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Posted by: David Bunch

Check out 90&9 Executive Editor Kent Curry's cover article on the great television debate. (remember we are still publishing at the dot com site). In this thesis Kent redefines the terms of the debate in an attempt to bring clarity and insight into what has become an all out war of words.

The battle for position in the UPC’s Great TV Debate has begun in earnest. After last year’s resolution to allow advertising on television was delayed for one year, with the promise of in-depth research being released in a future issue of The Forward, the UPC’s ministerial magazine, the issue died down. That is no longer the case.

Whether you’re a minister or not, this issue directly affects you—both in the future direction of your individual church and the public perception of your beliefs. However, there has to be room for a more nuanced debate than the mostly “all or nothing” stands currently being proclaimed.

Posted by: David Bunch

Here's a great column in Newsweek magazine about an Apostolic church and it's positive impact on the author's autistic brother.

We bowed our heads to pray while a slim woman, in a modest plum blouse and long flowered skirt, held his other hand and began to speak out loud to herself in an unknown, indecipherable language. Growing up, we often heard Tim talking to himself for hours on end. "Do you ever do that?" I whispered. "I have, but I won't do it today," he told me.

The entire article is touching and portrays the Apostolic movement and the infilling of the Spirit in a positive light.

How do you feel?" I asked him, "Elated," he said, his intense hazel eyes growing wide. "Do you think the rest of the family will come, too?" he asked as he clutched a black leather Bible none of us knew he owned. I hope they do.

Posted by: David Bunch

90&9 editor Kent Curry received a press release announcing that Chris Tomlin won 6 Dove Awards including artist of the year for the second consecutive year.

sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records lead-worshiper Chris Tomlin was named the 2007 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year for the second consecutive year last night during the 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. In a week filled with industry accolades, Tomlin also was named ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year with “Made To Worship” and “How Great Is Our God” receiving Most Performed Songs of 2006 honors. As Tomlin’s songs are being sung in the church, they also continue to receive widespread radio airplay. In all, Tomlin currently claims 5 of the top 40 hits on the R&R AC Monitored Christian radio chart, including the current single from See The Morning, “How Can I Keep From Singing” (#4), and the former No. 1 songs, "Made To Worship" (#19), "How Great Is Our God" (#22), "Holy Is The Lord" (#23) and "Indescribable" (#31). The latter three songs from the RIAA Certified Gold album, Arriving, have remained on the illusive play list for an average of nearly two years!

For a complete list of Dove winners go here.

Posted by: David Bunch

Music artist Neal Morse, who espouses some sort of Christianity, has posted the following on his website's message boards:

“So, I am not a Trinitarian, or oneness, or any kind of title. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Christianity Today, in an article on Morse, wrote the following:

And so Morse, whom we've covered in the past as a "Christian artist," is now being covered in "Glimpses of God," which typically features secular artists who are exploring themes of faith—musical "seekers," as it were. Morse may well be a Christian; that is not for us to judge. But as long as he adheres to such non-traditional—and some would say heretical—beliefs, we will not cover him as a "Christian artist."

Not believing the Trinity now "heretical"?

Posted by: David Bunch

Here's a great editorial in Time Magazine that call on American culture to stop trying to explain serial killers (like Cho) on their terms and to realize that the bottom line is narcissism-"it's all about them".

Something similar is now going on with Cho, whose florid writings and videos were an almanac of gripes. "I'm so lonely," he moped to a teacher, failing to mention that he often refused to answer even when people said hello. Of course he was lonely.

In Holocaust studies, there is a school of thought that says to explain is to forgive. I won't go that far. But we must stop explaining killers on their terms. Minus the clear context of narcissism, the biographical details of these men can begin to look like a plausible chain of cause and effect--especially to other narcissists. And they don't need any more encouragement.

Posted by: David Bunch

Dickens World theme park is opening in England next month and it looks really cool! Anyone that has ever read any of Chuck's stuff (okay okay that's a little profane) should find it decidedly fascinating that such a theme park has been conceptualized, built, and now about to open.

