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END-TIME
CHURCH / PLURALISM
- GREETINGS
- -----
- QUICK VIEW OF UPDATED INDEXES
http://cephas-updates.cephasministry.com
- -----
- MANY SHALL RUN TO AND FRO,
AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL INCREASE
-
- "And at that time
shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the
children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble,
such as never was since there was a nation even to that same
time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one
that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that
sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting
life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
-
- And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness
of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as
the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the
words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then I Daniel
looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side
of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank
of the river.
-
- And one said to the man clothed in linen, which
was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the
end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which
was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand
and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for
ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when
he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people,
all these things shall be finished.
-
- And I heard, but I understood not: then said I,
O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said,
Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till
the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white,
and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the
wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from
the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the
abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand
two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and
cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and
stand in thy lot at the end of the days. (Daniel 12:1-13 KJV).
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- We believe every word in the KJV Bible and believe it is
the Word of God and that Jesus is the Christ, God Himself, who
spilled His blood on the cross for our sins and rose again to
prepare a place for those who repent and accept 'His' righteousness
as their righteousness and repent. They are those who accept
Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, Jews first and then Gentiles.
"Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
We invite you to take this opportunity to say 'yes' to Jesus
and commit your life to Him only by clicking on this link: Salvation
- Luke 12:20,21 "But
God said unto him, "Thou fool,
this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall
those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth
up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
We pray the Lord will bless you with a thirst for truth and a
desire to serve Him exclusively, in Christ Jesus, Cephas Ministry
/ Cephas Library.
- For the updated (red sparkles) main index go to http://www.cephasministry.com/index2.html
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Updates regarding the Church / Global Issues / Israel, edited
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- Cephas Ministry advocates KJV Bible study only for truth
necessary to become part of the Bride of Christ. The Bible states
that it is the only truth available to us. .
- If you have questions about our present situation, you might
check out excellent related websites:
- Paul Proctor, Biblically Speaking Archive: http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctorA.htm
- Jamma of Rapture Watch, Biblical perspective: http://rapturewatch.cephasministry.com
- James Sundquist of Rock to Salt addresses heresies of
Christian Psychology, Purpose Driven & Church Growth Movement:
http://rock-to-salt.cephasministry.com
- Dare The Future by W.J. Anthony "How We Can Change
and go back to the "Declaration of Independence": http://www.darethefuture.org
- Avenue of Light exposing the Vatican http://www.xanga.com/AvenueOfLight
- Cephas Ministry / Library Exposes heresies, cults, sects,
rock music, witchcraft, New World Disorder: its effect on our
lives and Israel: http:/www.cephasministry.com/index2.html
- Cephas Updated News Index: http://www.cephasministry.com/index_news.html
- MORE GREETINGS to all and the newcomers to this list. We'd
like to introduce ourselves. George and Rita Williams founded
this ministry. We were Mormons (Temple Mormons) for 20 years.
We prayed to God in 1992 to allow us to do a ministry speaking
out against Scientology. Six months later God led us to the truth:
out of the cult of Mormonism. We did not know at the time we
were in a cult. No-one had witnessed to us in 20 years.
- The Holy Spirit brought us to information about all the cults
and the present development of the New World Order. We began
bringing our research to you. Because all the research was already
done, we decided to build a library within Cephas Ministry. Our
newsletters are not designed to provoke
anger which is strictly prohibited in Scripture. It is to shed
light on activities by those who would deceive those who are
recorded in the Book of Life by devious methods and systematic
plans.
- We are Bible students and have left all worldly organizations.
We attend church if the message is from the authorized KJV Bible.
The focus of these newsletters is to prove why we had to leave
the world system. We are called 'Watchmen on the Wall' which
God always had during the Old / New Testament Times.
- To understand what is happening, one has to know the Bible
to compare notes.
- The first section is about the church.
The news about churches is unedited unless indicated by Ednotes.
The church as we knew it, is undergoing disintegration. This
began on a fast track in the early nineteen sixties when the
Catholic Church produced liberal Vatican II to replace Vatican
I.
- The trend since then has been ecumenical which is truly what
the word 'Catholicism' means: a universal religion all
inclusive and multicultural. The Bible calls for a final church
and today's church doesn't resemble what Jesus taught. The Word
of God has undergone many changes to fit the progressive modes.
Many new Bible tranlations have brought confusion. The Bible
calls for a falling away from the truth before
Jesus comes back for His Bride. The true believers are called
'Ekklesia.' Our newsletters prove this fact and prove that the
Bible is true from beginning to end.
- The second section is about globalism
where we bring your attention to the social, political and global
trend, the so called democratizing what is left of the world.
This is a deception since the underlying new world global government
is developed by implementing sustainable development. The
Bible prophesies that there will be ten kings (ten horns), each
king (horn) will receive a region of the world as a reward for
work well done for the Antichrist. This is the reason for the
present development of NAU (The North American Union) as well
as the war in the Middle East. It again proves that we are moving
to closure of the times of the Gentiles prophesied in the Bible.
