Showing posts with label David Benham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Benham. Show all posts

Friday, June 24, 2016

What David Benham Heard the Holy Spirit Say During His Meeting With Donald Trump - DAVID BENHAM CHARISMA NEWS

David Benham met with Donald Trump recently.

What David Benham Heard the Holy Spirit Say During His Meeting With Donald Trump

David Benham met with Donald Trump recently. (Reuters / Russell Cheyne)

We met with Trump yesterday. This is what I woke up thinking. I've kept it raw and unpolished, so pardon some of my disconnecting thoughts.
We brought our dad and my oldest son to the meeting in New York City. We were like a microcosm of the greater culture, from Millennial to X'er through Boomer. 
As we debriefed at the airport on the way home, my dad said God could use Trump to shake up America. My son said Trump was fake and dodged the tough questions. But something wasn't sitting right in my spirit, and I couldn't really put a finger on it ... until this morning.
The church's identity rests not as a voting block but as a voice for truth—"the pillar and foundation" of it, actually (1 Tim. 3:15). In the early years of the Moral Majority, Christians chose to elect only leaders with a biblical worldview and good character. While this is noble and helped elect many godly leaders, I believe it has become an identity in the evangelical community over the years. Today, it seems the main thrust of the evangelical voice surfaces primarily during election season. So we try to gather in unity around the most electable leaders, like Donald Trump, who simply pander to us to get our vote.
Voting is vitally important—I get it. As a citizen of heaven I am commanded by God to be a good citizen on earth (Golden Rule, salt and light, give to Caesar, and so on), so voting is my duty as an American—but it's not my identity as a Christian. Whether Hillary or Trump is in the White House, my mission remains the same. I am an ambassador of Christ transforming the culture around me through the life-changing power of Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17-20). I should be God's agent of change, bringing lives, marriages, families and culture back to God's best for human flourishing. If the checkbook is out of balance it simply needs to be reconciled, which is where culture is today.
In light of this, the Christian's first instinct should be to listen to the Spirit, not look for a strategy. While the Holy Spirit often gives good strategy, sometimes what He speaks doesn't seem strategic at all. Think of Jeremiah's message to Israel against an alliance with Egypt to protect them from war and famine (Jer. 42). Consider Noah's call to build an ark ... when no one had even heard of rain before (Heb. 11:7). Remember Christ—our King—was born in a feeding trough and killed on a wooden tree. Do we see as God sees? It takes spiritual eyes, not strategic ideas.
For decades the evangelical community has strategized to the hilt to affect culture through elections. Yet, in my opinion, we've missed what the Spirit has been trying to say for quite some time. Again, I'm all for working hard in elections, but I believe the Spirit is speaking and we should listen. So while sitting in the Trump meeting I bowed my head and quietly prayed, "Lord, what are you saying here? What do you want to hear from us?"
I instantly felt the whisper of the Spirit to read Psalm 106 as a message for this group of leaders:
""But they mixed among the nations and learned their deeds; they served their idols, which were a snare to them. Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and poured out innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled by their acts and acted like whores with these actions.
 "Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people, and He abhorred His own inheritance. He gave them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them, and Israel was brought into subjection under their powerful hand. Many times He delivered them, but they were rebellious against Him with their counsel, and were afflicted for their iniquity. 
"Nevertheless, He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry: and He remembered on their behalf His covenant and relented according to the greatness of His mercies. He made them pitied among all those who held them captive" (Ps. 106:35-47, MEV, emphasis added).
I believe the distress that has come upon us in this nation is meant to generate in the Church a genuine cry of repentance—a true spiritual revival. We've filled our land from sea to shining sea with the innocent blood of the unborn, and we're prostrating ourselves before idols of every kind. As a result, leaders that hate us, and everything about us, rule over us.
Spiritually speaking, the Lord healed the brokenness of the nation when His people cried out to Him. And until we get to this point as Evangelicals in America, no amount of strategy around Trump, or any other leader, is going to fix it. The distress and darkness is going to continue.
Interestingly, after Trump spoke we listened to a panel of leaders from across various spheres of influence give their thoughts, and the common theme was how we have to stand against the horrific leaders we have in our nation, especially Hillary. I couldn't help but re-read Psalm 106, realizing that a spiritual cry of repentance is needed long before a strategic call to Republicans. 
Draw closer to God. Experience the presence of the Holy Spirit every month as you read Charisma magazine. Sign up now to get Charisma for as low as $1 per issue.
Has God called you to be a leader? Ministry Today magazine is the source that Christian leaders who want to serve with passion and purpose turn to. Subscribe now and receive a free leadership book.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Benham Brothers Predict an End to This Murderous Atrocity in North Carolina - JASON AND DAVID BENHAM CHARISMA NEWS

Even in the darkest night, you can be a flashlight.

