Some great advice from Abraham Lincoln provides the foundation of my comments today. It’s amazing that people never change from era to era, just the manner in which they mess things up.

During this time of politics, partisanship and “change we can believe in”, it’s important to flesh out truth from rhetoric. Here is the first of Honest Abe’s advice:

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

And yet, that is the primary goal of most of the world, while only a miniscule fraction of humans still see, and use, God’s blessings of prosperity righteously.

Off the top of my head, here are a few people/groups that want to destroy anyone with wealth (unless that wealthy person is actually part of one of these groups): all of the Democrat party, most of the Republican party; the environmental movement; European socialists; Canadian socialist; race pimps like Sharpton, Jackson and Wright; global warmers; the government and welfare dependent who are constantly inflamed with class envy; malicious lawyers; the Supreme Court and liberal Judges all across the land… that’s what I thought of in 10 seconds. I’m sure we could double that list with a little thought.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

Again, same principle and same assailants. The Government continues to increase its control over individual citizens by ever expanding regulation and constraints on free market and creative business. On a larger scale, America allows itself to be weakened more and more every day by other countries who have NEVER accomplished what we have… and yet instead of insisting they do things OUR WAY (proven to be successful), we hang our heads in “white-Protestant-American” GUILT and apologize that we aren’t just like them. Insanity….

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

For all you young folks out there, THRIFT means saving money, living a more frugal lifestyle and not wasting money frivolously. America is destroying its historical prosperity by discouraging thrift. How?

Purchasing “lifestyle” on credit is the biggest culprit. The average credit card debt for Americans is $14,000 each (I would bet its more than that). We have “stuff” coming out our ears: multiple cars, TV’s, electronic gadgets, clothing, etc. We live a lifestyle of voracious consumption, entertainment and leisure, always wanting newer, faster, better and more expensive so that we can show off our “status”. Ironically, the average person who displays a high level of wealth visually, usually are the ones who are in the most debt. People who develop financial discipline, have no debt, and use money wisely, typically have very modest looking levels of lifestyle. The former LOOKS wealthy, the latter actually is. It would seem in American that “image over substance” reigns supreme.

You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.

It is insanity to keep taxing the “evil rich” and the “evil corporations” into oblivion when it is those very same people who provide the jobs and benefits to the people who are screaming “tax them”. This is class envy and wealth envy at its worse. People are chopping off their own heads. Look to Europe and Canada to see the result of this. Generations of people have the largest and highest amounts of benefits in world history, all paid for by the people who actually work, the corporations who actually produce, and yet… their populations are dying, unemployment is rampant, abuse of “benefits” particularly disability is epidemic, and NONE of them are economic powerhouses. And still, America is enthralled with Europe/Canada and the media sets them up as the model of choice. Insanity…

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

Class hatred of all types is raging: race hate, wealth hate, class hate, political hate. People like Jeremiah Wright and Al Sharpton have encouraged an entire generation of blacks to see themselves as victims, and to hate their white “oppressors”. Below the surface, white people get sick of constantly being vilified and accused of being racists. Whites don’t say it publicly because they will be crushed for even implying they are NOT racists.

The truth is, the VAST majority of white people are not racist, and the same for blacks, Hispanics and Asian. The overwhelming majority of average people recognize true equality in all skin colors, but the government, the race lords, and the race fanatics (black, white and other) would be out of business if they didn’t constantly pound the drumbeat of racism.

The world is a boiling cauldron of class hatred, and the power-elite stir the pot because they know that it is easier to control, manipulate and enrage the masses if they are soaking in hatred towards others, feeling both victimized and entitled.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.

Which is why we see an alarming decrease in courage, integrity and personal character in America (and any other socialized country). This is the reason why primitive, violent cultures like Islam are invading and transforming entire nations like France, Spain, England, Canada, and more and more in America… those countries do not have the courage or the motivation to keep it from occurring.

The Government promises more “benefits” and programs to remove the need for personal responsibility (health care, welfare, day care, education, vacation, holidays, salary levels, etc) and lazy, greedy and gullible people JUMP at the opportunity to get something “free” at the cost of their freedom. Personal courage and character plummets in direct proportion to our abdication of personal responsibility and individual independence.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

What are some of things we should do for ourselves? Pretty much everything except the few things our wise Founding Fathers knew that we needed to collectively achieve: those things that only benefit the country as a whole that cannot be accomplished by the States or individuals, such as an Army to secure and defend the Nation. If we would adhere to this principle, about 90% of the current Government would disappear.

