Undocumented Claims of the Horus/Osiris/Jesus Thing

Remember the Zeitgeist movie that was devoted to allegations of Jesus being nothing more than a combination of pagan deities? Here's another interesting thing that counters the claims that the attributes of Jesus were copied from Egyptian deities by the gospel writers to create their own new god.

Of all the pagan copycat candidates, Osiris and Horus are two that look if any to be a major threat. Egypt after all is not far from Palestine, and Jews did live in Egypt; it is not theoretically improbable that they could steal an idea for a Jesus from this place.

But did they? The field is rife with claims, but as usual there is a great deal of filching of Christian terms to describe Egyptian events (not all of it with bad intentions) and a great deal of non-citation of sources for fabulous claims.

Was the story of Jesus stolen from that of the Egyptian deites Horus and Osiris?
www.tektonics.org

Related:

Zeitgeist Movie Answers
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com

Is there any validity to the Zeitgeist movie?
www.gotquestions.org

Books at the Bible Gateway General Store

So it's like this. I clicked on the 'General Store' at Biblegateway.com and, using the search engine, I discovered that you can buy just about any book there that calls itself Christian. Not only can you buy The Shack (the ad started popping up on the main page when their store opened last October), they also sell anything Rick Warren, Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Peter Scazzero...etc. It gets worse. When I typed Ignatius Loyola into the search box, up came two pages of 'enlightening' books on Jesuit spiritual disciplines, such as A Do-It-at-Home Retreat: The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and Hearts on Fire: Praying with the Jesuits.

Not only will you find every church growthy, seeker friendly, contemplative/emerging church book, but also the Word of Faith false prophets/authors - such as Benny Hinn, Todd Bentley, TD Jakes, to name a few. Basically you can find any and every book that claims to be Christian - just like any Christian book store business these days. Perhaps this is because they are in association with Christianbook.com (The Christianbook Group). The one good thing about this is that, like Amazon.com, they also stock a few other books and authors that you will most likely never see in your local Christian book store. I also found books by Roger Oakland, Ray Yungen, and even James B. DeYoung's Burning Down the Shack!

I guess what this compromise all boils down to is business and marketing in this age of consumerism as truth (and fear of Almighty God) is tossed out the window and replaced with the almighty dollar sign.

And this I have blogged today...just because. Oh right, my point is that this is the reason I don't link to Bible Gateway in my blog posts anymore for live links to scripture passages, even though they are an excellent Bible search resource. And this personal boycott, I am sure, will make a huge difference in their stats, leading them to a heartfelt reconsideration of their compromising ways, conviction and repentance. :)

As if.

~ ~ ~

By the way, this may, or may not, have something to do with all this:

Why Zondervan Bought BibleGateway.com
www.christianitytoday.com/

Dinosaurs and Men Together?

Did you know...

According to most contemporary geologists and paleontologists, the dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period. We can see them today, certainly, as petrified remains in the rock walls at Dinosaur National Monument or on display at The Field Museum in Chicago. We can buy bits and pieces of them in little plastic bags at roadside fossil shops in Colorado or New Mexico or Montana. We can dream about them. However, living dinosaurs have been separated from humanity by many millions of years, according to the geologists.

That's what they believe....

Must read more? Go here:

Dinosaurs and Men Together... Yep
www.khouse.org

Emergent Christianity isn't really Christian at all!

What do Doug Pagitt, Rob Bell, and Brian McLaren have in common?

Heaven, Hell, and Emergent Heresy

By Eric Barger
Take A Stand! Ministries

When one does a careful evaluation of the teachings of Emergent leaders, such as Doug Pagitt, Rob Bell, and Brian McLaren, it becomes apparent that they do not believe that Heaven, as described in the Bible, actually exists. Even clearer is their denunciation against the notion of a literal Hell. Their focus is only on the "here-and-now" existence of this life and experiencing the "journey" and "conversations" it presents...

Read the rest here @ www.worldviewweekend.com.

New books you won't find in your local store

A few weeks ago I was quite pleasantly surprised to find a book published by ~gasp~ Lighthouse Trails Publishing in our local Christian book store! Out of India by Caryl Matrisciana is not only a biography, but also an expose on the New Age movement and how eastern spirituality crossed over to the west through yoga and transcendental meditation and the Beatles, so you can imagine how happy I was to see it on the shelf. Mind you, it's the only book I have ever seen in this store that was still wrapped in cellophane (so you could not browse through it) - but at least it (miraculously) made it into a store that is filled with emergent, contemplative, purpose driven and post-modern books. Sadly, most books on discernment that should be in Christian book stores today never make it to the shelf, and can only be ordered on-line.

Today I noticed a few new books on the internet that probably won't ever make it to your local Christian book store...

*This is a new booklet by Pastor Anton Bosch on discernment called Contentiously Contending! It's a collection of articles he wrote, and here's why...

I wrote the articles in response to several decades of participation with, and observation of, many apologetic or discernment type ministries. While I see a great need for watchmen who will faithfully sound the alarm at the attacks of the enemy, I also see the need for those involved in this vital ministry to go about this work in a godly way.

(The ordering info can be found at the above link.)

*And then there's this new book (and website) by James Sundquist...

Rick Warren's Global Peace Plan vs. Scriptural Teachings on Peace

The book by author James Sundquist titled "Rick Warren's Global Peace Plan vs. Scriptural Teachings on Peace" is a hard hitting expose on the teaching of Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan that was unveiled at Angel Stadium in California to an audience of 30,000 people. What is startling about this new global peace plan is not so much what it contains, but what it does not contain. Much like other forms of peace throughout the ages, its plan prescribes a peaceful kingdom now which the world loves to hear. If your church is into the Purpose Driven Church movement and is into pursuing the P.E.A.C.E. plan, you owe it to yourself to get James Sundquist's book and learn of the methods and practices inherent in this Global P.E.A.C.E plan.

Here's the link to the website:

Perfect Peace Plan
www.perfectpeaceplan.com

*And finally, this is not an actual book, but today was the last installment of the extremely controversial on-line fiction story that many have been following over at My Word Like Fire. If you haven't read it, be sure to check out all the addicting chapters. This is definitely one story that would most likely never make it to the Christian book stores even if it was published (or any book store these days, for that matter), but it certainly is a good, politically incorrect read. It has a great ending, by the way, which is right here, but don't read the last entry unless you've read the whole thing (click here for the entire series).

A New Thing - How to Guarantee Blog Traffic and Comments!

Eureka! I'm onto a new thing. I have just discovered how to get more readers to comment on this blog - I mean, I know you are out there, my stats tell me so, but I read somewhere once that only 1% of blog readers actually comment. But that is all going to change. It seems I have apparently stumbled upon the golden secret to getting blog reader feedback! Perhaps, if it works, I should write a book and profit from this - but no, I will let you, my 10 loyal readers of the inner circle, in on it right now. This is how it works. From now on, as my observations tell me, if I want more folks to comment here, all I need to do is write blog posts about vegetables or Benny Hinn.

