Sun. 1-23-05 FreeGoodNews.com E-Letter No. 18

Jude 1:20-23
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Contents:

-- Now available on webcast.

-- Last show.

-- I went too far in my criticism?
-- What I learned in Sunday School today.
-- Financial Support.

Now available on webcast. The interview I did with former Catholic Priest Richard Bennett is now available for free on-demand webcast viewing and downloading. Click here to see the video or just hear the audio. Free downloads of this and previous shows are available here.

Last Show. The last show I did with Director Keith Teasdale (Hideout Ministries) is now replaying on cable TV in Portland's Washington County. Click here for the replay schedule, time, channel, etc. On this show, Brad Butcher of the Luis Palau Evangelism Network also presented the gospel (in the second half of the show).

Did I go too far? I conducted a survey of the top media ministries, to see how they compensate (pay) their top ministers/executives. The results were very surprising to me. Some are very reasonable, some are outrageous. See for yourself here. Some of the best were Focus on the Family and Coral Ridge Ministries. Some of the very worst were Dr. Hagee, Peter Popoff, Billy Graham, Paul & Jan Crouch, and Steve Arterburn.

You know, it doesn't bother me when they are preacher's I don't particularly listen to; but people like Steve Arterburn I really like, so it really pains me to report this nonsense. Ministers like Steve Arterburn are also proficient authors, and royalties from books sold outside of their ministry normally go directly to them (and the amount is unknown). This is also very troubling, as they are paid to write these on company time, get free advertising by the ministry, and yet they pocket the profit. If it wasn't for their publicly-financed ministry, they'd have no name and no sales, since they wouldn't finance their own advertising. (Believe me, there is no end to "would be" authors who would like to sell their books.)

Again, did I go too far? Most of the feedback said "no." I do appreciate the feedback that said I need to better explain my position, but I just don't have time given the part-time nature of this ministry. Therefore, I will do it in two stages.

1. Expose the data to the public.
2: Explain why this is such a problem (for those who don't see the "obviousness" of it).

What I learned in Sunday School today: If you're a Christian, then you're a full-time paid minister. We are all in the ministry. It doesn't matter if your job is preaching sermons at church, designing computer chips, or pumping gas at the local filling station. TAKE THAT TO HEART. "Some people are paid to be good (like pastors), but we are 'good for nothing' ."

Financial Support. Thanks to all those who supported me financially in 2004. I hope to give you receipts in a few weeks. My 501(c)(3) status is still pending (it was supposed to have arrived by now...). When I receive my status, then all previous gifts are recognized by the government (retro-active). So far, this ministry is financed by myself primarily (91%). One of my goals for this year is to prove that my support is broad-based... something the government wants to see in a non-profit corporation.

...Bernie
http://www.freegoodnews.com/
"Providing free materials for spiritual growth"

Free Offers:
1. Free Webcast viewing and MP3 downloads of previous shows
2. Free Book "Between 2 fires" (regarding life and ministry in the occupied Palestinian territories)
3. Free audio Bible on MP3 by AudioTreasure.com
4. E-Sword Free Bible and Bible Study Software (Bibles, Bible Dictionaries, Commentaries, Maps, etc)

If you would like to be removed from this email list, just reply to Bernie@FreeGoodNews.com and let him know! These are also posted on the web here.

1-18-05 FGN Update (Show Wed. night, etc.)

Just a quick note to let you all know that tomorrow's (Wednesday) show will be from 8:00-8:50 pm on Ch. 11 throughout Portland. It will be broken into (2) 25 min. shows. The first will focus on Hideout Music Ministries and Director Keith Teasdale. The second will be primarily with Brad Butcher, an Evangelist affiliated with Luis Palau's Evangelism Network, discussing Gospel basics.

These shows (below) are currently available for free webcast viewing, to anyone in the world with a computer and internet connection. Click here to visit the internet website:

-- Christmas 2004 (12/12/2004 - Sunday)
-- Islam, show 2 of 3 (12/19/2004 - Sunday)
-- Tithing (12/26/2004 - Sunday)
-- Mormonism (LDS) (1/2/2005 - Sunday)
-- Greed, show 2 of 2 (1/9/2005 - Sunday)
-- Israel, #1 of 3 (1/16/2005 - Sunday)

Yes, I'm getting a few hits from Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Denmark, Singapore, United Kingdom, Peru, Yugoslavia, and Austria !

...Bernie
http://www.freegoodnews.com/
"Providing free materials for spiritual growth"

Free Offers:
1. Free Webcast viewing and MP3 downloads of previous shows
2. Free Book "Between 2 fires" (regarding life and ministry in the occupied Palestinian territories)
3. Free audio Bible on MP3 by AudioTreasure.com
4. E-Sword Free Bible and Bible Study Software (Bibles, Bible Dictionaries, Commentaries, Maps, etc)

If you would like to be removed from this email list, just reply to Bernie@FreeGoodNews.com and let him know! These are also posted on the web here.

