A poem I wrote (Jefferson Bethke) to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it’s core Jesus’ gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can’t do your own list of rules and feel “not good enough” for God. With Jesus though you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don’t represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect putting us in perfect standing with God!
Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus
Skate or Die, Jesus Saves!
This is how you reach the lost youth: skatechurchportland “how to” video (<< click image to watch)
The past 24 years have been a testimony to answered prayer and God’s power to save souls and change lives. Paul and his staff affirm with wholehearted zeal, “The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1: 16), that prayer is the backbone of spiritual ministry, and that one plants, another waters, but it is God who causes the increase (see 1 Corinthians 3:5, 6).
- Over 11,000 skaters in the greater Portland area have heard the Gospel through Skatechurch.
- Skatechurch has held three skate camps.
- 1,240 people locally have claimed Christ as Savior and Lord.
- 20 Skatechurch students have gone on to Bible College in some capacity.
- After getting saved, one skater went on to teach Bible Study Methods and Biblical Hebrew at the Bible college and seminary level.
- Skatechurch has assisted many other skate ministries in getting started and maintaining their own skateboard ministries throughout the US, Canada, Australia, Europe and Africa.
- In 1998, Skatechurch produced a 29-minute video to help other ministries start and run ministries to skaters. The latest version of the “How To” Video, produced in 2007, can now be viewed online for free. 651 DVD’s of the video have been distributed worldwide.
- The skateboard demonstration team has preached the Gospel to approximately 17,710 people throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Arkansas, Canada and Ireland.
- Gerald Griffin, Skatechurch pastor from 1999-2002, and Ben Thomas, Skatechurch pastor from 2003-2005, led a team of skaters to France and Ireland in the summer of 2002. Joel Coombs led Skatechurch mission teams to Ireland in 2004 and 2005.
- 694 people have professed faith in Christ through the witness of the demo team.
- In addition to these demos, from 2000 to 2004 Skatechurch partnered with the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association to do 11 demos at Palau Festivals in the U.S. and Europe. These festivals included:
- building 4,500 to 9,000-square-foot skate parks.
- organizing teams of professional Christian skaters.
- preaching the Gospel to the large crowds that attend the skateboard demonstrations, resulting in 1849 decisions or rededications.
- Paul Anderson, a partner evangelist to Luis Palau, and Skatechurch’s involvement in these festivals became the seedbed for Palau’s ongoing Livin’ It Action Sports Ministries.
COURAGEOUS Movie
Honor Begins at Home
Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.
While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they’re quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.
When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God … and to their children?
Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Riveted moviegoers will once again find themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.
Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous.
Hillsong Live – Mighty To Save
Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding of Hillsong Live sing their song “Mighty To Save” at Worship Together.com
What Heaven Looks Like
These videos are a collaboration of many people’s testimonies about their near death experiences/ heavenly visitations. It is the intention of this video to show the consistency of their testimonies to prove that they were not just hallucinating. I have done a lot of research on the subject, so if you have any questions, like about sources, feel free to ask.
2 Corinthians 13:1b “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
Part 2
Drawing Heaven
This video was featured on CNN of a young girl with incredible drawing talent. Paintings Inspired by GOD Akiane Kramarik
Children Living in the Dump Documentary
60 Minute Documentary – First Aired Nationally on PBS in 1999. Emmy Winner.
In the early 1990′s while filming a Presidential Election in Guatelmala City, Film maker John Biffar met an American woman, Kari Engen. She had traveled to Guatemala City several years earlier on a mission to help poor, and hungry children. When she arrived in Guatemala city she learned of the plight of the children, many lost and abandoned. Living on the streets – After all, this was “The Third World.” But then she learned of the children living in the dump. An entire subculture of people in a trash pile. This was “The Fourth World.” Her life’s mission has become helping these children to escape the deadly grasp and cycle of life in the dump. Her program, Mi Refugio is the result. John has documented her struggles, triumphs and tragedies for two decades. This documentary was produced in the late 1990′s by Bush Entertainment and Trilogy Media, John’s production company. Hosted by and Narrated by Film Actress Ali MacGraw. We are known as Dreamtime Entertainment today. I edited and filmed much of this program and it’s a touching and an emotional rollercoaster as it was when I edited way back then on our Media 100 editing system. It still gives me the shivers. I hope you enjoy this program and it inspires you to change the world too. Like Kari is still doing.
Mi Refugio is a nonprofit corporation with tax exempt status (#52-1610744) in the USA.
Dave Says, “This program is not another video about a religious mission to convert people, it’s not about a religious anything. It’s about one person following her heart. Dedicating her life and all she believes to helping these children, and their families have a better life. For those of us in the US, this documentary gives us evidence that the SMALLEST thing, the most insignificant thing in our lives here in this country could be HUGE for a child living in a Central American dump. But amidst all that dirt and despair, a light can shine through it all…powered by belief that it can be changed. And the most humble person with no means at all, can make that change a reality. According to Kari, that happens when we look into our hearts and ask god. (or whatever deity it is that you believe in, or if you don’t believe in any, then ask…just ask and see if you get an answer back)
Writer and Director John Biffar, Executive Producer Paul Bush, Cameramen John Biffar, Dave Beaty, Flip Minott, Bob Hite, Music Kat Epple, Editing Dave Beaty
