By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
The Benny Hinn and Paula White affair rumour story is starting to move slowly in the media.
If you came here through a Google search, by the way, I suggest that you please scroll back a couple of days and read Bene D’s fine posts since Friday when the story broke. I also tried to quickly analyze the actual National Enquirer story, hard copy at hand, on Saturday.
The Toronto Star, which might have pipped the Enqurier at the post to break the story in the secular media, followed it up with a little joke at the evangelist’s expense.
About an hour ago, the Christian Broadcasting Network reported on the story, with the lede that Hinn and White were denying the rumoured affair. (I predict that the denial of the affair will...
While hundreds lined up for hours to see Benny Hinn in Sweden this weekend, (even as North America was reading about Benny Hinn and Paula White behavior in Italy about 2 weeks ago) his appearance at the European Conference Word of Faith conference was not without controversy. His theology, practises and pending divorce have been discussed a fair bit online in Sweden in media, on blogs and twitter feeds leading up to the European Conference in Uppusla.
Ekman stood up after Hinn spoke and suggested people weigh what was said and read their bible about what was preached. However Hinn was permitted to speak again. I’ve tried to tidy up the Google translation, if I’ve lost meaning in the cleaning, please pipe up in the comment section. Ekman posted about Benny Hinns visit:
But...
Here is what Paula White has to say about her appearance with Benny Hinn in The National Enquirer.
To My Friends, Partners & Ministry Colleagues,
I want to speak with you frankly and from my heart.
Last Friday, the National Enquirer released a dishonest and misleading article which falsely characterized my friendship with Pastor Benny Hinn. The publication, which is known for its bias and slanting of the truth, tries to mislead readers regarding the ministerial relationship and friendship I have had with Pastor Benny for over 20 years.
Specifically, the National Enquirer released the misguided and untruthful article, which falsely characterized my friendship with Pastor Benny as being something that is morally and spiritually inappropriate. The article goes on to suggest that we were...
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
I went by a newsstand during my lunch today and picked up the National Enquirer, with their two page story which alleges “TV EVANGELIST BENNY HINN CAUGHT IN TORRID AFFAIR” with fellow TV evangelist Paula White. You’ll remember that Bene D first mentioned the rumour story in his post yesterday.
Like Bene, I am not a habitual reader of tabloids due to the nature of their reporting. But even a stopped clock can be right twice a day, and I think that a little analysis of the story can be helpful in deciding whether there is something valid happening, or whether things are being blown out of proportion. In a week where a media frenzy needed to be undone, we need to be cautious while we have our eyes open.
As Aimee...
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
I’ve created a post in case there are any updates on the Benny Hinn and Paul White rumour that Bene D reported on earlier today.
As Bene D reported, The Toronto Star was first off the mark about an hour ago, in writing a story alluding to the rumour. They are assuming the National Enquirer is right and their very careful story treats the matter in this way:
Reports this week suggest a still-married Benny Hinn is now romantically involved with Paula White, another television preacher with a colourful past..
It then goes onto reporting the background on the two evangelists. No sources are cited.
(The hotel in Italy details come from the National Enquirer.)
Speaking of The National Enquirer, the next, August 2, issue of the...
A few days ago I noted the six month filing time for Benny and Suzanne Hinn’s divorce.
Right on cue The National Inquirer, the grand-daddy of US gossip magazines releases an on-line teaser. The expectation is a whole new audience is going to rush out and buy the tabloid to learn who the Enquirer says Benny Hinn is having an affair with.
Classic lurid words – shocking, (twice) caught, secret, steamy, beautiful blond evangelist, tryst…it is a specialized form of writing.
No, I’m not heading out to buy a National Inquirer, there may well be public mud-slinging and payback in the days and weeks to come between all kinds of people circling around the Hinns.
This story sells because inquiring minds want to know. Many people were saddened to read a marriage of over 30...
I’m amazed at the righteous indignation about this.
Donald had been harrassed by police for sitting on the steps of St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Toronto during the G20. He called the church to complain and the church invited him to come worship with them. So Donald Keith did and he brought his dog Trapper. When time came for communion Donald went forward, taking Trapper with him. What happened next was lovingly impulsive and was one of gestures from this church which healed the heart of a man who needed sanctuary and community.
But congregants of the church say the act wasn’t meant to be controversial. It was the first time the man and his dog had been in church. He had been invited to the service after an incident where police heckled him as he sat peacefully on the...
People with cerebral palsy have varying levels of balance and walking problems. If you don’t know what to look for, you can mistake the spastic movements of CP with those of some people on drugs and alcohol.
Take a look at the gait of this young man. Feet are apart, arms are out. He has rotation problems in his pelvis, knees and ankles. Often CP victims roll to shifting weight onto the toes.
This is about the signals his brain sends to his muscles, and the lack of cooperation of his sensory, motor and central nervous systems.
Sandy has cerebral palsy. Watch her coming down the street in this video. “Weight acceptance” is a problem for her. She is short, it’s apparent she has spastic motion, which is about her brain, not whether she is drugged, drunk, abusive,...
