Ibogaine Treatment for Addiction: Benefits, Risks, and What No One Tells You

THE MIRACLE DRUG IN THE OVAL OFFICE

The Oval Office has a way of shrinking conversations down to their essence. It is not just the weight of history or the symbolism of power, but the pace. Ideas do not linger there—they accelerate. What begins as discussion often ends as direction.

On this particular day, the conversation was not about war, trade, or elections. It was about a plant. A compound derived from the bark of a tree native to Central Africa. Something ancient, obscure, and until recently, largely confined to underground clinics and ceremonial settings. And yet, here it was—being discussed at the highest level of American influence.

Joe Rogan leaned forward and described it plainly. He called it a “miracle drug,” pointing to claims that it could help people break opioid addiction at astonishing rates. Sitting nearby, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listened with interest, recognizing both the urgency of the addiction crisis and the potential implications of such a treatment. Then, in a moment that reflects the speed at which modern decisions can be made, Donald Trump responded with characteristic directness: “Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it.”

With that exchange, something that had long existed on the margins suddenly felt close to entering the mainstream. Ibogaine—once a fringe, controversial substance—was now part of a national conversation.

From Ceremony to Conversation

Outside of Washington, however, the reality of Ibogaine looks very different from the language of policy and approval. Traditionally, it is administered in a setting that feels less clinical and more ceremonial. The substance itself is often prepared as a thick, bitter mixture derived from the iboga plant, and in some traditions, its use is preceded by rituals in which practitioners seek permission from what they believe to be the spirit associated with the plant.

The experience is not casual. It is intense, prolonged, and deeply immersive. Those who undergo it often describe a process that unfolds over the course of one to three days. It begins with physical discomfort—nausea, heaviness, and a sense that the body is resisting what is about to happen. From there, the experience shifts into something far more complex.

Participants frequently report entering a state that resembles a waking dream. Memories emerge not as distant recollections but as vivid, fully formed scenes. Individuals revisit moments from their past, sometimes beginning with early childhood, and in some cases, even earlier experiences that they interpret as pre-birth or womb-related memories. The progression can feel chronological, as if one is walking through an entire life story with unusual clarity and detail.

What distinguishes this experience from ordinary memory is the sense of detachment. Rather than being overwhelmed by emotion, individuals often describe observing their past from a third-person perspective. This distance appears to allow them to process events that previously felt too painful or complex to confront. In this state, many report a sense of acceptance and reconciliation with their past, as well as a release of emotional burdens that had persisted for years.

Why It Feels Like Healing

This is one reason Ibogaine has gained attention as a potential treatment for addiction and trauma. From a neurological perspective, addiction—particularly to opioids—can fundamentally alter the brain’s reward system. Substances like heroin or oxycodone flood the brain with dopamine at levels far beyond what natural experiences can produce. Over time, the brain adapts by reducing its own ability to generate pleasure, creating a cycle in which the substance becomes necessary simply to feel normal.

Ibogaine appears to interact with the same regions of the brain involved in memory, emotion, and identity. By allowing individuals to revisit traumatic experiences from a detached perspective, it may help disrupt the patterns that sustain addiction and psychological distress. This capacity to interrupt deeply embedded loops is often cited as a reason for its reported effectiveness.

At a human level, this can feel like something more than treatment. When someone who has been trapped in addiction suddenly experiences clarity, distance from their pain, and the ability to process it without being overwhelmed, the result is often described in transformational terms. Words like “freedom,” “rebirth,” and “new life” are common—not because they are metaphorical, but because they feel literal to the person experiencing them.

The Experiences That Raise Questions

However, the experience is not limited to memory and emotional processing. Many participants also describe encounters that are more difficult to categorize within a purely neurological framework. These include interactions with what are perceived as guiding presences or entities. Some describe geometric or fractal-like beings that communicate through images, movement, or an intuitive transfer of understanding. Others report encountering figures that feel nurturing or instructive, sometimes described in terms such as “guides” or “teachers.”