The end result will not be Democracy but a form of Fascist Communism
(Public/Private Corporations enslaving mankind).
- The third section compliments End Time
teachings because Israel is the time piece of the Biblical Prophecy.
1948 was the beginning of the figtree representing Israel, coming
back to life. Israel was allowed to return to its land. Israel
is the rock upon which the world stumbles and crumbles. We watch
and visit Israel for signs which point to the Tribulation to
confirm that we are moving into that space of time.
- Watchmen on the wall do not solicit memberships. We have
an email group that gets information when we upload new information
and newsletters whenever it is possible time wise. We love the
Lord with all our hearts and minds and we love all people God
has created but especially those who love our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. Our Mission and Statement of Faith are at http://www.cephasministry.com/statement_of_faith.html
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- We trust
that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s
will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3) and that we be
as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
- The Cephas
Newsletter reminds us that the hour is very late, and we need
to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that
you are born again? Are you living for Christ?
-
- "And
that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out
of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the
armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not
in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness,
not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof"
(Rom.
13:11-14).
-
-
- PS We are seeking
the truth and use much material from many sources only when we
believe their material could be of service to you. That should
not imply that we endorse ministries, news organizations or various
authors. We are not all-knowing and cannot predict what people
will write in the future. CMI
-
-
- TAMING THE LION: 1st Peter 5:8
- "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
- as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
- devour:" (1 Peter 5:8) - by Cephas (Author)
List Price: $17.95 - Paperback: 404 pages
Publisher: Cephas Ministry Inc. (March 9, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0615268080
Look Inside the book is available: Click
here for more information
- http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Lion-1st-Peter-8/dp/0615268080/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239906425&sr=1-1
- INTRODUCTION
- To read this book requires love for the Gospel, if you don't
you might as well put it away because you'll simply think it
foolishness. The book proves that biblical truth is indeed truth
that sustains us. No matter what happens to us we land on our
feet and move on knowing we are only passing through. The world
is irrelevant. What is relevant is our eternal life, where we'll
spend it in heaven or hell. All human beings have eternal life
but where they will spend it is the question.
This book will reveal the resistance we are up against in our
enemy Satan who only works to undermine believers in Christ Jesus
because Satan knows where he is going and wants all of humanity
to join him. Those who already have sworn their allegiance to
Satan are no problem to him. Like Jesus Christ, who preached
only three years, was crucified because Satan hated Him, we become
the object of Satan's hatred as well. Had Jesus weakened and
let Satan tempt Him, He would have been King of this world for
a season and the whole world would have ended up in hell forever.
Every man, woman, and child's salvation hung on one man. To prove
to us that we can depend on Him forever, He weakened Himself
by fasting 40 days before He was confronted with the offer to
possess the whole world. If He was 100% human and 100% Spirit,
He experienced everything humans do, yet gave Himself to be humiliated,
be bled and died for our sakes who are completely undeserving
as you will see in this book.
God knows our lot, that we have no chance of making it to Heaven
on our own. We can try as hard as we want; Satan derails us at
every turn without God's intervention. Most of us believe that
we are good people and would not hurt anyone, go to church on
Sunday and earn our wages by the sweat of our brow. That is well
and good, but we tend to be rebels spiritually. We want to do
it our way instead of studying the Bible we read other books
and listen to evangelists in the hope that's going to get us
to heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth. Continued:
- http://www.cephasministry.com/taming_the_lion_1.peter_5.8_introduction.html
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 SCRIPTURE STUDY -
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-
- ELIJAH MINISTERING WHILE MAMMON
METLTED DOWN
- "... At this point, early in 2009, it seems that we
are in the early stages of another meltdown for Mammon. It happens
again and again in history. All the gods of wordlings have feet
of clay. Sooner or later all the Dagons are broken in pieces
on the thresholds of their temples. For millennia men have worshipped
greed and covetousness and pretended that satisfaction for the
soul could be secured on the stock market. Even the churches
today are drawn into the idolatry of covetousness, supposing
that they are rich and increased with goods and have need of
nothing, including the presence of God. Now we see a downturn
and wonder how far it will go. Some are suggesting that we will
see the collapse of the entire global economy. Some are even
saying that we will see the Rapture and the one world economy
of the Antichrist. We simply do not know. All we know is that
Mammon melts down again and again. And we know that we are to
minister the Word of God to others when it happens.
- My wife and I are missionaries in Australia. We are human
enough to wonder what will happen if the meltdown of Mammon results
in churches being unable to continue in their support of missionaries?
How will we be able to stay on the field? What will the churches
around the world do for pastors if the missionaries have no income?
These are good questions for missionaries to ask. Elijah set
a good example for all who are in the ministry when God causes
Mammon to melt down. He stood strong for God. He prayed. He waited.
