “financial supporters only webinar” which was broadcast over the internet. Although it was later saved at his website, it is no longer available there as I write.
I blogged on the webinar shortly afterward, and I remember this in particular, where I paraphrased what Bentley said:
“The last question that Bentley took [from his online audience]asked what parts of the Lakeland revival were fleshy. Replying, Bentley said that in April and May 2008, “when the revival was purest”, he spent a lot of time in prayer. But as the revival got busier he spent hours dealing “with the media” and meeting with friends, associates and pastors. “There were days that I spent only 1 hour with my family” he complained. Prayer suffered.”
Evangelist Todd Bentley has now moved on from his Reno casino revival. However, I have noticed something in the online “good news” tales about the events there.
Rick Joyner, in one of his usual weekly updates, adds a brief postscript about Todd in Reno. What I found interesting was that Todd and his new wife were taking time to press the flesh and talk to people.
Joyner writes:
“We just received this update from Pastors Eric and Wendi Moen of River Rock Christian Fellowship in Reno, NV where Todd Bentley, along with MorningStar Leadership Staff, held the first meetings with Todd since his phase two restoration release into public ministry at our recent HarvestFest Conference and Festival, and it is very exciting news.”
[He quotes Eric Moen]
“…He and Jessa had lunch with me the first day and really shared from their hearts. Later, Todd and Jessa took two hours of their time to meet with local pastors in our hospitality suite. We were all just gathered around the "kitchen table" having a wonderful time of ministry and fellowship….
….Todd confessed his past sins to all of us without beating around the bush. Then he asked us all to forgive him. He made no attempt to shift blame in any way…..”
What I found interesting about this was that apparently Todd Bentley has changed his mind about the value of fellowshipping with pastors. According to Pastor Moen, it is no longer a big factor that crippled the Lakeland Revival in 2008.
Who said that, you may ask? Todd Bentley.
On September 10, 2009, Todd Bentley began to take baby steps back towards being in the public eye with a “financial supporters only webinar” which was broadcast over the internet. Although it was later saved at his website, it is no longer available there as I write.
I blogged on the webinar shortly afterward, and I remember this in particular, where I paraphrased what Bentley said:
“The last question that Bentley took [from his online audience]asked what parts of the Lakeland revival were fleshy. Replying, Bentley said that in April and May 2008, “when the revival was purest”, he spent a lot of time in prayer. But as the revival got busier he spent hours dealing “with the media” and meeting with friends, associates and pastors. “There were days that I spent only 1 hour with my family” he complained. Prayer suffered.”
How, and why, Faytene Kryskow obtained Campus Ministries International
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Oct. 15, 2010]
A little while back, I noticed that Faytene Kryskow had yet another new name for some of the activities that she does--Campus Ministries International. I wrote a post wondering out loud what this could mean.
Then, I tried to do some follow-up, asking some questions about what would properly be called the free transfer of the CMI name to Faytene Krsykow. I have recently received an e-mail reply from Ernest Culley, the respected pastor of one of the larger charismatic churches in Vancouver. Pastor Culley was, and remains, the chairman of the governing board of CMI. So, unless there has been a turnover of the membership CMI governing board, there may well remain checks on Faytene's use of the CMI name and assets.
I would like to thank Pastor Culley for his time and for the courtesy of his answering my questions.
He writes:
I am guessing by what he writes, that practically this means that CMI will move away from directly working on college and university campuses and move towards having more of a generic national youth ministry.
My comments? Well, it is great that Faytene became a born-again Christian through CMi, which speaks to the value of the focus that CMI used to have.
After seeing Pastor Culley's work--now at Life Centre in Vancouver, a mainstream charismatic church where he now pastors. I respect his wisdom and his ministry. So it is good to see a sure hand behind the scenes at CMI, at least technically at the helm.
We would differ, though, on Faytene and her theology. Pastor Culley and I would agree about her passion for the Lord and for Canada. He knows her personally, while I do not, which helps him to have a rosier view of her than I tend to have. But I would suggest that Faytene has gone beyond being a mainstream charismatic in some ways.
I would be concerned that Faytene, whom I believe has a more theocratic theology than that I have heard shared at the churches where Pastor Culley has ministered, may want to steer CMI towards the rocky shore of political and theological extremism. But we may agree to disagree on that.
Pastor Culley may be right in trusting Faytene, based on his personal knowledge of her, with CMI's future. But I do pray that his trust is not misplaced, as I would guess that Faytene may be more radical than the various youth leaders that he has worked with over the years .
A little while back, I noticed that Faytene Kryskow had yet another new name for some of the activities that she does--Campus Ministries International. I wrote a post wondering out loud what this could mean.
Then, I tried to do some follow-up, asking some questions about what would properly be called the free transfer of the CMI name to Faytene Krsykow. I have recently received an e-mail reply from Ernest Culley, the respected pastor of one of the larger charismatic churches in Vancouver. Pastor Culley was, and remains, the chairman of the governing board of CMI. So, unless there has been a turnover of the membership CMI governing board, there may well remain checks on Faytene's use of the CMI name and assets.
I would like to thank Pastor Culley for his time and for the courtesy of his answering my questions.
He writes:
Thank you for your inquiry regarding Campus Ministries International. You posed several questions that I will attempt to answer. You asked why we decided to wrap up operations and pass on CMI. There were several reasons, but the chief one is that CMI had basically become redundant. Local churches had discovered that they could administer campus ministry operations without the oversight of an international organization, and were choosing to do so.
Your second question regarded Faytene herself, and why she ended up with the CMI registration. We have all known Faytene for many years, have watched her develop her ministry, she was won to Christ though CMI, and we would like to see CMI expand from a campus wide ministry scope to a Canadian wide ministry scope. Her ministry obviously embraces that. To the best of our knowledge Faytene’s beliefs are in line within Christianity.
You are in error about the transfer of CMI in that it was not a sale. No money or considerations of any kind changed hands. We had about four options to consider regarding our future direction, and after much prayer we all felt Faytene’s vision for a Canada wide ministry would conform to the transition of CMI from a Campus wide ministry to a Canada wide ministry, fitting our vision for the ongoing life of CMI. We have ongoing conversations with Faytene regarding her ministry and were aware of the development of her vision.
I remain the chairman of the board of CMI, and maintain continuity of the former vision and focus of CMI. I have been the chairman of the board of over 10 years now.
I am guessing by what he writes, that practically this means that CMI will move away from directly working on college and university campuses and move towards having more of a generic national youth ministry.
My comments? Well, it is great that Faytene became a born-again Christian through CMi, which speaks to the value of the focus that CMI used to have.
After seeing Pastor Culley's work--now at Life Centre in Vancouver, a mainstream charismatic church where he now pastors. I respect his wisdom and his ministry. So it is good to see a sure hand behind the scenes at CMI, at least technically at the helm.