After receiving close to 300 G20 complaints – and counting – Ontario’s newly minted police watchdog is stepping into the policing-inquiry fray.
The Ontario Independent Police Review Director, created last fall to provide civilian oversight into police conduct, announced Thursday afternoon it is launching a systemic review of police conduct during the G20 summit in Toronto.
More than 1,000 people were arrested over a three-day period as protesters clashed with police across the downtown area. More than 700 were charged with nothing more than breach of peace, then released; more than 100 were never charged.
Independent police review director Gerry McNeilly says he’s received more than 275 individual complaints about police conduct during that weekend, with more popping up every......
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
Not to dogpile on Marci McDonald, but I feel that I should follow up on a post that I wrote about my former Report magazines colleague Terry O’Neill, and her.
You may remember that my old editor Terry O’Neill was quite dismayed at a factual error that Marci McDonald made in The Armageddon Factor, so much so that he retained a lawyer to pursue the matter.
Well, Terry has now heard back from William S. Adams, a Vice-President and Associate General Counsel for the parent company of Random House Canada, Random House Berlesmann, in New York City. Mr. Adams apologized in his letter, and corrections will be made to the online version.
“Ms. McDonald regrets her error, however indavertent, and apologizes to Mr....
Decent of The Tyee to do this.
For five days, The Tyee is running excerpts from The Armageddon Factor: The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada by Marci McDonald Random House May 2010
The excerpts are from the chapter, “Raising the Joshua Generation.”
I like this book, and for those of you who are getting a glimpse for the first time, by all means feel free to leave a comment.
Part 1: British Columbia, Test Bed for Harper’s Religious Base
Part 2: When Christ Returns, What Will Things Look Like?
I’ll add the other three excerpts as they go online.
And in case you missed this act of generousity from Random House – Chapter One, God’s Dominion is here....
On February 1, 2010 Suzanne Hinn filed for divorce from televangelist Benny Hinnin Orange County Superior Court. At the time of filing a public reason for the divorce proceeding was not given.
Looking at California FAQs about divorce law:
How long does it take for a divorce to be finalized in California?
The divorce procedure in California takes six months from the date the Respondent (the spouse) is served.
Giving time for Benny Hinn (respondent) to get the papers, it’s possible the public could hear about finalization and other details soon. Hinn told his children on February 17th, according to a public statement on his website. News outlets ran the statement starting around February 18th.
That was six months ago, so let me ask my US friends familar with California law: would...
Toronto Sun
A YouTube video of a woman blowing bubbles at Toronto Police officers during the G20 is getting world wide attention.
The video, called “Booked for Bubbles?” and posted by therealnews.com, includes one officer stating in no uncertain terms he’ll arrest Courtney Winkels if she keeps blowing bubbles at him and a fellow officer.
In the video posted on YouTube, the officer told Winkels, if the bubble touches him, she’ll be arrested for assault.
“Do you understand me?” he asked.
“Bubbles?” Winkels asked.
“Yes, that’s right, it’s a deliberate act on your behalf, I’m going to arrest you,” the cop replies. “You either knock it off with those bubbles. If you touch me with that bubble you’re going into custody.”
In what the video describes as “moments...
Just updating Google’s cache here..please ignore...
Just updating Google’s cache of the site to see if my fix worked… please ignore...
Please ignore – just testing.. thanks...
…Then Hachette Book Group got involved. In May 2008, the publishing conglomerate — one of the largest in the country — cut a deal with Windblown Media to market and distribute the book. In the two years since, “The Shack” has become a 12-million-copy-selling phenomenon and the biggest Christian publishing sensation in decades.But unlike Cinderella — at least in the Disney version — there’s no happy ending in sight for Young, or for the two men, Jacobsen and Cummings, he once called friends and business partners.
For nearly eight months, the trio have been mired in a series of lawsuits, accusations flying over improper accounting practices, millions of dollars in missing royalties, contract breaches and copyright disputes. Hachette, meanwhile, just wants to...
This is one for the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.
Global News July 10/10, National newscast 5:30 pm EST.
Do you see the footage which doesn’t belong in this story by Mike Drolet?
Global changes it’s G-20 Toronto coverage using video from Vancouver February 13/10.
You can see the Vancouver footage at 19:43.
Mistakes happen, but…Global staff didn’t add stock G-20 event footage, these few seconds are specific to Olympic protest coverage.
The footage didn’t get added to Mike Drolet’s report by itself. It’s summer, insertion of inaccurate footage could have been done by a green intern, or not; standards still apply. If it was an honest error, there can be honest acknowledgement.
Once a complaint has been filed with The Canadian Broadcast...
Andrew Strom is a charismatic who left the prophetic/apostolic movement in 2004. Since then he has been speaking out about uncritical acceptance of excesses and extra-biblical beliefs and practices accepted uncritically in branches of evangelicalism....
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
A tweet from Todd Bentley’s Twitter feed yesterday reads like this:
Another meeting about reality show. Could have another network A & E interested now too. Discovery or A & E ????
