Interesting (if not bizarre) bit of news. This had been going on so long I’d forgotten about it. “Stuart Smalley” wins senate seat…
Norm Coleman concedes Minnesota Senate race to Al Franken
Republican Norm Coleman has conceded to Democrat Al Franken in the Minnesota Senate race, ending one of the longest Senate races in American history and clearing the way for Democrats to hold a 60-seat super majority in the Senate.
I’ve been following the controversy surrounding this story. The video clip on youtube is 9 minutes plus long. I would recommend, once it starts, moving the little bar up to the 4 minute mark: Gay Exorcism The Full Version
A Connecticut church has come under fire for a YouTube video showing ministry leaders attempting to cast a “homosexual demon” out of a teenager.
Gay and youth advocacy groups accused Manifested Glory Ministries in Bridgeport of abusing a teenager in the 20-minute video and say the ministry should be investigated.
Robin McHaelin, executive director of the gay youth advocacy group True Colors, told the Associated Press (AP) she planned to report the church to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. “They have this kid in a full nelson,” she said. “That just seems abusive to me.”
Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission said Manifested Glory is being attacked for exercising its religious liberty. “This church is being unjustly maligned for a spiritual practice that goes all the way back to Christ and the apostles,” he said. “The New Testament records very strange activity associated with demonic spirits. Jesus and the apostles confronted these bizarre situations by praying for deliverance.”
“The fact that the video may be strange or uncomfortable should not be surprising, but it is not a reason to attack people who are simply trying to help,” he added. “People have been delivered out of homosexual lifestyles ever since the church began.”
But D.L. Foster, founder of Witness Freedom Ministries in Atlanta and a former homosexual, agrees with gay activists that the church’s behavior was extreme. He told Charisma the video shows a woman putting her foot on the teen’s neck while he lay on the floor thrashing. Another minister pours water in his face.
“It wasn’t like anything that I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been Pentecostal my whole life,” said Foster, whose ministry helps people find freedom from homosexuality. “I’ve seen actual demons cast out. I thought it was just bizarre, the whole thing—the way the young man was treated, this obsession with making sure it was on camera.”
Though he doesn’t believe the church’s behavior was criminal, Foster wrote in a blog posting (*The topic at pastor Foster’s blog is well worth checking out–there’s over 100 comments) that its actions were “a very poor reflection upon the church and Christ to film this as if it were some entertainment and treat the young man in the manner in which he was treated.”
Manifested Glory’s pastor, the Rev. Patricia McKinney, said the church was trying to help the boy. She told the AP that the teen visited the church last year and collapsed on the floor during a service.
“He was out of control in the church,” she said. “This young man came to us. We didn’t go to him.”
She said the church took care of the youth, giving him clothes. “He was dressing like a woman and everything. And he didn’t want to be like that,” McKinney said of the teen, who told the AP he was 16. McKinney said he told her he was 18. (more here)
Also watch: CNN Interviews Pastor Patricia McKinney Of Connecticut’s Manifested Glory Ministries Church concerning what occurred – 06/25/09
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor.2:14
I’m finding it more difficult to laugh at this guy’s words. In the past most of them have been so ridiculous they were somewhat funny–and perhaps he’ll get back to just being ludicrous in the future. But some of the “thus saith the Lord’s” he’s been coming out with lately go completely against the commands of Christ: when they do that, there is nothing amusing at all; for that is the antichrist spirit speaking folks..
In his latest he writes:
The Spirit of God says, you have been in a field, you have been in a field. Elisha was in a field. The field’s name that Elisha was in before Elijah found him was Abel Meholah. This means the “field of rejoicing.” And Elisha was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen and he was with the 12th. And the Spirit of God says here tonight this is a moment in time that you will understand what is happening.
God said, I send my prophet with a mantle, to tell you this and to make known to you that the time of plowing has come to an end. You have plowed and you have plowed and you have been with the 12th. You say “what about me, I’ve just started my journey?” God says, I speak to my people, I speak to this house and speak to many houses and men of God.
Your time of plowing has come to an end. You time of labor in the field has come to an end.
I have come to cast a mantle on you, says the spirit of God, a mantle so that you can have the portion that you will go beyond and do things that you’ve never done before. It is a spirit of transcendence, you will transcend beyond, says the Lord. Now take it, for this is yours!
For the Spirit of God says if you would hear this and understand that your plowing, your laboring and even in the midst of your rejoicing, has come before Me as a sweet fragrance, says the Lord. For there is a release that you have been waiting for. You are tired, you are worn out. God says, don’t worry, for now the end of that labor has come. You may kiss your mother goodbye, you may kiss your father goodbye in that field, and God said there is a double portion that has been granted to you, says the Lord!
