Collideoscope

Posted by: Denelle

Thanks Kent for those great updates on Apostolics in the media. Do you think you could don your prophecy hat for a minute and tell me what I'm getting for my birthday? I hate surprises so a heads-up would be great.

Oh, and a big thanks to Liz Fergie who pulled off this fabulous of me . . .



Look, I'm a floating head! Am I the only one who remembers Max Headroom (maybe because I could have sworn his last name was Headron, hmmm)? Anyway, I called my brother last night to tell him about being accepted and he was shocked (way to be supportive Tim - lol) and possibly more excited than I was. He's currently enrolled in Grad School in LA and I think he's just thrilled that his big sister is finally doing something more productive with her life.

I'm Trying, Really, I am

I'm trying really hard to find something interesting in the world of Christianity and Culture to share with you this week but for whatever reason (aside from the things Kent has mentioned) I'm coming up with nothing.

Instead, I'm inexplicably drawn to watching Britney Spears sink back into the cesspool from which it briefly looked as if she'd extricated herself. It is sort of like rubbernecking on a highway. No matter how horrible the accident is or the terror over what you might actually see you just can't bring yourself to look away. It amazes (but not surprises) me just how quickly picking up Paris Hilton as your newest sidekick can unravel any positive progress one is making in life.

Britney, darling, I hate to be the one to break this to you but exchanging Kevin for Paris as an accessory is not a trade-up. Someone needs to intervene and help her out quick-like before her poor children are scarred for life.

The Complications of Christmas

If I'm not shaking my head in wonder over Britney's recent disaster, then undoubtedly I'm staring at the computer screen trying to figure out exactly what to buy those people on my list for Christmas (or trying to compile my own list of goodies to give to those who ask).

When did Christmas get so complicated? Is it something that comes with age? I miss the days of being able to buy presents for my parents at the local elementary school's "Santa's Workshop." Of course, I do enjoy giving them things that they enjoy more or at least have more use for than a toaster cover or Santa pencils but why is it so difficult to find the perfect gift?

Maybe I'm being too materialistic.

Earlier this week on GMA (yes, if you haven't figured it out by now I'm a fan) Diane Sawyer commented that her family no longer gives gifts at Christmas (she didn't elaborate as to why) but instead they write down and give each other a paper that says "This Christmas if I could give you anything in the world it would be . . . " I thought that was very sweet and touching but I admit to also thinking, "we'll that's a disappointment" and that bothers me. Yet, I believe I could have a completely happy Christmas without getting a thing. But there is a satisfaction from seeing the joy on someone's face when you give them something you know they'll enjoy or that they really wanted. So it's back and forth, back and forth on this holiday see-saw.

And now I'm off to check-out overstock.com and see if they have anything good posted.

Posted by: kdc

Okay, I am now making myself available for prophecy conferences around the world.

Yesterday I posted that Apostolics should expect a regular presence in the media (major, mainstream, and otherwise) whether we like it or not. Then this morning I get this via email:

"Nashville, Tenn. (November 29, 2006) Creative Soul recording artist Kristyn Leigh has been chosen to sing during the Pageant of Peace in Washington D.C. on December 23. The Pageant of Peace is an annual event held on the ellipse of the White House where the National Christmas Tree is located. While over 30,000 singers and musicians vie for a performance slot during the Pageant of Peace, less than 100 are selected. And Kristyn was among the elite group that made the cut."I am honored and humbled to be chosen," said Kristyn from her Louisville, Kentucky home. "Christmas is my favorite time of year, and to be able to sing timeless carols in our nation’s capital is a true privilege."

Kristyn, of course, was interviewed by 90&9 back in 2003 and we’ve reviewed her two independent CDs since then. She’s been singing at different media venues this year, and ministering in numerous churches, and now is singing near the White House! Expect a follow-up interview soon.

In the meantime, looks like it’s another Apostolic opportunity for the media. I’m telling you, we’re not far from a serious tidal wave of exposure. Whether it’s for the good or bad is hardly the point. It’s coming. We better be ready.

Posted by: Denelle

Yes, that's right, after countless hours of studying for the GRE and way too much anxiety over going back to school, I have officially been accepted to the M.S. in Global Affairs program at NYU.

Whoohoo!

Although now I'm not sure I what I'm going to do with myself now that I'm going back to school.

First on my list of things to do, get my picture taken by the arch in Washington Square and buy an NYU sweatshirt. Yes, I know, my priorities might need a bit of an adjustment.



-- imagine me standing just under that tree --

Posted by: kdc

Remember how (in the wake of Borat 2 weeks ago), I proclaimed that Apostolics are just going to have to accept being in the media as a regular (good and bad) occurrence? Turns out I was correct sooner than I’d imagined.

I just found out…excuse me:

“90&9 has learned that a national religious television network will be shooting footage of a UPC children’s prayer group this weekend as part of a broader piece on how God is using children (of all denominations) today.”

Who knows when it will air, but that’s not the point. The point is Apostolics are being included in yet another piece of media by yet another group of media creators.

