Toronto Star:

A provincially funded Christian group is appealing part of a tribunal ruling that found it violated the rights of a worker who had to quit after revealing she was gay.

Background here.

There is no word on which remedy(s) the organization lawyers are appealing. This business was co-operative on a past complaint, and has been given a flexible time frame to work on it’s employment policy regarding this complaint.

I do not agree with how this employee was treated, I made that clear in the previous post; nor do I agree with  hyperbole by writers such as Deborah Gyapong of Canadian Catholic News reprinted in Canadian Christianity, but emotional and erroneous reaction is to be expected.
The sky isn’t falling, religious organizations are not under attack, but that doesn’t sell religious magazines and most people are not going to read a lengthy employment ruling. 
I also don’t agree with hyperbole from politicians calling for more punitive measures.
This organization showed a willingness to comply with employment law in the past on a prior complaint, and has indicated it will again.
Christian Horizon lawyers have the right to launch an appeal on any part of the ruling they chose to and they have. The organization also has the option to return to private funding if it wishes. I agree with Mr. Lauwers somewhat that perhaps people who agree with groups would not support them financially if they went private.

…constitutional lawyer Peter Lauwers in an interview from Toronto. “It really challenges social welfare organizations that are run by Christian and other faith groups on the basis of whether they will continue provide the services they do.”

Lauwers pointed out most Christian organizations serve out of a sense of vocation and fidelity to moral standards. He wondered how many people who contribute time and money to these organizations will continue to do so if they no longer reflect their authentic religious convictions.

It’s hubris to imply (as Christian Horizons has attempted to) that Christian organizations are the only groups who serve the public good out of a sense of vocation and fidelity to moral standards. It is also not realistic or honest for organizational lawyers and representatives to speak publicly about their concerns around this particular case and omit the reasons why this one did not meet established special exemptions.

Steve Paiken’s back story on Mark Steyn and the Maclean’s Three.

To Steyn’s credit, he may have offered the first olive branch when he said as I was closing the show, “would you guys like to go for dinner?” One of the lawyers immediately said, “No!” They may not have broken bread, but they did continue the dialogue.

What became clear is that the rancor that started the evening was gone by the end of it. We’re now trying to see whether we can bring all four participants back some time towards the end of the month, in hopes of having a somewhat calmer discussion about the actual arguments in Steyn’s book. We didn’t get to much of that last night because so much time was taken up with questions about whether Maclean’s was practising good journalism or not.

While there may be several morals to this story, one I’d like to highlight is this: many bloggers were taking potshots at various parties yesterday as the behind-the-scenes negotiations went on. While it may have made for provocative reading, much of it bore no resemblance to the truth at the time, and obviously not to what transpired in the end.

It reminded me of an expression I recently heard: 90% of what we worry about never happens.

TVO debate.

Did Donna Cadman, widow of Chuck Cadman and candidate for the Conservative Party in Surrey North understand she was calling Doug Finlay and Tom Flanagan yahoos?

“I hope eventually the RCMP will find out who offered what,” said Cadman in an interview yesterday. “Chuck never told me who they were. I’m in the dark as much as anyone else and it would be nice to know who these two people were. They could be just yahoos.”

Happy Mother’s Day Mrs. Martin.

With all the confusion and strong emotion expressed this week by many people wanting to know about a style of ministry getting media attention in Florida, it’s time to refocus.
Here is a blessing from a UK singer named Aled Jones.

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the Light of the world to you
Deep peace of Christ to you.

For 11 years anti-abortionists have gathered in Ottawa for a few days of marching, mass and seminars. This year they had 2 US speakers. A 43 year old Ottawa police officer, directing traffic around the march was hit by a car yesterday.

I wonder how many of the the protesters cared enough to send him a card or donate to The Police Benevolent Fund or responded kindly in any way?  Commenter at CBC.

I was simply trying to get my elderly father from his radiation treatment to his home in downtown Ottawa. For two hours we circled his street as he became more & more weak & thirsty. My own desperation levels certainly matched those of the drivers around me who were trying to (during the height of the business day) get to meetings/appointments, to pick up children/deliver packages & in one case get to a funeral.

