Israel Navy opens fire on Gaza aid flotilla; activists killed

I’m not surprised at this breaking news, only that lives have not been lost before this. Wonder what International reactions this will provoke in the coming days.

Haaretz:

Israel Navy troops opened fire on pro-Palestinian activists aboard a six-ship aid flotilla sailing for the Gaza Strip, killing two and wounding several others after the convoy ignored orders to turn back, Turkey’s NTV reported early Monday.

Earlier Monday, Al Jazeera reported that the Gaza aid flotilla had changed course to avoid a confrontation with Israeli warships.

The Israeli naval vessels reportedly made contact earlier with the six-ship flotilla, which is carrying 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid and supplies to Gaza.

The Israeli navy was operating under the assumption that the activists manning the boats would not heed their calls to turn around, and Israeli troops were prepared to board the ships and steer them away from the Gaza shores and toward the Israeli port city of Ashdod.

The flotilla, which includes three cargo ships and three passenger ships, is trying to draw attention to Israel’s three-year blockade of the Gaza Strip. The boats are carrying items that Israel bars from reaching Gaza, like cement and other building materials.

The activists said they also were carrying hundreds of electric-powered wheelchairs, prefabricated homes and water purifiers.

Full story here

UPDATE:  At least 10 activists killed

As this story is still being played out as I post, there are breaking reports coming from a variety of news sources around the world.

This just minutes ago from CNN:

Israeli soldiers boarded a Turkish boat carrying aid for the Palestinian territory of Gaza during a pre-dawn raid, the Free Gaza Movement said.

“At about 4:30 am, Israeli commandos dropped from helicopter onto deck of Turkish ship, immediately opened fire on unarmed civilians,” a post on the group’s Twitter page said.

Video aired on CNN sister network CNN Turk showed what appeared to be soldiers rappelling onto the deck of a ship.

MSNBC:

This is the ninth time that the Free Gaza movement has tried to ship in humanitarian aid to Gaza since August 2008.

Israel has let ships through five times, but has blocked them from entering Gaza waters since a three-week military offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers in January 2009. The flotilla bound for Gaza is the largest to date.

Some 700 pro-Palestinian activists are on the boats, including 1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Northern Ireland, European legislators and an elderly Holocaust survivor.

At Gaza’s tiny port, meant for small fishing boats, Hamas officials, activists and foreign nationals prepared to welcome the flotilla, sitting in some 40 small boats that were bobbing in the sea and decorated with the flags of the countries of the pro-Palestinian activists, including Turkey and Algeria.

In other boats, Gaza boy scouts played music, while on shore, other activists released balloons with the faces of Palestinian civilians and militants killed in battles with Israeli forces.

In Syria, eight Damascus-based Palestinian groups urged Arab and Muslim states to work to support the flotilla and warned Israel against committing any “foolishness to impede the vessels”

“This could create more tension and trigger unpredictable reactions,” said the groups, which included Hamas and the militant Islamic Jihad.

Related: Protesters try to storm Israeli consulate in Turkey

Todd Bentley Update

Rick Hiebert has posted an interesting update on the recent activities of Todd Bentley:

What is new with Canadian evangelist Todd Bentley, trying to make a comeback in the U.S., after the collapse of the Lakeland “revival”?

Well, Bentley gave evidence a few weeks ago that he is up to his old tricks. But I would think that publicly repenting of using “hype” and then, a few minutes later, using hype again would be a bit brazen, even for him.

I refer to his “Kingdom Authority and Healing” talk of April 10, at the Morningstar complex in the United States….

See Bene Diction: Todd Bentley repents of “hype”, only to use hype moments later

Ezekiel’s Temple and the outflow of living waters..Part (2)

See Part (1)

THE PURPOSE OF THE VISION

What then was the immediate purpose of this vision? I think this question has a simple answer in the light of the passage itself and that of other Scriptures.

Ezekiel prophesied during the captivity. That captivity was to be of seventy years duration, as predicted by Jeremiah. At its end the captives were to return and re-build the city and the temple. This new temple was to serve as the sanctuary of God until Christ should come.

God’s plan had always been to give to His people the exact pattern of the sanctuary they were to build for His Name. To Moses He had shown the pattern of the tabernacle, giving him at the same time the strictest injunctions to make every detail in exact accordance with that pattern. Likewise to David, God had revealed the pattern of the temple which was to be built at Jerusalem, with all its institutions, vessels of service, etc.

‘All this,’ says David, ‘the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern’ (1 Chr. 28:11-19)

And once again, after the exile, a house was to be built for the Name of the Lord in Jerusalem. Therefore, having in mind His invariable method in such case, we should expect to find at this period a revelation from heaven of the pattern to be followed in the building of that house. And right here we do find the revelation from God of the completed pattern and institutions of a temple, with directions to the prophet to show the same to the house of Israel.

