Joel Osteen’s other gospel

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http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=262469

By Tom Flannery

Are we all born basically good, children of God by birth?

If you listen to the hugely popular happy-talk preacher Joel Osteen, the answer is yes. But if you read the Bible, it’s a definitive “No!”

During a recent interview on CNN with Piers Morgan (he’s the new Larry King), Osteen assured a worldwide audience that we’re all born children of God, so we’re all basically good in our nature.

This includes Adolf Hitler, by the way, a man personally responsible for the Holocaust where millions were systematically murdered and World War II where tens of millions more perished.

Osteen told Piers that he couldn’t explain Hitler’s monstrous evil, but he’s sure he wasn’t born that way. And if Hitler was born good, then so too were Stalin, Mao and all of history’s other mass murderers, ethnic cleansers, serial killers, child rapists … well, everyone.

Yet the Word of God tells us the exact opposite is true. The Bible declares that all of us have sinned throughout our past and continue falling short of God’s standard of righteousness in our present (Romans 3:23). Isaiah 53 reveals that we have all gone astray like wayward sheep and have “turned, every one, to his own way.”

Therefore, Psalm 53 says God looks at all mankind and declares: “Every one of them has turned aside; they have all together become corrupt. There is none who does good; no, not even one” (emphasis mine).

Indeed, when the rich young ruler called Jesus “good,” He responded: “No one is good but God” (Luke 18:19). The young man didn’t have the spiritual insight to understand that Jesus is God, so the exchange ended there. Still, Jesus made it clear that only God is good, and no human being meets that lofty standard.

Jesus told us that we must be perfect, even as God is (Matthew 5:48). This is God’s standard of goodness – absolute perfection. This has been called Plan A for salvation. As someone once remarked: “Thank God for Plan B,” which is salvation by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ’s finished redemptive work on the cross for us (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, etc.).

We consider ourselves good because we compare ourselves to other people, and we can always find someone worse than we are. Scripture describes those who “commend themselves” (for their goodness, good works, etc.) as being the ones who “measuring themselves by themselves are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

That’s because Charles Manson is not the standard by which we’re measured. Neither is the guy down the street who gets drunk and beats his wife. Nor any other person. The One we’re being measured by is Christ Himself, who is good because He lived a perfectly sinless life – in His actions, words and thoughts. Anything less than that is unacceptable to a perfectly holy, perfectly just God who cannot tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:13). He can only punish sin.

Of course, as Piers pointed out in questioning Osteen about his elusive views on homosexuality, the perpetually smiling preacher doesn’t have a whole lot to say about sin. In fact, hardly anything at all. Nor does he like to delve into such issues as eternal judgment or the reality of hell. They’re “too negative.” They bring people down.

Yet these are the very issues God most wants us thinking about and dealing with, for the Bible says His Spirit is in the world with the express purpose of convicting all mankind “of sin, righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Sin because it’s our sin that separates us from God; righteousness because there’s a righteous standard we all fall infinitely short of meeting but which Christ has attained for us, and offers us as a free gift when we trust in Him alone for salvation (John 3:16, 3:36, etc.); and judgment because apart from trusting in Christ alone, we have nothing to look forward to but eternal judgment.

This doctrine of original sin (for which the whole world already stands condemned before God) lies at the heart of the gospel message Christ said should be proclaimed by His servants throughout the world until He returns.

But if we’re all children of God from birth, then why bother with such dour material? That’s clearly Osteen’s position, although here again, God’s Word says something completely different.

According to the Bible, none of us is born a child of God. Instead, we must be adopted into His family (Romans 8:14-15, Galatians 4:4-7, Ephesians 1:5-6) by trusting Christ. Scripture explains that believers are “all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26); we “become children of God” when we accept Christ by faith alone (John 1:12, emphases mine).

Because the scourge of sin entered mankind through the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, we all have a sin nature. This means we are born separated from God and can only be saved by means of a second (spiritual) birth (1 Peter 1:23). As Jesus put it: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. … You must be born again” (John 3).

 

Joel Osteen and other so-called “prosperity preachers” are directly contradicting God’s Word on the fundamental tenets of the faith, opting instead to preach a message of worldly riches and continual temporal blessings. They have forsaken the one true gospel to proclaim a false message, a “different gospel which is really no gospel at all” (Galatians 1:6).

This “other” gospel won’t save you, but it does make preachers filthy rich, tickles the ears of their followers and fills football stadiums with people willing to give until it hurts (so they, too, can cash in, you see).

It’s a far cry from the One who said: “My kingdom is not of this world.” But when there’s so much money to be made in this life, who wants to wait for eternal blessings and rewards in heaven?

That would be such a total downer!

Is the Lord preparing to set you in a broad place?

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I called on the LORD in distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place. — Psalm 118:4-6 –

He also brought me out into a broad place;He delivered me because He delighted in me. –2 Samuel 22:20 –

Anyone who has been visiting this blog for some time, know by now what I’ve been about. You’ve known I have hated lies, deceptions, darkness, etc. — both within the church and in political/social matters.

So much so, that it has greatly vexed my soul at times to see and know what all is going on in these areas. I stopped watching all news network well over a year ago. I’ve gotten my news sources online for the most part. Day after day, week after week, month after month, for a couple of years now, I have witnessed nothing but debauchery and deception in what is called “the church” and in the social/political arenas. It had made my soul sick.

Blessedly, the Lord spoke through a dear sister a little while back telling me: “you spend a lot of time exposing things with a negative slant. You should take a step back, because it affects the way you see even the good things going on.”

I was not offended. I know her heart for me is for good and not of evil. I took her words as coming from God to speak to something in me. So I did as she said: I backed off for a bit.

By doing so, I was able to see that the vileness of the things I hate had actually become part of me. Yes, it is right to hate evil. Yes, it is right to speak the truth at all times. Yes, it is right to never compromise. May God help me to always stand for what is right now and forever –  both publicly and in my personal life. However — as an ambassador of God — I have failed miserably in presenting the truth at times. Perhaps, I have hurt a little lost sheep in search of truth. For that I am sorry. Truly sorry. I never want to hurt the sheep.

(Don’t misunderstand me: I still believe there are times to kick devil butt when he comes as a deceiver. And I just do not see that changing in me. So I am sorry if any have gotten your hopes up in creating an image of me that is not exactly accurate.) 

Maybe there are others who have just had it with all they see and hear going on in areas of life. Maybe the drama of family members have gotten you down so much you don’t know if you are coming or going. Maybe you have fretted over this or that, day after day, week after week — even unto years and you are just worn out. You feel like you may be reaching the end, yet something on you keeps telling you “hang on.” Hang on to what? Hang on to a hope that things may get better? Friend, it may never get better. It may get worse. So why hang on? Even hanging on, can be a form of works.

Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all you who are heavy laden. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” I don’t believe He ever once said, “hang on” did He? (If I’m wrong, someone correct me, please.)

No, we are to be still and know He is God. The moment we let the Lord make us still, is the moment God begins to change things. He may not change that circumstance; that loved one that gives you fits — still may give you fits, that job you are wanting — you may never get, that house payment still may be late, that unsaved family member still may walk in outright rebellion toward God. Whatever these things may be for each and every one of us, they may never change. BUT, God’s desire is to bring us into a broad place away from those things.

I believe He prepares us to bring us into such a place. Because if we knew He was going to do it, no doubt a lot of us would go kicking and screaming yelling, “No, no, I don’t want to go, Lord! Don’t you see how hard I’m trying?! Why all the empty space over there, it’s too much God. There ain’t one thing going on over there that interests me, don’t you know?!” That is probably what I would have said. However, in my case, I didn’t see it coming. His preparation was merely letting me get so sick and tired of everything. I saw myself with the enemies of my soul on every side. How I abhored it. And there was not one thing I could do about it. Not one thing.

It was the mercy of God that reached out to me, when one day, I finally saw that in spite of the rotteness going on that I hate, I was not in the middle of it anymore! It even felt empty all around me. As if there were miles and miles between the things that vexed my soul and me.   

I believe with all my heart God is wanting to prepare His remnant by getting us away from the things that vex our soul. Not to say that we will never have to deal with things — because we will alway have to deal with life. But it does not have to have a stronghold on us. 