We know that any group wishing to protest on Parliament Hill must obtain official permission so that there are not conflicts & so there is enough RCMP presence to protect and control the crowd on the Hill.

What we feel we saw yesterday was a group that simply decided to do its own thing & take it’s protest to the streets at the worst possible time without pre-arranging road closures or notice to the police or public. The lack of any discernible plan was the fault for this accident & if, it turns out that the “anti-abortion” movement did, as suspected, just start walking with an intent to disrupt as many people and as much business as possible then they are fortunate the officer wasn’t killed.

That would have put the ultimate ironic face on their basic claim of respect for life.

Lifesite - Largest Canadian March for Life ever

That crowd of people filling up four major roadways, creating massive traffic delays around Parliament? What crowd of people - timeimmortal

Police are surrounding the protesters. Need to keep them in line. Pro-aborts can be violent. SoCon or Bust 1:35 - Crowd is getting louder and louder. Excitement is building. Crowd is starting to slowly move toward the streets. Crowd moving toward Wellington Street. Front of line is the Knights of Columbus - about 100 of them in rows of 4. Lot of High School students with their banners and signs. Chanting has now started “Hey, hey, ho, ho, abortion laws have got to go”. Christian Women’s League for Life present.

sigh

Try to think about this.

You survive a cyclone with winds of 190 km/per hour. Storm surges bring 12 foot waves inland. You live on a delta, and 5 thousand square kilometres around you flood. 95% of buildings are destroyed.

Everything is flattened. People you know are dead or injured. There is no infrastructure, communication systems are down, there no clean drinking water, little shelter.

An open cut can be fatal. Cholera, dysentery, malaria will follow your hunger and thirst.

Some indigenous relief workers are in the country, working with the UN, Doctors without Borders, World Vision, the World Food Program.
After 6 days of little to no help one in five children have diarrhea.
(UNICEF/ Doctors without Borders)

You live in a country ruled by superstitious military. Westerners are not welcomed or wanted, and Asian neighbours are being kept out. The police and military are dumping bodies in rivers and selling what little food or water is being allowed in.  Your government tells you 21 thousand people died in the storm and go on about their referendum a week after the worst storm you’ve lived through.

Soldier are not equipped to help, many of those you fear aren’t getting fed either and you wonder if the world has forgotten you. You’re getting to sick to care. The temperature is 40C and heavy rain is on the way. Soe Moe:

“It’s been 6 days since the cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar and the situation is getting worse day by day due to the decomposed animals and human lying around the effected areas. Recent days, we had witnessed the generosity of the world as the humanitarian aid in millions of dollars. But it is very sad to find out that Burmese government is hesitating to grant visa to UN aid workers and NGOs in the name of politics. It is not the time for politics during the time of humanitarian crisis. And it is very sad to hear on news that the western nations are willing to provide the aid needing by the cyclone Nargis victims while Burmese government is refusing to accept them.

“Today first UN aid plane has landed in Yangon International Airport after 2 days delay due to the visa issues. And more planes are waiting permission from Burmese government to land in Yangon. Italy, Thai, India and Indonesia aid planes had been allowed to land in Yangon. We have seen the death toll increasing dramatically over the days.

“What we desperately need is experience aid works and rescue units to help the survivors, to dispose the dead bodies properly and to control the deadly diseases. We need helicopters to go to the most remote areas where the aid is greatly needed. In Burmese air force, we have limited numbers of helicopters and they won’t be able to help those from remote areas. US military is offering aid mission. The US airbase in Thailand is ready to send its helicopters and ships to Burma for search and rescue mission. And again, Burmese generals are not going to accept the offer because they are Americans. This is not the time for like or dislike. This is the time to save as much people as we can.”

Global Voices Online
Asia Times
The Irrawaddy News (english. Opposition newspaper)

Wah Eh Htoo - Burmese World Vision worker first person account. 600 World Vision Burma workers are facing logistical nightmares. Many have lost everything, but have been able to provide water, food and clothing for about 1000 families, for now. They need to get their experts and supplies in.

Our bus became the leader of a convey of trucks and other buses attempting to head into the city. Progress through the wreckage-strewn streets was slow. It took us three hours to drive a mere three miles.

The journey to Yangon was like entering a battlefield with the wounded and dying lying on ground. Flood water filled the neighborhoods we passed.