1-9-05 Update: Analysis of Executive Pay in Nonprofit Corporations

Hi all-

I just completed a review of 59 nonprofit organizations regarding executive pay. I believe that a top salary should be about $150K. Many fine organizations are under this, while quite a few are over it. Go to this link to see the tables and graph of the most popular organizations doing "good works."

Why am I doing this? It upsets me that there are people making too much money off of the good faith of donors. This is public information, but I don't think the public knows about it. I believe that once it is exposed, those organizations that are more responsible and noble will get rewarded over those that have a problem with greed. I'm doing my part to expose this abuse of public trust. It's especially scandalous when the organization is supposed to be "Christian-based." Thank God that there are noble organizations, such as NW Medical Teams, Doctors without Borders, Compassion International, Habitat for Humanity, etc. It saddens me to report that some Christian organizations, such as Samaritan's Purse, are what I would consider seriously "overboard" in executive compensation.

Titus 1:7

Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless–not overbearing, not quicktempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

...Bernie
http://www.freegoodnews.com/
"Providing free materials for spiritual growth"

Free Offers:
1. Free Webcast viewing and MP3 downloads of previous shows
2. Free Book "Between 2 fires" (regarding life and ministry in the occupied Palestinian territories)
3. Free audio Bible on MP3 by AudioTreasure.com
4. E-Sword Free Bible and Bible Study Software (Bibles, Bible Dictionaries, Commentaries, Maps, etc)

If you would like to be removed from this email list, just reply to Bernie@FreeGoodNews.com and let him know!

Fri. 1-7-05 FreeGoodNews.com E-Letter No. 17

Romans 8:1-3
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.

Contents:

1. Video/audio webhosting: it's here!

2. Last Show: Former Priest Richard Bennett

3. Next Show: Hideout Ministries and LPEA's Evangelist Brad Butcher
4. Tithing, a very good book

Hi friends-

Video/audio webhosting: it's here! Yes, now you can see some of my previous shows, and get free downloads, including audio in MP3. Just click here to see my webcast page at oneplace.com .

Last Show: Former Priest Richard Bennett. It went pretty good. Click here to catch the TV re-run schedule in Portland's Washington County.

Next Show: Hideout Ministries and LPEA's Evangelist Brad Butcher. I will be talking with Keith Teasdale, the Director for Hideout Ministires. They put on youth concerts to reach hearts for Christ. Also on board is LPEA's (Luis Palau Evangelistic Association) Brad Butcher, who will share some interesting information about the Gospel, and how it can change lives for the better.

Tithing, a very good book (click here). Unfortunately, many evangelical Churches are unfaithful to the Scriptures when they teach "tithing" as a practice. Instead, we should be learning about "stewardship," which is a much higher calling. Personally, I think many Preachers preach tithing from a lack of faith. If they teach the truth about heartfelt giving, they may be afraid that they won't get enough to support themselves, staff, property, etc. Here's an excellent book that covers the truth about tithing (what the Bible teaches, tithing history throughout the church, etc).

....Bernie
http://www.freegoodnews.com/
"Providing free materials for spiritual growth"

Free Offers:
1. Free Webcast viewing and MP3 downloads of previous shows
2. Free Book "Between 2 fires" (regarding life and ministry in the occupied Palestinian territories)
3. Free audio Bible on MP3 by AudioTreasure.com
4. E-Sword Free Bible and Bible Study Software (Bibles, Bible Dictionaries, Commentaries, Maps, etc)

If you would like to be removed from this email list, just reply to Bernie@FreeGoodNews.com and let him know!

1-3-05 Update: Compassion Test

Hi all-

You all heard about the devastating Tsunami in Asia. The first Sunday after it happened, the Pastor at our Church said a prayer (when the death toll was 7k, but now it's 20 times that). Immediately this verse came to my mind:

James 2:14-17

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

I'm firmly convinced that we should DO something. Even if it's helping with $10 or $50. First, even though it is really nothing by itself, it is something. Second, we will be doing our part (imagine if most people gave money, how it would add up).

But who would be the best group to fund? From doing my research into ministry financial integrity, NW Medical Teams immediately came to mind. They are rock solid. They don't preach the Gospel in word, but in deed. Please join me and click here to donate on-line, quick and simple. What you do to the "least of these" you do directly for our Lord Jesus, and I know you would send help if it was our Lord who needed it (Matthew 25:31-46).

Of course, if you need help yourself, such as if you're unemployed, please don't feel guilty. God wants you to take care of yourself first, so you aren't a burden to others (be self-sufficient, rather than a drain on the government and others). But most of us can do something, but don't take the time to do it, which must be grieving to the Holy Spirit.

...Bernie

http://www.FreeGoodNews.com

"Providing free materials for spiritual growth."