Furthermore we find that even as Moses was admonished to make all things according to the pattern shown him ‘in the mount,’ so Ezekiel was taken to ‘a very high mountain’ where this pattern was shown to him, and he was told to set his heart upon all that should be revealed to him, and to declare all he should see to the house of Israel (40:3-4; 44:5).

Again, as regards the ministers of the sanctuary, it is strictly commanded that the priests are to be Levites of the sons of Zadok (45:15), which proves that the whole system was for an era when the priesthood of Aaron was not as yet abolished.
Furthermore, special instructions are given in this vision regarding ‘the prince.’ Now it was only after the return from Babylon that Israel was subject to a ‘prince,’ as Zerubbabel in the days of Ezra, and the Hasmonaean princes at a later day.

Finally, this vision contains instructions for the re-allotment of the land, corresponding to the instructions given Moses and Joshua at the first occupation of the land. This provision embraces the whole twelve tribes of Israel. For it should be noted that in the land of their captivity Israel and Judah were mingled together; and from that time onward the distinction between the ten northern tribes and the other two no longer exists. Thus Ezekiel was sent to ‘the children of Israel,’ to ‘the house of Israel,’ and as in several passages to ‘all the house of Israel’ (11:15, 20:40, etc.).

Likewise Daniel confessed on behalf of ‘all Israel’ and prayed for his ‘people Israel’ (9:11,20), and those who returned with Ezra were ‘all Israel’ (Ezra 2:70, 8:25; 9:1 etc.). And this continued to New Testament times, when Peter makes his proclamation at Pentecost to ‘all the house of Israel’ (Acts 2:36), Paul speaks to Herod Agrippa of ‘our twelve tribes’ (Acts 26:7), and James writes to ‘the twelve tribes scattered abroad’ (Jam. 1:1).

This effectually disposes of all speculation regarding ‘the ten lost tribes,’ and particularly of the grand delusion of Anglo-Israelism.

Conservative Media Firm: Gaza Withdrawal Caused BP Disaster

First two items I come across today; Glenn Beck the ‘Mad’ Theologian and now this.

quote…

Several years ago, when reporting from John Hagee’s church, I was sitting with a woman who told me she believed that Hurricane Katrina had been caused by Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip (or the “Gaza land giveaway,” as she put it). This woman was preparing herself to be part of the “remnant” she claimed God is gathering as predicted in the Book of Ezekiel. The remnant, as interpreted by this woman and many others, will resist the persecution of the Antichrist during his reign during the Tribulation period, and would preach the Gospel to nonbelievers.

“Bad things will happen to America,” this woman added, if America doesn’t follow God’s commandment in Genesis 12:3 to bless Israel.

More here: Conservative Media Firm Pushes Claim That Gaza Withdrawal Caused BP Disaster

Glenn Beck, Constantine and the Dead Sea Scrolls – Idiocracy

“….the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”

Out of the mind and mouth of a truly, genuine madman…

Glenn Beck, Constantine and the Dead Sea Scrolls – Idiocracy

Also: Glenn Beck Explains the Dead Sea Scrolls

Can you believe I STILL, to this day, continue to have Christians contact me after a Glenn Beck post, defending him as a “voice of God”.

The ‘blind leading the blind’ is the only explanation I can come up with…

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers..”

Rick Frueh touches on something in his latest post, which I’ve pondered on myself:

Some believers are adamant about tracking the associations of other believers. And when some questionable association is uncovered they are effervescent about exposing that yoking and castigating any and all involved. However, these same believers feel no conviction about joining with unbelievers when it centers around American issues.

It seems being an American is the one unequal yoke that is allowed by many orthodox believers who use that verse for almost all other unbiblical associations…

Continue here: Valley Forge – A Holy Place?

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

In Stock: Bible that Mixes Religion & Politics

The title of this post is the exact title of an email I received from American Vision yesterday. Has the Church in America fallen so far into the depths of apostasy that to promote something like this is considered a ‘good thing’? Apparently so…

From the email (also posted online)

This is the most Revolutionary edition of the Bible ever produced because it mixes Religion and Politics… A proper reading and application of God’s Word prevents Tyranny and gives birth to Liberty.

This edition also includes the following historical documents, which are based upon Biblical principles:

*The Magna Carta
*The Mayflower Compact
*The Declaration of Independence
*The Articles of Confederation
*The Constitution of the United States
*Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
*Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior

ENDORSEMENTS:
The publication and promulgation of the 1599 Geneva Bible will help restore America’s rich Christian heritage and reclaim the culture for Christ.” – Dr. D. James Kennedy, Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

I sadly have nothing more to add…

Related:

Dominionists Taking Over Government

Rand Paul and the Influence of Christian Reconstructionism

Two Kingdoms, Two Gospels

Two excellent posts by Pastor Anton Bosch; “Two Kingdoms” and “Two Gospels”

Many Christians have been deceived into believing that they can somehow “convert” the kingdoms of this world to become the Kingdom of God. In the process they have put their energy and hopes into bringing about the Kingdom of God by working towards getting more influence with government in order to transform government. Some even believe that Jesus will return once we have transformed the world and created the millennial Kingdom.