A new theme park inspired by the work of Charles Dickens aims to transform a 70,000-square-foot warehouse near London into a teeming — and family-friendly — corner of Victorian England.

The indoor attraction includes a central square of cobbled streets and crooked buildings, where staff dressed as pickpockets and wenches will mingle with the crowds. Visitors who pay the $25 admission charge — $15 for children — will have the chance to see the Ghost of Christmas Past in Ebeneezer Scrooge's haunted house, be hectored by a schoolmaster at Dotheboys Hall — the dismal school from "Nicholas Nickleby" — and peer into the fetid cells of notorious Newgate Prison.

Tourists can also have a meal in the cafeteria, which has resisted the temptation to offer "Please, sir can I have some more?" 2-for-1 specials. The little ones can play in Fagin's Den, an area for preschoolers named — alarmingly, some might think — after the gangmaster of the band of thieves in "Oliver Twist."

The official website is here.

Posted by: Jared

Boo! Did I scare anybody? Did anybody miss me? I suppose the, "I was abducted by aliens" excuse won't work, so how about the "I was working really hard on my thesis and then my daughter arrived last week and so I've spent all my time staring at her" excuse?
No, seriously, if good intentions count for anything, I would have made at least several dozen entries, but I haven't been given the gift of telepathic blogging (more like the gift of "pathetic" blogging!). It's just that the center of my universe now weighs 7 pounds and some change, has the cutest little scowl and the softest, thickest black hair I've ever seen; she really is daddy's little princess. Every time I think of her (no matter how hard I find it to understand Mikhail Bakhtin's ideas of texts as dialogic or some other part of my thesis), I can't help but smile. It's such a "cool" experience to enjoy someone simply for existing; we live in a world where we all are valued mainly for what we can do not simply for being alive (Where does such a system leave quadripalegics and those with severe mental handicaps?). My daughter is beautiful and wonderful simply because she is my daughter.
And diapers don't bother me at all. I have evidence and witnesses; I do change the dirty ones, too! Of course, Bill Cosby said God doesn't add the smell until 6 months later. So we'll see how long this aspect of "dedicated daddy" lasts!
Apologies for not checking in sooner. My wife just called; she's putting Shaelyn in her bouncy seat for the first time! Gotta run--daddy duty's callin'!

Posted by: Denelle

OK, so I'm not working late tonight and I don't have school and I'm stalling on editing my paper . . . but all of those factors have combined to give me enough free time to finally figure out how to embed YouTube videos here so that you don't have to try and hunt them down to watch.

That being said, I knew that the church I use to attend in Bellflower has posted several YouTube videos of the short flims and movie sections of Virtual Hell that they've done (90&9 did several feature articles on them in January/February 2006 - follow the links to read more). I know I'm closely connected to this group and probably a bit biased but I can't help but be incredibly proud of everything they've accomplished and how incredibly talented they are.

Take a look at the intro to last year's VH.





I'm very excited because AEM is currently working on two projects. One is a short film that is designed specifically for formats like blogs and YouTube and the other is their first feature length film which will hopefully start production this summer.

Sidenotes:

The voiceover is done by Eric Roemheld (who 90&9 interviewed), an apostolic and a veteran of the entertainment industry who currently works on CSI:New York.

The first guy you see with the binoculars is my brother. I love my bubba.

You can find more AEM videos by going to YouTube and searching under Roemheld or Aoki. The "missing the rapture" video has over 1,800 hits!

Posted by: Denelle

Check out this video.

It's a presentation done by a UPCI church from Oslo, Norway, at the UPCI All-Regional Conference in Holland (August 2006). It is absolutely fabulous.

Posted by: David Bunch

I just finished reading this most incredible book called C.S. Lewis's Case for Christ by Art Lindsley. Upon finishing, I literally had the urge to turn to the first page and start all over again.

I found it by accident at the local library, but I plan to purchase it next chance I get and add it to my library. It's one of those books that need to be highlighted and scribbled in.

The book gives a very approachable overview of all of C.S. Lewis' apologetics, but far from being a simple repetition of the great writer's viewpoints, Lindsley sets the book up at a weekly book club meeting, with a fictitious character named John leading the discussion and giving information about C.S. Lewis' theology in the process. Each character in the circle offers objections, which of course Lewis' words are able to refute.