We would differ, though, on Faytene and her theology. Pastor Culley and I would agree about her passion for the Lord and for Canada. He knows her personally, while I do not, which helps him to have a rosier view of her than I tend to have. But I would suggest that Faytene has gone beyond being a mainstream charismatic in some ways.
I would be concerned that Faytene, whom I believe has a more theocratic theology than that I have heard shared at the churches where Pastor Culley has ministered, may want to steer CMI towards the rocky shore of political and theological extremism. But we may agree to disagree on that.
Pastor Culley may be right in trusting Faytene, based on his personal knowledge of her, with CMI's future. But I do pray that his trust is not misplaced, as I would guess that Faytene may be more radical than the various youth leaders that he has worked with over the years .
Ergo, Todd Bentley must reason, Jesus was not God.
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Oct. 12, 2010]
If Todd Bentley does manage to get a TV reality show on the Discovery Channel (at least in the US), I can imagine people wondering what the harm in it could be? After all, I can imagine them reasoning, people will see Bentley as an Elmer Gantry type. They’d think “He performs in casinos and in exotic destinations all over the world. He is flamboyant. He is entertaining.” People will view him as a “Christian” version of Chris Angel: Mind Freak.
Well, no. I am afraid that, even without meaning to, Todd will give people wrong ideas about Jesus and Christianity. If Bentley makes it onto Discovery, he could do a new level of damage. At least you had to go looking for GOD TV, or access it on the internet. Discovery is on basic cable pretty well everywhere.
I’ll show what I mean by briefly revisiting something recent.
You may remember this video shot by Roy Petersen. Presumably it may be part of his video documentary on Lakeland and Bentley, but for now it is on YouTube:
At 4:42 of the video, Bentley says something which I thought the rest of the ‘net would jump on. I transcribed Bentley as follows:
“You don’t need the measure [of anointing] that I have if you ain’t gonna be, you know, leading world revivals, you know. Not that my gift or your gift or his gift or anybody’s is better than anybody’s, but it all comes down to calling too, and season. Jesus didn’t get his great anointing until he was thirty and he was gone by 33, you know, in one sense.”
If Todd Bentley does manage to get a TV reality show on the Discovery Channel (at least in the US), I can imagine people wondering what the harm in it could be? After all, I can imagine them reasoning, people will see Bentley as an Elmer Gantry type. They’d think “He performs in casinos and in exotic destinations all over the world. He is flamboyant. He is entertaining.” People will view him as a “Christian” version of Chris Angel: Mind Freak.
Well, no. I am afraid that, even without meaning to, Todd will give people wrong ideas about Jesus and Christianity. If Bentley makes it onto Discovery, he could do a new level of damage. At least you had to go looking for GOD TV, or access it on the internet. Discovery is on basic cable pretty well everywhere.
I’ll show what I mean by briefly revisiting something recent.
You may remember this video shot by Roy Petersen. Presumably it may be part of his video documentary on Lakeland and Bentley, but for now it is on YouTube:
At 4:42 of the video, Bentley says something which I thought the rest of the ‘net would jump on. I transcribed Bentley as follows:
“You don’t need the measure [of anointing] that I have if you ain’t gonna be, you know, leading world revivals, you know. Not that my gift or your gift or his gift or anybody’s is better than anybody’s, but it all comes down to calling too, and season. Jesus didn’t get his great anointing until he was thirty and he was gone by 33, you know, in one sense.”
Todd Bentley using "casino revival" to sell himself to Discovery TV?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Oct. 8, 2010]
As Todd Bentley prepared to launch his series of meetings at a Reno hotel/casino, he posted this on Twitter two days ago:
Had some great Sushi. Wow. Ready to meet and greet some pastors and leaders. Pray for us Discovery studios joining us in Reno.
3:50 PM Oct 6th via Twitterrific
Retweeted by 2 people
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
If we remember that Todd is trying to sell a reality show, starring himself, to Discovery TV, it would be interesting to speculate that this is a reference to the Discovery Network sending cameras--or network staffers--to Reno Nevada to film or watch Todd's revival. I think it is.
[UPDATE: I'm guessing right so far. The photo below from here is
off Todd Bentley's plixi feed and was originally captioned "Discovery Studios trailer shoot for potential upcoming reality series." Thanks Bene D for spotting it!]
[caption id="attachment_8956" align="alignnone" width="224" caption="Todd Bentley films promo at casino revival for Discovery TV"]
[/caption]
If my guess is right and this is a de facto "pilot" for Todd's proposed show, I also wonder this too. Did the Discovery channel boffins--or Todd's agent or consultant for the proposed TV show--hint to Todd that they wanted something exciting or unusual to spice up the pilot? "Naaah, that little country church sounds boring...?"
If my guess--and I hasten to remind that it is only a guess--is correct, that may mean that Todd could be catering to what is good for a TV show, and not what seems good to the Holy Spirit. ("But Todd, that little country church that is unexciting for television needs a revival...")
Hoping I am wrong, though. Fearing, however , that I might be on to something.
As Todd Bentley prepared to launch his series of meetings at a Reno hotel/casino, he posted this on Twitter two days ago:
Had some great Sushi. Wow. Ready to meet and greet some pastors and leaders. Pray for us Discovery studios joining us in Reno.
3:50 PM Oct 6th via Twitterrific
Retweeted by 2 people
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
If we remember that Todd is trying to sell a reality show, starring himself, to Discovery TV, it would be interesting to speculate that this is a reference to the Discovery Network sending cameras--or network staffers--to Reno Nevada to film or watch Todd's revival. I think it is.
[UPDATE: I'm guessing right so far. The photo below from here is
off Todd Bentley's plixi feed and was originally captioned "Discovery Studios trailer shoot for potential upcoming reality series." Thanks Bene D for spotting it!]
[caption id="attachment_8956" align="alignnone" width="224" caption="Todd Bentley films promo at casino revival for Discovery TV"]
[/caption]If my guess is right and this is a de facto "pilot" for Todd's proposed show, I also wonder this too. Did the Discovery channel boffins--or Todd's agent or consultant for the proposed TV show--hint to Todd that they wanted something exciting or unusual to spice up the pilot? "Naaah, that little country church sounds boring...?"
If my guess--and I hasten to remind that it is only a guess--is correct, that may mean that Todd could be catering to what is good for a TV show, and not what seems good to the Holy Spirit. ("But Todd, that little country church that is unexciting for television needs a revival...")
Hoping I am wrong, though. Fearing, however , that I might be on to something.
Tonight! At our casino! Engelbert Humperdinck and...Todd Bentley?!?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, October 6, 2010]
Thanks a lot to Bene D, who passes along some information about Todd Bentley that might give pause to some of his followers.
Bentley will be beginning his crusade in Reno Nevada tomorrow (Oct. 7), yet it is already being called "Reno Outpouring". Just like the Lakeland Outpuring, you are supposed to think.
But guess where Bentley is holding his crusade, according to the host church's website? At a room in the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno.