Now that I have done so, I shall wait for the deluge. Any time now. Here we go...

Of course, I am just being silly.

The Pentecostals and the Monks

The other day I came across this thing about the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary's Mr. Taylor and the monks. This article (Bridges across the divide: Protestants are adopting elements of Catholic spirituality) originally appeared in the National Catholic Reporter (Dec 15, 2006), and this is what we read about half way into it (links at the end)...

~ ~ ~

The Pentecostals and the monks

A small Trappist monastery, Assumption Abbey, located in the hill country in southern Missouri, hosts weekend retreats made by seminarians from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in nearby Springfield. Headquartered there, the Assemblies of God are the world's largest Pentecostal denomination with 52.5 million members worldwide, with churches all over the country.

Jay P. Taylor, director of spiritual formation at the seminary, told NCR that these retreats have become a key part of a holistic spirituality program that's been developed at the seminary.

"One of our professors, Gary McGee, has been involved in Pentecostal dialogue with Catholics for years, so we have an association already. Our own DNA as a denomination is found in two scripture passages: Matthew 28:19, 'Go and make disciples,' and Acts 1:8, 'But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me ... even to the uttermost parts of the earth.' Thus, our ministries are mostly outward directed; we're all about evangelism and mission, about doing work in the world."

Taylor said the seminary is not trying to create monks, but wants its seminarians to learn the importance of inward-directed spiritual disciplines. "We try to focus not just on what we do for God but who we are, so that inner spiritual work becomes important."

Taylor sees Assumption Abbey as a place where students can experience firsthand the value of silence and solitude "so they can merge these into their own spirituality, trying to find avenues and spaces in their lives for these spiritual qualities and practices."

Taylor describes to the seminarians the Catholic monastic tradition, explaining that the mission of the Trappists is prayer and solitude and that there are theological differences between their Pentecostal Christianity and Catholicism. "The monastery is a resource in helping our seminarians learn they can find common ground with others whatever their spiritual persuasion."

The seminarians typically arrive on a Friday evening in time for the 5:30 p.m. Vesper service then attend all the monks' communal prayer sessions. "We get up at 3 a.m. like the monks do to pray Vigils, leaving after Compline on Sunday night."

Taylor said the monastery's Catholicism is not as alien to the seminarians as is the quiet and solitude. "The hushed quiet there is a shock, even a little intimidating. They're used to noise; when it's gone then they discover all the internal noise. It's a shock when they can hear their hearts beat, their stomachs make noise, and experience their mind flying all over the place, hearing that chatter inside for what it is."

Meeting with the monks, seminarians hear about the Trappists' daily life, Taylor said.

At daily Mass, the seminarians don't join in Communion or in the prayers to Mary, but do share in the exchange of peace gestures and the final blessing, and the prayers of the faithful. "The abbot, Br. Mark Scott, told me he enjoys the seminarians because they participate; they're not just passive spectators."

Out of this real immersion in silence and solitude at the monastery, Taylor said, the seminarians are offered ways to continue some of these practices in their daily life at the seminary and at home. They are expected to find three or four days a year "to invest in silence and solitude," he said. "We offer them days when they can fast, either from food or from music or technology. Many students can easily give up eating but have a harder time doing without the music or time spent on their computers."

Taylor said the weekend retreats are advertised on campus for usually only two days before the group is fully signed up. "Students come back and tell others. It's very popular. I meet with all of the seminarians regularly for spiritual direction and they tell me how much the weekend retreats meant to them. Even the fact that we do spiritual direction--that's very unique for Protestant Pentecostals.

"At the end of the day, we can all pursue Christ. That's what matters." Taylor said.

-Bridges across the divide: Protestants are adopting elements of Catholic spirituality by Rich Heffern, National Catholic Reporter, Dec 15, 2006

~ ~ ~

The rest of the article, which is all about how Roman Catholic practices aren't just for Catholics anymore, mentions other well known names such as Scot McKnight (author of The Real Mary: Why Evangelical Christians Can Embrace the Mother of Jesus) and Rick Warren, who has "depended upon concepts from his readings in Catholic spirituality to form his own vision for his church" and..."From the early church fathers and mothers through the monastic traditions and up to Henri Nouwen and Thomas Merton, Warren said these traditions and writings have all ministered to him."

The complete article can be found here:

Bridges across the divide: Protestants are adopting elements of Catholic spirituality.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bridges+across+the+divide%3A+Protestants+are+adopting+elements+of...-a0156581426

OR here:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_8_43/ai_n26712917/pg_4/?tag=content;col1

OR here:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156581426.html

~ ~ ~

Related:

*Assemblies of God Seminary Promoting Contemplative Books and Things

*Ancient-Future Faith Or Do All Roads Lead to Rome
by Gary Gilley
www.svchapel.org

Assemblies of God Seminary Promoting Contemplative Books and Things

I read about it last week...

This Assemblies of God Theological Seminary course was taught in Fall of 2009 by Jay Taylor, D. Min., and Melody Palm, Psy.D.

It is titled, Emotional and Spiritual Formation of the Leader, but is also termed as Emotional and Spiritual Formation of the Minister.

Here are three of the required textbooks:

Kenneth Boa, Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation

McNeal, Reggie, A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders

Manning, B., and Hancock, J.H., Posers, Fakers, and Wannabes: Unmasking The Real You

The co-author of the last book listed, B. Manning, is better known as Brennan Manning.

Source-Emotional and Spiritual Formation of the Leader (class)
http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/emotional-and-spiritual-formation-of-the-leader-class/

No kidding. Now, for anyone who finds this information valuable, this is the course:

http://www.agts.edu/syllabi/resident/2009fall/pthmht555palmtaylor_fall09_res.pdf

And if you think that's an isolated one time thing, here's another one:

http://agts.edu/syllabi/dmin/2010/pth901mhtm555mpalm_spr10_dmin.pdf

Now the interesting thing about all this is that it's not the first time that Jay Taylor, Director of Spiritual Formation at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, has recommended and used Kenneth Boa's book (see yesterday's post). Here we see it was required reading in a spiritual formation course syllabus at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary way back in 2002:

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
PTH544 The Spiritual Formation of the Minister (2002)
*PDF here:
www.agts.edu/syllabi/resident_f2002/pth544taylor_fall02_res.pdf

So the question now is, since the contemplative thing has obviously been going on at this seminary for some time now, just how far has it spread...and what exactly is being taught in these types of courses?

Upon closer fruit inspection, we see that the same Director of Spiritual Formation at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary has also lectured a 'Teen Challenge Leadership Session' called Intentional Spirituality. (This can be seen on his faculty page, where Richard Foster is also recommended, here: http://www.agts.edu/faculty/taylor.html). For those who don't have the time to research, what follows is a brief summary of this thing.

