Cameron gives UK glimmer of hope for change

Even though all eyes are currently on the impending US election, I hope it will not be too long before the Brits have the task of electing a new Government. Although Tony Blair was a staunch American ally in the war on terror, for which we are all grateful, the incursion of the 'Nanny' state into all of British society has definitely been detrimental and has frustrated a large sector of the British populace.
It is time to rein back some of the influence of big government and this seems to be something that David Cameron is willing to do. Also, it is reassuring that, after some time, the Conservative party leadership is willing to acknowledge the immense impact of the Thatcher years and honor her forthright and principled (though sometimes heavy-handed) leadership.

Click on the title to read Cameron's address to the Conservative Party conference in full

Guess who the democratic attack dogs are now?

It seems like the broadcast media is so in the tank for the Democratic party that in order to get any exposure at all, the Republican ticket has to endure the biased vitriol of Barbara Walters, Whoopi and Joy Behar and even the pit bull tactics of a previously benign Charlie Gibson, in order to reach any mainstream audience. Compare that with the worship of Senator Obama on programs like "The View" and you quickly see that this upcoming election is never going to be played on a level playing field.
Olberman and Matthews aren't the only ones betraying their bias...

Think before you write

Thanks to some quick work by another blogger, my previous post about Sarah Palin which contained some factual inaccuracies was alerted. My mother always said it was better to think before you speak. In the same way, it is better to think before you write. Every day there emerges new information about the Republican Vice-presidential nominee. Some of it is factual – most of it unverified. I will be more circumspect in future.

However, my excitement about her candidacy remains. Just today Lee Grady posted a commentary where he talks about her in relationship to the role of Deborah in the Old testament. It is worth reading at http://fireinmybones.com/

Amazing turn of events - What a week!

Two momentous things happened this week. An unknown female governor of an oft-forgotten State was suddenly elevated, even catapulted, into prominence as Senator John McCain's VP running mate AND in a forgotten war, ANBAR province was handed over to Iraqi control. (See Chuck Holton's article at https://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/438057.aspx )
I believe both these events are related in the sense that they are both results of intercession.
Today I received this from a trusted friend:
The e-mail originates from Chuck Pierce and references Dutch Sheets - both respected voices in the Prophetic Intercession movement:

CHUCK PIERCE


I believe you are aware that Dutch was used by the Lord to call prayer
before the 2000 Bush election that was so close. He said this morning that
this election is perhaps even more critical than 2000 because of the Supreme
Court. If the right political posture is not elected, we stand to lose
decades of progress and the repurcutions are enormous. Last year Chuck
Pierce and Greg Hood (both prophets) prophecied that in 2008 we are not
electing a president but the vice president. Dutch said he could get no
release in his heart to back Huckaby even though pressured by many in the
body of Christ. Huckaby is a good man and a strong believer, but he was not
God's choice. Dutch also told us that he knows a man who gave McCain a
prophetic word that McCain had made a vow to God when he was at the bottom
during his POW days and now God was calling in that vow. McCain was visibly
moved by this word.

Dutch was traveling to Texas on Friday and when he landed in the airport,
his wife called and told him to get to the TV asap. He watched McCain
introduce Governor Palin and said he began to weep, even though he knew
nothing about her. (I experienced the very same thing and we have had
reports of many others including Newt Gingrich.) He asked what the
significance of this 44-year-old woman was and he saw the clock said 4:44.
He asked the Lord what that was and the Lord said, 'Ezekiel 44:4.' 'He
brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; so I looked,
and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD; and I fell
on my face. NKJV North gate representing Alaska .

A few years ago Dutch and Chuck Pierce went on a 50-state tour prophecying
over the state their part in God's purposes for the U.S. At the meeting in
Texas that evening Dutch was relaying his experience about the Governor to
Chuck who said, 'Do you remember what the word was the Lord gave us for
Alaska ?' The Lord had shown them that Alaska is the alpha and omega state.
It is the place where things begin and end.

You may realize that some of the Alaskan islands are on the other side of
the Dateline meaning that the day begins and ends in Alaska . The Lord said
that Alaska is a gateway for the Ancient of Days to come into the nation .
The Lord told Dutch (back in Alaska ) to tell the people of Alaska to look
forward into their destiny. Alaska has a assignment to open doors and a
place where prophets and intercessors were trained. It turns out that the
Govenor who was raised in a Pentecostal Church , according to our newspaper,
founded the prayer movement in Alaska .