If you can't wait to give away money until Todd Bentley's offering, you can leave it in the resort's "80,000 square feet" casino. Don't care to gamble on Todd's ability to get a word from the Lord for you? There's also a "Lucky's Race and Sports Book"
The host church, River Rock Christian Fellowship often hosts events at the hotel/casino, but it does have a facility that it rents that might be totally adequate for Bentley's visit.
I really doubt that there isn't a non-gambling oriented facility that the church can't find to rent. Even in Abbotsford B.C., which is smaller than Reno, Bentley was able to rent a facility seating several hundred people a mere football punt away from his old church. It wasn't even the biggest facility in the area.
Bentley may want to "hunt where the ducks fly." He might think that the media may appreciate the irony of a "revival" in a casino. But this is lacking in sense.
What about the Christians who just won't go into a casino for moral reasons? Does Bentley not care to minister to them?
What about Christians who want a blessing but have a problem with gambling and have been counselled to stay away from casinos?
This raises something else to consider. We know that Bentley wants a TV reality show. We know that observers like Ray William Johnson already see him as hilarious, if not buffoonish, entertainment.
Is Bentley reaching for glitz in addition to substance as a regular thing now?
If so, Reno is an appopriate place to start over.
Thanks a lot to Bene D, who passes along some information about Todd Bentley that might give pause to some of his followers.
Bentley will be beginning his crusade in Reno Nevada tomorrow (Oct. 7), yet it is already being called "Reno Outpouring". Just like the Lakeland Outpuring, you are supposed to think.
But guess where Bentley is holding his crusade, according to the host church's website? At a room in the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno.
If you can't wait to give away money until Todd Bentley's offering, you can leave it in the resort's "80,000 square feet" casino. Don't care to gamble on Todd's ability to get a word from the Lord for you? There's also a "Lucky's Race and Sports Book"
The host church, River Rock Christian Fellowship often hosts events at the hotel/casino, but it does have a facility that it rents that might be totally adequate for Bentley's visit.
I really doubt that there isn't a non-gambling oriented facility that the church can't find to rent. Even in Abbotsford B.C., which is smaller than Reno, Bentley was able to rent a facility seating several hundred people a mere football punt away from his old church. It wasn't even the biggest facility in the area.
Bentley may want to "hunt where the ducks fly." He might think that the media may appreciate the irony of a "revival" in a casino. But this is lacking in sense.
What about the Christians who just won't go into a casino for moral reasons? Does Bentley not care to minister to them?
What about Christians who want a blessing but have a problem with gambling and have been counselled to stay away from casinos?
This raises something else to consider. We know that Bentley wants a TV reality show. We know that observers like Ray William Johnson already see him as hilarious, if not buffoonish, entertainment.
Is Bentley reaching for glitz in addition to substance as a regular thing now?
If so, Reno is an appopriate place to start over.
I'm waiting for the Faytene Kryskow mousepad
[Posted at bene Diction Blogs On, Oct. 6, 2010]
I would say that this is not Faytene Kryskow's doing. But this oddity is worth a brief mention.
Bored with your old computer desktop? Well now, instead of s screensaver, you can have the Faytene Kryskow desktop on your computer!
It's Faytene giving a short talk on video introducing herself, which according to the video creator--as noted by a Google Alert--you can use as a Faytene Kryskow desktop.
While I find Faytene to be very interesting, I wouldn't want to have her talking on my compter all day. I'm hoping this wasn't her idea.
And as odd as this is, what would be odder still would be if she posed for this, knowing what this video was to be used for. Say it ain't so, Faytene. And that you said "I'd rather that Jesus be on your desktop."
I would say that this is not Faytene Kryskow's doing. But this oddity is worth a brief mention.
Bored with your old computer desktop? Well now, instead of s screensaver, you can have the Faytene Kryskow desktop on your computer!
It's Faytene giving a short talk on video introducing herself, which according to the video creator--as noted by a Google Alert--you can use as a Faytene Kryskow desktop.
While I find Faytene to be very interesting, I wouldn't want to have her talking on my compter all day. I'm hoping this wasn't her idea.
And as odd as this is, what would be odder still would be if she posed for this, knowing what this video was to be used for. Say it ain't so, Faytene. And that you said "I'd rather that Jesus be on your desktop."
Ray William Johnson "owns" Todd Bentley
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, October 2,2010]
I have to confess that I sometimes enjoy the humour videos of Ray William Johnson, who has a very popular YouTube series where he makes amusing comments on viral videos and other videos that he finds amusing. I could be called a fan. But I can guarantee that Todd Bentley is not, after Johnson derided Bentley before a YouTube audience of 3 million viewers--and counting--this week.
It's Johnson's video from September 27. I was drinking a Slurpee, when shortly after the 30 second mark, Johnson began to comment on a "pastor" doing a healing. I almost spilled my drink on the keyboard when I saw that he was starting to riff on Todd Bentley in that video that Boing Boing posted recently on their own website.
Johnson, one of the most popular posters on YouTube, has Bentley clearly in his sights, although, for his own reasons, he doesn't mention Bentley--"this pastor guy_"--by name.
I have to confess that I sometimes enjoy the humour videos of Ray William Johnson, who has a very popular YouTube series where he makes amusing comments on viral videos and other videos that he finds amusing. I could be called a fan. But I can guarantee that Todd Bentley is not, after Johnson derided Bentley before a YouTube audience of 3 million viewers--and counting--this week.
It's Johnson's video from September 27. I was drinking a Slurpee, when shortly after the 30 second mark, Johnson began to comment on a "pastor" doing a healing. I almost spilled my drink on the keyboard when I saw that he was starting to riff on Todd Bentley in that video that Boing Boing posted recently on their own website.
Johnson, one of the most popular posters on YouTube, has Bentley clearly in his sights, although, for his own reasons, he doesn't mention Bentley--"this pastor guy_"--by name.
Jesus wasn’t “greatly anointed” until he was 30, says Todd Bentley. And other things too.
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Sept. 25, 2010]
Evangelist Todd Bentley is saying some, well, shall we say interesting things on a short video released two days ago..
In the run-up to releasing his video documentary on the Lakeland “revival”, filmmaker Roy Petersen is releasing various clips on YouTube.I would say that this was filmed sometime in 2009, because the interviewer makes a reference early to hearing something Bentley said “last year”. Also Bentley says at 4;08 “…I talked about it at Lakeland” (note the past tense) so 2009 it probably is.
[This raises an interesting possibility. During the lengthy restoration process, Rick Joyner referred to a “journalist” who was asking “the tough questions”. Could he have been thinking of Melinda Wilson, the interviewer in this clip?]
Did you know that Todd Bentley sent a team into a nearby hospital and “all” 65 terminally people therein were miraculously healed over the next few days?
And I kind of wonder whether Todd Bentley has the Incarnation of Christ exactly right….
Evangelist Todd Bentley is saying some, well, shall we say interesting things on a short video released two days ago..
