| December 2, 2008
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The Spirit explicitly says |
1 Timothy 4:1
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons
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2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
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2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,...Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first,...
Jude 1:3
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Joel 2:1
Blow a trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm on My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
For the day of the LORD is coming;
Surely it is near,
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| Shalom in Christ Jesus, |
The picture above of a
church from the recent fires in California gave the impression of being almost
prophetic as to the state the church as a whole finds herself in these very
'last days'. I do not say that to be a doomsayer or to be negative. In fact, one
cannot find either the words or the concepts of negative and positive
in Scripture, as those are the ideas and the philosophies of men.
Without exception, the
largest problem among Christians is that the majority of those who claim to be
"born-again" do not understand even the fundamental doctrines taught in the
Bible. Continually, believers are led
further astray by every 'new' idea and product sold to them by the very wolves
the Word of God would protect them from if they only studied it half as diligently
as the garbage deceiving them.
This alert illustrates all
too painfully just how bad that deception has grown and just how evil those
wolves have become.
Deception among God's people
and the falling away in the church is the number one sign above all signs of
the soon return of The Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua Ha Moshiach. My prayer is that
even though these articles in and of themselves may be discouraging, the fact
that His return is ever closer may be encouraging for you and your loved ones
to draw nearer to Him, get more into His Word and to boldly proclaim the gospel
of the Kingdom.
May the LORD bless you and
keep you,
BE/\LERT!
Scott
Brisk |
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Emergent church leader says 'gay' can be biblical lifestyle
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WORLDNETDAILY - By Drew Zahn - November 23, 2008One of the key leaders of today's most cutting-edge church movement has opened an Internet discussion on the issue of same-sex marriage with the bold proclamation that he believes "gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and queer" individuals can and should live out their sexuality in - and blessed by - the Christian church. "I now believe that GLBTQ can live lives in accord with biblical Christianity (as least as much as any of us can!)," writes author and church leader Tony Jones, "and that their monogamy can and should be sanctioned and blessed by church and state." Jones is an author and former youth pastor who holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is also the national coordinator of Emergent Village, a loosely-formed friendship of churches that derive their descriptive name from having "emerged" from postmodernism to take the gospel of Jesus Christ into a post-Christian culture. The "Emergent Church," as these mostly young, community- and mission-driven congregations are collectively known, is criticized by some for being "theologically liberal," praised by others as the best hope for passing the torch of Christianity to future generations. In his " The New Christians" blog, Jones opens up a discussion and debate on the issue of homosexuality with his readers and with a fellow theologian/blogger, a self-described political conservative, Rod Dreher. Jones quotes a former professor of his, who Jones says was active in the civil rights movement: "Civil rights and abortion will be nothing compared to how the church has to deal with homosexuality," his professor said. "I'm glad it's your generation and not mine who'll have to figure that out." In Jones' blog, he tells his personal story as a straight man trying to understand homosexuality: from his mother's assurance that she will love him "no matter whom he loves," to a high school friend who was likely a closet homosexual and who died of AIDS. Despite recounting his earlier days of arguing that "biblical prohibitions to homosexual sex should be taken seriously," Jones admits his experiences and feelings led him toward a different conclusion. - - - - Read Full Report
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Tony Jones: Influential Theologian Of The Emergent Church Out Of The Closet
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APPRISING MINISTRIES - By Ken Silva, pastor-teacher - November 20, 2008Tony Jones, author of the book The New Christians and a leading theologian in the Emergent Church is out of the closet now concerning his views that unrepentant practicing homosexuals can become Christians, which Apprising Ministries first pointed out in Tony Jones and the Emergent Church: "Christian" Gay is A-Ok. We took a lot of heat for bringing it out but yesterday in Same Sex Marriage Blogalogue: How I Went from There to Here Jones has removed all doubt as to his position, and that which he feels the Body of Christ itself should take, regarding those who are unrepentantly practicing the sin of homosexuality: And yet, all the time I could feel myself drifting toward acceptance that gay persons are fully human persons and should be afforded all of the cultural and ecclesial benefits that I am. ("Aha!" my critics will laugh derisively, "I knew he and his ilk were on a continuous leftward slide!") In any case, I now believe that GLBTQ can live lives in accord with biblical Christianity (at least as much as any of us can!) and that their monogamy can and should be sanctioned and blessed by church and state.( Online source, bold theirs) You know, a couple of years ago Dr. John MacArthur was dead on target when he said, "One of the big issues is homosexuality in the emerging church; they don't want to take a position on homosexuality... A homosexual will not inherit the Kingdom of God (see- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10); that's pretty clear" ( Online source). However, one is now emerging. - - - - Read Full Report* Emphasis Original
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Live Teaching Engagements
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Warren's "next big thing" just announced
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THE BEREAN CALL - November 24, 2008He is partnering with Reader's Digest to launch quarterly digest and DVD for the "Purpose Driven Connection." "We are excited about this new partnership and its unprecedented potential for exponential impact, especially in the 68 countries where local churches have launched the PEACE plan," said Warren, who will be heavily involved in each element. "We stopped several successful projects a couple of years ago to start preparing for this. The concept of the Purpose Driven Connection is so huge, it took three years to get to this point of announcement. We're thrilled to finally get to talk about it prior to the launch early next year. It is unlike anything else and has the potential to change hundreds of millions of lives."
"It is rare indeed to be able to call something 'revolutionary' in our highly-developed world," said Mark Affleck, executive director of Purpose Driven Connection. "This is just that - an entirely new and never-before-seen model for how people can not only discover their purpose in life, but to also interact with others through the online community, small group network and the global PEACE initiative."
[Here's how Warren's PR firm describes him, using the praise of men:] "Warren is a pastor, author, global strategist and innovator, being called "America's Most Powerful Religious Leader" and listed among the "100 Most Influential People in the World" (TIME); "15 People Who Make America Great" (Newsweek); "One of America's 25 Best Leaders" (U.S. News and World Report); and "America's Pastor" ("USA Today"). Warren founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., with one family in 1980, and today it is one of America's most influential congregations with over 100,000 names on the church roll, a 120-acre campus, and more than 300 community ministries."
