Author Archives: Pastor Ed Boston

How About A Presidential Pardon for 1Lt Michael Behenna?

A few years ago, a chance meeting on an airplane between my son and US Army 1Lt Michael Behenna (who was being transported in chains) started my interest in the horrible case of an Army hero who had his own government turn it’s back against him as laid out in the article below.

I, along with numerous friends and supports of our podcast, did our best back in 2009 to get the story of this miscarriage of justice out to the masses. We interviewed his parents on two occasions, we went to Washington DC to support the Behenna family at one of the many hearings held, and we walked the halls of Congress trying to get representatives of the people to hear Michael’s story.

Michael was released from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 2014.  He was granted parole by the U.S. Army Clemency and Parole Board, after serving five years of his 15-year sentence.

Now a new effort is being made to have President Donald Trump to grant 1Lt Behenna a Presidential Pardon for what happened to him, as the results of his conviction which still haunts him today.

The Ed Boston Podcast wants to once again help lead the way on this new effort. Today’s post is to get the word back out to our followers and make all of you aware of this new development. I also want to give you links to our shows with Michael’s parents, Scott and Vicki, as well as a show with former Congressman LTC Allen West discussing Michael’s case.

Scott and Vicki Behenna 4/7/2009 -skip to the 11:24 mark to listen to the interview.

Scott and Vicki Behenna 8/7/2009 -skip to the 2:58 mark to listen to the interview.

Former Congressman LTC Allen West 3/28/2014 -skip to the 16:55 mark to listen to the interview.

Attorney General Hunter Sends Letter to President Asking to Pardon former Edmond 1st Lt. Behenna

General Hunter: Behenna deserves his freedom back

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter has sent a letter to President Donald Trump, expressing his support for a pardon of former U.S. Army 1st Lt. Michael Behenna.

In 2009, Behenna was convicted of unpremeditated murder in a combat zone after killing a suspected Al Qaeda terrorist in Iraq, while attempting to find individuals responsible for an IED that took the lives of two men in his unit. In 2014, he was granted parole by the U.S. Army Clemency and Parole Board, after serving five years of his 15-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

Attorney General Hunter said without a pardon, Behenna’s punishment will continue outside of prison indefinitely.

“Michael Behenna was a courageous soldier, a great leader and does not deserve to be labeled a convicted felon for the rest of his life,” Attorney General Hunter said. “He has more than paid for the crimes he was convicted of while bravely serving our country in combat. He and his family have gone through enough. I encourage President Trump to act quickly and compassionately by pardoning Behenna, to give him back the freedoms he deserves.”

In the letter, Attorney General Hunter outlines three factors as to why a pardon is appropriate.

He points specifically to critical errors made during the original court-martial that wrongly affected Behenna’s self-defense arguments; the events taking place during wartime, where Behenna was risking his life to serve the country and attempting to track down terrorists; and Behenna serving his time as a model inmate, which led to his parole at the earliest date possible.

Attorney General Hunter ends the letter encouraging the president to look closely at the case and ask: “Does this situation – with incorrect jury instructions on a key issue and unlawfully withheld evidence – really display the type of justice we believe is appropriate for an otherwise outstanding soldier, who was attempting to protect his country and fellow soldiers from terror attacks?”

To read Attorney General Hunter’s letter, click here.

Related: Local news coverage:

The Oklahoman: http://bit.ly/2nVqvsh

News 9: http://bit.ly/2nSINdQ

New From The Oak Ridge Boys

The Oak Ridge Boys Team Up With Grammy Museum For Intimate Performance on February 15th

TV Alert: The Oaks Set To Perform On Hallmark Channel’s ‘Home & Family’ Tomorrow!

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Oak Ridge Boys announce the exclusive premiere of their latest video, “Pray To Jesus,” a song that was originally recorded by its co-writer, Brandy Clark, who was GRAMMY nominated for “Best New Artist” in 2015, at Billboard.com. The new track is included in the Oaks’ forthcoming album, 17th Avenue Revival, available everywhere March 16th on Lightning Rod Records.

Recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A and produced by acclaimed pop/rock producer Dave Cobb, 17th Avenue Revival finds The Oak Ridge Boys returning to their gospel roots. But a different kind of gospel. One that took a hard look at the early days of rock and roll, which was influenced by spiritual, or black gospel.

The Oak Ridge Boys are also set to play the prestigious GRAMMY Museum’s Clive Davis Theater on February 15th, for an intimate conversation and performance spotlighting 17th Avenue Revival. The performance will be hosted by GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Scott Goldman.

The Oak Ridge Boys will continue the promotional trail as they make an appearance on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family on February 15th. In addition to providing a little help in the kitchen with hosts Mark Steines & Debbie Matenopoulos, fans can catch a special performance by The Oak Ridge Boys.

Tour Schedule:

Feb 16 Cache Creek Casino Resort / Brooks, Calif.

Feb 17 Cactus Petes Resort Casino Gala Showroom / Jackpot, Nev.

Feb 22 Mobile Civic Center Theater / Mobile, Ala.

Mar 01 Florida Strawberry Festival / Plant City, Fla.

Mar 03 Seminole Casino / Immokalee, Fla.

Mar 07 Bridgestone Arena / Nashville, Tenn.

Mar 16 Birchmere / Alexandria, Va.

Mar 17 American Music Theatre / Lancaster, Pa.

Mar 18 Sellersville Theater 1894 / Sellersville, Pa.

Mar 23 Paramount Theatre / Middletown, N.Y.

Mar 24 Zeiterion Performing Arts Center / New Bedford, Mass.

Mar 30 Harvester Performance Center / Rocky Mount, Va.

Mar 31 Harrington Raceway & Casino / Harrington, Del.

Apr 06 Stiefel Theatre / Salina, Ks.

Apr 07 Riverwind Casino / Norman, Okla.

Apr 08 Texan Theater / Greenville, Texas

Apr 13 Newberry Opera House / Newberry, S.C.

Apr 14 Alabama Theatre / North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Apr 20 The Mansion Theater / Branson, Mo.

Apr 21 The Mansion Theater / Branson, Mo.

Apr 22 Oxford Performing Arts Center / Oxford, Ala.

Apr 27 Medina Entertainment Center / Medina, Minn.

Apr 28 The Arcada Theater, Saint Charles, IL

Apr 29 Peoples Bank Theatre / Marietta, Ohio

Apr 30 Packard Music Hall / Warren, Ohio

May 04 Peoples Bank Theatre / Marietta, Ohio

May 05 BMI Speedway / Versailles, Ohio

May 06 Civic Center / Des Moines, Iowa

May 12 Little River Casino Resort / Manistee, Mich.

May 18 del Lago Resort & Casino / Waterloo, N.Y.

May 19 Paramount Theatre / Rutland, VT

May 20 The Cabot / Beverly, Mass.

May 26 Atwood Music Festival / Monticello, Miss.

Jun 01 Beaver Dam Amphitheatre / Beaver Dam, Ky.

Jun 02 Renfro Valley Entertainment Center / Renfro Valley, Ky.

Jun 08-09 Hartville Kitchen / Hartville, Ohio

Jun 16 Porterfield Country Fest / Marinette, Wisc.

Jun 22 Howard County Fair / Cresco, Iowa

Jun 30 Horseshoe Bossier City / Bossier City, La.

About The Oak Ridge Boys:

The Oak Ridge Boys, who have sold over 41 million units worldwide, are synonymous with “America, apple pie, baseball, pop, rock, gospel and country music.” In addition to their awards and accolades in the country and pop music fields, they have garnered five GRAMMY® Awards and nine GMA DOVE Awards as well as the Mainstream Artist of the Year Award at the ICM Awards. The group—Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban—have earned prestigious membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame (2015 Inductees) and Grand Ole Opry, and are known worldwide as one of recording history’s most extraordinary musical successes. They have charted single after single and album after album, celebrating two double-platinum albums and more than 30 Top 10 hits, including No. 1 chart-toppers “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Thank God For Kids,” “American Made,” “Y’All Come Back Saloon,” among dozens more. For more information and to view upcoming tour dates for The Oak Ridge Boys, please visit oakridgeboys.com.