This presupposes that the Kingdom of God is a better version of or improved earthly kingdom. But what does the Bible have to say about this?

The first mention of a subject in the Bible is often very significant for an understanding of that topic.

The first mention of the word “kingdom” is in Genesis 10:10 when it says of Nimrod that “the beginning of his kingdom was Babel.” It was at Babel that the tower was built that was intended to reach to Heaven and that to this day remains the prime example of man’s pride, self-sufficiency and rebellion against God. Babel was the precursor and type of Babylon, the false world system and religion, which is the domain of the Antichrist (Revelation 17 & 18). It was at Babel that God brought division between the nations and broke their rebellious unity.

Furthermore it is remarkable and significant that the last time the word “kingdom” is mentioned is in Revelation 17:17 where it says that the world rulers will “be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast.” This will bring the world full-circle where they once again are united against God and once again establish Babel/Babylon.

The fact that the first and last mention of the word “kingdom” both relate to the false world system which is united in its rejection of God and that both speak of that which is man-made with an emphasis on man rather than God is not coincidental.

Please visit Herescope to read both…

Protest the Pill Day 2010

File this under…. gosh I don’t know WHAT to file this bizarre story under.  Personally, I find it strangely funny….

Protest the Pill Day 2010: 50 Years of Killing the Environment — June 5, 2010

Ezekiel’s Temple and the outflow of living waters..Part (1)

(This is an edited version of chapter 12 of Philip Mauro’s book, ‘The Hope of Israel‘)

Messianic Good News: Ezekiel’s Temple and the outflow of living waters – Where did the Spirit descend at Pentecost?

Chapters 40 to 46 inclusive of the Book of Ezekiel contain the record of a vision given to that prophet, in which he was shown the pattern of a temple and its various appointments, the arrangements, gates, courts, and chambers, their dimensions and other details being stated with minuteness. The space given to the description of this temple would indicate that it is a matter of considerable importance in the eyes of God. So it will be well worth our while to seek an understanding of the vision, and to inquire into the purpose for which it is given – even more so because of much barren conjecture and diverging opinion in this regard, amongst those who seek to expound the Scriptures.

These visions present difficulties of interpretation, as is generally recognized. But whatever they may or may not mean, they certainly give no support for the doctrine of a political future for the earthly Israel. Insofar as this prophecy was to have its fulfillment in the realm of the natural, it was fulfilled after the return from Babylon. But, as with the pattern of the temple showed to Moses on Mt. Sinai, so likewise here it seems we must take the visions seen by Ezekiel on that ‘very high mountain’ (40:2) to be the patterns of things heavenly and spiritual.

Moreover, in chapter 43:9-11 it is distinctly stated that all these promises given through Ezekiel were conditional, and we further know that that people did not fulfil the conditions that were laid down any more than they fulfilled those of the old covenant.

Hence these later promises (along with all the others) have been forfeited irreversibly, and they find their ‘yea’ and their ‘amen’ in Christ, being all ‘unto the glory of God by us’ – the true Israel (2 Cor. 1:20). That is to say, God will have glory through the fulfilment of those promises in and through His new covenant people.

IS IT THE PLAN OF A TEMPLE FOR THE MILLENNIUM?

One solution of the problem we are studying (to which many strongly adhere) is that Ezekiel’s vision relates to Millennial times, when the temple shown to Ezekiel will be erected on Mt. Moriah, when also the system of worship described in the concluding chapters of Ezekiel will be instituted and carried on. This view is characteristic of that peculiar system of interpreting the Scriptures which rids itself of all difficulties in the prophetic Word by simply and expediently postponing their fulfilment to the Millennial age. Thus the Millennium becomes the convenient and oft used dumping ground of all portions of Scripture that offer any difficulty, and the unhappy consequence is that many prophecies which were fulfilled before or at the first coming of Christ, or are currently being fulfilled in this age of the gospel, and many Scriptures, such as the Sermon on the Mount, which apply directly to the saints of this dispensation, are wrenched out of their proper place, and are relegated to a distant future, much to the loss of the people of God and to the integrity of the Scriptures as a whole.

The ‘postponement’ system doubtless owes the popularity it enjoys to the circumstance that its method is both safe and easy. It is safe because, when a fulfilment of prophecy is relegated to the Millennium, it cannot be conclusively refuted until the time comes. All date-setting schemes owe their measure of popularity to the same fact. It is easy because it relieves the Bible student of the trouble of searching for the contextual or Christological meaning and application of difficult passages.

But, coming to the special case in hand, which is illustrative of many others, we must now boldly assert and undertake to show, that there are insurmountable objections to the view that Ezekiel’s temple is for future Millennial times.

Oh Christendom

Though posted 2 years ago, after reading it again this morning I felt to repost it.