9:33 AM Jul 12th via Twitterrific
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
I would say that Todd should not be negotiating with two networks at the same time. Shouldn’t he be faithful to Discovery, the network that first expressed an interest, and allow them to have first right of refusal on the idea?
I wouldn’t think that playing one TV network against the other would be ethical for a minister to do. But, then again, this is Todd Bentley.
If A&E bites on the idea, hopefully they will sic “Dog the Bounty Hunter” on Todd...
Ed Brayton at Dispatches from the Culture Wars recently linked up to some excellent blogging by Richard Bartholomew showing the ties of US neo-charismatics and Nigerian NAR leaders who support the killing and maiming of children.
On April 14th Bishop NE Moses was scheduled to appear at Strader’s Lakeland church (where the now infamous 2008 Bentley Lakeland revival was started). Strader and Moses go back a ways, and I find it difficult to believe Strader isn’t aware of what is occuring in Nigeria. But, apparently not. Brayton got chided by Strader for linking to this post.
Ed, this is Pastor Stephen Strader in Lakeland, FL
In the blog that you wrote in the above LINK about Bishop Moses — I find strongly offensive.
First – Bishop Moses was scheduled at my church...
By Rick Hiebert Used By permission. All Rights Reserved.
If you were wondering as you read the headline–I’m not quoting myself. Rather I am quoting a blogger who writes that he used to be on staff at Todd Bentley’s old church.
According to Todd Bentley’s Twitter feed today, things are going well with him. The days of allegedly “local ministry” are now over:
He who wins souls is wise!!! Dreaming of the Harvest. Crusade plans in the works? Africa, Haiti and return to India.
about 10 hours ago via Twitterrific
IamToddBentley
Todd Bentley
Not going anyplace where they heard of the sad end of the Lakeland revival? Exactly so.
With his purported deal with Discovery, things would seem to be going well for Bentley. Not as such for two people who shared their...
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
Media attention for Marci McDonald’s book, The Armageddon Factor, is quieting down a bit.
There is a column in the Brandon Sun from about a week ago, in which Frank McGuiness reasons that McDonald’s National Magazine Awards add credibity to her thesis.
The CTS channel, back east in Ontario, had a 46 minute interview with McDonald on the program Behind the Story, devoting the entire June 20 program to her and her book.
It’s here on the CTS site, if you care to give it a watch....
This fellow was sunning himself in the garden. I’ve never seen this this kind of butterfly before, it’s a Red Admiral.
I’d swear it posed for the camera....
Last weekend, while wandering Pride, I met three people who really wanted to talk AT me. You guessed it: hopeful politicians all vying for my vote.
Today: George Smitherman!
We (my father, SharkBoy and I) encountered George Smitherman and his crew right by Church and Wellesley, just in front of the old location of his photo processing store (long gone, replaced by a cell phone outlet). I've been wanting to actually meet him because of all the notoriety he's garnished over the years, especially the diaper fiasco, where he suggested that he would wear an adult diaper to show Ontarians that they were super absorbent and your elderly parents won't have any trouble sitting in their wastes while they wait for an overworked nurse to come around to change them. Then there was the whole eHealth...
It’s summer in Canada, and there is a fair bit of home renovating going on. There is going to be a bit going on here at BDBO also.
In order to ensure the hackers have no loose latches on back doors to flip, or windows to pry open and take over again, cre8d-design is going to renovate. That means installing a newer (clean) platform, so if you pop over and we don’t seem to be here, hang in there, it’s the wonders of talented techs and technology rebuilding a safer corner of the web.
This is an original design I am really fond of, so the changes won’t be in what you see, they are structural. I’m hoping to be able to approach Google to clear up the mess the hackers left in the search engine, but one step at a time.
I’d like to encourage readers to come...
This gives new meaning to hogging the spotlight.
An anti-abortion group called Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust in Los Angeles tangled with a lighting crew for the Jimmy Kimmel Show outside The Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Blvd.
The teenager in the glare of the light (120 degrees F) decided he wasn’t moving.
The overweight guy who grabbed the light is Jeff White, founder of the anti-abortion group.
His group was formed in 1998 and holds protest boot camps for teens.
Since 1998, the Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust have conducted an annual ProLife Training Camps for high school and college students. Dedicated to education and activism, the summer conferences equip youth to effectively fight against abortion in their churches, schools, towns, and across the nation. Conference...
According to cre8d-design (BDBO tech company) Media Temple (server for BDBO) went above and beyond the call of duty and did whatever it was that needed to be done to get rid of the hacker.
Apparently this hack has something to do with Word Press (the platform) and not the server or something I did wrong. Now all I have to do is figure out when an update is critical and not just begging for widget downloads. WP forums are not easy places to navigate and I’ve spent five days I’m not going to get back.
Maybe some entrepreneur can write a Word Press for Dummies.
My thanks to Media Temple and cre8d-design.
And to articulate readers.
Apparently server techs don’t usually step in and help, so what Media Temple staff did is appreciated.
I’m really angry about this hack,...