Yangon had been excommunicated with no electricity. I wondered how news of the disaster was going to reach the outside world.

A CNN reporter snuck into the country. He almost didn’t get out.  What is it like for highly trained relief workers to have to sit in Thailand with food, water, medical supplies, tents and know that each day that passes 1.5 people need your help now?
Times London reporter - I stopped counting the bodies

 (NASA)
before & after

CBC:

The new estimates come as UN officials warn that delays in issuing visas to relief workers are hampering aid efforts and increasing the risk of a major health crisis.

A number of agencies continue to wait to be granted entry visas by the military junta, which has ruled the country since 1962. Aid groups and governments are asking Burma’s military rulers, wary of international scrutiny, to relax their tight grip on the country to allow humanitarian help into flood-ravaged areas.

Burma’s government authorized the United Nations to send in emergency supplies from Italy on Wednesday. It remained unclear where the UN aircraft, carrying 25 tonnes of aid, would land in Burma, also known as Myanmar, said Elisabeth Byrs, Geneva spokeswoman for UN relief efforts.

But permission was still pending for a UN co-ordination team to accompany the flight, Byrs said.

22 thousand dead
untold numbers wounded
41 thousand missing

 These agencies have indigenous workers on the ground. The window is closing, if water food and supplies cannot be delivered within the next 10 days thousands more will die.

Salvation Army

Mennonite Central Committee

World Vision

Christian Aid UK

Samaritans Purse Canada

Update: The UN has been permitted to land one of it’s planes            

I owe Mark Byron a thank you. A few weeks ago he picked up on a Canadian charismatic holding meetings his old stomping grounds in Florida.  He posted again  as 32 year old Todd Bentley of Fresh Fire Ministries started getting puff pieces by charismatic media, traditional media and websites in the US. Mark warns against being too gullible or being to harsh. Good advice.

There has been only a couple news articles from Canada about Todd Bentley and Florida.
That is not because a  self proclaimed prophet is without honour in his own country, it has more to do with the insular nature of his belief system, and the exposure his brand of teaching has had to the wider church.  He is known and his teaching rejected by most people of faith in his home province of BC, people who have certainly seen the effects of neo-pentecostalism.

When The Province asked to speak to someone who had been healed through Bentley in either B.C. or Florida, Fresh Fire was unable to find someone at short notice, citing difficulties with outdated contact information locally, and record-keeping problems in Florida.

I didn’t get a call back when I asked for their Revenue Canada registration.
I did get the information from Revenue Canada however.
April 24, 2008 Lakeside Leader

 So immediate and complete was his conversion that within six months of his being discovered in Abbotsford, BC Christian circles, Todd Bentley was chosen to head up the newly formed ‘Fresh Fires Ministries.’ In just 10 short years, the church has grown astronomically, and does its work all over the world, from Africa and Korea to New Zealand and Mexico.
Bentley’s presence and delivery may be a sign of the times, but the Fresh Fire Minister’s message has the hallmarks of a traditional evangelist.

As regular readers know I post at connexions in Wales when I want safety in community when making  personal spiritual observations or when I wish to rant about a particularly egregious matter.

Richard Hall also picked up on Fresh Fire Ministries and the Todd Bentley meetings in Lakeland Florida because they are being broadcast on GodTV (the equivalent of The Miracle Channel in Canada) Bentley intends to head to the UK this summer, GodTV is a good way to advertise, and given the money that can be taken, quite happy too.

This 25 minute video Richard posted with Bob Jones, Todd Bentley and Patricia Jones got us regular commenters playful in the comment section, but make no mistake, we take deception seriously.
When you see Satan being an angel of light, when you see New Age teachings tossed out as being from God, when you say demonic manifestation is okay or normal or God uses it anyway, when you see false prophecy and when you see so many people park their thinking at the door because of their need, sometime laughter is a healthy weapon.

The reaction to his posts was about as expected.
Something happened that has not happened to me before.
While I refrained from a blog post about this Canadian export ‘ministering’ in the US at connexions or BDBO, I certainly didn’t hold back on comments at connexions.
I’ve followed many of these movements for years and I am deeply grieved and irritated a Canadian is hoodwinking US neighbours. Again.
I’m no expert, I’m just an evangelical that hates to see people conned.  I’ve received two emails today from people also following this resurgence of ‘revival’ that cycles every few years in neo-pentecostal circles. They picked up on the comments at connexions and took the time to email me at BDBO.