Now’s the time for Apostolics to be living genuine Christianity for all to see and getting media-savvy web sites and articles/videos into public consumption. (I understand the ALJC is starting a nationwide campaign to help their churches advertise on TV in a uniform manner.)

Better we define ourselves in a friendly manner now than wait for others to define us later. (Or sooner.)

Posted by: Denelle

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Things were rainy here and I spent the entire day inside eating and just relaxing. Then I worked 10 hours on Friday. The only upside was that I managed to avoid the crowds that were over-running the stores.

But even without my contribution it seems that retailers made out just fine this weekend with a 6% increase over last year. Interestingly enough the big spenders on Friday . . . were men. Seems like men were more willing to brave the early crowds and stand in long lines to snap up (yep, you guessed it) electronics.

Looks like all that practice from standing in line for sporting events is finally paying off.

Get It On-line

Personally I plan on doing a fair amount of my shopping this year on-line. As long as I have some general concept of the quality of what I'm purchasing I have no qualms about buying it on-line. But it is always good to have some additional suggestions for saving, security and quality.

1. Try comparison shopping. Bizrate.com and shopzilla.com will search over 80,000 websites for you and pull the best prices. Small retailers are great sources of amazing deals. They are willing to undercut the bigger competitors prices in the hopes that you will continue to shop with them throughout the year. All the work done for you in 1/100 of the time.

2. Use a search engine like Google and enter the company name and "sales + promo codes" or "sales + coupons". This will pull up coupons for everything from free shipping to discounts on your favorite shows.

3. Shop early and take advantage of the free shipping offers. Most companies will offer free shipping the first few weeks of December before it becomes necessary for them to make you pay for last minute shipping to cover the cost they incur.

4. When making a purchase make sure you are using a secure site. Even little known retailers now have secure sites. How can you make sure the site is secure? When you click on the checkout button the web address at the top of the page will change from http:// to https:// -- the "s" standing for secure. Thanks to GMA for that helpful tip.

In Brief

A reader had some helpful insight on the whole Borat fiasco and was kind enough to pass it along.

Obviously Hollywood has thre last word in this matter, for they are the ones editing the material. The Holy Ghost did in fact tell Greg Godwin that this was a scam and he confronted Mr Cohen and he did come out of character briefly. But of course this was not shown in their final product.

Thanks for the heads-up.

And finally, let us all take a moment of silence to observe the passing of yet another Hollywood relationship.



Yes, that's right. After barely four months and at least as many marriage ceremonies (LA, St. Tropez, Detroit, Nashville, I think that's all) the couple has filed for divorce. My only question . . . who didn't see that coming?

Posted by: David

The girls are feeling much better today, though still a little weak. I am so thankful that God touched them and did a quick work.

Now our time in Ireland is coming to an end but it has been a fabulous trip. Right now Eamon is preparing a traditional meal of some kind that he refers to as "curry" but apparently that's just what spcies it up because I see lots of vegetables.

Later this evening we'll have "Finding Greater Life" coffee shop where the church is transformed into a coffee house as an outreach method for introducing the public to the church. It looks like it will be nice.

Tomorrow morning we leave very early for the airport in Dublin to begin our journey home. I will probably post up Monday but if I can boot the jet lag quickly I will try to recap on Sunday and hopefully have pictures.

Our objectives have been accomplished as we have gotten the heartbeat of this country, of the city of Dublin, and of Pastor Terry's vision for reaping the harvest here.

Posted by: Denelle

Ten Things I'm Thankful for this Thanksgiving:

10. That I slept until 11 a.m. this morning. I can't remember the last time I did that. It's all about the little things.

9. That after an extensive break I am once again involved in Bible Quizzing. I hadn't realized how much I missed it. Once a quizzer, always a quizzer.

8. That even though my car was towed yesterday that it wasn't towed to the Brooklyn Navy Yard so it was much cheaper, and much easier to get it back.

7. That I didn't ruin the first Thanksgiving dinner that I prepared totally on my own (yep, that's right, I decided to cook and not eat out, although I'm not exactly sure why).

6. For my bestest friend who found out yesterday that she's going to have a baby boy in just over four months, there-by making me an Auntie. I love you peanut.

5. For all of my other friends who called today from all over the country to wish me Happy Thanksgiving.

4. That Kent is willing to put up with me and my idiosyncrasies and that all of you are willing to take the time to read this blog on a regular basis. I am blessed to be a part of 90&9 and its incredible vision and ministry.

3. For my fuzzy doggie. Why is it that sometimes only a pet can understand and show unconditional love? I miss him and can't wait to see him at Christmas.

2. For my family. This is my first holiday without them and it makes me appreciate them even more. I'm so grateful for their love and support.

1. For the values, and beliefs that have been instilled in me and that make me who I am. For my relationship with the Lord and for the assurance that he loves me more than anyone else in the world ever will.



Here is wishing you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving. Make sure you leave room for leftovers.

Posted by: David

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Most of you are probably just sitting down to your Thanksgiving dinner, but here the day is almost over. That being said, it has been an eventful trip since I last posted.