He prepared for the day of reckoning with the worshippers of
idols. He whetted the Sword of the Spirit and strengthened himself
in the Lord. He learned how to trust God for his daily needs
to be met. As we observe the destruction of Mammon in our generation,
I cannot help wondering if there is somewhere an Elijah, a dear
brother in Christ whose vision is clear enough to see, whose
heart is soft enough to care, and whose commitment to God is
such that he is willing to lose all he has for the souls of lost
men. It could be, you know, that the entire world economy is
teetering on the brink of collapse and Mammon is crumbling because
of one man's prayers. We may never know who he is, but we can
and should add our prayers to his. Mammon ought to be melted
down. All his worshippers will suffer the torments of Hell unless
they forsake him and turn to Christ. We ought to pray for his
destruction... " Whole article:
- http://www.cephas-library.com/bible_elijah_ministered_while_mammon_melted
down.html
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-
- YOU ARE A BRANCH OF THE TRUE
VINE - by Brother Bob
<><
(John 15:5-8 KJV)
I
am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth
much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
{6} If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and
is withered;
and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are
burned.
{7} If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask
what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
{8} Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit;
so shall ye be my disciples.
- JESUS CHRIST
CONSIDERS YOU TO BE HIS BROTHER
(Heb 2:11-15 KJV)
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are
all of one:
for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
{12} Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren,
in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
{13} And again, I will put my trust in him.
And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
{14} Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood,
he also himself likewise took part of the same;
that through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil;
{15} And deliver them who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage.
THOUGH YOU
WERE FAR OFF, YOU ARE BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
- Continued: http://www.cephas-library.com/bible_you_have_extreme_value_in_the_eyes_of_god.html
- -----
 THE RETURN OF CHRIST
IS IMMINENT
- Friday Church News Notes, March 6, 2009 - By David Cloud
- The Lord Jesus and the New Testament apostles and prophets
taught that the return of Christ is to be expected at any time
and that the child of God must wait in holy expectation. "Therefore
be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son
of man cometh" (Matthew 24:44). "Watch therefore, for
ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh"
(Matthew 25:13). "Let your moderation be known unto all
men. The Lord is at hand" (Philippians 4:5). "Ye are
all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are
not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep,
as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians
5:5-6). "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the
coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:8). "But
the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and
watch unto prayer" (1 Peter 4:7). http://www.wayoflife.org
- RAPTURE CHART http://www.the-truth-ministries.us/PreTrib.the-truth-ministries.us/
-----
- THE DIAMONDS OF THE LORD
 You and I, Christians, are potential
diamonds of the Lord. Like the blood diamonds, every single day
warfare is waged over us. The enemy seeks to control our movement
and destination, and profit his insurgency against God thereby.
The Lord God, on the other hand, also seeks to control our movement
and destination, and profit his glorious, lifegiving agenda thereby.
A vicious conflict ensues over the potential diamonds of the
Lord. Let's look at this closely.
Unbreakability The Greek word for diamond is adamas, meaning
"untamed or unbreakable". It is the hardest known naturally
occurring mineral. The enemy knows that if a Christian becomes
fully matured by the Spirit, he will be untamable and unbreakable
like a diamond--an indestructible spiritual force (Ps 125:1).
Superlative properties Diamonds are renowned for their
superlative physical properties, making them useful for jewelry
and industrial applications. A Christian fully matured by the
Spirit will become known for his/her superlative spiritual qualities,
making him useful for adorning God's kingdom and purpose (Tit
2:10).
Engraving Diamonds have such hardness they were ideal
for writing and engraving in ancient times. The diamonds of the
Lord are used by Him to permanently etch His will on people's
hearts and minds (2Co 3:2,3). They have a lasting influence.
Their words resound and resurface. They produce fruit that remains.
They are diamonds that engrave by the hand of God.
Dispersion of light Diamonds are capable of multidirectional
dispersion of light, giving them a radiance from any angle looked
upon. Christians fully matured by the Spirit also disperse light,
spiritual light, in multiple directions...at home, at work, at
school, on the playing field, at church, in appearance, in recreation,
in social life, in finances, in the pulpit...every angle of their
life radiates and refracts divine glory (Isa 60:1)!
Polish retention Diamonds can only be scratched by other
diamonds and three or four other things. Consequently, they hold
their polish extremely well. Likewise, the diamonds of the Lord
maintain their spiritual polish, or character, extremely well.
Very few things can "scratch" their Christlike attitudes
and reactions (Ps 125:1).
Formation Diamonds are formed deep within the earth from
very high temperatures and very high pressures, and they surface
in volcanic pipes where they are mined and extracted. The diamonds
of the Lord, those Christians utterly matured by the Spirit,
are formed through pain in the deepest and darkest places of
life. High "temperatures" and "pressures"
from the depths of suffering have forced an ideal chemical reaction
between Spirit and truth in the soul of the Christian, producing
a crystalline character that eventually surfaces in their personality
and life.