I’m genuinely grieved by this bold resurfacing of Apostolic/Third Wave/Latter Rain teaching, and frankly some of the blasphemy affects me spiritually and I have to guard against that.   
At connexions I am surrounded by mature Christians and whether we agree or disagree there is respect and love. This is from Beth: 

 Hey!
Just read your response to the Todd Bentley stuff on here.  It was very well written.  I am struggling w/ this as well and have read alot of stuff from the freshfire website.  I know that you said there were alot of new age, etc. teachings on there.  Could you point me to some of those, maybe w/ dates or places you found that stuff?  I ‘d really like to read it.  Thank you so much.  You have a great day.

I can try, and you have a great day too Beth.:^)  
I believe when we examine claims we need to know how to proceed, so I’m happy to start pointing.
We look at more than one source. We look at the history of the movement. We look at the people in the movement, their conduct and words and ambitions and results. We look at transparency and finances. We look at outreach.  And most of all when we look we have an obligation to weigh the evidence through scripture and in prayer. We wade through dreck to find gems.

There is no easy answer.
I use the New Age Encyclopedia, a concordance and bible as well as online information. I take notes when I watch a video or show and stack the words up against past claims.  I rely on people who have good analytical skills and the gift of discernment. Discernment can be learned, although I believe there are times it is given as a gift in spiritually dangerous situations because God loves us.  I look for people that have walked away from a cult, sect or movement, I think what they have to say is important. I look for sociological and none interested party observations. Noisy news coverage doesn’t translate to spiritual healthiness or truth.

I rarely share my spiritual journey online but I’m going to tell you part of an experience. A group of us from various denominations worked in a street ministry. One day we got a call from a landlord who was concerned about one of his tenants. She was in the last stages of alcoholism and although he wasn’t a religious man, he needed help and decided to call us. We went over.  She was in bad shape and the first decision was to call an ambulance. As we began to do that, she seized, came too, jumped off the couch, pointed at me and screamed,” You love Jesus! You belong to Jesus!”
Okay.
I do.
It was not her speaking.  
Satan knows Jesus better than I do, so when I hear of things in Jesus name I ask the following.

When something out of the ordinary (miracles and manifestations and revivals are claimed) where can they come from?

1) God
2) Satan
3) psychological/human need and ability
4) a mix of the above 

Crossword is a site started by Trish Tillen in the UK. She was involved in the beginnings of extreme pentecostalism and although her work is done and she has moved on, it is an excellent resource for the  pentecostal/charismatic deviations we continue to see. Latter Rain. Third Wave. Kansas City Prophets etc.
The site is deteriorating and you’ll get into monkey locks if you use the news section. Stick to the extensive article archive, the people that preserved it mean well and probably don’t have the financial resources to keep it as it was.

The Apologetics Index. Anton Hein is a remarkable apologist whom I’ve had the pleasure of corresponding with. He is full of grace and patience, has strong loving boundaries, knows the word of God and has studied sociological and religious cults for years. He started his on-line data base long before most of us were online.  He gives readers tools to study movements, and presents all sides, respectfully presenting his own observations as a follower of Jesus Christ while honouring the readers need to find their own mind.

I suggest you start with a ‘how’ section on definitions of cults, heresy, judging versus discernment. There is nothing new about Bentley or anything he believes. Read up on Gnosticism. Look at the New Age movement.  It took me two years to go through his data base, it is that extensive. It was like taking a theology course or reading the New Age Encyclopedia cover to cover.

Religious Tolerance is also a resource, neutral and necessary I think, to keep strong emotions in check when anger and grief or confusion at seeing people sucked in takes over.

There are new sites springing up all the time. One that I’ve found useful in following Todd Bentley is written by a pentecostal who knows the players and does extensive research. I don’t think she intended the deluge of traffic the site is getting, but she has an acute awareness of peoples need, curiousity and hunger for truth that she weighs against our calling as Christians to ‘test the spirits.’ There is no search engines, you’ll have to dig. This will get you started.
Here is the apologetics index entry on Todd Bentley.  Jump off it.
God be with you on your journey Beth. 
I welcome any links that will help people being tossed to and fro by the latest manufactured charismatic revival circuit.

