Conference This Weekend

If you live in the lower mainland of B.C. (Canada), here's a last minute reminder to come out to the Bible conference this weekend if you can. It's going to be a good one! The speakers include Dr. David Seifert, Dr. Ron Carlson, Don Perkins, and Dr. David Hocking.

Check out the details HERE or see the brochure HERE.

*Note: This has been a prescheduled, post-dated entry. This blogger is on summer vacation.

Summer Things

The rain clouds have blown away, the sun is peaking out, and the birds are singing. This week while it's been cool and rainy I've been cleaning up some old files and e-mails, and now it's time to work on some outdoor things. So, aside from the occasional pre-scheduled post that will pop up now and then, real time summer blogging will be reserved for rainy days. In fact, I'm not even here right now. If anyone is looking for me, I'll be in the garden.

New Saddleback Thing

Here's a very interesting thing someone sent me...

They have found a new Saddleback thing, and it's got nothing to do with RW.

See HERE.

A few more things I found while looking at that...

Ever heard of the lying down game? Check these out...

The Lying Down Game
www.telegraph.co.uk

And this is pretty amazing...

The Google Maps alphabet UK: an A to Z of the British Isles
www.telegraph.co.uk

On that note, have a great weekend.

The Synonymous Nature of the First and the Last Books in the Bible

While cleaning out my mail box this week I came across a very interesting thing that a friend e-mailed me a while back. Before I file it away and forget about it, I'll blog it...


THE SYNONYMOUS NATURE/SEQUENCE OF THE EVENTS IN GENESIS WITH THOSE IN REVELATION

GENESIS

1. Earth Created 1:1 ….
2. Sun to govern Day 1:16 ….
3. Darkness called night 1:5
4. Waters He called seas 1:10
5. A river for earth’s blessing 2:10-14
6. Earth’s government (re: Israel) 37
7. Man in God’s Image 1:26
8. Entrance of sin 3:6
9. Curse pronounced 3:14-17
10. Death entered 3:19
11. Man driven out of Eden 3:24
12. Tree of life guarded 3:24
13. Sorrow & suffering enter 3:17
14. Nimrod founds Babylon 10:8-10
15. God’s Flood to destroy evil generation 6 – 9
16. A bow: God’s promise 9:13
17. Sodom & Egypt: corruption, judgment 13,19
18. A confederation vs. Abraham’s people 14
19. A bride for Abraham’s son 24
20. Marriage of 1st Adam 2:18-23
21. Man’s dominion ceased; Satan’s begun 3:24

REVELATION

1. Earth Passed away 21:1
2. No need of sun 21:23
3. No night there 22:5
4. No more sea 21:1
5. A river for New Earth 22:1,2
6. Earth’ judgment (re: Israel) 16:8
7. Man Headed by Satan’s Image 13
8. End of sin 21:27
9. No more curse 22:3
10. No more death 21:4
11. Man restored 22
12. Right to Tree of life 22:14
13. No more sorrow 22:4
14. Babylon falls 17,18
15. Satan’s flood to destroy elect generation 12
16. A bow for remembrance 4:3; 10:1
17. “Sodom & Egypt”(Jerusalem) 11:8
18. A confederation vs. Abraham’s seed 12
19. A bride for Abraham’s Seed 21
20. Marriage of Last Adam 19
21. Satan’s domain ended;man’s restored 22

Source Unknown

Name these Ten Things and Win

I'm not sure what to think of this thing...

Name Ten and Win $20,000
http://tenandwin.com/

One thing I do know, I don't think I could rattle them off in 20 seconds.

What I'm Reading this Month

I'm on chapter 8 of A Wonderful Deception. As suspected, this brand new book is very good, so I am actually reading it slowly, not skimming it. Warren Smith is a very thorough researcher. This book is an eye opener for anyone who is wondering what is not quite right about some of those new books and things that have been influencing their church leadership. It's kind of an extension of another book of his I read a few years ago (called Deceived on Purpose) when I first became aware of all these things.

This one's another keeper.

Book of Daniel

I was looking at some teaching things the other day, and found a very nice chart here:

The Book of Daniel
Clarence Larkin

If you are a student of the Bible, you should be able to tell at a glance exactly where we are on the statue right now. If you love the Lord and are awaiting his return, this should make you very excited. If you don't have a clue about what I am talking about, then consider studying the book of Daniel.

Here's another chart:

Daniel's 70 Weeks
Clarence Larkin

Find some study resources here and here and here.

New Things like Yoga and Tai Chi instead of Church

This kind of goes with the last post, in regards to the spirituality that people fill their vacuum with when they turn from God. Whether it's paganism or mysticism, it's all a replacement for the truth. It starts like this...

IN THE beginning there was the Church. And people liked to dress up in their best clothes and go there on Sundays and they praised the Lord and it was good. But it came to pass that people grew tired of the Church and they stopped going, and began to be uplifted by new things such as yoga and t’ai chi instead. And, lo, a spiritual revolution was born....

Read more here:

Spirited away: why the end is nigh for religion
Christianity will be eclipsed by spirituality in 30 years, startling new research predicts. Our correspondent reports on the collapse of traditional religion and the rise of mysticism
www.timesonline.co.uk

Mind you, this article was written in 2004, so I guess we've only got 25 years to go, according to the research. On the other hand, the way things are going...

Indoctrination into Paganism through Things like Teletubbies and Recycling

Did you ever think that nice things like cartoons and recycling could lead to paganism?

"...just watch Teletubbies. The indoctrination into things like recycling starts at an early age," says Catherine Hosen, a druid from Kent who watches a lot of CBeebies with her children. "If you start off trying to be environmentally aware, it is not much of a step to seeing all of nature as sacred, and from there to becoming a pagan."

-'Everyone's a pagan now'
(Source: In The News, Understand the Times)

If you click on the above link and read the entire article, you will discover other things that have helped to bring pagan ideas mainstream, like Harry Potter, and children's shows such as Raven and Merlin, as well as many other Saturday children's television shows.

Related:

CBeebies Springwatch song
www.youtube.com

Why does CBeebies hate stay-at-home mums?
www.dailymail.co.uk

"Edutainment"
How Teletubbies Teach Toddlers
www.crossroad.to

Bishop says Prayer of Repentance is a Heretical Thing

Wow. What a thing to say...

Episcopal Bishop calls individual salvation 'heresy,' 'idolatry'

ANAHEIM, CA - Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori says it's "heresy" to believe that an individual can be saved through a sinner's prayer of repentance.