For starters, we took yesterday (Wednesday) off to rest from our journeys. We had been going so many places and doing so many things that we were all worn out. Last evening we had a great time of Bible Study with Bro Matt teaching on prayer and allowing God to work on us through prayer. We also spent some time yesterday getting the church ready for Friday evening and "Finding Greater Life" which is a once a month coffee house outreach they do (I'll tell you more about it after we experience it).

But here's the kicker. Both Farrah and Kristen woke up in the wee hours of the morning this morning as sick as can be. The best we can figure out they have some sort of virus, but we can't rule out food poisoning of some kind. So today I have been nurse to Farrah and Kristen, Father to Dawson, and Security Guard in the house (guarding the valuables so that Dawson does not destroy them in a single blow)!

A gourmet chef from the church here who works at a hotel in Belfast prepared a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a gourmet twist to it. Fabulous, let me tell you.

But I kind of felt a touch of loneliness that I'm sure comes at times when you are on the mission field. During dinner Dawson fell asleep and Kristen and Farrah were in bed sick, so that left me and Matt and Sharon to celebrate Thanksgiving by ourselves! Definitely a different kind of gathering far away from home, but we talked about how thankful we are for all that God has done for us and for bringing us to this place to fulfill His mission in our lives and in Ireland.

Tonight Eamon is coming over with his video equipment to take some more footage for our PIM presentation. Also, btw, Bradley tried posting the pics but got the dreaded red "x" as well....I appreciate Liz's suggestion about the URL but I don't want to set up a new account right now. I normally use Yahoo photos and Farrah uses Walgreens, but one can only share those photos with members-not the public at large. I'll figure something out when I get back home so that you all can see the highlights of the trip.

Posted by: David

We made it to Dublin today and now we're back in Gilford. We decided not to stay the night in Dulbin for the following reasons:

a. we failed to make any sort of hotel reservation online. this means, in the words of Eamon, that we walk into a hotel and the proprietor promplty notices we are tourists and says "hand me over all your money".

b. we failed to bring any of our belongings to stay the night.

c. we're exhausted.

d. Dawson is exhausted.

But all in all we had a great day in Dublin, down in the Trinity College area. We did find the statue of Oscar Wilde in Merrion Square and also saw Wilde's Townhouse there. So I feel somewhat compensated for the C.S. Lewis miss in Belfast.

I have conspired with Bradley and have sent him some pictures which he will try to post for me. Once done, I'll post another blog and explain each in turn.

Denelle, if I can find my receipt from the restaurant in Dublin I'll tell you the name of the place, but no it wasn't Mona Lisa near Trinity. This place where we went was just a block off of the River.

One funny story from the other day when we first went into Dublin. Matt turned down a street that we quickly noticed was a pedestrian only farmers market. But to get out of it we couldn't turn around. Oh no, not so easy. We had to continue on down that street and then turn up a pedestrian only shopping area. So we're going down this street barely missing pedestrians and I decide this would be a great time to start taking video footage as I'm riding shotgun. We were having all sorts of nasty words and gestures hurled at us, and so I decided that not only was this a good time to get video footage, but it would also be a good time to roll down the window and here everyone's cool Irish accent. No sooner do I roll down the window than we here a litany of swear words-but hey, at least they were in that cute Irish brogue!

Matt was promptly pulled over by a police officer (garda) who let him go with a stern warning.

Best of all, I have it all on video!

Posted by: David

Blogger was down during my window of opportunity last night, so I am blogging early this morning before we leave to return to Dublin.

Yesterday we went to Belfast and had a great time. Very European in the old Europe style. Lots of old architecture every where. One of the things I really was looking forward to seeing was the murals painted on walls during "The Troubles". Matt did take us into one Catholic neighborhood and we drove past a few murals but it appeared to me that they mostly dealt with world politics in general (something about Bush and America) rather than the politics of Belfast. Of course, that was only one neighborhood and one wall.

As European as Belfast is, one of the first things we did when we got there was to go to an American mall and eat Burger King and Subway in the food court! It felt like home!

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see anything C.S. Lewis. My quick research before we left for the day revealed that his boyhood home is privately owned, so there's not much to see there. There is a bronze statue of Lewis and a wardrobe in East Belfast, but by the time we found out where it was it was late, raining, and cold. And with two toddlers among us we just had to pass on it. : (

There is a man in the Gilford church named Eamon who is into video editing as a hobby. So he met us in Belfast and took some video footage of us walking thru the city so that he can put together some video clips for us to use in raising Partners In Missions pledges. He's going with us to Dublin today to take more footage. That really excited me!

And amid all of this excitement God has really been confirming to us that Ireland is indeed the field that he has for us to labor in. : )

We plan to stay in Dublin tonight, so if that does happen I won't be able to blog again until Wednesday evening. Hope to talk to you then!

Posted by: Denelle

It's hard to believe but Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that people either pull off with what looks like no effort and enormous class (you know, the people who set a formal table and wear their suit and tie to dinner) or it is mayhem and an over abundance of chaos (kids everywhere, paper plates and football on the t.v. in the background).