IT IS AT THAT DAY proud and luxurious Christians shall learn that God is no respecter of persons; that all sects and names shall be swallowed up in these two kinds, sheep and goats, just and unjust; and the very righteous must have a trial for it; which made that holy man cry out, “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” -1 Pet 4:18

If their thoughts, words, and works must stand the test, and come under scrutiny before the imperial Judge of heaven and earth, how then should the ungodly be exempted? No; we are told by Him that cannot lie, many shall then even cry, “Lord, Lord!” set forth their profession, and recount the works that they have done in his name, to motivate Him to mercy, and yet be rejected with this direful sentence, “Depart from me, you workers of iniquity; I know you not” (Mat 7:23).

As if He had said, Depart you evil doers; though you have professed me, I have never known you; your vain and evil lies have made you unfit for my holy kingdom. Go away from here and go to the gods whom you have served; your beloved lusts which you have worshipped, and the evil world that you have so much coveted and adored. Let them save you now, if they can, from the wrath to come upon you, which is the wages of the deeds you have done. Here is the end of their work that built upon the sand; the breath of the Judge will blow it down, and woeful will the fall be. Oh! it is now that the righteous have the better of the wicked which made an apostate cry, in old time, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like to his” (Num 23:10).

For the sentence of the righteous [those had found everlasting peace and confidence while on earth] is changed, and the Judge smiles. He casts the eye of love upon his own sheep, and invites them, saying; “Come, you blessed of my Father” (Mat 25:34); those, who through patient continuance in well-doing, have long waited for immortality. The Judge tells them that you have been the true companions of my tribulation and cross, and, with unwearied faithfulness, in obedience to my holy will, valiantly endured to the end, looking to me, the author of your precious faith, for the recompense of reward that I have promised to “they who love me, and faint not.”

Oh! enter you into the joy of your Lord, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Oh Christendom! My soul most fervently prays, that after all your lofty profession of Christ, and his meek and holy religion, your unsuitable and unchristian life may not cast you out at that great judgment court of the world, and lose you so a great salvation at last.

Hear me once, I implore you: can Christ be your Lord, and you not obey Him? or, can you be his servant, and never serve Him? “Be not deceived, such as you sow, shall you reap” (Gal 6:7). He is not your savior while you reject his grace in your heart, by which He should save you by purification.

Come, from what has He saved you? Has He saved you from your sinful lusts, your worldly affections, and vain conversations? If not, then He is not your savior! For, though He is offered a savior to all, yet He is actually a savior to those only that are saved by Him; and none are saved by Him that live in those evils by which they are lost from God, and which He came to save them from.

~ William Penn – 1644-1718

The Controlling Mythology Underlying the Dominion Mandate

Dr. Orrel Steinkamp has written a message concerning yet another heretical aspect concerning dominion theology.

The Controlling Mythology Underlying the Dominion Mandate

“The first advent of Christ was for the purpose of creating a blessed seed upon the earth – the church. The second coming of Jesus will take place after this blessed seed has completed the Dominion Process upon the earth by making disciples of all nations.” Mark Pfeifer, “Theology of Reclaiming 7 Mountains”[1]

A “world-view” is an arrangement of ideas in and through which a person interprets and judges reality. It is a background “script” that undergirds, consciously or unconsciously, more or less consistently, a person’s thoughts and actions. In the jargon of biblical/theological studies there is a long German word heilsgeschichte, meaning roughly “salvation history.”

Salvation history is the series of events and truths that portray God’s redemptive plan across the ages, a worldview focused specifically on the elements salvation. From it is drawn the church’s historical teaching about salvation. It is broad in its scope, usually beginning with creation and the fall and moving on through the incarnation of Christ, His substitutionary death for human sin on the Cross, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the founding of the church by the apostles, the second coming of Jesus, the final resurrection of the dead and Judgment, and the final state of glory.

Beware. In recent decades a radically different script of salvation, a different worldview, has entered the church. It is called the Dominion Mandate. Unfortunately, it is rarely recognized as being outside the boundaries of orthodox belief. It has many things in common with traditional Christianity, but its underlying heilsgeschichte is fundamentally different. It is a rival salvation history, which promotes a false gospel.

The current evangelical culture of downplaying theology in favor of pragmatic strategies is a main reason why this alien salvation history is often undetected when it creeps, or strides boldly, into the church.

continue here

National Association of Evangelicals: ‘Anathema’

As we said before , so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received , let him be (anathema) accursed. Galatians 1:9

The NAE believes the ‘gospel of man’ is the answer to young “Evangelicals” having sex and abortions. I can only shake my head in disbelief.

The nation’s largest evangelical body on Thursday launched a new abortion reduction initiative in which discussion about sex is a major focus.

Sexual activity outside of marriage is occurring at a significant level among young evangelicals, said the National Association of Evangelicals. And young unmarried evangelicals are among those who are having abortions.

“There are a significant number of abortions taking place within the evangelical community but we don’t really talk about that,” said Galen Carey, director of government affairs at the NAE, to The Christian Post. “So we want to stimulate a conversation.”