The second email came from Katrin in Germany.

Found your blogg entry this morning about Todd Bentley and the Florida outpouring. I’m a baptist and therefore not under carismatic suspicion I hope.
I have been watching the lakeland revival several nights with careful attention to all the most likely carismatic klischees and found myself conficted of false pride and a intellectual christian hybris. What do we expect revival to look like? What do we a revivalist expect to look like?
Let’s see the fruits it brings fourth and trust that god is in control. Do you believe that we are living in the advanced end times? Do you believe that god wants to gather his people to reach as much people as possible? Jesus told us to look at the fruits?
Watching the meetings I can see a Todd Bentley constantly pointing on Jesus and that not just in a “mantra style”. He makes Jesus the leader of the revival, not himself, I have a much better understanding of our great savior, his mercy, his humbleness, yes AND his power. Watching the meetings with a certain preconception of course you see him shouting and doing things “decent” cristians would’nt do or say but can we be so sure we would have liked the style of John the Baptist. I could go on that way knowing that all will not really convince you.
I pray that Jesus himself in  sober and loving way will convince of his love and of the work he is actually doing through Todd Bentley (a most humble vessel I admit). Maybe you have been hurt in the past by carismatic christians or you are hurting in some other way that makes you so bitter about the carismatic movement. Note I am not a carismatic in the classical way, but I am a carismatic when it comes to yearn for revival, for fresh water on dry ground for gods touch and healing to a world that is dying. God is more than our preconceptions and Jesus just then surprised his disciples by acting and preaching always different to what people aspected him to. So why should this be different now… Be blessed Bene D
Yours Katrin. Please Bene D don’t miss what God is doing

Indeed Katrin, to miss what God is doing would be sad.  Thank you, be blessed also. I’ve not been hurt by charismatics, I’m skeptical, but I’m not a cessationist. As for end times eschatology, I believe we are to live our life as if each day is our last, I don’t know when the end times are going to be. I’m here now, and God is on His throne.
Speaking up is not about denomination, it is not about style, it is not about varied personalities or worship differences. It is not about behaving like the assistant Holy Spirit. It is about being a Berean. It is about warning.

The more attention we give heresy, the more vulnerable people can be deluded and I don’t think Todd Bentley and his buddies need to be given the attention they crave.
Do I yearn for revival? Yes, but it doesn’t come manufactured. It doesn’t come because I long for it. I’m not unique, I think that is why we see so many counterfeits.  I can be fooled, any one of us can, make no mistake about that. Revival starts with repentance and unless there is evidence of repentance a red flag should go up. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives the characteristics of true revival.  Jewel van der Mewre, this is what Bentley’s revival looks like:

THE NEW REVIVAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. It is a revival of the prophets that use the Holy Scriptures deceitfully.
2. It is a revival of “sorcery” (the magic art of manipulating people). People are being manipulated, sometimes by fear and other times by sheer deception, into blindly receiving unscriptural views.
3. It is a revival that wants to see the walls of the Churches and Denominations crumble and come under the authority, structure and network of the NEW BREED.
4. It is a revival of a NEW BREED that discriminates against Israel and the part of the Church that doesn’t go along with their teaching.
5. It is a revival that rejects the literal Rapture of the Church.
6. It is a revival that rejects SOUND DOCTRINE as a basis for unity.
7. It is a revival that teaches that it is wrong to judge the prophets according to the Word of God.
8. It is a revival that says that the Church (corporately) is the literal presence of Christ, so don’t look for another.
9. It is a revival that says, “Touch not God’s anointed.” The interpretation being: No matter what is said or how wrong it is, do not question. Christians dare not question or criticize the unscriptural utterances and practices of the prophets, for if they do, they are judged worthy of punishment.
10. It is a revival obsessed with a NEW BREED of people and a political agenda on earth.
11. It is a revival bent on turning the youth into a militant people with a war-like mentality designed to take dominion of the world and if need be - by force.
12. This new revival owes its character to a group of specific persons who are misinterpreting the Bible, and like the cults, supplementing it with their own dreams, visions and mystic ideas. Christian, if you fall for their doctrine, you are perfectly set up for deception. Be careful you are not swept off your feet into the great deception - the lie!