This year will mark the first time in my life that I've not spent Thanksgiving with my family. But rather than dwelling on the downside of not getting to be with my family, etc. I've decided to focus on the new and exciting opportunities this presents for me.

As long as the weather and my foot (I'm still wearing this boot) cooperate I'm planning on getting up early and going to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This may be one of the only years that I'm actually in New York on Thanksgiving and I'd hate to look back one day and regret that I didn't at least attempt to go.

Then, rather than trying to cook for one, I'm going to pick a restaurant here in the City and have dinner. There are tons of places that are open and and cooking everything from traditional Thanksgiving meals to more modern/eclectic versions. I'm currently leaning very heavily toward Virgils, that does a southern style dinner: deep fried BBQ turkey, biscuits, gravy, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, etc. The other option is a place called Fire Bird which is modeled after an 18th century Russian palace. Their menu is more pretentious and I'm not sure I want to get all dressed up to go have dinner alone. But we'll see how I'm feeling on Thursday morning.

No matter what your plans for Thanksgiving I hope you have a happy and blessed day and that you take time to stop and truly give thanks for the things in your life that matter.

And don't forget to save up your energy for Black Friday. The best sales wait for no (wo)man.

Posted by: David

We had incredible services today-one in a village called Dundalk in the Republic and one in Gilford here in Northern Ireland. The presence of God and His annointing were so strong in both places, and the people responded with such incredible worship. Praise God for what He is doing among His people here!

We have lots of pictures but still no cooperation from Blogger....if anyone happens to know of any sort of glitch that I can work around, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll assume Blogger just has a problem and I will continue trying to upload each day.

Tomorrow, we head to Belfast!!!! I'm excited about seeing some of the history from that amazing city.

Posted by: David

Today we paid a visit to Dublin-the city in which we are planning to reap a harvest. It is an incredible place. We mainly did the tourist thing, shopping in the Temple Bar area and viewing a few of the main sites, such as the River Liffey and Ha'Penney Bridge.

The Temple Bar area is kind of like a Times Square type place (nothing as big or bright), and the shopping area reminded me a lot of SoHo. But definitely a European feel, with lots of people from all over the world. We ate at a very nice Italian ristorante, very authentic (our waitress was from Rome).

We also wrote down some names and phone numbers of "estate agents" so that we can go back and price properties to rent and plan our AIM budget accordingly.

We took lots of pictures and video, but the problem I'm having is with Blogger. It will not upload my pics. So I'll try again later.

Posted by: David

We made it to Dublin at about 8:30 am local time on Friday. That's about 2:30 am CST.

Ireland is as beautiful as you could imagine, and then some. Even in the "winter"! There was a (very) light dusting of snow with lots of pretty colors on the trees. But the land is still extremely green!

This morning we were picked up at the airport by Matt McFarland, and he drove us "home" to Gilford which is in Northern Ireland, near the Mourne Mountains. The Terry McFarland family has converted an old barn into an incredible church and living quarters. Everything is first class-the McFarland family has done everything with the highest quality standards.

I don't have any pictures yet as we have spent the day getting over our jet lag and unpacking, but we have big plans starting tomorrow, and I look forward to sharing our journey with you.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us Godspeed on our journey today!

Posted by: Denelle

I found this lovely quiz on another blog I frequently visit (A Brooklyn Life) and thought it was amusing and that most of you would get a kick out of it.

Your Literary Personality

It's only 20 questions and takes less than 5 minutes to complete.

And what am I??

You scored as A classic novel.

Almost everyone showers praise upon you for your depth and enduring relevance. According to your acolytes, everything you say is timeless, erudite and meaingful. Of course, none of them actually listen to you. Nobody listens to you at all, but it's fashionable to claim you as a friend. Fond of obscure words, antiquated notions and libraries, you never have a problem finding someone to hang out with. The fact that they end up using you to balance their kitchen tables is an unfortunate side effect, but you're used to being used for others' benefit. Oh the burden of being Great.

I think I've just been insulted.

Posted by: Denelle

This weekend, nestled inside our church bulletin, was a reproduction of an article from the New York Times (you can find an all access copy here) which detailed a recent study on the correlation between speaking in tongues and the brain's functions.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania studied the brain images of five women while they spoke in tongues and found:

that their frontal lobes — the thinking, willful part of the brain through which people control what they do — were relatively quiet, as were the language enters.

Additionally:

studies suggest that people who speak in tongues rarely suffer from mental problems . . . and were more emotionally stable than those who did not

I think it is interesting that they're just discovering what we could have told them all along. And look, Kent's right, we are turning up more often in the press.

AIMing High

So I'm totally jealous of David and his family as they travel to Ireland this week. Being an AIMer has always been something I have longed to do and Ireland is an incredible country.

David, I'll keep you all in my prayers this week and hope that everything falls into place for you all. Hopefully, you will be able to get in some blogging or at least take some fabulous pictures to post when you return.

And Finally

I can't believe that I've managed not to say anything on here about the break-up cheered round the world. Last week Britney Spears officially filed for divorce from her husband Kevin Federline. And to that news I have to add my voice and say . . . THANK GOD.