HORSE-FEATHERS! (or hogwash, if you prefer)
The Churches time of sowing, plowing and laboring in the fields has come to and end? What planet is this guy living on!? (see, John 4:35-38, Psalm 126:6, Proverbs 11:30, James 5:20, 1Cor. 9: 19-20)
So the Church should stop laboring in the fields why?–
Because we need to now receive a mantel of “radical transcendence”
Posted at sermonindex
Flee From the Wrath to Come
by Don Currin
In a 1980 interview, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was asked the question, “What do you think Christianity ought to say to the economic situation today?” He answered, “I think the great message we must preach is God’s judgment on men and on the world.”
Dr. Lloyd-Jones went on to underscore the importance of this message when he said, “The condition of the modern world proves that what we must preach more than ever is “Escape from the wrath to come!”
Later in the interview, Lloyd-Jones was asked whether or not Christian influence could produce a Christian culture. To which the preacher replied,
“No. It will never come. All Scripture is against that. It’s impossible. In the present world situation-it has never been more critical-all civilization is rocking, and we are facing collapse, morally, politically, and in every other way. I would have thought that surely at this time our urgent message should be, ‘Flee from the wrath to come!”
I sincerely thank the Lord for this man of God, David Wilkerson. For over 29 years his pulpit series has come in my mailbox, many times, with a word in due season that seemed like it was ‘just’ for me. When his work is finished here and God calls him home, the Church will miss him.
O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? Psalm 139
Posted by sermonindex – June 29, 2009
A few months ago I said Christian researcher George Barna and the Barna Institute was tumbling ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’. (see: Down the Rabbit Hole: Barna, America’s “Faith Tribes” Can Restore Nation, and, George Barna, “Twinkle twinkle little bat”)
I read today at least two others agree that there is good reason to be cautious of the Barna Institute polls.
See:
OneNewsNow, Oxymoronic ‘homosexual Christians’ focus of Barna report
Last week we had the story of the Ark of the Covenant Announcement, (which came to naught) and I see yesterday the Pope announced Paul’s remains are “confirmed” to be in a tomb in the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome. Whatever is there, its not Paul, for the apostle Paul is with Christ:
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Philippians 1
NewsMax, Pope: St. Paul’s Remains Found in Basilica
Pope Benedict XVI announced on Sunday that fragments of bone from the first or second century had been found in a tomb in the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome, which he said confirms the belief that it houses the apostle’s remains.
“This seems to confirm the unanimous and undisputed tradition that these are the mortal remains on the Apostle Paul,” the pontiff said at St. Paul’s-Outside-the-Walls, on the eve of the Feasts of St. Peter and St. Paul celebrated on Monday.
Christian tradition had it that St. Paul was buried in the same place as St. Peter in a catacomb on the Via Appia before being moved to the basilica erected in his honor. For centuries, it was believed that his remains were buried beneath the altar. But it was not until a stone sarcophagus was discovered there in 2006 that Vatican archaeologists could apply scientific research to the religious tradition.
Pope Benedict gave details of the discovery, saying a tiny hole had been drilled in the sarcophagus to permit inspection of the interior, revealing “traces of a precious linen cloth, purple in color, laminated with pure gold, and a blue colored textile with filaments of linen.”
“It also revealed the presence of grains of red incense and traces of protein and limestone. There were also tiny fragments of bone, which, when subjected to Carbon 14 tests by experts, turned out to belong to someone who lived in the first or second century,” the Pope said.
The discovery of the bone fragments coincided with news that Vatican archaeologists had discovered what they believe is the oldest image in existence of St. Paul, dating from the late Fourth century, on the walls of catacomb beneath Rome. (more here)
That is the question Wickle asked at A True Believer’s Blog: Who needs to know this?.
quote..
The headline on CNN reads, “Lusty e-mails make news anchors blush.”
How, exactly, is the public served with this stuff? I don’t need to know what Gov. Sanford and his mistress said to each other. I read part of one such story, then realized that this wasn’t advancing my understanding of the case … and quit. I get it. He had an affair. That’s all the information I need to know. I don’t care what he said about her hands holding what … and I don’t want to know anything else he might have said. (more)
Only today I found myself voicing the same question after surfing from one cable news network to another for the last few days, unable to find any real “news”. Instead there was program after program being repeated about the life and ‘weirdness’ of Michael Jackson, and speculation piled upon speculation about his death. At last I resorted to turning over to the Mike Huckabee show [on Fox]; No, it wasn’t Jackson who was the topic but Governor Sanford and his affair!
