I had saved an audio interview that Seth Godin had in his blog, and finally got around to listening to it. It’s a talk that he did, along with answering some questions, on how a non-profit organization can raise money in a society like we have today.

Check it out here.

The longer I’ve thought about it, the more true it becomes to me: churches need to create interactive experiences for their members to act out their faith. These experiences will give the people who take part in them a story to tell. When people get to tell a story about themselves doing something that was positive, and happened because of their church then the church will become interesting. Interesting to people who don’t do church, but do enjoy **blank**

Seth Godin has given me the green light.

I know that a lot of people are panicking about the economy, and all the different uncertainty that is going on. That didn’t effect the decision that Josh and I made last week. It is a theme throughout the Bible, and it was time to act, not a time for fear.

I have loved the idea of working for myself for as long as I can remember. My parents do it, and I think that it is the best way to live. There is no ceiling. You can succeed more than you could ever do inside someone else’s company. The risk is, you can fail. I’m willing to fail. Are you?

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18 NIV

The new version of the Oral Roberts Ministries website is up now. I designed it, and would love to have feedback.

www.orm.cc

In other news, on October 31st, I will be a full-time freelance Graphic Designer. I’ve put in my resignation, and I’m trusting God for the wisdom and favor to be able to make a good living and have the freedom of being my own boss.

I’m posting the article in my father’s latest newsletter, I thought it really told the truth about the presidential elections, in a way that I wanted to share.

There are so many reasons why a person burns out - many having to do with unfulfilled expectations. I also wonder at times if we, as pastors, are so involved with the world that the world’s influence has an impact upon burnout? I am not sure, but I have to wonder.

As a Canadian watching the the US political campaigns I have to wonder how many believers think through the history of man’s government and compare it to what God had in mind. With all the love and excitement so many believers show toward the election of a man-made government I have to ponder; do we really understand?

If . . . the big if, mankind were truly humble, we would realize we cannot rule ourselves, period. We would be kneeing before our Creator and asking Him to rule and lead our nation. Sound ridiculous to you? Sorry. You should read the Bible.

It all starts in Gen 3. Man is doing just fine. Living in the beautiful garden of perfection with every good food you would ever need, and a face to face relationship with God Almighty. Awesome and fantastic - then - they blow it and by the end of chapter 3 the ground is cursed, and man shall produce a living by the sweat of his brow working 40 to 80 hours a week and barely making ends meet.

It gets worse - by I Sam 8, the people decide they no longer want God to rule. They want a king like all the other nations. God gives fair warning before allowing such stupidity. He tells them through Samuel, their sons will be drafted and come home in flag draped caskets and they will be taxed to death if they choose a king like other nations. Israel says, ” Yep, yep, that’s what we want, yep, yep!”

It gets worse - God warns repeatedly about false prophets. You see, when an expectation is set up in the heart and it never comes to pass, the result is very bad. It can lead to horrid results including hating and blaming God. It is so bad a sin, false prophets were to be put to death.

Question: Do you know the two main Biblical indicators of a false prophet? (1) The prophecy never comes to pass. (2) The prophet speaks what your itching ears desire to hear. You want reduced taxes - we will give you reduced taxes!

The downward spiral continues. From the garden of Eden, to man’s rule, to Jesus stepping in to save the very elect at the end of the age. If you think a new face in the Oval Office, a black President or a female VP will make a great difference, I suggest you re-think the revealed word of God. Human beings are human beings, subject to sin all the days of their lives. Jesus was an Ambassador of the Kingdom of God - just like you and I - and nowhere in any of the four Gospel accounts - Matthew, Mark, Luke or John - does Jesus give a single sentence of concern for who would be the next emperor of Rome. He represented a different government, and He knew that the agenda of that different government - the Kingdom - would move forward regardless who was the emperor of Rome.

I watch the politicians’ speeches and their endless promises, and I just pray the final words found in the book of Revelation - “Come Lord Jesus, come.” When Jesus comes back He will end forever political parties, democrats and republicans and establish the Kingdom of God. At that time we are told in scripture, “they will learn war no more.” The weapons of man’s warfare will be melted down and made into farm tools to feed the nations. All the “kings” who needed to make war to “save” freedom will at last learn what freedom is from God’s definition.

Could it be, that many of us are so “into” the world and its politics, we are burning out because we are so far from the spirituality of the new covenant we don’t even realize it?

Kim Wenzel
Smoldering Wick Ministries
www.smolderingwickministries.org

Last weekend I helped out with one of my church’s outreaches, called Clean Slate. We helped a woman named Ruby, who lost her husband this past year, has a handicapped daughter, and has struggled with health issues this past year, too.

Her house was a wreck. But over 200 of us completely reorganized, gutted, and redid her house, Extreme Home Makeover style.

It’s a lot of work, but I’m so glad that we were able to help her, and bring her a clean slate.