In the run-up to releasing his video documentary on the Lakeland “revival”, filmmaker Roy Petersen is releasing various clips on YouTube.I would say that this was filmed sometime in 2009, because the interviewer makes a reference early to hearing something Bentley said “last year”. Also Bentley says at 4;08 “…I talked about it at Lakeland” (note the past tense) so 2009 it probably is.
[This raises an interesting possibility. During the lengthy restoration process, Rick Joyner referred to a “journalist” who was asking “the tough questions”. Could he have been thinking of Melinda Wilson, the interviewer in this clip?]
Did you know that Todd Bentley sent a team into a nearby hospital and “all” 65 terminally people therein were miraculously healed over the next few days?
And I kind of wonder whether Todd Bentley has the Incarnation of Christ exactly right….
Lakeland documentary finished in October?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Sept. 23, 2010]
Filmmaker Roy Petersen shares some information about his Lakeland revival documentary which I interviewed him about this past spring.
Petersen tweeted yesterday:
I hope that when Roy has more concrete news to share that he lets us at BDBO know, with a link to a website with more information, where to buy it and such.
Filmmaker Roy Petersen shares some information about his Lakeland revival documentary which I interviewed him about this past spring.
Petersen tweeted yesterday:
@PeeJayMc brooks saw a rough cut- the final film is done october 1. Not sure how it will be released yet :)
3:02 AM Sep 22nd via Twittelator in
reply to PeeJayMc
royzoner
Roy Petersen
I hope that when Roy has more concrete news to share that he lets us at BDBO know, with a link to a website with more information, where to buy it and such.
Todd Bentley on tour
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Sept. 21, 2010]
Those who remember my recent post, in which Rick Joyner said that Todd Bentley was free to minister wherever he wished, may be interested to know that Todd Bentley is following through with plans for a US tour.
A brief internet video released a few days ago mentions several cities that Bentley plans to minister in. I'm sure that you can get extra details from his website.
It's interesting that he plans to soldier on in the U.S., perhaps figuring that any damage that Lakeland may have done to his reputation can't be surpassed.
Also announced on Twitter recently--plans are in the works for a tour of Australia and News Zealand, perhaps in the spring.
What reception will Bentley get? I don't know. But the secular humour site Boing Boing has recently posted a video of Bentley healing someone. Judging by the derisive comments there, it may be difficult for the evangelist to "go over" with those who aren't already inclined to be receptive to Todd Bentley's message.
Those who remember my recent post, in which Rick Joyner said that Todd Bentley was free to minister wherever he wished, may be interested to know that Todd Bentley is following through with plans for a US tour.
A brief internet video released a few days ago mentions several cities that Bentley plans to minister in. I'm sure that you can get extra details from his website.
It's interesting that he plans to soldier on in the U.S., perhaps figuring that any damage that Lakeland may have done to his reputation can't be surpassed.
Also announced on Twitter recently--plans are in the works for a tour of Australia and News Zealand, perhaps in the spring.
What reception will Bentley get? I don't know. But the secular humour site Boing Boing has recently posted a video of Bentley healing someone. Judging by the derisive comments there, it may be difficult for the evangelist to "go over" with those who aren't already inclined to be receptive to Todd Bentley's message.
Discovery Channel still entertaining the idea of a Todd Bentley TV show
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On Sept. 8, 2010]
From Todd Bentley's Twitter feed a few days ago.
Tv show moving ahead. Vision casting with Discovery channel soon. Pray.
4:55 PM Aug 31st via Twitterrific
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
I am surpised that the Discovery Channel is still pursuing this, as they will be flamed by those who have problems with Bentley's past.
And, as I have noted before, if Discovery cameras catch Bentley being "bad", will it air? If it is carefully crafted, in the way of most "reality" shows, Discovery will bring foward some things and hide others, creating a misleading picture of Bentley.
And I'll bet dollars for doughnuts that there is no way that Todd Bentley will participate in this show without some sort of veto power over what goes on air.
Bentley says to "pray". For those worried about what will come to pass with this, that is an excellent idea.
UPDATE: Apparently, Todd needs all the publicity he can get, as he and Rick Joyner have had to resort to paying an Internet web service to get the word out about their upcoming conference.
From Todd Bentley's Twitter feed a few days ago.
Tv show moving ahead. Vision casting with Discovery channel soon. Pray.
4:55 PM Aug 31st via Twitterrific
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
I am surpised that the Discovery Channel is still pursuing this, as they will be flamed by those who have problems with Bentley's past.
And, as I have noted before, if Discovery cameras catch Bentley being "bad", will it air? If it is carefully crafted, in the way of most "reality" shows, Discovery will bring foward some things and hide others, creating a misleading picture of Bentley.
And I'll bet dollars for doughnuts that there is no way that Todd Bentley will participate in this show without some sort of veto power over what goes on air.
Bentley says to "pray". For those worried about what will come to pass with this, that is an excellent idea.
UPDATE: Apparently, Todd needs all the publicity he can get, as he and Rick Joyner have had to resort to paying an Internet web service to get the word out about their upcoming conference.
Faytene Kryskow as Clark Kent
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On August 30, 2010]
Why does Faytene Kryskow feel the need to be connected in some way, with 25 different website names?
Bene D made a great point in commenting on my last post.
WhoIs reports that an e-mail evidently owned by Faytene "is a contact on the whois record of 25 domains."
Isn't two or three sites plenty for anything that she might want to do?
When she says, however, that she needs the old Campus Ministries International site as a "revival arm", I have to wonder why she needs so many online boxes to put her activities in? Espcially when she already has websites...
The new CMI, she said at the Canada Awake meeting, can give you receipts. Did she not already have a charity of her own that could do this after all this time?
And I have to add that this raises the question whether she wants to have some online identities that don't scream "Faytene Kryskow" with all, good and bad, that might be associated with her image in the public's mind.
Hope I am wrong, and I am not saying that is what she plans, but being associated with 25 different website names makes that sort of thing possible.
Why does Faytene Kryskow feel the need to be connected in some way, with 25 different website names?
Bene D made a great point in commenting on my last post.
WhoIs reports that an e-mail evidently owned by Faytene "is a contact on the whois record of 25 domains."
Isn't two or three sites plenty for anything that she might want to do?
When she says, however, that she needs the old Campus Ministries International site as a "revival arm", I have to wonder why she needs so many online boxes to put her activities in? Espcially when she already has websites...
The new CMI, she said at the Canada Awake meeting, can give you receipts. Did she not already have a charity of her own that could do this after all this time?
And I have to add that this raises the question whether she wants to have some online identities that don't scream "Faytene Kryskow" with all, good and bad, that might be associated with her image in the public's mind.
Hope I am wrong, and I am not saying that is what she plans, but being associated with 25 different website names makes that sort of thing possible.
Also known as "Faytene Kryskow"
[Cross posted ath Bene Diction Blogs On, August 27, 2010]
As Bene D has pointed out in the past, Faytene Kryskow seems to like to have multiple identities for the work that she does.
I think I have seen one more, tipped off by Faytene herself.