Hey, with credentials like that, how can this not be of God? Note: It helps to have one of the nation's top PR firms behind all these media efforts -- Larry Ross, the same publicity firm that launched Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and ensured its success among evangelicals. But let's consider the words of our Lord: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also" (John 15:19-20). If the very magazines whose editorial ownership is liberal, pro-Obama, and globalist are trumpeting Rick Warren's "plan," supported by one of the world's largest publishers who ("markets books, magazines, music, video and educational products reaching 100 million households in 79 countries [and] publishes 92 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader's Digest, the world's largest-circulation magazine; operates 65 branded Web sites generating 18 million unique visitors per month; and sells approximately 68 million books, music and video products across the world each year") then it begs the question, " who is Rick Warren's 'lord'?" Considering the fact that faithful, humble and meek Christians are now regularly getting threatened, attacked, and spit upon in the streets (not in foreign countries, but in America's cities!) by violent mobs of homosexual "rights" activists --- while secular praise is heaped upon "America's Pastor" for his "P.E.A.C.E." plan and AIDS charity? Something's not right with this picture... Received via email alertBerean Call WebsiteSee Also:Rick Warren, Reader's Digest Join Forces for New Purpose Driven PublicationLIGHTHOUSE TRAILS RESEARCH PROJECT - Coming From The Lighthouse Newsletter - December 2, 2008According to a press release issued by Rick Warren's media outlet, Rick Warren has formed a partnership with Reader's Digest, which will be launched early next year. - - - - Read Full Report
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World asked to help craft online charter for religious harmony
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AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE - November 14, 2008A website launched Friday with the backing of technology industry and Hollywood elite urges people worldwide to help craft a framework for harmony between all religions. The Charter for Compassion project on the Internet at www.charterforcompassion.org springs from a "wish" granted this year to religious scholar Karen Armstrong at a premier Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conference in California. "Tedizens" include Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin along with other Internet icons as well as celebrities such as Forest Whittaker and Cameron Diaz. Wishes granted at TED envision ways to better the world and come with a promise that Tedizens will lend their clout and capabilities to making them come true. Armstrong's wish is to combine universal principles of respect and compassion into a charter based on a "golden rule" she believes is at the core of every major religion. The Golden Rule essentially calls on people to do unto others as they would have done unto them. "The chief task of our time is to build a global society where people of all persuasions can live together in peace and harmony," Armstrong said. "If we do not achieve this, it seems unlikely that we will have a viable world to hand on to the next generation." Charter for Compassion invites people from "all faiths, nationalities, languages and backgrounds" to help draft statements of principles and actions that should be taken. Original Report
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| U.S. Textbooks: 'Jesus was Palestinian' |
ARUTZ SHEVA (Israeli National News) - By Ze'ev Ben-Yechiel - September 28, 2008
'"Christianity was started by a young Palestinian named Jesus." This is one of hundreds of distortions, misrepresentations and outright lies found about Judaism and Jewish history by a comprehensive study of the 28 most widely used Social Studies textbooks in the United States. In a landmark book called "The Trouble with Textbooks," Dr. Gary A. Tobin and Dennis R. Ybarra show how millions of American schoolchildren are taught anti-Semitic versions of Jewish history and faith, particularly in relation to Christianity and Islam, in passages that often amount to sheer libel.
The authors found that U.S. textbooks "tend to discredit the ties between Jews and the Land of Israel. Israel is blamed for starting wars in the region and being colonialist. Jews are charged with deicide in the killing of Jesus. All in all, there are repeated misrepresentations that cross the line into bigotry."
Among the teachings that were found in American textbooks are the following distortions:
- Jesus was a "Palestinian", not a Jew.
- The Arab nations never attacked Israel. Arab-Israeli wars "just broke out," or Israel started them.
- Arabs nations want peace but Israel does not.
- Israel expelled all Palestinian refugees.
- Israel put the Palestinians in refugee camps in Arab lands, not Arab governments.
- Palestinian terrorism is nonexistent or minimal.
- Israel is not a victim of terrorism or terrorism against Israel is justified.
- U.S. support of Israel causes terrorism, including 9/11.
- The intifadas were children's revolts not involving adults or terrorism.
- Jews and Judaism are legalistic. Jews are only about the letter of the law and ignore its spirit.
Tobin and Ybarra point out that in many books the Jewish G-d is depicted as "stern and warlike. G-d's compassionate qualities, highlighted in lessons about other religions, are missing when Judaism is discussed." They cite numerous cases of a bias against the very foundations of Judaism, while those of Islam and Christianity are treated as fact.
In the glossary of one such biased book, World History: Continuity and Change, the entry on the Ten Commandments describes them as "Moral laws Moses claimed to have received from the Hebrew G-d Y-hweh on Mount Sinai." In the very same glossary, however, the book treats the Koran as sacred: It is a "Holy Book of Islam containing revelations received by Muhammad from G-d."
The study found that "Islam is treated with a devotional tone in some textbooks, less detached and analytical than it ought to be. Muslim beliefs are described in several instances as fact, without any clear qualifier such as 'Muslims believe . . .'
According to Tobin and Ybarra, a preoccupation with placating Muslims results in "Politically motivated propaganda" that "wheedles its way into textbooks. "Islam is treated with a devotional tone in some textbooks, less detached and analytical than it ought to be. Muslim beliefs are described in several instances as fact, without any clear qualifier such as "Muslims believe..."
The authors found that the Islamic empire of the Middle Ages was presented as "a time of unqualified glory without blemishes" and that Islam and Muslims are portrayed as having "always tolerated Jews," unlike their Christian counterparts. With respect to both Christianity and Islam, they found that Judaism, both as a spiritual contribution to mankind and as a physical presence in Israel, is commonly deprecated in comparison to the other faiths. Often the textbooks use the words "stories," "legends," and even "tales" when discussing Jewish writings, and chapters on Jewish history are full of phrases like "it is told that . . ." or "the Israelites are said to..."
They cited examples where the word "Palestine" was used to describe the land of Israel in historical periods long before the misnomer was invented by the conquering Romans, and found that "several textbooks describe Judaism as only a precursor to Christianity, not a faith of intrinsic value that stands on its own."
Perhaps most disturbing, they discovered that the textbooks "come dangerously close to perpetuating the idea that Jews caused the crucifixion of Jesus and are guilty as a group of deicide, "the killing of G-d."
"It is shocking to discover that history and geography textbooks widely used in America's elementary
and secondary classrooms contain some of the very same inaccuracies about Christianity, Judaism, and the Middle East as those in Iran and the Arab world," wrote the authors in a summary of the book.
Tobin said that these alarming distortions and inaccuracies were as much a product of "amateurish scholarship" as any anti-Semitic bias, but the effect, he noted, remains the same: "If the president of Iran wants to blast Israel at the U.N., he can use American textbooks to do so."
Original Report |
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Outcry as songs are re-written for anti-Israel carol concert at famous church
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LONDON DAILY MAIL [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By Jonathan Petre - November 23, 2008Organisers of a Christmas carol concert being held in a famous church have been condemned for rewriting traditional verses to attack Israel. Far from bringing tidings of comfort and joy, the participants will instead sing about 'war crimes', 'assassinations' and the 'oppression' of Palestinians. The concert, which has been organised by anti-Israeli campaigners, is due to take place on Wednesday at St James's, Piccadilly, a Christopher Wren-designed church in Central London. Its critics include the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, who said that the rewriting of much-loved traditional carols for such partisan political purposes was deeply offensive. The reworked carols include favourites such as O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, The Holly And The Ivy and Hark The Herald Angels Sing. Even The Twelve Days Of Christmas gets the treatment. A revised opening verse of While Shepherds Watched goes: 'While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, Some occupying soldiers came and bulldozed all around.' The event, called Bethlehem Now: Nine Alternative Lessons And Carols For Palestine, has been organised by Jews For Boycotting Israeli Goods, a group of secular British Jews opposed to Israeli policies. - - - - Read Full ReportRelated:Ministers to hold summit on church closure crisisLONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH [Barclay] - By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent - November 22, 2008Ministers are to examine how extra funding can be given to churches, with one in five of them under threat of being closed. ... The number of churches in Britain is forecast to fall from by a fifth in a generation, from 48,500 now to only 39,200 in 2030. There is currently a shortfall of around �80 million each year for vital repairs to churches, according to English Heritage, leaving many parishes struggling. ... Read Full ReportThe Dual Covenant Heresy: More End-Time DeceptionOLIVE TREE MINISTRIES > Understanding The Times Weekly eUpdate - By Jan Markell - October 28, 2008 ... "Dual Covenant Theology" teaches that Jews can be saved without believing in the Messiah Jesus. God supposedly has a separate plan for the Jews and thus faith in the Messiah is not necessary. Romans 3:23 is also tossed out, which says that, "the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto ALL and upon ALL them that believe: FOR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE." John 14:6 quotes Jesus Himself: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but my Me." How much clearer can it get?? . . . - - - - Read Full Report
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Christian leader urges Islamic control of Temple Mount
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Claims his community 'belongs to the Palestinian national cause'
WORLDNETDAILY - By Aaron Klein - October 21, 2008
JERUSALEM - A top Christian Palestinian leader here yesterday urged Islamic control of the Temple Mount while claiming Israel was threatening the site's famous Al Aqsa Mosque.