“We believe there is a close connection to a respect to sex and a respect for life,” he added.

The NAE, which represents 40 denominations and 30 million U.S. evangelicals, released a “Theology of Sex” booklet earlier this week that it hopes will inspire discussion about sex within the church.

Evangelicals: Let’s Talk about Sex to Reduce Abortions

Jews for Jesus founder Moishe Rosen dead at 78

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Moishe Rosen, founder of the controversial group Jews for Jesus, has died after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 78.

In a press release, Jews for Jesus says Rosen was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, but converted to Christianity at the age of 21 when he became convinced that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah.

In 1973, he founded the organization whose mission statement is “to make the Messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to our Jewish people worldwide.”

Those evangelistic efforts have been denounced by Jewish groups and by some churches as well.

In a posthumous letter on the Jews for Jesus website, Rosen says:

“Within Judaism today, there is no salvation because Christ has no place within Judaism.” (Tampa Bay news)

Take note of his concerns within his posthumous letter posted at the website;

He being dead still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4)

Dear friends,

If you are reading this, it means that I have gone on to my reward. As I write this, I can only think of what the Scriptures say and that is, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither have they entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) Well, I have a big curiosity and by now, I know.

I don’t suppose that I will be writing you any new material, but there are a few articles in the works that might still come through.

As I go, I feel that I have left a number of things undone. I think everyone must feel that way. There were words of appreciation that I looked for an occasion to express, but they didn’t come. There were words of regret that I would have expressed to others. And there were words of encouragement that I had for all who were believers.

I’d like to encourage you to stay with Jews for Jesus. I was the Executive Director until 1996. Many things have changed. Some of them definitely for the better and others that I can’t say were for the worse, but things that I would not have thought to do. Nevertheless the core of what Jews for Jesus stands for is still central.

As I go, one of the things that concerns me deeply is how much misunderstanding there is among believers. I never thought I would live to see the day when those who know the Lord and are born again were supporting the efforts of rabbis who, frankly, not only don’t know Christ, but don’t want to know Him.

To be an honest ministry, it can only come from the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit can only indwell those who have the new birth and are born again. Therefore, I would urge you to think very seriously before you support any “ministry” that involves Jewish people and doesn’t actually bring the gospel to the Jews.

Likewise, I am concerned over something else that I never thought that I would see or hear and that is, Jews who have become believers in Jesus and have important positions in ministry yet feel that their primary purpose is to promote Jewishness and Judaism to the Jews.

more

And what is the point?

I wish there was a test people had to take (and pass) before being allowed to attach the word Christian to their group, organization, or “whatever”. There are organizations galore out there today who wave the banner of Christ but are less Christ-like then the atheist who lives in the apartment down the hall.

I say all that to ask, what is the point of this exercise by Christian Newswire?

Leading Religious Newswire Defends ‘Everybody Draw Mohammed Day’

As director of Christian Newswire, I stand with the Seattle cartoonist’s right to hold an “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” and to publicize it on an “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day,” Facebook page.

Ole Anthony looks at the ministry of Jesse Duplantis

If you’ve never heard of Ole Anthony you might enjoy reading this article, God doesn’t need Ole Anthony.

From Fox8Live

Ole Anthony’s been investigation religion since the mid 1980’s.

Anthony said, “There’s more fraud committed in America in the name of God than any other fraud. And that’s is just not right.”

Anthony heads the Trinity Foundation. It’s a Dallas based not for profit.

“Many of these ministries we investigate at the top are spiritual snakepits,” Anthony said. “And that’s sad.”

Trinity Foundation has worked with the FBI, IRS, even the U.S. Senate.

“Believe it or not, we are the only group in America that routinely investigates religious fraud,” Anthony said. “Why? Because these guys are terribly litigious. I’ve been sued so many times I can’t count it anymore.”

One of the televangelists Anthony is investigating is based in St. Charles Parish.
Jesse Duplantis is charismatic. He also has a worldwide following.

But Anthony says greed motivates Duplantis. And Anthony says that is apparent by his luxurious lifestyle.

Duplantis is building a mansion in St. Charles Parish. It’s reportedly one of the largest on the East Bank of the River. Construction began in October of 2008. The house has 35-thousand square feet of covered space. It has 22,039 of living space. The garage and other covered area totals 12,947 square feet.

Inside, there will be 5 bedrooms, more than 7 bathrooms, and a home theatre. Parish records show the cost at 3 million dollars. The owner of the house is not Duplantis, but his ministry, Jesse Duplantis Ministries.
Pete Evans leads the investigations for the Trinity Foundation.

Evans said, “Donors expect the money they donate to the church to go to the poor and needy. Not to build mansions for the pastor.”

Evans says Duplantis teaches the Prosperity Gospel.