What is particularly notable is the consistency of these reports. Across different individuals and settings, similar types of encounters are described. Moreover, comparable experiences have been reported in other altered states of consciousness, including those induced by different substances, intensive breathwork, and certain forms of meditation. This overlap raises questions that extend beyond chemistry and into the nature of perception and consciousness itself.

For many, these encounters are interpreted as meaningful and even beneficial. They can provide a sense of direction, understanding, or resolution. At the same time, they introduce a dimension to the experience that is not easily explained or measured, and that can shape how individuals interpret what has happened to them.

A Conversation Focused on Outcomes

As interest in Ibogaine grows, the public conversation has largely focused on its potential benefits. This is understandable. The opioid crisis continues to affect millions of people, and existing treatments are often limited in their effectiveness. Any substance that offers even the possibility of significant improvement is likely to generate attention and support.

In environments like the Oval Office, this conversation naturally centers on outcomes. Does it reduce addiction? Can it be studied? Should it be approved? These are practical and necessary questions, particularly when public health is at stake.

However, they do not fully capture the nature of the experience being discussed. If a treatment not only alters brain function but also introduces individuals to vivid, structured experiences that feel deeply personal or even spiritual, then its impact extends beyond biology. It begins to shape interpretation, belief, and meaning.

Looking Beneath the Surface

The structure of the Ibogaine experience itself is also worth examining. Many descriptions follow a similar pattern: a confrontation with one’s past, a sense of symbolic death or dissolution, a guided process of reflection or transformation, and a return with a renewed sense of life and identity. This sequence is powerful, and it resonates with broader human themes of change and renewal.

As Ibogaine moves closer to mainstream acceptance, the conversation surrounding it is likely to become more focused on measurable data—success rates, clinical trials, and regulatory pathways. These are essential components of responsible evaluation. At the same time, they do not fully address the experiential dimension that many participants report.

Ultimately, the emergence of Ibogaine into public awareness reflects a broader moment in which scientific inquiry, personal experience, and cultural narratives are intersecting. It highlights both the urgency of addressing addiction and the complexity of doing so through methods that extend beyond conventional frameworks.

The Question That Remains

The question, then, is not simply whether Ibogaine works, but how it works—and what accompanies that process. As with many developments that move rapidly from the margins to the center of attention, there is value in examining not only the outcomes but also the underlying experiences involved.

In the Oval Office, conversations tend to resolve quickly. Decisions are made, and momentum builds. Outside of it, the reality is more layered. And as this substance continues to move into the mainstream, those layers may prove just as important as the results themselves.

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Exposing 7 Lies Facing America

Our country has just walked through a major national tragedy.
The murder of Charlie Kirk was not only heard about—it was seen. Millions watched the footage, a demonic spectacle replayed on screens that seared itself into our collective memory.

Moments like this mark a generation. They don’t just change what we see—they change how we think. If we’re not careful, these moments embed lies into the background code of our soul’s operating system. They hum quietly, but they redirect our choices, limit our identity, and even reroute our destiny.

The work isn’t just to grieve. The work is to debug.

Here are seven lies that surface after tragedy—and the truths that expose them:

Lie 1: “If this could happen to Charlie Kirk, no one is safe.”

Fear masquerades as wisdom. But the early church understood something we often forget: safety was never the goal.

After every wave of persecution, they gathered—not to pray for protection, but for boldness. In the first century, safety wasn’t even an option. And it still isn’t today.

Truth: Our calling has never been contingent on guarantees of safety. What we need is supernatural boldness to fulfill our assignments despite the threats. Death doesn’t get the last word—Jesus does.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1)

Lie 2: “The enemy is winning.”

Every headline seems to agree. But history doesn’t. The cross looked like defeat—until it wasn’t. Martyrdom has never stopped the Church; it has only fueled revival.

Truth: The enemy has already lost. On the cross, Christ “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them” (Colossians 2:15). We know the end of the story—Jesus wins.

King Jesus is on the throne, and “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Don’t believe the lie. We are not fighting for victory; we are fighting from victory.

Lie 3: “I need to fight fire with fire.”

Revenge feels like justice. But when we’re given to reaction, we can unwittingly partner with the very demons we think we’re defeating. Retaliation only multiplies the darkness.

