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STARBUCKS
The Drink Of The Devil?
8.08.08
Recently I heard of a very prominent Pentecostal preacher who decided to
direct his Sunday morning message against...of all things...STARBUCKS. Now..I
rarely go off of one person's report. I do not base an opinion on one account.
I try to keep an open mind. I realize that there are always at least two
sides to every story and somewhere in the middle is the truth.
I have heard this account from a number of different sources who come from
a wide range of political idiosyncrasies. Sometimes people say derogatory
things about another minister out of spite, jealousy, or...whatever. This
is not the case here. Because in reality this is not an article about SOMEONE,
but about an ISSUE.
Now...I am all for people preaching what they feel the Lord has laid upon
their heart. I mean...that's the definition of preaching is it not? I am
even for people espousing political views in the pulpit. I have done it.
I have written ad nauseum about the upcoming election and current political
events on this web site. There are times when it is necessary.
My issue is not with the MESSENGER. I respect this man HIGHLY. However,
I am endeavoring to separate the sometimes inextricable connection between
MESSENGER and MESSAGE. And this message is not unique to THIS MESSENGER.
Essentially the arguement was and has been that we should not patronize
companies who support anti-Christian causes. The arguement states that as
Christians we should not spend money at any store, or do business with any
corporation who in any way embraces political or world views that contend
against our faith.
Now for some of us...this is a no-brainer. There are obvious companies,
brand names, causes, political parties, and corporations that I will not
do business with. There are some companies and political groups that support
causes that are blatantly and flagrantly anti-Apostolic. Hello? Do we need
to be cautioned against those? But my arguement is for the seemingly amoral,
benign companies like...STARBUCKS.
Let's take this arguement to the extreme. If we follow it to the uttermost...then
we will not spend any money with any corporation. Even if you only do business
with "Christian" companies you have to ask yourself, "Are they Apostolic?
Are they trinitarians?" If they are trinitarians...then what about your
stand against companies who propagate anti-Apostolic viewpoints?
This is the same type of argument that states that we should only sing and
play songs in an Apostolic church that were written and composed by Apostolics.
Some have even gone so far as to argue that if we sing songs written by
trinitarians that we are worshipping the trinity. WOW! I wonder what they
would say if they knew that some of our "good ol' hymns" were originally
set to the tune of popular Irish drinking songs? Have you ever wondered
why "He Looked Beyond My Fault And Saw My Need" sounds alot like the old
Irish pub song "Ol' Danny Boy"? Or have you ever been singing "Down From
His Glory" and accidentally began singing "O Solo Mio"?
Yeah...exactly.
Furthermore, I have heard of those Christians who are anti-Disneyland because
of certain causes that Disneyland seems to support that I will not assign
significance to by mentioning in this article. However, what about the GOOD
that the Disney Corporation does with handicapped and disabled children?
Can we be so "single issue" minded that we throw out the baby with the bath
water?
It's this single issue mindset that got Bill Clinton elected in 1992. Fundamentalist
Christians, of which I am a part, decided that George H.W. Bush was too "liberal"
on a single issue and either did not vote or voted for Mr. Big Ears and Pie
Charts himself...Ross Perot. And we were all thrilled with the pro-family,
conservative, squeaky clean Clinton administration...weren't we?
Now...if a corporation arises...say like an Apostolic Pentecostal version
of Wal-Mart (we'll call it Pente-Mart) and promises low prices, then I'll
be on the band wagon. But even then, there are so many idiosyncratic differences
within Oneness Pentecostals that some wouldn't even support that!
So you ask, "Then what do we do?"
To which I would reply, "Use your head."
I mean...after all...Starbucks does support literacy in American Schools,
proper drinking water for children in South Africa, coffee farmers in Ethiopia,
and during the Holidays (which I realize some among us don't celebrate) they
promote the propogation of "good deeds" with the Cheer Pass campaign. Now
these are just a few of the benevolent causes that Starbucks champions, but
honestly...it's good enough for me.
Well...I've finished by quad tall extra hot latte, and it's time to go back
for more.
"WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR RECEIPT?"
8.03.08
The Barista kindly asked me after swiping my debt card, "Would you like your
receipt?"