According to the Intentional Spirituality document, this lecture began with passing around play doh as a demonstration of reshaping spirituality and progressed to the spiritual disciplines, quoting Ortberg, Willard, and Foster. It continued into imaginative prayer exercises ~ relax, breath in deep, imagine you are in the Bible story (i.e. sounds, smells, feelings, etc.) ~ and a reflection exercise (page 7) that says to spend the day with Jesus at his house (?) and write your conversation with Jesus (this should take about 20-25 minutes), and then share your conversation. This, says Jay P. Taylor's lecture outline, is what St. Ignatius of Loyola called "imaginative prayer." According to this course, doing these things are what will energize a spiritual transformation.

It doesn't end there. Some more things to help determine and develop your spiritual formation and potential include writing a left handed (left brained) letter to God, doing the Christian Life Profile test, the T-JTA (Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis), Meyers-Briggs or other personality tests, and Robert Clinton's spiritual timeline exercise. After doing these things, a student would then finally be ready to move forward and volunteer at the local soup kitchen or Big Brothers program, while continuing practicing disciplines and virtues, utilizing evaluation tools, and reflecting some more. This is how you will grow, grow, grow in your spiritual transformation, according to Jay Taylor. Unfortunately, notice how sadly lacking is any mention of Bible study, other than imagining yourself in Bible stories. (I can't help but think of that simple song we grew up singing in Sunday School - read your Bible pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow.)

Also on Jay Taylor's page (http://www.agts.edu/faculty/taylor.html) is another document called the 2004 Northwestern Executive Cohort Spiritual Formation Lecture which, just like in Kenneth Boa's book, gives a disclaimer and warning about New Age/Eastern spirituality, but then mentions contemplative things like Marjorie Thompson's Pathways Center for Christian Spirituality, Bill Hybels, John Ortberg, Foster's and Willard's spiritual disciplines, and once again, imaginative prayer exercises of Ignatius Loyola (equal to New Age visualization). Also mentioned here are Shawchuck and Heuser (Managing the Congregation) who call the disciplines the 'Spiritual Delights,' and finally, the same assessment tools, volunteering and more evaluating to complete your spiritual transformation.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm sure that Mr. Taylor is a very nice man, as is his associate, Ms. Palm (who also highly recommends Kenneth Boa's book). This post is by no means an attack on either of them personally, but rather another alert about just one more indication of how far reaching this subtle new spirituality is. In all, it appears the contemplative spiritual formation thing has been around at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary for nearly a decade now, and that means that AoG church members should be on the watch for this kind of spirituality to be showing up any time soon in their own churches, if it hasn't already.

And if you think this is not much of a concern, wait til you read the next post...

[Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed on this blog are the personal opinions, rantings, and meanderings of this blogger.]

The Contemplative Way according to Kenneth Boa

In Chapter 14 (called Devotional Spirituality The Contemplative Way) in ‘Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation,’ contemplative author Kenneth Boa writes:

“Because some people have negative associations with the idea of contemplation, let me make three points that should help reduce confusion."
(page 166)

The first thing Boa brings up is that the practice of contemplative spirituality (CS) is only for those who have had their senses trained to discern good and evil (quoting Hebrews 5:13-14), and for those who are grounded in the Bible. Secondly, he says that contemplation is “not an introspective New Age practice of altered consciousness or voiding the mind of content”. Thirdly, says Boa, meditation and contemplation is accessible to all personalities and temperaments and beneficial for all 'mature believers.'

~warning bell sound would be appropriate here~

He then goes on to explain in more detail the contemplation of the monastics, the disciplines and the inner sanctuary of self-awareness of Thomas Merton. Practicing contemplative attunement to the Presence, stillness, quietness, and listening leads us beyond human ideas “into the darkness of faith.” Boa then mentions the rich traditions of (mystic) Bernard of Clairvaux, the desert spirituality of Antony, and the Rule of St. Benedict, and other contemplatives including John Cassian, Richard Rolle, the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross (see Christian mystics of the past) and the dark night of the soul, Evelyn Underhill, Frank Laubach, Thomas Kelly, Henri Nouwen and Blaise Pascall. These, Boa considers as remarkable followers of Christ who were wholly attuned to God and consumed by the fire of love, “an experiential encounter with God that is marked by holy desire.”

The following chapter (15, p. 174) goes on to describe the ancient practice of sacred reading (Lectio Divina) and mental prayer which has recently been revitalized by writers like Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Michael Casey and Thelma Hall in Catholic circles but “Protestants are now being exposed to this approach as well.”

Suggestions for meditation and prayer in this chapter include a recommendation of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, visualization (putting yourself in the Bible story), and using an image of prayer as a small fire as Teresa of Avila used to do.

By the way, according to an article at The Berean Call, these exercises are not a good thing...

Ignatian Examen is an occult visualization technique taught by Ignatius Loyola, who founded the Jesuits in the 16th century. His exercise teaches one to visualize oneself in the presence of Jesus and then interact with Him during his earthly events, e.g., "at the Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane, at the foot of the cross, and laying Jesus' body in the tomb."6 This has one adding content to Scripture from his imagination and opens a person to demonic manipulation (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:8).

-Evangelical Mysticism? (The Berean Call)

Back to Ken Boa's book...besides the contemplative writers already mentioned (above), some of the authors of the many Works Cited in the back of this book include, to name a few, Richard Foster, Ignatius of Loyola, Jeff Imbach, Brennan Manning, Tom Sine, Gary Thomas, and Dallas Willard - all contemplatives.

To conclude, instead of clearing up the negative associations with contemplative spiritually, this book only enforces them. Firstly, prayer is for all who call on the name of the Lord, not just the few spiritually mature enlightened ones. If one needs to know the Bible front to back and discern evil before one dares to practice prayer, something is very wrong with that kind of prayer method. Secondly, contemplative spirituality is the same thing as the New Age practice of altered states of consciousness. Thirdly, the meditation method(s) taught by the authors this book promotes are also practiced by Eastern/New Age religions and it is not a Christian thing at all. The reviews at amazon.com recommend this book as well rounded, balanced food for the soul. Perhaps this food may look appealing to some thirsty, starving soul, but buyer beware, it’s laced with spiritual arsenic.

Also see:

BOOK ALERT: Conformed to His Image by Ken Boa
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

Please Contemplate This
by T.A. McMahon, The Berean Call Newsletter
www.deceptioninthechurch.com

*The reason why I blogged about this book today will become clear tomorrow...

It began in the garden...