This book is the perfect introduction to those who have never read Lewis's more serious works or for someone who would like to have a condensed version of his thoughts.

And if all that isn't enough, go get the book and read thru the "for further reading" section in the appendix. It's a "who's who" among theologians, philosophers, scientists and psychologists.

Great fun!

The only objection I have to it is the title. Lee Strobel has a book called The Case for Christ and it seems like Lindsley could have chosen something more original.

Posted by: David Bunch

I wanted to give everyone the link to the Benson's blog. They are a phenomenal family who have just been appointed as missionaries to Togo/Central African Republic. The blog will trace their journeys on deputation and on to the missions field.

We are so excited for them and pray that the adventure God has sent them on will be fruitful for the Kingdom and for their family.

Pray for the Bensons that they will have a speedy deputation and an abundant harvest in Africa. You may never go to Africa yourself but here is a family who has sold out totally to the vision for Africa that God has given them. And you can be a part of the harvest by keeping them in your prayers. And if God leads you to partner with them financially, you can make contact with them thru the blog.

Godspeed, Bensons!

Posted by: David Bunch

The Pulitzer Prizes were announced yesterday, and as always I like to bring you the winner in the poetry category.

The 2007 prize for poetry went to Natasha Trethewey for "Native Guard". It was interesting to me to note that she is from Gulfport, MS, a town not so far away from Baton Rouge and one that was affected greatly by Hurricane Katrina.

Growing up in the Deep South, Natasha Trethewey was never told that in her hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi, black soldiers had played a pivotal role in the Civil War. Off the coast, on Ship Island, stood a fort that had once been a Union prison housing Confederate captives. Protecting the fort was the second regiment of the Louisiana Native Guards — one of the Union's first official black units. Trethewey's new book of poems pays homage to the soldiers who served and whose voices have echoed through her own life.

The title poem imagines the life of a former slave stationed at the fort, who is charged with writing letters home for the illiterate or invalid POWs and his fellow soldiers. Just as he becomes the guard of Ship Island's memory, so Trethewey recalls her own childhood as the daughter of a black woman and a white man. Her parents' marriage was still illegal in 1966 Mississippi. The racial legacy of the Civil War echoes through elegiac poems that honor her own mother and the forgotten history of her native South. Native Guard is haunted by the intersection of national and personal experience.

(The above taken from the already referenced Pulitzer website which credits the book's jacket for the information).

Here is a poem by Natasha Trethewey.

Posted by: Denelle

We are still having technical difficulties with the mothership this week. We should have new content up on ninetyandnine.com tomorrow morning. Check back then or check in here, we'll have an update for you.

I have to finish my IPE paper and presentation tonight so pray for me. It may be a long night.

Posted by: David Bunch

Denelle, I'm hoping that if Chumley's goes then you will be able to start a grassroots movement to have a marker placed on the site to commemorate the true historical significance of the place. It should read something like this:

Chumley's once stood here. Now famous for being visited by Brad and Dave in December of 2004 during their historic tour of NYC.

Posted by: David Bunch

We gave you the cold hard facts about the fraudulent Jesus Tomb Story, and now the so called experts featured on the documentary are taking a step back from their statements and further damaging what little credibility the story tried to maintain.

Several prominent scholars who were interviewed in a bitterly contested documentary that suggests that Jesus and his family members were buried in a nondescript ancient Jerusalem burial cave have now revised their conclusions, including the statistician who claimed that the odds were 600:1 in favor of the tomb being the family burial cave of Jesus of Nazareth, a new study on the fallout from the popular documentary shows.

Even some of the scholars who were interviewed for and appeared in the film are questioning some of its basic claims. The most startling change of opinion featured in the 16-page paper is that of University of Toronto statistician Professor Andrey Feuerverger, who stated those 600 to one odds in the film. Feuerverger now says that these referred to the probability of a cluster of such names appearing together.

There's more, including this:

But according to Pfann, Cross said in an e-mail that he was skeptical about the film's claims, not because of a misreading of the ossuary, but because of the ubiquity of Biblical names in that period in Jerusalem.