"Um...well...I guess not," I muttered, not really wanting to appear stupid.
"But just to ask...why wouldn't I want a receipt?"
The Barista then explained to me how Starbucks is now only giving out receipts
to customers who ask for them. It's a new company wide policy. In reality
it's a feel good faux-environmental policy. Less receipts=less paper. Less
paper=less trees being cut down. Less trees being cut down=a better earth.
Say what?
Now...I like the whole idea about using less paper and saving the landfills.
BUT...I would hate to think that the entire earth is hanging on such a dangerous
global warming precipice that a receipt from Starbuck's is going to make
a difference. I mean...is the planet that close to plunging headlong into
a million sunless midnights? Are we teetering on the edge of an Al Gore
oblivion like some amateur circus performer?
This is the same line of questioning I use when being checked through security
at the airport. The TSA in all it's infinite governmental wisdom has determined
that I can't have any liquids or gels in my carryon...UNLESS...they are
wrapped securely in a zip lock baggy. Now...color me paranoid but I would
hate to think that the entire basis of security at the airport is hinging
on a zip lock baggy. What? Does TSA have a thing going with the GLAD people?
Apparently a zip lock baggy is the only thing that renders my hand sanitizer
useless as a weapon!
Honestly...I'm all for conservation when my life is at stake. I won't even
turn on the little airblower above my seat on the airplane...because I'm
afraid of drawing too much power away from the JETS. I'll withstand a little
stale air in order to stay IN the air! But a receipt? A receipt that is
made form recycled materials to begin with?
So...think of the earth when you order your next coffee at Starbucks. Your
hedonistic caffeine addiction could be sending the world careening into everlasting
chaos where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth! Now THAT IS one
powerful cup of joe!
So the next time you order a cappuccino from Starbucks...think of the earth
and just say no to the receipt! The receipt more powerful than Al-Qaeda.
The receipt with more resolve than the Taliban. The receipt with the very
POWER of life and death in it's little paper hands! The receipt that could
destroy the world!
THE TOP TEN REASONS WHY CAMPMEETING
IS LIKE A PENTECOSTAL WOODSTOCK
1. Dude...there's a lot of dust around here.
2. There are so many trailers here it looks like a FEMA storage facility.
3. RVS, tents, food, fellowship, and church everyday...this must be heaven,
man!
4. We all go to the BIG TENT at night...righteous!
5. So many people call me "brother" I feel like a monk.
6. Who do all these kids belong to?
7. If the music in the Big Tent is too loud...you're too old!
8. There are quite a few barbecues going...has anyone seen my dog?
9. Don't eat the yellow snowcones!
10. It's waaaayyy better than Freedom Week!
THE TOP TEN
LIST OF PEOPLE I CAN DO WITHOUT...
1. HECKLERS FROM MISSISSIPPI. (See my blog page for an explanation.)
2. PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO MERGE ON THE HIGHWAY.
3. HECKLERS FROM MISSISSIPPI.
4. GUYS WITH THEIR NAMES STITCHED ON THEIR BELTS.
5. THOSE WHO SUPPORT BARAK OBAMA.
6. PENTECOSTALS WHO WEAR JEANS SKIRTS WITH TENNIS SHOES.
7. PEOPLE WHO BEGIN THEIR GOSSIP SESSIONS WITH THE PHRASE, "PLEASE
HELP ME PRAY..."
8. PEOPLE WHO ARE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE HUMBLE.
9. GUYS WHO STILL WEAR WRANGLERS.
10. DID I MENTION HECKLERS FROM MISSISSIPPI?
BARACK IN CINCINNATI: AMERICA IS
IN TROUBLE
Kelly Ventura
7.15.08
America is in trouble.
With oil prices inflated by market
speculators and foreclosures still on the rise due to the sub prime loan
explosion of the Clinton era, there is an overall feeling in the media and
the country that "something's gotta give". As Believers we are tempted
to simply shrug our shoulders and mumble, "Well...it's just a sign of the
times." We cannot resign ourselves to this concession. Something must
be done, or something will "give".