See, it is His desire to deliver us. He delights in us, even though we think/know/feel we have failed. He loves us so much He has ways of operating on us even when we don’t know it! How cool is that?! –that the awesome God of the universe can go where no man can go and do what no man can do?!

So precious Bride of Christ, if you are finding you are getting sick and tired, do not hang on. Take the Lord’s hand and let Him lead you to that broad place where there is freedom. He cares for you!

He who the Son sets free is free indeed!

Who is your covering?

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This pearl was found here:

http://annointing.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/who-is-your-covering.pdf

It was refreshing to see someone has gotten it right on authority. Please go give his blog a look. Something tells me it is going to be a place of refreshing. 

There is a popular teaching coming from the pulpits of many apostate churches today which claims that Christians must have a “spiritual covering”. This teaching as it is presented in today’s church is a far cry from what Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 11.

The covering taught by most pastors today is the idea that a Christian must be a member of a church and must be spiritually submitted to a particular pastor. Many will tell you that if you are not submitted to a church hierarchy you are out of the will of God and are under the influence of Satan. All of this is evidence of the Nicolaitan error Jesus spoke of in Revelation 2:6

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 1Cor 11:3

Notice that Paul does not say the head of every man is his pastor, or an apostle, or any other church official. The head of every man is Christ. Period!

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 1 Cor 11:4-5

Paul is not talking here about wearing a hat or a prayer shawl or the length of ones hair. What he is saying is this. Every man who covers his head by submitting himself to another man dishonors his true head which is Christ. And any woman who worships without the covering of her husband dishonors her husband.

There is no higher authority in the body of Christ than the individual believer. All Christians are seen by God as kings and priests. All are called saints. All who do the will of God are counted as sons of God. Every man will be accountable by himself for his own actions or inactions vis-à-vis his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Your pastor or apostle to whom you’ve submitted yourself will not
be there to speak for you.

Some will point to Hebrews 13:17 as a reason we should spiritually submit to men. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Heb 13:17

The Greek word which is translated them that have the rule is the word hegeomai {hayg-eh’-om-ahee} which means to lead or to go before. Our misunderstanding of this principle stems from our conformity to the world and the way leadership is exercised in this earthly realm.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Mat 20:25-27

We see here that leadership in the Kingdom of God consists of servanthood. Those who God has called to the five fold ministry are placed there to be your servant not your master. You are not called to serve them. So those who have rule over us must be those who give of themselves to see that we are conformed to the image of Christ. What they will give account of is how well they performed their role as servant.

Unfortunately, just as Paul prophesied in Acts 20:29, grievous wolves have entered into the church intent on drawing away disciples unto themselves. One way they do this is to intimidate people into following them. It is amazing the amount of fear and guilt these supposed shepherds put on the unsuspecting sheep.

I’ve heard one pastor tell his congregation that all their prosperity is due to his faith. He talks often about people who have left his church and are now poor and sick. The people who sit under him are afraid to leave.

I listened once to Clarence McClendon tell a congregation that God put them under their pastor and that if they ever left that pastor they were in rebellion to God. People were whoopin and hollerin and cheering him on. He went on and on getting all worked up until he finally said: “I know you have Jesus but Jesus is not enough!” A stunned silence filled the auditorium. McClendon got a funny look on his face as if he himself was surprised that those words had come out of his mouth. After a moment he composed himself and began to tap dance and back track trying to explain what he really meant. But I knew what he meant. Jesus said out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). That was the spirit of antichrist (in place of Christ) talking out of that man’s mouth. What is really sad is that not one person got up and left. After a couple of awkward minutes they were back whoopin and hollerin for this wolf in sheep’s clothing.

I know that there are rebellious people in the body of Christ who refuse to submit to any authority. This is not what I am counseling. I have no problem submitting to Godly authority when I see it. I must say that Godly authority is a rare thing in the church today but it does exist.

The people to whom you should submit are those who have gone before you. Those who know more than you do. No single individual, be it pastor, teacher, apostle prophet, or evangelist has all the answers for every situation you will face in life. We are all only parts of the body. No single person is the complete body except Christ. That is why you should submit to Him. If Christ leads you to an individual for a time of instruction then sit and learn from that person. But understand that it is the gift in them to which Christ has led you, not the person.

So, the lesson here is this. Submit yourself to Christ. He is your head. Allow him to be your teacher. If he sends you to a person for a season fine, learn from that servant . But you should never allow that person to exercise rulership over you in the earthly sense. If you are born again and filled with the Holy Ghost, you are perfectly capable of hearing from God yourself. You are perfectly capable of understanding the bible yourself. You are perfectly capable of obeying God yourself.

WARNING GRAPHIC — abortion, and a plea for LIFE

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The following videos can be seen here:

http://www.abortionno.org/index.php/audio_video

I was not able to embed them here. I’m not even sure if WordPress would have allowed it. So you will have to go the above link.

However, be forewarned, it is GRAPHIC. But, what did you expect? Abortion is MURDER. There is no other name for it. And THIS is just one of many reasons God will judge this nation. But that is for another post.

Right now, I talk to women of all ages: I do not care what your political views are. Democrat or Republican, black or white. Does not matter to me. I speak to you woman to woman. I speak to those who would be grand-mothers: Do you really want yourgrandchildren butchered in the safety of their mother’s womb? That’s what it is, you know. Do you expect to find mercy on the day you should need it? You may never get it if you yourself think it no crime to kill the defenseless. We all reap what we sow.

I speak to that unwed mother who may be peeking in right now. Those who would tell you it is not a baby are lying to you. They do not care for you OR your baby. You are just an object to the abortionist to prod with instruments of doom and torture to a living human being with a soul.

Satan, yes, Satan is a hater of all human kind. He has no mercy. He sees the young woman scared, going to these doctors and he laughs. He laughs at what he knows will take place once you go through those doors. He laughs at your fear, your anquish. He taunts you with this: ”You’re young, you’re uneducated. Who do you think you are to take care of a baby?” Or perhaps he says this: “Look at you. You have your whole life ahead of you. You’ve got college to think about, a career. Surely a baby will be in your way.” Either way, what he is really saying to you is: “Give me your suffering. Give me the baby and all your suffering will end.” He lies. His plan for you is destruction and he will do everything he can to bring it up on you. He will pretend he cares through the very people you trust: Doctors and nurses in white lab coats, friends and family who speak soothing words of “It’s ok, you can end the pregancy,” Counselors who will tell you, “you have to do what is best for you, it is your right.”

There is another who speaks to you. Jesus, the Friend of your soul. He cares like no other. He loves you and your baby like no one else can. He is the Lord of Love. He says to you,“Come to Me. Trust Me. I love you and your baby. I will never leave you or forsake you. I am a gentleman and I know how to treat a woman. I will never abuse you, hit you or taunt you. I am a Father to the fatherless. I can be your Husband. I am a Redeemer. I can give you beauty for ashes. I can make all things new. I love you and your baby. Won’t you please trust Me?” 

He allowed you life for a reason. Should the same not be said for your baby? 

And last and least I speak to the doctors, the butchers who commit these gruesome acts in the name of women’s health care: 

and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. — 1 John 3:15 –

YOU ARE MURDERERS OF THE VILEST KIND. May God have mercy on your souls. 

Why is China building eerie ‘ghost cities’?

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Image of “ghost cities” below. My thoughts on the matter are depopulation/One World/New Age.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=260645

Google Earth photographs reveal towns completely devoid of people

Why is China constructing large, well-designed “ghost cities” that are completely devoid of people?

Google Earth photographs of China depict city after city of vast complexes consisting of office skyscrapers, government buildings, apartment buildings, residential towers and homes, all connected by networks of empty roads – with some of the cities located in China’s truly most inhospitable locations.

Images of these “ghost cities” – after countless billions of dollars have been spent on the towns’ design and construction – reveal nobody lives in them.

“The photographs look like giant movie sets prepared to film apocalyptic motion pictures in which some sort of a neutron war or bizarre natural disaster has eliminated people from the face of the earth while leaving the skyscrapers, sports stadiums, parks and roads perfectly intact,” Corsi noted. “One of China’s ghost cities is actually built in the middle of a desert in Inner Mongolia.”

Business Insider ran a series of photos of these Chinese ghost cities. One showed no cars in the city except for approximately 100 parked in largely empty lots clustered around a government building, and another showed a beautiful wetland park with people added using Photoshop.