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America was warned by Alex De Tocqueville in the early 1800’s that she would remain “great” until the day that politicians and citizens figured out they could enrich themselves by voting from the public piggy bank. How true that was. Now we have politicians buying votes by promising to give money from the “public trough”, and we have citizens voting for the politician who can deliver the most “goodies”. The result? Corrupt politics, and weak masses of people who see the Government as their provider and security.

For every single thing the Government pretends to do for the people, the people abdicate their personal responsibility, and thus freedom which in turn permanently weakens America both individually and nationally.

Is American too far down the socialistic road and doomed to join the Europeans our elite are so enamored with? Probably. That’s not very optimistic, but probably pretty realistic especially looking ahead at our choices in this year’s elections.

But there are still plenty of good, God-fearing, personally-responsible people in America. Maybe we can make a long-term difference if we teach others and teach our kids these principles.

A reader asks:

Do you recommend a program for parents to monitor their kids on the computer?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I’ve tried a bunch of different “parental control” programs to monitor my kids on the computer, and the one I like best is https://www.iambigbrother.org/

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It records whatever you want, right down to the keystrokes. I’ve been able to get passwords and screen names to log on and check out what my kids are doing. It will take screen shots on triggered words, and allows you to track the time spent on each screen.

I caught one of my kids being less than truthful about doing homework on the computer, when the program showed they were spending most of their time playing an online game, and then flipping back to their homework when an adult walked in the room. You should have seen the look on their face when I showed them the proof.

It cannot be unloaded or bypassed by your tech-savvy kid either. I've used it for several years. What I did was install it, then SHOW my kids exactly what the program does, and what it tracked. Knowing they are being monitored pretty much keeps them from any monkey business to begin with.

What are your questions about kids and computers?

I have received several rebukes for my characterization of Todd Bentley as a false teacher and false prophet. Below is an informative exchange I had with one reader.

We ended up in total disagreement, but I must commend him for being gracious, respectful and sincere… when most people simply respond with emotional outbursts and name calling.

To the contrary, Brother, I am VERY careful when I speak of someone specifically on my public forum. For that reason, when I do warn my readers about someone, it is all the more reason to seriously consider what I'm saying. It is apparent that you have not read much of my writing or you would not accuse me of "easy criticism".

Todd Bentley is claiming visions that contradict Scripture WILDLY. Todd has spoken many, well-documented (how's a live video as documentation?) false prophecies. Todd has described numerous cultic experiences that are full of metaphysical non-Biblical and extra-Bible imagery, and frequently contradicts Scripture. He is BUTCHERS Scripture to support
his quirky ideas and outlandish stories. He is the embodiment of:

Col 2:18 - "... Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions."

This has nothing to do with "ruling out the supernatural". Apparently you don't read my writing much, or you would know that I never deny God's ability to do whatever He pleases to do, miraculous or otherwise. Stating the truth about false teachers, lying prophets and show-boating charlatans is hardly "ruling out the supernatural". To the contrary, the TRUE supernatural is nothing like the cartoonish nonsense Bentley heaps on psyched up crowds.

Criticism of Todd Bentley is not only well merited, we are commanded FREQUENTLY and PLAINLY in Scripture to call out and expose false teachers. I don't find any verses in the Bible about avoiding criticism of someone because they MIGHT be a "legitimate move of God" even after being proven a false prophet and a cultic story teller.

I have no problem, nor ever hesitate to repent, or admit a mistake when needed. You either 1) don't know Bentley's teaching, 2) don't know what I teach, or 3) don't know your Bible very well. Or maybe a combination of those.

I know that anytime I speak out directly about one of the self-proclaimed "prophets" who embarrass Christianity with their comical stories and charlatan antics, that I will offend readers who are quick to accept anything and everything as "a move of God", but fail to "test all spirits" as commanded by Scripture.

"1 John 4:1 - Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Todd Bentley is not only NOT a "move of God", the movement he is part of is not a "move of God" either. It is dangerous, experiential deception.

As I said originally, I don't judge another person's HEART... that is God's domain. I only judge what someone publicly teaches, what they claim, and what they do... compared to the unchangeable standard of God's Word. Am I judgmental? You bet. I judge public actions and words against God's Holy Word. Everyone is judgmental... it just depends on 1) if they will admit it, and 2) what they judge and how they judge it. The Bible does not say "don't judge"... it says don't judge INCORRECTLY or HYPOCRITICALLY.