Truth: We are not called to reaction, but to revelation. Obedience, Spirit-led boldness, and God’s Word are our weapons. We overcome evil not by mirroring it, but by manifesting the Kingdom.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

Lie 4: “Suspicion will protect me.”

Suspicion is the fruit of isolation. It feels like safety, but it’s really counterfeit discernment. It turns flesh and blood into the enemy, while the real enemy hides in the shadows. Paranoia promises protection but delivers only chains.

Truth: Discernment doesn’t prematurely judge people—it equips us with prophetic ammunition to confront the mind-blinding spirits controlling them. Suspicion is about survival. Discernment is about victory.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

Lie 5: “We are powerless.”

When the news cycle overwhelms, apathy whispers: You can’t change this.

Truth: The Church is not powerless. We carry resurrection power, Kingdom authority, and the Spirit of the Living God. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). We fight on our knees, we fight together, and we fight with the boldness of Christ.

Lie 6: “It’s safer to stay silent.”

Silence sounds prudent. But it’s actually agreement. Fear and intimidation always aim for the same target: your voice.

Truth: Your voice is your power. Everything that exists—the heavens, the earth, even the Scriptures themselves—was spoken into being. If the voice of the Lord is silenced, creation unravels. But love will never let you go silent. Love liberates you. It compels you to speak, to pray, to declare.

Salt and light only work when exposed. Boldness is what shakes nations. Refuse to be silenced.
“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13–16)

Lie 7: “This is the end of something.”

The enemy always whispers: This is the end. Give up. Lose hope. And tragically, many Christians echo him—clinging to “defeater beliefs” about the end times that sound more like despair than hope.

Truth: The Bible never ends with the end. It ends with restoration—the renewal of all things, Eden 2.0, Heaven on Earth. Yes, things come to an end. But this Kingdom? “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7).

Every ending in God’s hands is a planting, not a burial. The seed goes into the ground so resurrection life can spring forth. This Kingdom has no expiration date.

The challenge:

Lies don’t leave on their own. They must be exposed, confronted, and replaced with truth.

Debugging the soul isn’t optional after tragedy—it’s survival.
And when we choose truth, the background noise changes.
The operating system updates.

And destiny stays intact.

Watch the Mission or Join It

We rebuilt the walls.
We restored the temple.
We wept.
We worshipped.

But the city is still empty.

And God is still looking.

Not for tourists.
Not for spiritual nomads, camera in hand, chasing the next holy Instagram post.
Not for ministries trying to pose in front of Antifa graffiti.

Not for spectators.

He’s looking for people.

People who build.
People who move in.
People who stay.

People who don’t need a perfect picture before they pick up a shovel.

Nehemiah 11 is a peculiar chapter. It doesn’t preach well.
It reads like a census. A roll call.

But it’s the sound of people choosing.
Choosing to dwell in the ruins.
To live in a place everyone else had written off.

This wasn’t glamour. This wasn’t glory.
This was calling.

God’s looking for those who say:

“Here I am. Plant me in the ruins. I will not leave until it looks like Eden again.”

This isn’t judgment.
This is invitation.

There’s a difference between watching revival and becoming it.
Between visiting a city and becoming its root system.

Too many believers are spiritual renters.
They move where the presence is “popping.”

They hop from Sunday to Sunday, live stream to live stream, city to city.

God’s not asking for your attendance.
He’s asking for your residency.

Three Prophetic Movements for Builders

1. Stop Chasing Beauty. Occupy the Ashes.

The Instagram algorithm rewards the beautiful.
So we chase blessing. We move toward ease.
We wait for the open door in the obvious place.

But what if beauty isn’t found—it’s formed?

Isaiah 61:3 doesn’t say God gives beauty to the beautiful.
It says He gives beauty for ashes.

Which means someone has to move into the ashes.

You’ve been praying for an open door.
God’s been pointing at the rubble.

He’s not sending you where the fruit is.
He’s sending you where the roots are missing.

Not to steal someone else’s harvest.
But to dig. Plant. Bleed. Pray.