In her opening address to the church's General Conference in California, Jefferts Schori called that "the great Western heresy: that we can be saved as individuals, that any of us alone can be in right relationship with God."

The presiding bishop said that view is "caricatured in some quarters by insisting that salvation depends on reciting a specific verbal formula about Jesus."

According to Schori, it is heresy to believe that an individual's prayer can achieve a saving relationship with God. "That individualist focus is a form of idolatry, for it puts me and my words in the place that only God can occupy."

-Associated Press (Source)

Related article about this:

Saved, One-by-One
by Pastor Larry DeBruyn

Bible on a Stick

This is a very good thing...

Soldiers getting an earful of Jesus

An audio Bible ministry is getting the entire New Testament -- in compact form -- to troops through military chaplains.

It is all part of the "Military BibleStick" project by Faith Comes By Hearing. The ministry has developed a portable, digital audio Bible for the military, loaded it with the entire New Testament, and is sending those to chaplains who request them....

More here (One News Now).

A Motion to Remove Books Contrary to the Gospel

Anyone second the motion?

LifeWay urged to remove books 'contrary to gospel'
7/9/2009

A Southern Baptist pastor is urging LifeWay Christian Bookstores to remove a number of books from its shelves that he believes undermine key Christian doctrines.

LifeWay logoChanning Kilgore, associate pastor of South Whitwell Baptist Church in Tennessee, introduced a motion at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting last month that called for LifeWay to remove books by teachers T.D. Jakes and John Hagee, any Catholic Bibles, 90 Minutes in Heaven, and The Shack....

Read more HERE @ www.onenewsnow.com.

Two Different Things

Arnold Fruchtenbaum of Ariel Ministries explains how these are two different things...

..."if one makes the Wife of Jehovah (Israel) and the Bride of the Messiah (the Church) one and the same thing, he is faced with numerous contradictions because of the different descriptions given."

Learn more here:

The Wife of Jehovah and the Bride of Messiah
bible-prophecy-today.blogspot.com

Things are being found to prove the Bible is true.

Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Corinthians 10:11
~ ~ ~

Contrary to what some people are saying, things are being dug up which prove the Bible to be true. In fact, what was meant for evil has turned into a very good thing for Israel. The Waqf may insist that Jews have no history and therefore no right to the city of Jerusalem or the Temple Mount, but we can now see that what God used for judgment upon disobedient Israel, has now come to surface as His perfect verdict of judgment on the unbelieving who say the Bible account is a myth.

Here's a thing I read in the final end note of a fascinating article at aish.com. This sums up what has been discovered and why:

King Nebuchadnezzar’s fires razed the city, but those same fires solidified the clay seals like a kiln, preserving them in good condition and fully legible. They bear dozens of Hebrew names, two of them belonging to characters in the Bible...

Read the entire thing here:

How Jewish is Jerusalem?
www.aish.com

Of course, Satan does not want these things to be revealed, as he is a liar and has been trying for a very long time to discredit the Scriptures and usurp the throne and be like God (Isaiah 14:12-15). The last thing he wants is for people to believe that the Messiah is going to return to Jerusalem, as the Bible tells us. This is why he has been very busy working on a takeover plot by scheming up a very sneaky replacement plan.

Anyways, as I read the Aish article, it occurred to me that there is definitely a parallel here. As we go through hardships and trials in our Christian walk we may experience things that seem dreadful to us at the time. These are the refining fires that God, in his perfect judgment, is executing. We must trust that His perfect plan will be revealed at the time of His choosing, for His name's sake. In the end, the only thing that matters on this earth is that when the King returns, we will be found in Him.

~But who may abide the day of his coming?
and who shall stand when he appeareth?
for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap~
Malachi 3:2

Is there such a thing as a 'generational sin curse'?

Ever heard of a teaching that says your behavior and problems are caused by what happened to you when you were a child? And that you have to look into your childhhood memories (including your mother's feelings during pregnancy and your birth canal experience), and your ancestry to see what sin has been cursing you, and leading you into sin?

If so, check this out...

Generational Sins & Blaming the Past
www.psychoheresy-aware.org

For more info on this sort of thing, check out the following...

Psychoheresy and Inner Healing Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

New Book about Contemplative Spirituality

Here's a book review of a new novel about contemplative spirituality that is being called "fiction with a message."

Book Review on Castles in the Sand
by C. Pack
(Used with permission)

"Spiritual Formation is Dangerous.... And Here's Why"

As a former New Ager, I have become increasingly alarmed at the New Age/New Spirituality practices and beliefs that I have seen flowing into the church. I was saved in a conservative, evangelical church that boldly proclaimed the gospel: Jesus is THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life, and no-one comes to the Father but by Him. Yet, within 2 years time, this same precious church began to preach sermons on past mystics (St. John of the Cross), began offering yoga classes, and began to adopt practices that eerily reminded me of my New Age days... all of which are an assault on the true gospel...

Read the rest of this book review here:

Spiritual Formation is Dangerous.... And Here's Why
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

Some Things Tony Jones said about Being Born Again

I just listened to what Tony Jones said about a very important thing. Salvation. Does this sound like he has a clear understanding of what it means to be born again?

Tony Jones Asked If He's Born Again (3 minutes)
www.youtube.com

I think it's terribly sad that Tony Jones says he wakes up every day wondering if his life is based on a crock, or a hoax, and doesn't know if he is born again, but that certainly does explain his spiritual search (see here). The truth of the matter is that when we are born again, it is of the spirit (who bears witness in our spirit that we are born again) AND through the word of God (that says we have been reconciled to God through His Son, by the blood of Christ). Therefore, we CAN know we are saved!

*Related:

Saved, One-by-One
by PastorDeBruyn
www.sliceoflaodicea.com

Is It Possible To Believe In Jesus ...And NOT Be Saved?
by Sandy Simpson
www.deceptioninthechurch.com

Some Things about that Vaccine you Might Want to Know

Should you get that vaccine?

"There are much safer ways to protect oneself from this flu virus, such as higher doses of vitamin D3, selective immune enhancement using supplements, and a good diet."

-Vaccine May Be More Dangerous Than Swine Flu
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
www.newsmax.com

Speeding Things Up

I was wondering about this thing. We just saw the opening of a brand new cashless toll bridge like these in our area. It's a very convenient way to speed things up, but what about privacy?

Going Cashless In A Moving World
from the July 07, 2009 eNews issue
www.khouse.org

A Still Small Voice

A small thing has turned into a very controversial thing...

