Author: Wick

Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, Writer, Poet, Friend, reader, coffee enthusiast, hockey Wing-Nut, musical participator, etc...
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an update on Todd Bentley, Lakeland Revival…etc.

Posted on by Wick

Back at the end of May, you may remember my blog about the “exciting revival” happening in Florida. I’d heard about it from one of my teens, who had heard about it at church. All the amazing things that were happening, etc.

Here’s an update, in case you hadn’t seen the TV interviews over the past few months.

In the excitement of “saving souls”, “dramatic healings”, and “raising people from the dead”…all of which he could never show documentation to reporters…and like any human who focuses a bit too much on himself…he messed up.

Unfortunately, not before thousands and thousands of people gathered under his leadership/influence. May we pray for the healing of Mr.Bentley and his family. May we also be in prayer for those whose faith/lives have been uprooted and/or shaken by all that has gone on.

All subsequent tours in America and Europe have been cancelled or postponed, and he is taking “a year off from public ministry”, etc.

In other news…I still believe the Kingdom of God is here, and is coming. But I hope we’ve learned a little bit more about what it might…and might not….look like.

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in case you missed it…

Posted on by Wick

There was a molasses spill in Sugar Land this past week. Pun intended.

So I had a free movie pass yesterday. I watched the girls while all the women from my wife’s family watched “Mama Mia!”…so the trade off was me going to a movie last night. All signs pointed to going to see “The Dark Knight” at some point. After all, the whole world was watching it, right? Every news channel, a story was being run. Every website had fresh articles talking about it. It was officially “the buzz”.

“It was seriously the best movie ever…”

“Heath Ledger was amazing, unfortunately the movie around him wasn’t…”

etc.

I’m not sure exactly what it was…but something in all of that made me want to find another movie to see. At least for now. I have random bouts of not wanting to follow the masses. Even if they’re doing something really cool.

So I went to see “Hellboy II“. Another comic book based movie. A creature who’s life could have been destined towards evil, being used to fight it for good. A really good illustration, right?

This sequel had little to nothing to do with hell, though. But Guillarmo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) had some pretty amazing visual affects. This movie had more of a “trolls, elves, and fairies” type feel similar to the Labyrinth. Almost too similar at some points. His imagination went pretty deep, to the point where I wish I could’ve paused or slowed things down to view just how many creatures were on the screen, and their attributes.

Cheesy one liners abounded, but the movie itself was worth seeing. I’d even give it a thumb up as a good fantastical movie for teens, as I don’t remember much of any cussing, and there was hardly any blood and no sex. The creatures were too scary for the young ones (the tooth fairies especially), but other than that, it was pretty good. There were even lessons there for those willing to look (or make them up):

How true peace (maybe even forgiveness?) actively seeks the benefit of the “other”.
Is humanity worth saving…and if so…why?
etc.

But…I’m sure a lot of people who go to church once in a while will focus on the word “hell” in the title, and not allow their teenager to go to it. Ironically, whatever PG-13 movie they go to instead will probably have a lot more of what their parents are against in it. Ah well…

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a new message…

Posted on by Wick
“You’re not promised tomorrow”

So many youth events I’ve gone to (and some “adult” services too), and taken teens to, present evangelistic “get saved now” messages, based on that premise. It’s true, in a world of violence and hate, and random acts of ignorance and greed….and just accidents happening, any of us is a candidate for the grave right now.

But I’m not sure this approach reaches everyone. Let alone, teenagers who pretty much view themselves as invincible already. Sure, there may be a few who have had parents/loved ones/schoolmates pass on, and so have a better grip on our mortality. A few who are wise beyond their years. But for the most part, you’d have a hard time convincing Johnny-enjoy-today that tomorrow might not come.

And even if we could….isn’t this approach simply advertising to teenagers, and to the world, that the main reason to participate in what God is doing comes from a fear of dying?

What if there was something better?

What if there was a reason to live a life seeking God’s _____ , even if you do live through tomorrow?

I know we believe there is…otherwise those of us who have been journeying in that direction would be excited about the prospect of dying at any given moment. So if we’re honestly so excited about living for God, and building towards His Kingdom with as many tomorrows as we can get…why does our main offer to teens focus so much on “in case you die tomorrow”?

In fact, thinking about it…it’s very similar to messages I’ve heard given at rescue mission type settings too. It may even come from a pure intention. “We don’t know for sure if this teenager/person off the street may come back again, so let’s do everything we can to ‘get em saved’ tonight.” But I’m not sure if I agree with that approach.

It’s not like if 20 people came up to the altar, and signed the “I accept Jesus” line on a slip of paper, we could sit back and say “whew, that was close…glad that’s done”.

I think a key to the survival of young adult and adult ministries (teens who didn’t “die tomorrow”), will be in responding a bit better to this issue. After all, God offers us SO MUCH MORE than simply a nice place to retire after we die. Maybe we should tell someone that.