You’re not chasing Eden.
You’re restoring it.

Question:
Where have you been chasing beauty instead of stewarding brokenness?

2. Stop Spectating. Start Stewarding.

We love good worship.
We crave great messages.
We binge revival content the way others binge Netflix.

But the Kingdom isn’t built by critics or consumers.
It’s built by planted people.

We don’t need more charisma.
We need more commitment.

You are not outside of God’s move.
You are the vessel He wants to move through.

You are not a spectator of the sacred.
You are His sanctuary.

The Lord isn’t hyped by hype.
He’s drawn to homes—people who say, “Come abide in me.”

Hard places are holy ground when we stop asking for comfort and start asking for a commission.

Jesus didn’t livestream heaven.
He moved in to Nazareth.

He didn’t just comment.
He committed.

Question:
Where are you watching what God is doing instead of partnering with Him?

3. Commit Before You Comment.

Social media taught us to react.
Heaven is teaching us to root.

You don’t bring the Kingdom by pointing at problems.
You bring the Kingdom by planting your feet.

God’s not calling you to post about broken places.
He’s calling you to live there.

To stay when it’s awkward.
To dig when it’s dry.
To speak life when no one claps back.

This is the era of refiners.
The age of the occupiers.
The movement of those who remain.

God is saying: “I’m in the dust. I’m in the ruins. I’m in the unimpressive place.”

Stay.

Speak.

Steward.

Watch beauty rise from below your feet.

Question:
Where are you being called to stay, even though it still looks unimpressive?

Final Declaration: Eden, Again.

God is rebuilding cities.
But not through superstars.

Through servants.

Through stayers.

Through people who don’t need to see it all today because they trust the tomorrow He’s building.

“I am looking for a people,” says the Lord.
Not to escape the world.
But to rebuild it.

Not to spectate, but to partner.

Not to run from cursed ground,
but to speak beauty into ashes.

That’s you.

You are not the crowd.
You are the core.

You are not the fan.
You are the family.

You are not waiting for permission.
You already carry the presence.

So dwell.
Build.
Stay.
Restore.

Because Eden isn’t lost.
It’s just waiting for someone to say:

“Here I am. Plant me in the ruins.”

And God is saying:

“I’m doing it through you.”

Build And Defend

We love the idea of building

The thrill of starting something new. The excitement of vision, calling, purpose. The sense that we’re participating in something bigger than ourselves.

But what happens when opposition shows up?

What happens when the enemy sees what you're building and decides it’s worth tearing down?

Most people hesitate. They assume that if an idea is truly from God, it shouldn’t require a fight.

Nehemiah knew better. His people weren’t just building. They were battling while they built.

They worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other. They didn’t take off their armor. They never let their guard down.

Because if it’s worth building, it’s worth protecting.

We Build, but We Don’t Guard

It happens all the time.

A business launches, but no one builds the systems to sustain it.
A marriage begins, but no effort is made to protect it.
A dream is birthed, but distractions steal it away.

We ask for blessing but don’t build boundaries.

We cry out for breakthrough but don’t establish safeguards.

We get frustrated by attacks but never take steps to prevent them.

Nehemiah’s people understood that anything worth building will be challenged. So, they stayed ready.

If You Don’t Guard It, You’ll Lose It

"Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other." (Nehemiah 4:17)

Imagine building a house with one hand while holding a sword in the other.

It’s not convenient. But it’s necessary.

Because if you aren’t holding a sword, the enemy assumes you’re easy to take down.

Want to protect your marriage? Guard your words, your time, your priorities.
Want to keep your calling alive? Guard your focus.
Want to build a lasting legacy? Guard your habits.

Loose grips sink ships.

The solution is simple.

Guard it and grip it!

Stay Ready So You Don’t Have to Get Ready

"None of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand." (Nehemiah 4:23)

Most people think they’ll get battle-ready when the fight comes.

They assume they’ll develop discipline when life demands it.
They hope they’ll build resilience when hardship shows up.

It doesn’t work that way.

Nehemiah’s men slept in their armor. They were always ready.