Yesterday Barack Obama gave a speech in Cincinnati to the NAACP. It
was of course heralded by supporters to be the greatest speech since the
one that began with the inspiring, swelling words, "I have a dream!" In
it he criticized the current Bush administration's war policy in Iraq.
No surprise there. It is easy to criticize Bush's policy while standing
before an accomodating NAACP crowd. It is easy for Obama to criticize the
Iraq war, when he doesn't have a policy himself. Unless I am mistaken, I don't
even think that Obama was involved in marshalling the forces of the National
Guard while in Illinois.
According to AP Special Correspondant David Espo, "Sen. Barack Obama
says overall U.S. interests have been hurt rather than helped by the Bush
administration's decision to increase troop strength in Iraq 18 months
ago. He vows to stick by his plan to withdraw combat troops within 16 months
of becoming president."
While this statement is a direct insult to our troops, it simply is
not correct. If one remembers, 18 months ago there was talk of pulling
out entirely from Iraq. People like Ted Kennedy (before his seizure) led
the charge on the Hill to withdraw our fighting men and women from Iraq.
Iraq was seen at the time as a disaster. A quagmire of all quagmires! However...the
troop surge has led to extreme gains made in the war against the terrorists.
Al-Qaida has been decimated and the U.S. is winning the war. But you won't
hear about this in an Obama friendly media.
Obama went on to say about John
McCain, "[he] has argued that the gains of the surge mean that I should
change my commitment to end the war. But this argument
misconstrues what is necessary to succeed in Iraq, and stubbornly
ignores the facts of the broader strategic picture that we face."
Does Obama know what it means to "succeed" in Iraq? Apparently Obama
has become adept at critically analyzing international crisis during his
tenure as a Senator from Illinois. According to Obama "withdrawal" is the
key to success in Iraq. Say what? What color is the sun on his planet?
In the same breath he talks of the tremendous gains made by the troop surge,
then he says that the way to be victorious in Iraq is to reverse this surge.
The US must be successful in Iraq. The US needs a President that
will support what has worked in Iraq. Iraq is too unstable of a front
to "try out" new policies. If the US withdraws its' combat troops, Al
Qaida will gain new momentum. If the US withdraws combat troops from Iraq,
then the region becomes unstable. A withdrawal of US troops from Iraq will
only fuel Iran's quest for nuclear weapons. And if the Obama administration
thinks that the region is unstable now...just wait for Iran to have it's
finger on the nuclear button.
America is in trouble.
6.5 BILLION
5.25.08
There are approximately 7 billion
people on the planet today.
Out of that number 500 million have claimed this Pentecostal experience.
That leaves 6.5 billion people on the planet that have not heard
this Message.
6.5 BILLION
While we argue about whether or not the UPCI should go on TV or not
go on TV...6.5 billion people are on their way to hell. While we pride
ourselves in the fact that we are holier than another religious group...6.5
billion people are on their way to hell. While we come to church or
not come to church based on how we "feel" about ourselves...6.5 billion
people are on their way to hell. While we share The Gospel with someone
or don't share the Gospel with someone based on our own social insecurities...6.5
billion people are on their way to hell.
6.5 BILLION...America needs a revival!
And those who hold fast to Christian principles are not the only
ones who think that America needs a revival. The Muslim faith is quickly
taking over Europe and the Southeast Asian nations. For every convert
to Christianity there are two converts to Islam. America is becoming
less Christian and more secular. In fact, there are those who think that
soon America will no longer be the seat of Christian evangeilism, rather
it will shift to the African nations where Christianity is currently the
fastest growing denomination.
While America shirks off the
last of it's "Christian" roots and embraces a Godless existence, Europe
and the South East Asian world are quickly becoming Muslim. While America
revels in selfish luxury and cripples itself with hedonistic desires,
the spiritual landscape of the world as we know it becomes darker and
darker. Eventually, if the Pentecostals do not rally together, lay down
the "things" that divide us, and unite under the common banner of the
express Word of God, the world will sink into the black abyss of Islam.
America needs revival!
While we debate ad nauseum how that the internet is different than
TV...while Pentecostals are distracted with the formation of other "organizations"...6.5
BILLION people are on their way to hell. As the world continues to spin
out of control, and the social and economic systems begin to fail, America
needs a revival to bring them back to God.