Elijah's Mt. Horeb experience, when he heard "a sound of sheer silence" (1 Kings 19:12, NRSV), stimulated in the church a tradition of desert spirituality which pursues solitude in order to experience the divine. Practitioners of lectio divina (i.e., reading sacred things) also desire such encounters. They say: "When we read the Scriptures we should try to imitate the prophet Elijah. We should allow ourselves to become women and men who are able to listen for the still, small voice of God (I Kings 19:12); the 'faint murmuring sound' which is God's word for us, God's voice touching our hearts. This gentle listening is an 'atunement' to the presence of God . . . ."[1] About Elijah's experience of hearing God's "still small voice" (KJV, NKJV) questions arise. Does 1 Kings 19:12 endorse contemplative spirituality? Was the prophet's encounter with God in the cave on Mt. Horeb/Sinai a mystical "atunement"?

Read the rest here:

A STILL SMALL VOICE?
Contemplative prayer and "the Elijah experience" of 1 Kings 19:12.
by Pastor Larry DeBruyn
www.frbaptist.org

Earliest Bible Pages now on the Internet

Interesting thing of the day...

Historic Bible pages put online

About 800 pages of the earliest surviving Christian Bible have been recovered and put on the internet.

Visitors to the website www.codexsinaiticus.org can now see images of more than half the 1,600-year-old Codex Sinaiticus manuscript.

Fragments of the 4th Century document - written in Greek on parchment leaves - have been worked on by institutions in the UK, Germany, Egypt and Russia.

Experts say it is "a window into the development of early Christianity".

Read the rest HERE @ BBC News.

A thing that you wouldn't think could happen in America

A certain popular pastor who thinks there can be partnership between these two religions would benefit by watching this thing that recently happened in Dearborn...

Arab Festival 2009: Sharia in the US
www.inthedays.com

Incredible. All they wanted to do was ask a question.

*Related previous posts:

Some Things About Partners

The Irony of the Thing

Related article:

A Letter to RW on Your Statements on Islam
July 7, by Paul McGuire
moriel.org

[By the way, there are reports of supernatural occurrences in “closed countries” where preaching the Gospel is forbidden. Muslims are experiencing dreams and visions of Jesus Christ, and then following Him as their Lord and Saviour. The way things are going (in the light of recent events), perhaps we need to pray that these dreams and visions will occur in the US as well.]

Free Thing to listen to about What has Happened to our Nation

Here is a very interesting MUST SEE thing that you can listen to FREE on the internet:

“State of the Nation – 2009” address

It is important to realize that although America has more Christian resources and Bible colleges than ever in its history, the nation is on a spiritual downward spiral. What has happened? Why is the church not reaching the culture today as it has in the past?

Watch it HERE @ www.answersingenesis.org (Ken Ham).

This is an excellent, clear, current, and sobering presentation! (Note: If you make popcorn, you may not feel like eating it.)

A Book called Wholly Jesus

I was recently given a book called Wholly Jesus, written by someone named Mark Foreman. As I opened it up and browsed through its pages, alarm bells immediately began to ring. First of all, I noticed that in this book he quotes contemplative authors, like Dallas Willard and Morton Kelsey, the Episcopalian priest who said "You can find most of the New Age practices in the depth of Christianity.... I believe that the Holy One lives in every soul”(1). I also noticed that the author favorably quotes the 16th century Spanish mystic St. Teresa of Avila (for more about her, see Castles in the Sand). As I read more, I was quite surprised to see that, just like Sue Monk Kidd (2), Mr. Foreman thinks it’s okay to use the Hindu greeting Namaste (“I honor the god in you”) to others in recognition that they are made in the image of God.

But I suppose it's no wonder Mark Foreman is leaning towards contemplatives and mystics, because I also discovered he is an associate professor of spiritual formation at Bethel Seminary in San Diego. This seminary teaches practicing the presence of God, centering prayer, body prayer, and Lectio Divina.

Another thing that caught my eye as I skimmed through Wholly Jesus rang another warning bell. The introduction is written by Gabe Lyons, founder of the emerging Fermi Project. This is basically an ‘experiment’ in shifting the consciousness of the church by finding the good in our culture in order to reshape it through global awareness and environmentally sustainable practices.

Mr. Foreman's sons may be in the popular Christian band, Switchfoot, as noted on the front cover (they wrote the forewords), and this book may have lots of things written in it that sound very good, but so far, too many little warning bells indicate that this book probably belongs on my research shelf beside Foster and Nouwen, until further notice.

End Notes:
(1) A Time of Departing
(2) A Time of Departing

The Lucrative Business of Prophecy

I heard an interesting thing a few weeks ago. Someone from my town had received a word from the Lord at a convention in Whistler, B.C., featuring Jedediah Tham and Charlie Robinson. According to this person, Mr. Jedediah Tham is world renowned for counsel he provides to senior financial executives (for which he charges a small fee of $100,000 per hour in advance). Anyways, this person who went to the convention now had a testimony to share about the word he got 'from the Lord' at the conference. The word concerned greater works (global restoration) that God would give us, new prophetic gifts from the Holy Spirit, uncommon answers and understanding beyond our present knowledge. To top it off, this word from the Lord also included Canada, which has a 'destiny in Kingdom business'. Finally, the word was that ‘our words create our climate.’

Sorry to say, but in my humble opinion, this sounds like a load of positive thinking, extreme prophetic, kingdom now theology nonsense!

And here is why…

There was indeed a conference recently in Whistler B.C. It was called “Ahead of the Nations,” and the speakers were Jedidiah Tham, Charlie Robinson, Stacey Campbell and Marc Brisebois. (Who can forget Stacey Campbell and her infamous head shaking ecstatic prophecies?) But there's more. This week, these guys are heading to Toronto (to TACF - home of The Toronto Blessing) with Patricia King for something called the Canadian Oil Conference. (See more conference promos here.)

This is a bit different than the 'greater glory' and 'catch the fire' thing of last year. It appears that the modern day prophets are now using current issues that will grab people’s attention (the economy), and are focusing on the prophetic/financial realm. In addition to these financial conferences, they also sell the DVD's, so that those who are in the midst of impending financial crisis and are worried about their emptying wallets will need to pay only 32 bucks to walk in abundance during the recession! Like this one...