"The war against truth is nothing new, of course. It began in the garden when the serpent said to the woman, “Has God indeed said . . . ?” (Genesis 3:1). A relentless battle has raged ever since between truth and falsehood, good and evil, light and dark­ness, assurance and doubt, belief and scepticism, righteousness and sin. It is a savage spiritual conflict that literally spans all of human history. But the ferocity and irrationality of this present onslaught seems quite unprecedented."

-‘The Truth War,’ John MacArthur

Source:
Quote of the day
moriel.org

If you are a Christian, you are in this war. If your life is going along smoothly without a care, if you are not involved in this battle, then maybe it's time to take stock of your spiritual condition.

Yes, it's summer, and I wasn't going to do any blogging. I don't want to do any blogging - in fact, I would love to spend my entire summer doing what I want, but the truth is, there are a few things that have to be blogged this week. Later...

Interesting things of the week

I'm still officially on a summer blogging break, but that doesn't mean I've stopped doing some summer surfing on the web now and then. Here are a few interesting things I've read that I didn't want to let slip by...I shall quickly blog them and get back to my summer...

First of all, if you've been following the one world religion thing, you will definitely want to read this amazing report by Carl Teichrib. If you subscribe to his website (for a fee), you may download all of his well researched articles (highly recommended), but you can read the first part of his latest one here:

Uniting Religions for World Change:
The G8 World Religions Summit

Now here's something interesting I came across last week about The Shack and lawsuits. I thought it was a good indication of the motives behind the book (if it's really about making God known, the glory is God's, the more important profits are eternal rewards, etc.) but I haven't noticed anyone else blogging this besides this brief blurb:

The Shack and Lawsuits?
mywordlikefire.wordpress.com

And wow, speaking of well known Christian books and their fruit, look who is reading this one:

Wild at Heart Required Reading for Drug Cartel
http://www.thebereancall.org/node/8648

Go figure!

Then someone sent me this thing from our local Vancouver newspaper. I thought it was pretty interesting that non-Christians are going to find silence through Jesuit spirituality and contemplative silence, which they consider to be non-threatening (further proof that this method of prayer is NOT the truth, as the true gospel and way to the Father ~Jesus's death on the cross~ is a stumbling block to the world, and foolishness to those who are perishing):

The Sound of Stillness
www.vancouversun.com

Then there was a good article I somehow came across that's written by Jim Fletcher which I found quite relevant, having just come back from a very good conference on how Israel fits into God's plan for the last days and how that is a hugely misunderstood concept in the majority of churches...

Pro Israel Christians Aren't Crackpots
prophecymatters.com

And speaking of one world religion stuff, here's a rather bizarre thing someone told me about on the weekend, so I looked it up and sure enough, it really does look like the all seeing eye (eye of Horus?) at David Jeremiah's church (shadowmountain.org)...

David Jeremiah And His All-Seeing Eye: What Is Up?
anothervoicerev184.blogspot.com

Go figure! No comment.

I will now be heading back to the flower patch where there is no strife or conspiracy or apostasy or pesky anonymous commenters (who tell me what I blog is dumb and to get a grip - I have a grip, thanks, on my weeding claw and rake), just fluffy white clouds floating above birds sweetly singing, flowers growing, cool water sprinkling, and lots of good clean dirt to walk barefoot in.

Summer Break

As summer has finally arrived here in the great rainy north, I've been spending a good part of the week in the garden, raking, planting, watering and getting sun burnt. It's my favorite way of getting away from technology and noise and everything else that robs our time. Aside from the back breaking work, I love having time to just talk with God. By the way, do you know that God is really into gardens? I listened to a very good message on that very thing a few days ago, and thought I should post it here. If you scroll down here you will find this:

Jesus in the Garden
Jacob Prasch
Jacob Prasch compares the Old Testament garden of Adam and Eve in Genesis with Jesus in the New Testament Garden ( John 18–20) in this encouraging message of what Jesus has done for us.
www.radiofreechurch.com

On that note, it's time to take a summer break.

If anyone is looking for me, I'll be in the flower patch.

Old Earth View Book Influences well known Pastor

The book is called Genesis Unbound: A Provocative New Look at the Creation Account by John Sailhamer. A review at Answers in Genesis tells us that while this author is among the first rank of Hebrew and Old Testament scholars, in this book he holds to a kind of modified gap theory with many fanciful ideas, absurd claims, and theological problems. The book review concludes...

While there are some things in this book we can agree with, there are many more things, such as those outlined above, where we must disagree. The basic thesis is fatally flawed, and it appears that the only things which Sailhamer has ‘unbound’ are the rules of grammar, the semantic fields of words and the laws of logic.

-Unbinding the rules
A review of Genesis Unbound by John Sailhamer, Multnomah Books, Sisters, OR, USA, 1996.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v14/i3/rules.asp

That's why it's surprising (or maybe not) that over at Apprising Ministries we read today that this same book has convinced John Piper to take an 'old earth' gap position on creation (see interview where Piper say he feels at home with Sailhamer's view, here).

This is just one more thing in a series of unfortunate events we are seeing as so many Christian pastors and Bible teachers are no longer believing in the literal six day creation account as recorded in the book of Genesis.

Also see:

The Gap Theory—Part A
Problems & Inconsistencies
www.answersingenesis.org

The gap theory—Part B
www.answersingenesis.org

Related:

Tim Keller Doesn’t Believe In Young Earth Or Six 24-Hour Day Creation
christianresearchnetwork.com

Are Tim Keller & John Piper Even Christian?
5ptsalt.com

Book Review: Present Perfect

Present Perfect
Published by Zondervan 2010

[I]n their scheme of spirituality, in one way or another, contemplatives are forced to deny the sin nature … Any denial of a sin nature affirms the “self” and the “self” neither wants nor needs a Savior!

Book Review by Larry DeBruyn

The “Spiritual Secret” of Greg Boyd.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8, KJV

On the cover of Gregory A. Boyd’s recently published book, Present Perfect: Finding God in the Now, this endorsement appears:

“Discover a spiritual secret that is as simple as it is profound. Highly recommended.”—Brian D. McLaren, author, speaker, and activist[1]

Go here to read the rest of this book review:

PRESENT PERFECT
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

Just some things the Bible answer man said...

As I was driving home today I finally finished listening to the uplifting end of an MP3 set on the book of Revelation by David Hocking (it's taken months), when I made the mistake of switching on AM radio. The Bible Answer Man program just happened to be on. Aghast, I was too stupified to turn it off as I actually heard the so called Bible answer man say that the church has always existed, and consists of the called out ones from every age. So it's kind of like there is the Old Testament church and the New Testament church, according to him, which sounds like he's got the church and Israel totally mixed up (see here and here and here and here and here). He also talked about anti-Christ being simply anyone who is against Christ, which may be correct to a point, but it's much deeper than that (watch this and this). He also said that those who believe in the idea of a tribulation and the rapture of the church are 'reading things' into the Bible. Then an ad came on for his new Legacy Bible ('the Bible edited by Hank,' the promo said) which is 'just like having Hank in your Bible study'. Like we always wanted that. Then an elderly caller praised and commended the Bible answer man for his 'God given patience' and his way with words when answering people (ahem), and if I recall correctly, the subject turned to other things (something about false teachers, I think, but I may have a few things remembered in the wrong order), which is when I turned off the radio and listened to the air conditioning blow, which was far more refreshing.