This year's election will be a momentous one. Because it will show
to us...and blatantly demonstrate whether or not we have accepted the
media's pablum which says that these terrorists are Muslim Extremists,
and that the bulk of Islam does not hold this world view. That is a lie.
Fear and darkness drive Islam. For those who do not believe me, cosider
this: in the Quran there are 90 different names for Allah and not one of
them means "LOVE". We cannot place in office a man who (in any way) embraces
Islam!
Again, I say...wake up, America!
America needs a revival!
When Things Don't Turn Out How You Expected...There
Is Hope
By Kelly Ventura
3.25.08
Have you ever been working on a document in Microsoft
Word or some other word processing program and you can't think of what
to write next? For some reason the words just aren't coming. No matter
how hard you try to think of something intelligent, relevant, or inspiring
to say...nothin. Â You sit and stare at the blinking cursor...nothing.
The hands on the clock seem to spin as a minute turns into an hour and still...nothing.
Guess what? You have writer's block! But wait! There is a way out.
"Writer's Block" can be defined as the sudden inability to write
due to a lack of inspiration or motivation. Writer's Block has been
linked to depression and anxiety. These feelings press in and choke out
the creative process of writing, therefore the writer cannot do what
he does best...write. Writer's Block can also lead the writer to look
back at his or her previous work with disdain. Because they suffer
from Writer's Block they think that all of their writings are worthless,
hopeless...pointless drivel. Then comes the unthinkable. In a sudden fit
of helplessness they destroy their own work. Some tear up the pages, take
a hammer to the computer, or throw the work in the garbage can. Sometimes
years worth of work is gone in a fleeting act of despair.
While most of us don't have that much drama in our lives, we
do in a way feel the same. While working in Microsoft Word, I have often
looked at what I've written and said, "Blah!" Then I go to the top of
the page, highlight the horrible writing, hit the backspace button and....pooof!
It's gone! And I'm left with a blank page.
Now...what do I do with this blank page? Do I continue to type
meaningless drivel? Do I write a novel, a short story, or an essay?
Will this be some great literary work? Or will it be just a bunch of disconnected
words on a page? I have to determine how I'm going to fill the blank space.
And once I've made the changes...once my literary muse has kicked in...I
exit the program. When I exit the program I am prompted by windows with
a message that reads: "WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAVE ALL CHANGES? YES OR NO."
It's decision time. Â Is what I've written worth saving?Â
Or should I just forget about it? Is my life worth it? Â Or should I
just settle for less than my potential? Should I develop my abilities?
 Or should I just forget it all?  Should I save these changes?
In a moment of hopelessness...when things haven't turned out
how we expected them to...we begin to look at our lives with disdain.
 In a brief moment of despair we begin to think that it's all pointless...worthless.
 When we are in the middle of a situation we cannot see it for what
it's worth. Â We turn inward and the pain and anxiety seem too much.
"I might as well just give up!"
"I might as well just quit!"
"My life is meaningless."
"I might as well be dead."
But when you've erased it all and given up...there's one more
thing you have to remember. Â You've got a blank page. Â That's great,
Kelly!  A blank page? What are you talking about?  A blank page is
potential. Â Every time Shakespeare put his pen to parchment...he started
with a blank page. Â Potential. Â "A Tale Of Two Cities" began with Charles
Dickens staring at a blank page. Â Potential. Â Each time John Grisham
sits down at his computer in Mississippi, he begins with a blank page.
 Potential.
If you don't like the direction your life has taken...there is
a delete key...it's called forgiveness. Â Now you have the opportunity
to fill the page. Â Become inspired by the greatness of God. Â Become
motivated by His limitless mercy and grace. Â Fill the page. Be the man
or woman that God has called you to be. Â Fill the pages of your life with
victorious living.
And once the changes are made...and you come out of the valley...remember
to "SAVE ALL CHANGES". Â Your life is worth it. Â Your abilities
are worth developing. Â Your potential is worth exploring. Â You are worth
it. Go ahead...do it.  Push the button.  Select "Yes!" SAVE ALL CHANGES.
Kelly Ventura
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