At the recent Canada Awake conference in Toronto, according to this video of the first speaker, you can hear Faytene's pastor Bill Prankard prepare to take an offering. Who should cheques be made out to, he asks at 33.51.
Faytene then says:
"This conference is being administered by CMI, which is the revival arm, the Holy Ghost revival arm, of everything we're going to be doing in Canada. Got a few different arms..."
A quick Google search reveals that, according to WhoIs, someone named Faytene Kryskow owns the site and the domain name for a Campus Ministries International. (Which abbreviates to CMI)
If you look at campusministriesinternational. com, under the Who we are page, it currently reads, as I write, like this:
"For almost 3 decades CMI has been mentoring emerging leaders in the reality of a living and loving God. On campuses, in churches and through seminars, missions trips and conferences all across Canada ambassators of the reality of Jesus Christ have been in action through CMI's workers. In past years CMI has established centres in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia and hosted mission trips in various third world nations. On these trips young leaders have had the joy of seeing the love of God in action in compassionate and tangible ways. He is living, loving and He is alive.
CMI is currently in a transitional stage and looking forward with great anticipation to a new season of effective work in Canada under new leadership. Stay tuned for new developments as they unfold."
The website also, perhaps notes a new motto for "CMI", which may "Mentoring A Generation In The Reality Of A Living and Loving God. ..." which lends itself to an explicitly charsimatic theology, where the old "what we do" note still on the ...com site seems conservative and evangelical.
Needless to say the current campusministriesinternational.com pages make no mention of Faytene Kryskow, or her dominionist flourishes to her theology. So an old donor could return after a few years to the site, as it is now, and accidentally give to something that is more theocratic-minded than the old CMI was.
Let's hope the website is updated soon, with Faytene's views front and center.
Leaving the site as it is, if Faytene indeed has staged a coup d'etat and taken over the remnants of the old and different Campus Ministries International, would be naughty. Let's hope she is not tempted.
As Bene D has pointed out in the past, Faytene Kryskow seems to like to have multiple identities for the work that she does.
I think I have seen one more, tipped off by Faytene herself.
At the recent Canada Awake conference in Toronto, according to this video of the first speaker, you can hear Faytene's pastor Bill Prankard prepare to take an offering. Who should cheques be made out to, he asks at 33.51.
Faytene then says:
"This conference is being administered by CMI, which is the revival arm, the Holy Ghost revival arm, of everything we're going to be doing in Canada. Got a few different arms..."
A quick Google search reveals that, according to WhoIs, someone named Faytene Kryskow owns the site and the domain name for a Campus Ministries International. (Which abbreviates to CMI)
If you look at campusministriesinternational. com, under the Who we are page, it currently reads, as I write, like this:
"For almost 3 decades CMI has been mentoring emerging leaders in the reality of a living and loving God. On campuses, in churches and through seminars, missions trips and conferences all across Canada ambassators of the reality of Jesus Christ have been in action through CMI's workers. In past years CMI has established centres in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia and hosted mission trips in various third world nations. On these trips young leaders have had the joy of seeing the love of God in action in compassionate and tangible ways. He is living, loving and He is alive.
CMI is currently in a transitional stage and looking forward with great anticipation to a new season of effective work in Canada under new leadership. Stay tuned for new developments as they unfold."
The website also, perhaps notes a new motto for "CMI", which may "Mentoring A Generation In The Reality Of A Living and Loving God. ..." which lends itself to an explicitly charsimatic theology, where the old "what we do" note still on the ...com site seems conservative and evangelical.
Needless to say the current campusministriesinternational.com pages make no mention of Faytene Kryskow, or her dominionist flourishes to her theology. So an old donor could return after a few years to the site, as it is now, and accidentally give to something that is more theocratic-minded than the old CMI was.
Let's hope the website is updated soon, with Faytene's views front and center.
Leaving the site as it is, if Faytene indeed has staged a coup d'etat and taken over the remnants of the old and different Campus Ministries International, would be naughty. Let's hope she is not tempted.
William Branham’s followers made him fall into heresy?!?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, August 21, 2010]
Did you know that infamous post-war faith healer William Branham only became a heretic because his friends gave him delusions of grandeur?
At least that’s what Stacey Campbell, noted Canadian charismatic prophet and teacher said a few weeks ago at the Canada Awake gathering in Toronto July 22-24. And now that a video of her remarks is on the Internet, you can see it for yourself.
It’s the sort of remark that may lead you to consider how well Campbell uses her discernment and wisdom.
Did you know that infamous post-war faith healer William Branham only became a heretic because his friends gave him delusions of grandeur?
At least that’s what Stacey Campbell, noted Canadian charismatic prophet and teacher said a few weeks ago at the Canada Awake gathering in Toronto July 22-24. And now that a video of her remarks is on the Internet, you can see it for yourself.
It’s the sort of remark that may lead you to consider how well Campbell uses her discernment and wisdom.
Todd Bentley may now travel and minister as he wishes
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, August 20, 2010]
Todd Bentley can minister wherever he choses, says Rick Joyner.
You knew that it was a given that he’d be back on the road, after Todd Bentley announced plans for worldwide missions trips—outside North America, where he would be likely to be asked about his ministry, divorce and various bad things that happened at Lakeland. Bentley, with a new house and his own ministry base, could proceed on his own without Joyner’s approval.
This may be a fait accompli for Joyner. Bentley knows that he can’t wait 5 or 10 years to be “restored”, as the next big revival or two will happen and he will be yesterday’s news. If he wants to be a worldwide evangelist again, he has to go pretty soon, whether Joyner thinks so or not.
We can guess that Joyner is really reluctant to continue with this process and just wants to let Bentley go. Before Monday’s video, the last restoration video that he did was Dec. 14, 2009. Given that the last video was called “We are all in Process”, we can hopefully get some updates on how Bentley’s “process” is coming along.
The latest video was posted Monday August 16.
Todd Bentley can minister wherever he choses, says Rick Joyner.
You knew that it was a given that he’d be back on the road, after Todd Bentley announced plans for worldwide missions trips—outside North America, where he would be likely to be asked about his ministry, divorce and various bad things that happened at Lakeland. Bentley, with a new house and his own ministry base, could proceed on his own without Joyner’s approval.
This may be a fait accompli for Joyner. Bentley knows that he can’t wait 5 or 10 years to be “restored”, as the next big revival or two will happen and he will be yesterday’s news. If he wants to be a worldwide evangelist again, he has to go pretty soon, whether Joyner thinks so or not.
We can guess that Joyner is really reluctant to continue with this process and just wants to let Bentley go. Before Monday’s video, the last restoration video that he did was Dec. 14, 2009. Given that the last video was called “We are all in Process”, we can hopefully get some updates on how Bentley’s “process” is coming along.
The latest video was posted Monday August 16.
Marci McDonald's publisher's apology
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, August 18, 2010]
My former editor and colleague, Terry O'Neill, had to retain a lawyer to win an apology from Marci McDonald's publisher, Random House, but he is starting to get results.