I shall say no more, but perhaps the the following things will explain why I (and so many others) personally have a problem with Mr. Hanegraaff's preterism...

Cracking the "Code" of Preterism
A Review of Hank Hanegraaffs "The Apocalypse Code" and a Refutation of Preterism
cicministry.org

Hank Hanegraaff’s Conference On Preterism And Replacement Theology
moriel.org

A Review of Hank Hanegraaff's The Apocalypse Code
Dr. Thomas Ice
www.pre-trib.org

*These may be related:

Howse, Markell, Hunt, Ice, Reagan, McTernan, Salhus, and Rosenberg, Are Not the Enemy or the Problem with America
www.worldviewweekend.com

Gary Demar's End Times Fiction (Best of reprint)
www.worldviewweekend.com

Latest Interfaith Green Thing

Have you heard about the latest interfaith green thing? Thanks to the oil disaster and organizations such as the Evangelical Environmental Network (remember the "What Would Jesus Drive" campaign), the Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Sierra Club and the National Council of Churches and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, there is a push for an interfaith ecological 'Great Awakening.'

According to an article posted by Watcher's Lamp, another deception, oops, delegation was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on Tuesday for a tour and an interfaith prayer service. One of the people in this delegation is, not surprisingly, Jim Wallis of Sojourners, who seems to be showing up everywhere another gospel is preached these days (scroll down and take a browse on these search pages; here and here and here). It appears that this whole disaster thing is lining up quite nicely with the book he wrote called The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith and Politics in a Post-Religious Right America (endorsed by Bono, Bill Hybels and Brian McLaren, surprise, surprise).

In his own words...

I am not just saying that another Great Awakening may be coming. I'm convinced that it has already begun, and the book begins to tell its stories. As I've often said, this could be a revival that calls us to find common ground by moving to higher ground. It could transcend traditional divisions and bring people together across the theological and political spectrum on the major moral issues of our time. It asserts that religion should not be a wedge to divide us, but a bridge to bring us together.

-Jim Wallis, Why I Wrote The Great Awakening
www.huffingtonpost.com

From what I can see, it looks like this great interfaith awakening has indeed begun. It's time for all those fence sitters and namby pamby luke warm Christians to wake up and smell the apostasy brewing, before they too are deluded by this false gospel.

Possibly related:

*NEW:

Uniting Religions for World Change:
The G8 World Religions Summit
By Carl Teichrib

Some Summer Conferences

Tired of hearing about the same old church leadership conference thing...the same old summits, gatherings and conferences with the same old speakers, or new ones with the same 'next level,' 'creative,' grow your church/CEO message repackaged, with maybe a few false teachers and politicians thrown in (to boost bookings and ticket sales)?

Well, here are some free Christian conferences that people have told me about that are actually about the Bible, and they are free to all.

Coming up this July 17 is a conference called Flashpoint 2012 with speakers Dr. G. Thomas Sharp, Jim Fletcher and Mark Hitchcock. Sign up for the live webcast here.

Also coming up the same weekend, here's a thing that locals might not want to miss. Coming soon to the lower Fraser Valley region of British Columbia, Canada...

THE HFT CANADA ANNUAL ISRAEL AND BIBLE PROPHECY CONFERENCE!

WHAT>
Hope For Today - Israel and Bible Prophecy Conference

WHEN>
July 16 & 17, 2010
Friday 1PM through to Saturday 6PM

WHERE>
Venue: Abbotsford Pentecostal Church

WHO>
Speakers include:
Dr. Thomas Ice
Dr. Ed Hindson
Dr. Paul Wilkinson (UK)
Dr. David Hocking
Music: Jonathon Settel

~ ~ ~

If anyone knows of some more good Bible conferences happening this summer, now's your chance to drop it in the comment box.

50 things that make you wonder...

Here's a thing I read last night that really does make one wonder what has happened to America...

50 Random Facts That Make You Wonder What In The World Has Happened To America
theeconomiccollapseblog.com

At the same time, another interesting poll I found says that...

Many Americans expect Jesus' return by 2050
www.ynetnews.com

(Plus some other interesting results.)

The books and things of John Paul Jackson

I was recently e-mailed by a reader who has concerns about John Paul Jackson’s Association of Bridge Churches (www.bridgechurches.com) and his books and teachings that seem to be flying under the radar. As I looked into it, I was amazed how it was like opening a Pandora's box, so to speak, of false teaching. (Note: due to the length of his name, I will refer to John Paul Jackson in the rest of this post as JPJ.)

First of all, at Streams Ministries (www.streamsministries.com), a ministry of JPJ, I noticed that he also has a Canadian branch (www.streamscanada.com). One click on the links there told me everything I needed to know. Some of the more well known names on the list include the following:

Elijah House
John and Paula Sandford

Friends of the Bridegroom
Mike Bickle

Watch of the Lord
Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda

Eagle's View Ministries
Bobby Conner

Ministry to the Nations
Jim and Michal Ann Goll

Bob Jones

Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
John Arnott

International House of Prayer

Revivaltown
Nolan and Heather Clark

Che Ahn
Harvest Rock Church

Randy Clark

[http://www.streamsministries.com/index.php?page=links]

These associations with the Kansas City Prophets, IHOP, the NAR, endorsers of Toronto Blessing phenomena, and various other false teachers, are very telling. Some say that JPJ is more balanced than than these guys, but the recommended links by his ministry indicate that they are all in the same boat.

There are also various interesting interviews to be found, such as this one (from Aug. 2009) where John Paul Jackson, "proven prophet," reveals what is going to happen in the next ten years:

Seeing into the future…
WSTK-ITV - Sid Roth Interviews John Paul Jackson On "The Perfect Storm"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRTglw2Q8o0

Having watched it, I can’t say that I disagreed with anything specifically that he predicted is going to happen, as the things he mentioned are all entirely predictable, vague and plausible. But then I got to the very end, where he said (enter Twilight Zone music) that those who know God during these troubled times will receive "secret knowledge from God." Yes, supernatural wisdom that God will show to those who fear him, things like secrets to DNA and healing processes, etc. Those people will be given 'secrets' of the Lord because He is going to keep His covenant with them. Uh...sorry JPJ, but that's not at all what the Bible says. So it looks like your proven prophet status is about to be disproven. Scripture does say that “the people who know their God will display strength and take action” (Daniel 11:32), but this has much deeper meaning - for starters, that as the knowledge of Him increases, His power will be displayed (see here and here).

