Changes Galore!

Pivotal moments arise from time to time for everyone. There have been a lot of changes recently. I decided to launch my own computer business "Bentcmark Computer Consulting" (http://www.bentchmark.com). May God bless this leap of faith! As the pastor of Living Waters Fellowship (were my bride Joyce is the co-pastor) I hope to spend at least a percentage of my time with ministry duties - as the Lord leads! However, I expect to handle service calls, sell computer related items, offer consulting services, and do some web design. I am blessed!

Emmanuel seems to be doing well. He has adjusted to his medications and continues to have a positive prognosis. We are so thankful to the medical folks who have been instrumental in helping with his condition such as Dr. Zimmerman and his bride Kelcy (an RN). Emmanuel mostly gives off the aura of the picture of health, except when some of the sickle cell disease pain occurs or he takes a long time to get over an illness such as a virus.

Tonight I have been invited to play drums at the local Celebrate Recovery group that meets at Grace Chapel (http://www.gracechapelcc.com). I am out of practice - so would appreciate lots of prayer! This is an eclectic group of musical artists from many different churches. I have enjoyed the spirituality of the group - and the glorious praise to God the times that I have been there.

Come on down! At 5:00pm there is a complimentary supper served. Sharing and praise and worship begin at 6:00pm I believe.

And, there's always something to do with my pursuit of a Masters in Mental Health Counseling. I just have a couple more classes until I begin my practicum in July 2012. Oh My This Is Another Leap of Faith! During the residency in November 2011, the teacher opined that we were all really counselors already, we just did not know it yet. I hope to feel much more like a counselor after a few weeks of practicum. Then it is off to my internship. I have yet to secure a location for practicum and internship - please keep this in prayer! There is a facility in Thermopolis, one in Worland, and one in Basin. We shall see!

Is everyone as busy as this? I just never imagined that I'd be so busy as a grown up. I thought that 'they' got to do whatever they wanted. And that is sort of the case... it is just that it is easy to decide to do many, many things. One thing that my mentors at Capella University (www.capella.edu) have noted is the importance of self-care. This means that you must take time for yourself - by making this a priority. I hope to take some time for self care now that I have my own business - or am I thinking foolishly? Time will tell!

Blessings to you as you commit yourself to the Lord Jesus and live a life like he did - one of self-sacrifice, love to others, and continual service.

John 13:1-5 "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded."

Even so come quickly Lord Jesus!

*** News Flash *** Kevin and Joyce now Pastors at Living Waters Fellowship

A few weeks ago, the Living Waters Fellowship, a ministry of the Church of God of Prophecy, accepted Joyce and I as their new pastors. We are so excited about this appointment of God! Rachel, our middle daughter, has been leading praise and worship each Sunday.

Class for everyone is at 10:00am and then regular church at 11:00am. Praise and Worship is mostly contemporary, with a few more traditional songs. This week, songs include selections from Hillsong and Kari Jobe. May we be ushered into the very presence of God, entering His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! Our hope is to become fully sold out to Jesus during this sweet time of worship, lost in praise.

What would church have to look like, before you would like to be there? Hopefully, at Living Waters, we can scripturally become the kind of church you would feel welcome at. Everyone there is committed to being friendly, supportive, and caring to each other - thinking of the 'new' commandment that Jesus gave, that we are to love one another (John 13:34). Every congregation that seeks to be part of the body of Christ should be strong on this teaching of Jesus. Come Living Waters, and help us make this scripture come alive!

Tomorrow's sermon is on Thankfulness. Unless the Lord directs differently, the songs chosen by Rachel are: "I Am Singing", "Refiner's Fire", "Here in Your Presence", and "None but Jesus". Class, taught by Joyce (and Rachel) is on the subject of the call of Samuel. The adult class will be in Jude (I think :).

We are so humbled that God would think us worthy to serve in this manner. We are also very excited about what the future might hold. We put it in God's hands, and we submit to His plans for our lives. May the Name of God be glorified in us - in Jesus precious holy name!

The church is located at the corner of Sage Crossing and Cardinal, in Worland, Wyoming. If you are looking for a new church home, or just want to visit, do please stop by. Check us out - we might be just what you are looking for! Be blessed in Jesus Name!