About Billboard Magazine:

Billboard is the world’s most influential music media brand reaching key executives and tastemakers in and around the music business through Billboard Magazine, Billboard.biz, Billboard Conferences, Billboard Bulletin, and other targeted newsletters, and millions of music fans through Billboard.com and Billboard Events. The Billboard brand is built on its exclusive charts and unrivaled reporting on the latest news, issues and trends across all genres of music. Billboard receives hundreds of millions of brand impressions daily through many strategic relationships with major companies across various industries. These relationships leverage Billboard’s brand recognition, proprietary chart data and information resources to develop products, live events and print, television, radio, digital and mobile platforms. In addition to North America, Billboard operates businesses in Brazil, Greece, Japan, Korea and Russia.

About Hallmark Channel:

Hallmark Channel is Crown Media Family Networks’ flagship 24-hour cable television network, distributed nationwide in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to 88 million homes. As the country’s leading destination for quality family entertainment, Hallmark Channel delivers on the 100-year legacy of the Hallmark brand. In addition to its signature new, original movies, the network features an ambitious lineup of other new, original content, including scripted primetime series, such as “Good Witch,” “When Calls the Heart” and “Chesapeake Shores”; annual specials including “Kitten Bowl” and “Hero Dog Awards”; and a daily, two-hour lifestyle show, “Home & Family.” Additionally, Hallmark Channel is the exclusive home to world premiere presentations of the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame franchise. Dedicated to helping viewers celebrate life’s special moments, Hallmark Channel also offers annual holiday programming franchises, including “Countdown to Christmas,” “Countdown to Valentine’s Day,” “Summer Nights,” “Fall Harvest” and “Winterfest.” Rounding out the network’s diverse slate are some of television’s most beloved comedies and series, including “The Golden Girls” and “Frasier.”

About Lightning Rod Records:

Formed in 2007, Lightning Rod Records is a Nashville-based independent record label. Over the last ten years, Lightning Rod has released albums by acclaimed artists such as James McMurtry, Billy Joe Shaver, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Paul Cauthen, and Joe Pug.

Brennley Brown Makes A Huge Announcement

H/T to Trevor Decker News for this story about friend of the podcast – Brennley Brown. Click the link below to go to his site and watch the video announcement.

Brennley Brown Is Going on Tour This Spring

Brennley Brown has revealed her BIG announcement!!!! SHE’S GOING ON TOUR!!!

I’m beyond excited to be joining the amazing and talented Hayley Orrantia on her “Strong, Sweet and Southern” SPRING TOUR!! We will be bringing down the house each night at 27 different venues over a 7 week run. I’m looking so forward to finally meeting each of you in person. GET TICKETS NOW!! 

https://www.hayleyorrantia.com/hayleyorrantia-tour

#strongsweetandsoutherntour #countrymusic #GETREADY #hittingtheroadwithhayley #gettix #share #seeyouthere!!

Read more https://trevordecker.com/brennley-brown-going-tour-spring/

Can We Mourn About The Florida Tragedy Properly? Please!!!!

The thoughts and prayers of all of us at the Ed Boston Podcast Network go out for everyone affected by the tragic situation today in Florida.

Here are some thoughts I have on this topic in general.

After giving some thought about this situation and how it will be reported on and reacted to, I came up with the following.

  • The story will change so many times so the early story will not be the final story.
  • The kid will be called mentally ill (seems to me that one would have to be to open fire inside of a high school).
  • Liberals will blame guns.
  • Conservatives will throw up the 2nd amendment (which you know I’m all for).
  • None of the above will bring those precious lives lost back or heal the wounds, both physically and mentally, of everyone who were victims.