You don’t wait until the attack to pray.
You don’t wait until the crisis to strengthen your marriage.
You don’t wait until the enemy starts taking ground to fight back.

Prepare now, so when the moment comes, you don’t have to scramble.

Find Your People and Fight Together

"In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!" (Nehemiah 4:20)

You can’t win this fight alone.

You need people who will rally when you’re under attack.
You need voices that will remind you of the vision when you’re ready to quit.

You need a team that doesn’t scatter when the enemy shows up.

Nehemiah’s men didn’t run from the fight. They ran toward it.

When your marriage is struggling, don’t isolate—get help.
When your business is under attack, don’t retreat—find support.
When you feel spiritually drained, don’t disengage—press into your community.

The enemy wants you alone. The wise know better.

What Are You Building and Are You Protecting It?

Most people don’t fail because they lacked vision.

They fail because they weren’t ready for resistance.

The difference between those who finish and those who quit isn’t calling, talent, or gifting.

It’s vigilance.

Are you guarding what God gave you?
Are you staying battle-ready?
Are you surrounding yourself with people who will fight with you?

Building is only half the job.

Protecting is the other half.

How to write a COVID-19 religious exemption letter to your employer

Should you receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

I have no idea. 

I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.

I have no idea what your family’s health history is, nor do I know if you are healthy. 

A doctor is far more qualified to look at your age, heart, lungs, and waste line to determine your odds of surviving a virus with a 99.5% mortality rate. 

I have no business telling you that you should not get the vaccine because I am just a pastor.

Should the governor force you to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

Maybe.

Here’s my first question.

Is he or she a doctor?

No?

They are just a far-left politician that deeply cares about your health?

Well then, I guess you might as well believe Joe Biden when he said, “You can trust the government. Don’t worry about anything and get the vaccine.”

Maybe Jennifer Lopez should PRESSURE you to get the vaccine?

Jennifer Lopez performs at "Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World" on Sunday, May 2, 2021, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

She’s been on several amazing movies, unforgettable TV shows and recorded numerous spunky radio hits; surely she is qualified to use her influence to pressure young people to get the vaccine, right?

 No, I am afraid that celebrities have no business using their influence to pressure youth into getting the COVID-19 experimental vaccine.

If you are trying to decide on whether or not to get the vaccine for yourself, the only people you should listen to is your doctor, your spouse, and Jesus, and I trust that none of the above mentioned will be immature enough to manipulate you into doing something that you are not comfortable with.

Before you receive an experimental vaccine, I would recommend three things:

1.)  Consult with your doctor.

Your doctor knows your personal health history as well as the history of your family. Your HR department does not.  Please consult with your doctor to see if it makes sense for you to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

2.)  Chat it through with your spouse and come to a place of agreement.

Unity in your marriage is paramount.  Chat through your concerns with your spouse and consider praying together.  If you are in agreement, I believe the Lord will honor your unity either way.

3.)  Pray and obey.

At the end of the day, pray and obey.  Without faith, it is impossible to please God.  Many people have faith that they will get the vaccine and be okay; others do not possess such faith. Make sure that God gives you a grace for whatever decision you make.

If you decide to move forward and submit a religious exception letter to your employer, it would seem as though there are a few very important things you should keep in mind:

1.)  Keep it personal.

In Washington State, “legal” documents, forms from the State’s website (that do not apply to the workplace), or letter’s from your pastor will not serve to be very effective.

Your religious exemption must be personal.  It must be from you. You must understand it, own it, and be willing to stand behind it.

2.)  Keep it doctrinal.

Your feelings and philosophies do not matter.  What you read on a health blog does not matter.  The only thing that matters is what the Bible says, and you must convince your employer that your religious doctrine forbids you from receiving the vaccine.

3.)  Get it in writing.

Do not vet your letter by first having a brief conversation with your HR supervisor.  Send your religious exemption request by email and make sure that all communication is done over email.  If your employer has a conversation with you in person, be sure to thank them for the conversation but let them know that you will need to have everything they communicated to you sent to you in writing.

If you don’t have it in writing. It doesn’t exist.  This documentation could be helpful in the future.

Now, at last, here is a template to get you started.