Amazing Times in Worland, Wyoming!

What's been happening the last year? Wow - has it been intense! Most important, our little grandson, Emmanuel Bentch is seeing significant health improvements. As of June, he was started on a low dose of Hydroxyurea (Droxia). Each month or so, the dosage was increased pending good bloodwork. His blood has steadily improved!

Before the Droxia, under a microscope, all of his Red Blood cells were malformed. His Hb was around 6, very anemic. Now - his Hb is 12.1 - no longer anemic! Hallelujah! Yeah! Praise God! More than that, under the microscope you are hard pressed to find even one Sickle Cell, unusual for anyone suffering from Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Better than that, it has been months since he has suffered a pain crisis. Our lives have changed, and so has his!

We are his caretakers, under the auspices of the Department of Family Services (DFS). We are now licensed Foster parents. We never expected to be raising up another child - but truly - we make our plans, but God directs our steps!

More later! God's blessings on you!

First March - Not Me Monday Post!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can also head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week. But for my week, read on!

It was not me who put off getting kinesio tape on his knee. Now really, would I doubt the reports of my friends who had their knee pain removed with this treatment? If that were the case, I would have suffered unnecessarily for weeks, limping around in a painful knee when relief was just moments away. Humph….

I would never have messed up in my Capella University online classes either. Nope, I would not have thought the required number of response postings was only one, when actually each student is required to post two responses (for this particular class). Then, if I had actually done that, and gotten a 90 instead of a 100, like I would have been shooting for, there’s no way I would have been totally upset about making a 90. That’s a good grade – anyway – right?

And since I am not a medical professional nor do I play one on TV I would never have given cheesy advice to the nurse about where and how to draw blood. Of course, drawing blood from one’s grandchild is a very painful emotional experience. But really, who am I to try to persuade the lab tech (most of whom are young enough to be my kids :) to try for a vein in Emmanuel’s foot rather than in his precious little arm. I mean, just because on his previous visit to ER they had to try 4 times, gold digging each time…. That might have sounded like I was trying to be bossy – oh no, not me!

Just because I used to be a computer guy I wouldn’t go around bragging about it either. Because had I done that, my doctor who is setting up his new office could then have called on me to fix his printer problem. Then, if I had actually fixed it, there’s no way I would have been so proud of myself. Isn’t humility one of the things God blesses you for? Of course it is because God humbles the proud… in fact Jesus said that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted in Luke 14:11. So it couldn’t have been me.

Those new Roasted Rockstar coffee drinks would have never become my fav drink either. How could I want that type of drink just because they taste great and fully wake you up for a few hours? Not me, uh-uhhh. Had I been in the habit of buying several of these $2 extravagances, there’s just absolutely no way I would have bought some at our local Pamida (a Wal-Mart wanna be) and then lost them. That’s right – lost them only to finally find them in a purse my wife bought as a gift for my mom. The checker might have put the cans in the purse to be more “green” and save a few bags. If that had actually happened, there’s no way I would have danced around the house in glee – and immediately consumed one of these luscious chocolaty coffee creamy things… yum yum – I mean – no way – not me!

Just Missed One; Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Just because I live in Wyoming, there is no way I would drive an hour and a half to Walmart. I am not that desperate for Walmart. Everyone knows there is no wildlife in the grand state of Wyoming, so it certainly was not me who had to stop and laugh and wipe my eyes because I saw TWO bald eagles on the way to Walmart. That would be ridiculous.

And had I gone to Riverton on Friday for another Walmart extravaganza, there is no way I would have gone downtown and proceeded to lock my keys in the car. Had I done that, there is no way I would have had to hitch a ride from a local store owner because there are so many taxi cabs in Smalltown, WY. Since that did not happen to me, the store owner did not drive me to Walmart to get my wife's keys. That would be childish. Ridiculous. Ha.

It's not me who is having to retrieve my dog on a daily basis from my neighbor's yard. My dog knows I am the master and my wife the other master. Since my dog knows that there is no way my dog would take up with my neighbor and we'd have to go get him all the time. There is no way he has found a place he is happier at. That would be embarrassing. Stupid dog.