Once again Truth stands on its own.

Posted by: Denelle

I'm posting this here mostly for David and Bradley (perhaps Kent) and for the few of you who are either 1. history buffs, 2. literature buffs, or 3. have a headful of useless knowledge (that's me), that may also be interested.

After 85 years of business Chumley's on the Lower East Side may no longer be. I say may because it seems there is still some question as to the fate of the former speakeasy.

On April 5, an internal chimney collapsed forcing the closure and evacuation (there are resdidential apartments above the business) of the building. Additionally, the external facade of the building is said to be buckling. The building is landmarked and is in a landmarked district so it cannot be demolished without certain steps and precautions being taken but the jury is still out on whether or not the building will actually be salvagable.

Chumley's notoriously has no sign or marking to distinguish it on the outside (you just have to know that it's located at 86 Bedford Street). Originally a blacksmith's shop in the 1830s, tradition has it that it became a save haven where slaves, who had escaped through the underground railroad, could take refuge before meeting their next contact (usually from the NY black community).

In the 1920s it had become a speakeasy and gambling hall that operated continually throughout the prohibition years. In fact, it is rumored that the term "86 it" came from the local policemen (obviously on the take) who during this period would calljust prior to a raid and say "86 it" to tip off the owner that his patrons should scram.

By the 1930s it was a literary haven for the most creative minds of our time. Hemingway, Lardner, Mailer, F. Scott Fitzgerald, E.E. Cummings, all frequented the restaurant and bar and their pictures and signed book jackets hang on the walls. The tables and bar at Chumley's are covered with names, some famous and some not, of patrons who have carved their identity into the wood.

Personally, I hope that the building owner (reportedly one of the worst landlords in the city), and the various city departments involved in deciding what to do with this gem of NY history try everything in their power to keep the building and the business. If it goes I am terrified to see what will show up in its place. The last thing this city needs is another Starbucks, Duane Reed or a Bank.

(Google Chumley's for more info on the collapse, most of it is from blogs so be warned, it's difficult to vouch for the authenticity of people's stories or the fate of the building but it's fascinating reading)

Posted by: David Bunch

Here is an article on internet confessionals, a trend that has apparently become popular among young people-religious and otherwise.

What's good for the soul is great for the Internet. Chat rooms and confessional sites are exploding in popularity -- dailyconfession.com receives as many as 1.3 million hits a day -- as young people become more comfortable sharing intimate secrets and seeking advice online.

Sarah, a 19-year-old from Ontario, Canada, said in a telephone interview that Internet confessional sites such as dailyconfession.com can become almost "a mini-support group," providing in her case a forum for sharing her conflicted feelings about a drug-addicted parent."The idea of confessing isn't necessarily about right and wrong. It's about unloading a burden," she said. "It's almost cathartic."

The article goes on to discuss the repercussions this has on those denominations that require their parishioners to confess to a church official, but to me the point that people are wanting to connect with others who will listen to their feelings and their failings says something about the opportunity we have to minister to people around us every day.

Sometimes all we have to do is listen.

Posted by: Denelle

Incase you ever need to plan a vacation to Paris you know you can always count on the excellent advice of the internet.

1. Go to Google.com

2. Go to Maps.

3. Click on Get Directions.

4. Enter from New York, New York to Paris, France.

5. Step #23 is particularly helpful.

Hope everyone is having an excellent week and has survived the sugar rush from Sunday.

Smile! It's Wednesday!

Posted by: David Bunch

Stu from House Calls left a comment on my tattoo post and I do humbly thank him for bringing to my attention that he had a recent post on tattoos in which he called for someone to speak out on the issue from an AP point of view. I saw the piece but admit that I did not read it closely and missed the call out (a mistake I won't make again!).

When I posted yesterday I didn't make the connection to Stu's post and unwittingly became the AP General of Tattoo Statements.

Posted by: David Bunch

Here's a story of one pastor in Colombus who decided that the best way for his congregation to celebrate on Easter Sunday was to have someone get a cross tattoo-in the sanctuary.