- Continued: http://www.jdmprophecy.com/
-
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- END OF AMERICA
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc
- -----
- SPECIAL REPORT ABOUT THE THIRD TEMPLE
- http://www.infolive.tv/en/infolive.tv-13326-israelnews-jerusalem-special-report-building-third-temple
- -----
- RITUAL SITE OF THE GOLDEN CALF
- Nicholas Scrolls - ny Nicholas A Stivers: "... As we
approached the infamous "High Place," the path changes
from a nicely groomed forest trail to a paved avenue made of
the same kind of basalt stones we've seen used elsewhere in building
construction. We're told these very stones have served to mark
this trail since the time of ancient monarchy - that is, what
is recorded for us in the two Books of Kings. The larger stones
are all original and some areas of the pathway containing smaller
paving stones were added in recent times to restore millennia
of wear and tear. We were literally walking on the same paving
stones that were laid down after the 12th century BC. It is largely
believed by archeologists that this area was generally inhabited
by Israelites during the settlement period in the 12th century
BC, a time before any of these existing structures and dwellings
were built.
- The stone paved road takes you all the way to the ritual
site where Jeroboam lied to the children of Israel under his
charge, building a golden calf and placing it upon "the
High Place," telling them, this was the god that delivered
them out of Egypt. Though our bibles speak of a Temple in Dan
as early as the 12th century BC, the earliest ritual artifacts
discovered thus far are dated to the time of Jeroboam. Jeroboam
led the people's revolt against the heavy taxes levied by Rehoboam,
son of Solomon. In 930 BC, the Kingdom was divided and Jeroboam
established ritual centers in Bethel and Dan. After erecting
a golden calf in Dan, he constructed a Temple building to house
the sacrificial high places... Whole scroll: http://www.nicholas-scrolls.com/archive_volume_4_number_11.html
- -----
- GAYS THANK GOD THAT JAMES DOBSON OF 'FOCUS ON THE FAMILY'
RESIGNED.
- THEY BELIEVE ANOTHER ROADBLOCK TO THEIR AGENDA HAS BEEN REMOVED..
- http://www.interstateq.com/archives/3445/
- -----
- NO NEW DOBSON: RETIREMENT LEAVES EVANGELICAL POWER VACUUM
[Dobson's newsletters are read by 1.6 million] says The Huffington
Post.
- EVANGELICALS PONDER DOBSON'S SUCCESSOR. NEW GENERATION LOOKS
FOR LEADER
Julia Duin, March 4, 2009 - The Washington Times - The long-expected
resignation of Focus on the Family's James Dobson highlights
an open secret among America's roughly 70 million evangelicals:
There are no obvious successors to the group of evangelical leaders
who created massive organizations or built up media empires in
the 1980s and '90s... "It's a changing of the guard,"
said Brian McLaren, 52, cited in 2005 by Time magazine as one
of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America. "There
is a possibility the religious right will collapse on itself.
Or someone will articulate a new religious center. The evangelical
community has been slowly diversifying, and there may not be
a center anymore." The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback
Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and the man picked to deliver
the invocation during the inauguration of President Obama, seems
an obvious choice to fill the void. "But I don't know
if he is the guy," said John Whitehead, 62, founder of the
Rutherford Institute in Charlottesville, who was an attorney
for Mr. Schaeffer in the late 1970s and early 1980s. "He
doesn't seem to be garnering a huge following, and he doesn't
seem to want to be in the spotlight. " "It used to
be the pro-life movement," he said, "but I am not sure
there is an issue now. The issue evangelicals key on is the gay
movement, but they have lost that issue. There is no cause for
a leader to emerge in now."
- Read on: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/04/dobsons-retirement-ends-era-for-evangelicals/
- -----
- ABUSIVE CHURCHES PRESENT A WARNING
- A central theme of this book is that spiritual abuse can
take place in the context of doctrinally sound, Bible preaching,
fundamental, conservative Christianity. All that is needed for
abuse is a pastor accountable to no one and therefore beyond
confrontation. Witness Bonnie Mason's fifteen-year experience
in Midvale Bible Church (not the church's actual name), an independent,
Midwestern, Baptist-oriented church with a pulpit-thumping, fire-and-brimstone
preaching, fundamentalistic pastor who believed himself to be
beyond question-until the day he died, which was the day Bonnie
and her family were freed.
- Bonnie and Keith Mason came to know the Lord the day before
they met Pastor Carl Plummer (the names of the pastor and his
wife are pseudonyms). Although Keith had been raised in a Christian
home, he had never made a commitment of faith and had spent his
years becoming an accomplished rock musician. Bonnie, on the
other hand, had had no exposure to Christianity whatsoever. Together
they saw a Christian film so powerful in its impact that they
wanted to commit their lives to Jesus Christ. The next day, on
advice from friends, they called Carl, a new pastor in town.
He came over immediately, and the Masons received Jesus as their
Lord and Savior. Continued - scroll down the page: http://www.apologeticsindex.org/809-chapter-10-abusive-churches-present-a-warning
- -----
- EUROPE - A DICTATORSHIP?
March 11th, 2009 LAIGLESFORUM - Global governance |Dr. Lothar
Gassmann - Pforzheim - Germany -
Is there still freedom of speech in Europe? English translator:
Cynthia Muertter. It is allowed to spread this book UNCHANGED
as PDF in INTERNET worldwide.