Another thing that I discovered is that JPJ calls himself a 'dream interpreter' (see Understanding Dreams And Visions). Now don't get me wrong, the Bible is full of dreams and interpretations, but this is a gift of God, not something you take a course in or pay money for. To make things even more interesting, see who regularly contacts John Paul to get dream interpretations...

WSTK-ITV- Benny Hinn Interviews John Paul Jackson Pt.1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA2dwYFBRdg

(Note: To find out more about Benny Hinn, check out Bud Press's research over at Christian Research Service.)

JPJ also has a link at Streams Ministries to a training website for dream interpretation (where you can spend time with 'master dream interpreters', whatever that is).

Then there is the magic portal thing...

"John Paul Jackson, a false prophet from the Kansas City Prophets...has admitted that the New Age teaches about "portals".

Sadly, while many in the New Age movement recognize the existence of portals, the portals they recognize are those of the second Heaven. Many erroneously think they are hearing from God when actually they are being deceived by the counterfeit. (Heavenly Portals by John Paul Jackson, http://www.streamsministries.com/PI-HeavenlyPortals.html)

Read the above article to see that it is John Paul Jackson who is more deceived than New Agers! The Bible says nothing about portals to heaven. The only portal to heaven for human beings is through the blood of Jesus Christ, not some New Age technique like driving stakes in the ground that have had oil spilled on them."

-Three Fallacies Of Third Wave Spiritual Warfare Teachings
by Sandy Simpson
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/threefallacies.html

It is also revealed in the above article that JPJ has endorsed the book this article is about, called "HOW to CLEANSE YOUR HOUSE and the LAND IT SITS ON." This book is about driving holy anointed oily stakes in the ground around your property (via cleansing "kit") with Bible inscriptions. Apparently this is similar to something that Ted Haggard and his church members did in Colorado Springs, CO. (It obviously didn't work too well.)

Anyways, back to portals, which JPJ talks more about here:

One of the marvelous mysteries of God is the existence of portals--doors and passageways--leading to and from the heavenly realms. When you are standing in a portal, it feels like an open Heaven.

A heavenly portal is a spherical opening of light that offers divine protection by which angels and heavenly beings can come and go, without demonic interference. God has designed portals to begin in the third Heaven, travel through the second Heaven, and open upon Earth.

-Heavenly Portals, John Paul Jackson
http://www.etpv.org/2006/heport.html

So yes, it looks like JPJ is definitely, alarmingly into the portal thing, which is not at all supported in scripture. His ministry even owns a mountain top that is located right under one of these special portals to heaven...

JOHN PAUL JACKSON

“In Sutton, New Hampshire, a portal exists on the 90-acres that were given to Streams Ministries. Obviously the enemy knows this, because he has been blocking the use of this portal and providing access only to the second Heaven. Every time I climb to the top of the land, which the locals refer to as “the Pinnacle”, I have torn down demonic altars erected by witches who trespass on the property and defile places where God had once revealed Himself. But God is calling us to take back these high places, so that His angels can come and go without hindrance”

-TODD BENTLEY & JOHN PAUL JACKSON’S PORTALS TO THE GODS UNDER AN OPEN HEAVEN
http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/portals-to-the-gods-under-an-open-heaven/

In the following video, JPJ says this mountain top is so special that it's one of those "thin places" that the "Scottish" talk about. Even thought the Bible says otherwise (John 4:20-24)...
Pinnacle Prayer mountain
http://www.streamsministries.com/index.php?page_id=167

JPJ may have a lot of trendy youtube videos and e-books on true spirituality, but personally, I would not recommend this ministry. It looks like the person who wrote me had good reason to be concerned about John Paul Jackson's books and things. This post is for their benefit, and for the benefit of all who may stop by on a google search. If you are searching for answers about spirituality from JPJ, please be warned that you, and many like you, are being deceived. I pray that the Lord will open your eyes so you can learn the truth about dreams, prayer, and prophecy from the safest source there is, the Bible.

Here is some information for those who are interested in looking further into these things...

Geographical Heresies of the New Apostolic Reformation
herescope.blogspot.com

WSTK-ITV - Bob Jones, Patricia King & Todd Bentley
www.youtube.com

Book and course:
WSTK-ITV - The Art of Hearing God 101 Promo by John Paul Jackson of Streams Ministries
www.youtube.com

You can read more about portals and JPJ here:
http://www.inplainsite.org/html/dt9_portals_to_heaven.html#DT9-03

The HUing Thing

Did you know that people all over the globe are singing or chanting the HU? No? I had never heard of this thing either, but it sounds like a form of contemplative prayer. If you are curious, check it out here:

To HU or not to HU, that is the question
www.renewamerica.com

Shame on Pastors who invite The Shack's Author to their Churches

In Appendix 5 of Burning Down the Shack, James B. De Young writes that the author of The Shack, Paul Young, is clearly...

"...hiding the fact that he does not attend or belong to a local church, and hasn't for many years. By his views he has also influenced people to bring about church splits near his home town. And how could he belong to a local church? It would violate what he believes - that the church as an institution is diabolical and part of a "trinity of terrors"...that have ravaged the world (see The Shack, 124, 178-181)...It seems to me that pastors who invite Paul Young to their churches are showing a tremendous naivete. In addition, they are exposing their people to distortion of the nature of God and a relationship with him that will be hard to correct, since so many are emtionally attached to the novel. These pastors are avoiding their calling as "shepherds of the flock of God." Shame on them."

-page 236, Burning Down The Shack

Related:

How 'The Shack' seduced evangelicals
Prof who knew author says book's acceptance exposes weakness in church
www.wnd.com

If it's not one thing it's another!

As if it's not bad enough that Bill Hybels has invited word of faith prosperity teacher TD Jakes to his upcoming Global Leadership Summit (see here), and that Rick Warren is now endorsing an upcoming book by a word of faith prosperity 'doctor of destiny,' now there's another kooky word of faith thing in the works.

Todd Bentley to do a Reality Show for the Discovery Channel?
slaughteringthesheep.wordpress.com

Maybe discernment ministries are not having a huge effect on those who are being deceived, but the deceivers are certainly keeping the discernment ministries busy trying.

It's Your Destiny

Dr. LaVerne Adams, The Doctor of Destiny, says...

"DON'T WAIT FOR FATE TO JUST HAPPEN TO YOU!
THIS COULD BE FATAL! MAKE A DESTINY DECISION TO ADVANCE TOWARD MAKING YOUR DESTINY DREAM YOUR CURRENT REALITY! CONTACT ME TODAY! I CAN HELP YOU GET STARTED ON THE JOURNEY OF LIVING THE LIFE OF YOUR DREAMS!"

