A Trip to Burger King May Cost $700.

I wrote the following letter to Burger King Corporate:

I'm writing because of a very poor experience with the Sauk Rapids Burger King. My wife left her phone at this location by accident. When I called to confirm if it was there, they said it was. We went back to retrieve the device. When my wife received it, it was completely soaked. When she asked about why the phone was soaked, the manager said that they had cleaned it off as it had ketchup on it. The phone was malfunctioning as soon as we received it back from the location. 

I asked  the manager on duty if they were willing to pay for repairs of the phone. She said it's not their fault that the phone was covered in ketchup and mustard. 

At this point, I'm very upset with how the store handled this incident. It's common knowledge that you never submerge nor spray an electronic device. Since the store is unwilling to correct the issue, I'm asking for corporate to take care of it. 

Here's the full story. 

My wife, kids, and I had just come from church. We were going to see a house for rent in about an hour and needed to feed our children. As it turns out, the Burger King in Sauk Rapids was on the way. We decided to go there since it also had a play land. 

The food was sub-par during our visit (though, I generally prefer Burger King to Mc Donalds). At least they were still running their nuggets special. When we left, my wife accidentally left her phone behind. 

About an hour passed before we realized the phone was missing. When we realized the last place it was used was at the Burger King, we called them back to find out if it was there. They said that they had they found the phone in the garbage. The likelihood of throwing a working phone in the trash is pretty slim. While we didn't believe their story, we took in good faith that they were at least taking care of it. 

When my wife went into the restaurant to retrieve her phone, the staff gave her a soaking wet phone. She inquired what happened. The employee said "We heard it ringing and found it in the bottom of the trash can. The person who found it cleaned it off and dried it in the bathroom."

When the employee turned the phone over, my wife noticed that the phone was malfunctioning. My wife pulled the phone back off and found that it was soaked. 

I then called the store to speak with a manager and find out what happened. The manager said that the phone was found in the garbage and that the store would not accept responsibility for the cleaning nor damaging of the phone. Her words were specifically "It's not my fault you threw your phone in the trash" before abruptly hanging up. 

All I want is for the damaged phone to be repaired. At this point, we have the phone in a bag of rice as recommended by ERG Electronics Repair Shop. If the phone is still not functioning, we'll have to take additional steps. 

It's sad to see that Burger King can be so disrespectful to their customers after damaging a customer's personal property.


UPDATE - 2015 08 10 1107
I received a call from John K at Red King Foods. He said that the store reported the phone as found in the trash can in the play area. They said that it was swimming in pop.

There are 2 issues with that claim.

1) The "I got wet" sticker is still white.
2) There's no sugar residue from pop on the device

John is asking that we have ERG contact him regarding the repair of the phone.

UPDATE - 2015 08 19
ERG was able to repair the phone. It's great to see that it's working. Now time to get ERG to send their full report to BK showing that they lied about the incident.

A Letter to my Daughter on Privacy

I am writing to let you know that I love you. I want you to know that you won't always understand what I do. Please believe me that I have your best interest at heart.

You say that you hate it when I ask to check your emails, texts, or even Facebook. I do this because I care. People who would do you harm will creep in through these and harass you. As your father, I want to protect you from harm. Moreso, when you block me out, it's hard for me to know what's going on. I would much prefer that you tell me. Since you have stopped communicating, I am at a loss.

The little girl who is becoming a woman changed drastically. You're now dating, but hiding your boyfriend from me. You blame me for your problems, but never talk to me about them. You're shutting me out, and there's not a thing I can do.

Worse yet, you're playing parents against one another. Telling different stories in private versus public.

Character is built in these crucial years. I want you to be a woman of great character. The type of woman that could be appointed to a high office or build her own business. Whatever your dream is, character is the vehicle that takes you there.

Sadly, a midst the lies, deceptions, and misdirect ions, I am not sure who you are any more. As your parent, I ask and you retaliate. What I really want is to also be your friend. If I cannot be your friend, I will have to settle for just being your parent.

As a parent, I have to verify the things that are happening in your life. I have to make sure that you are safe. Since you don't discuss that, my last resort is checking up on you through any means available. I don't want to do this, but you have removed yourself from our friendship.

My prayer is that your children always remain open with you. Hiding nothing. An open relationship does not require follow-up. Please remember this, when you have children.

Broken (Recovering from Spiritual Hurts)

Have you ever broken your leg? Think about it for a moment. Perhaps you were skiing or jumping off of something.... or perhaps you just fell down some stairs. You feel that sharp pain shoot through your leg. Perhaps a tear comes to your eyes because the pain is intense. You are hurt. There’s no doubt about that. Now what?