Prophetic Wisdom for End Time Finances

Charlie Robinson and Dr. Jedidiah Tham join Craig Buroker for an in depth look at what God is saying to His church in the midst of impending financial crisis. Dr. Tham carries a global financial anointing that speaks a clear prophetic word enabling people to see why the economic crisis may worsen and how they can prepare themselves to align with God and prosper in it. The depth of anointing and spiritual wisdom on these teachings will change your thinking about finances and allow you to walk in abundance as God prepares His church for the great end time transfer of wealth. -[Source]

After the Toronto thing, Dr. Jedidiah is going to be speaking in Taiwan this August about overcoming global financial calamity through divine wisdom (see here). Also speaking at this same conference will be fellow birds of a feather Jeff Jansen (see his contemplative soaking CD here and his out of body experience CD here) and Matt Sorger (of The New Breed).

While one cannot always judge a bird by the flock he is flying with, in this case, it's pretty obvious that these teachers are all in the same modern day prophetic/business category. Therefore, it is my humble opinion that these might be the kind of men that we are warned about in the Bible (Acts 20:29).

If these things concern you, here are some related items for further research (regarding Charlie Robinson) that might stir you to warn those who are following so called anointed prophets of prosperity and their business partners.

Charlie Robinson video clips
www.xpmedia.com

“The Rest Room of God” by Charlie Robinson
www.freshfire.ca

Charlie Robinson and his 'Pillow Fight with Jesus'
Does the word BLASPHEMY ring a bell?!
by Bud Press, Director
www.christianresearchservice.com

Another thing that is a little on the outlandish side:

JUDGMENT AND REVIVAL

Charlie Robinson, a recognized seer prophet from Abbotsford, began by describing the message about the glory that God birthed in his heart years ago. The Lord had promised that he would see the goodness (glory) of the Lord in the land of the living (Ps. 27:13). He also described prophetic words God had given him many years before about revival in Canada and in Abbotsford, before describing manifestations of that revival in the city and through Fresh Fire.

Charlie spoke about the power that is released when God puts a roar like a lion in our spirits and we release it. Years before the Lord called him to roar over each province in Canada in order to disarm the religious spirits in the nation. He said that recently, when he was in Indonesia, God prompted him to roar like a lion—six days later there was an earthquake and the tsunami hit. Charlie noted that this event was actually just a natural manifestation of God's judgment of a spiritual principality—it wasn't a judgment on people.

-www.freshfire.ca

Note: In regards to Freshfire Ministries, it is now called Transform International. Mr. Bentley has flown south and unabashedly started a new USA Freshfire Ministry (www.freshfireusa.com) after unexpectedly divorcing his wife and marrying his nanny.

~ ~ ~

By the way, as an added note, God does want to prosper us, but not in the way the prosperity gospel preachers present it. Here is a very good article to read regarding these things...

The Way It Was Meant To Be
by Jack Kelly
gracethrufaith.com

Some Things about Partners

partner:
1 one that shares : partaker
2 a: one associated with another especially in an action : associate, colleague b: either of two persons who dance together c: one of two or more persons who play together in a game against an opposing side d: a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship : one member of a couple
-Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Look who wants to be partners...

WASHINGTON, DC – Defying some of his fellow conservative Christian critics, one of the most prominent religious leaders in the country told several thousand American Muslims on Saturday that "the two largest faiths on the planet" must work together to combat stereotypes and solve global problems.

"Some problems are so big you have to team tackle them," evangelical megachurch pastor Rick Warren addressed the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).

Warren said Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end what he calls "the five global giants" of war, poverty, corruption, disease, and illiteracy.

Read more about this partnership proposal here:

RW calls for Christian-Muslim partnership
www.onenewsnow.com

Many Christians are agreeing with Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries, who believes this partnership plan is NOT a very good thing. Read her bold open letter to RW here:

An Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren
By Jan Markell
Olive Tree Ministries

~ ~ ~

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Amos 3:3

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:14

*Note: To understand further why RW's partnership plan is probably NOT a plausible thing, see the following short clips:

The Five Deceptions of Islam (Is it a Religion of Love?)
www.youtube.com

The Five Deceptions of Islam (Is it a Religion of Peace?)
www.youtube.com

~ ~ ~

Related:

RW ENVISIONING COALITION OF FAITH
apprising.org

RW does it, again
worldnetdaily.com
(Note: I apologize for the tacky tabloid-like ads on World Net Daily)

The Irony of the Thing
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com

*UPDATE:

Warren panders to Muslim group, omits gospel
7/9/2009
www.onenewsnow.com

Be Alert! Purpose Driven Jihad?
moriel.org

The Great Emergence Event will Tickle Ears

~For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires~
2 Timothy 4:3 (NASB)

The book is called Great Emergence, The: How Christianity Is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle. The big event (thegreatemergence.com/TheEvent) is called The Great Emergence, a one day conference that will take place in Winnipeg on October 31 (Halloween). It's being promoted as...

A BOOK...

AN EVENT...

A PHENOMENON...

The event consists of four main sessions with author/speaker Phyllis Tickle. In between these sessions, participants will also do the daily office (three daily times of scheduled prayer) based on a bestselling book called The Divine Hours (also by Phyllis Tickle).

Phyllis Tickle's bio says she is "the founding editor of the religion department at Publishers Weekly, is one of the most highly respected authorities and popular speakers on religion in America today. She is the author of more than two dozen books on the subject, including the recently published The Words of Jesus: A Gospel of the Sayings of Our Lord and The Divine Hours, a series of manuals for observing fixed-hour prayer. A lector and lay eucharistic minister in the Episcopal Church, Tickle is a senior fellow of the Cathedral College of Washington National Cathedral. For more information, go to www.phyllistickle.com."

What is NOT mentioned in her bio is that Phyllis Tickle is also on the editorial board of Explore Faith (along with heretic Marcus Borg), which offers spiritual guidance for anyone seeking the path to God . See here:
www.explorefaith.org/about_us/editorial_board/index.php

Among those whom Explore Faith recommends as valued spiritual teachers are Guru Ram Dass, Zen Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh, Sufi Muslim Rumi, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila and Thomas Merton.
See here:
www.explorefaith.org/faces_of_faith/saints_prophets_spiritual_guides/index.php

As you can see, the spirituality promoted by Phyllis Tickle is not even close to being true to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is why the emerging church leaders who have strayed from the truth in God's Word love her books and things. Even so, many denominations that you would never suspect to be involved with this kind of interfaith spirituality are sponsoring The Great Emergence event with Phyllis Tickle. See event sponsors here (reader beware: you may be shocked):
http://www.faithforum.ca/GE/Sponsorshiplistlinks.html
http://www.mbconf.ca

For more info on the spirituality of Phyllis Tickle, see here:

A TREASURE WE DON’T UNDERSTAND—PHYLLIS TICKLE AT MARS HILL BIBLE CHURCH
apprising.org

CHRISTIANITY 21 AND ALLEGED INNOVATIVE VOICES IN THE FAITH: PHYLLIS TICKLE May 2009
apprising.org

The Great Emergence: A Reformation Every 500 Years?
Roger Oakland
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

PHYLLIS TICKLE: THE REFORMATION IS OVER AND REFORMERS HAVE NEW NAMES TODAY
apprising.org

WWDD?