To continue reading, Lee Zurik Investigation: Duplantis ministry is big business

Jonathan Falwell wins the Irony Award

The statements by Jonathan Falwell below seem ironic. Falwell, who’s Liberty University just featured Mormon Glenn Beck as guest speaker, states,

“Half of pastors would leave the ministry tomorrow if they could. Seventy percent are fighting depression and 90 percent can’t cope with the challenge of ministry.” Those are the statistics Pastor Jonathan Falwell laid out to thousands of ministers who were in Lynchburg, Va., Tuesday for the “Refuel” conference.

The well-known pastor stated bluntly, “Something is wrong in ministry.” Link

You think? Of course you and your ‘Christian’ University giving a platform to someone who belongs to a religious organization which teaches Jesus and Satan are brothers, couldn’t “possibly” have anything to do with any problems the Church and/or ministers face.

John Hagee wants to be the Comeback Kid

Interesting article at BuzzFlash: John Hagee Said God Sent Hitler to Hunt the Jews. Now He Wants to Be the Comeback Kid.

The recent message by John Hagee, mentioned within the article, was emailed out from CUFI yesterday: Why Christian Zionists Really Support Israel

a few revealing quotes…

“As is the case for many Jews, our support for Israel starts with God’s promises in the Hebrew Bible, but it does not end there. Christian Zionists recognize that we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Jewish people. As I have stressed to my Christian audiences for years: If you take away the Jewish contribution to Christianity, there would be no Christianity.”

“Given the history of Christian antisemitism, I am not at all surprised that many in the Jewish community are skeptical of Christian support for Israel. Some worry that our efforts are motivated by a desire to convert Jews. Others posit that our Zionism is tied to an effort to speed the second coming of Jesus. Both of these allegations are flat wrong.”

“Like all people of faith, we Christians firmly believe that our religion is true. But we also believe in religious freedom and have enormous respect for the Jewish faith. The first rule adopted by Christians United for Israel was that there would be no proselytizing at our events. CUFI exists only to honor and support the Jewish people, never to convert them.”

Mainstreaming Dominionism

Another excellent exposé on the spread of dominionism inside AND outside the Church, can be read at Herescope.

quote…

You might be surprised to learn about who is now connected to the 7 Mountain “mandate” of Dominionism.[4] It has become a widespread teaching in the evangelical world, and many of its adherents aren’t fully aware of how dark and dreadful the full-blown Dominionist agenda truly can become. One of the common denominators for Dominionists is the belief that the church should change the world – not just impact the world as salt and light, but actually control the world, particularly the State (government). This theology appeals to many, and has deep roots in church history.

A key feature to look for in identifying Dominionism is a de-emphasis on the Cross of Christ and His dying for our sins. The humble Gospel of Salvation is sidelined by a gung-ho gospel of the Kingdom, which talks about doing things and supporting causes.

Most of the time Dominionism Lite is marketed as a fix-what-is-broken mandate for the church to change the world. This can be done through various mission strategies and by changing people’s values and behavior. Especially popular is the call to restore America to its “Christian roots.”

Just HOW this mandate will come to be accomplished on a national and global scale is the key question. Some teach and believe that it will be through “decrees” — prophetic declarations that claim to be doing spiritual warfare in the heavenlies that will change things on the earth. These esoteric heresies have gained great prominence in the NAR subculture.[6] Others believe that it will happen via education and worldview training. Others are working to change economies and the marketplace. Some churches focus on impacting the arts, media and entertainment. And many are working in the political arena. Each “sphere” of these 7 mountains appeals to people who want to see things change here on earth.

Whatever the focus, the 7 mountain “mandate” is now becoming mainstream. The methods to do this include the technique of integration and infusion, embedding the 7 mountains “mandate” doctrines into superficially appealing causes. Below are several examples of how this mainstreaming happens.

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Indiana Rep. Mark Souder, ” I’m an evangelical Christian”

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Rep. Mark Souder, an eight-term Republican who promoted abstinence education, said Tuesday he’ll resign from Congress after admitting an extramarital affair with a part-time staff member.

Souder, an evangelical Christian who has championed family values and traditional marriage, apologized for his actions but provided no details during an emotional news conference at his Fort Wayne office.

Souder said he doesn’t want his “mistake” to be used “as a political football in a partisan attempt to undermine the cause for which I have labored all my adult life.”

“The ideas we advocate are still just and right,” Souder said according to the Wall Street Journal, adding that he is “most defined by the fact that I’m an evangelical Christian”

Rep. Mark Souder Cries Over Affair, Resignation

There’s a lesson to be learned here… ’nuff’ said.

Missionaries Call It a ‘Privilege’ to Suffer

God bless those who are called to suffer for Christ…

Christian Post,

Missionaries in training with Gospel for Asia have spoken of the “privilege” they felt in suffering for Christ after being attacked on their Bible college campus in Mumbai, India, earlier in the month.

Seven students were seriously injured in the attack by suspected anti-Christian extremists on May 9.

They were preparing the evening meal when attackers armed with wooden sticks, iron rods and fluorescent light tubes stormed onto the campus, beating them and vandalizing the buildings.