I am not a big Britney fan. In fact, I really don't care for her at all. However, I think even those that loathed her longed for her to wake up and realize how unhealthy her realtionship was and how it was slowly choking the life out of her. She's certainly seems to have returned to the bubbly, happy person she was before 2004. Hopefully now at least her children can be raised without the hard partying influence that Kevin is known for.

I wish you well Brit! Now if we can just convince you to start wearing clothes that cover all of your body again.

Posted by: kdc

So now that nobody cares about it, I’m finally posting my thoughts on Borat scamming the UPC’s Mississippi Camp Meeting. While I haven’t seen the movie (it’s nasty, featuring full-frontal nudity and obvious masturbation), I did catch the clip on YouTube (it’s since been yanked for copyright issues, though a new one may be up) and it was less than 4 minutes long.

If you haven’t seen it, Borat, a character created by British comedian Sasha Baron Cohen, appears to speak in tongues, then falls to the ground as one of our preachers lays hands on him. He then is allowed to speak to the tongue-talking, aisle-running believers of Mississippi.

So, some thoughts:

* Borat was the highest grossing movie of the weekend for the second straight week. It seems to be a “must-see” event.

* Pentecostals are filmed running the aisles, speaking in tongues under every guise, laying hands on others, perhaps rushing Borat to the Holy Ghost with little time for repentance, the preacher specifically mispronouncing a phrase for effect, and generally acting like Pentecostals at a good old-fashioned camp meeting. Emails have said this makes us look like idiots, yet no one has stated any of these portrayals are inaccurate. It isn’t easy to swallow being “fools for Christ” is it?

* Honestly, judging from the chatter I’ve heard, what offends us – our behavior or his?

* Maybe this is healthy and will help UPC ministers rethink putting our services on TV. As has been stated here in the past – TV is a “cool” medium and there are few events “hotter” than a Pentecostal camp meeting. Worship can appear foolish.

* Satire (or tasteless comedy) is Cohen’s schtick. He ridicules everything and everyone. We just happened to be one of his targets this time.

* Remember that while we know it’s a UPC camp meeting, most viewers don’t. To them it’s just a bunch of crazy believers from Mississippi. (And frankly, with no offense intended, Mississippi’s overall low standing in the rest of the world’s opinion works to our advantage here.)

* I’ve heard stories of ex-Apostolics leaving the movie in a rage over this offense.

* I’ve heard of Jewish co-workers missing the Pentecostal part because there’s so much anti-Semitic material.

* The Kazakh government is in a tizzy over being misportrayed in the film. (Frankly, your country has more serious problems than you realize if one comedic documentary can hose your reputation.) They should be playing it off with a major tourist campaign: “You’ve Seen the Movie! Now see the Country That Started it All!” Then give out Groucho glasses to tourists as they arrive at the airport.

* We should expect more (and soon, regular) coverage of Christianity/Apostolics via major media. Jesus Camp created a sensation earlier this year, and now here we are getting scammed (and mentioned in prestigious publications like The Atlantic Monthly because of it). I don’t expect us to be ridiculed continually, so much as be included in the culturescape in one form or another to the point that our kids will probably be used to hearing/seeing us in most major media.

* Which is why it’s so important we create content-rich media sites that share our viewpoints and culture now, not later. There will soon be a continuous stream of outsiders, some with good intentions and some not (think of all the mainstream media coverage of Azusa in April), examining us through their mediums. We need to place ourselves into a position of strength through clarity, not weakness through kneejerk response or claims of persecution.

* Why was Mississippi so stupid to sign the waiver to be included in the movie, some ask. Easy to ask in hindsight, says I. The waiver fooled people across the nation (some of whom are suing now), stating that signees agree to waive claims of fraud and the film intends to have “entertaining content” for a young adult audience. Now, how great are your powers of discernment to see through that? Besides, I’m sure whoever okayed it thought it might expose the Gospel to a hungry heart. Perhaps it has. Perhaps it makes us look like idiots. Perhaps it did both.

* Finally, I should think we’re secure enough as Apostolic believers that one movie, no matter how temporarily popular, doesn’t define our movement. We’ve become too diverse, too alive, too large to be labeled and condemned by ignorant others. If you don’t believe that, then you haven’t been reading ninetyandnine lately.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! (Chantell’s are here. Stu’s are here and here.)

Posted by: David

The Itinerary
This week my family and I are very busy packing for our trip to Ireland! Hurray! I can't believe it got here so fast. We leave Thursday to stay through the Thanksgiving holidays, returning the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Can I tell ya, we are so excited!

The Mission
Why are we going, you ask? Well, its a long story and part of a bigger plan. We believe God is calling us to do missions work in Ireland, and while we are waiting for our AIM applications to be approved, we are visiting the country to meet missionary Matt and Sharon McFarland and get a feel for the work that is being done in the Emerald Isle. As soon as we return we will begin the process of raising our AIM budget, and God willing we plan to return as soon as we can to begin working in the missions field. Check out IrelandUPC for a lot of information on the work that Rev. Terry McFarland has pioneered and continues to do in Ireland.