When you think of an Easter service, you probably don’t picture 30 parishioners gathered around, looking on as a guy named Iggy presses a tattoo gun into a fellow parishioner’s forearm. Nathan Feathers, the young pastor of this new alternachurch, wanted to add a jolt of adrenaline to his Easter service, something edgier than the church’s resident rock band.

Feathers practices what he preaches:

Feathers himself has two tattoos, the co-pastor of the church has seven, and much of the congregation is inked to one degree or another.

Huh? I thought the Bible spoke against tattoos.

“ Leviticus 19 does say something against tattoos,” Feathers said. “But at that time, tattoos were a symbol of worship of idol gods. That’s not what tattoos are for now.”

No, we don't have idols of stone in our culture these days, but are people not making gods of themselves-and their bodies? Tattoos at worst are a desecration of the body (which should be the Temple of the Holy Spirit) and at best are nothing more than self glorification (decorating the body in a twisted attitude of self worship).

There is a such thing as the church relating to culture but this unholy attempt was misguided and almost blasphemous.

Posted by: David Bunch

This week's webzine can be read at 90&9.com. It has been moved temporarily due to technical issues at the dot net site. This week you'll find some interesting Apostolic news and also see the Big Question and comments. Enjoy!

Posted by: kdc

Check out what one Pentecostal church in Florida is doing to snag seekers! Fresh, original & interesting. (Something most churches can do with ease.) They'll be passing out cards with just this myspace address on it.

The ad just went live this weekend, so hopefully we will report back in the near future on it results.

Know of any other cool attempts at snagging seekers out there?

Labels: Ads, Myspace

Posted by: kdc

So I was reading my latest issue of The Atlantic Monthly - a must-source for what's going on in the world - & got to the latest column on media, written by VH1's president. It's entitled "The Case for Reality TV" & makes the argument that reality TV merges the best of documentaries and drama, without the traditional biases and restrictions of either. And look who scored a paragraph in the midst of a larger article but our own Apostolic Hoover family!

And they pulled the perfect quote you'd like thousands to read:

Labels: Wife Swap. Reality Show. Hoovers.

Posted by: David Bunch

Technical problems continue to rule over at 90&9, but fear not. The goal is to have a new issue posted tomorrow (Friday). If not, the new content will posted at the "dot com" website on Monday.

Posted by: Denelle

It's Heather Blackshear . . . pastor's wife from Anchorage, Alaska. AND she's on the Late Show with David Letterman!

CLICK HERE to see her do the current events section with Dave.

I'm jealous. I've always wanted to attend a taping of the Late Show, and it's filmed just a few blocks from where I work, unfortunately they film the show at like 3pm (so much for late) so I've never gotten a chance to go.

For now I'll just live vicariously through Heather and her husband.

Posted by: David Bunch

Big Mac has pulled off the repeat victory and is 90&9's NCAA Tournament Pool champion for the second year in a row! It all came down to whether Florida or Ohio State won (if Ohio State had won Jaime McDonald would have taken home the big prize). But as you now know, Florida has repeated as NCAA basketball champs and so has Bobby McDonald (Brad's father).

And speaking of Brad's family, the McDonald clan certainly pulled off the trifecta, with Jaime finishing second and Shirley (aka Mimi) finishing 3rd.



Here's a list of the top 5 finishers:

BMac
Jaime McDonald
ShirleyMc
Riverside Dawgs
(Tie) The Viktims and Lee Ann

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Also, be sure to read Kent's thoughts on the media coverage (or lack thereof) of the championship aftermath euphoria. His comments really put our cultural attitudes in perspective and it also made me realize, once again, that media equals hype. As Kent points out, the media/culture are always looking for the next big thing, and I add that the media are also in the business of "hyping" everybody all the time to increase reader/viewer numbers and therefore satisfy advertisers. The result is that as soon as one "hyped" event ceases, it becomes time to start "hyping" the next event immediately. I guess that's why we're all so "hyper"active.

Posted by: Denelle

Things have been quite hectic around here this week and will probably only get crazier. The semester is quickly wrapping up for me (only three more weeks) and that of course means papers and tests and presentations, oh my!