The students tried to speak to the assailants and find out why they were attacking them but got no answer.

Hemanti Kashyap was injured when the attackers hit him in the stomach with an iron rod. He said the incident had given him the chance to live out the difficult lessons he had learned in Bible college.

“Through this situation I learned what the Bible means when it says, “Blessed are those who suffer for Christ,” he said. “This opposition was the test of my faith to march forward and to share the Gospel. They hit my stomach with an iron rod and I was injured, but I am grateful to the Lord Jesus who kept me safe to be a witness for Him.”

Sunil Pattanayap recalls the moment the attack began: “For a moment I was shocked about why this was happening to me. Then I understood that the time had come for me to glorify His name,” he said.

“It was my privilege to suffer for Christ and I am happy today because I can testify that God protected me and brought me safe from death to proclaim His Word and stand as a living testimony for Christ with a strong faith.

Three of the injured students are still recovering in hospital. Beedram Sena had to undergo surgery on his broken leg, while Sudershan Yadavan required surgery to repair his broken kneecap. Sunil Reedy needed extensive dental surgery to replace teeth that were knocked out by the attackers.

Brijeshware Nayan, who was injured on his back but did not require hospitalization, said the attack had helped him to see the spiritual value in suffering.

He said: “I came to serve the Lord. If we get scared of this opposition then how can we learn to grow up in our faith?”

The attackers broke windows and furniture in the campus buildings, and also destroyed teaching materials.

Gospel for Asia Vice President Daniel Punnose also took a positive stance towards the incident:

“While persecution is not uncommon and many of our people suffer greatly, the Lord has been so faithful to prove Himself by allowing our brothers and sisters to show love to those who need it the most,” he said.

“This type of persecution only proves that people need to experience the love of Jesus. It is only then they find their life has meaning and a purpose to turn hate into love.”

That’s “Dr.” Glenn Beck, thanks to Liberty University

Religion Dispatches;

quote..

Saturday morning in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University conveyed an honorary doctorate in humanities and scientists on Mormon conservative media heavyweight Glenn Beck.

Breaking into his trademark tears, Beck told the stadium of 8,000 Liberty University grads and 20,000 friends and family members, “as a man who was never able to go to college—I went for one semester but I couldn’t afford any more than that—I am humbled and honored.”

Beck immediately offered an apology of sorts for his Mormonism, saying that it was an act of “courage” for the fundamentalist Baptist Liberty University to invite him to speak and that he understood it was “not meant as an endorsement of my faith,”..

Beck concluded his thirty minute address with a bombastic pageant of scripture-scented aphorisms including “Life is hard then it gets harder then you die,” “always tithe,” and “shoot to kill.”

(such pearls of wisdom)

The Christian Jihadist

Taking up the Cross in Evangelical Christianity: The Perspective of a Christian Jihadist

The video game taking Christian America by storm is entitled ‘Left Behind: Eternal Forces’.

Controversially, it encourages players to kill anyone who resists conversion to Christianity. As Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft battle it out for domination of the electronic game world, the games’ creator anticipates a ready market among those who have already bought 63 million copies of the ‘Left Behind’ novels.

The game is set in New York City, a rather unusual venue for the Battle of Armageddon you might think since New York doesn’t actually get a mention in the Bible. It is, however, the location of the United Nations headquarters and that is the clue.

Never popular among conservative evangelicals, in Left Behind: Eternal Forces, the bad guys are the Global Community Peacekeepers, who are on a search and destroy mission in Manhattan. Their target is the remnant of newly converted Bible-believers, left behind when Christians were apparently raptured secretly to heaven. These new believers, left on earth, form a Christian army called the Tribulation Force.

Under the heading ‘Turn or Burn?’ a review by Focus on the Family suggests this might be: “the kind of game that Mom and Dad can actually play with Junior—and use to raise some interesting questions along the way.”

In an interview with Tim LaHaye, the author, Focus on the Family asked whether Christians will really be expected to militarize in the future;

“He told Plugged In Online that this fictionalized depiction in the books, movies and now video games is a representation “of the self preservation instinct of the much-persecuted saints during the Tribulation.”

What a relief. It’s all right to kill then if it is out of self preservation. Players pray for their adversaries “and try to do good spiritual things for them” but at a certain point, it becomes acceptable to kill them. A rather more skeptical review from a Jewish perspective, by Jews on First, observes that,

“The goals of the game are simple: Spread the gospel, and stay alive. But staying alive may sometimes lead to the taking of life — “fighting hellfire with hellfire”. And that raises a knotty moral conundrum for any game designer who worships Jesus, the Prince of Peace.”

Sadly, we would not be here if we were merely debating the merits of a children’s video game.

The theological presuppositions behind the Left Behind video and books are known as Christian Zionism. The Christian Zionist movement has somewhere between 30 and 100 million supporters in the USA alone. It is undoubtedly therefore a significant part of the Israel Lobby helping to shape American attitudes and policies in the Middle East.