Following a significant error in The Armageddon Factor, Random House's first public step in making amends to Terry O'Neill is now up at their website.
Look under Extras at the end of Random House's precis of the book here.
My former editor and colleague, Terry O'Neill, had to retain a lawyer to win an apology from Marci McDonald's publisher, Random House, but he is starting to get results.
Following a significant error in The Armageddon Factor, Random House's first public step in making amends to Terry O'Neill is now up at their website.
Look under Extras at the end of Random House's precis of the book here.
Vatican spokesman: "We didn't invite Benny Hinn"
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On August 16, 2010]
Another Vatican offical has stepped forward to undercut Benny Hinn's story of being invited to the Vatican.
Vatican spokesman Father Frederico Lomdardi, in this story, which is reprinted from from the Swedish newspaper Dagen. Google's translating function renders it thus:
"Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican's official spokesman, reported that Hinn never been invited there. Hinn, however, was in the Vatican in 2008.
"Some visitors will sit on the top row at a papal audience. They considered donating money to a major restoration of an organ. If he gave money or not is unknown, "Lombardi said.
The Vatican knows Hinn work. They say it is impossible to work with him.
Hinn has money trouble. In a video on the website asking him about two million dollars in gifts.
"Some of you probably think, cutting down on spending. Believe me, I've cut down on spending. We're just skin and bones right now, " he [Hinn] said.
UPDATE: Got a nice e-mail from the editor, Anders Gustafsson, who originally wrote the piece. My command of Scandinavian languages is well, non-existent, so I am happy to give credit to the right journalist. Thanks to him.
Another Vatican offical has stepped forward to undercut Benny Hinn's story of being invited to the Vatican.
Vatican spokesman Father Frederico Lomdardi, in this story, which is reprinted from from the Swedish newspaper Dagen. Google's translating function renders it thus:
"Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican's official spokesman, reported that Hinn never been invited there. Hinn, however, was in the Vatican in 2008.
"Some visitors will sit on the top row at a papal audience. They considered donating money to a major restoration of an organ. If he gave money or not is unknown, "Lombardi said.
The Vatican knows Hinn work. They say it is impossible to work with him.
Hinn has money trouble. In a video on the website asking him about two million dollars in gifts.
"Some of you probably think, cutting down on spending. Believe me, I've cut down on spending. We're just skin and bones right now, " he [Hinn] said.
UPDATE: Got a nice e-mail from the editor, Anders Gustafsson, who originally wrote the piece. My command of Scandinavian languages is well, non-existent, so I am happy to give credit to the right journalist. Thanks to him.
Faytene Kryskow: “Some peace only comes on the other side of war”
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On August 12, 2010]
If you come to watch an event featuring Faytene Kryskow, or you hear her preach on the 'net or tape, you may wonder why she or her friends may sometimes seem militaristic.
For example, I wondered why the worship singers and dancers at The Cry Vancouver felt the need to be continually singing about dominion, and then started stabbing various flags at and over the audience like spears.
You could argue that there may be support for Christians acting like soldiers in the Bible. Indeed, theologians have argued about the concept of a “just war” for many years. That said, however, I would argue that the Bible teaches the appropriate level of force for each problem, following Christ’s counsel to be as clever as serpents and as gentle as doves .
Faytene Kryskow, however, at least once talked about what she saw as the need for Christians to put themselves on a war footing when it comes to social issues and problems.
And if she continues to believe that “…some peace only comes at the other side of war…”, I can imagine that peaceable minded Christians, and others, will have some issues with her.
If you come to watch an event featuring Faytene Kryskow, or you hear her preach on the 'net or tape, you may wonder why she or her friends may sometimes seem militaristic.
For example, I wondered why the worship singers and dancers at The Cry Vancouver felt the need to be continually singing about dominion, and then started stabbing various flags at and over the audience like spears.
You could argue that there may be support for Christians acting like soldiers in the Bible. Indeed, theologians have argued about the concept of a “just war” for many years. That said, however, I would argue that the Bible teaches the appropriate level of force for each problem, following Christ’s counsel to be as clever as serpents and as gentle as doves .
Faytene Kryskow, however, at least once talked about what she saw as the need for Christians to put themselves on a war footing when it comes to social issues and problems.
And if she continues to believe that “…some peace only comes at the other side of war…”, I can imagine that peaceable minded Christians, and others, will have some issues with her.
Rod Bruinooge, Tory MP and prophet of the Lord?!?!
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On August 11, 2010]
I hope that social conservative Tory MP Rod Bruinooge hasn’t acquired a swelled head in the past few weeks, after a noted Canadian charismatic Christian declared in public that he was a prophet of the Lord.
Stacey Campbell, a Kelowna BC based Christian speaker and teacher who has a reputation for “prophetic” skill (that is being able to share messages and insights from God), was introducing and presenting a report from the “Canadian Prophetic Council” to the Canada Awakening conference (of charismatic and evangelical Christians) in Toronto sometime between July 22 and 24
[UPDATE: The audio file originally mentioned in this post has been replaced with a video file while you can view here. Times I cite in this post should be roughly the same in the video version.]
Campbell is decrying that Christians are not as involved in changing the world as they should be, which leads her to speculate that the Lord might be raising up new kinds of prophets who work in new ways to share what God is saying.
Starting at 3:31 of the audio file, Stacey Campbell says this:
No pressure Mr. Bruinooge. You might be asked by the Lord to heal the sick and raise the dead. And I hope that the Tory whips can track you down when you are needed for a Commons vote and you are having an out-of-body-experience.
I kid here. Mr. Bruinooge has won a lot of respect amongst conservatives for representing the pro-life point of view and trying to bring forward “social conservative” friendly legislation.
Campbell is trying to compliment the MP here, but she is wrong minded.
The comment plays into the dismaying trend amongst Christians to equate what the right wing of the Conservative party advances with the Lord’s will. Rather, the politicians should be held accountable to the sort of politics that Christians discern that the Bible teaches, and not given a pass as a “prophet” automatically. (In the case of most of the conference attenders, Bruinooge would be critiqued from the right.)
Saying that Bruinooge is a “prophet” is misguided, to say the least, because it encourages Campbell’s listeners to think that what Bruinooge may do or say might be coming from “the Lord”. Rather Bruinooge’s actions should be carefully examined to see how “Biblical” they are. Whether you tend to have a progressive or conservative view of the Bible, or don’t believe in it at all, I think, or hope anyway, that Bruinooge would want his work to be carefully examined, so that viewers can judge how “moral” it is.
As I am born again, I would say that Campbell should let Bruinooge do his best, and not set him up for a fall by overstating his influence.
There is a verse in Proverbs which tells the reader not to sit at a high place at a table in case the host embarrasses you by asking you to sit elsewhere. Rather, the Bible says, you should sit at a lower place and be honoured by being asked to come sit closer to the host.