First thing most people do when they break a leg is to immobilize it. This prevents additional injury. Next, you go see a doctor. The doctor will apply a cast and recommend crutches (or some form of mobility aid). In severe cases, the doctor may also prescribe a painkiller. All of this happens with the hope that over time, you will heal and return to as close to normal as possible.

Now, think about those who have been hurt emotionally and spiritually. The deeper the break, the greater the pain and longer the recovery. I remember when I broke my leg, I spent a lot of time sitting or reclined. I couldn’t join in at karate classes or ride my bicycle. The pain was too great. My life revolved around minimizing pain for a period of time. When hurt spiritually, a person may need time to recover. Time to sort out the pains in their heart. Time to begin the healing process. Like a leg, putting them back into action (ministry) right away may cause additional breaks and further pain. The initial period of time is needed to prevent additional injury while in a weakened state. Keep in mind that having family around you helps in this time of recovery. They can do things to help, whether it be encouragement or more practical things. Either way, being alone and injured is a bad idea. So should it be when injured by a spiritual leader. Your family can help you recover. Your friends can be there for you. Surrounding yourself with healthy people who are willing and able can get you back on track with your life.

But, what is a healthy person? None of my friends or family kicked my leg and told me that I was faking it. They never said I was wrong and had no reason to act as if I was in pain. Instead, they brought comfort as needed. They never pushed me over to watch me try to get back up. It was all about the healing. The same is true with people who have spiritual wounds. They need to be validated. This person REALLY went through an ordeal. Their heart is broken and their spirit crushed. They are now seeking to recover. Regardless of what you think you know, you must never rebuke them or treat them different for feeling wronged.

Like breaking your leg, a person who has been spiritually wronged may need support. I used crutches for a while. There may be a person or two that this person may lean on especially. Someone to hold them up as they are regaining their strength. Someone to help them keep moving in the right direction. Someone to help keep their footing sure. The goal here is to aid recovery by reducing stress in the area that has been injured.

As the person recovers, they may seek a pain killer. I know I did for a few days after the break. Pain killers are never meant to be long term and are often optional. Still, I wouldn’t look down at a person who looks to something else to cope with the pain in their life. The truth is that people naturally flee from pain. In the case of being hurt, you should never use painkillers as a long term solution. Ultimately, they end up as an addiction. Think about the many celebrities that become addicted to drugs like morphine to deal with their day. At this point, the injured person replaces one problem with another. The healthy way is to minimize lifestyle changes (whether drinking, smoking, or other comforting actions). The goal is recovery, not to delve deeper into something harmful.

At some point in all of this, the cast needs to come off. At this point, the bone is healed and the person should be mobile. When spiritually hurt, you should start getting back into ministry as opposed to sitting on the sidelines. You ministered before you were hurt and should be strong by this time to get back into it. You should be ready to do whatever it is that God has put on your heart to do. Like when I broke my leg, I started out slow in karate. I was easy on the kicks. As I gained more and more strength, I eventually kicked harder with my injured leg than I did with the uninjured one.

My purpose in writing this is to emphasize a few key points.

1. Some people have been severely broken by spiritual leadership and deserve to be validated and shown mercy.
2. Spiritual healing is a process that takes time.
3. The goal is always recovery, not to remain immobilized.

As with my leg, I walk different since the break. My leg will never be the same. I won’t expect the same from a person who has been hurt spiritually. Their heart has suffered a pain that God will use to strengthen them. All healing comes from God. To omit God from the healing process is to stay injured.

I offer encouragement to those out there who have been hurt. You will recover. The how and how long are up to you.

Reason I Left Fusion Ministry

It has been on my heart to state to all my reasons for the actions I have taken. In Oct 2010, I made a choice that would separate my wife and I from the ministry referred to as "Fusion". After praying and careful consideration, I will tell my story then be done with it.

Before I start discussing the issues that may sharply divide friends, let me state that I still love Nate. We (my wife and I) have prayed for him and Fusion since we left. Nate has sewn into my life in ways that I will not forget. The 30th surprise birthday party was awesome. He was with me in court for portions of the divorce. Nate also put me up in his home while I recovered from surgery. These are things that I appreciate and will not soon forget.

Never the less, I cannot overlook the following issues. Before I go into them, I want the Bible to be the measure of all my complaints. All these that I have observed concern me for both Biblical and moral/character issues. I would also like to add that Nate, himself, has stated, "If someone has an issue with you, it's their issue. If multiple people have an issue with you, then there's something wrong with you." If any of these issues give you that gut reaction (or click in your spirit), pray it through and counsel with someone who is not involved. If everyone you know is involved, then you need a bigger circle of friends and acquiaintences.