We will be having the last of our 90 days beginning in a major gathering
Sept 11th. The significance of this is that Chuck Pierce had prophecied that
there would be 7 years of war and Sept 11 marks the end of that time and the
entering of the 8th year. Someone said that 44 = 4+4 or 8.
Dutch asked why he and Chuck were in Texas for this announcement and the
Lord reminded him that the word for Texas was that it is a prophetic state -
that the Lord's purpose for Texas is this prophetic function.

Dutch then decreed she will enter the White House. Now, if you don't know
him, he is cautious, has his feet on the ground, and never goes of 'half
cocked' when it comes to prophecy. He said that he believes as of Friday the
U.S. has come into a new level of alignment wilth the Lord and His purposes.
By the way, the Governor will be the 44th Vice President. He continued to
declare that she will be the Margaret Thatcher of America including that she
would be President one day. Many other things came forth. I literally
thought I would explode because the Lord had shown me many of these same
things yesterday.
I believe we especially need to rally prayer for the family and children of
the Governor. They will be targeted by the enemy and I believe we need
special prayer for the oldest daughter. Please take this seriously in your
prayers.


Alaska
When the Lord said in Seattle to go to the Northern Gate, we had no idea why
that was so very important. However, by the Spirit, I knew that Robert and
Linda Heidler were to go with Mary Glazier, a key Apostolic leader in
Alaska, who will be with us at Head of the Year. One cannot invest money
like that without hearing the Lord. We felt we were to spiritually open the
north gate because we felt Alaska would play a pivotal role in the year
ahead. We are now seeing that play out with the appointment of Sarah Palin
in as the Vice Presidential running mate for John McCain on the Republican
campaign. Dutch Sheets and I are now in Waco with a group of intercessors
praying concerning the upcoming elections.

Grand Slam for McCain!

John McCain's choice for Vice-President has effectively taken the wind out of the sails of the Obama campaign. Less than 24 hours after Barack Obama's historic and impressive speech at Invesco Field in front of 80,000 thrilled supporters, John McCain managed a grand slam of his own in naming Sarah Palin, his running mate. She is clearly pro life, clearly pro business, clearly non-Washington and EXTREMELY attractive! So if Election 2008 was in danger of becoming a beauty contest - it just went to a whole new level - with Miss Congeniality no less!!
This now makes the Republican Convention no less compelling than the Democrat one.

Where did the decathalon go?

"I'd love for this to be a spark for the decathlon," said Clay, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, "and bring it back to the forefront."

While I certainly enjoyed Michael Phelps' extraordinary feat, and marveled at Usain Bolt's incredible domination of the sprints, I have to confess that I have been wondering, 'What happened to the Decathalon?'
For as long as I have been watching Olympics, I have always considered the Decathalon, the zenith of athletics. Names like, Rafer Johnson, Bruce Jenner, Daley Thompson and Dan O'Brien, have epitomized the super human Olympian. This time, the USA had Bryan Clay trying to improve on his silver gained in Athens and he was nowhere to be found on NBC. We saw BMX bikes, diving prelims, Water polo and endless interviews with Beach Volleyball players....Bryan Clay won Gold and we weren't able to watch! It was a travesty...just the occasional snippet of news, even the internet was no better. We even had endless analysis of baton handling. Give Bryan Clay his due... he is the true star of Beijing!

Todd Bentley update

LAKELAND | Evangelist Todd Bentley, who led a months-long faith-healing revival that attracted thousands and worldwide attention, had “an unhealthy relationship” with a female staff member during the revival, it was announced Friday by the board of his organization, Fresh Fire Ministries of Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The announcement, a statement posted on the Web site of Fresh Fire (www.freshfire.ca), said the board had discovered Bentley “has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff.”

What is , "an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member"?

It is adultery in spirit as if in fact. This apparently has happened more than once.
I know that people have drawn comparisons between Todd Bentley and Samson ( ridiculous!!) but I wonder if people will finally stop putting ministers on a pedestal and start focusing on God and God alone.
Having said that, I still believe that many have been touched by outpourings such as the Lakeland one. I pray that those, who upon hearing the news, are ready to dismiss the move of God, will keep on believing the message even if the messenger is flawed.