That’s better counsel for Mr. Bruinooge than what Campbell offered, I would suggest.
I hope that social conservative Tory MP Rod Bruinooge hasn’t acquired a swelled head in the past few weeks, after a noted Canadian charismatic Christian declared in public that he was a prophet of the Lord.
Stacey Campbell, a Kelowna BC based Christian speaker and teacher who has a reputation for “prophetic” skill (that is being able to share messages and insights from God), was introducing and presenting a report from the “Canadian Prophetic Council” to the Canada Awakening conference (of charismatic and evangelical Christians) in Toronto sometime between July 22 and 24
[UPDATE: The audio file originally mentioned in this post has been replaced with a video file while you can view here. Times I cite in this post should be roughly the same in the video version.]
Campbell is decrying that Christians are not as involved in changing the world as they should be, which leads her to speculate that the Lord might be raising up new kinds of prophets who work in new ways to share what God is saying.
Starting at 3:31 of the audio file, Stacey Campbell says this:
“….there’s a massively prophetic generation [of Christians] arising, that will prophesy in different forms. They will be prophets and prophetesses like Faytene [Kryskow], like Rod Bruinooge, that will, you know be prophets for justice like the Old Testament prophets were. They will be prophets that like, you know, the Apostle Paul, in the body, out of the body, just revelation and visitations {of the Holy Spirit] and those kind. There’s gonna be all kinds of them. That’s what we wanna see. We want to see all of the things that are in the Bible and everything that Jesus did. The greater works than what Jesus himself did because that’s what He [Jesus] said and that’s what He [Jesus] wants….”
No pressure Mr. Bruinooge. You might be asked by the Lord to heal the sick and raise the dead. And I hope that the Tory whips can track you down when you are needed for a Commons vote and you are having an out-of-body-experience.
I kid here. Mr. Bruinooge has won a lot of respect amongst conservatives for representing the pro-life point of view and trying to bring forward “social conservative” friendly legislation.
Campbell is trying to compliment the MP here, but she is wrong minded.
The comment plays into the dismaying trend amongst Christians to equate what the right wing of the Conservative party advances with the Lord’s will. Rather, the politicians should be held accountable to the sort of politics that Christians discern that the Bible teaches, and not given a pass as a “prophet” automatically. (In the case of most of the conference attenders, Bruinooge would be critiqued from the right.)
Saying that Bruinooge is a “prophet” is misguided, to say the least, because it encourages Campbell’s listeners to think that what Bruinooge may do or say might be coming from “the Lord”. Rather Bruinooge’s actions should be carefully examined to see how “Biblical” they are. Whether you tend to have a progressive or conservative view of the Bible, or don’t believe in it at all, I think, or hope anyway, that Bruinooge would want his work to be carefully examined, so that viewers can judge how “moral” it is.
As I am born again, I would say that Campbell should let Bruinooge do his best, and not set him up for a fall by overstating his influence.
There is a verse in Proverbs which tells the reader not to sit at a high place at a table in case the host embarrasses you by asking you to sit elsewhere. Rather, the Bible says, you should sit at a lower place and be honoured by being asked to come sit closer to the host.
That’s better counsel for Mr. Bruinooge than what Campbell offered, I would suggest.
Rod Bruinooge, Tory MP and prophet of the Lord?!?!
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On August 11, 2010]
hope that social conservative Tory MP Rod Bruinooge hasn’t acquired a swelled head in the past few weeks, after a noted Canadian charismatic Christian declared in public that he was a prophet of the Lord.
Stacey Campbell, a Kelowna BC based Christian speaker and teacher who has a reputation for “prophetic” skill (that is being able to share messages and insights from God), was introducing and presenting a report from the “Canadian Prophetic Council” to the Canada Awakening conference (of charismatic and evangelical Christians) in Toronto sometime between July 22 and 24
[UPDATE: The audio file originally mentioned in this post has been replaced with a video file while you can view here. Times I cite in this post should be roughly the same in the video version.]
Campbell is decrying that Christians are not as involved in changing the world as they should be, which leads her to speculate that the Lord might be raising up new kinds of prophets who work in new ways to share what God is saying.
Starting at 3:31 of the audio file, Stacey Campbell says this:
No pressure Mr. Bruinooge. You might be asked by the Lord to heal the sick and raise the dead. And I hope that the Tory whips can track you down when you are needed for a Commons vote and you are having an out-of-body-experience.
I kid here. Mr. Bruinooge has won a lot of respect amongst conservatives for representing the pro-life point of view and trying to bring forward “social conservative” friendly legislation.
Campbell is trying to compliment the MP here, but she is wrong minded.
The comment plays into the dismaying trend amongst Christians to equate what the right wing of the Conservative party advances with the Lord’s will. Rather, the politicians should be held accountable to the sort of politics that Christians discern that the Bible teaches, and not given a pass as a “prophet” automatically. (In the case of most of the conference attenders, Bruinooge would be critiqued from the right.)
Saying that Bruinooge is a “prophet” is misguided, to say the least, because it encourages Campbell’s listeners to think that what Bruinooge may do or say might be coming from “the Lord”. Rather Bruinooge’s actions should be carefully examined to see how “Biblical” they are. Whether you tend to have a progressive or conservative view of the Bible, or don’t believe in it at all, I think, or hope anyway, that Bruinooge would want his work to be carefully examined, so that viewers can judge how “moral” it is.
As I am born again, I would say that Campbell should let Bruinooge do his best, and not set him up for a fall by overstating his influence.
There is a verse in Proverbs which tells the reader not to sit at a high place at a table in case the host embarrasses you by asking you to sit elsewhere. Rather, the Bible says, you should sit at a lower place and be honoured by being asked to come sit closer to the host.
That’s better counsel for Mr. Bruinooge than what Campbell offered, I would suggest.
hope that social conservative Tory MP Rod Bruinooge hasn’t acquired a swelled head in the past few weeks, after a noted Canadian charismatic Christian declared in public that he was a prophet of the Lord.
Stacey Campbell, a Kelowna BC based Christian speaker and teacher who has a reputation for “prophetic” skill (that is being able to share messages and insights from God), was introducing and presenting a report from the “Canadian Prophetic Council” to the Canada Awakening conference (of charismatic and evangelical Christians) in Toronto sometime between July 22 and 24
[UPDATE: The audio file originally mentioned in this post has been replaced with a video file while you can view here. Times I cite in this post should be roughly the same in the video version.]
Campbell is decrying that Christians are not as involved in changing the world as they should be, which leads her to speculate that the Lord might be raising up new kinds of prophets who work in new ways to share what God is saying.
Starting at 3:31 of the audio file, Stacey Campbell says this:
“….there’s a massively prophetic generation [of Christians] arising, that will prophesy in different forms. They will be prophets and prophetesses like Faytene [Kryskow], like Rod Bruinooge, that will, you know be prophets for justice like the Old Testament prophets were. They will be prophets that like, you know, the Apostle Paul, in the body, out of the body, just revelation and visitations {of the Holy Spirit] and those kind. There’s gonna be all kinds of them. That’s what we wanna see. We want to see all of the things that are in the Bible and everything that Jesus did. The greater works than what Jesus himself did because that’s what He [Jesus] said and that’s what He [Jesus] wants….”