A new article by Bob Unruh tells us that the Harry Potter thing is now becoming influential on its film and fiction fans towards 'social change.' Check it out:

Got questions about life, death, politics or religion? How about one on the topic of "gay" marriage?

It's time for WWDD.

That's not a typo on the familiar WWJD -- "What Would Jesus Do?" -- a theme among Christians. It stands for "What Would Dumbledore Do?" a new move to answer such questions and spark "social change" through the "teachings" available in the Harry Potter witchcraft books and movies.

Read the rest HERE.

Where the USA is in Bible Prophecy

Happy 4th of July to our American neighbours!

Here is a brilliant thing which I have just read in regards to the question, where is the USA in Bible prophecy?

"J - e - r - U - S - A - l - e - m"

Source:

As We Celebrate the Birthday of the United States, the Question of America's Place in Bible Prophecy Can Be Answered By Jimmy DeYoung
bible-prophecy-today.blogspot.com

The Beth Moore Thing

What’s up with the Beth Moore thing? I’ve been asked by a few people what I think of Beth Moore’s books and things. Well here’s what I think - I don’t know what I think as I’ve never read her books, and have listened to her teach only a few times.

But here’s what I do know…she was on the very contemplative Be Still DVD a few years ago, which I have watched. Apparently she was okay with this connection and never backed down from endorsing it (see Beth Moore Gives Thumbs Up to Be Still DVD). Her name also appears on the Be Still Participant's Guide. The Be Still DVD was deceptive, as there were some Bible teachers interviewed on the DVD who are not contemplative. This sent a mixed message because it made the practice of contemplative prayer and mysticism appear accepted and mainstream.

For more on whether or not she approves of contemplative prayer, see here:

Beth Moore's Illicit Tent of Meeting
By Bob DeWaay
www.worldviewtimes.com

Aside from that, I have heard others say that the main issue they have about Beth Moore's teaching is that, although she speaks to mostly women, she also teaches men in her own church. It's also been mentioned that she frequently interprets scripture by her own allegories, and spiritualizes her personal experiences.

But they also say she is a sweet woman who loves the Lord. For those who love Beth Moore's teaching (and it's mostly women) - I am not trying to put her down. I am simply answering a question (and not very well at that). I guess the main thing here is that people are not to idolize any Bible teacher, whether male or female, but to stick to the whole counsel of God. It's important to surround ourselves with lots of good Bible teachers, but we also need to examine everything we hear with the Scriptures. Until I know more, that's all I can say. You know, some people have tried to "warn" me that Kay Arthur is a false teacher(1), because she has taught men or something like that. Yet it was through Kay Arthur's teaching, Precept Upon Precept, that I was changed by the Word of God. I hope I can have a balanced view about these things, and be over flowing with the grace I have been given.

If anyone needs to read some helpful reviews of Beth Moore, see here.

So there's my answer, which is mostly based on what others have said. If anyone has any comments to add regarding this subject, please feel free to do so.

End note:
(1) Listen to a powerful message from Kay Arthur HERE.

The 'Extra' Books

Here's an interesting thing to read...

The 'Hidden' Bible
In Defense of the Faith
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
By Jack Kinsella

From time to time, somebody will email me with a question about the Apocrypha, or the 'extra' books found in certain versions of the Bible. The Douay version (approved by the Vatican) includes the Apocrypha. So do some King James Versions, although the Apocryphal books are set apart.

First, what is the 'Apocrypha'? The word itself is derived from ecclesiastical Latin apocrypha scripta meaning 'hidden writings' which was itself derived from the Greek apokruphos meaning 'to hide away'.

The Apocryphical books of the Bible fall into two categories...

Read the rest here @ www.omegaletter.com.

The Irony of the Thing (UPDATED)

Here's a reminder about what's happening this very weekend...

RW to Speak at Islamic Society Convention
moriel.org

He will be speaking on their theme of freedom and the pursuit of peace. Here is the irony of the thing...a few weeks ago, Christian literature was banned from this thing...

FAITH UNDER FIRE
City corrals Christians at weekend Arab fest
Judge won't let ministry deliver tracts on public sidewalks
www.wnd.com

So just what is it that RW is going to say at this weekend's convention? Who knows. But everyone is wondering...even us Canadians...

Jumping Jihad!! Rev. W goes Wahhabi
canadafreepress.com

Also see:

RW speaking to Islamic group with terror ties
www.onenewsnow.com

RW does it, again
Exclusive: Joseph Farah skewers pastor for cozying up to Islamist front group
(wnd.com)

Update: July 5

RW is Wrong
christianresearchnetwork.com

Evangelist W to Muslims: Let’s partner
Under fire from fellow conservatives, he addresses Islamic Society
Associated Press

How does this book measure up to The Book?

Innocent allegory or a sly attempt at teaching universalism? Listen to Jim Schneider and Pastor Larry DeBruyn as they cross reference the book called The Shack with the Bible to find the truth.

"The Shack" Author Brings Heresy to Evangelical Churches
July 2, 2009
http://crosstalkamerica.com/

Removing Things

Why do they keep removing things?

Purpose-Driven Connection Removes Michael Jackson and Jesus Post
(July 2, 2009)
www.sliceoflaodicea.com

Some other things the PD vacuum cleaner has sucked up and removed:

Exhibit A:

Purpose-driven site:
Purpose Driven Catholics(link has been removed)
“Helpful” Catholic Links(link has been removed)
See here:
Catholic Purpose Driven
Feb. 13, 2009
christsimplicity.wordpress.com

Exhibit B:

A video posted on YouTube in which RW said that Syria "does not allow extremism of any kind" was removed. (Nov. 16, 2006)
Source: www.wnd.com

Exhibit C:

The offense of the cross...
"This is precisely what the "seeker-sensitive, purpose-driven" church model has done. It has completely ‘gutted’ the "word of the cross" in a deliberate attempt to remove its "offense" to the natural man."
Source: www.sovereigngracebible.org

Exhibit D:

1. The word church is often eliminated, and replaced with the words campus or Christian fellowship, etc.
2. Words like sin – lost – hell – unsaved – heaven – are eliminated from the Pastor’s message.
3. Altar calls for salvation are eliminated.
4. The terms “saved” and “lost” are replaced with ‘churched” and “unchurched” implying that to be churched is to be saved.
5. The removal of the Hymn Books, taking away much of the doctrinal teaching of the Church’s music.
6. Business meetings are eliminated; often biblical offices such as Deacons are eliminated.
7. The pastor or a new leader, with a few assistants, takes charge of all church business.
8. New Bible versions are used, often just verses flashed on the screen.
9. The pulpit is changed or removed. Source: soundthetrumpet.ca
   

Exhibit E:

The "5-step global P.E.A.C.E Plan which would change history, though recently information about this P.E.A.C.E. plan has been removed from the Saddleback web site." (Feb. 1, 2005)
Source: www.challies.com

Removed, as in gone, like a freight train.