-http://www.divinedestinydoctor.com/

The website also says that Ms. Adams, Doctor of Destiny, has "world-wide apostolic influence," is a "vessel fit for the Master’s use in a new age, a new millennium, and a new world" and is a "recent recipient of the Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program award."

She's also got a new book coming out soon (scheduled for release on 10/10/10) called "Driven by Destiny," and guess who has written the foreword? Drum roll please...

New Book, "Driven by Destiny" by Dr. LaVerne Adams, Foreword by Rick Warren Reveals 12 Secret Keys to Transform the Future
www.prweb.com

And guess what else? Guess. Okay, let me tell you. Here we see praises for Driven by Destiny not only from Rick Warren himself, but also from a Dr. Cindy Trimm, CEO, who says that Quantum scientists have now confirmed what the Bible revealed to us centuries ago, that there are parallel worlds and "portals" that give us access to them all. Really now. Kind of like Todd Bentley believes? Okay. Next in line praising Driven by Destiny we have (gag) Mark J Chironna! (Gotta click on that link, and this and this, to believe it.) Also praising Driven by Destiny along with Rick Warren is Patrick Snow, author of Creating Your Own Destiny, who teaches people how to visualize what they desire, make their current reality and attain all their goals (wealth, prosperity, and how to "transform their current adversities into their own university").

Well, well, Mr. Warren, what a fine bunch you have put yourself amongst by endorsing this destiny garbage. But hey, I guess it was just your destiny.

Related:

See the Driven by Destiny trailer HERE.

Rick Warren's Law of Attraction
watcherslamp.blogspot.com

Update:

For a better researched post than this one (which was put together rather quickly) see here:

Rick Warren, Driven By Destiny?
solasisters.blogspot.com

Also see:

RICK WARREN TEACHING THE LAW OF ATTRACTION?
apprising.org

Update:

A reply to a comment on Warren and The Secret
christianresearchnetwork.com

***NEW:

Destiny-Driven Dominionism
herescope.blogspot.com

Why Discernment Ministries Are Not Having a Huge Effect

It's not often that while I am reading an article about this subject on a Christian website that I am inwardly jumping up and down and yelling "Yes, yes, YES, and AMEN!" This is one such article, and here's what it addresses:

"With the huge number of “discernment ministries” filling cyberspace who daily document and warn about these and an embarrassingly large host of others, why is it that the truth rarely seems to work?"

If you have a discernment ministry, website, or blog (some call these ODM's, short for Online Discernment Ministry), or even if you just read them regularly - this is one of those must read things, because it gets to the heart and truth of the matter...

Click here:

The Real Problem is that it is Getting Colder
moriel.org

Things we should expect to see in a Christian novel

In Appendix 2 of Burning Down the Shack, James B. De Young answers a common question that people ask of those criticizing The Shack: Isn't it Just Fiction Anyway?

De Young says that even in fiction that is professed to be a Christian work there are some things we should expect to see...

"...we expect a Christian writer to write in accord with truth already revealed and not contradict what is plainly taught in Scripture. And Young does contradict several great truths, such as his denial that God is Judge, that God consigns anyone to endless torment...that God has established several institutions, including the church and the government, and so on...the author has not in public appearances and interviews disavowed any of the doctrine asserted in the novel. He could have easily done so."

page 211-212, Burning Down The Shack

The Shack's Father Co-Crucified with the Son

Did you know that The Shack's author depicts the Father as co-crucified with Jesus? The book not only asserts that the Father (Papa) died with Jesus but also assumes that the scars of the crucifixion are still both on his hands and on the hands of Jesus (p 95, 102). In Burning Down The Shack, quite a few pages are devoted to examining the true nature of God and the death of Christ. On page 27 we read...

"For The Shack to create marks of crucifixion in Papa's hands is serious betrayal of the gospel message. The church has pronounced this interpretation to be heresy - patripassianism - that the Father suffered equally with the Son in His suffering for sin"

page 27, Burning Down The Shack

This is just one of many false doctrines pleasantly planted in the popular book that has supposedly changed the way so many Christians understand God.

More quotes to come...

Is this something Christians are instructed to do? [updated]

Are we as Christians instructed in the Bible to join with people of all faiths (and Jim Wallis and politicians and the UN) to reach the Millennium goals and eradicate poverty and malaria? Or put it like this...if you are a Christian, would you have a sense of unity and purpose with the folks in this room...

G8 Interfaith Summit
http://100huntley.com/video.php?id=qzkmxh45k24

UPDATED:

Uniting Religions for World Change:
The G8 World Religions Summit
By Carl Teichrib, Chief Editor
www.forcingchange.org

The Canada Awakening Thing

Faytene Kryskow has been promoting the latest thing she's all fired up about called the Canada Awakening Conference which is happening this month in Toronto (July 22-24). [See youtube here.]

Faytene (www.faytene.ca) is an energetic, highly motivated young lady who sincerely (but incorrectly) believes God has called this generation to change the face of the earth, and that He is raising up a totally 'new breed' in this nation to take over the world (aka dominionism). Joining her to speak at what is sure to be a dangerously spiritually and emotionally charged atmosphere at this upcoming conference will be new breed Christian leaders (aka false prophets) Stacey Campbell, Patrica King, and Matt Sorger (whom Faytene calls an 'international revivalist'). The worship will be led by Heather Clark (wife of apostolic leader Nolan Clark - she's the one who did tribal dancing on Todd Bentley's stage), and some guys from Toronto House of Prayer (one of the Canadian houses of prayer - linked with IHOP and 24-7 prayer). Most of these are Canadians who, at one time or another, people I personally know have had encounters or experiences with that have caused their spiritual discernment antennas to go...boing.

If you know of anyone who is going to this conference, please, PLEASE, warn them of the following circus shenanigans...

Sorger shenanigans:

Matt Sorger (www.mattsorger.com) has claimed that he takes two healing angels with him wherever he goes and invokes revival angels almost anywhere.
(See: Sid Roth welcomes Matt Sorger)

Stacey shenanigans:

Headbangers Inc
www.youtube.com

Patricia shenanigans:

Angel of the Breaker anointing?
www.youtube.com

Maybe all the woah bop sha waddah shake shake does not seem as bizarre and bad as bambam, but it's all the same thing.

Then there's the Patricia King interview of Matt Sorger (enter Twilight Zone music and black creepy demon blobs, etc.):
WSTK-ITV- Life In The Spirit Intro: Deliverance & Healing
www.youtube.com

If you think any of this stuff is Bible based in the foggiest sense, please provide chapter and verse, in context. And again, please warn others so that they wake up before going to the Canada Awakening Conference.

Related:

They Want to Take Over the World!
slaughteringthesheep.wordpress.com

Strange Things about The New Breed
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com

Dominionism is Mainstreaming
kimolsen.wordpress.com

~ ~ ~

*Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed on this blog are the personal opinions, rantings, and meanderings of this blogger.