Table of Contents
4 Introduction
4 The moral destruction of South Africa
6 Canada`s anti-hate laws
6 The USA and the homosexual agenda
7 The UN and UNESCO against fundamentalism
8 Freedom of speech in England?
8 The threat of imprisonment for Christians in Sweden
9 The European Treaties and its legislation
10 Non-discrimination and its consequences
11 The European Council condemns the biblical creationism
12 Citizens desire the teaching on creationism
12 The European Treaties and the incapacitation of its citizens
13 An anti-christian inquisition
14 When will it be unlawful to call sin “sin”?
14 Why we want to help homosexuals by counseling
15 Christians - second class citizens?
15 The dictatorship of relativism
16 How it becomes possible for anyone to be arrested at anytime
16 Will Europe become a brutal Dictatorship?
17 Why most of the churches are powerless against these developments
18 The destruction of the Protestant Faith
18 What is Fundamentalism?
19 Christian Fundamentalists are not terrorists
20 How Christians are being tactically divided
20 A code of conduct for conversions
21 The bible has prophesied all these things
22 Satan’s double strategy
22 Persecution unites, seduction divides the church
23 Stand fast!
23 Obey God rather than men
24 From defensive to offensive
25 A personal word
26 The Treaty of Lisbon - the end of liberty in Europe?
Introduction - The subject of my theses is: "Europe - a
dictatorship? Is there still freedom of speech in Europe?-The
non-discrimination laws and their consequences." I will
be quoting very many sources. For, when addressing such a controversial
subject it is good to let other sources do the speaking about
the laws and decisions that are being
made, not only in Europe but worldwide. I purposely begin with
a non-European country to bring to awareness current global events
and the strategies behind them.
- Continued: http://laiglesforum.com/2009/03/11/new-book-europe-a-dictatorship/
- -----
- BISHOP'S PAULK'S MEGACHURCH FOR SALE
- AFTER SCANDAL, PASTOR FINDS SOLACE IN PREACHING GAY INCLUSION
By MATT SCHAFER - MAR. 6, 2009 - www.mycathedral.org - www.pro-love.org
As a series of scandals stripped away everything Rev. D.E. Paulk
had — his church, his financial resources, even his father
— he found the courage to speak his truth. “I don’t
know how to say this, the scandal didn’t make me inclusive,
it took away my fear,” Paulk says. “Before that I was
saying that I’ll preach about gay inclusion and just sort
of mention it here or there. When you lose everything, you have
nothing to lose. I looked at my wife one day and said all I have
left is me, and what God is speaking to me.” In 2006, Paulk
moved from a church he started in Stone Mountain to become the
senior pastor at Chapel Hill Harvester Church, located in South
Decatur. Built by his father, Don Paulk, and his uncle, Bishop
Earl Paulk, the 4,000-member church was one of the largest independent,
racially diverse churches in the nation. Soon after D.E. Paulk
took over as senior pastor, he faced what he now collectively
calls “the scandal.” A number of women came forward
alleging Earl Paulk used his influence as bishop to coerce them
into sexual relationships. As part of the legal proceedings,
Earl Paulk was forced to undergo a paternity test to see if he
had fathered several children in the church.
http://www.southernvoice.com/2009/3-6/locallife/feature/9853.cfm
- -----
- BISHOP DOGGED BY ABUSE ALLEGATIONS DIES
 ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) —
Bishop Earl Paulk, a charismatic preacher brought down by a series
of sex scandals, has died. He was 81. Bishop Earl Paulk died
this weekend at 81. Paulk died near midnight Saturday at the
Atlanta Medical Center, a nursing supervisor confirmed to CNN.
The bishop had been at the hospital for several days, she said.
Paulk’s death came after an “extended and horrible
battle with cancer,” Paulk’s nephew, Bishop Jim Swilley,
wrote in a blog post. Paulk founded the Chapel Hill Harvester
Church in Decatur, a suburb of Atlanta. It quickly grew to become
one of the first megachurches in the country. [...] - Source:
Bishop dogged by abuse allegations dies, CNN, Mart. 29, 2009
— Summarized by Religion News Blog - Ex-megachurch head
Paulk dies in Atlanta hospital. Bishop Earl Paulk gained the
attention of presidents and preached to hundreds of thousands
of people, but he may be remembered for the sex scandals that
rocked the Atlanta-area megachurch he started. Paulk, the 81-year-old
founder of the Cathedral at Chapel Hill in South DeKalb County,
died Sunday at Atlanta Medical Center after battling cancer for
years. His brother, Don Paulk, said Earl Paulk was taken to the
hospital Jan. 1 with a blockage of his intestines and never left.
Continued:
- http://www.ajc.com/met%60ro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2009/03/29/earl_paulk_dies_atlanta.html
- -----
- THE 700 CLUB EXPOSED!
- [Ednote: The sign of the horns??]
- by David J. Stewart - April 2006 - 700 Club Psychics? Clairvoyants
for Jesus? I generally don't care much for religious programs.
However, knowing that millions of people are attracted to such
programs, I find myself compelled to see exactly what people
are being dished out by these so-called "Christians."
