Monthly Archive for November, 2006

Enough Of Benny Hinn & His “Ministry”

Posted November 30, 2006 at 5:55 pm // 3 Comments

Benny Hinn needs a private jet. And he needs you to help him pay for it.

Think I’m kidding? Check this link out. He’s asking people to donate $1,000 each in order to pay for a private jet he will name “Dove One” so he may privately fly across the world in order to “spread the gospel.”

What’s the benefit to those who donate $1,000? Let’s see here, according to his website:

- You will receive a beautiful art-quality model of Dove One for your desk or mantle as a constant reminder that you are a vital part of this last-days harvest for souls.

- Your name will be placed prominently in a special area of Dove One where I study and pray during my travels, where I will also pray for you and your family as I go around the world preaching the Gospel. Everywhere I fly, your name will travel with me, millions of miles and for years to come, reminding me that you have made it possible for me to go and preach as God has called me to do.

I absolutely despise Benny Hinn. Why? Because we have preachers on our own soil who struggle to make ends meet, many missionaries who have no income, and most importantly we have people who are dying and going to hell while one self-centered “evangelist” worries about getting a private plane.

I don’t think Jesus was exorbitant in spending money in his ministry — in fact, he didn’t have any. He didn’t have a place to live, and he had no food most of the time. Maybe it would do Benny some good to walk in Jesus’ shoes and stop spending so much money on hotels, a mansion, private jets, suits, etc.

There is a sucker born every minute, as P.T. Barnum once said. Benny Hinn is one of them, and so are those who financially support his “ministry.”

Snow, Snow, Snow

Posted November 28, 2006 at 4:50 am // 3 Comments

So I came down to Corvallis to bring Aftan back to Oregon State University and visit her for the day. Only problem is, it’s snowing everywhere in western Oregon and Washington so I couldn’t make it back home tonight. Roads are icy and the commute is dangerous. Some of Aftan’s classes might be cancelled tomorrow — regardless of whether they are or not, we’ll go take some photos of us frolicking in the snow. Corvallis is supposed to have about 3-4 inches tomorrow.

It’s rare to see snow on the valley floor this early in the winter season, but personally I’m happy to see it since I haven’t seen a real snowfall in about two years. Apparently it’s been snowing all over the Portland area….so it’s a good thing I didn’t drive in it. It’ll be good to play in some fresh snow tomorrow just like I did when I was a kid…along with my girlfriend!!!

Like I said, we’ll take some photos. God bless.

Put A Knife In My Air Force Career, Officially

Posted November 26, 2006 at 9:19 pm // 1 Comment

So today was my final day as a member of the active-duty US Air Force. I had actually been on terminal leave for the past 11.5 days, but now it’s all over and I can file for unemployment tomorrow. Looks like I am eligible for about $300 per week, and that’s even taxed. Not bad though.

Aftan and I went to my old church and the one I consider my home, New Horizons Church in Washougal, WA. Didn’t realize how far of a drive it actually was from Scappoose (took about 45 min. to get there) but it was more than worth it — it was so wonderful to see many old friends, introduce everyone to Aftan, and hear Pastor Smith preach once again. It was wonderful to see everyone’s excitement when I told them I’d be coming back every Sunday and Wednesday that I could.

Tammra Ells told me about a job that I will end up applying for this week, and it pays pretty good…a janitor for the Camas School District. It would pay $16 an hour and I would more than likely be working at night, but she said if I worked more than four hours per day I would receive full benefits. My weekends would be free, which is more than I would be able to ask for with any other job. Even though it has nothing to do with broadcasting, it would be great to get that job because I could move to Camas and have a shorter commute to church, work, and to visit Aftan down in Corvallis. Pray everything goes well when I apply.

Sorry I haven’t updated in the past few days, we just got dial-up out here and even though it isn’t much, it is something and it allows me to check MySpace, Facebook and my site every now and then.

Tonight I will be driving Aftan back to Corvallis and staying down there for the night. It’s supposed to snow everywhere so that should be interesting. I’ll start my massive job hunt this week too.

Hope everything’s going good for you all out there.

Giving Thanks To Jesus For Being There

Posted November 22, 2006 at 11:19 pm // 2 Comments

“We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near…” –Psalm 75:1

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and even though I just posted an hour ago I needed to post something that is important to me, and will hopefully bless everyone that reads it.

As I was driving Interstate 80 through Nebraska a couple days ago, I spotted a billboard on the side of the road. No artwork, just text that read “Jesus, I Trust In You!” I thought it interesting for a billboard on the side of the road to proclaim such a bold faith in Christ, and it really got the wheels turning in my head.

I kept driving and a song from Paul Arnold, pastor and worship leader of the High Point COGOP in Kennewick, came on my iPod. The words of the chorus were unmistakable, they echoed, “Hallelujah, God is here with me and you.” The words spoke to my heart as I kept driving and began to pray. Those words cut straight to me, “I can feel him in the quiet…I can feel him in the shout…God is here with me and you.”

Maybe it was because I was driving. It could have been because I was alone and in unfamiliar territory, but I just felt to pray and thank the Lord for being there. See, just a couple of days earlier, Pastor John Pace of Crimson House, my parents church, preached a message that centered on how the Psalmist David gave thanks unto the Lord, for His name is near. What a comfort to know that Jesus is with us wherever we go.