China now has an estimated inventory of 64 million vacant homes. It is building up to 20 new ghost cities a year on the country’s “vast swathes of free land.”

Essentials For False Leaders

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I dare say that if you see the following in your own church, chances are you are sitting under a hireling. You may want to leave. Contrary to what some of you may believe, I am NOT seeing how many people I can get to flee from their churches. I am trying to protect you from dangerous influences. 

Jesus did not come to bring peace — but division, seperating truth from lies. If you choose to stay under these influences, then you are at a great risk of being deceived.

Wonderful article by Todd Tomasella found here:

http://bewarefalseprophets.blogspot.com/2010/11/essentials-for-false-leaders.html

Essentials For False Leaders
The Unspoken Creed of Modern Hirelings
(this is some of the evil learned from their church growth marketing industry gurus)

Cardinal Rule #1: Thou shalt not obey Jesus Christ and preach repentance. This is what He prescribed in order that He might grow His true Church as He wills. Ignore the severe truths of the Bible because it won’t make you successful in men’s eyes and maximize your monetary earning potential in this life. Instead, seek out popular men who can tell you how to be a good church growth student and farm your community to grow your church business.

Cardinal Rule #2: Thou shalt not teach people that God is holy, that sin separates men from Him, and that without exception He requires all who will be eternally saved to “be ye holy for I am holy.”

Cardinal Rule #3: Thou shalt tend only to the light fanfare of fun things like coping, financial prosperity, physical healing, getting blessed, pop psychology, and light things catering to building up the self life which Jesus commanded men to “deny.”
Cardinal Rule #4: Thou shalt entertain sinful goats who think they are saved and not feed sheep. Only say things that make the largest segment of society feel comfortable at all costs. This is how you will be able to build a large church business. Never ever, ever tell the people that Jesus Christ requires them to deny themselves, take up their cross daily and really and truly follow Him are they are not His.

Cardinal Rule #5: Thou shalt make people feel like they are apart of a community. Make them feel like they belong and that they are accepted without question or exception and that God okays them in their sins whether they repent or not.
Cardinal Rule #6: Thou shalt be friendly and sensitive to seekers while ignoring the need to fear God and preach the undiluted full-counsel of His Word. Oh, make sure you use one of the many artificial, corrupt new versions of the Bible that are supposedly easier to read and have removed and distorted the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Beware because using the real English Bible (KJV) would convict people of sin and might actually cause people to have to learn new English words, increasing their vocabulary and making them smarter and wiser and able to discern who you really are (Ps. 19:7; 119:99-100).

Cardinal Rule #7: Thou shalt not preach on the vivid reality of hell and eternal judgment to come and how Jesus spoke more about hell than Heaven. This might make people feel uncomfortable in their sins and not patronize or pay you to continue to lead them astray.

Cardinal Rule #8: Thou shalt purposely ignore and dodge all the myriad of Scriptures that deal with crucifying the self life, denying sinful pleasure in this life and truly following Jesus. This would offend and alienate people from your cause.

Cardinal Rule #9: Thou shalt not preach any convicting word that brings shame on sinful consciences. If so you would run some off and they would no longer help you build your local church business.

Cardinal Rule #10: Thou shalt act as if you believe the Bible is God’s Word and yet don’t really spend much time getting directly into it. Rather, bring in fad books written by best selling authors who do not exalt Jesus Christ by declaring His Word – undiluted. If you want to grow your own financial portfolio, do not preach the full-counsel of God’s Word – holiness, repentance, being born again, hell, denial of self, judgment to come, etc. Make sure you do not make one of God’s 66 glorious divinely-inspired books the text book for smaller group studies. People might get convicted of their sins, repent, and begin to personally learn God’s Word for themselves and won’t allow you to continue to mislead them and will not see the need for you (“Pastor Wonderful”) to tell them what to believe.

Cardinal Rule #11: Remember that your whole goal is to look successful in the eyes of men and to grow your congregation numerically and not spiritually. Thou shalt not specifically and by name preach on sin and call men to repent of their life of iniquity. The blessed and ancient altar call must be removed. Since you won’t be preaching repentance from sin before a just and holy God and Judge, you will not need an altar call. Obeying Christ by calling men to repent is not conducive to your own personal cause and popularity among men and may cause people to get truly saved and begin serving Christ and having an eternal perspective and not buying in to your selfish interests to build your entertainment club disguised as a church. Be careful to remember that people who truly know and fear God do not support false prophets and if you truly preach the Word some will repent and see who you really are and leave your circus act.

Cardinal Rule #12: Thou shalt completely ignore the New Testament book of Acts and the baptism in the Holy Ghost which would empower and make His disciples true witnesses of the KING of all kings and draw their allegiance to Jesus and advancing His eternal kingdom which would take away their heart affections and energies from your own self-serving program and cause.

Cardinal Rule #13: Thou shalt not truly and ceaselessly preach the Word of God since that would make true disciples. If so they might realize they really don’t need you but rather the nail-scarred risen Savior and LORD and go forth doing His bidding ministry – building up the saints and winning the lost – which would lessen your own importance and position.

Cardinal Rule #14: Only deal with surface issues like self-esteem, relationships, coping, and things pertaining to selfish interests. Make sure those in your little bless me club are comforted in their sin and believe they are eternally secure no matter what filth and wickedness they get into after their initial profession of faith. This will tickle their ears and embolden them to continue to live in sin and enjoy being led to believe that God will still accept them into His holy Heaven. This is another good way to get people to feel good and continue to come and give their money to your little entertainment club. Do not preach God’s Word as Paul told Timothy to do. Most people want to be told ear-tickling lies and so in order to have a large following, you must be selective about what you preach.

Cardinal Rule #15: Jesus told you that you must lose your life in this world to gain it. If you were to obey what He said, you would then lay it all down and truly be Christ’s and serve Him and no longer be a “deceitful worker” and pawn of Satan (2 Cor. 11:12-15; Phil. 3:17-19). Also, be aware that if you truly repent you will no longer be a hireling wolf who preys upon people, using them as a means to your own selfish end. If you were to really get right with the LORD you may lose the riches of this fleeting world and begin laying up eternal treasure.

Joyce Green: Finding my place

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This woman and her husband (who since have gone to be with the Lord) have blessed me with the truth more than any other over the years.

Come join me for church this morning by watching the videos. :)

I know some of you will hear exactly what you have been needing. I know I have.

My prayer to those who take the time to watch and listen: Father in heaven, You see Your many children who feel they have no place. They struggle with the desire to belong and be accepted. They are the ones who will not compromise the truth for the sake of acceptance either within the world or with those in teaching lies. My prayer for each and every one is that we come to know and realize we are accepted in the Beloved and that is more than enough. I pray that each finds their place hidden in You. Bring healing to all those who have been hurt. Break the chains of unforgiveness, the chains of bitterness, the chains of anger. Lord, bring the gift of repentance to all those who desire to call upon You with a pure heart. Release us from our any idols we may have set up through vain imaginations. Help us to be children of light in the darkness to come. Light bearers for truth. Jesus, may You set the captives free today! God bless each and every one with Your truth and Your truth alone. Help us to pick up our cross –whatever that is for each of us –and die to self so that You may live through us.

bfamonlinevideos:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Purpose Driven Resisters – Must Leave or Die

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Article below sent to me by a friend. It appears to have been written in 2006. 

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/resistersdieorleave.htm

Those who oppose the “program” are called leaders from hell.

I will interject something here: The leaders from hell, are men like Rick Warren who is pushing this New Age gospel and jesus.

The phone calls and emails started coming in about three years ago. Sometimes the caller was in his mid-eighties, sometimes the caller was crying. But all of them had the same kind of story to tell – when their churches decided to get involved with 40 Days of Purpose, everything began changing and when they questioned these changes, they each soon found themselves silenced, ostracized and eventually without a church to attend. Now today, nearly five years after Purpose Driven Life was released, thousands of believers are scattered throughout the world, having been ridiculed and demoralized for even just the slightest questioning of the Purpose Driven program. In one email we received, the young man was handed a letter from his pastor. The letter had been written by a Saddleback field representative who told the pastor to do what he had to do to get rid of those opposing the new program.