I've been watching The 700 Club lately, analyzing it, and I see
Satan at work. I see them as borderline psychics, who exploit
Christianity to make money and con people. On the show, Gordon
Robertson and Terry Meeuwsen regularly join hands in a prayer
segment, which is then followed by a psychic type reading, where
they specify details of who is being healed in TV land. It's
creepy! Are The 700 Club hosts, Pat Robertson, Gordon Robertson
and Terry Meeuwsen, psychics? On today's show, Gordon and Terry
prayed while holding hands, and then claimed that the following
healings had taken place as a result of their prayers on TV..
See some of the many more involved continued: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/700_club.htm
- -----
- RICK JOYNER ANNOUNCES TODD BENTLEY'S REMARRIAGE AND THE START
OF THE RESTORATION PROCESS WHILE BEGGING FOR CASH FOR FRESH FIRE
USA
- A newly released article by Rick Joyner from MorningStar,
dated 9th March 2009 has appeared - note the date, two days after
the news broke on this website and others of Todd remarrying
his mistress Jessa who Todd had been carrying on with in an adulterous
affair even before the Lakeland Outpouring started. I have said
it before, but will say it again. How can anyone be restored
to ministry when - Continued:
- http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/rick-joyner-announces-todd-bentley-remarriage
- -and-the-start-of-restoration-process-while-begging-for-cash-for-fresh-fire-usa/
- -----
- TODD BENTLEY AND HIS NANNY (Removed?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFiJReuqwIg
- -----
- TODD BENTLEY'S MISTRESS REVEALED?
- http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/todd-bentleys-mistress-jessa-revealed/
- -----
- MR. BENTLEY ENTERS HIS REHAB WITH RICK JOYNER
 March 14, 2009 -
At last, new trophy wife in tow, Todd Bentley, the Canadian evangelist
who has been having many problems over the past year (to put
it lightly) has entered rehabilitation. Over seven months after
the collapse of his internationally famous revival in the U.S.,
he has at last gotten around to going to North Carolina to come
under the mentoring of charismatic leader Rick Joyner. Mr. Joyner
is to help him return to ministry. Yet, already, in the annoucements
and videos that are coming out with Mr. Bentley, there's more
backspin than at a convention of billiards players evident, which
is not a good omen for those hoping that Mr. Bentley can return
to his work with integrity and a good character. Continued:
- http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2009/03/mr-bentley-enters-his-rehab.html
- -----
- ADRIFT IN THE RIVER OF GOD (Deceived by Rick Joyner)
- http://www.deceptionbytes.com/content/adrift-river-god-parts-i-ii-and-iii
- -----
- LAKELAND REVIVAL: THE APOSTLES WERE WRONG, BUT MOSES WAS
RIGHT
- By Mel C. Montgomery: http://www.brothermel.net/MCM%20Lakeland%20Revival.pdf
- -----
- THE TRANSFORMATION OF JOHN MACARTHUR'S GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH
- By Bob Johnson - bob_johnson@watch.pair.com - March 9, 2009
"... I had discovered that Dr. Mohler was a Founding Fellow
of the “think tank” of a UN-NGO. I had discovered that
a UN-NGO is a non-governmental organization that is listed with
the UN and that serves the UN and its one-world agenda. And therefore,
I concluded that it must necessarily follow, that Dr. Mohler,
being a Founding Fellow of this UN-NGO’s “think tank”
which serves the UN and its agenda, must also serve the UN agenda.
(It has since been confirmed to me by a colleague of Dr. Mohler’s
that all the Fellows of the “think tank” of this UN-NGO
are dedicated to the principles of the charter of the UN). Knowing
that the UN agenda is satanic and knowing that this agenda includes
the destruction of Biblical Christianity, I wondered why John
Macarthur would invite a man dedicated to this agenda into his
church and into his pulpit. Was John Macarthur aware of Dr. Mohler’s
UN affiliation? (I have since learned that Dr. Mohler holds leadership
positions in at least two organizations that serve the UN globalist
agenda as NGO’s.) Read on: http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html
- -----
- WASHINGTON STATE TO ALLOW ASSISTED SUICIDE
- Friday Church News Notes, March 6, 2009 by David Cloud -
Washington has joined Oregon to become the second U.S. state
to allow assisted suicide. The new law, which was approved by
60% of voters last November, requires that the patient be at
least 18, declared competent, and be determined by two physicians
to have a terminal disease and be expected to die within six
months (USA Today, March 1, 2009). It is only "suggested"
and not required that the next of kin be notified of this drastic
action. At this present time, doctors are not required to participate,
but that will eventually change once we go down this slippery
slope. At this very moment Barack Obama, the pro-abortion president
par excellence, is on the verge of removing legal protection
from doctors and other health care workers who refuse to perform
abortions. A nation that requires doctors and nurses to murder
babies will doubtless require them to murder "terminally
ill" people. The new law is called "Death with Dignity,"
but there is nothing dignified about death. It is the wages of
sin (Romans 6:23). According to the Bible, the individual that
dies without regenerating faith in Jesus Christ will spend eternity