Benham Brothers Predict an End to This Murderous Atrocity in North Carolina



Even in the darkest night, you can be a light. (somewebpixels/flickr/Creative Commons)

No matter how spiritually dark it may get in today's culture, just remember—you can be a voice. You can make a difference. All you have to do is just shine the light.
When you go to bed at night, do you turn the darkness on, or turn the lights off?
When you open a closet door, does the darkness from the closet fill the room, or the light from the room fill the closet?
You get the point: Light is greater than darkness. And the only way darkness prevails is when the light is turned off. As our good friend, Dr. Michael Brown, says, "The problem today is not the presence of darkness. It's the absence of light."
So when you step up to be a voice for truth and start shining God's light, you will make a difference, because light always overcomes the darkness.
We're watching this happen in our home state of North Carolina—and we're not talking about the controversy surrounding HB2 and the pushback against radical bathroom bills. We're talking about the light of God's love shining at three local abortion clinics in our hometown of Charlotte.
Hundreds of Christians from various denominations have joined hands under the banner of Cities4Life to help bring healing to abortion-bound mothers who feel they have no other choice—and the results are unprecedented.
Since Cities4Life began in 2010, we've seen more than 3,300 mothers choose life for their unborn babies! And the follow-up ministry from organizations like Truth & Mercy Ministries (baby showers), Monroe HELP Center (pregnancy care), Option Adoption (adoption facilitation) and others has been incredible.
The outpouring of Christian love for these mothers and sweet unity among believers has shined God's light so brightly in our state that even the Washington Times has taken note. Check out the Times' headline after the North Carolina Department of Health released our state's abortion statistics: "NC's drop in abortions is among nation's sharpest since 2010."
When Christians in our city decided to shine the light of God's love into the darkest places—our three abortion clinics—the light of God overcame the darkness of death by over 26 percent! There's no denying it—we're winning.
Because light is stronger than darkness, all we have to do is flip it on.
Our good friend and young entrepreneur Justin Reeder, is a great example of this. He started a campaign called Love Life Charlotte this year, through which he mobilizes churches across denominational lines to adopt a week for life in our city. It begins with the pastor preaching about life on Sunday. Then he asks the congregation to pray and fast on Wednesday, and finally, he gathers the church for a prayer walk at the clinic on Saturday. And the churches are pouring out support.
We feel it's just a matter of time before abortion will end in our city because mamas who feel they have no other choice will have so many churches from which to choose, and those churches are ready to help those mamas and their families, whatever the cost. When Christians shine the light, darkness has to flee.
No matter how dark it seems today, it's time we stand up and shine God's light. We can be a voice, we can make a difference, we can save lives, and we can be involved.
Draw closer to God. Experience the presence of the Holy Spirit every month as you read Charisma magazine. Sign up now to get Charisma for as low as $1 per issue.
Has God called you to be a leader? Ministry Today magazine is the source that Christian leaders who want to serve with passion and purpose turn to. Subscribe now and receive a free leadership book.

Friday, January 29, 2016

Dr. Michael Brown's (AskDrBrown.org) first "A Night To Ignite Vision" - Charlotte, NC Jan. 28, 2016

Dr. Michael Brown

Dr. Michael Brown's (AskDrBrown.org) first "A Night To Ignite Vision" - Charlotte, NC Jan. 28, 2016

It was a joy to attend "A Night To Ignite Vision", hosted by the staff of Dr. Michael Brown (AskDrBrown) on Jan. 28, 2016 in Charlotte, NC. 

After a special pre-dinner and book signing hour time with Dr. Brown, many more gathered from 6:30 pm - 9 pm in the Hilton event room.

The Behman brothers, Jason and David; a spokesman for Salem Broadcasting, which carries Dr. Brown's radio program across the nation; and then Dr. Brown himself all shared the vision of the outreach. The outreach has impressively exploded in effectiveness and numbers listening and responding to the radio program, In the Line of Fire,  seeing the social media posts, and reading his published books and articles, especially in these past three years specifically.

Love For His People, Inc. monthly supports this vital ministry of Dr. Michael Brown, as we stand with him for the sake of the Gospel. Being a Messianic Jew, we particularly are appreciate of what he is doing in this nation, and his heart for the Jewish people. 