According to Rick Warren, these people are resisters and are standing in the way of Purpose Driven progress. In a June 14th article written by Rick Warren on his website (What Do You Do When Your Church Hits a Plateau? ), Warren told pastors and church leaders not to be discouraged about slow change in their churches. He told them it would take time … and in many cases it would take these resisters either leaving the church or simply dying. Warren stated:

“If your church has been plateaued for six months, it might take six months to get it going again. If it’s been plateaued a year, it might take a year. If it’s been plateaued for 20 years, you’ve got to set in for the duration! I’m saying some people are going to have to die or leave.

Moses had to wander around the desert for 40 years while God killed off a million people before he let them go into the Promised Land. That may be brutally blunt, but it’s true. There may be people in your church who love God sincerely, but who will never, ever change.”

For Warren to couple his statement about dying or leaving with a statement about God killing off a million people is ignorant at best, subliminal at least. Coupled with his mention of 40 years in the desert and Warren’s teaching that God always did good things in numbers of 40, Warren’s intention in this statement seems obvious. In addition, the concept of get with the program, change or die is very common in New Age circles, that those who don’t get on board (or ride the wave as Leonard Sweet puts it), will have to die. Listen to the words of renown New Ager Barbara Marx Hubbard:

“Christ-consciousness and Christ-abilities are the natural inheritance of every human being on Earth. When the word of this hope has reached the nations, the end of this phase of evolution shall come. All will know their choice. All will be required to choose…. All who choose not to evolve will die off.” (See The Plan)

Furthermore, Leonard Sweet, in his book, Soul Tsunami, says that:

“A sea change of transitions and transformations is birthing a whole new world and a whole new set of ways of making our way in the world…. It is time for a Postmodern Reformation … Reinvent yourself for the 21st century or die. Some would rather die than change.” (pp. 17, 75).

Perhaps like those who willingly went to the flames rather than to denounce the truth? Those whom the world is not worthy of.

Rick Warren (whose endorsement sits on both the front and back covers of Sweet’s book) says that Soul Tsunami “shows us why these are the greatest days for evangelism since the first century.” In an audio set done by Rick Warren and Leonard Sweet called Tides of Change, the two men elaborate on this and make it clear that those who don’t ride this new wave will not make it.

One of the tools Rick Warren uses to help churches become Purpose Driven is a book called Transitioning: Leading Your Church Through Change. The book is sold on Rick Warren’s website and is written by Dan Southerland. According to pastors.com (Rick Warren’s website to pastors), Southerland is the director of “Church Transitions Inc., an organization that trains pastors and church leaders to effectively manage major transitions. Southerland … is the leading expert on implementing the Purpose Driven paradigm in existing churches.”

Chapter six of Transitioning is called “Dealing with Opposition” and is just one of many ways Rick Warren tries to convey the fact that those who oppose him are less than desirable. Southerland states:

“We have experienced two major sources of criticism during our transitions. The first is Christians from more traditional backgrounds…. Not all of our traditional backgrounded Christians have been critical – just the ornery ones. Our second source of criticism is traditional church pastors. Again, not all traditional church pastors – just the meaner ones.” (p. 116).

I have to say, I guess I’m one of those ornery ones. Because I will NEVER back down from these apostates.

Southerland tells readers that “some folks are going to get very angry.” He goes so far as to liken opposers of Purpose Driven to “leader[s] from hell.” He says:

“If you have read Nehemiah recently, you will remember that Sanballat is Nehemiah’s greatest critic and number one enemy. Let me put it plainer than that. Sanballat is a leader from hell. We all have some Sanballats in our churches. This is the guy who opposes whatever you propose…. You cannot call this guy a leader from hell to his face – but you could call him Sanballat.” (p. 115).

In 2003, during Saddleback’s 25th anniversary, Rick Warren recited, along with 30,000 participants, the Purpose Driven Covenant. In that covenant he stated that he would do “whatever it takes” to accomplish his goals. For us at Lighthouse Trails it has become increasingly evident that he wasn’t kidding when he said that. Last year, as some of you may remember, we issued a press release that showed the connection between Rick Warren and Ken Blanchard. In Warren’s own words, he acknowledged that Blanchard, a New Age sympathizer, had “signed on” to help implement Warren’s global P.E.A.C.E. plan. Warren stated this at a Saddleback service as well as at the 2003 Lead Like Jesus conference in Alabama. However, a month after we issued the press release, Lighthouse Trails received an email from Rick Warren. The email was sent in the middle of the night, and by the following morning, Warren had given permission to a colleague to post his email online. We contacted Saddleback and confirmed this. Needless to say, countless people found out about this email. However, what most who read his email did not realize was that the majority of the statements in his email were not true. We posted a public response but knew that most people would either only read Warren’s email to us or refuse to believe that America’s pastor was lying and we were speaking the truth.

Lighthouse Trails learned of Rick Warren’s connection to Ken Blanchard through a book called A Life With Purpose, written by Hollywood biographer, George Mair. Ray Yungen discusses this in his book, A Time of Departing:

In the spring of 2005, someone handed me a book called A Life with Purpose by George Mair. The book is written as a positive account of Rick Warren’s life. In fact, the subtitle on the front cover reads: America’s Most Inspiring Pastor. It is clear that the author had a great admiration for Warren. While Mair wrote the book, he spent many Sunday mornings at Saddleback church services, listening to Rick Warren and donating financially. However, after Rick Warren found out about the book, he publicly criticized it. In addition, Saddleback church sent out emails to an undisclosed number of people, discrediting Mair’s book.

I personally believe Warren’s effort to debunk the book was an attempt to conceal some of its observations. What George Mair didn’t realize was that in his candid account of Warren, and in his efforts to offer this testament of praise, some things were revealed about the pastor that might have gone undetected by the average person. For instance, Mair explains how New Age prophet Norman Vincent Peale was at the foundation of the church-growth movement and furthermore “many of Peale’s uplifting affirmations originated with an ‘obscure teacher of occult science’ named Florence Scovel Shinn.” Referring to many of the methods that Peale taught and his “unification of psychology and religion,” Mair says, “Saddleback distinctly bears the stamp of Reverend Norman Vincent Peale.”

In November of 2003, Rick Warren announced to his Saddleback congregation his global P.E.A.C.E. Plan. In the same sermon, Warren introduced the congregation to Ken Blanchard, playing a video clip of Blanchard’s visit to Saddleback a few days earlier. Warren informed his large congregation that Blanchard had:”… signed on to help with the P.E.A.C.E. Plan, and he’s going to be helping train us in leadership and in how to train others to be leaders all around the world.”

In light of the fact that Ken Blanchard has promoted Buddhism and Eastern style meditation for over 20 years, it became very alarming to know that Rick Warren was using Blanchard to train leaders around the world.

The weeks following Rick Warren’s email to us, we received phone calls and emails from different men from Saddleback, one of them telling us to stop “lobbing dead cats [and grenades] over the wall.” It was confirmed also that an email was sent out from Saddleback to an unknown number of people, discussing the Blanchard issue. That email stated that Lighthouse Trails had lied and they should not be listened to.

And then in December of 2005 a very strange thing happened – a woman sent us an email she had received from Rick Warren’s personal email address, which stated:

“The website you refer to [Lighthouse Trails] below is well-known for publishing lies, which can easily be proven false…. The Bible says “Satan is the father of lies”, so those who intentionally spread them are doing Satan’s work for him. That is evil. We suggest you avoid listening to evil people who have a habit of lying about ministers of the Gospel. Study the Scriptures every day and flee from those who make their reputation by lying.”

We contacted Saddleback about the email, and we received the following reply, suggesting that the email had been written by a computer hacker: “We are sorry that this public mailbox has been shut down due to vandalism and stolen identity. Federal enforcement officers are tracking down the source in either Africa or the Pacific Northwest.” At first, we thought this was a joke because we (who live in the Pacific Northwest) had recently issued a press release about an evangelist in Africa who had been opposing Purpose Driven. Hearing that Federal officers had narrowed down an investigation to either our location or the evangelist’s location seemed preposterous. We contacted Saddleback by phone requesting the names of these Federal agents because of the threatening nature of the “anonymous” email. A few days later a Saddleback staff member called and told us that Federal agents were doing an investigation on their web server being broken into and that Saddleback suspected Lighthouse Trails. We again asked for the names of the Federal agents as well as the Saddleback communications director that was handling the case. However, we were told they would not give us any names. We have not heard anything from Saddleback since.