"Regarding threats against the Al Aqsa Mosque from fanatic Jews, what is threatening you is threatening Christians. One who is attacking you is attacking Christians. We are one family and one people, and we belong to the Palestinian national cause," said Attallah Hanna, archbishop of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem's Greek Orthodox Church is regarded by Orthodox Christians as one of the most important churches in Christendom. It has 100,000 Christians followers in the Holy Land and is also one of the largest landowners in Israel.
Hanna was speaking to Islamic leaders yesterday gathered at the Al Aqsa Mosque.
He went on to urge the Waqf, the Mount's Muslim custodians, to "keep fighting and protect Jerusalem." He thanked them for maintaining the Mount as a sacred Islamic site.
His claim of Jewish threats to the mosque are not grounded in reality. Islamic leaders routinely use non-existent Jewish threats to the Temple Mount to incite followers against Israel.
Hanna himself is closely aligned with the Palestinian cause. He was previously dismissed from his church position after Israel accused him of directly aiding terror organizations. He has held public solidarity meetings with leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah and appears regularly on Palestinian television urging children to engage in suicide attacks. - - - -
Read Full Report
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| New Bibles alter form - not word - to draw readers |
ASSOCIATED PRESS - By Sarah Skidmore - October 8, 2008
PORTLAND, Ore. - Martin Luther King Jr. graces one page, Angelina Jolie the next. A photo of a man on fire opens the Book of Revelation. And laid across a two-page image of gasoline spilling from a pump is the quote that begins, "The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast."
It's not the good book some may remember.
While the Bible has been recreated and repackaged innumerable times, publishers of the newest editions are using some distinctly unique formats to capture the attention of readers.
"In general, Bible publishers have always been creative, but now they are scrambling to meet a culture where people are moving away from print reading," said Paul Gutjahr, an associate professor of English and adjunct associate professor in religious studies at Indiana University.
Secular as well as traditional religious Bible publishers are getting in on the act. Dozens of different versions of the Bible come out each year for various niches: the outdoorsman, the married couple, business leaders. There are electronic Bibles available for the Kindle, iPods and handheld devices. There are graphic novel and comic book interpretations. There's even a new chronological version of the Bible coming out this fall.
It's difficult to capture how many different versions of the Bible are sold each year. But the Book Industry Study Group estimates that Bibles, testaments, hymnals and prayer books were a $795.2 million market in 2007.
Experts say Bible sales tend to rise in times of war and economic crisis. And the Book Industry Study Group says a Bible publishing boom is indeed under way. The market size has grown steadily over the past several years and is expected to jump in the coming years. The group estimates the market will reach $823.5 million this year - growth other publishing categories might covet.
The Bible is reinvented quite often. While essentially still the same book, Gutjahr said that for the past two decades, updates were largely focused on new translations. There are also versions that come out each year that are essentially the same book, with different covers and sizes based on people's wants. But he sees the next trend as one toward textual translation and visual translation.
"In a visually literate, advertising-skeptical age - how do you grab people's attention?" Gutjahr asked. "Mixing the biblical text with Angelina Jolie doesn't surprise me."
First published in Sweden last year, "Bible Illuminated: The Book" is the glossy fashion magazine-style publication that features Jolie. It looks like it might be more at home on a coffee table or the nightstand of the latest hipster hotel than a church.
The creation of former advertising executives, it pairs intense photo essays - including images such as a child with a gun or beatings in the Belgian Congo under King Leopold's II's regime - with passages from the New Testament. It is aimed at people who might not otherwise ever read the Bible. . . .
"It's about new points of entry in a modern world that is not ready to open its doors and windows to the traditional word," he said.
These "gateway Bibles" - those intended for the secular crowd - seem to be the latest frontier in Bible publishing.
"Contrary to popular belief, I think most Bibles are published for people who are already in the club," Gutjahr said. "Publishing for people who are outside the club, I don't know how much luck there has been with that."
Thomas Nelson publishing, which is one of the largest Bible publishers, broke some ground with "Revolve," a Bible with a teen-magazine style to it. Girls took well to the format, which publishers said made girls feel more comfortable accessing it and carrying it, and sales were strong.
The company is also coming out with a chronological version of the Bible this fall that has built some buzz. While not the first chronological version, this looks more like a social studies text - with informational and historical outakes on the time. The publisher also has an audio version of the Bible with stars such as Marisa Tomei and Richard Dreyfuss, that they hope will do well among the secular crowd. - - - -
Read Full Report
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| 'Bible' stars celebs as God's messengers |
New Testament 'makeover' features Muhammad Ali, Angelina Jolie, Al Gore
WORLDNETDAILY - November 5, 2008
A controversial makeover of the New Testament hit shelves this week - complete with stars such as Muhammad Ali, Angelina Jolie, Al Gore, Princess Diana and Bono filling roles of biblical characters and messengers of God.
"Bible Illuminated: The Book," by Swedish author Ab Forlaget and published by Dag S�derberg, features more than 200 photos of celebrities such as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, John Lennon, Gandhi, Bill Gates as the Prince of Darkness and even Andy Warhol dressed in drag. The full-color images are incorporated into Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The publisher claims there was no religious mission in the creation of "Bible Illuminated," and it says the book's success is due to its lack of ties to specific faiths, religions or churches. The company website describes its $35 product as being "more high-end magazine than your typical Bible."
A glossy black-and-white cover features a pale face with a green eye caked and smudged with black eyeliner. Inside, verses are arranged in magazine paragraph format, without numbers.
Among numerous photos, the publishers even found space to promote Coca-Cola products.
One Amazon reader described the book's first 50 pages as "ads for Versace, Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Satan."
"Bible Illuminated" is endorsed by Syracuse University and Biola University professors, National Public Radio, Newsweek, Revolution Church, Mark Galli of Christianity Today and founder Craig Gross of XXX Church.
The book reportedly sold 30,000 copies in Sweden last year. According to Newsweek, "Sweden's archbishop endorsed it and gave a copy to the outgoing prime minister as a parting gift."