All the while – where is the grief for all those affected? The bodies are barely cold (some haven’t even been removed from the building) and you know that every side of the equation is doubling down right now instead of giving respect to those who have passed, those that are injured, those that survived, and all of their families and friends.

For once, can’t we put aside all of the things above that  I listed and just take the time to properly mourn another horrible chapter in American history.

God’s blessings and comfort to those who need it, and may the healing power of Jesus Christ be with all who have been injured.

This Is Disgusting, But Par For The Course From “The View”

Par For The Course – definition: par for the course is a noun –  something to be expected

While the following story may be “par for the course, that doesn’t make it acceptable! Christians should be highly upset with the the characterization that being a Christian is a “mental illness”.

Note that Mike Pence is from the same hometown that I am, and I have talked to him on numerous occasions. I don’t claim to know everything about him, but I have followed his political career from the very beginning.

I will make my comments to the story below in the article with bold red. Please remember that these comment will be my OPINION. Take a look!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNpm_NglrJQ

‘The View’ star Joy Behar mocks Mike Pence’s Christian faith: ‘That’s called mental illness’

The women of ABC News’ “The View” took a shot a Vice President Mike Pence’s Christian faith on Tuesday, mocking the former governor of Indiana for talking to Jesus and even calling it a “mental illness.”  From Merriam-Webster.com – Definition of mental illness: any of a broad range of medical conditions (such as major depression, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, or panic disorder) that are marked primarily by sufficient disorganization of personality, mind, or emotions to impair normal psychological functioning and cause marked distress or disability and that are typically associated with a disruption in normal thinking, feeling, mood, behavior, interpersonal interactions, or daily functioning

It all started when they played a clip from “Celebrity Big Brother,” in which former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman discussed the vice president. Who makes Omarosa an expert on Vice-President Pence? My guess is that she barely knows him.  

“As bad as you think Trump is, you would be worried about Pence… everyone that is wishing for impeachment might want to reconsider their life,” she said in the clip. “I am Christian, I love Jesus, but he thinks Jesus tells him to say things.” How would she know what Jesus tells anyone other than herself?

The talk-show panelists pondered what Omarosa’s motive was, before Sunny Hostin chimed in, “I think what’s interesting is that she said Jesus tells Mike Pence things to say.” I think that most Christian would agree that Jesus talks to us through His word, and some will believe (in my opinion rightly so) that they hear from Jesus directly. Does that make me mentally ill?

Hostin declared that Pence is a “hated figure” in Indiana, claiming she knows firsthand because she attended law school in the state. I can’t find the dates that Hostin attended law school at Notre Dame. She was born in 1969 so if she was in her early 20’s then she would have been there somewhere around the mid 90’s. Pence ran for office in the House of Representatives for the first time (an lost) in 1988, and didn’t start his time in Congress until 2001 in a district in Southern Indiana.  Notre Dame is in the very Northern most point in the state. Maybe she had heard of Mike Pence while at Notre Dame, but I’m thinking she knew little to nothing about him at that time. 

“He’s not very popular at all,” she said. “I think when you have a Mike Pence who now sort of puts this religious veneer on things and calls people ‘values voters,’ I think we’re in a dangerous situation.” Let’s see – Mike Pence was elected and served in Congress from 2001 to 2013. That would mean he was voted into office in his district 6 different times. He served as Governor of the state of Indiana from 2013-2017 and was running for re-election when President Trump named Pence as his running mate in the 2016 election. Granted, he made some decisions that were very unpopular, but it’s hard to reconcile Hostin’s OPINION that he is “hated and not very popular” with the FACT that he won election on 7 different occasions. 

Hostin said she is a “faithful” Catholic but doesn’t want her vice president “speaking in tongues.” It’s obvious that as a Catholic she knows nothing about “speaking in tongues”,  as the topic was what Pence heard from Jesus, not about how he spoke to Jesus. Personally knowing his hometown church and having been there a few occasions, I can assure you that there was no speaking in tongues done while I was there.   