We testify of these things, not to distract you from the issues at hand (of exposing contemplative and emerging spirituality within the church), but rather to show that Rick Warren, as well as other leaders, will go to great lengths to preserve their status and to complete their tasks, even to the point of lying, threatening, discrediting and deceiving. While we have postponed releasing this information for several months, because of Rick Warren’s continuous brazen remarks against the body of Christ and because Purpose Driven is an avenue through which the New Age is entering the church, we believe it is of utmost importance to relay this documentation to believers who are working so diligently to defend the gospel message of Jesus Christ in a time when a great falling away appears to be at hand.

The question we must ask is just how far will Rick Warren go to help rid churches of those they consider “leader[s] from hell,” who in reality may be part of the very Bride of Christ.

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Special Note: Recently the Calvary Chapel movement (founded by Chuck Smith, Sr.) made a bold declaration when they decided to reject the emerging and contemplative prayer movements and to discontinue their support and use of all Purpose Driven materials. Many applaud this bold and sacrificial action.

A Visit to Rick Warren’s Health Seminar

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Unless he repent, men like Rick Warren will actually help set up the anti-christ. He is already doing it! Rick Warren worshippers, do not come here trying to defend him. Time is short and I am not going to waste time trying to convince you of the truth. You have a duty, an obligation, a command to TEST ALL THINGS. I have pointed you to the truth. What you do with it, is your buisness.

Following article gotten here: http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/011/lighthousetrails/warren-seminar.htm

I first arrived to Saddleback’s campus only to be told that “all parking lots were full.” I drove across the street to see if there were any spots available in the business lots, and they were full too. I ended up parking in a housing tract and walked a mile or two back to Saddleback’s campus. As I arrived, I overheard a parking lot attendant say they estimated about 6,000 people had come to the seminar.
I was a little late, so I was grateful to my nephew who went online and began to relay what was being said in the opening comments, as I didn’t want to miss what was to be the foundation of the talks that day. I was a little taken aback when my nephew told me the first speaker, Dr. Amen, made reference to the Egyptian pyramids and how they were built upon an “idea,” and if man could build something like that all those thousands of years ago, what could he do today if he put his mind to it? I found that to be somewhat disturbing, as the pyramids, no matter how impressive they were, represent the ancient pagan religions which got their start in Babylon when Nimrod gathered men (the community) together to commit idolatry by building a tower to honor themselves as gods (Gen. Ch. 11).[1]

And yet here it was, the analogy that was chosen to illustrate this new “idea” Saddleback would launch their 52 week program with. No matter what Dr. Amen’s intent was, I believe the analogy was appropriate, and the subtle message is telling…”MAN CAN DO ANYTHING HE PUTS HIS MIND TO.” Sound familiar? (Read Gen. 3:4-5).[2]

As I began to head up the hill toward the main sanctuary, a Saddleback tram pulled up and the driver asked if I wanted a lift. I said I preferred to walk, but thanks. The driver yelled, “Let’s all give her a hand folks, she’s started the Daniel Plan already!” And the people on the tram cheered. Never mind the fact that I have been walking my entire life because I enjoy doing so, not because of some health and fitness campaign. I sensed I was entering a nightmare.

The main sanctuary was full, & it was standing room only. They told me the overflow areas were full too. So I found a spot on the patio outside the main sanctuary looking in. I had a good view and could see the stage perfectly. Their outdoor sound system made it so I could roam around, observe the audience, continue to listen to the guest speakers, and take notes.

To begin, I’d like to state that Saturday Jan. 15th, 2011 will go down in the history books as the day Saddleback Church was sold a bill of goods. The masses had come out in droves for answers to their weight loss difficulties & health problems, but unbeknownst to them, they were being given a prescription for restructuring society & population control.

The prescription goes by the name Agenda 21, a.k.a. “Sustainable Development” or “Smart Growth.” Agenda 21 is a published document put out by the United Nations with the intent to put limits on population and to restructure nation-states into a global society.[3] Rick Warren’s “new friends” had dubbed it, “The Daniel Plan – God’s Prescription For Your Health.” A more appropriate title would’ve been, “Sustainable Living – Destroying Inalienable Rights, One Community at a Time.”

By the time I settled into listening more intently, the second speaker, Mark Hyman, began. It didn’t take too long to figure out what the basis of his message was: We “need to heal with community” (he termed this “accompaniment”), “we’re here for the sake of each other,” this plan “is our way out,” this plan “saved me,” and in fact will “change the world.”

Saddleback was being told they were a “test community” to show the world how to live “healthy and sustainably.” When I heard these words, my heart sank. It was as I’d feared. I knew which buzzwords to listen for, and he was hitting them all. The audience was told they would be champions in health to show the world what “living sustainably” was all about, but Dr. Hyman is a leftist who is more than a champion in health, he’s a change agent for the global elite, as is Dr. Oz & Dr. Amen. Dr. Hyman is the founder and medical director of the Ultra Wellness Center, he advises Dr. Oz’s healthcore group, and he’s a nominee to President Obama’s advisory group on prevention, health promotion, and integrative and public health. [4] Hmmmmmm. I smell an agenda.

Dr. Hyman practices what’s known as “functional medicine,” which means he uses a “whole systems” approach to medicine; in other words, he practices medicine “wholistically,” This is also known as “Mind Body” medicine. At Saddleback’s seminar, “mind body” or “functional” medicine was presented as if it’s completely scientific. Any scientist worth his salt will tell you that yes, the body can be measured scientifically, but the mind falls into an entirely different category which can never be measured by science. As stated by Dave Hunt in his book Occult Invasion – The Subtle Seduction of the World and Church, “Physical science, by very definition, can make no judgments concerning a nonphysical realm” as is the mind & the soul.[5] In other words, the mind and the soul are scientifically immeasurable.

It’s the same with the religions of “Mind Science.” Calling a religion “Mind Science” or “Scientology,” when there’s nothing scientific about it, is the same as calling a cereal “Grapenuts” when it contains no grapes or nuts. But we live in an era when the masses have been sufficiently dumbed down, and all it takes to impress is clever packaging and branding. If “they” say it’s science, then dog-gone-it, it’s science! After all, “these doctors are on television.”

As I sat through all 3 presentations by Dr.’s Hyman, Amen, & Oz, what came to mind were the traveling salesmen of the 1800s. They talk fast, so fast that the message that’s really being given, goes right over people’s heads. They used tactics to tug at the heart strings such as videos of sick little girls who suddenly got well from being on “the program” and have been “set free” from relying on medications. Then they flooded the audience with “facts” and “statistics” to scare any grandmother, such as “a tsunami of disease is hitting us,” “life expectancy is going down,” “1 out of 2 people are diabetic or pre-diabetic,” “70% of all agricultural land is taken up by growing animals to feed all the people,” “the bigger your body gets, the more your brain shrinks,” etc.

I about fell off my chair when Dr. Hyman stated, “The key to the success of the “Daniel Plan” is “group living” … “individuals” will not succeed, our only hope lies in “community.” [LT Note:This is exactly what the emerging church is teaching.] And with that, it was announced that the “Saddleback community” would be an example of “sustainable living” and would set the course to “change this world” … and the crowd went wild! [LT Note: Remember, when we reported how Rick Warren talked glowingly about a critical mass needed to change our world?]

Dr. Hyman said that he is a Jew, Dr. Amen said he is a Christian, and Dr. Oz said he is a Muslim. And doesn’t that represent the demographic of “most of the population of the world”? But then he said, “we’re all the same underneath.” True to his salesman fashion, Dr. Hyman didn’t define his terms. What in the world does he mean “we’re all the same underneath”? That can mean a number of things. Since he was speaking to a religious crowd, I’d venture to say some of the folks present took that to mean we’re all children of God (Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.), which is patently false according to the Bible. The Bible says there are only two groups, children of wrath and children of God. You’re either one or the other, a believer in Christ Jesus, or a non-believer. We aren’t “all the same underneath.” (Ephesians Ch. 2).[6]

The only way in which we’re “all the same underneath” is we’re all sinners in need of a Savior; and the Savior isn’t “sustainable living.” [LT Note: Remember, the New Age says the era of the single savior is OVER!] The Savior is Jesus Christ, and He is the only way unto salvation (John 14:6).[7] And to become a child of God, Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John Ch. 3). [8] The tragic thing about this day at Saddleback is, Jesus was never mentioned … and I mean NEVER. There were a few passing references to God; Daniel Amen mentioned that our bodies were “a temple of the Holy Spirit and the brain is the inner sanctum” [Amen means that all humans are the temple of the Holy Spirit], but Jesus never made the cut – ”sustainable lifestyles” and “group living” did.