1 Timothy 3
1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Source:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+timothy+3&version=NASB

This is the qualifications of a bishop, elder, and pastor (different translations are used for the word overseer). I will start with my concerns regarding Nate as a minister.

A pastor must be blameless and above reproach. I will tackle this later because this qualification means that the pastor must meet the basic requirements placed on the average believer. If they do not meet the basic requirements of a Christian, they do not meet the requirements of a spiritual leader.


Verse 2 (Able to Teach)
In a conversation on FaceBook, Nate wrote that we should not let doctrine divide. I replied that it was important to know doctrine. Nate replied to my next 3 inquiries for additional clarification with statements like "that's not the point" or "you don't understand the heart".


Verse 3 (Peacable)
Nate would tell a story about living at 1025 (33rd Ave in St Cloud) about his neighbor being cranky. Nate stated that he hit the neighbor's house to and knocked down his A/C unit.


Verse 4 (Keeping his children under control)
There was a point this summer where I caught Nate's daughter sharply rebuking a former JMC student. She told the student how selfish they are and how they needed to be more family oriented. Instead of correcting his daughter, Nate allowed the issue to pass. In addition to this, his daughter, Israel, has been allowed to falsify information (lie) to have a Facebook account. COPA prohibits children under 13 from registering at websites. To get her Facebook, she would have to lie.


Verse 7 (Having a good reputation outside the church)
THe previously mentioned issue with Nate's neighbor at 1025 is one such incident. After a friend of mine talked to the neighbor, it sounds as if there was an ongoing feud between Nate and the neighbor. In his current home, Nate has had issues with a neighbor two doors down. This neighbor complained to the local authorities for correction regarding Nate's conduct. In addition to this, there are many who hold Nate in their hearts as one who wronged them. Such people are easy to find and were with us in the past.


Verse 2 (Above reproach/blameless)
This is where it gets meatier. There are many observations I have noticed and scripture that strongly influenced my decision.


Nate's Lies:
Nate lied on Fusion.com. He stated that Fusion was created by young adults from St. Cloud from different churches. The foundation of Fusion was a group of former Jubilee Master's Commission students, college-age adults, former elders, and a chiropractor. All of these were members of Jubilee Worship Center. The claim that the young adults came from different churches is false.

To those who know the full story of Fusion, Nate told us three different tales. The first was that he knew it was time to move on. The second was that the money ran out. The third was that he was fired. How are there three stories? If the truth is so important and Nate was fired unjustly, why did the Omega Team not follow up with Pastor Mark? Why did these stories change based on how far Nate got from Jubilee?


No responsibility for his action:
When I started a personal investigation in October of the accusations against Nate, I maintained contact with him throughout. I prayed with Nate before investigating and continued keeping in touch until I had enough of a report to understand what was happening. When I had enough information to determine what was going on, I wrote the Nate and the elders of Fusion regarding my findings. Nate's response was "Since I have not talked to you face to face or many others I understand how you find what you are looking for." None of the items (even ones pointed out on the website) were acknowledged as being Nate's responsibility. The blame was shifted to me for not talking to him face to face.

During the investigation, Nate asserted that women were hurt because they couldn't have a relationship with him, so they left Fusion and made accusations against him. Nate also stated that all the people who came against him were from broken homes. These were items stated to me while I was searching the truth. Nate never once admitted that he was fully responsible for his actions. He would also state how it was the other person's perception of what was said or the other person did not know his heart. Romans 14:21 states that we should not do anything that would cause our brother to stumble. For this reason, we should take care to not offend the weak conscious of others. This is a heart matter, but not the heart of the offended, but the person who has caused the offense.


Nate brings division
When breaking off from Jubilee, Nate told us that we cannot focus on two ministries at once. We were to stop assisting Jubilee and focus on Fusion exclusively. We were also to cut ties to people from Jubilee who did not join Fusion. The separateion created a sharp divide which broke Fusion off of the church of Saint Cloud. Fusion became an island.

Nate also preaches that doctrine creates division. Nate boasts that salvation is the door, but kingdom is the doctrine that brings unity. He preaches this so vehemently and states that all other doctrines are silly and useless. This "kingdom doctrine" Nate preaches makes salvation of less importance. Churches that prise salvation above all other doctrines have been able to unite for ages. But now, this "kingdom doctrine" becames a stumbling point for others. They do not have the full doctrine, unless they have "Nate's kingdom doctrine". This is what we were taught. This is what I found in others and myself at points to be a division point that's propogated through Nate.