Lee hits the nail on the head! ( as usual)

"To put it bluntly, we’re just plain gullible."

In those words Lee Grady sums up the view of many, I'm sure, with the news that not only has Todd Bentley left the Lakeland revival but then shortly afterward, announced that he and his wife Shonna were separating. While the circumstances surrounding the separation are not known, what is apparent is that many thousands of people and even respected leaders, seemed to uncritically endorse a revival that had certain questionable manifestations associated with it.
That in itself should once again bring into question the American pre-deliction for cults of personality, when 'moves of God' seem inextricably linked to one name.

Grady is right to call the Body of Christ to account, just as he is right to say:
"We are weathering an unprecedented season of moral failure and spiritual compromise in our nation today. I urge everyone in the charismatic world to pray for Bentley; his wife, Shonnah; his three young children; Bentley’s ministry staff; and the men and women who serve as his counselors and advisers. Let’s pray that God will turn this embarrassing debacle into an opportunity for miraculous restoration."

he is also correct in his assertion that, "...God desires to visit our nation in supernatural power. I know He wants to heal multitudes, and I will continue praying for a healing revival to sweep across the United States. But we must contend for the genuine, not an imitation. True revival will be accompanied by brokenness, humility, reverence and repentance—not the arrogance, showmanship and empty hype that often was on display in Lakeland."

AMEN

A Deafening Silence except for the thundering sound of unanswered questions...

"While many questions remain unanswered regarding John Edwards' affair with a woman he hired to produce videos of him, some Democrats are already writing off the impact of the news.

Edwards, who admitted on Friday that he had an affair with Reille Hunter after meeting her in a New York bar, insists he is not the father of Hunter's baby, Frances Quinn. A former Edwards staffer, Andrew Young, took responsibility for the child though no name for the father appears on the birth certificate."

This story is not done yet and Senator Edwards who suggested the fact that his wife's cancer was in remission as a mitigating factor, is digging a hole that even the silent Democratic party will not be able to fail to fall into. Someone ask Barack what he thinks.....

Jon Voight Sounds Off

Hats off to Jon Voight for speaking his mind in an Op-Ed piece in the Washington Times. In this politically correct world, he voices some real concerns about the upcoming presidential election as well as the misguided focus of many on the left wing who fail to see the long-term implications of their liberal extravagances.
Click on the link and check out his article:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/28/voight/

Two Americas Indeed!

I don't know if this is a spoof or not but I love this cover. Hypocrisy is alive and well in America. At the same time the LA times have instructed their reporters not to blog about the Edwards story because it originated in the National Enquirer. Funny, they didn't have the same reservation when there was innuendo about John McCain's alleged dalliance with a female lobbyist......hmmmn

Edwards in hot water

New reports are saying that Senator John Edwards, he of the youthful smile and $100 haircuts, has fathered a baby out of wedlock (I love that word!...) and ran into a host of photographers at the a Beverly Hills hotel as he was meeting with mistress and baby...
As you may recall, his wife Elizabeth is battling breast cancer. What does this remind us? Being photogenic is no mark of character... and voicing an issue ( poverty...two americas...) is all well and good, but a man who disrespects his wife in such a way does not deserve even an ounce of reportage and even less respect himself - he is , as they say in England...A CAD!!
Senator Obama - beware!

The Futility Continues

Rumors of an orchestrated war continue. Ohlmert is determined to pursue a course that will lead to the disintigration of Israel from within. He makes concessions that bring no tangible benefit to Israel, but only seem to fuel Hamas and Hezbollah with the notion that Israel is too weak to maintain its borders and lacks the political will to ensure its security without appeasing those who openly seek its destruction.
Two bodies in exchange for re-invigorating the enemy - what a deal! Who has the political and moral backbone to stand up and defend Israel?

Tony Snow

I along with many others were saddened to hear of the passing of Tony Snow. Always refreshingly authentic on camera, Tony made cable news palatable for me. His personal warmth was only exceeded by his obvious comprehension of the world both temporal and spiritual. I can still recall his tear choked tribute at the end of Fox News Sunday. He was endearing and will be greatly missed. What greater tribute than to hear two presidents call him a good man.

I'm on vacation and theoretically that means I can choose what I would like to do....
And so I have chosen to spend a little time recording some new songs!
Tonight I have almost completed the track for a song called "The Birds are singing His praise" (yeah it's a little long.....) Will update later.