Following Dr. Hyman’s talk, my best friend arrived to observe the day with me, only to hear Dr. Amen mention in his presentation that he did a brain scan on one of his clients who had a habit of cheating on his wife. The brain scan showed that there were “holes in the pre-frontal cortex of his brain” which controls the impulses. In other words, this man wasn’t sinful, he was “mentally ill.” All he needed was to get on the “Change Your Brain, Change Your Body” program, and his personal struggles with sin were remedied. Once again, Jesus was removed from the equation. My friend and I were dumbfounded when we listened to the Saddleback crowd cheer. My best friend couldn’t contain it any longer and let out a, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” My thoughts exactly!

Dr. Hyman recommended Yoga and meditation to the crowd. Dr. Amen gave a diplomatic denunciation of Yoga (which is contradictory since he has recommended it himself), but about 5 sentences later mentioned a study done by a friend of his named Andy Newberg who did brain scans on Tibetan nuns and Franciscan priests while in “prayer and contemplation” and the study showed that “spiritual connection” is healthy. Dr. Amen has been an advocate of “Sa Ta Na Ma” meditation.[9]

If by chance any attendees of the Saddleback “Health and Fitness Seminar” read this blog post, I encourage you to educate yourself about what globalism truly is. You also need to research Agenda 21. As stated earlier, the purpose of Agenda 21 is to restructure society. Sounds conspiratorial, I know. But it isn’t a conspiracy; it’s a published document of the United Nations that’s in full swing. Anywhere you hear the terms, “Sustainable Development,” ”sustainable living,” “smart growth,” ”going green,” etc., rest assured you’ve just been exposed to the U.N.’s Agenda 21. [10]

It shouldn’t surprise us that Rick Warren would allow a seminar of this nature at Saddleback; after all, he himself has “GONE GREEN.” [11] He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.[12] This illustrates the natural progression of one being unequally yoked with non-believers & buying into heresies such as “Kingdom Now,” “Dominionism,” or “Restoration Theology.” Where these heresies reign, as they do at Saddleback, you will find that the focus subtly shifts from salvation in Christ alone, through faith alone, to misguided efforts to restore mankind & the earth through “community” works, sustainable living, and social justice. How convenient that these just happen to be the vehicles which the United Nations is using to further it’s own agenda to restructure society & unite the world under its governing body of global elites.

TRUE TRUTH: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

(I found it to be slightly humorous that, on page 9 of the booklet which Saddleback passed out to attendees, the symptom of “itchy ears” was listed in the “Medical Symptom/Toxicity Questionnaire”…oh, the irony!) (source: Ponderings from Patmos)

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Endnotes:
1. Genesis 11:4 – “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’”

2. Genesis 3:4-5 – “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

3. Agenda 21 – http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21

4. Mark Hyman’s presentation at “Authors @ Google” titled, The UltraMind Solution: Healthy Body, Powerful Mind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAZVpsd2Nao

5. Occult Invasion – The Subtle Seduction of the World and the Church, Dave Hunt, Harvest House Publishers 1998, pg. 61

6. Ephesians Ch. 2:1-5 – And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

7. John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

8. John 3:3 – “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

9. Dr. Amen recommends “Sa Ta Na Ma” meditation a form of Kirtin Kriya yoga. http://richardeward.com/kirtin-kriya-sa-ta-na-ma-meditation/

10. Agenda 21 – “The U.N. Plan for Your Sustainable Community. ” http://www.crossroad.to/text/articles/la21_198.html

11. A Greener Spirit: Evangelicals Embrace “Creation Care”. http://environment.change.org/blog/view/a_greener_spirit_evangelicals_embrace_creation_care

12. Council on Foreign Relations Membership Roster. http://www.cfr.org/about/membership/roster.html?letter=W

For more information on Reiki and the New Age plan, read For Many Shall Come in My Name.

When government replaces God

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Article by Truth Speaker Patrice Lewis, found here:

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=259749

Americans used to roar like lions for liberty; now we bleat like sheep for security.– Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993)

Recently I saw a bumper sticker I hope was a joke. It said, “Who needs God? We’ve got Congress.”

Whether or not the bumper sticker was meant to be humorous, the sad fact is America has largely supplanted God with government. Or at least we’re moving steadily in that direction.

You see, when we looked to God to provide our needs, we knew He was unlikely to hand us a loaf of bread on a silver platter. The best we could hope for was the weather to stay fine so our wheat could grow to maturity; that the combine wouldn’t break down during harvest; that the truck didn’t stall while transporting the wheat to the mill; and that the supply chain didn’t falter while getting the ground flour to the grocery store so the housewife could buy the flour to make bread for her family’s dinner.

In other words, when we trusted in God, we worked hard to provide what we needed. But when we trust in government, we demand that it give us our daily bread. For free. Whether we’ve worked for it or not. After all, isn’t bread a right? 

One of the things that irks me about the attitude of progressives is the endless list of “rights” they manufacture out of thin air. They claim we have the “right” to food, housing, medical care, education, employment, abortion, etc. But here’s the distinction between true rights and false rights: True rights do not cost anyone else.

True rights derive from God, and those rights grant us the freedom and liberty to pursue our needs free from government interference and restrictions (within the bounds of the founding documents). False rights mean we point guns at people and force them to provide us with food, housing, medical care, education, employment, abortion, etc., at their expense.

Naturally this doesn’t mean there won’t be dumb people who do dumb things. Someone will always shoot themselves in the foot (literally). In the past when citizens knew their rights, our response was: “Well, he was an idiot to shoot himself in the foot. Maybe he learned a lesson.” Now we say, “Well, he was an idiot to shoot himself in the foot. We need to ban firearms so no one else ever shoots himself in the foot.”

In other words, in an effort to protect citizens from the occasional idiot, we legislate everyone. We allow emotionalism to become policy. The government loves that. It wants to protect us. It wants to grant us the “rights” of food, medical care and education. But make no mistake, the only reason the government is such an enthusiastic provider of “rights” is so it can become our master.

As government ascends in importance, the need for God retreats. We no longer beseech the Almighty for help in achieving our goals. Instead, we turn to Congress to provide us with whatever we don’t want to bother achieving on our own

Americans have come to believe everything should be “fair” and all playing fields should be level. But of course when government tries to impose fairness on us, it results in a profoundly unfair redistribution of our labor, resources and income. (“Spreading the wealth” is the current term.)

And because we’ve allowed emotionalism to become policy, we’ve become a nation of victims. It’s much easier to whine about our “rights” and claim that others are responsible for providing us with the things we “deserve” than it is to work for those things ourselves.

When we implore God to provide us with a place to live, we don’t expect a mighty celestial hand to drop a house key in front of us. Instead, we work our butts off at our job, save money for a down payment, keep our credit history clean and pray these efforts will convince a banker to loan us the money to buy a house.

But when government replaces God, we claim housing is a “right” that should be provided to us regardless of our efforts or worthiness to own that house. We expect and demand immediate fulfillment.

In other words, when the achievement of happiness takes the place of the pursuit of happiness – when we demand that the government make everything “fair” – then that government has replaced God.

But what, a progressive may ask, is wrong with that? Why not look to our government to provide us with our food, housing, medical care and education?

Consider this quote from Christine Smith: “We thrive when we work for what we achieve rather than having it given to us. The foundations which made this nation strong are being destroyed as families lose economic independence, send their children to failing government schools, and pay taxes for programs that destroy personal autonomy and wreak havoc worldwide. And as people suffer, they mistakenly look to government to solve their problems.”

John Rackliffe writes, “Welfare programs, Social Security and other government entitlements have increased the need for the collection of more taxes, putting pressure on the middle class to pay for the programs for the poor. What God and the founders did to bring people together, the Progressive movement and a growing government has undone, driving people apart across an economic divide that grows wider with each passing year.”