Related:

RW: A Voice for the Regenerate Church of the Degenerate Church?
moriel.org

Letters from Heaven

Here's a new article...

There are seven letters in Revelation 2 and 3 which the Head of the Christian Church, Jesus Christ Himself, directed to the entire church of all centuries, through the mediation of His servant, John. The letters are undated and therefore timeless writings to all followers of Christ – the faithful and the wayward ones. The letters contain precious promises and loving encouragement to those who persevere in the right way, but also clear reprimands and serious warnings to all who started to err and subsequently departed from the truth. Many of the latter have completely lost their way....

Read about the seven letters to the churches here...

Letters from Heaven
Prof. Johan Malan, Middelburg, South Africa (June 2009)
www.bibleguidance.co.za

Has This Thing Been Scaring Your Kids?

School's out for the summer, but this thing has apparently been shown in schools everywhere...

There's a video currently making the rounds among schools (and on the Internet) which purports to explain to children how America's consumption of "stuff" is destroying the planet. Specially made to appeal to kids, with child-like animation, enough adults have bought into the message that it's being shown in classrooms across the country.

Read about it here:

Are environmentalists scaring your kids?
www.onenewsnow.com

A Thing called The Great Silence (and who's talking about it)

What is this thing called “the great silence”? Some call it the still point in the center of the soul, the void, the cloud of unknowing, the silence beyond sound, the transcendent absolute, or the center of the cyclone.

One meditation website says this:

Forms of Mauna

In yogic parlance, spiritually motivated silence is called “mauna”….
The common goal of all forms of mauna is to experience silence of the mind, the calming of the thought waves, culminating in “maha-mauna”, the great silence. Mauna is therefore not different from the classic definition of Yoga as given in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: “Yogas citta vritti nirodha” - “Yoga is the cessation of mental fluctuations” (translation by Gavin Flood).
In this state, the mind has become completely stilled and Brahman, the Absolute Self, can be clearly perceived just like the sky gets reflected on the surface of a still lake.
Source: Mauna - The Path of Silence
[meditation-techniques.suite101.com]

No wonder contemplatives like that "be still and know" verse so much (and use it completely out of context).

One well known person who uses the term "the great silence" is Ruth Haley Barton, a spiritual director who leads retreats and teaches contemplative spirituality. If you watch the following clip where she describes what one of her retreats is like, you will hear her say (at 1:25) “we will go into the great silence” - (video here: National Pastors Retreats | Ruth Haley Barton -youtube).

According to her website, the teaching themes at her retreats revolve around things like spiritual formation and the disciplines, sacred rhythms, and finding God in solitude and silence. This includes going into "the great silence."

And so it was with great surprise that I recently discovered that Ruth Haley Barton is coming to our area next spring to teach spiritual formation at a retreat for the Christian Principals Association of our province!!! (Actually, she is not crossing the border into Canada, the B.C. principals are crossing the border to hear her speak at a Christian retreat center in Sumas, WA). This information can be viewed on her website, here:

April 21-23, 2010 (Sumas, WA)
CHRISTIAN PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (CPABC) (Ruth Haley Barton)
Leadership Retreat
http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/calendar.php

However, this is not really a surprising thing, especially since just recently (in April), the Christian Principals Association of British Columbia (www.cpabc.ca), had a spring conference at the same retreat center, and look who was there...

Christian Principals Spring Conference 2009
Guest Speakers: Dr. Tony Campolo & David Collins
Cedar Springs Christian Retreat Center, Sumas WA
http://www.cpabc.ca/conferences.html

I’ll bet you didn’t know that your Christian principals were listening to Tony Campolo, did you? He is an intelligent, engaging speaker, but a radical one. Listen to him speak at the above link (about social justice and changing society), where he tells the leaders of our Christian schools (just after the 24 minute mark) how he has tapped into Roman Catholic spirituality, St. Ignatius and Thomas Keating, and centering prayer, and how he experiences God by going into a deep silence every morning. Interesting thing how Campolo, like Ruth Haley Barton, practices contemplative meditation, and centers himself down to get into the silence, or the thin place (he talks about this again just after the 38 minute mark). It's basically the same thing he has said before...

"The constant repetition of his name clears my head of everything but the awareness of his presence. By driving back all other concerns I am able to create what the ancient Celtic Christians called “the thin place.” " - Tony Campolo (Source)

So now that the Christian Principals Association of B.C. has been introduced to contemplative spirituality by Mr. Campolo (and Mr. Collins of paradigmministries.ca), next spring Ruth Haley Barton will continue that theme by teaching them how to go into "the great silence". Isn't that just great. Kind of makes one wonder if we will soon see this kind of thing finding its way into our Christian schools. Things like yoga, visualization/relaxation techniques, and Rob Bell DVD’s have already been popping up in many Christian schools around here lately (Rob Bell also promotes meditation/breathing techniques - listen to MP3 here).

I’m blogging this in hopes that someone who has some connections with the Christian Principals Association of B.C. will perhaps read this, break the great silence and speak to them about these things - before Ruth Haley Barton does.

Related:

More on Ruth Haley Barton here:

WHO IS RUTH HALEY BARTON?
apprising.org

*More info on Tony Campolo's Red Letter gospel thing, and his views on homosexuality here under The Others.

The author of these books is obviously okay with these things...

A large local community church, which shall remain un-named, has recently recommended two books to their members... The Reason For God and The Prodigal God (by Timothy Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City). Everyone says these are such good books. I know nothing about them, and perhaps they are.

But what a peculiar thing I saw today. Tim Keller is the Senior Pastor at a church where they are doing this sort of thing...

“The Way of the Monk” at Tim Keller’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church
christianresearchnetwork.com

Centering, the prayer rope, and the divine office hours? Oh brother!