Original Report |
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God goes green: HarperCollins to publish a new eco-Bible for environmentally conscious Christians
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THE NEW YORK EXAMINER [Clarity Media Group] - By Michelle Kerns - October 15, 2008Ed. Note: The Emergent Church's favorite translation (NRSV) - because it is most easily twisted to fit their worldview - and Forward by fallen away archbishop Desmond Tutu. These men have no fear as they do violence to God's law (Zephaniah 3:4).
HarperCollins is set to unleash the first environmentally friendly Bible upon the world on October 7th. Printed on recycled paper and with soy-based ink, The Green Bible (subtitled Understand the Bible's Powerful Message for the Earth) features over 1,000 nature-related verses printed in an eye-pleasing forest green as well as supplemental writings from such heavyweights as St Francis of Assisi, Pope John Paul II, and Desmond Tutu that assert man's responsibility to act as responsible stewards of the earth and its bounty. J. Matthew Sleeth, an Evangelical eco-activist, says The Green Bible supports the concept of "creation care," and that it will go a long way to convincing believers and unbelievers alike that caring for the earth "is at the very core of our Christian walk." Original Report
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| Indianised version of Bible hit among Christians |
ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL - July 12, 2008
An "Indianised" version of the Bible released in India has become a huge hit among the Christian community here.
The Bible has proved to be extremely popular among the Catholics in Mumbai where over 15 000 copies were sold out within ten days of its release.
An interesting feature of this Bible is that it has drawn references to other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
"What made it special because they have also drawn the Indian mythology into it. Its not only based on Bible all like you know foreign standards," said Corin Mendonsa, a buyer of the book.
Another interesting thing about the book is that it depicts Mother Mary and other characters in typical Indian clothes.
"I wanted to buy only one copy, but after seeing the presentation, brought five copies. I felt happier because the pictures that are given are very impressive," said Father Wilset, another buyer.
According to the catholic community this Bible is getting a good response from the market.
The new Bible, which has about 2,200 pages, costs just 250 Rupees.
Original Report
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| ADL: Religious groups' plan to break bread with Ahmadinejad is a 'betrayal' |
HAARETZ [Schocken/DuMont Schauberg] - By Shlomo Shamir and Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondents - September 13, 2008
Five American religious organizations have announced plans to host a dinner to break the Ramadan fast with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during his upcoming visit to the United States.
The Mennonite Central Committee, the Quakers, the World Council of Churches, Religions for Peace and the American Friends Service Committee are sponsoring the meeting with President Ahmadinejad on September 25 in New York City.
The dinner to break the Ramadan fast, called an Iftar, is being billed as "an international dialogue between religious leaders and political figures" in a conversation "about the role of religions in tackling global challenges and building peaceful societies."
National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Abraham H. Foxman, issued a response to the announcement, calling the planned event "a perversion of the search for peace and an appalling betrayal of religious values."
"It simply defies belief that five organizations with a mission of promoting peace through dialogue would choose President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from among the hundreds of world leaders and ambassadors who will be in New York this month, as an appropriate and legitimate interlocutor on world peace," Foxman said.
Foxman continued, "In extending an invitation to Ahmadinejad, the religious organizations sponsoring this dinner have tarnished their reputations as peace seekers and bridge builders. Their breaking bread with President Ahmadinejad is a perversion of the search for peace and an appalling betrayal of religious values." - - - -
Read Full Report
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| More Proof the Laughing Phenomenon is not from God: Celebrate the wonders of meditation |
LONDON METRO [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By Emma Simkins - August 26, 2008
I'm in a basement in south London, surrounded by friends. We're jigging around to loud house music.
But this is no rave; it's a celebration of the spiritual kind. I am about to start a shaking meditation class.
As I begin the session, I try to focus my breathing, let my mind empty and concentrate on feeling the energy flowing through my body.
To help with this, I close my eyes and repeat the mantra 'Om Swastiastu Ratu Bagus' (Ratu Bagus - meaning good king - is the spiritual leader and energy master who developed this form of shaking).
For tonight's session, I'm right at the front of the group in a prime position facing Ratu's picture.
The man himself is not present as he spends most of his time helping others at his ashram in Bali.
My arms and legs begin to tingle and my first instinct is to burst out laughing.
Is this the laughter energy Ratu promotes to boost wellbeing or a reflex action because I feel slightly ridiculous?
Despite initial inhibitions, I'm soon absorbed into the 'training' (the name shakers give their practice sessions).
My body is experiencing noticeable convulsions; my head is bobbing, my arms flailing.
If I go up on tiptoes, I begin to have violent leg shakes. It may look like I'm dancing - albeit in a zombiemeets-Elvis style - but what may seem hard to believe is that it is largely involuntary.
Energy transmission
Shaking is described as a bioenergetic meditation made possible by the transmission of energy from Ratu.
This calls upon our own energy system to remember and awaken the natural capacity our bodies have for healing.
Put simply, you quite literally shake to release any blocks - mental, physical, emotional - which stop the energy that flows inside us all.
Acupuncture aims to do this with needles but, while that technique is a passive process, with shaking you are actively healing yourself.
Testimonials from Ratu's students make for extraordinary reading.
He has helped people overcome drug and alcohol dependency, battle stress and heal all kinds of illnesses.
As the two-hour class progresses, the energy builds.
More people arrive until there are 20 of us in the room. In addition to the pumping music, there is an increasingly loud cacophony of voices and noises as the people around me begin to 'process' (the term that describes the energy becoming stronger in the body and pushing out anything negative.
This processing is the body's natural way of cleaning itself).
I hear laughing, coughing, spitting (ridding the body of mucous is especially common), wailing - you name it. To my left, one woman periodically shouts 'Yes!' while, on the other side, interspersed with a lot of laughing, another is calling: 'Go, go freedom!' No one bats an eyelid - but that's the whole idea.
There is no instructor, just a group leader in charge of the music, and no rules; you just have to open yourself to the energy and wait for whatever comes next.
And if that involves laughing or rolling around on the floor, so be it.
Shared experience
At the session's end, there is a clearing prayer, a short silent meditation and then, in a circle, a sharing of experiences.
One man says he feels lighter, another describes how he has been having problems with his back and felt some intense pain there during shaking.
'Go freedom' lady says she felt her internal organs grinding around.
For me, the biggest process is the battle over my everactive mind.
Every time I attend a session (which I've been doing twice-weekly since May), I make progress.
Instead of lurching from one extreme to the other, I drink less, eat less, spend less.
I'm calmer, more balanced, less stressed and more in control.
The possibility for feeling even better is so close I can almost reach out and touch it.
The Lowdown
Wear: Sessions get very hot so wear as little as possible. Shorts and a T-shirt (optional) for men, vest tops and loose trousers for women.
Bring: A bottle of water - and an open mind.