When we look to God for help, then we must by definition regulate our own actions. We become a self-disciplined people. But when we depend on the government to regulate us, we surrender the ability to regulate ourselves.

As long as we permit government to replace God, we will never ever regain the former stature of our nation. We will become, to paraphrase Peale, sheep bleating for security rather than lions roaring for liberty. We will continue our descent from proud Americans to whiny brats demanding endless entitlements.

If we pray to God for strength in these troubling times, He will give it. Praying to the government is worse than useless; it’s perilous.

STRANGE Pale White Horse in the chaos of Egypt!

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I can not tell you if it is a quirk in the camera, or a purposely done trick. Or even something supernatural in nature or even perhaps man using a hologram. Perhaps it is Satan coming with his lying signs or wonders. Perhaps it is what it appears to be. I can not say. Whatever it is, it is very convincing specter of a horse and rider. Strange indeed!

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=260049

A mysterious, pale green figure seen in televised news coverage of the Egyptian riots has prompted some viewers to ask, “Could this be the Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse?”

The footage, provided by Euronews and subsequently seen on MSNBC, CNN and uploaded over a dozen times to the popular video sharing site YouTube, captures the fiery, violent protests in Cairo this past week … and something else.

Between the crowds of protesters and barricades, the video shows a flowing, pale green image that resembles an erect rider atop a horse in Medieval-like barding. The ethereal figure remains for a few moments before floating over protesters’ heads and off the screen.

The last of the biblical Book of Revelation’s Four Horseman of the Apocalyse, the “pale rider” is said to be the bringer of death and the forerunner of “hell” on earth.

The Book of Revelation refers to a time when “the Lamb” – usually understood to be the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ – opens the seven seals of a scroll of judgment. Each of the first four seals is accompanied by a horseman of a different color, each bringing a separate calamity.

When the fourth seal is opened, Revelation 6:8 records, “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

Is the image from Egypt a fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecy?

Comments from the tens of thousands of viewers who have watched the video on YouTube express a wide array of opinion.

Some claim the video’s “pale rider” is a sign and the greenish tint is somehow symbolic of Islam, while others insist the image has been added to the footage by editing technolgy. Still others point to three, trailing points of light in the footage that move away from the crowds at the same time and speed as the “horseman,” indicating that both the “rider” and the lights are merely smudges or reflections cast on the lens of a moving camera.

One comment, from a viewer calling himself TheRhythmhawk, also tried to explain the “pale rider” and the trailing lights as simply lens reflections, but eventually concluded, “The image of the horseman leaves more questions than answers.”

The strange image begins at the 1:19 mark.

No Discernment Wanted

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This week, a dear sister in the Lord told me some church people came to her home trying to get her to join their church. She — being aware of the apostacy —  asked questions on what they believed and thought about certain teachers within the church. Rick Warren being one. They had no problems with him. She gave them information and they still were not interested in her findings. She asked if they would at least look at some info if she were to email it to them. They agreed and left.  She sent the preacher the info. The preacher comes to her house  –  tells her he wants her to join his church anyway, totally disregarding everything she had sent him. (They are trying real hard to build a new wing in the church, don’t ya know?) She politely told him she was not interested in joining his church.

But isn’t that the way it goes with most, if not all churches today? They want you AND your money for every single cause, yet they don’t care to hear your concerns at all. If they do you give you 10 minutes of their time, they are quick to dismiss you unless you are willing to prop up their programs. Even then, you had better be willing to jump through their hoops. They do not have time to listen to nay-sayers who have nothing better to do than find fault with everything.

But…

“Ya say you got the gift of healing? We’ll take you!”

“Got the gift of giving? Come on in!”

“The gift of serving? Yeah, we’ll use you!”

And use you they do. They will use you till your pocket runs empty. Just as long as you hang unto their every word and dance a little jig plum up to the altar during the collection. Why, God just LOVES a cheerful giver and they make sure they can get you as cheerful as they can as you dance to the drum beat of their music.

I’m not being cynical here, church. I’ve seen it with my very own eyes. It is witchcraft.

What is sad about this type of behavior coming out of leadership within the churches, is they do not know how they hurt the flock of God who have something else to give. And in doing so, they hurt themselves and the rest of the sheep in their congregation. They do the rest of their flock a great injustice by not allowing those who have done extensive study and searching out the truth to come in and share their findings. It just might help someone not stray from the truth and at the very most, point someone to the truth.

Who are the ones not welcomed in church today? They are the ones who don’t blow a trumpet of “I have the gift of healing.” “My gift is prophecy.” “I speak in tongues.” “I have the gift of helps.” “My gift? Why, it’s mercy.”

No, you won’t find many of them in churches today. They are the ones who have tried to share their pearls of truth only to be flipped off as being critical, negative, divisive, unteachable, etc. No, they are not welcomed.

They will be the first to notice when something does not set right: ”Oh you say there is  a revival going on down south? Did you know it is occultic? They are practicing something called Kundilini. May I tell you what that is?… No? Ok.” Then they leave. And rightly so. For they have just been shown there is no need for them. Discernment not wanted.

Some try to stick around in hopes that someone will take them serious for just one minute. Perhaps one minute after church with the preacher. Or at that lady’s group. Or at the next Bible study. But it never happens. Why? Because the rest of the church is too busy chasing that latest sign and wonder. If not that, then they are busy with program after program.

It gets very lonely for the one little sheep and they are pressed to move on. Most of the time, they aren’t even missed! At least not until the funds start dropping in the church and then the preacher sends out recruiters to get the little sheep back. This is not a shepherd. It is a HIRELING.

I had wonderful beautiful fellowhip with that friend the other day on the phone. Never met her as of yet. I look forward to the day when we see each other face-to-face.  Too bad that preacher and his lady friends could not see her the way I see her as they sat across from her that day when they came to invite her to join their church. God just might want to use her to help the church in ways they have never known. I do not know who I feel more sad for. My friend; whom I know is a wonderful woman of God with great passion for the truth and discernment, or the church where no discernment is allowed.

The Amazing Braco – (The New Age Latest Scam)

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This is a New Age version of healing. Much of it is not that different than what we see in the modern day church. To hear these people talk, they are no different than a Tod Bentley.

People actually PAY to have this man come out and STARE at them!

One follower said this concerning the new messiah: “Within 10 seconds, I saw him shape shift.”

Shape shifting is the actual manifestation of demons. We see Hollywood portray it now in many science fiction movies and TV shows. People turning into reptile like beings. I believe this is conditioning us to actually accept such a thing should this occur. Is it possible? I think so. Take a look how times have changed over the past few decades. Do you believe the world is getting more and more wicked? I know it is hard to wrap your mind around this. But I take the risk of being ridiculed in bringing you what I believe will eventually happen on this earth. Evil abounding in such a way, where people have given over everything they are to Satan, and they actually turn into the very creature they worship. You don’t have to believe it. It is just what I believe. But if it should happen, let it be no surprise to you.

Instead of giving the Lord their sufferings, many are now giving their sufferings to the ruler of darkness.

Many will say, “well, if it works, what’s wrong with it?” Plenty is wrong with it. It is not looking to God. It is looking to man. It is trusting in the occult.

(The original video I had, was taken down, so I found another.)

angelikawhiteclift:

Counterfeit “heaven” stories deceive even Christians

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I found the following here:  

http://watchpraystand.blogspot.com/2010/11/counterfeit-heaven-stories-deceive-even.html

Long article but worth reading. I suggest all of those who are so caught up in all the stories about people dying and going to heaven, read it.

They believe they really went to heaven, you believe they really went to heaven, but have you made any effort to compare what they said with scripture or are you uncritically trusting in your own emotional reaction?

Out-of-body experiences and experiences of “heaven” are fairly common these days — seems we hear of one every few years at least. Now there’s the story of Colton, a boy who had such an experience during a life-or-death surgery at the age of four, met family members he’d never known, including a sister his mother had miscarried although he’d known nothing about that, and saw “God” and “Jesus.” He’s now seven and talking about it to the press.

The most distressing thing about these reports, it seems to me, is that sometimes Christians believe them. There are usually plenty of signs that the experiences are bogus but what happens is that people become dazzled by the mere idea of being out-of-body or transported to another dimension.