Tough words? Yes, I admit that. I don't speak them lightly, nor do I make it a practice to speak about specific people except on the occasion that I am asked by a reader who sincerely seeks a clear answer devoid of political correctness, cowardice or ecumenical peer pressure. And, unless there is VERY clear public evidence, I don't declare an opinion about someone, positive or negative.

If you were to familiarize yourself with my overall teaching rather than reacting to one blog post, you'd probably decide to stop and take a serious look at what I'm saying. You have NOTHING to gain by blindly trusting that Todd Bentley MIGHT be a "legitimate move of God". You have MUCH To lose if you don't "test the spirits" before blindly accepting him.

Every time I have to point out something like this, people call me a judgmental-heresy-hunting-stuffy-shirted-spiritually-dead-Spirit-quenche r.... so I just saved you the effort.

Seriously, I hope you'll "test the spirits" as Scripture commands, instead of just hoping that Bentley "could very well be" a "legitimate move of God".

"1 John 4:1 - Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Reader:

I'm not surprised at your sharp response. Brent, I read the Bible through every single year! I have read it cover to cover many times! It is quite clear that we come from different perspectives. I, in fact, know the scriptures quite well. I am not intimidated by your suggestion that I should know them better. In fact, I am encouraged by it. As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another. I see things from the spiritual realm to the natural realm. The unseen things are eternal, Paul says. The things that we see are temporary. I believe that we should judge everything by scripture but I don't believe that the scriptures contain every supernatural revelation.

Quite honestly, the most important knowledge that I am interested in gaining further insight from are the scriptures themselves.

I pray that the eyes of your understanding will be opened to see the fullness of what God is doing today. What I look for, Brent, is the fruit of a person's ministry. For Todd Bentley, Heidi Baker, and the like, there is legitimate spiritual fruit. In Mozambique, where Todd has been several times, they have seen nearly 100 people raised from the dead, thousands healed, even thousands more saved, thousands of churches planted, Muslim imams coming to Christ. That's fruit!

Jesus said, "by their fruit you shall know them." Do some of what they do look crazy? Is Todd passionate?Absolutely. Would I do the same things Todd Bentley is doing? Not everything, because I'm not him.I'll admit that. But, I've learned to look deeper. I've grown up in the church, Brent. My father was a pastor, my grandfather was a pastor, my great great grandfather was a Methodist preacher. I know the church. I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. The sad thing about much of the American church today is the religious spirit that has pervaded it. It is deader than a doornail and, like the Pharisees, has muted the word of God with their own traditions. That's why the religious church finds it so hard to obey the direct command of Jesus to heal the sick, cleanse the leper, and raise the dead. They cannot give away what they do not have. All they have are their traditions. Jesus said that, you search the scriptures, thinking that they themselves will give you eternal life. ButJesus boldly declared in the scriptures thatHeis the bread of life. The scriptures themselves pointed to Jesus, but when He came, they didn't even recognize Him because they had formed an image in their own mind of what Messiah would look like. Much of the American church today should have Nazareth as a goal, where a few sick people are healed. At least it would be a start. But sadly enough, many have a form of godliness that denies the power of God.

Brent:

Thank you for a polite and serious response, rather than the knee jerk name calling I typically get from people who disagree. I appreciate that.

I do not limit God. I do not automatically dismiss those who claim supernatural experiences. I totally believe many stories of miracles that occur where the Gospel is being taken to the frontier of the lost world.

However, Brother, as for Bentley, pragmatism (apparent “fruit”) does not come close to counter-balancing his false prophecies, cartoonish tom-foolery on the stage, and absolute BUTCHERING of God’s Word to fit his experiences and showmanship.

I do not ask you, nor do I myself, dismiss the supernatural, or limit God.

I do however, test all spirits and measure them against God’s Word… and Bentley not only comes up short, he is easily proven over and over and over to be both a false prophet, and tale bearer of metaphysical, unbiblical tales. EASILY proven….

I would ask you as a Pastor to “test” his “fruit” against the Scripture you know so well, and see if you can convince yourself that he is not a false teacher COMPARED to the Bible. Since he teaches things routinely contrary and damaging to Scripture, you are left with a decision: accept Todd, or accept Scripture. You can honestly accept both without insult to both, because they are mutually exclusive.