No pressure Mr. Bruinooge. You might be asked by the Lord to heal the sick and raise the dead. And I hope that the Tory whips can track you down when you are needed for a Commons vote and you are having an out-of-body-experience.
I kid here. Mr. Bruinooge has won a lot of respect amongst conservatives for representing the pro-life point of view and trying to bring forward “social conservative” friendly legislation.
Campbell is trying to compliment the MP here, but she is wrong minded.
The comment plays into the dismaying trend amongst Christians to equate what the right wing of the Conservative party advances with the Lord’s will. Rather, the politicians should be held accountable to the sort of politics that Christians discern that the Bible teaches, and not given a pass as a “prophet” automatically. (In the case of most of the conference attenders, Bruinooge would be critiqued from the right.)
Saying that Bruinooge is a “prophet” is misguided, to say the least, because it encourages Campbell’s listeners to think that what Bruinooge may do or say might be coming from “the Lord”. Rather Bruinooge’s actions should be carefully examined to see how “Biblical” they are. Whether you tend to have a progressive or conservative view of the Bible, or don’t believe in it at all, I think, or hope anyway, that Bruinooge would want his work to be carefully examined, so that viewers can judge how “moral” it is.
As I am born again, I would say that Campbell should let Bruinooge do his best, and not set him up for a fall by overstating his influence.
There is a verse in Proverbs which tells the reader not to sit at a high place at a table in case the host embarrasses you by asking you to sit elsewhere. Rather, the Bible says, you should sit at a lower place and be honoured by being asked to come sit closer to the host.
That’s better counsel for Mr. Bruinooge than what Campbell offered, I would suggest.
Benny Hinn to Paula White: We can't even be friends
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, August 10, 2010]
Charisma Magazine also had a reporter watch the recent broadcast of Benny Hinn trying to explain his ties to Paula White.
However, in their online report, they pull different quotes, which might also be of interest.
With his two daughters on stage, Hinn said that White was also in Rome so that she could become a donor to the Vatican's art preservation projects:
"I let her come with me to Rome so she can donate money," Hinn said. "That was stupid on my part. And for that I do ask forgiveness."
Charisma also adds:
He said he and White were never alone in Rome, but claims he ended his friendship with her after the tabloid report was published. "I said, 'Paula, we can't even be friends right now.'"
Thanks to Charisma....
Charisma Magazine also had a reporter watch the recent broadcast of Benny Hinn trying to explain his ties to Paula White.
However, in their online report, they pull different quotes, which might also be of interest.
With his two daughters on stage, Hinn said that White was also in Rome so that she could become a donor to the Vatican's art preservation projects:
"I let her come with me to Rome so she can donate money," Hinn said. "That was stupid on my part. And for that I do ask forgiveness."
Charisma also adds:
He said he and White were never alone in Rome, but claims he ended his friendship with her after the tabloid report was published. "I said, 'Paula, we can't even be friends right now.'"
Thanks to Charisma....
Faytene Kryskow would take a gob of spit for Stockwell Day?
[Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On, Aug. 9, 2010]
Faytene Kryskow may, I am guessing, tell you that she doesn't have a close political relationship with Tory cabinet minister Stockwell Day.
But while she may not want to take a bullet for Day, she was at one time willing to be spat on in his place.
Earlier this year, when the press was giving heavy coverage to Marci McDonald's new book, Faytene Kryskow made a point of trying to clarify her ties to Day in a letter to the National Post newspaper.
The fuss began with columnist Don Martin quoting McDonald to the effect that Kryskow and some of her friends had met Day at his home:
A few days later, Kryskow wrote a letter to the newspaper, stating that McDonald was incorrect.
She wrote, in part:
I don't have any evidence that would allow me to dismiss what she wrote to the paper as false. But there is something here that strikes me as a bit odd.
Faytene tends to use first names with people that she knows--friends, allies, coworkers__as most young people these days tend to do. Nothing wrong with that necessarily. Indeed, as I am blogging, I do sometimes refer to Faytene by first name, as I find it easier to spell than her last name. (Faytene seems not to object, as she has addressed me by my first name, which is also fine by me.)
But in her letter to the National Post, she is very careful, even using "the Minister"--capital M, in place of "Mr. Day".
I returned to the subject this week as I came across a nearly five year old online audio file of Faytene Kryskow, speaking at Embassy, a church in Oshawa, Ontario, on Sept. 2, 2005.
Faytene is speaking in the earliest days of her days as a national figure, and is very relaxed in her remarks. She is speaking, in a general way, of the need for Canada's Christians to "rise up", a regular topic of hers.
Towards the end of the sermon, she was talking about the importance of Christian youth speaking and acting so that politicians will consider their views as well. And then the Days are introduced...
Faytene Kryskow may, I am guessing, tell you that she doesn't have a close political relationship with Tory cabinet minister Stockwell Day.
But while she may not want to take a bullet for Day, she was at one time willing to be spat on in his place.
Earlier this year, when the press was giving heavy coverage to Marci McDonald's new book, Faytene Kryskow made a point of trying to clarify her ties to Day in a letter to the National Post newspaper.
The fuss began with columnist Don Martin quoting McDonald to the effect that Kryskow and some of her friends had met Day at his home:
Despite her excessive enthusiasm for the cause, the dynamic Kryskow is at home in Canadian political circles these days, having hosted a reception for 70 MPs after visiting Treasury Board President Stockwell Day in his B.C. home.
A few days later, Kryskow wrote a letter to the newspaper, stating that McDonald was incorrect.
She wrote, in part:
"This is a false statement. I never met with the Minister in his home nor have we had a meeting with the Minister since he became Treasury Board President...."
I don't have any evidence that would allow me to dismiss what she wrote to the paper as false. But there is something here that strikes me as a bit odd.
Faytene tends to use first names with people that she knows--friends, allies, coworkers__as most young people these days tend to do. Nothing wrong with that necessarily. Indeed, as I am blogging, I do sometimes refer to Faytene by first name, as I find it easier to spell than her last name. (Faytene seems not to object, as she has addressed me by my first name, which is also fine by me.)
But in her letter to the National Post, she is very careful, even using "the Minister"--capital M, in place of "Mr. Day".
I returned to the subject this week as I came across a nearly five year old online audio file of Faytene Kryskow, speaking at Embassy, a church in Oshawa, Ontario, on Sept. 2, 2005.
Faytene is speaking in the earliest days of her days as a national figure, and is very relaxed in her remarks. She is speaking, in a general way, of the need for Canada's Christians to "rise up", a regular topic of hers.
Towards the end of the sermon, she was talking about the importance of Christian youth speaking and acting so that politicians will consider their views as well. And then the Days are introduced...