Also see:
Another Popular Christian Leader , Tim Keller, Takes Church into Contemplative
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

Note: Tim Keller is also scheduled to be one of the speakers at the 2009 Willow Creek Leadership Summit.
(www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/2009/index.asp)

Interesting thing of the day - Babylon is being Rebuilt

Here's an interesting thing over at Joel Rosenberg's blog today...

Regular readers of this weblog and my books know that Bible prophecy says the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq will be rebuilt and become the greatest center of wealth, commerce and power in the “last days” of history. The books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Revelation are explicit on this subject. Skeptics and cynics abound, to be sure, but the fact is Babylon is being rebuilt right now, in part with U.S. taxpayer funds....

Read more here:

BIBLE SKEPTICS TAKE NOTE: BABYLON IS BEING REBUILT, JUST AS PROPHESIED
flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com

Is This Thing in Your Church Bulletin?

Would you be concerned if your church was promoting interfaith spirituality? Oh, they would never do that. Would they? Well, think again. For example, check your church bulletin to see if a seemingly benign little thing has slipped in unnoticed. Like, the announcement of a summer leadership summit with a link under the promotion that looks like this...

www.growingleadership.com

If so, your church could be a member of the Willow Creek Association, and your leaders are being encouraged to attend a teaching seminar (via satellite) to hear about the interfaith plans of Mr. Blair and Mr. Bono (see here).

If you live in Canada, check this map and see where this thing is going to be beamed via satellite to your church leaders:

www.growingleadership.com/2009/sitesmap.asp

If your church is promoting this, you might want to ask your leadership why they are supporters of Willow Creek’s acceptance and promotion of Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation, with is all about peace and co-existence with other religions:

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation is dedicated to achieving understanding, action and reconciliation between the different faiths for the common good. It is not about the faith that looks inward; but the faith that resolutely turns us towards each other.
-Tony Blair, The Globalization of Tolerance
newsweek.washingtonpost.com

That is the obvious red flag about this whole thing, but you might ALSO want to ask your church leadership if they are aware of the summer recommended reading list on that Growing Leadership (Willow Creek) website they are directing their members to. For example, if you click on their summer reading link, here are just a few of the books that the Willow Creek Canada Leadership Centre website recommends for summer reading:

First of all, they recommend, not one, but two books by Ruth Haley Barton called Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (foreword is written by the contemplative Leighton Ford) and Sacred Rhythms, a book about the spiritual disciplines. Ruth Haley Barton is a spiritual director who studied contemplative spirituality at the ecumenical Shalem Institute and is the founder of The Transforming Center. (thetransformingcenter.org)

Also recommended is a book called Forgotten Ways: Reactivate Missional Church (foreword written by Leonard Sweet) by Alan Hirsch, who wrote this book because he is "convinced that the inherited formulas for growing the Body of Christ do not work anymore."

Also on the summer reading list is a book called UnChristian by David Kinnaman. (The Willow Creek website does not mention that it is co-authored by Gabe Lyons, founder of the Fermi Project (fermiproject.com), which is "a broad collective of innovators, social entrepreneurs, and church and society leaders working together to make positive contributions to culture.") The Youtube promotional clip for UnChristian says this book has contributions by Chuck Colson, Andy Stanley, religious left leader Jim Wallis, Rick Warren, Brian McLaren, and Chris Seay (founder of The Voice), to name a few. The promo also says that this book is filled with research that will help Christians know what non-Christians are thinking when they see us at work and when they come to our churches. With this book, so they say, 20-30 years from now the world will see Christians in a whole new light. But...is that true? Do we even need such a book, when Jesus has already told us what the world will think of us if we are truly His disciples? (“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. John 15:18..."I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. John 17:14)

Another recommended book for summer reading is Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson.
The Willow Creek description says:

Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit An Geadh-Glas, or the Wild Goose. The name hints at mystery. Like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. Elements of danger and an air of unpredictability surround Him. Powerful and Practical!

Here’s another explanation of why the Celtics used a wild goose to symbolize the Holy Spirit…

In the Celtic tradition the Holy Spirit is represented as a bird, but not the peaceful and serene dove landing on Jesus at his baptism. For their symbol of the Holy Spirit, the Celtic church people chose the Wild Gose, ( An Geadh-Glas) This has become, the logo and name for the worship branch of the Iona Community.

Why did the Wild Goose speak to those ancient Celtic Christians? To begin with, wild geese aren’t controllable. You can’t restrain a wild goose and bend it to your will. They’re raucous and loud. Unlike the sweet and calming cooing of a dove, a goose’s honk is strong, challenging, strident and unnerving – and just a bit scary.

In much the same way the Spirit of God can be, demanding and unsettling.

Source (www.thisischurch.com)

Note: Some say this is just a legend and that there is no documented proof that the Celtics did use this as a symbol. Never the less, acknowledging and teaching this comparison appears to be a contradiction to the portrayal of the Holy Spirit in the Bible as a gentle dove, and as our Comforter and Helper, Who always points to Jesus.

For those who want to research this book more, there is a book review of Wild Goose Chase here (favorable) and some very interesting insights here for those who are interested in reading through them here. And here is a video of Mark Batterson promoting his book, where he equates the cages in a zoo to what the church does to Christians, and hopes his book 'uncages' bored confused Christians and releases them to be dangerous Christians. He also hopes his book will have a relaxing effect spiritually knowing that God is sovereign and in control. (A good goal, perhaps, but I am always amazed at the fact that Christians think they need to buy a new book to learn that, when the fact is that the only book that will truly "release" us and have a lasting effect on us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is the Bible... “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12)

So there you have just a few of the recommended books on the Willow Creek site. It is interesting to note that the common theme in many of the books on their list is returning to the spiritual rhythms of the "early" church (aka desert fathers and mystics) via contemplative spirituality.

The point of this post is this. It’s not just hearsay, finger pointing, negativity, or someone’s wild imagination that many churches, by linking themselves with the Willow Creek Association and promoting their summits (and recommended books), are unknowingly promoting a spirituality that is leading many unwary Christians to an unbiblical spirituality. It’s happening, it’s everywhere, and it’s spreading faster than you know.

Some Things about the Strategy of the Enemy

Are we to walk along in this world, totally unaware of Satan's schemes, or are we to know the strategy?