Let me give you a couple of examples. Following the tragedy of 9/11 and the destruction of the World Trade Centre in New York, multi-bestselling author and Christian journalist Anne Coulter, wrote,

“We don’t need long investigations of the forensic evidence to determine with scientific accuracy the person or persons who ordered this specific attack. We don’t need an “international coalition.” We don’t need a study on “terrorism.” … We know who the homicidal maniacs are. They are the ones cheering and dancing right now. We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. We weren’t punctilious about locating and punishing only Hitler and his top officers. We carpet-bombed German cities; we killed civilians. That’s war. And this is war.”

More recently, at the July 19th, 2006, inaugural event for Christians United for Israel, in Washington DC, after recorded greetings from the then President, George W. Bush, and in the presence of four US Senators as well as the Israeli ambassador to the US, Pastor John Hagee, stated :

“The United States must join Israel in a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God’s plan for both Israel and the West… a biblically prophesied end-time confrontation with Iran, which will lead to the Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming of Christ.”

The Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism was formed monitor and challenge this destructive movement. Resources can be accessed at, www.Christianzionism.org.

How can we best challenge this misuse or abuse of Christianity in sacralising a belligerent foreign policy that is bringing Muslims, Jews and Christians into conflict?

What follows is not a critique of Islamic Jihad. We are grateful to Dr Afsaruddin for his paper on “The True Meaning of Jihad in Islam”. Nor will this be a defence of pacifism or of the Just War Theory. For that I recommend J. Daryl Charles, Between Pacifism and Jihad: Just War and Christian Tradition.

My title is “Taking up the Cross in Evangelical Christianity”. I have subtitled it, “The Perspective of a Christian Jihadist”.

I want to give a simple, personal reading of the teaching of Jesus the Christ and his Apostles on the Christian jihad. I want to show how the Scriptures refute the misuse of the Bible to justify an apocalyptic or colonialist agenda in the Middle East.

American Mary Group Unveils Design for World’s Tallest Monument

“(The) symbolism of goddess adoration is vital to understanding our society’s obsession with goddess worship and the occult in general. In our attempt as Christians to comprehend the roots of the New Age movement, we must be aware that Satan has tirelessly thrust the deities of ancient Egypt upon mankind for thousands of years. Ultimately though, it doesn’t really matter if “she” is called Isis, Diana, Virtus, Cybele, Rhea, or Mother Mary, the concept is always the same–the lifting up of a pagan goddess as a replacement for the true God” - Isis: “Queen of Heaven” by Carl Teichrib

ChristianNewsWire:

The Association for the Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary today unveils new architectural plans for the pro-life shrine and great triumphal arch, at 700 feet tall to be the world’s tallest monument, which the Association was formed to build in 2001.

Mary’s Arch of Triumph will point towards the “fundamental transformation’ that America and the world truly need–a change of hearts and minds, more than of laws. It will sound a global signal call to repentance and conversion, renewed faith in God, and respect for human life from conception to natural death.

Originating with a dream, this great spiritual undertaking quickly gained worldwide support among Mary’s faithful, and has been approved by many Catholic pro-life leaders, including Fr. Frank Pavone, Fr. John Corapi, Mrs. Judie Brown, Dr. John Willke, and Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

The project evokes Mary’s revelations at Fatima on July 13, 1917, “God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart,” and that, “In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph . . . and an era of peace will be granted to the world.”

This great arch hails this coming triumph of Mary’s Immaculate Heart. It will be 700 feet tall because seven is the biblical number of perfection, and Mary represents the perfection of humanity because of her humble obedience to God.

The Association is raising funds (projected cost: $85 to $100,000,000) through its Web site www.archoftriumph.org and a mail campaign, and is searching for a site in the Diocese of Buffalo, NY where the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, entered America triumphantly on December 8, 1947 when “200,000 people lined the streets and welcomed Our Lady” see History page at www.pilgrimvirginstatue.com.

Mary’s gloroius Arch of Triumph of is destined quickly to become an international icon, boldly though silently proclaiming the dignity and sanctity of human life, born and unborn, and extolling the oft-neglected virtues of purity, faith and obedience to God.

“The power of a religious lie is tremendous…”

Ted Haggard incorporates new church

I think most folks knew this was coming…

Ted and Gayle Haggard recently incorporated St. James Church, sited at their home on Old Ranch Road in Colorado Springs, where the couple held two overflowing prayer meetings in November.

The Haggards did not return The Post’s calls, but Ted Haggard, the deposed founder of the New Life megachurch, told the Gazette newspaper on Tuesday that the incorporation of a new church on April 29 was done for accounting purposes — tracking reimbursement of travel costs as they speak at churches and other venues around the country.

Haggard predicted to the Gazette that he would return to some form of ministry someday, and he wouldn’t rule out that St. James — whose name is derived from a verse in the Bible’s Book of James that states “faith without works is dead” — might one day be a real church.

Denver Post; Haggards incorporate new church