The news media has turned into a modern version of Rome’s Circus Maximus or the Colosseum, in their respective heydays. At the least it has become tabloid style gossip. Not just in recent days, but in recent years. Its become the ultimate “Reality TV” experience, and says a lot about our culture. A culture which thrives on watching the misery of others: and feeds on every juicy detail it can get,quickly forgetting these are real people we’re hearing discussed.
We like being voyeuristic.
Sports use to fill this need, but human nature, which gets bored easily, is always seeking more tantalizing input.
So came the reality shows, and now the ‘reality news!’–I wonder what’s next?
Two of my favorite fictional short stories were written by Stephen King, under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. One is titled The Running Man the other, The Long Walk. Both were based in a future setting in which people participate in a life and death contest–while being viewed by those sitting at home.
Today, King’s fictional short stories, written while still in college, don’t sound so far fetched.
The bible warns us about a seared conscience:
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 1Tim.4:1-2
When flesh is “seared with a hot iron” it is cauterized. Its surface is burned, charred, and hardened. A deadened crust of tissue is formed in which there is no longer the sense of feeling. Searing renders it incapable of feeling. It renders it unresponsive, numb to any stimuli it should respond to. What a physical “hot iron” does to flesh, the “hot iron” of subjective experience does to the conscience. (Enjoy the Bible - Keith R. Blades)
Isn’t this what is happening? What use to shock and/or appall us 20 years ago, has become accepted as the norm. What was once scandalous, has become part of our daily diet, dished out by those in the media–whom are not entirely to blame, for they are only feeding us what they believe we desire to ingest.
I don’t want a seared conscience!
It frightens me to think I could not be touched by the pain of others, (which is part of the results of a conscience which is seared); nor do I want to become accustomed to scandalous details, real or not, about other peoples personal lives.
A seared conscience cannot sense guilt, so neither can the need for repentance be sensed. But it can become deceived…as Paul pointed out to Timothy.
Forgive the rambling, and getting off topic. Really, I just wanted to recommend Wickle’s post, but my fingers seemed to have a mind of their own tonight, LOL.
Wickle asks a good question; Who needs to know this?
Check it out..
“His whole family in heaven and on earth.” Ephesians 3:15
Excerpts from “THE FAMILY OF GOD” by J. C. Ryle
The words which form the title of this paper ought to always stir some feelings in our minds. There is not a man or woman on this earth who is not a member of some “family.” The poorest as well as the richest has his relative and kin, and can tell you something of his “family.”
Community of blood is a most powerful tie. I have often observed that people will stand up for their relatives, merely because they are their relatives, and refuse to hear a word against them, even when they have no sympathy with their tastes and ways.
Family gatherings, nevertheless, are often sorrowful things. It would be strange indeed, in such a world as this, if they were not. Few are the family circles which do not show gaps and vacant places as years pass away. Changes and deaths make sad havoc as time goes on. Thoughts will rise up within us, as we grow older, about faces and voices no longer with us..
There is one great family to which I want all the readers of this paper to belong. It is a family despised by many, and not even known by some. But it is a family of far more importance than any family on earth. To belong to it entitles a man to far greater privileges than to be the son of a king. It is the family of which Paul speaks to the Ephesians, when he tells them of the “whole family in heaven and earth.”
It is the family of God.
Interesting article at the Christian Post, Diseases: Creations of God or ‘Intelligent Evil’?. I thought it would make for an interesting poll and possible discussion. Any Christian who has been saved awhile seems to face the question, “what about diseases?”…seeking an answer to are the viruses and parasites which cause the diseases, also created by God or caused by satan.
If I searched through my old journals, I could find where I wrestled with this question back in the 80′s.
At the time I had been doing an in-depth study on the gospel of Mark, primarily because there are more incidents recorded in it’s 16 chapters of Jesus casting out spirits of affliction and/or healing people, then in any of the other 3 Gospels. (Did you know that?)
My questions involved the source of afflictions, illness, and disease: were all demonic, God sent judgments, or a part of the curse involved in the fall of mankind. My conclusion was it could be any of the 3, and in praying for someone ill or afflicted, discernment was needed to know which one.
The article at the Post is lengthy, so I’ll only post a few quotes. Read it all if time allows.
The word tells us:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” John 1:1-3
Which to me, nullifies any belief that satan can ‘create’: he has many powers, but I can find no scriptural evidence that one of these powers is the power to create something from nothing. John tells us clearly that “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made”
While Dr. Ralph D. Winter didn’t claim the agents which cause disease were created by satan he does state he sees them as “intelligently evil distortions by Satan”
quote..
PASADENA, Calif. – In recent years, Intelligent Design has made headlines in media outlets across the country.
The concept, which some have labeled “creationism in disguise,” asserts that “certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection.”
Those Christians who support Intelligent Design, not surprisingly, identify that “intelligent cause” to be God.