Now the questions we must ask are, "What is the general strategy of the devil? How does he plan to do this? How is it that he keeps the world in such bondage and such powerlessness?" The only one in all history who has ever consistently and unbrokenly defeated the devil, not only in his life but also in his death, is the Lord Jesus Christ. He put his finger squarely upon the strategy and the tactics of Satan when he said, "The devil is a liar and a murderer from the beginning," {cf, John 8:44}. The strategy of the devil is to murder. The tactic by which he accomplishes this is to lie. If we consider these phrases carefully we will see how accurate they are.
-Ray Stedman

See:

The Strategy of Satan
By Ray C. Stedman
www.pbc.org

[Shorter version here]:

Excerpts from The Strategy of Satan
www.crossroad.to

The Spiritual Dream Team is coming to town

Look who's coming to our corner of Canada to make it a happier place...

Toward a more enlightened society; Spiritual leaders, scientists at Vancouver event will look for ways to make the world a happier place
Tue Jun 16 2009
Column: Douglas Todd

Victor Chan calls them the "spiritual dream team." Even though it's a corny phrase, it's true.

The spiritual, humanitarian and scientific leaders being brought to Vancouver in September by the city's Dalai Lama Center, which Chan heads, add up to an international "who's who" of teachers of wisdom and cutting-edge research.

Tickets go on sale Saturday for the Sept. 26-29 events featuring the Tibetan spiritual leader, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, scientist-monk Mathieu Ricard and spiritual authors Eckhart Tolle and Stephen Covey...

Read more here:

Buddhist v. Mormon, Christian v. New Age, monk v. scientist
communities.canada.com

Related:

Stellar lineup for peace summit hopes to get something done
www.vancouversun.com

The (New Age) Department of Peace
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

~ ~ ~

"The world of American religion is going through enormous change. It will be increasingly difficult to distinguish Christians and Buddhists."

-University of Chicago sociologist Stephen R. Warner.
(Source)

Relevant Thing of the Week?

Last week, in our corner of Canada, this is how Relate Church, formerly Victory Christian Center (www.familyvictory.com), was being relevant with the gospel...

BLESSED BRUTALITY
The fighter's face wrenches with pain as his opponent slams his fist into his face again and again. The crowd loves it. "Attack!" they yell. "Finish him!" It's hard to believe but this took place inside a church.
Sarah Jackson, Surrey Now
Published: Thursday, June 25, 2009

To believe it, read it HERE in The Now [@ www2.canada.com].

Meanwhile, even the mayor is not impressed.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 1 Peter 3:15,16

The Dripping Honey Glory Thing (UPDATED)

Remember about a year ago how a certain ‘revivalist’ would repeatedly mention that he was basking in the thick, glory, liquid, honey cloud of God’s presence? How many times did we hear things like this as we watched this faith healer deceive thousands around the world with false miracles from his televised stage in Lakeland, Florida...

I tell you what, there's a glory movement into the room, just go ahead and OH! get under that! OH! [Todd shakes his head] OH! Lord, let it move across the whole place. A drunken glory. [Singing] Heavy heavy, wady wady wady glory, smoky glory, shekinah glory, and all the colours in the glory. I just wanna be in the cloud. Say, Lord, I just wanna be in the cloud. Under the cloud. Moses got to be under the cloud, I wanna be under the cloud! [Todd is shaking] Thick, thick, overwhelming, honey glory. I pray that it gets on every one of you tonight. [Source]

Well, I recently discovered that the honey thing all started way back in 1998…these are his own words...

“There is visitation; there is commissioning that comes from heaven. I had one in 1998. …after being saved for four years when I had an encounter; it was a holy visitation. It came right out of heaven. … All of a sudden a rushing wind came into my apartment. I remember choking on the wind, and the wind went into my mouth down into my lungs and came out of my mouth. I couldn’t talk. The fear of God fell on me and I felt a presence like a concentrated cloud coming out from my kitchen. It was like an electric presence coming out of the kitchen, a cloud of glory or like a liquid honey cloud.” …I just fell right out of the chair onto the carpet and the cloud came over me, the presence, the glory of God, and it was like swimming in warm, liquid, honey. It was like oil. I could feel electricity vibrating from my head to my feet, from my feet to my head again and again. I was lying there basking in this liquid, honey, glory cloud…. I just thought, Wow! God is showing up in glory, liquid, honey clouds. ”

And that’s not all, he said there are rivers of it in heaven as well…

“I even saw rivers of oil, rivers of honey, and I saw bridges. (…)I saw a river flowing between its banks. It was like Psalm 23, green pastures, … as I looked I saw that it was a river of oil and honey.”

SOURCE: An Open Heaven- TB's Highway to Heaven
@ letusreason.org.

Ever since then, the liquid/glory/honey cloud thing seemed to stick. In fact, a book was even written about it called The Reality Of The Supernatural World:

Description: God wants to bring you into a heavenly experience with Him. He doesn’t want to wait until you get to heaven to show you His supernatural realm where you can: experience the throne room, see the sea of glass like crystal, receive visitations by angels, or get caught in the liquid-honey, glory cloud of His awesome presence.

Today, there are still various CD's (like this one that is "dripping with sticky honey from the rock"), and youtube videos and things on the internet where the liquid honey annointing is spoken of with awe, and said to be thick, heavy, sticky, dripping, etc. However, this sort of thing is not supported or mentioned in the Bible. There is lots of honey with milk, curds, flour and oil. There is wild honey, jars of honey, and locusts and honey. In Revelation 10 the little book in the angel's hand (scroll) tastes as sweet as honey. That's about as far as the honey thing goes.

But now - EUREKA! An amazing discovery has been made. Scientists have found a giant sticky dripping honey thing!

Giant Blob Found Deep Beneath Nevada
Hidden beneath the U.S. West's Great Basin, scientists have spied a giant blob of rocky material dripping like honey.
www.foxnews.com

If history indeed repeats itself, it may be only a matter of time before devoted fans {from happier times} get wind of this thing and head to the great basin to 'get some'.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

***Update:

NEWSFLASH!

Todd Bentley is Back
slaughteringthesheep.wordpress.com

...AND (thanks to Rick Joyner) he is selling the same stuff, like The Reality of the Supernatural World, that says... (http://www.freshfireusa.com/store)
"God...doesn’t want to wait until you get to heaven to show you His supernatural realm where you can: experience the throne room, see the sea of glass like crystal, receive visitations by angels, or get caught in the liquid-honey, glory cloud of His awesome presence."

More likely, Todd, not God, can't wait until you get caught in the liquid-honey, glory cloud scam!

A Nice Thing I Found

Here's a nice thing I found...

Finding Hope, Strength, and Comfort
In Times of Trouble . . .
www.alphanewsdaily.com