Nate forbids to marry
This is an odd one to speak on but I will explain. When I started dating my wife, I had to tell people that Nate did not approve. Everyone was leery that I was doing something foolish because Nate did not approve. Before asking her out, I counseled greatly with Nate on the subject. Nate would often say that my wife was (emotionally) manipulative, unsubmissive, and flirting. Nate said that she needed to mature in those areas before we could have a chance. He told me that he would pull back (even cut me off) if I dated her. 1 Timothy 4:3 talks about false teachers forbidding people to marry. It's odd, but I talked to another friend of mine regarding this issue. His report was word for word identicle.


Nate's view of Jesus and Salvation
The final and most important observation is that Nate refuses to preach salvation. Galatians 1:8 talks about anyone preaching a different gospel is cursed. This is of grave concern. If Nate does not preach Christ Crucified, he is preaching a false gospel. Galatians 6:14 says that we should not glory in anything but the cross. This doctrine is so important. Without it, we are pegans. Without salvation, we are disconnected from God. It is by the cross that all things become possible to us. Any other doctrine preached is not superior to the cross, but must also focus on the cross. I pray that Nate soon come to the recognition of the cross and why the message of salvation IS THE ONLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Everything else is a doctrine that separates denominations, but the CROSS IS THE GOSPEL. Luke 12:46-47 says that a person who knows the will of the master but doesn't do it will be punished more harshly. I do not know Nate's heart, but I pray that he seeks reconciliation and guidence before it is too late.

Link to Galatians 1:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal+1&version=ESV


I love Nate. I want to see him succeed. Based on the information presented, I have deep concern for Nate and his family. When someone once asked me if I believed Nate loved Jesus, I told them I honestly don't know. I don't know the man's heart. No man can truly know Nate's heart. Not even his wife. God knows the heart of man. So, I did not judge Nate's heart, but it is the fruit and actions that I observed. These are the things that brought me to a place of leaving Fusion.

I told the elders and Nate that I would not seek to convince people to leave Fusion. The truth is, if you stay or leave does not matter to me. What matters is that you hear the truth. Search out the truth for yourself. Do not accept what is told to you until you have all sides of a story. The heart is something you will never find, but the works will be readily seen. 1 Corinthians 5:11 tells you which type of person not to associate with. Galatians 19 also gives a list of the fruits of the flesh (some of which, I have observed in this posting).

1 Corinthians 5:11 (link)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor+5&version=NASB

Galatians 5:19 (Link)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5&version=NIV


May all who read this be comforted in Christ. Christ is Lord. Christ died for us. Christ is the only way that I am reconciled to God. Without Christ, I totally suck. As of this point, I have said my peace. Pray, fast, and seek God. He has been faithful in all things and will show you what you need.

Jesus is not a booty call

There comes a time in everyone’s life where they have to make a choice. The choice is if you will pursue Christ or the world for the remainder of your days. You can only for so long remain on the fence. After that time of grace, Christ pulls back and wants something more from you.

The verse I can cite is in Matthew 6.

Matthew 6:33
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Think about this for a moment. You have a friend that only comes around when they want money or favors from you. Once they have it, they disappear (like ninja). They take and they take from the relationship, but never give back. In fact, the only reason they keep you on their phone list is because you’re dependable and will give them what they need when they need it.

In the secular world, that’s a booty call. I want sex (or to feel good) now, so I call up someone who’s willing to put out when I want them to. No commitment, no strings, just sex. Booty calls are way cheaper than getting a whore. Point in fact, the person you’re using has been so devalued that they see sex as a momentary act of pleasure and themselves as not worthy of pursuit. It’s a come and go relationship.

So, why do so many use Jesus as their booty call?

They seek Christ as they would a whore. They reduce the Holiest of Holies down to something that everyone looks down upon. Christ becomes less important. They no longer seek His kingdom nor relationship, but the things that he can add unto them. It saddens my heart to think about this. I used to do this. It was, God, please may I have favor in this area. Please help me with this. Please help with that. I need… I want… I desire…. but in all of this, I didn’t desire Him.

The most satisfying relationships I have are the ones that I pour into, not the ones I receive from. With God, I’ve been working to pursue Him more and more. This has been a blessing on my life, not because of the requirements, but because of Him. He is my prize. I had much, and then lost it all. I was in dire times. God pulled me out. He has reestablished me. But the process wasn’t through asking. It was through relationship. This relationship began on June 22, 2006 and has built stronger over time. I have not lacked. He speaks to me more clearly now. I enjoy this because God is true to His word.

I know this life is for all who are willing to pursue God. But to those who have known God and use Him as a simple genie in a bottle that they can just rub and get wishes, the day will come when God lets your choices collapse on you. It happened to me, and I know it happens when grace is lifted. If you’re reading this, take some time to think about your relationship with God. Do you only go when you need something? Or do you delight in His presence, not with hope of receiving but because He is there?