But some would argue that such an association would then suggest that God designed viruses, bacteria, parasites and other harmful and destructive organisms that do nothing but bring disease and suffering to God’s creation.
Either that or they were simply errors in creation or creations with harmful flaws.
It’s an age-old question on a microscopic level – did God create the “tiny evils” that spread disease and death throughout the world? If so, then isn’t He to blame for mankind’s suffering?
One of the most influential missiologists of the 20th Century didn’t think so.
Dr. Ralph D. Winter, who recently died at the age of 84, had argued that all violent forms of life – including all disease pathogens – are the works of an “intelligent evil power” that seeks to destroy God’s creation.
“Evangelicals have recently stressed the inevitable intelligence and design in nature, but they have not, to my knowledge, attempted to suggest that there is evidence of any evil intelligence and design,” said Winter.
“Our theologies – that is, our formalized ways of attempting to think biblically – were hammered out during centuries that were totally blind to the microscopic world,” he added. “Our current theological literature, to my knowledge, does not seriously consider disease pathogens from a theological point of view – that is, are they the work of God or Satan?”
As a result, God has for far too long been taking the blame for Satan’s destructive works, Winter contended. And even Christians are confused over who is responsible for all the evil in the world, including disease and suffering. Some even claim that God wants diseases in the world.
“This is perhaps due to a theological tradition which does not understand demonic powers to have the ability to distort DNA,” he expressed.
But even as he battled multiple myeloma and lymphoma, Winter maintained that God is not responsible for the presence of evil but an intelligent evil is.
“I have a strong suspicion that these defects are often actually intelligently evil distortions by Satan not just things that went wrong accidentally,” Winter wrote in a past article, titled “Evolved or Involved?” “Why? Because, simply, some of these are so cleverly destructive,” he added.
“The same goes for destructive viruses, bacteria and especially parasites,” Winter continued. “These represent incredibly ingenious evil. They represent, I am thinking, the involvement of intelligence. They are not just unguided evolution or, much less, errors in creation.”
What say you?
From The WausauDailyHerald: ‘Joe the Plumber’ shares conservative views
quote..
Conservatives in Wausau on Thursday decried President Barack Obama’s economic policies at a gathering hosted by the conservative free-market group Americans for Prosperity. The event, called “Pints and Politics,” brought to town Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, known during the 2008 presidential campaign as “Joe the Plumber.”
Speaking to a group of about 75 people at Wausau’s The Plaza Hotel & Suites, he and other speakers encouraged conservatives to get involved and develop grass-roots organizations.
Christopher Magiera of Wausau, a board member of Americans for Prosperity and a local political activist, said he saw a “Stalinization of America” taking place and that “the only thing that separates Stalinist Russia from what we have in Washington right now are the re-education and death camps.”
Wurzelbacher has a reputation for being a blunt, politically incorrect speaker. Referring to Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., more than once, Wurzelbacher asked, “Why hasn’t he been strung up?”
Referring to the Constitution as “almost like the Bible,” Wurzelbacher said of the Founding Fathers: “They knew socialism doesn’t work. They knew communism doesn’t work.” (*The Constitution predates the origins of socialism by nearly 100 years).
After speaking, Wurzelbacher signed autographs and posed for pictures with the crowd. (more here)
A dear friend loaned me a set of R.C. Sproul’s teaching CD’s on the Holiness of God a few years ago. It was one of the best, if not ‘the’ best teaching on God’s Holiness I’d ever listened to. I pray these clips will bless and inspire you as well.
The Holiness of God, RC Sproul 1-5
The Holiness of God, RC Sproul 2-5
The Holiness of God, RC Sproul 3-5
The Holiness of God, RC Sproul 4-5
The Holiness of God, RC Sproul 5-5
This is pitiful.
From, The Christian Post:
The Gospel is the greatest story ever told. Yet preachers today communicate it as if they were preaching from a school textbook, says one Virginia Beach pastor.
“I think communicators largely have lost the imaginative qualities of the Gospel,” Ben Arment, 35, told The Christian Post. “It’s being delivered in the same ways that academia communicate information.”
“I don’t think the Gospel was ever meant to be read that way.”
Arment, a former pastor for 10 years, wants to restore those imaginative qualities to the Gospel – C.S. Lewis style. He’s bringing together six “master” communicators of the Gospel to one stage for what he calls a “theatrical conference experience.” The fall event, called “Story,” will feature music, drama, comedy and interactive exchanges with attendees. The goal is to create a place where Gospel communicators can be inspired to be better and more effective at what they do.
“We’re setting it in the context of a theatrical environment to play up the storytelling elements of the Gospel to make it more exciting, more appealing and draw out the essence of what our story is,” Arment explained.