No Devil in The Shack

It's not always what a person says that reveals their beliefs, but also what they don't say.

In Burning Down the Shack, James B. De Young addresses Paul Young's distorted view of sin and evil in The Shack. Not only is this view a distortion of the role of our enemy Satan and the spiritual battle which the Bible says we are in, it is a complete omission of his existence.

"For Paul Young to fail to mention the devil in telling the story of the Fall is like telling the story of creation without mentioning God, the Creator! It is like telling the story of the cross and the events of Good Friday and the resurrection without mentioning Jesus Christ! One of Jesus' purposes for dying was to destroy the power of a real devil (Heb. 2:14) but Paul Young leaves the devil out of the picture, as though he is unreal."

page 94, Burning Down The Shack

Saddleback's Esoteric Book Promotion

It's no news that for several years now certain contemplative books have been promoted on the website of the church of America's favorite, most influential pastor. One such book is the Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun (2005 InterVarsity Press). {To see the Saddleback church promotion of this book, click here.}

This is a book that is given over completely to a very heavy dose of contemplative spirituality and discipleship into contemporary Christian mysticism. It's far from light and fluffy. To name just a few things, it is filled with references to (and descriptions of) such things as breath prayer, slowing, centering, The Jesus Prayer, labyrinth prayer, the spiritual exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, spiritual direction, Teresa of Avila's prayer of recollection or detachment (she is known as the levitating saint), and St. John of the Cross (all mystics of the past), as well as all the modern contemplatives (Dallas Willard, Ruth Barton, etc.). One (favorable) review of Calhoun's book at Amazon said that Calhoun "takes the often esoteric world of spiritual disciplines and provides a means to meaningfully engage them." Another says: "Although some of practices may seem esoteric or mystical (and have parallels in other faiths), Calhoun is a very solid Christian and is not teaching anything that is contrary to sound doctrine."

I beg to differ. If it seems esoteric and mystical, that's because it is, and engaging in these things is as far away from sound doctrine as a Christian can get. A real sheep looks like AND smells like a sheep. If you look closely at something that is presented as a Christian work, and smells like a wolf, run away. If you read what esotericism is you will understand that this mixture is indeed a very serious thing. Wikipedia for example says that "Esoteric knowledge, in the dictionary (non-scholarly) sense, is thus that which is available only to a narrow circle of "enlightened", "initiated", or specially educated people." This is contrary to scripture, as God's mystery is available to all who are born again and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who reveals truth to men.

Meanwhile, the pastor of the church that promotes and recommends this book and its journey into esotericism are very excited about doing a thing this week about renewing wedding vows. In light of the books and things being promoted over there lately, perhaps it might be more beneficial for this 'shepherd' and his sheep to spend a week reassessing their love as the church - the bride of Christ needs to review and renew her betrothal agreement with the bridegroom. This may sound harsh, but it appears that those Christians who are dabbling in esotericism and delving into secret (forbidden) knowledge, AND even simply promoting this sort of thing, may have lost their first love - if they ever loved Jesus to begin with.

This is the sad state of the popular post-modern church that has joined hands with the world. Here are a few things to ponder...

Would someone who loves Jesus and His Word promote a book like this? Which bride goes after the forbidden - the bride who is in love with her bridegroom, or the harlot?

And while we are pointing fingers and feeling like throwing stones, it might be a good time for us all to take a look at our own hearts and see if we have lost our first love.

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. Mark 12:30

We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, Revelation 1:5

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4

~ ~ ~

Related:

Saddleback Promotes "Christianized" Mantra Meditation
solasisters.blogspot.com

The Shack - Based on Truth or Emotions?

Is The Shack based on biblical truth or emotions?

On page 175 of Burning Down The Shack, author James De Young writes that...

"Paul Young's initial belief in or conviction of universal reconciliation...leads him to the perception that much in evangelical faith is false or distorted and should be questioned. In interviews he asserts that he questions virtually everything. This perception fuels his heavy influence on relationships (emotions) rather than Christian doctrine. "

And just what were the distorted doctrinal beliefs of The Shack's author around the time he wrote his famous book? Here are some examples De Young gives from a paper that his friend Paul Young, author of The Shack, wrote in 2004 (before they parted ways):

• the doctrine of eternal torture in hell makes Jesus a million times more vicious and vindictive than Pharaoh, Nero, and Hitler put together
• eternal judgment is "unreasonable, illogical...sadist, humbug"
• by evangelical logic, since Christ never suffered eternal torment He died "a failure and in vain and never saved anyone" thus "he is not even a good man but a liar, a rogue, and a deceiving rascal" and Calvary is a "farce, a travesty, and a sham. Salvation is a mere myth."

[Note: I have edited those points by shortening, not adding to, them - the words in quotation marks are those of Paul Young]

There is much more where that came from in the Introduction of Burning Down The Shack and beyond, but as you can see, these things show that Paul Young has a problem with accepting the doctrine of hell. The truth is, God also has a problem with accepting hell. In fact, God had so much of a problem with us ending up in a place that was made for Satan and his rebellious angels that He sent His only Son to keep us from ending up there. And this I know because the Bible tells me so.

More quotes from this well researched book to come...

Some Good Things about Today

Today is Canada Day and it's a great day!

It's also that time of year when our big bills are paid up - income taxes, fire insurance, property tax, etc. And now, to make it even more expensive to live here, today is also the day that the long awaited, dreaded HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) comes into effect here in B.C. This means that from now on, there will be a a combined tax of the 5% GST and 7% PST on everything we buy. While this is not something we rejoice in, it’s one of the hoops we have to jump through to be citizens on this lovely piece of the planet. Besides, our book keeper says it’s a good thing for the economy. Meanwhile, we give unto Caesar what is his - even though it's actually the Queen whose face is on our money, and by the way, she's here with the Duke right now touring Canada this week, planting trees and such (and I do admire her stamina). So rather than gripe about Canada like everyone else, I'd rather thank God for the freedoms we do have that so many don't in other countries, like the freedom to worship Him. Our job as Christians here (having dual citizenship of Canada and heaven) is to keep busy using the resources God blesses us with to do the work He has given us while we have breath.

Other things I'm thankful for is the beautiful snow capped mountains (here in B.C.) which supply us with clean drinking water right out of the tap, fresh Pacific salmon and 'all you can eat' sushi, a Prime Minister that supports Israel, good roads you can drive on for days, emergency help that is just a phone call away, electricity for all who will pay their bills, easy access to phones, internet and countless other benefits, too many to mention. I mean, why else would so many people be leaving their crummy countries and immigrating here?

So if you're a Canadian, whether you are going to a Canada Day parade today, enjoying the great outdoors, or just staying home and cleaning out your garage, don't forget to thank God today for the privileges and freedoms we do have as Canadian citizens.