in torment for his or her sin against the Law of a thrice-holy
God, and there is no second chance beyond the grave. There is
no dignity in hell. Men do not have the "right to die"
any more than they have the right to kill. Only God has the right
to take human life. (For more on this see "Do We Have the
Right to Die" at the Way of Life website.) http://www.wayoflife.org
- -----
- DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON (VERY INTERESTING WAY OF
PRESENTING A TALK)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xkyZ6p7Kfc&NR=1
- -----
- THE TRAGIC SCANDAL OF GREASY GRACE
J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones - This week's announcement
about evangelist Todd Bentley's hasty remarriage and restoration
is sending a confusing message to the church. I groaned when
I learned early this week that Canadian preacher Todd Bentley,
leader of the controversial Lakeland Revival, had decided to
divorce his wife, Shonnah, and marry his former ministry intern,
Jessa Hasbrook. The news surfaced after almost nine months of
silence and speculation, during which time the board of Bentley's
Fresh Fire Ministries in British Columbia publicly scolded him
for committing adultery. In a statement released March 10 by
Rick Joyner, the popular author and minister who is overseeing
Bentley's restoration process, we were told that (1) Bentley
married his new wife several weeks ago and moved to Joyner's
base in Fort Mill, S.C.; (2) Todd and Jessa agree that their
relationship was "wrong and premature" and that it
"should not have happened the way it did"; (3) Bentley
will remain out of public ministry while he seeks healing; and
(4) Joyner will oversee the healing process with input from Dallas
pastor Jack Deere and California pastor Bill Johnson. Use
Firefox to see this page. Explorer won't get it.
- http://charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones/20005-the-tragic-scandal-of-greasy-grace
- -----
- PASTOR KARL STRADER IS HISTORY
- One thing can be said for Assembly of God Pastor Karl Strader
of Lakeland -- he just refuses to go away quietly. A year after
giving up the most visible symbol of his one-time religious conglomerate
-- the monumental Carpenter's Home Church sanctuary -- Strader
is now 76 and fighting prostate cancer. And after experiencing
the loss of a once-thriving ministry and seeing one of his sons
serve years in jail, his theology now embraces a concept not
much talked about in his Pentecostal tradition -suffering. Continued:
http://www.christiannews.0catch.com/strader.htm
- -----
- OBAMA SIGNS U.N. DECLARATION TO DECRIMINALIZE LGBTIs
- Obama signs UN Declaration to decriminalize LGBTIs [Obama
to Sign UN Declaration Calling to Globally Decriminalize Homosexuality]
http://accesslineiowa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78:-obama-to-sign-un-declaration-to-globally-
- decriminalize-homosexuality&catid=93:politics-and-law&Itemid=60
Mar 19 2009, 6:41 PM EDT | Post edited: Mar 19 2009, 6:41 PM
EDT
On March 18th, U.S. President Barack Obama signed the United
Nations General Assembly Statement calling for the protection
and decriminalization of sexual minorities, “LGBTIs”
(lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered and intersexed). Obama
declined to do so at the December 2008 UN meeting when 66 of
UN member states signed on. Louis-George Tin, the grassroots
activist who initiated the project in 2006, was reserved in his
approval of Obama’s action. "This support is a crucial
step. But only if the United States commits itself to support
the text actively, i.e. encouraging all their allies to sign
it, as well.”
- Read the full story at Keyword tags: 14th-amendment
dont-ask-dont-tell human-rights IDAHO louis-george-tin marriage-equality
obama united-nations http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-signs-UN-Declaration-by-Rady-Ananda-090319-227.html
[Ednote: might have to use Firefox]
- http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/thread/2578190/Obama+signs+UN+Declaration+to+decriminalize+LGBTIs?t=anon
- http://www.opednews.com/
- -----
- MASONIC SYMBOLS
- http://groups.google.com/group/total_truth_sciences/browse_thread/thread/8987ee5c539d9fa5
- -----
- BILLY GRAHAM ASSOCIATION MAKES 'END TIMES' A FOCUS IN 2009
February 5, 2009 This year, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
will focus on the return of Jesus Christ and help prepare believers
for life in the last days, according to a recent announcement.
Billy Graham, Over 250 Celebrate 100th Birthday of 'America's
Beloved Gospel Singer'
"People ask me, 'Do you really believe that Jesus Christ
is going to come back to this earth again?'" writes the
Rev. Billy Graham in one of the several resources that the ministry
is providing on the End Times.
- "Yes, I do,” he continues. “The Bible teaches
that Jesus is coming again. And I don’t see any other hope,
because we’re heading toward a catastrophe in our world."
As part of its effort, the ministry has compiled a number of
End Times resources including a message delivered by Graham in
1998, a 2008 message from BGEA president and CEO Franklin Graham,
an article adapted from a message delivered by Anne Graham Lotz
in 1996, an End Times article on the basics of the Second Coming,
and a couple of Q&As with Billy Graham that includes a question
on whether the world will end in 2009.