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People, Inc.

Watch here a short video: Michael Brown speaking

Dr. Michael Brown (AskDrBrown)
Steve Martin (Love For His People)


Book signing time



Scott Volk & Steve Martin

Scott Volk, a longtime friend and co-worker with Dr. Brown, was also on the Vision For Israel (Barry & Batya Segal) board when I was the VFI USA Director from 2005-2010. We became good friends then.

Scott Volk's ministry website: Together For Israel


Our table #5 at "A Night To Ignite Vision" event

(L-R) Mr. Belk, along with Judy & Steve from Paul Wilbur's ministry


 Scott Volk was the MC for the night. Dr. Brown's table.


Scott and the ministry's Director of Operations.

 David & Jason Benham











Visit Dr. Michael Brown's website: AskDrBrown


Saturday, May 17, 2014

SunTrust Cuts Ties with Benhams after HGTV Flap

SunTrust Cuts Ties with Benhams 

after HGTV Flap

CBN News May 16, 2014

More than a week after HGTV dropped David and Jason Benham's reality show over their views on same-sex marriage, the brothers and business owners announced SunTrust Banks is cutting ties with them.

According the Daily Caller, the Benhams said SunTrust's decision came "without warning or explanation" and "took place over a 15-minute period" Thursday.

"We were caught off-guard with this one," David Benham said. "Keeping us off television wasn't enough, now this agenda to silence wants us out of the marketplace."

Faith Driven Consumer founder Chris Stone agreed, suggesting the move by SunTrust was punitive and part of a growing movement to silence people of faith.

"SunTrust's actions have effectively put into place a belief-oriented litmus test for its business partners seeking to compete in the marketplace of goods, services, and ideas," Stone told Charisma News. "This is discriminatory, intolerant, and in direct opposition [to] everything that America is about."

"Faith Driven Consumers, and all fair-minded Americans, are getting tired of this," Stone continued. "They know it's wrong, and they are not going to tolerate this kind of bullying."

SunTrust issued a statement Friday saying the move had to do with changes in management and was not motivated by politics.

"SunTrust supports the rights of all Americans to fully exercise their freedoms granted under the Constitution, including those with respect to free speech and freedom of religion," they said.

"Mid-2013, we consolidated the management of certain residential assets with a third party vendor, which has the relationship with Benham Real Estate," they continued. "While we do not publicly comment on specific vendor relationships, we don’t make choices on suppliers nor base business decisions on political factors, nor do we direct our third party vendors to do so. We clarified our policies with our vendor and the issue has been resolved."

The Behnam controversy is the latest evidence of shifting attitudes toward marriage.

Ten years after same-sex marriage first became legal in the state of Massachusetts, acceptance of gay marriage has grown across the country.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia now allow same-sex couples to wed.

Although 30 states have voter-approved constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, judges in seven of them have struck down those laws.

Meanwhile, recent polls show 53 percent of Americans now support gay marriage. A decade earlier, that number stood at 30 percent.

***Is it inevitable that gay marriage will become a norm in America? Chris Plante, with the National Organization for Marriage, addressed that question and more on CBN Newswatch, May 16.

If you want to voice your discontent with Sun Trust Bank and HGTV. Write, call, email, or comment on Twitter:

SUNTRUST

Write to the office of the president:

7818 Parham Road Richmond, Virginia 23294

Call Headquarters: 303 Peachtreet St, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Phone number: (404) 588-7711

HGTV

Write:

HGTV Corporate Office Headquarters

500 W Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902

Email your complaint.