How much: �5
Where: Open days for beginners are taking place on August 29, 30, 31 in London. For classes in the rest of Britain, go to www.ratubagus.com or contact Dave and Abi Knight on 020 8390 9318 or via spirithouse@blueyonder.co.uk
Original Report |
| Did Jesus recently appear in clouds? |
'We don't really know what he looked like because there were no photos'
WORLDNETDAILY - October 30, 2008
"Then if anyone says to you, `Behold, here is the Christ,' or `There He is,' do not believe him. - Matthew 24:23
An Australian man who a year ago posted online backyard video footage of clouds he thought were shaped like Jesus is suddenly in the spotlight now that his local paper put the story in it's front page yesterday. The amateur videographer, identified only as "tubeoffroad," believes his footage is an image of Jesus with his arms stretched out from his sides. The cloud was seen in the Sydney suburb of Raby, Australia, and has received more than 8,000 hits on YouTube since its posting. Rev. Craig Hooper, a minister at Eagle Vale Anglican Church, told the Macarthur Chronicle he was keeping an open mind about the cloud. "There's nothing to say that it couldn't have been the face of Jesus in the cloud but we don't really know what he looked like because there were no photos when he walked the earth 2000 years ago," he said. "If it raises interest in Jesus then people can read one of his biographies in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John in the Bible, that's where you really see a true picture of Jesus." - - - - Read Full Report |
| Church makes 'ludicrous' apology to Charles Darwin - 126 years after his death |
LONDON DAILY MAIL [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By Jonathan Petre - September 13, 2008
The Church of England will tomorrow officially apologise to Charles Darwin for misunderstanding his theory of evolution.
In a bizarre step, the Church will address its contrition directly to the Victorian scientist himself, even though he died 126 years ago.
But the move was greeted with derision last night, with Darwin's great-great-grandson dismissing it as 'pointless' and other critics branding it 'ludicrous'.
Church officials compared the apology to the late Pope John Paul II's decision to say sorry for the Vatican's 1633 trial of Galileo, the astronomer who appalled prelates by declaring that the earth revolved around the sun.
The officials said that senior bishops wanted to atone for the vilification their predecessors heaped on Darwin in the 1860s, when he put forward his theory that man was descended from apes.
The Church is also anxious to counter the view that its teaching is incompatible with science. It wants to distance itself from fundamentalist Christians, who believe in the Biblical account of the creation of the world in seven days.
An article to be posted on the Church's website will say: 'Charles Darwin, 200 years from your birth [in 1809], the Church of England owes you an apology for misunderstanding you and, by getting our first reaction wrong, encouraging others to misunderstand you still.
'But the struggle for your reputation is not over yet, and the problem is not just your religious opponents but those who falsely claim you in support of their own interests.'
The article has been written by the Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, the director of mission and public affairs of the Archbishops' Council, the Church's managing body, which is headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. - - - -
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| Robert Morey Thrown Out Of His Denomination |
MORIEL MINISTRIES - October 27, 2008
After refusing to meet with board officials of the Reformed church movement with whom he has been a credentialed member, over further and repeated allegations of unethical activity, Robert Morey of 'Faith Defenders', based in Orange County, California has been told to resign from the 'Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals' a major Reformed Conservative Evangelical organization.
Morey has been plagued with multiple charges of everything from gross and habitual financial impropriety to documented proof of misrepresentation of the convictions of others, to academic fraud with a bogus doctorate in Islam amidst outrageous claims as "having read everything in the US Library of Congress on Islam" (over 7,000 volumes, monograms etc., to say nothing of the fact he cannot read Arabic). A constant array of charges of abusive leadership by members and former members of his church and disassociation from him by many if not most of his former colleagues no longer willing to invite him to participate in the conference circuit, Morey has lost both his radio broadcast and his building plus many church members and now appears to be in the process of losing what declining credibility he has left in his self inflicted course of demise driven by the ramifications of his own actions. Now 'FIRE' has requested his resignation from it.
The statement below was circulated to all members of the Fellowship of Independent Reformed Churches.
Brothers and Sisters,
This went out to the entire FIRE membership.
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 11:18 AM
Subject: Member resignation
Notice to FIRE members:
Robert Morey (Orange, CA) has resigned as an individual member of FIRE at the unanimous request of the Board. A FIRE member-church requested the Board's assistance in resolving issues with Dr. Morey that had spread outside his congregation and affected other churches, Christian organizations and
individuals. The Board received substantial evidence of a pattern of behavior in which Dr. Morey abused his pastoral authority and grossly mistreated people under his care. After Dr. Morey refused a request to meet with members of the Board in a conference call concerning these matters, the Board unanimously requested his resignation.
On behalf of the Board,
Bruce A. Ray |
| Without Walls pastor vows to fight foreclosure threat |
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES [Times Publishing Company] - By Sherri Day, Times Staff Writer - November 10, 2008
TAMPA - In a service notable for its unusual content, the Rev. Randy White, pastor of Without Walls International Church, laid bare the church's financial situation Sunday and its bid to stave off foreclosure of its two campuses.
White told his congregation, once one of the fastest-growing churches in the country, that church leaders would continue trying to negotiate with its lender this week. If those talks fail, they will consider several options, including filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, refinancing or selling the church. ...
Last week, the St. Petersburg Times reported that the California-based Evangelical Christian Credit Union filed foreclosure proceedings against Without Walls, which owes $13-million for its Tampa property and $12.5-million on its Lakeland branch. ...
In court documents, the credit union said Without Walls was in default on a $1-million line of credit that was due in August. White disputes that claim, and said the church had made arrangements to repay the line of credit from the sale of a $1.4-million piece of property at its Lakeland site.
Like an attorney building a case, White provided documentation Sunday that detailed talks with the credit union. He placed copies of those documents, along with his credit card and personal giving statements, on a table beneath the altar. He invited the congregation and the media to peruse them.
In his 90-minute sermon, White devoted 30 minutes to talk of the foreclosure proceedings. He spent an hour rebutting a series of articles written by the Tampa Tribune about the church over an 18-month period. White said the coverage had cost the church and its affiliates, which include Paula White Ministries, millions of dollars. ...
As White spoke, church members brought pink offering envelopes and laid them at the altar. The gesture, common in some Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, signals that the givers are sowing a financial seed into what they believe is fertile ground.
Longtime member Ethel Puleo said the talk of foreclosure did not worry her at all.