Part of the experience may be the kind of out-of-body experience in which the person, lying unconscious on an operating table, finds himself above the scene looking down on it, can see himself unconscious, can see other people in the area and hear what they are saying. Afterward those other people report that the unconscious person’s observations were correct, and what happens then is that others believe the story and think such details make the whole thing valid.

So then if during that same episode there is also an experience of going to “heaven,” that is also believed. In this boy’s case there are the apparently validating elements of his having talked to someone who claimed to be his sister that his mother had miscarried, and a great grandfather he had never met. Afterward his parents confirmed both stories. It turned out that the boy recognized a picture of the great grandfather when he was young though not when he was old, the idea being that “in heaven” everyone is young, and in the case of the sister his mother’s miscarriage was confirmed by his parents.

I have the bad habit of spending time studying something, such as this phenomenon of visits to “heaven,” only to leave it behind for something else so that when it reappears it catches me off guard and I’m surprised that anyone still takes it seriously. Years ago I was a member of a charismatic “parachurch” organization and heard the “testimony” of other members which usually include supernatural elements and in one case involved an experience of “heaven.” I accepted these stories, including the one of heaven, but found over time that I had an increasing unease about much of what was being said, which finally came to such a pitch that I prayed for clarity and was able to see the errors in them.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.


Clues to deception come to light when you pray
The credulity with which these stories are so easily accepted does have the effect of suppressing criticism, in spite of the fact that scripture counsels us to “test the spirits” and not be gullible. I was finally led to pray over my doubts and began to recognize deceptions that convinced me finally to leave the organization — and the charismatic movement in general. The questions I was having were all about the supernatural experiences, including the experience of “heaven.”

It had occurred as so many of them do, when she was very sick. She was taken out of her body and supposedly shown the throne room of heaven. She gave teachings to the group based on her experience, and the main tip-off to its counterfeit nature was her teaching on the “steps to the throne of grace.” I hadn’t questioned it when I heard it but when I prayed about it I saw that it contradicts the call in scripture to “come boldly to the throne of grace,” instead of having to laboriously meet the requirements of a series of “steps” to get there.

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Then other elements of the story also showed themselves to be counterfeit, although unfortunately I don’t have any notes handy to remind me of them so I can’t be very specific about them. As I recall, however, the Holy Spirit in this person’s vision was reduced to an empty image rather than a Person, in the form of a corner of a great train that was part of the garment of God that “filled the throne room” — a piece would break off and fall in the shape of a dove down to earth. I think imagery may be an important deceptive element in these experiences as it can mislead people into accepting a falsification of major doctrine, in this case the Trinity, by charming them with fascinating irrelevancies. That is, the common idea that “seeing is believing” is a perfect set-up for deception. There was also a part of this person’s vision that involved pigs, which I think ought also to have been a tip-off but unfortunately that part is less clear in my memory than the reduction of the Holy Spirit to a piece of cloth.

These things are most likely demonic
Since everyone in the group accepted this story without criticism, including me until I prayed about it, I appreciate how easily even Christians are deceived by such demonic shenanigans. And that is without doubt what they are. I don’t doubt that people have such experiences, and that they are REAL experiences, experiences of another dimension of spiritual reality, not hallucinations and not inventions of the human psyche, but I have learned to expect that they will turn out to be the work of demons.

In some cases there may be fraud involved, but there is no need to assume this as so many unbelievers do. For instance, Fox News has been ridiculed for accepting Colton’s story so uncritically, and rightly so but for the wrong reasons. They are sure it must be fraud. Well, it COULD be, but there is no reason to assume that it is. On the surface it sounds more like other experiences along the same lines that have the marks of demonic manipulation. And there are the usual “test” elements, his meeting people he knew nothing about otherwise.

There is nothing beyond the powers of demons to convey such knowledge to a little boy, and nothing beyond their motives to deceive either. They can easily impersonate people. That’s how the spirits of “dead people” appear in “haunted houses.” They are demonic impersonations of the people who once lived there (people who were most likely actually possessed by the demons who now impersonate them). In Colton’s case they also included in their deception false images of “God” — visualized as so “big” he can hold the Earth in his hands, and of “Jesus” “whose smile lights up the heavens” and has “sea blue” eyes. What disgusting poppycock, but CHRISTIANS believe this pap? Colton himself doesn’t even seem to believe it as he just rattles off the empty phrases by rote. Perhaps he actually experienced them and is simply tired of repeating it — or maybe as some suggest it’s a sign that it was made up and imposed on him. I don’t know. His father is supposedly a pastor. A deceived pastor obviously. But whatever the source, the images of God and Jesus are ridiculously phony.

It’s similar to what psychics practice
This is typical of the work of psychics too. Again, much of that may also be fraudulent but to the extent that there is reality to some of it the source of that reality is demonic activity. That is, psychics really can have knowledge of things that their clients know nothing about, OR can know things that ONLY the client knows, because demons convey the knowledge to them. I’ve wondered if sometimes there may also be a merely human psychic power that for some reason is developed in certain individuals and not others, but I think the most common cause is demonic intervention. This seems to have been the case with the “witch of Endor” who had a familiar spirit (a demon) who supplied the knowledge or perhaps even faked the appearance of a dead person to deceive her clients, just as all mediums have, but in the case of King Saul was pre-empted by the appearance of the REAL prophet Samuel, to her amazement and fear.

Some think a child is too innocent to be deceived by demons but this is a big mistake. Children are members of the fallen human race, after all, and may also inherit a special vulnerability to demonic activity through their fallen ancestors as well. They are in fact the perfect set-up for demonic deception because people do sentimentalize them as innocent. Satan and his demons have no scruples. They are out to deceive and kill and they have no tender feelings for humanity. There are many stories out there of people who had frightening experiences as children, of demonic beings that would visit them at night, shake their beds and do other frightening things. Demons do not leave children alone.

Sometimes special talents are imparted, even to children
There is another story about a four-year-old’s visit to heaven, the story of Akiane Kramarik now a teenager, whose unusual talents as a painter and a poet she ascribes to that visit. Her experience and amazing talents convinced her own atheistic family of the reality of “God” and she has dedicated herself to bringing her message of “God” to the world.

Can demons impart such talents? Well, Akiane says she sometimes simply receives her poetry fully written as it were. This is the same way the channelers of the religious doctrines, A Course in Miracles, the Seth Books, Urantia, and the teachings of Rael, also received their messages. As for the painting, I once talked to a woman deeply involved in Hindu / New Age practices who was also an artist and created similarly impressive realistic images, in her case sculptures, a talent she also attributed to “God.”

But the main problem with Akiane’s art is that her message is New Age although people mistake it for Christian because it includes images of “Jesus.” This is a romanticized “Jesus,” just as Colton’s “Jesus” is, a Jesus without the cross, a Jesus who didn’t die for sin but just mushily “loves” everyone. She even believes and promotes the New Age lie about Jesus’ supposed “lost years” in which they claim he went to India and was taught Hinduism. The truth is that Jesus grew up as a Jew, studying Torah in the Temple, learning carpentry from His earthly adoptive father Joseph. It is ridiculous to put Him in India instead, but that’s what the demons who inspire New Age phony religion have done. ANYTHING TO DECEIVE, even deceive the very elect who aren’t paying attention or who aren’t well taught by their pastors.

Take it to the Bible with prayer
A place to start to recognize such deception may be the few Biblical reports of experiences of heaven and supernatural realities. Start with Paul’s experience of visiting the “third heaven.” He said it was unlawful to describe it — there is a reverence for holy things in that attitude we simply do not find in any of the recent claims to have seen heaven. Then there is John who was taken up to the throne room of God, as he reports in Revelation chapter 4. He also saw the Lord Jesus in chapter 1, who gave him the messages to the seven churches before he was called up to heaven. Even encounters with true angels of God inspire awe and the impulse to worship from mere mortals because of their dazzling beauty and power, as both John and the prophets of the Old Testament attest. Encounters with the true God inspire even deeper awe, and a profound sense of personal sin and fear of judgment. Take a look at Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel and more. There is NOTHING of this sort of feeling in the recent spate of out-of-body experiences. Instead we get the most casual of descriptions and a sort of breathless excitement over their mere supernatural unusualness. Or we get the nonsense of Shirley MacLaine who was taught through her encounters with otherworldly beings that SHE is “god.” Oh brother. NonChristians who reject the Bible may fall for this demonic deception, but Christians should not. And yet some do.

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