Over at connexions I suggested my Methodist minister friends take in a meeting. Ivan in Lakeland and Methodist Preacher, Fat Prophet and Methodist Preacher.
Their responses don’t surprise me, these are mature believers and their ears don’t tickle easily. 

Larry is a caretaker. The kind of caretaker who takes care of people. Well, it’s more like he gives clients the tools to learn to take care of themselves.  Like anyone in a helping profession he bumps up against secondary PTSD in his life because he is meant to do what he does. Listening with the heart has risks, even for the most trained. Deep listening drains and we become empty even if we try not too.

I’m telling tales out of school here, but I emailed him once because I heard what he wrote with more than my thoughts and ideas and identifying. I don’t remember what I said other than thank you for being a caretaker, you have worth, what you are and what you do matters.

His words are a lot like Real Live Preacher, rich, warm, sharp, ticklish, immerse.
He wrote back saying thanks, if that that was the only email he got like that from blogging it was worth it. I’m too cynical to be flattered, identifying with someone is something that just happens between people sometimes and it’s a good thing. I hope I gave hope to a caretaker.
 
Another good thing is that effective truly called caretakers get nuance and subtlety. Cognitive dissonance isn’t an enemy.  Works for them as well as their clients and when caretakers refuel enough to remember they need highs and lows in compassion, the fulls and empties,  they can employ their tools when energy begins to peek through so they can start chasing away secondary PTSD.

Larry is going to be fine. The clue for me is that if he can write about being empty, the emptiness isn’t as deep as he experiences it. It’s real I won’t negate.  Can you imagine a writer being so empty she or he can’t write? That’s when I’d worry. 
He will remember what things he needs to do be his own caretaker. He’ll remember to shut out the toxic people and allow those that love him to romp through his life, even if it’s teeth grinding for awhile.  I pray as he goes through he finds divine mirth. This is a good piece of writing that will resonate like a tuning fork for the caretakers in our lives.

I’m empty right now. Physically, mentally, spiritually. No gas in the tank. There are a lot of things that have converged to create this situation. The specifics are decidedly nonspecific. I’m not sad. I’m not depressed. I’m not in denial. I’m empty. I’m still doing my physical, mental, and spiritual exercises, but they’re not helping. My legs are filled with sand, my prayers bounce off the ceiling, and it takes a backhoe to construct a sentence. I don’t need your sympathy or suggestions. I don’t have the juice to process either.

The emptiness can lead to depression. I’ve been depressed before; I hope I don’t get to that rodeo again. But I don’t have an oar in the water. If I had an oar, I wouldn’t use it.

I’m a few days into this emptiness and I believe it will work itself out, kind of like a bad burrito. We’ll see.

Here are the signs of my energy depleted person: I am reusing words and phrases. On everybody. At work, with friends, everybody. I am teaching old material. Telling old jokes. Rephrasing clinical suggestions. Giving out old assignments. I told you I was empty.

This past week I found myself sitting across from a client. I tried to connect that client to one I have known before. Who does he remind me of? What did I tell him back then?  And I told him what I told the former. I vomited old rancid counselor sputum. Normally I would call that lazy counseling. Except I’m empty. I’m not lazy. And I’m not depressed. Or in denial.

Here’s how emptiness can turn into depression: What do we do with empty things? The milk jug is empty. Throw it away. The tuna can is empty. Throw it away. Your tube of toothpaste is empty. Throw it away (and it’s not even fully empty yet). Maybe you don’t throw things away. Maybe you recycle. That’s throwing things away with a karma coupon. Maybe you don’t throw things away. Maybe you keep them. That’s just weird. Weird because we only throw things away when they are of no use to us. No value. Useless.

So that’s why when we feel empty we begin to have doubts about our self worth. Most people discard empty things. This is also why we isolate from our friends and family. We’re not mad. We’re not pouting. We’re just empty. A tube of rolled up toothpaste. One more squeeze and we’re all done.

He’s getting there. Half full