"I'm going to stay true to pastor, and I believe God," said Puleo, 86. "We have an impossible God that can perform miracles." - - - -
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Lakeland Revival Officially Ends
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After a major scandal and dwindling crowds, the Lakeland Outpouring concluded Sunday.CHRISTIANITY TODAY [CTI Publications] - By Paul Steven Ghiringhelli - October 13, 2008The Lakeland Outpouring's final meeting was held at Ignited Church on Sunday-six months after Canadian evangelist Todd Bentley launched daily meetings in the small Lakeland, Fla., community and left without warning Aug. 11 in a cloud of scandal. "None of us knew how long this would last," said Ignited Church senior pastor Stephen Strader, who announced on a blog Oct. 2 that, with the outpouring ending, he intends to set up a global apostolic base in Lakeland. "Ignited Church has had a vision [for] an International Apostolic Center. The Lakeland Outpouring has catapulted our vision forward." Strader said with the support of "dozens of major leaders" for his apostolic center, he envisions a place for hosting conferences, special events and training workshops. He also announced the creation of Ignited Network of Ministries (INM), an initiative to connect Ignited Church with Lakeland-spawned revivals worldwide. Days after Bentley told his Fresh Fire Ministries (FFM) staff in August that he and his wife were separating, the 10,000-seat air dome used for the revival meetings was taken down. Bentley resigned his position at Fresh Fire, stepped down from public ministry and faded from the public eye. It was his FFM board in Abbotsford, British Columbia, that later announced that Bentley had confessed to an inappropriate relationship with a female staff member. At the time, a senior board member told Charisma that Bentley's alcohol consumption also had "crossed the line." Rick Joyner, founder of MorningStar Ministries in Fort Mill, S.C., has since taken the lead in helping Bentley find healing and restoration. Joyner appeared on the platform in Lakeland in June when Bentley publicly submitted himself to the oversight of apostolic leaders Bill Johnson, John Arnott and Ch� Ahn. Joyner told Charisma that Johnson and Texas pastor Jack Deere would assist him in Bentley's restoration. He admitted that the process would not be easy. "Todd does have some serious issues he must deal with, and he knows it more than anyone," Joyner said. Observers say that worldwide, via GOD TV and the Internet, Bentley's involvement in the Lakeland Outpouring sparked genuine renewal among Christians despite criticism of his theology and character stirring among some charismatic leaders. Bentley's faith and exuberance impressed seasoned, prominent revivalists while his wild tactics often tempered the enthusiasm of other leaders. When praying for healing, the tattooed evangelist was known to hit the sick in the stomach with his knee in a move more common among wrestlers than preachers. Bentley even recounted kicking a woman in the face in an act of "obedience to the Lord." Yet, with the exception of a few ministers, many charismatic leaders chose to overlook Bentley's peculiar methods for the sake of what they saw as "fruit." They claimed the revival stirred many Christians worldwide to pursue God with a renewed hunger. ... "The impact of the Lakeland Outpouring is quite significant on a global level," Johnson said. "There are fires of revival all over Europe that are the direct result of what God was doing in Lakeland." The reason so much of Europe was impacted by what occurred in Lakeland was largely because daily meetings were broadcast on GOD TV, a satellite-based TV network with millions of viewers in 200 nations. - - - - Read Full Report
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Rick Warren: Jesus' Man Has a Plan
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JEWISH JOURNAL.com - By Rob Eshman - June 22, 2006
Warren managed to speak for the entire evening without once mentioning Jesus -- a testament to his savvy message-tailoring.
Are there any Jewish Rick Warrens? That's not a fair question. There are few people of any faith like Warren. As I sat listening to him speak at Sinai Temple's Friday Night Live Shabbat services last week, I thought of the only other person I'd met with Warren's eloquence, charisma, and passion -- but Bill Clinton carries a certain amount of baggage that Warren doesn't. Warren spoke at Sinai as part of the Synagogue 3000 program, which aims to revitalize Jewish worship. The program's leader, Rabbi Ron Wolfson, met Warren a decade ago and was influenced by the pastor's first book, "The Purpose-Driven Church" (Zondervan, 1995). And to demonstrate what such a church looked like in action, Wolfson brought two busloads of synagogue leaders to Warren's Saddleback Church in South Orange County to experience firsthand the pastor's success. The church has 87,000 members. Its Sunday service draws 22,000 worshippers to a 145-acre campus in the midst of affluent, unaffiliated exurbia. Clearly, Warren has reached the kind of demographic synagogues had all but given up on. There are two aspects to Warren's success, and both were on display Friday night. First, he is an organizational genius. His mentor was management guru Peter Drucker."I spoke with him constantly," Warren said, right up until Drucker died last year at age 95. It is Drucker's theory of "management by objectives" that Warren replicates in every endeavor -- translating long-term objectives into more immediate goals. Here let's pause to consider that Jews are learning to reorganize thier faith from a Christian who was mentored by a Jew. In his church, Warren serves as pastor to five subordinate pastors, who in turn serve 300 full-time staff, who administer to 9,000 lay volunteers, who pastor 82,000 members spread out among 83 Southern California cities. "It's the individual cells that make the body," he told the Sinai crowd. All his church's endeavors -- from working to cure diseases in African villages to reinventing houses of worship -- work according to a model that parcels larger goals into smaller ones, empowering believers to take action along the way. The other secret to his success is his passion for God and Jesus. Warren managed to speak for the entire evening without once mentioning Jesus -- a testament to his savvy message-tailoring. But make no mistake, the driving purpose of an evangelical church is to evangelize, and it is Warren's devotion to spreading the words of the Christian Bible that drive his ministry. - - - - Read Full Report
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Schullers' rift centers on 'Hour of Power'
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Different pastors and even some businessmen will host the show, the elder minister says.LOS ANGELES TIMES [Tribune Company] - By Mike Anton and Sam Quinones - October 27, 2008The schism between the Rev. Robert H. Schuller and his son at Orange County's Crystal Cathedral arose over a disagreement about broadening the church's long-running television show, "Hour of Power," beyond a single personality -- a move opposed by the younger Schuller, pastors involved in the matter said Sunday. The elder Schuller announced Saturday that he was removing his son, the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, as the show's only preacher three years after turning the program over to him. The show will now be hosted by different pastors, and even businessmen, from around the country and Latin America."Hour of Power," which reaches 20 million people worldwide, had not been revamped in many years, according to those familiar with it. Robert H. Schuller obliquely addressed the change during a service Sunday. Though never referring directly to his son, he said the long-term survival of his ministry was dependent on expanding its imprint beyond the Schuller name. "The real minister's name that we honor is Jesus, not Schuller," he said to thunderous applause. Schuller built his worldwide ministry over a half century on the psychology of positive thinking and appealing to people turned off by the formality of traditional faiths. In contrast, his son's sermons have been full of direct references to the Bible. "I was called to start a mission, not a church," Schuller told his audience Sunday. "There is a difference. . . . You don't try to preach . . . what is sin and what isn't sin. A mission is a place where you ask nonbelievers to come and find faith and hope and feel love. We're a mission first, a church second." . . . Rick Mysse, a pastor with the Reformed Church of America, the Schullers' denomination, said the decision to revamp the program reflected a consensus view among many of those who run the church. "We kept talking to board members and said we ought to have a broader audience," said Mysse, who was involved in discussions leading to the change. "This one message from one person is just not broad enough right now." . . . Congregants at Sunday services, meanwhile, seemed unfazed by the change. - - - - Read Full Report* Emphasis Added
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| U.S. superstar preacher Jakes goes international |
When Jakes preaches that Jesus died to make us free, and "we are not truly free until we are economically free," he sounds distinctly American.
ASSOCIATED PRESS - October 9, 2008
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: It's time for Americans to look beyond their borders, superstar Texas preacher T.D. Jakes said Thursday as he prepared to hold his trademark Megafest outside the U.S. for the first time.
The best-selling pastor of Dallas megachurch The Potter's House is throwing his signature event - part religious festival, part self-help fair, part gospel concert - at a convention center near Soweto this weekend. . . .
Jakes has preached outside the U.S. before, and South Africans at the press conference Thursday quoted from his books. But he's never taken on anything so ambitious as staging a Megafest abroad. . . .
The U.S. has a tradition of superstar preachers. Jakes is among the best known of today's group, along with Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California and Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston.