I am praying that this is effective for you.  Please respond in the comments with how it goes for you as well as any suggestions you may have to help others in this process.

Stay healthy and may you walk in supernatural wisdom and favor through this tricky process.

Let’s go! 

Dear _________________, 

I was recently made aware that ______________________ would be requiring employees to receive the COVID-19 mRNA modification or else would be faced with termination. 

On August 9th, 2021, Governor Inslee stated that individuals with legitimate medical reasons or sincerely held religious grounds would be exempt from the vaccine mandate as has been in the precedent for other vaccines. 

My religious objection is twofold: 

1.) Fetal cells from abortions were used to develop the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  

a.)    https://www.health.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/COVID%20Vaccine%20Page/COVID-19_Vaccine_Fetal_Cell_Handout.pdf 

2.) The ingredients of these vaccines have not yet been disclosed. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Pressure from the government or my workplace is not enough for me to inject something into my body that could be harmful to my health and life. 

Statute Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 28A.210.080, 90 gives residents of Washington State the legal right to refuse vaccinations if that vaccination violates the doctrine of their religion which the RNA and mRNA clearly do as seen above. 

I respectfully submit to you and hope and pray that I can continue to serve at company/school without fear of termination.  

After prayer, and thorough dialogue with my spouse and doctor, I sign this document with an understanding of the risk of the vaccine and the COVID-19 virus. 

I eagerly look forward to your response. 

Sincerely, 

Your Name 

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Update 8/23/21

Some people are choosing to include the use of nano lipid particles as a reason #3, as seen below.

To whom it may concern, 

I was recently made aware that employees are now required to receive the COVID-19 mRNA modification injections or face termination. 

On August 9th, 2021, Governor Inslee stated that individuals with legitimate medical reasons or sincerely held religious grounds would be exempt from the vaccine mandate. Statute Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 28A.210.080, 90 gives residents of Washington State the legal right to refuse vaccinations if that vaccination violates the doctrine of their religion which the RNA and mRNA vaccines clearly do.  

My religious objections: 

1)     The ingredients of these “vaccines” have not yet been fully disclosed. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Pressure from the government or my workplace is not enough for me to inject these still experimental “vaccines” into my body that could prove to be harmful to my health and life. 

2)     Fetal cells from abortions were used to develop the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccine: https://www.health.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/COVID%20Vaccine%20Page/COVID-19_Vaccine_Fetal_Cell_Handout.pdf 

3)     RNA and mRNA use nano lipid particles with bio sensor technology that can sync with Microsoft patent 060606 which is a violation of Revelations 13.

Both my religious doctrine, not to mention, my religious conscience prohibits me from partaking of these injections. As I respectfully submit this to you, I request that you respect my right as an individual to maintain my dignity without compromising my religious doctrines and conscience, by allowing me to continue to work here at ____________ without fear of termination.

After prayer and thorough dialogue with my spouse and my doctor, I sign this document understanding the risk of the vaccine and the COVID-19 virus. 

Thank you. 

Your Name 

WHY I VOTED FOR TRUMP AND CULP

The following is a response that I gave to the Seattle Times reporter recently when interviewed for the front page story on leaders in our region and what they are seeing and feeling in this current election.

So, I am a Christian, and I pastor a church.

This means that I am pro-God, pro-religious-gatherings, pro-Israel, and pro-life. These are values of mine. So when it comes to Trump's platform, he doesn't come across to be against God, against religious gatherings, against Israel, and against the unborn. He just doesn't come across to be that way.

The fact that churches were shut down this year should have been a choice that we were allowed to make, and it wasn't. Despite horrific pandemics in history, this was unprecedented. Local governors got to act like adults, and pastors were treated like children. 

We were not allowed to decide for ourselves.

Do you blame Inslee?

The Church never really prospers when everything is going well. It is during times of great adversity, calamity, and hopelessness that the Church prospers. The Church is the Church for this very reason.

Just look at the role of Providence Hospital in Seattle and our State statue (Mother Joseph of the Sisters of Providence). In a time of great hardship and primitive conditions, the first hospital in Seattle was birthed by the Church!