I thought I would take a minute and share with you all a small glimpse into the kind of things I am studying. In February I was priviledged to be able to attend UNIFEM's Tenth Anniversary of the Trustfund to End Violence Against Women, held at the United Nations. I admit to in the past being a bit leery of getting in too deeply with women's studies (and for what I think are sound reasons I still am) due to the fact that it quickly becomes a quagmire of trivial and often immoral issues. However, as a Christian I think that one thing we can all agree on is that violence against women cannont and should not be tolerated. Unfortunately, I also think that often we are so concerned with the "greater" or more obvious evils in our world that women who are mistreated (even in our own fellowship) are overlooked or ignored.

The UNIFEM Trustfund is working around the globe to help women who have been the victims of violence in war, through trafficking, by rape or domestic violence, poverty, etc. Their goal is to help these women receive the aid they need to rebuild their lives starting with healthcare and mental healthcare to help them deal with trauma, education/job training to help them improve their standards of living, and micro-finance to provide small loans (some as little as $50) to allow women to start their own businesses so that they can support themselves and their families.

Below is a link to a PSA that UNIFEM just released. It is only 30 seconds long but is impacting.

UNIFEM PSA

Can we really deny that there is a suffering world out there that needs our help and compassion as Christians?

You may not be comfortable in donating to UNIFEM, UNHCR, or UNICEF but I encourage you to check out Compassion Services International or other Christian relief organizations and find a way to better our world (the Solomon Island Tsunami relief effort is a great place to start).

Posted by: kdc

As Florida celebrated their big win over Ohio State last night, I was once again struck by America's inability to probe joy. After the obligatory "how does it feel?" opening, the questions focused on whether Florida's 3 primary players (Brewer, Horford, Noah) would go pro & whether the coach would take Kentucky's coaching position. So much for the celebration. So much for being the first team to repeat in 15 years. All the media wants to know is, What's going to happen next?

Sports Illustrated had articles on the game, but also "Top Contenders for Next Season" & "Who Should Go Pro & Who Shouldn't." Hello? The Gators haven't even had their victory parade (or equivalent) & we're talking about the Top 10 of 2008? Are we really?

We appear to be unable to enjoy the moment. Instead, we're impatient for "The Next." What's going to happen next is all that matters - even if it doesn't matter. Especially if it's trivial. (So what if the Big 3 turn pro? How does that change anything for the near future? So what if Mizzou is in a pre-pre-preseason Top 10. Wait until they play their first game, yes?) Florida's happiness is yesterday's news. What's going to happen tomorrow?

Seems to me joy and peace are the only two things Satan can't imitate - & should be de rigueur for Holy Ghost-filled Christians. In a society with so little joy and almost no peace, ours should shine all the brighter. Yet, both require a willingness to stop the mindlessness of "the next" for the immediacy of "the now." It's in the unadulterated now that relationships are built and souls are saved.

Perhaps we should be teaching our world how much fun each moment can be; because if we don't, who else can in a world where even national champions are held hostage to the tyranny of tomorrow?

Labels: joy, NCAAs, tyranny of tomorrow

Posted by: kdc

I received an ecstatic phone call this evening proclaiming that our Apostolic Wife Swap family has snagged its first soul!

Tonight, April 1, 2007, a lady who had felt drawn to talk to Kristen about God but didn't, was prompted by their TV appearance to actually contact her. A month of Bible studies followed & tonight she was water baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost with the irrefutable evidence of speaking in tongues!

Who knew when God talked to her at last year's Azusa Street celebration what path He would take them on to bring this lady to Jesus?

Also, they've brought 5 visitors to church on one recent Sunday, all credited to their Wife Swap exposure.

Kristen reports the area soccer moms continue to ask her about this TV experience, continuing to create opportunities to share God's love and biblical truth.

God works in mysterious ways doesn't He?

Labels: Hoovers, Reality TV, Wife Swap

Posted by: kdc

Unfortunately, ninetyandnine.net is having some tech probs, so new content will be uploaded soon, but not immediately.

Thank you for understanding.