Think of it as a dinner theater.
Instead of looking for a way to jazz it up with a gospel ‘dinner theater ‘ why aren’t they asking the real question: “Is the Holy Spirit ANOINTING me when I preach the gospel–and if not, WHY NOT?”
They need to take a lesson from Paul:
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Can’t be 100% sure, but I believe it was the late Walter Martin who commented many years ago that the Holy Spirit could move out, lock, stock, and barrel from many Churches and congregations, and the people in the pews wouldn’t even know it.
Whoever said it, Dr. Martin or someone else, was speaking prophetically without realizing it.
Are there that many today in the Church, who have never once heard the word preached by a man of God under the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost? There must be folks… For no one who has sit under true preaching could ever believe these crazy ideas could bring about any true fruit.
Sitting here this afternoon I’m wondering how long it will take the false prophets to see a ‘sign’ in the death of Michael Jackson or Farrah Fawcett, and come out with a ‘prophetic word’..
Its Friday…uuummm.. it could take them the weekend.
OR maybe not!
Two at EList are posted today. The first is not a prophecy but a ‘word’ seeing these deaths as a sign for Hollywood…
“FALLING STARS: The Harvest is RIPE in HOLLYWOOD! A Call to ACTION Toward the ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY” by Shawn Bolz
The second concerns a dream, which appears highly suspect, being posted today of all days: “God’s Media Army is Arising in Movies, Music, Art, Games and More!” by Julie Meyer
I was given a profound and stunning dream that came with great clarity about the Arising Media Army of the Lord. I would like to share parts of it with you. In the dream, I was sitting at a table with the Ancient of Days and He had opened before Him the checkbook of finance and He was singing out a song. He sang:
“This is why I’m going to write the check
This is why I’m going to give you the money
It’s the Great Invitation to the Divine Interruption in
Media…Media…Media…Media.”In the dream, the word “Media” resounded within my mind from every direction possible. I knew the Ancient of Days was going to have His way in every way in all aspects of media.
If interested you can read them HERE and HERE
What foolishness. Especially the dream…sigh..
In the coming days I look for more words to come from these folks, in an attempt to use these deaths to some sort of advantage.
There has been speculation surrounding the Ark of the Covenant for ages. My opinion has always been that if something were suddenly to be found or brought out, it would not be real. And an even worse possibility is that it could be cause for great deception. Over the years I’ve not changed my opinion.
This story from Israel National News:
(IsraelNN.com) Ethiopian church leader says Friday, June 26, marks the right time to unveil the Biblical Ark of the Covenant, which he says has been hidden in his church for centuries.
Abuna Pauolos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, was in Rome this week to meet with Pope Benedict XVI. While there, he told reporters that the time had come to reveal before the world the Holy Ark. He said that the holy container has been in the custody of his church for hundreds of years. (more here)
Last year I posted a (6) part series on Types and Shadows in the Old Testament, which included a segment on The ark of the covenant: (See: Typology: The Tabernacle and Its Furniture -6) Also, an extended study on the topic of types and shadows can be found here: Shadows of Good Things or the Gospel in Type
If we depend on what scripture tells us, then no one really knows what happened to the Ark but God. And there are no scriptures which point to it suddenly appearing again. Of course that would not stop satan from planning to have something akin to it “suddenly” found or come upon the scene.
I agree with the author below:
I am reminded of the brass serpent erected by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:8-9). It too was a sacred object, but the people eventually turned it into an idol (2 Kings 18:1-4). I fear that if any ark, whether Noah’s or God’s, were to be found there would be a great awakening of icon worship rather than the worship of the God whom they point us too. (What happened to the Ark of the Covenant? Mike Scott)
I agree based on the fact that many Christians today are excited and joyfully looking forward to another man-made Temple being built in Jerusalem. Many I’ve talked to support the endeavor both prayerfully and financially. And, look forward to making the pilgrimage to visit it someday in order to see blood sacrifices performed.
But what does the word of God say?
We’ve just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50.
Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon and paramedics were unable to revive him. We’re told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.
“Forgiven souls are humble. They cannot forget that they owe all they have and hope for to free grace, and this keeps them lowly. They are brands plucked from the fire – debtors who could not pay for themselves – captives who must have remained in prison for ever, but for undeserved mercy – wandering sheep who were ready to perish when the Shepherd found them; and what right then have they to be proud?
I do not deny that there are proud saints. But this I do say – they are, of all God’s creatures, the most inconsistent, and of all God’s children the most likely to stumble and pierce themselves with many sorrows.”
- J.C. Ryle – (Of First Importance)
…know who is really to blame.
Its funny what can go through our minds sometimes.