Their appeal is testament to the power of two ideas: That spirituality can be a kind of self-help therapy, and that churches can be more than places to worship, but catalysts for community and political activism.
When Jakes preaches that Jesus died to make us free, and "we are not truly free until we are economically free," he sounds distinctly American. But the sentiment is not foreign to South Africa, where religious leaders like retired Cape Town Archbishop Desmond Tutu helped lead the fight against apartheid, and megachurches are blooming in Johannesburg suburbs.
Nkanyiso Bhengu, a popular South African actor, TV host and gospel singer, says young preachers across South Africa are copying Jakes' approach and warm style after seeing his DVDs. Bhengu listens to Jakes' CDs when he's on the road with his gospel group.
"He's very spiritual, but he understands the world that we live in," Bhengu said. "It makes Jesus tangible. It makes God tangible."
Megafest participants will also be able to get free AIDS tests and advice on starting businesses. While he's been in the region, Jakes has built homes for AIDS orphans in the Johannesburg area and, working with the Christian aid group World Vision, opened a learning and feeding center for AIDS orphans in neighboring Swaziland.
Read Full Report
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| Ted Haggard, Oral Roberts, Bishop Weeks ... |
Disgraced pastor returns, as Christian businessman
ASSOCIATED PRESS - By Eric Gorski - November 23, 2008
Earlier this month, a guest took the pulpit at Open Bible Fellowship in Morrison, Ill., a 350-member church surrounded by cornfields. The speaker was an insurance salesman from Colorado named Ted Haggard.
The former superstar pastor, disgraced two years ago in a sex-and-drugs scandal, had returned - this time as a Christian businessman preaching a message that was equal parts contrition and defiance. Haggard linked his fall to being molested in second grade and apologized again.
His two sermons were posted, fleetingly, on Haggard's Web site under one word: "Alive!"
While his exact plans remain unclear, Haggard is unmistakably making himself a public figure again, nine months after his former church said he walked away from an oversight process meant to restore him.
The man who confessed to being a "a deceiver and a liar" is asking for another hearing, finding encouragement from a loyal circle of supporters, skepticism from those evangelical leaders who think it's premature and complex emotions at the Colorado Springs church he betrayed.
Haggard, 52, resigned as president of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals and was fired from New Life Church amid allegations that he paid a male prostitute for sex and used methamphetamine. - - - -
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Former Roberts Employee Says Donations Went Into Unmarked Account
ASSOCIATED PRESS - By Justin Juozapavicius - August 20, 2008
TULSA, Okla. - Some money that flowed into Oral Roberts Ministries earmarked by donors for scholarships or other campus needs was instead placed in an "unmarked, miscellaneous" account shared by both the ministry and Oral Roberts University, a former ministry employee told The Associated Press.
The employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, worked in a department that processed thousands of dollars a day.
She said there was "no consistency, rhyme or reason" for which donations went into the unmarked account "- be it checks written to the university or the ministry -" and which went to the actual departments they were set aside for by the donors. ...
Her description of the account appears to corroborate some claims by a former ORU accountant, who alleges in a wrongful termination lawsuit he had "limited access to unrestricted accounts" and discovered one account used to "funnel exceedingly large sums of money through the university each month that was not used for any legitimate university purpose."
The former accountant, Trent Huddleston, also alleges former university president Richard Roberts and his wife, Lindsay, "co-mingled" and spent university and ministry money. - - - -
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Televangelist's ex-husband seeks new wife on Web
ASSOCIATED PRESS - By Juanita Cousins - September 19, 2008
DULUTH, Ga. - The ex-husband of national televangelist Juanita Bynum, who divorced after a parking lot fight between the two landed him in jail, plans to take his search for a new wife to the Internet with videos featuring dating tips and what he's looking for in a mate.
Thomas W. Weeks III, a minister who runs an Atlanta-area church and is known to his followers as Bishop Weeks, said the 10-episode series will be available starting Tuesday on his Web site.
Excerpts available Friday included Weeks, 41, discussing with aides what he should look for in his third wife.
The group concludes the woman should be at least 25 years old but "with special exemptions for 21 and up if they are classy," Weeks said. She also must want to have children with him.
"This woman has to be very discerning, and very intimate, and very social and very sensual," Weeks says, laughing. "And on the ministry side she has to be very diverse. She can't be ugly."
Bynum, 49, filed for divorce after the couple had an August, 2007, fight in an Atlanta hotel parking lot that landed Weeks in jail on charges that he pushed, choked and beat Bynum. - - - -
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| Boltz shocks Christian community with homosexuality admission |
OneNewsNow - By Jim Brown - September 15, 2008
There is shock and sadness in the Christian community over word that famed Christian music singer Ray Boltz has publicly announced he's living a homosexual lifestyle.
"If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I'm going to live...I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself." Those were the words of Ray Boltz in an interview with the Washington Blade about his decision to engage in homosexuality. Boltz, a father of four who was married for 33 years before officially divorcing his wife this year, is well-known for his widely acclaimed songs "Thank You" and "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb."
The disclosure by Boltz was stunning news to former homosexual Greg Quinlan who is now with the New Jersey Family Policy Council.
"I'm absolutely shocked. I've got some of his CDs and cassette tapes -- tells you how long it's been around. When he says he's born that way, we know now for a fact that that's false. . . .
When asked about Boltz's homosexuality, The Gospel Music Association -- the group which gives out the Dove Awards -- told the Blade, "We do not comment on the lifestyle choices of people in our community."
According to Quinlan, by making such a statement the GMA seems to be "enabling a behavior that is totally inconsistent, incongruent with the message of the gospel." - - - -
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| eHarmony.com to match 'gays' |
Dating site originally promoted by James Dobson bows to lawsuits
WORLDNETDAILY - By Chelsea Schilling - November 19, 2008
Internet dating service eHarmony has officially agreed to begin matching homosexual couples, beginning next year.
The popular California-based service has been known for focusing on long-term relationships, especially marriage, which has been said to align with founder Clark Warren's early work with Focus on the Family's evangelical Christian base and perspective.
Warren, a psychologist with a divinity degree, has had three of his 10 books on love and dating published by Focus on the Family. It was an appearance on James Dobson's radio program, in 2001, that triggered a response of 90,000 new referrals to the website, starting a climb of registered participants on the site from 4,000 to today's 20 million clients.
As WND reported, the company originally said it was " based on the Christian principles of Focus on the Family author Dr. Neil Clark Warren." It stood firm on its decision to reject homosexuals from its profiling and matching services. Its entire compatibility system is based on research of married heterosexual couples.
In 2005, Warren told USA Today the company's goal is marriage and that same-sex marriage is illegal in most states.
"We don't really want to participate in something that's illegal," he said.
Warren began to disassociate himself with Dobson that year to shed the company's association with Focus on the Family. He said he would no longer appear on Dobson's radio show, and he bought the rights to books he had published through Focus on the Family and removed the name from their covers.
"Dr. Warren and I have been friends for many years," Dr. Dobson said in a statement. "He has been on Focus on the Family radio nine times, and we published six of his books. We helped publicize eHarmony.com, and yet, Dr. Warren recently said in an L.A. Times article that his association with us is 'the kiss of death.' I'm sorry he feels that way. He's a good man."