Our (Seattle Revival Center) hands were tied because of the State Government. They were telling us exactly what we could do or not do. They were like, "Hey, you can do Zoom meetings." My response is like, "Alright, that's very liberating of you."

I get particular freedoms in the hospital because I am clergy. I get specials freedoms that sometimes even the family doesn't get. Hospitals recognize the power of prayer and spiritual counsel. I was just in a hospital room last week that was considered to be dangerous. The man had a contagious infection. 

I had to gown up. It was dangerous, but the hospital recognized the importance of the visit, I was treated like an adult, and I assessed the risk for myself. I went in. He needed me. He was in (what doctors were telling him were) his final days of fighting cancer. I went in and prayed with him.

This is when religion is needed. 

Faith is most important when (in the natural) you have no hope. When people are wrestling with depression, when lives are at stake, the Church is needed. We saw record suicide numbers in our state, and Governor Inslee said, "You are not allowed to go to church."

We saw record suicide numbers in our state, and Governor Inslee said, "You are not allowed to go to church."

This should have been our choice as pastors and leaders. This was the first time in the State of Washington it was illegal to go to church, and I think that was a tragedy.

Governor Inslee made some massive calls. He said Churches need to shut down just for a short time. That we just need to, "flatten the curve." 

He said that if we all work together, we will flatten the curve if we all shut down and then we can reopen.  

We thought, sure, we can shut down for two weeks. We said, "We can cooperate. We don't want to be reckless, unwise, and unlawful." So we submitted to our governing authorities. 

President Trump got on TV and said that churches were essential, but Governor Inslee disagreed. We flattened the curve right away, but then Inslee changed his mind and informed us that we could not reopen until no one was dying. He moved the goal post. I was like, "No church until people stop dying?"

Inslee said (with his actions) that the Church was not essential, but that (packed out) marijuana stores and (jammed packed) Costcos are.

Inslee said (with his actions) that the Church was not essential, but that (packed out) marijuana stores and (jammed packed) Costcos are.

Then, after twelve weeks, Inslee said that we could now host outdoor meetings up to fifty people. So we started hosting multiple meetings, back to back, in a tent, for another four weeks. 

While we were in that tent, many Sundays were windy, cold, and pouring rain. We were standing outside, freezing. Families outside, shivering and singing to Jesus with masks on. All because of what Inslee calls "science" and "the facts."

We have a building that can seat a thousand people. We could have practiced social distancing, but instead, we have people getting colds, manifesting the same symptoms as covid (runny nose and cough) all in the pursuit of health. We were outside in the cold, underneath a tent, worshiping, when we could have been inside our building. 

There was no choice in this. One man said, "This is what's good for you. You will do it this way, or you are breaking the law."

So, we played by the rules, but there was an absurdity it in. There was this feeling that we were being controlled, and we fought to maintain the right attitude despite the government overreach. 

The public safety measures did not make us feel any safer.

There was all this health concern from Governor Inslee, but no health advice. No vitamin regiments. No tips. Just control. 

I am voting for Trump and Culp because I truly believe that they assume that responsible adults can make wise choices for themselves.

HASN'T TRUMP DIVIDED OUR COUNTRY?

The following is a response that I gave to the Seattle Times reporter recently when interviewed for the front page story on leaders in our region and what they are seeing and feeling in this current election.

HOW ARE YOU OKAY WITH VOTING FOR TRUMP WHEN HE HAS DIVIDED OUR COUNTRY?

We are not victims of division.

Division is a choice.

If we are going to allow our hearts to be divided, and if we are going to make our neighbor our enemy, that is our choice.

We do not get to be victims of Trump.

We do not get to say, “I am a victim of Trump, therefore I am entitled to be bitter and vindictive.”

We do not get to take all of our problems and blame them on Trump. That is not what responsible people do.

This is actually one of my roles in being a pastor. I come alongside of people who are in dire situations. Like, I do funerals. I am with families who are completely heart broken. I am with people who have been victims of radical injustice, and in that place, it is my role to walk with people through their pain and tragedy, and to walk with people in such a way, where I can say, “Look, you are a victim of this tragedy, but please do not take on a victim mentality, because if you do, it will anchor you to the past, and you will never be able to engage your future.”