Yesterday afternoon, while sitting in front of my TV watching the live press conference with S. Carolina’s Governor Mark Sanford, Todd Bentley popped into my head. Weird huh?
I found myself comparing the two men: one in ministry the other in politics, but both claiming to be Christians.
I confess it was difficult watching that press conference yesterday–at times I found myself purposefully looking away from the TV screen because of the rawness of pain and shame visible in the man’s face, and heard in his words. It was hard to look upon…it seemed so ‘naked, so private; you know? At one point I recall dropping my head weeping, praying earnestly for him and his family.
Perhaps as the saying goes, it takes one to know one, but I recognized the pain, shame, and even confusion, of another who has fallen into temptation and sin. And without riling anyone up, by the end of the press conference a sense of “this is good” was in my heart.
I thought, here is humility, here is a public look at repentance. What happens next in the man’s life, we can’t know…but for that brief time before the world he was the face of a fallen Christian who knows he fell, and is in deep sorrow over it.
Compare that to many of our fallen Christian leaders folks–or better yet, compare yesterdays press conference with the actions of false prophet Todd Bentley this past year.
Todd, who ran from the eyes of the Church, hiding out in California with his mistress for months. Todd who has not to this day, shown any evidence of true repentance to the Church world for his actions.
Instead he is now back in ministry after a few short months of hyping him (keeping his name in the news) through Joyner’s ‘restoration’ videos.
Its seems more and more God is showing us things, truths, not by the examples of those in ministry–but by those in the world! Have you noticed that? The Church must truly be in a bad-way when those outside of Ministry are better examples of Christian actions, then those who minister behind pulpits.
Just musing folks..
This is such a good message. I hope you’ll take a few moments to read it. After being born again and purchasing a study bible, Jeremiah 6:16 was the first verse I marked in it. I knew it was somehow important but its only been over the years that I’ve come to realize just how important it was. The Holy Spirit has drawn me back to that verse, with my little notation in the margin, many times in my walk. Its been a continuous reminder that the old way is the only way, that leads to eternal life.
Seek Ye the Old Paths
Rev. Larry Thomas
Isn’t it interesting how you can read the Word of God regularly and thoroughly and yet certain verses don’t really speak to you in a memorable way until you hear someone else use it or preach it? I said that because such was the case with me and Jeremiah 6:16.
One of my dearest friends, Dr. Charles Greenaway, who went to be with Christ recently, quoted this verse to me several years ago. Although I had read it often, the impact of the verse never really hit me until I saw how it affected my friend. Brother Greenaway was a powerful preacher — a veteran of more than 50 years missionary service with the Assemblies of God. We were discussing the present condition of the church and what could and must be done about the falling away from the truth and simplicity of the Word.
“It’s the old paths,” he said, choking back a tear. “We’ve got to find the old paths.”
That has become the cry of our ministry in recent years. God’s people must get back to the old paths — the paths of righteousness and holiness. The ancient paths that lead to eternal life. What we need is a big dose of old-time religion.
Unfortunately, many people equate “old-time religion” with the legalism of the past. I’m not for legalism, unless, of course, legalism is defined as obedience to the Word of God. I abhor the outward, legalistic trappings of twice dead religious systems. Such man-made standards have hurt the church as much as liberalism.
But we must walk the old paths if we will see revival in these final days of time. Walking in the ways of the world, promoting worldly activities, compromising doctrinal soundness for political expediency will never bring revival. It might draw a crowd, but it will never draw the purifying presence of God’s Holy Spirit.
*Some of this is quite graphic* To view it all and take advantage of all the links and photos included, go to prophezine.com -”I’m Burning, I’m Burning!”
By Ray Gano
quote..
There is an awful contrast between the dying testimonies of the saved and the unsaved.
The dying testimonies of the saved reveal an inexpressible happiness and joy of the believer about to be taken home and be in the presence of God the father.
But on the other hand, the dying testimonies of the unsaved reveal the awful remorse of conscience and the untold mental agony of the souls facing death and the judgment unprepared.
There is a book titled “Dying Testimonies of Saved and Unsaved Compiled By Solomon Benjamin Shaw that was first published in 1898 with over 300 pages of deathbed testimonies of those who witnessed the saved and the unsaved in their last moments of life.
The last few days I’ve avoided reading and listening to a lot of secular news. Tonight I decided to take the plunge…
Is anyone embarrassed by what many of our elected Washington officials are saying in the news, concerning what is occurring in Iran? I am.
Why are they doing this; attempting to create a false scenario in which what is happening in Iran, is about ‘us’? Don’t any of these people realize this is about the Iranian people, and not about America.
What is even more ludicrous is one of the loudest voices is that of John McCain, who now is crying out for the need for more of a reaction in support of the Iranian people, when not long ago he was ready to blow Iran and its people off the face of the earth! Who can forget him singing the little ditty, “bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran“.