The Pledge
I have every intent of blogging live from Ireland. I know we are going to be busy traveling, preaching, and working (with lots of fun built in there too), but if the internet connections over there will cooperate, I sincerely hope to check in from time to time.

I've already placed my request for a tour of C.S. Lewis' birthplace in Belfast! I'll let you know how it goes.

Till then, Godspeed everyone!

Posted by: Denelle

Those of you who've been around 90&9 for any length of time will probably remember Travis Carter. A Christian music fanatic and former member of Plan:Be, Travis is now the lead singer of the Travis Carter Band. They look to be making quite an impression in NY and hopefully on a larger scale very soon.

Here is a recap from Travis of their latest performance.

Friday Night at the Muddy Cup 11.10.06

Two years ago I started writing lyrics and a year ago I started to develop melody. I had prayed the year before that the Lord would allow me to write songs. I felt it was impossible without His help. Gradually, I realized that God was giving me the abilities to go beyond my own limitations. I don't play a melodic instrument and I have never considered myself a singer. I thought song writing was for others but not me. I had a desire but felt inadequate. He blessed me. I have desired to share my feelings of faith and frailty in a way that's honest and real. The Lord provided me with friends eager to help bring my songs into reality and see my vision as their vision.

Last night the "Travis Carter Band" played at the Muddy Cup, which is a trendy secular coffeehouse in Staten Island, NY. We headlined the evening after sharing the stage with a folk singer and an old school punk band. High school students and teachers, from the school I teach at, were all there. They stayed for the entire evening. The focus was on teacher bands. I was nervous but very excited. I had never sung my original material before an audience before and it was the first time with this band. It was also in front of my students and colleagues. I was curious as to how they would react to my musical endeavors. The band kicked in with the first tune called "Do You Know". It was a solid groove that made you want to move. I realized after a short case of shaky leg syndrome that it was going to be alright. I sang the material as I had done the night before. The band was pumped, the crowd was expectant and I was hoping I'd remember the ever changing lyrics.



The rest of the set was electric and the applause after each song let me know that we had connected. My students waited, anticipated and smiled when I smiled at them. Some even had their mouths open like they were shocked. It was a thrill for me. I felt like I had stepped up another level in my own musical experience. My voice was strong and the band went the extra mile. How were they? Well, the guitarist shredded a few tunes and the drummer got more than a few double bass kicks out of the music. Annette, my sister, let her long black hair flow down and around as she confidently played keys for this "new" band we were in. The bass player unabashedly laid the foundation groovin the heart and soul of everyone there. I realized countless times that the Lord had blessed this evening and also had given me the desire of my heart.

The show went great. People were impressed with our musicianship and sound. All glory goes to God. He does all things well. Only He knows where it will go next. Proverbs 3:5,6

Posted by: David

Someone gave us a Baby Einstein dvd for our son, Dawson. He is now 9 months old and absolutely loves the dvd. There's this one part where this puppet comes out, looks at the camera, and goes "blah"!



Every time Dawson sees it he lights up and repeats "blah"!

Yes, he says "da da" and "ma ma" but right up there in the "Top 3 Words Spoken by Dawson" is "blah".

So next time you feel like sticking your tongue out at somebody, just remember the green lizard and mutter to yourself, "blah"!

Posted by: Denelle

In an interesting turn of events two frat boys from South Carolina, who are depicted in a somewhat unfavorable light in Borat, have sued the studio and production company responsible for the movie. They are asking for unspecified damages.

It seems that one scene in the movie involves an:

RV full of wasted, University of South Carolina frat boys, and just how their loudly voiced philosophical alignments with the faux-Kazakh on subjects such as women, Jews, and the lamentable abolition of legal slavery . . .

The plaintiffs claim that they were promised that the movie would never be released in the U.S. and that they were then taken to a bar and given alcohol to help them loosen up. Additionally they were encouraged to continue drinking throughout the filming and then signed the movie release forms while completely wasted.

The plaintiffs claim they suffered "humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional and physical distress, loss of reputation, goodwill and standing in the community..." because the movie was indeed released in the U.S.

While the tactics used to get these boys to agree to participate in the movie were definitely underhanded I'm not sure any Court will rule in their favor. Sometimes you just have to bear the responsibility for your stupid behavior. And drinking to excess and then publically making pro-slavery, and anti-Semitic comments definitely qualifies as stupid.

But I bet Mel Gibson can sympathize with their plight.

Posted by: David

Forbes.com rates the world's most expensive coffee beans. Now we must make a distinction here. We're not talking world's most expensive cup of coffee-just the coffee beans.

But for serious coffee connoisseurs, people who are looking for a world-class drink rather than a "gourmet" cup, the top fare is made from the highest-quality beans in the world. The beans come from very specific regions and are prized for their unique characteristics. Cultivated on small farms, they are coddled by farmers who care more about quality than quantity.

For example:

St. Helena coffee, for instance, is a high-quality coffee grown on the remote South Atlantic island to which Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled in 1815. Then there's the Indonesian Kopi Luwak, a coffee that is only roasted after it's been eaten and excreted by a palm civet.