Tweet @HGTV

Monday, May 12, 2014

Anti-Christian Activists Will Defeat Themselves - MICHAEL BROWN

Benham Brothers

Benham Brothers

Anti-Christian Activists Will Defeat Themselves



For years now, anti-Christian activists have been pushing the hate button and accusing those of us who hold to biblical morality and family values of being intolerant, hate-filled bigots (and worse).
But this strategy, seen most recently in the attack on godly twin brothers, Jason and David Benham, will inevitably defeat itself. After all, when the alleged victims are the bullies and the alleged tolerant ones are full of bigotry, their rhetoric cannot be taken seriously.
Back in 2008, as Californians voted to preserve marriage with the Proposition 8 marriage amendment, the amendment was quickly dubbed Prop Hate, as if the only way anyone could believe that marriage was the union of a man and woman was if they were full of hate.
But that was only the beginning. In Sacramento, demonstrators held signs reading:
  • Prop 8=American Taliban
  • Ban Bigots
  • Majority Vote Doesn’t Matter
  • 52%=Nazi [this referred to the 52-48% vote in favor of Prop 8]
  • Don’t Silence the Christians, Feed Them 2 the Lions
  • Your Rights Are Next
Taliban? Nazis? Feed them to the lions?
This kind of demonization will only defeat itself in the long run exposing who the real bigots are.
In the last week, as soon as my newest book was released, I was accused of being the incarnation of the late Fred Phelps (infamous for his “God hates fags” protests), as well as branded the leader of my own “religious cult” that “requires human sacrifices.” (I’m not making this up.)
So, by writing a book filled with compassion and speaking of God’s great love for those who identify as LGBT, also urging the Church to recognize the unique struggles faced by those with same-sex attractions, I have become a hate-filled bigot and cult leader.
It’s like calling Shaquille O’Neal small or Bill Gates poor.
At some point reality kicks in – in this case, the moment someone reads the first pages of my book (or the middle pages or the last pages) – and instead of advancing their cause, the anti-Christian activists undermine their own.
In a blog post entitled, “The homophobic rantings of Michael L Brown,” Jay H. wrote, “Fred Phelps is dead. Long live Fred Phelps, apparently. Or rather his new incarnation: Michael L. Brown.”
Unfortunately for Jay H., when people actually read my book, rather than “homophobic rantings,” they find the opposite. As one reader noted, “[Brown] . . . freely uses life testimonies of people who were divinely delivered from homosexuality, and others NOT divinely delivered from homosexuality. This isn’t cherry-picked propaganda here...there are sections in this book that are very sobering for [an] evangelical believer to read.”
And so, readers quickly realize that I am no more the new Fred Phelps than I’m the new Michael Jordan, and the anti-Christian rhetoric exposes itself.
That’s what is happening with my good friends David and Jason Benham, Christian businessmen and committed husbands and fathers.
They were about to be the stars of a new reality show on HGTV that featured them helping hurting families get their dream homes, until a single post on RightWingWatch caused HGTV to pull the plug. (For those unfamiliar with RightWingWatch, the website is a project of Norman Lear’s ultra-liberal People for the American Way. The website references Christian family activist Phyllis Schafly 351 times, conservative political leader Gary Bauer 334 times, President Ronald Reagan 111 times, author Chuck Colson 57 times, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas 37 times, just to give a few examples. You can be sure most all of the references were not flattering.)
Shortly after HGTV announced its decision, a young man on YouTube opined that the Benham brothers were “the textbook definition of a psychopath” and that “they have no feelings, no consideration for other people.”
The problem, of course, is that the moment you get to know David and Jason – or even watch them on a TV interview for a few minutes or see them interacting with their families – you realize that they are not the ones who need help. It’s the young man on YouTube who needs help, and I can guarantee that if they had the opportunity, the Benhams would reach out to him directly to show him the love of God. (When I played part of this YouTube clip for Jason on my radio show, he responded with real compassion and concern.)
But it’s not just some anonymous YouTuber who is spouting such extreme, self-disqualifying anti-Christian rhetoric.
Dan Savage, a leading gay activist (and sex columnist) supported HGTV’s decision, comparing the Benham’s pro-family viewpoints to “white people” who used to “go on TV and say the most racist [expletive] imaginable (argue against legal interracial marriage, argue in favor of segregation) and keep their jobs and be invited back on TV to say that [expletive] a second time.”
Savage facetiously remarked that “hating the [expletive] out of gay people is something all Christians have in common,” titling his blog, “HGTV Cancels Reality Show After Twin Stars Anti-Gay Activism and Rabid Homophobia Exposed.”
What is rabid, however, is not the position of the Benhams. It is Dan Savage’s militant and vicious anti-Christian rhetoric that is rabid, and so, when reasonable, thinking people listen to Savage and to the Benham brothers, it’s easy to see who is filled with hate and who is filled with love.
Eventually, as those who claim to be champions of tolerance and diversity continue their crusade to silence and defame those who differ with them, they will ultimately defeat themselves.
Watch and see.
Michael Brown is author of Can You Be Gay and Christian? Responding With Love and Truth to Questions About Homosexuality and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show The Line of Fire on the Salem Radio Network. He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience. Follow him at AskDrBrown on Facebook or at @drmichaellbrown on Twitter.
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