Senator Lindsey Graham is another one. I heard him tonight on Fox in a highly agitated state, saying ‘We need to do more!!’ When asked what, he got that ‘wild patriotic gleam’ in his eye, and stated that “a forceful speech” at the Washington Monument was needed! (????? – duh)
What exactly do these Washington nuts think America is suppose to do, deploy troops and charge in? Listening to them rant and rave is embarrassing. They sound like a bunch of American Imperialists and don’t sound much different from the Christian Manifest Destiny crowd I’ve posted about here at the blog.
Hey, you Senatorial talking-heads, I have a WORD for you:
The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16
Anyway, latest updates:
7:00 PM ET — Possible rally Wednesday. The New York Times’ Lede blog reports that the first message posted today on the Twitter feed Mousavi1388 seems to be calling for opposition supporters to gather for a rally on Wednesday. The message reads: “Please come to Baharestan Sq. in Tehran tomorrow at 4pm.”
8:35PM ET — Mousavi under house arrest? Reza Aslan, along with others, are tweeting that Mousavi is under house arrest
8:40PM ET — Clerics join anti-government protests. CNN is showing photos and video of a group of Mullahs taking part in protests against the election results.
1:14AM ET — Within the last hour, this video was posted on CitizenTube, a high-quality video of protesters setting up barriers in the street and lighting them on fire. (video)
These and more updates posted HERE
Pray for the people of Iran, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
There are days I question the degree of sanity some Christians possess. The stuff they come up with!
A few days back I had read this at a Christian discussion board, posted by Christian author Jim Bramlett. It concerned the fly incident last week during an interview with Pres. Obama. (If by chance you didn’t catch the story on TV, see clip here)
quote..
Lord of the flies
During an East Room interview with John Harwood for CNBC and The New York Times on Tuesday, a giant fly orbited Mr. Obama’s head.
So, Obama’s home is full of flies. I have never heard of that with any other President. In the Bible, Beelzebub is referred to as “lord of the flies.” Jesus referred to him as “the chief of devils” (Luke 11:15). Beelzebub is Satan. Strange turn of events. Is there a connection here, or subtle prophetic message?
O’ I don’t know Jim…you think so? And just WHAT would the subtle ‘prophetic connection’ be…that anyone who kills a fly is an agent of satan?
Today was this reply:
As soon as I saw Obama swatting flies, the word Beelzebub came to me. It didn’t even take two seconds to hear this word from the urging of the Holy Spirit! Obama clearly demonstrated for all who have eyes to see- he was the “lord of the flies”. What should we take home from this? He is working by this strange satanic power. He was lord over that poor fly’s life, as he is over much of the sleeping people of America! He is filled with the spirit of Satan and I do believe that the fly episode at the Whitehouse was to show us that he is being used by his father, the Devil, to gain control over our nation. Whether he be the Antichrist or not…I do not know, it is plausible because none of us know exactly who is in our family tree all the way back. But Obama certainly does have this spirit of Antichrist.
You know folks, prophecy can be an exciting topic to dig into. It can also be used to open up a dialogue with unbelievers. There is nothing more exciting then to sit down with one who doesn’t know Jesus, and take them through all the prophetic scriptures which foretold of his coming. One such account is recorded in Acts 8 when Philip was sent by the Holy Spirit to witness to the Ethiopian:
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
But, when we wander off into crazy-prophecy-land no one is going to listen to us: or if they do, what are we telling them? About Jesus, and real biblical prophecies; or some crazy ‘connection’ between a fly in the White House with satan? sigh…
More and more Christians are staying away from topics concerning last day prophecy. And its because the crazies are taking over, pulluting prophecy with ridiculous observations and non-existent ‘connections’ to prophecy with everything from “a fly to a hang-nail”. This should not be. Prophecy is a serious topic. It is God’s ‘forth-telling’ (for our benefit) of things which have and WILL come to be.
Forgive the mini-rant, but these folks just plain aggravate me. They do so much harm. As much if not more then the (rapture) date-setters; (though the date setters and nonsensical prophecy pundits seem to be one and the same).
“And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” – Revelation 19:10
A trip down memory lane for me and perhaps for you too, if you were a young adult during the 60′s . What an outstanding quote.
Listening to this again, I can’t but help thinking of another cry–not one concerning only civil rights, but a cry going up from the hearts of millions of Christians asking, (Lord), ‘How long?’…and His comforting reply, ‘Not long’
Truth, Justice, and Mercy will prevail and have supreme rule in the end, brothers and sisters. His name is Jesus.
**
I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because “truth crushed to earth will rise again.”