Remember, God can use ANY situation to bear the fruit of salvation, but that does not mean the messenger is automatically of God. God draws harvest from every imaginable false arena. Bentley must be measured Scripturally, not pragmatically. What does he teach, measured against Scripture? Is he 100% accurate with his “prophecies”, which the Bible requires? He’s not just guilty of one false prophecy “made in the flesh”… he routinely speaks false prophecies. Are his “tales” Biblical? No, they are full of metaphysical, new age, demonic and extra-Biblical imagery.

Hundreds raised from the dead? Hogwash. For people like Bentley, if there was ONE irrefutable instance, it would be front page news, and presented daily to the whole world. Not one of the so-called Western “faith healers” can produce UNDISPUTABLE proof of a miraculous event.

Do I think GOD still does the miraculous? Absolutely… but in through men like Benny Hinn and Todd Bentley. They are showman, fleecing the flock and preying on the spiritually desperate and weak.

My “attitude” is that God is not limited.

It is not an “attitude” that causes me to judge the public statements of Bentley. It is a COMMAND from God to “test the spirits” and judge all “Bible teaching and Christians” against the Word of God.

Perhaps if more Christians had that “attitude” we wouldn’t flock to so many show-boating, tale bearing charlatans.

Reader:

The resurrections mentioned were nearly 100, not over 100. I have personally seen and heard the stories of medically verified resurrections and healings, including those I have personally prayed for and seen the medical results. Don't dismiss them so easily.

What if we applied your 100% rule to Peter, who clearly denied the Lord, or Paul who even killed other Christians, and both who had some serious disagreements with one another after they were believers regarding treatment of Jews and Gentiles. The fact remains that we are imperfect, fallible human beings that God still chooses to work through if we have faith. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith (I John 5:4). I think your struggle has to do with the more emotional aspects of Todd's ministry. He is very passionate. I have looked at some of the videos you have posted. I'm sure that Todd doesn't even claim to have never made any mistakes or to have missed it. I certainly wouldn't nor would you, I'm sure. I am sure thankful for grace, as I'm sure you are as well.

The question is does any revelation, which we see in scripture repeatedly and often, point us toward Jesus or away from Jesus? I believe that is the ultimate testing of the spirits. If it makes us more in love with Jesus and more connected to Him, that is a solid revelation because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life - no one comes to the Father any other way.

The religious church has a real problem with revelation because it can't control it. This is the same thing that Jesus ran into. He was sharing revelation that the Pharisees had never heard before and it violated their precious Talmud which they had created to interpret the Torah (God's Word). Scripturally, there is no time limit on miracles, signs, and wonders, and they should be common here in America as overseas. Jesus didn't say just heal the sick overseas. He simply said, heal the sick. Interesting fact. Whenever western culture invades a country, there almost always is a decrease in the miraculous because the Greek/Roman mindset tends to rule out the miraculous. Yet, when I read my Bible everyday, I can hardly go a day or two without seeing an angelic encounter, a healing, a miracle, prophetic words or dreams. It is very common in scripture. It is actually Biblically normal to operate in the supernatural.

Brent, I have been a follower of Jesus since the time I was a young boy. I have read the scriptures since I was young. The problem I always had was why don't we see the power of God operating today like we do in the scriptures. Set Todd Bentley aside for a moment. There are some serious commands in scripture that we cannot possibly obey without the power of the Holy Spirit. I have heard the cessasionist arguments about miracles only being for the apostles time or the modified cessasionist argument that they are only for where the gospel has never been preached. Those arguments are very weak scripturally.

Once our church began to love ("the greatest of these is love"), the power of God began to flow quite naturally. God spoke what would be described scripturally as a word of knowledge to me a couple of years ago regarding God's healing of someone in our service, and a man who had lost his eyesight, in of all places a bar fight, received his eyesight that day. He was so unreligious that he didn't know what to do with it at first. He said, "this is like Ripley's believe it or not." The doctor had told him that he would never see out of that eye again. God operates on a higher authority. His returned eye sight changed his life. He was able to get a better job and moved to Florida.

We have seen healing after healing after healing, but the foundation for it all is love. That's why the apostle John said that God is love. I know that God is pleased with your passion for His Word, Brent. I really see you as a Paul who had a similar passion. May God continue to give you greater understanding.

Brent:

Brother, you may disagree with Cessationist doctrine, but you can hardly call it “weak”.

This is basic stuff from the Bible you read every year. You are making arguments either from emotion, not Scripture.