This was not more evident than during my deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. My mind replayed the time I had gone to Balad Air Base to shoot some footage of the Air Force Theater Hospital and the base police assisting operations there. I had finished interviewing a doctor and asked him off-camera how he was able to handle the pressure and stress of everything. He looked at me and said, “Airman Brewer, I’m not a man of faith, but there are times I can feel the presence of God in the operating room.” That spoke volumes to me, and is a quote I’ll carry with me to my grave. How amazing that the Lord made Himself known to one who did not profess faith — yet also how amazing was it the same God that doctor felt is the same God directing my footsteps every day.

As I sat and replayed what the good doctor said over and over, I thanked the Lord for his gentle hand of protection during my trip, during the four years I was in the Air Force, during my deployment and for his continued protection in the days and months to come.

What an awesome reassurance to have…the name of Jesus is NEAR and that is what I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday.

Thank You, Lord, for being near to us, and let us all be thankful for Your presence, comfort, guidance, wisdom, love and grace every day.

Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving, From Oregon

Posted November 22, 2006 at 10:02 pm // 0 Comments

After 3,180 miles and one long week, I made it to Oregon and discovered three things in the process.

1. Whoever said America is overcrowded is a massive tool.
2. A car with a bad transmission will still run okay if kept in one gear for an extended period of time.
3. Sit upright for six straight hours and your back will scream at you.

So as I sit here in Aftan’s dorm at Oregon State University in the early evening, I look back on my trip and see what a wonderful ride it has been. I met a few cool people along the way — most interesting was the sole resident of a town called Buford, Wyoming…the guy’s the town’s mayor, postman, cop, judge, jury, executioner, you name it — and saw a few cool places too. I snapped some photos from the driver’s seat and will be sure to upload them ASAP. I might not have an internet connection for a few days after this post though so bear with me.

It’s good to be back in Oregon, even if I had to drive I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge in the rain. When I kissed Aftan I knew my entire trip was worth it.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Random Crap (from Boise, ID)

Posted November 22, 2006 at 2:12 am // 0 Comments

Still traveling…it’s 11:01 PM Mountain Standard Time and I find myself in a hotel in Boise, Idaho. Only seven hours on the road separate me from my girlfriend and those will all be over by 2 PM tomorrow.

The plan for tomorrow is to meet up with Aftan down at her dorm at OSU, then chill there for a few hours while she and her fellow RA’s check residents out of the building for Thanksgiving break. Then I’ll drive her and all the stuff in my car to her parents’ house in Scappoose, which will be my temporary home for awhile.

There existed a possibility of Aftan and I being able to attend the Civil War football game (Oregon vs. OSU, for those of you who don’t know) on Friday, but I felt leery about being a Duck sitting among Beaver fans. Okay, so I just lied, but we decided to forego spending $60 for tickets and sitting in the cold rain. Instead we’re gonna go up to Portland in the early morning to watch the Holiday Parade, and then come back home to bake cookies and watch the game on TV. You see the game action better on the tube anyway.

A bit of ain’t-it-cool-news: I’ll be working Washington State COGOP’s Winter Retreat this year in late January. More to come on that soon, but it’s so cool to be able to take the experience I gained as a camper throughout my teenage life, grow from that and return to WR to be a group leader for a new group of kids. I look forward to it!!!

Off to bed for me now. I hope I don’t have to buy chains tomorrow just to drive up Deadman Pass in Oregon. Seriously, that’s what they call it. One of my former co-workers at Langley AFB was telling me how scary it was for her to drive it. Yeesh. Pray for my protection…it’s supposed to rain hard tomorrow.

FYI, on this drive home I’ve driven into or through three states I’d never previously encountered in any of my travels. Iowa, Nebraska and Utah. Almost touched Colorado…wait, I’ve been there.

Anyhoo, peace out and good night.

Bunking Down In Cheyenne, WY

Posted November 21, 2006 at 3:10 am // 1 Comment

Greetings from the SE Wyoming town of Cheyenne. State capital too, and home to F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

I drove through Missouri and across 380 miles of Nebraska to get here tonight. Nebraska was boring, but as soon as I got into Wyoming the tumbleweeds started rolling and I hit a few of them. It was kinda like that Whack-A-Mole game at Chuck E. Cheese’s but a lot funner and it’s more like a missile plowing through a molehill.

As you can tell, the drive can get quite boring, so when music doesn’t do the trick and my phone has no reception, I just take liberty to create some fun mind games to keep me alert. They work pretty well.

Anyway, off to sleep. I’m gonna sleep till 8:45 then hit the road, gonna try to get to Boise, Idaho tomorrow. God bless.

Weekend Update, 11-19-06 Edition

Posted November 19, 2006 at 8:39 pm // 0 Comments

I spent an extra day at my parents’ house in Republic, MO today because I’ve been sick for the past 36 hours or so with a stomach flu. I guess it’s been going around Springfield from what I’ve heard. Highly disappointing — I came here to spend time with my family, not to spend half my time here throwing up.

I feel a LOT better than I did at this time yesterday, and I’m up and moving. Just some major muscle pains now. I feel like someone took me and beat me up.

I’ll take off from Republic tomorrow and then get as far as I can. I’ll be in Oregon for Thanksgiving. Just please everyone pray for my speedy recovery — as well as my dad, who is getting over it too, and my brother, who is currently sleeping off the ill effects of the same dang thing.

Roadtrip Day 2: Hello Republic

Posted November 17, 2006 at 3:33 am // 3 Comments

Greetings from my parents’ house in Republic, Missouri. It’s an interesting place.

Roadtrip Day 1: Rest In Peace, Deer

Posted November 16, 2006 at 2:57 pm // 5 Comments

I hit a deer yesterday on I-64. No kidding. I survived. My car survived. I fishtailed. I corrected it somehow. It was raining. God kept his hand on me. I’m okay. My car is okay. More info forthcoming.