The two agreed to go their separate ways.
Now eHarmony has been compelled to changed its nationwide policy toward homosexuals as part of a New Jersey lawsuit settlement. ...
Last week, eHarmony agreed to begin providing an eHarmony-affiliated "Compatible Partners" service to gays and lesbians, with listings labeled "male seeking male" and "female seeking female" by March 31, 2009.
For complying, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights has dismissed the complaint against eHarmony, and Warren is considered "absolved of liability." Also, the dating site has been ordered to pay the division $50,000 for investigation-related administrative costs and give McKinley $5,000. It has agreed to provide a free one-year membership to its "gay" service to McKinley, plus free six-month memberships to "the first 10,000 users registering for same-sex matching within one year of the initiation on the same-sex matching service," according to the settlement. - - - -
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| Pastor warns against taking homosexuality lightly |
OneNewsNow - By Charlie Butts - September 15, 2008
A song from an increasingly popular singer is still stirring controversy as well as criticism for a pastor for openly objecting to the song.
Pastor Dave Allison of Havens Corners Church of Christ in Christian Union in Blacklick, Ohio, heard about Katy Perry's song I Kissed a Girl (and I Liked it) -- and he did not like it. As he explains, he became especially upset while he and his family arrived at a camping site.
"And as we went to check in there, there was a CNN story about how this song is literally changing behavior across America," Allison explains. "Young girls are acting out on it, experimenting with kisses in public and those kinds of things."
Allison was then inspired to put a message on the church's sign reading "I Kissed a Girl and I Liked It. Then I went to Hell." He contends he was just trying to get across a message on the Bible's firm statement about homosexual conduct among men and women.
"[W]e're living in a liberal culture today, a relativistic culture. They don't read their Bibles the way people used to read their Bible," Allison adds. "And the liberal churches in America have done us a great injustice by muddying the water on the issue of sin when it comes to homosexuality."
He says he intended the sign as a loving warning to young people who might be taken in by the song.
Original Report
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| Liberal churches join effort to overturn Prop. 8 |
ASSOCIATED PRESS - By Lisa Leff - November 18, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO - The state attorney general and sponsors of the ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage in California urged its Supreme Court to hear a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn the ban, saying the matter is too urgent to be unsettled. ...
The California Council of Churches and the Episcopal bishops of Northern California and Los Angeles were among those asking the high court to invalidate Proposition 8. They argue that if voters are permitted to take away rights from a group based on sexual orientation, the same could happen to religious minorities. - - - -
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Related:
Ex-Episcopalians to unveil church constitution
ASSOCIATED PRESS - November 22, 2008
Breakaway Episcopalians are preparing to form a new Anglican Church in North America.
A church constitution, to be unveiled December 3 at Wheaton College near Chicago, would unite some 100,000 disaffected former Episcopalians who now adhere to various conservative Anglican archbishops abroad. Rev. Daryl Fenton says breakaway Episcopalians will soon unveil a new church constitution.
"What's being planned is the organizing of a new Anglican Church in the U.S. that will be related to the rest of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and that will distinguish itself from the Episcopal Church in the U.S. by virtue of its holding to historic doctrines of the faith," he explains.
The Anglican alternative to the U.S. Episcopal Church would likely be led by Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan, the leader of one of four dioceses that have seceded because of differences over biblical authority and interpretation. The consecration of an openly homosexual Episcopal bishop in 2003 has alienated the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion from its own conservatives and from Anglicans abroad.
Original Report
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| Photo exhibit at church honors same-sex relationships |
THE CAPITAL TIMES Madison, Wisconsin [Capital Newspapers/Lee] - October 11, 2008
A photo exhibit featuring partners in same-sex relationships will be on display beginning Sunday at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1609 University Ave. An open house will be held Sunday from 1-3 p.m., and the exhibit will be on display at the church for one week.
The exhibit, titled "Shall Not Be Recognized," was created by Jeff Pearcy and Will Fellows in response to the passage of the 2006 marriage amendment in Wisconsin that does not legally recognize same-sex relationships. The display includes 30 photographs of couples who have been together for seven to 50 years. - - - -
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Film Review: 'God and Gays: Bridging the Gap'
The documentary explores homosexualtiy and the Bible.
LOS ANGELES TIMES [Tribune Company] - By Kevin Thomas - October 27, 2008
Kim Clark and Luane Beck's "God and Gays: Bridging the Gap" is an excellent companion piece to Daniel Karslake's "For the Bible Tells Us So," and even the interviews feature several of the same people. The films make the point that for millenniums gays have been oppressed and worse by a literal interpretation of the Bible that is, in fact, challenged by linguistic scholarship.
Indeed, the film's most dynamic interviewee, the Rev. Deborah L. Johnson, points out that the word "homosexual" never appeared in the Bible until the 1946 Revised Standard Version.
Both films are inescapably preaching to the choir, since fundamentalists are not likely to watch such documentaries. Yet Clark and Beck's film is nevertheless empowering. Almost everyone interviewed was raised in a fundamentalist family, and most endured years of conflict, guilt and isolation. Yet they eventually came to accept their homosexuality and come out to family and friends -- resulting, in many instances, in rejection -- and move on to productive lives and relationships. Most all are involved in careers and causes aimed at bettering the lives of gay people. In the process, they have managed to hold on to their faith in a God they believe loves them. Their stories are filled with searing pain, real courage -- and a triumph of the spirit.
Original Report |
| Riding the Beast: A Binding Concern for the Poor |
40 N.Va. Congregations Are Forming Interfaith Advocacy Group
THE WASHINGTON POST [Wash Post Group/Graham] - By Jacqueline L. Salmon - October 4, 2008; Page B09
Nearly 2,000 members of 40 houses of worship in Northern Virginia are expected at a public meeting tomorrow in Dumfries to launch an interfaith organization that will seek commitments from public officials to do more to help the poor in the area.
The organization, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, or VOICE, is asking local, state and federal officials to increase funding for affordable housing and health care and to ease the backlog of U.S. citizen applications in Northern Virginia.
With a collective membership of 120,000 people, the congregations making up VOICE could prove to be a potent political force in Northern Virginia. Until now, interfaith efforts there have not been as influential or as diverse as in Maryland or the District. . . .
Northern Virginia clergy launched an effort to put together an interfaith organization in 2005 after watching the success of similar groups elsewhere in the Washington area, including the Washington Interfaith Network and Action in Montgomery, both of which played key roles in winning millions for neighborhood investment and affordable housing. . . .
Clergy and members of Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations in Northern Virginia spent three years networking and sorting through issues they believed most affected low- and middle-income residents. They ultimately focused on immigration, affordable housing and health care and then developed goals within those areas, which they presented to city, county and state leaders and members of Northern Virginia's congressional delegation in a dozen recent meetings. - - - -
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FAIR USE NOTICE
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Important Disclaimer
Moriel Ministries does not necessarily endorse everything that is transmitted to our email groups, as being completely trustworthy or godly as some items are drawn from secular sources. Nor does it suggest in any way that any individual or organization mentioned should be followed or given any special credence. Be Alert! is for the dissemination of information only and godly discretion must be applied by recipients to every transmission received by them, from us. |
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