'Toine in Memphis - answer to prayer!

Overnight a trade brought MY favorite NBA player to Memphis! That my friends , is an answer to prayer! Now Antoine Walker may have seen his best days, but he did win a championship ring with the Heat two seasons ago. He can still play and he's always played well in Memphis. I'm orderin' tickets!!

A nostalgic trip

A pleasant evening of relaxation means a good movie and a bowl of ice-cream.
" The Princess Bride" was the first date movie I took Allison to. It has remained a beloved treasure. I recently purchased the DVD and viewed it this evening. Watching it again was like becoming reacquainted with an old friend. Maybe it's time for you to be re-introduced to a favorite movie once again,,,,

Maybe he listens to Lil' Wayne?

The men arrested in the slayings of an aspiring Christian singer and his colleague at a Texas recording studio said in a chilling jailhouse interview the victims were killed at random in a robbery that netted only $2.

Cousins James Broadnax and Demarius Dwight Cummings, both 19, face capital murder charges in the deaths of singer Matthew Butler, a father of two, and Stephen Swan, his employee, outside Butler's Christian recording studio, Zion Gate Records in Garland, Texas.

Broadnax and Cummings, speaking to MyFOXDFW.com from the Dallas County Jail, told the station of their plans to rob somebody the night of June 18. They traveled by train from Dallas to the suburb of Garland because "that's where all the rich white folks stay at," Broadnax said.

Their targets turned out to be Butler, 28, and Swan, 26.

"I made sure they was dead," Broadnax told MyFOXDFW.com

His voice wavering, Broadnax recounted in blood-curdling detail how he shot the men to death in a parking lot outside the recording studio after Cummings asked for a cigarette.

"I just blanked the f--- out," Broadnax said. "I shot him [Butler] and he stumbled back. I shot the driver [Swan]. He hit the ground, you know what I'm saying, but he leaned up like he was going to try to get back up, so I shot him in the head.

"Then his homeboy, I shot his a-- again, you know what I'm saying, but he was still trying to run off," he continued. "I knew he was going to die anyway, but just to make sure — pop, pop."

Broadnax said he shot Butler twice in the head.

I have seen too much evidence of young men both black and white who have appeared to have grown up without a conscience. No remorse - hardened by life and hardened to life. They embrace the notion of 'gangsta' - and unfortunately unlike Lil' Wayne (see previous post) are never going to live to brag about their rise to fame!

An afternoon w/ Lil' Wayne

I promised my eldest son that I would listen to the latest Cd by Rapper Lil' Wayne before I dismissed his lack of judgement. So with headphones on I settled down (!) for a 77 minute joyride in the presence of "the greatest rapper of his generation".
Without being unduly unkind - there was some definite skill in wordplay demonstrated throughout. There was the presence of commercial and annoyingly good backbeats and samples. "Lollipop" is an insiduous track that slides into the subconcious before you fully realize the overt oral sexual overtones.
Of course I was listening to the 'unclean' version - and therein lies a problem. How clever a wordsmith do you have to be to use f*@# or m-F or b**tch a thousand times - I can get a dose of that everyweek in my Jail GED class - unfortunately many young black males live in a distorted "WAYNE'S WORLD" but without the bling and the arrogant self promotion.
I wish my son had been exposed to REAL afro-american writing and poetry from the likes of James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and even Gil Scott-Heron before he rose to acclaim Mr Carter as a great poet.
I wish that I could say that my afternoon with Lil' Wayne had a redemptive purpose or an educational, uplifting outcome. Instead I was left with the impression that he is symptomatic of a problem, not an attempt to be a solution, to the plight of the oppressed minorities, whether racially or economically. I am looking for a voice to arise out of the urban landscape that not only speaks truth to power but does it in a way that brings life! Up to this point there has only been one in my lifetime - Martin Luther King, and there is only one who can truly set people free by his word and that is Jesus Christ!

John Thornton - One of the 'Good" Bengals!

I am a long time Cincinnati Bengals fan, though I have been both frustrated and disappointed over the years at some of the attitudes and actions of the team. How refreshing to be reminded of the good that continues through the likes of John Thornton. His off the field activities have truly made a difference in the greater community and it's good for THAT story to be told, instead of news of another arrest, suspension or whiny hold-out by ocho cinco