“…please do not take on a victim mentality, because if you do, it will anchor you to the past, and you will never be able to engage your future.”

I am concerned about the roar that I hear in our country right now. You have a lot of people that are taking on a victim mentality, and I am not just talking about Democrats, I am also talking about Republicans.

Politics has become a religion. It’s the new religion. A huge cult. On both sides.  You go far enough to the left, or far enough to the right and you will feel the same spirit, the same frequency that is in both camps. It’s the same temperature, the same hostility, and the same irrationality.

When people are attached to that frequency it affects their creativity, it affects their relationships, it affects their marriages, and they are no longer capable of creating great things on the Earth.

To the point that we allow ourselves to get triggered by all these narratives, to that degree, we feel that we are no longer responsible to shape the culture, to do good, to be creative, and engaging. Because now we can’t, our hands are tied, we are victims. For how can we do anything good when Trump is in office? How can there be any sense of justice or reconciliation when HE is in there?!

And so, I believe it is a radically dangerous world view, when you feel like your influence is limited because of whoever is leading the country.

WHY I HATE POLITICS

The following is a response that I gave to the Seattle Times reporter recently when interviewed for front-page story on leaders in our region and what they are seeing and feeling in this current election.

Front page of The Seattle Times, November 1, 2020

For me, when I vote, it is not going to be about Trump versus Biden.

For me, there are some things that are really important, and there are some things that I am watching closely.

For example, I am watching what the “new normal” is for Seattle. I am looking at how my wife and I do not feel safe to go for a date night downtown. I am looking at what seems to be a severe lack of vision and direction and unity within our State. I am looking at all these negative factors and the fact that our elected officials (who happen to be Democrats) are not taking responsibility.

I am looking at all these negatives that exist because of liberal ideals within our region, and they are resulting in negative consequences. Then I marvel at how the people that live here are seeing everything that is taking place and they blame it all on President Trump. For example, all the fires we just had here in Washington, Oregon, and California. Somehow, that is President Trump’s fault. The riots, those are Trump's fault as well, right? CHOP, that was also Trump's fault too apparently.

I am concerned for our city and our State because I love Seattle, and I love the people who are here that make our city great.

Seattle is such an amazing, innovative, and creative city. There is no other city like Seattle. Sometimes I wonder what would be possible in our city actually valued our businesses? What would happen if Jeff Bezos was not treated as though he was the Antichrist and if Boeing was not seen as this large evil corporate machine.

What would happen if we could celebrate innovation instead of demonizing it?

I would love to see some sort of courageous leadership where it is not about politics, but it is about true government.

I love government. I have even been involved in our local government, but, I hate politics.

I hate the political performance that takes place on both sides of the aisle.

Performance does not do good.

Performance does not bring about positive changes in the culture.

Performance does not create contrast.

Performance is just about approval and getting votes, and then once the election is over, everybody gripes and complains.

What if there were some courageous leaders who could paint a compelling vision for our city and State, but with the right motivation?

Amazing things could be accomplished, but not for the glory of a political party, but rather a motivation birthed out of sincere love and appreciation for our city and for our State.

That is not what I see.

I see all this stuff on the news and social media and it is not about government; it is political performance, and as a millennial, it makes me so disillusioned with the whole political scene, system, and process.

As a pastor, I am saying, “Go and vote. Vote your conviction and your values. If you vote democrat, I will still honor you, and when I vote Republican, I ask that you do the same.”

When we are all face to face, we are friends and family, but sometimes when we get on to social media, we become enemies and monsters.

This is why I hate politics. It is drama and hype that everybody gets to entangle in, where our only responsibility is to vote. When voting is our only responsibility, then we get to continue to surrender our leadership and influence, and if the election does not go our way, we all get to be victims of the election.

I will not be a victim of any election!

Regardless of what happens in this election, I chose to be a governing one who will leverage my partnerships, influence, and revelation to transform our city and nation with love as the primary motivator.