Joy Behar then said: “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you.” Pure sarcasm and vitriol.

Behar said hearing voices is a “mental illness” before Sherri Shepard offered a limited defense of Pence.

“As a Christian, that’s just par for the course,” Shepard said “You talk to Jesus, Jesus talks back. What concerns me is, how long is the conversation with Jesus?” Shepard acknowledges that Jesus talks to us, so why would it the length of that would be concerning. If Jesus talks to him for 30 that’s ok, but if it’s a minute or two or three or longer then that’s “concerning”?

Behar, an ABC News star, uncomfortably joked, “Can he talk to Mary Magdalene without his wife in the room?” This is probably the worst comment of the entire interview. Critics of the Bible has banded Mary Magdalene as a woman of ill repute, and the “without his wife in the room” part is making reference to Pence’s previous comments on how he keeps his vows to his wife. 

Shepard then said that the key is “moderation” and anything that is “too much” is concerning. Again how is moderation and too much defined?

“Do we want our politics served to us with a religious veneer over them?” Hostin asked. “This administration is not a values-driven administration.” Let’s see – religious veneer and politics. Our founding documents and Constitution has religious veneer written all over them, and the Founding Fathers were mostly Christians (no matter what uninformed naysayers might tell you). If you watch the video, you will notice that the hosts couldn’t even agree on what values-driven is. 

Finally, I find it very interesting, at the end of the segment, that Bahar commented that Pence would be much better that Trump. “I don’t think anyone could be worse than Trump.  (garbled words) Say what you will about Mike Pence and his religiosity and everything else. I don’t think that he’s mentally ill even though he says that he is hearing voices. I don’t think he is that crazy”. So when it’s Pence alone, he and Christians are mentally ill and several other derogatory things, but when compared to Trump – Behar seems to think that Pence would do lots of things right. Total hypocrisy and I believe that ABC should discontinue allowing these women to spew there 1st Amendment protected venom.   

Via Music Coming to The Ed Boston Podcast Network

We’ve been introduced to a Christian worship group by the name of Via Music. Later this week, we have an interview with Shayne Blaze of the group scheduled to play on the Ed Boston Podcast Network. We’ll update you on the date and time in a future post.

For now, you can enjoy their single Renewal on Spotify.

 

Also, you can listen to their entire newly released album – Ellipsis, also at Spotify.

 

H/T to Trevor Decker News for introducing us to Via Music. Check out the articles below from Trevor’s site.

Introducing Via Music – Debut Album Ellipsis Comes Out Feb 9th

A Message From Via Music!

Via Music’s Debut Album Is Available Now – Listen To It Here!

It’s Not The Winter Olympics – But It Is Billy Graham’s Largest Crusade In Seoul

The following story comes from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA):

Seoul, South Korea: A Look Back at Billy Graham’s Largest Ever Crusade

From May 30 to June 3, 1973, an estimated 3.2 million people attended Billy Graham’s largest ever Crusade in Seoul, South Korea, with 1.1 million traveling—mostly by foot—to the final service on the airstrip at Yoi-do Plaza. Some 75,000 people submitted cards showing they made a decision for Christ because of that Crusade.

The historic plaza is less than 100 miles west of the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, where millions more have gathered for the Winter Games.

View Photos from the Crusade

>> Scroll through several snapshots of the historic Crusade that forever changed South Korea and countless lives.

A First-Hand Experience

>> Read an account from John Pollock, one of the 1.1 million in attendance on the last day of the Crusade, June 3, 1973.

 

Interview with Mr. Graham’s Interpreter, Billy Kim

>> Learn more about how the Crusade began with local church leaders and Christian educators in Korea, and how it has continued impacting the country’s churches and culture even through today.

Listen to Billy Graham’s Message in Seoul: ‘The Love of God’

“Love one another,” Billy Graham told the crowd repeatedly after reading John 15:13.

“That is the message I want to leave you as I go back to America. Love one another in Korea.”

>> Hear more of Billy Graham’s message, “The Love of God.”

Know the love of God today.