These beans can retail for up to $100 a pound. But if you're interested and need to justify buying some of this lovely coffee, there's information on that, too.

"If you pay $10 per pound for the coffee you brew at home, a cup of coffee costs less than a Coke from a 12-pack," Howell points out. Even if you pay twice as much for a pound of beans, an entire pot of coffee will still cost less than a glass of wine from a $10 bottle.

Posted by: David

Relevant Magazine has a poetry review of Rod Jellema's new collection of poems. I don't know much about Jellema, but I found a short bio and a few poems here.

If I can get my mitts on the book, I'll try to give you my take on it, but from what I'm reading about it, this sounds like an exciting find.

But occasionally poets speak into our lives, taking the old and overused metaphors and turning them on their heads, helping us to reimagine our world. Rod Jellema’s beautiful and accessible book of poetry, A Slender Grace, highlights the need for darkness in an age of glare.

Posted by: David

Borat has been banned in Russia for offensive material.

The movie had been scheduled to open in 300 theaters nationwide in Russia on November 30 and the distributor, 20th Century Fox in Russia, can still appeal against the Federal Culture and Cinematography Agency's refusal to grant the license.

Also, I believe Stu at House Calls mentioned this, but you can find a review of the movie, from a Christian perspective at Plugged In Online. Please note, the objectionable content in the film is discussed openly.

Posted by: Denelle

One thing is certain. Not only has Borat managed to be number one at the box office over the weekend, brining in an estimated $26.5 million - one of the largest openings ever for a film with limited release, but it has also stirred up things here at 90&9. A mid-week cover? Be still my heart! Check out "Borat & Pentecostals: God Always Gets the Last Laugh!" and let us know what you think.

I would also like to clarify that my comments about blaspheming were not intended toward any of the unsuspecting and well meaning people who were part of the Mississippi Camp Meeting where this was filmed. Rather toward Sasha Baron Cohen, the comedian who created and portrays Borat.

However, one reader pointed out that in order to be guilty of blaspheming the Holy Ghost you must first have the Holy Ghost. I will admit that I am not a theologian, I've never looked it up, and my comments were most definitely filtered through the fact that I've hace the Holy Ghost since I was six. Prior to this I've never really considered blaspheming outside of the context of the Church. In doing some quick research on the internet it seems generally accepted that while you don't have to have the Holy Ghost to blaspheme against it, you do have to be knowledgeable of what you're doing. Basically, blaspheming in ignorance is a different (and forgivable matter) as compared to willing and knowingly committing blasphemy. I'd be more than willing to hear from someone who is a theologian that could clear this up.

Scripture clearly tells us that "God is not mocked" (Rom. 3:8) and if you look at people in the past who have mocked God (John Lennon is just one example) it becomes obvious that it is a dangerous pastime. The bottom line is that it bothers me to see someone mocking what is the most precious gift in the world. Especially when you know that receiving the Holy Ghost would be the single most wonderful thing that could ever happen to them.

"We're Sorry"

Despite the fact that I am overjoyed that the Cardinals won the World Series, I know that there are many people out there who were very disappointed. And I'll admit that even I expected the series to be a bit more of a challenge - more like the Cards/Mets match-up. After all, the Tigers had a great year and the Cardinals were only so-so.

And now it seems that the "truth" has come to light. Even the Cardinals were rooting for the Tigers.

According to Cardinals players, they "tried absolutely everything" in their pursuit to earn the Tigers their first world championship since 1984, including eliminating the far more dangerous New York Mets in the NLCS, entering the series completely unrested after a grueling seven-game series, starting a rookie pitcher with five career wins in Game 1 in Detroit, and postponing Game 4 due to rain in the hopes that an off day would swing the momentum back in the Tigers' favor.

Who would have guessed? I know I'm shocked.

Actually, this is just a parody from that home of satirical goodness, "The Onion". However, it is a very entertaining read and does manage to point out the fact that the Tigers had every opportunity to win but simply couldn't pull it together.

Check out the entire thing HERE.

Posted by: David

I'm not the sharpest of political observers and definitely don't claim to be a pundit, but the small part of my brain that does comprehend politics did draw the following conclusions.

1. The War in Iraq drove the ousting of the Republicans and the electing of the Democrats.

2. The Republicans, even while in control of both houses and the White House, have not governed very strongly. They have moved much too far away from the Contract With America days. That hurt them at the ballot box.

3. Many of the Democratic candidates who won did so with a moderate message which indicates that Americans do not favor the politics of polarization that have become common in Washington.

4. President Bush, in an effort to demonstrate that he is willing to work with the new Congress, not only raised the white flag of surrender, he offered Donald Rumsfeld to demonstrate just how nice a guy he is!

I know that I stated I was sick of politics in a recent blog, but yes I did vote, and yes I did read the news the following morning (I did not, however, stay up all night watching the media pretend to actually have a clue as to what was going to happen before it actually could be verified). Now, I'm done with my political side for two years, unless something really news worthy comes along, which it likely will.