How long? Not long, because “no lie can live forever.”
How long? Not long, because “you shall reap what you sow.”
How long? Not long:
Truth forever on the scaffold,
Wrong forever on the throne,
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow,
Keeping watch upon his own.
How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.
Video clip HERE
This evening I was reading over a couple old posts and Jesse Penn-Lewis’ warning concerning an ‘unholy mixture’ (from her book, War on the Saints) came to mind:
“There must be more then one quantity to make a mixture, at least two. Satan [the Devil] mixes his lies with truth, for he must use truth to carry his lies. Again–Satan is a ‘mixer’. If he finds anything to be 99% pure, he tries to insert 1% of his poisonous stream, and this grows, if undetected, until the proportions are reversed.” (chapter 6, Discerning Good and Evil)
Some don’t believe both truth [God's Word] and lies can come forth from the same preacher, teacher, etc. The draw on James’ words to prove their point:
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. chapter 3: 11-12
But James is actually writing about offending, the tongue, and ‘blessing and cursing’ (see verses 2-10).
It doesn’t take great discernment on our part, to recognize many if not most of the well known false prophets and teachers today. They’re sorta out there in the twilight-zone with their teachings, words, and weird doctrines. But those who ‘mix’ truth (and sometimes a great deal of it) with lies are a little more difficult to point out; In fact I believe its safe to say without the Holy Spirit gift of discernment actively operating within the believer, it’s impossible to catch the lie.
Its why its so very important to stay in the Word, to ‘know it’ intimately, and to recognize the prompting of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Anyway, the two posts which caught my attention are both related to this mixture. One, which you’re probably familiar with, was a prophecy given out by Stanley Frodsham in 1965. Most Christians have read it at one time or another, but I still want to re-post a few quotes. (if interested, you can read it all here)
THIS PROPHECY WAS GIVEN at the Elim Bible Institute USA, in 1965 by the late Stanley Frodsham.
quote..
When I visit My people in power, it is to prepare them for the darkness ahead. With the glory shall come great darkness, for the glory is to prepare My people for the darkness. I will enable My people to go through because of the visitation of My Spirit. Take heed to yourselves lest you be puffed up and think that you have arrived. Many shall be puffed up as in the olden days, for many then received My message but they continued not in it. Did I not anoint Jehu? Yet the things I desired were not accomplished in his life. Listen to the messengers, but do not hold men’s persons in admiration. For many whom I shall anoint mightily, with signs and miracles, shall become lifted up and shall fall by the wayside. I do not this willingly; I have made provision that they might stand. I call many into this ministry, and equip them; but remember that many shall fall. They shall be like bright lights, and the people shall delight in them. But they shall be taken over by deceiving spirits and shall lead many of My people astray.
Hearken diligently concerning these things, for in the last days shall come seducing spirits that shall turn many of My anointed ones away.
Many shall fall through divers lusts, and because of sin abounding. But if you will seek Me diligently I will put My Spirit within you. When one shall turn to the right hand or to the left you shall not turn with them, but keep your eyes wholly on the Lord. The coming days are the most dangerous, difficult and dark, but there shall be a mighty outpouring of My Spirit upon many cities, and many shall be destroyed.
My people must be diligently warned concerning the days that are ahead. Many shall turn after seducing spirits; many are already seducing My people. Many cover their sins by great theological words.
But I warn you of seducing spirits who instruct My people in an evil way. Many of these I shall anoint, that they may purify and sift My people; for I would have a holy people.
I want to stop there for a moment. Did you catch that last part?
I warn you of seducing spirits who instruct My people in an evil way. Many of these I shall anoint, that they may purify and sift My people; for I would have a holy people
What do you think about that? Can it be that God Himself would ‘anoint’ one (a teacher/preacher/prophet) with an evil seducing spirit–in order to sift His people?
moving on..
Many shall come with seducing spirits and hold out lustful enticements… the way shall become more and more narrow, and fewer shall walk there in.
AHAHA..
CPost: PETA Seeks ‘Converts’ at Southern Baptist Meeting
PETA members will be bringing a pro-vegetarian message with them to those attending the annual gathering of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.
Among the demonstrators who will be standing outside the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville as the SBC opens its two-day meeting on Tuesday will be one dressed as Jesus, carrying a sign reading “For Christ’s Sake, Go Vegetarian,” and another dressed as a chicken with a sign reading “Jesus Loves Me Too.”
When reading this I had a sudden mental image of rep’s from Kentucky Fried Chicken counter-demonstrating by standing around outside scarfing down huge greasy buckets of KFC. LOL!! O’ my…
I’m not poking fun at vegetarians, just this stupid demonstration. Jesus’ name sure gets dragged into some strange events..
Read more HERE