Absolutely not me that spent hours and materials frying up a rabbit and putting it into the oven for the final crispy on the meat. Since it was not me who crisped up the meat, I did not end up forgetting about it for three days. That could not have been me. If that had happened, the housekeeper, upon finding said meat, might have asked if my wife wanted the chicken in the oven. If there had been three day old meat in the oven, my darling Joyce might have had to swallow hard before telling the housekeeper to toss the disgusting, forgotten cooked rabbit. That was not me because I would never put my wife through such a thing. Not me.

And last, but not least, it is definitely not me who sits in a parking lot on another trip to the far away Walmart, dictating my "not me Monday post" to my daughter who lives in Virginia. She did not call to remind me (per her weekly habit) to post my list. I did not then ask her to write them for me while I told them to her via the telephone. My daughter is not long-suffering and wonderful.

Thank you so much for reading; have a wonderful day!!

Preacher Man Kevin's Not Me Post 02/02/09

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

There is now way it was me who walked to church yesterday (Sunday morning) while the temperature hovered around 0 degrees F. You would think that if I had an argument with my bride, that we could fix it or put it on hold for the Lord’s Day – right? And even two angry people should be able to ride together for the mile or so to church – if they are mature. After 31 years of marriage, one would of course expect maturity. Of course, had this happened, it would help people to not put me on a pedestal.

It was not me who felt anger at skinny people. Why would I do that, just because of their matter-of-fact methods for losing weight and keeping it off. Just because they’ve never had 80 or so pounds to lose, I could not expect them to know better, so why turn on the inner anger motor? I’d never do that, never.

Of course I would never volunteer all the ladies at church to put out a meal to 100 strangers who needed a place to gather and eat after a funeral. Not me, why, that might make some of them a bit put out. Of course, had I done that, I would have been greatly encouraged by how they gave it their best and had plenty of food prepared and set out.

It also could not have been me out there barefooted taking a picture of the thermometer that was pegged at 29 or 30 below zero. Nope, I’m too smart for that, why, I might have gotten frost bit or something.



Most certainly it was not me who had to be reminded by one of my beautiful daughters to post the Not Me Monday blog. She would have had to call me from Virginia, while she juggled her precious four children under four, waiting for her awesome husband (magnificent son-in-law) to be mock-deployed at Langely. No way I would have been so forgetful, not me. You can check out her blog at http://jandjkeys.blogspot.com/ which is titled Intense Blessings, which she and all her precious family are - Blessings!

Not Me Monday (NMM) - 2nd Week

I certainly did not get miffed when I found out Friday evening that this Sunday’s sermon only needed to be 10 minutes long. Plans had changed, why could that bother me? Where oh where has my maturity gone? I kept a straight face though….


There is no way that I would love Rockstar Roasted Coffe so much. Nor could I possibly have discovered how to order Rockstar Roasted Coffee by the case. How can that taste so good? Yum yum!


It was not me who was reveling in the snow covering. It was not me who saw several people frown when I let out the secret that I love the snow and near blizzard conditions here in wonderful Wyoming. Nope.


I would never have forgotten to put the kitchen trash up off the floor, so that our young dog, Mocha, could have had a great time. Oh, had I done that, he would have decorated the entire kitchen and living room in true doggy fashion, trash everywhere. He would have then had a feast.


I, as a grown man, would never get all goo-goo awed about putting e-Sword (a Bible program) on my new cell phone. Nor could it have been me that had ordered 3 phones in the last few months, one right after the other, to finally get the right phone to run the program. Then the first three phones would have had to be returned, to finally get a compatible phone. Who could be so backward as to not read the requirements to run the program?


Of course I would never, never get into a friendly (though long) argument with a sales person on the phone over a doctrinal issue. Oh my, how could I?


It could not have been me who froze up momentarily when a family in the community asked me to perform the funeral ceremony. Not me who had to paste a neutral expression on my face and put iron control over my voice when they told me about the passing of their for a 16 month old baby, Gage Fyffe. This is one of those honors that hurts the heart. How will I be able to speak, especially given my continual thinking of Emmanuel’s health issues, as I speak words of comfort to the young parents.