Posted by: kdc

90&9 just published its first mid-week cover ever (thank God for the new technology!), due to its timeliness! Go read "Borat & Pentecostals: God Always Gets the Last Laugh!" & then drop us your thoughts!

ALSO: Expect some commentary Thursday or Friday on said movie and its participating Pentecostals on this very blog!

Posted by: Denelle

Someone emailed me some screen caps from Borat's appearance on the Today Show and I thought you might like to see them. I also I went and found the link for the clip so you can see what's going on. The clip of what you see below is at the very beginning of the Borat interview with Matt Lauer (edited because the direct link isn't working so use this link and then click on the direct link under the interview with the new Bond girl/Latest in Today's Entertainment) .




Scenes like this one (and the one in the antique store) were filmed in one take and with those participating (minus Borat and the videographer) entirely unaware. However, it is my understanding that in order for the final elements to make it into the movie those involved had to give their consent.

See the entire clip on YouTube here. (sorry, the YouTube link has been removed at the request of the movie studio because it was used without permission)

I understand that this is 1. comedy and 2. that this guy pokes fun at . . . well, everyone but I can't help but feel like the whole thing with attending a service and "getting the Holy Ghost" seems to be walking the dangerously thin line of blaspheming the Holy Ghost. And it makes me very uncomfortable.

Has anybody heard Greg Godwin's reaction to this?

Posted by: Denelle

I love when Apostolics show up in the news -- well, as long as it's for something legal and not crazy, contrary to popular belief in religious circles all press is not good press. Anyway, it is nice to see Apostolics getting some attention because it makes people more aware and hopefully curious about us and this has been a busy couple of weeks for just that kind of thing.

First off we had Tommy Tenney's movie One Night With The King which was released and if on-line movie reviews can be believed has been pretty well accepted by movie goers (2.5 stars or a B+ from most critics) and whose box office sales aren't too shabby for a Christian movie either (Yahoo movies says it's at almost $8M). Despite some criticism of the script people are obviously checking it out.

Then a little bird passed along the information that in the new movie Borat, the main character, in a significant scene, attends a Greg Godwin revival and receives the Holy Ghost. And yes, if you're wondering, Greg Godwin is in the movie as well. I

And finally, on September 7, 2006, Gaddi Vasquez was sworn in as an Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, based in Rome. The agencies' mission is to help eradicate world hunger and create better agricultural programs in a world where one child dies from hunger every five seconds. Vasquez has served as a minister in the Apostolic Assemblies and his parents have pastored an Apostolic church in the city of Orange, CA, for many years. Additionally, Vasquez served as the head of the Peace Corps for several years before accepting his new appointment. You can find more information about Gaddi Vasquez, this appointment and his new opportunity for ministry on E-LightInspirations.

Posted by: Denelle

Or, if you will, The Brick Testament . . .



Somebody out there has way too many Legos and way too much time on their hands.

A friend sent me this site and I have to say that it is one of the funniest, most creative, most entertaining things I've seen in a LONG time. Best of all it is direct from scripture and as far as I've seen, completely accurate. New stuff is being added regularly so check back often. So far Exodus is by far my favorite.

Posted by: David

Last night I had the privilege of addressing the youth group in our weekly H2O service. Our theme right now is "Unmasking Your Identity", and my topic was specifically regarding our future identities in the Kingdom.

Hebrews 11:20 says that Isaac blessed Esau and Jacob in regards to their future. A few keys to finding our future in Christ are found in lives of these three individuals.

Commit. Esau despised his birthright, trading a future inheritance for a very small momentary reward. Often, we are tempted to do the same-trading what God has for us in His Kingdom for whatever worldly pleasure catches our eye today. We must remain committed to what God has for us.

Continue. Jacob was not favored by his father, and he was deceived by his uncle. However, he continued to build altars to God and promised his life to Him. We must continue moving forward even when things do not appear to be going our way.

Connect. Jacob and Esau's father, Isaac, blessed them regarding their future. We all need strong mentors in our lives who will pray for us, dream with us, and help us find direction. Prayerfully consider someone who could be your mentor, life coach, and prayer partner.

By following these three guidelines, we can achieve all that God has for us to be in His Kingdom.

Posted by: David

A couple of summers ago, my wife met a teenage girl at summer youth camp and subsequently stayed very close to her in an effort to impact her life for Christ. One of the things this girl struggled with was "cutting". Many of her friends also did the same.

My 14 year old niece recently informed me that "all" of her friends cut themselves. So when I ran across this article from Focus on the Family, I found it very informative about this disturbing trend.

I would rush home, take a knife from my desk and escape to a private place where I'd carve wounds into my skin. Frantic self-abuse and physical pain drowned out the emotional pain I was feeling, if only for a short time. Nursing my wounds, I felt oddly comforted, guilty and aware that, next time, it would take even more pain to find that brief release. I was a freak with a secret. Little did I know how many teen cutters guard that same dark secret.

Experts call cutting "the new anorexia" because, like an eating disorder, it is a self-destructive attempt to control painful thoughts and unexpressed emotions. Current research places the number of self-injurers at about 4 percent of the general population,and as many as 10 percent of American teenage girls.