The 100% rule applies to PROPHETS and making prophecies in the Lord’s name… not sin, or even denying Christ. It’s not “my 100% rule”… it’s GOD’S STANDARD FOR PROPHETS WHO SPEAK IN HIS NAME.

Deut 18:19-21 - 19 If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death." 21 You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD ?" 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

This has nothing to do with human imperfection, faults or failures. You are not speaking Biblically. Bentley proclaims to be a prophets, and like all the so-called prophets of today, makes flimsy and absurd excuses for not only not being 100% accurate, but rarely getting anything SPECIFIC right, EVER.

You can’t make MISTAKES in PROPHECY as a self-appointment “prophet of God”. Sorry. God’s Word couldn’t be more clear on how to “test the spirit” of a proclaimed “prophet”. If you, and an entire movement want to ignore the Bible, make excuses, and come up with wild explanations as to why God allows modern prophets “partial accuracy”… then go right ahead to your own peril. The Bible is CRYSTAL CLEAR on the standard of accuracy of prophecy.

You still don’t offer any explanation for his horrible butchering of Scripture when he teaches, and his cultic tale bearing that is CLEARLY contrary to Scripture at best, and demonic in origin at worse.

You offer nothing but the same old tired excuses and man-made arguments about judgmentalism, control, denying the Spirit, and not being “loving” for pointing out false teachers and lying signs and wonders.

Brother, as a Pastor, you are responsible to know God’s word, and test the spirits. You have offered nothing Biblical to support Bentley, only excuses and conjecture that overlooks his blatant falseness.

I believe you are operating out of an Old Covenant understanding of prophecy. Using the standard you have specified from the Law, both of us would be missing eyes and teeth right now.

The gospels clearly record the shift that happened to the gospel of the kingdom when Jesus came….

John clearly tells us what the spirit of prophecy should be, since Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law.

“Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Rev 19:10 (NIV)

Jesus is our example of how we should operate in the prophetic realm. We certainly see how he did it with the woman caught in adultery and the Samaritan woman at the well.

We could go back and forth on scriptures all day long. My greater concern for you really boils down to simple faith. The Pharisees knew the scriptures very well, but they lacked faith and love.It is a decision I had to make several years ago. Am I going to spend my time focusing on what God isn’t doing, or am I going to build faith and focus on what God is doing? I John 5:4 records that faith is the victory that overcomes the world. That means faith is very important. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Since we have followed the admonition of Paul – “in everything give thanks” and walked in love, we have seen a continual flow of the miraculous and people coming to Jesus.

Jesus laid down the primary marker for being his followers. He could have said many things, including 100% pure doctrine, but he chose love.

³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35 (NIV)

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Quite honestly, we have seen so much fruit since we have done these things that it is hard to keep up with. I simply want to see the same for you.

Brent:

Thank you for the courteous conversation and the choice to graciously disagree. That is not normal. Usually those who disagree revert to emotional outbursts and name calling.

I do not agree with you, but I respect and appreciate that you are doing your best to resort to Scripture, and be reasoned and Biblical about your beliefs.

When we get to heaven, we will all find out we were wrong about much… all of us.

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I took the following directly from an email I received from The Berean Call. You can find the Berean Call at www.thebereancall.org.

This is a look at our future in America... apart from God intervening, this is the direction America is headed. Canada is 5-10 years ahead of us. This is SCARY stuff folks... we don't give it much thought now because the persecution isn't affecting us personally yet. It's on the horizon. e you ready?

Canadian Government to pastor: Renounce your faith! [Excerpts]

Now banned from expressing moral opposition to homosexuality...

The Canadian government has ordered a Christian pastor to renounce his faith and never again express moral opposition to homosexuality, according to a new report.

In a decision handed down just days ago in the penalty phase of the quasi-judicial proceedings run by the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal, evangelical pastor Stephen Boisson was banned from expressing his biblical perspective of homosexuality and ordered to pay $5,000 for "damages for pain and suffering" as well as apologize to the activist who complained of being hurt.

According to a report from Pete Vere at the Catholic Exchange, the penalty could foreshadow the possible fate of Father Alphonse de Valk, who also has cited the biblical perspective on homosexuality in the nation's debate over same-sex "marriage" and now faces HRC charges.

Boisson had written a letter to the editor of his local Red Deer newspaper in 2002 denouncing the advance of homosexual activism as "wicked" and stating: "Children as young as five and six years of age are being subjected to psychologically and physiologically damaging pro-homosexual literature and guidance in the public school system; all under the fraudulent guise of equal rights."

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