- “The most important question, however, is this: Are
you ready for Christ's return?” Graham writes after offering
his response. The BGEA is hoping that through its compilation
of resources on the Second Coming of Christ, believers will learn
how they can fulfill God's plan for their life, increase their
love for the Savior and grow their faith during these times —
as if it were their last days. “If that happens today, are
you ready?” Graham poses. Continued:
- http://www.christianpost.com/Ministries/Groups/2009/02/billy-graham-association-makes-end-times-a-focus-in-2009-05/index.html
- -----
- WORLD AND CHURCH TRENDS AND BIBLE PROPHECY "THESE LAST
DAYS"
- http://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/2008/07/20/
- coming-christian-wealth-transfer-or-an-ongoing-third-wave-demon-transfer.html
- -----
- ME THINKS THE BEAST IS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE, ALONG WITH
THE GREAT WHORE OF BABYLON Discussion Board: The “Big Owe”
http://gitardood.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/50/
- -----
- HBO's DEPICTION OF MORMON CEREMONY UPSETS CHURCH
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Is 'Appalled'
at the TV Series
By EMILY FRIEDMAN - March 11, 2009 - SHARE The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints is angry over an episode of HBO's
hit series "Big Love" that the church says is in "appallingly
bad taste." The Mormon Church is upset over the portrayal
of one of its ceremonies.An upcoming episode of "Big Love,"
which chronicles the lives of a fictional polygamist family,
is reported to be depicting an endowment ceremony, one of the
most sacred rituals of the Mormon Church. "It now seems
the show's writers are to depict what they understand to be sacred
temple ceremonies," read a statement from the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Certainly church members
are offended when their most sacred practices are misrepresented
or presented without context or understanding."
- The statement says that before the first season of "Big
Love" aired more than two years ago, HBO executives promised
the church that the series wouldn't be about Mormonism. But the
church argues that "Mormon themes are now being woven into
the show" and that Mormon characters are often "unsympathetic
figures" who are "narrow and self-righteous."
While the church has not called for a boycott of HBO or the program,
several of its followers have, using the blogosphere and "Big
Love" message boards to air their complaints. In a statement
released earlier this week, HBO defended its decision to include
the ceremony on the show, according to Reuters. "Obviously,
it was not our intention to do anything disrespectful to the
church, but to those who may be offended, we offer our sincere
apology," read the statement. Continued: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=7059130&page=1
- http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23334/mormon-temple-ceremony
- -----
- SUPPORTERS OF "ANTICHRIST' PROTEST MIAMI DADE JUDGES
 BY JACK DOLAN - jdolan@MiamiHerald.com
- Wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with ''666'', about a dozen
followers of Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, the Miami-based minister
who proclaimed himself the Antichrist, protested his ''persecution''
by the justice system in front of the family courthouse on Tuesday.
Last year, following a bitter divorce that featured dueling claims
of lesbianism and physical abuse, Miami-Dade judge Roberto Pineiro
awarded more than $2.2 million to the minister's ex-wife, Josefina
de Jesus Torres. In his ruling, Pineiro determined that de Jesus'
Growing in Grace church was a personal business, rather than
a religious nonprofit, so the ex-wife is entitled to half of
its assets. Jo-Ann de Jesus, the minister's daughter who also
handles the church's finances, says the judge based his decision
on a ''prejudice against my dad'' and not on the evidence. [removed]
Continued:
- http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/breaking-news/story/942081.html
- -----
BILLY GRAHAM'S GRANDSON ACCEPTS CALL TO CORAL RIDGE
- Tullian Tchividjian Takes Over Megachurch Founded By D. James
Kennedy - By: Laura Stidham - EP News--- 2-16-2009 - Tullian
Tchividjian, 36, has accepted the call to serve as senior pastor
at South Florida's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. New City
Church, which Tchividjian founded five-and-a-half years, ago
will merge with the 2,200-member Coral Ridge church. Tchividjian
is only the second pastor in Coral Ridge’s history. He succeeds
D. James Kennedy, who died last year. The merger will also result
in a change of denomination. New City Church, which was a part
of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), will now become
part of Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). “The denominations
are both theologically conservative and have maintained a good
working relationship over the years,” said Tchividjian.
Continued: http://www.worldnewspaperpublishing.com/news/FullStory.asp?loc=TCW&id=1739
- -----
- HOME SCHOOL CUSTODY BATTLE TURNS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
- March 17, 2009 - Raleigh, N.C. - Judge Ned Mangum released
his ruling Tuesday in a custody case that has become a cause
célèbre in the homeschooling community, saying
three children must go to public school next year.
- Mangum reiterated his oral judgment that the children of
Thomas and Venessa Mills must be enrolled in public school in
the 2009-10 school year. Venessa Mills is in the fourth year
of home schooling her children, who are 10, 11 and 12 years old.
In an affidavit filed to request the change, Thomas Mills grants
that he agreed the children would be home schooled, but temporarily.
“I made it clear to (Venessa Mills) I objected to our children
being removed from public schools,” he stated. Thomas and
Venessa Mills are in the process of divorcing. Thomas Mills cites
Venessa’s involvement with the Sound Doctrine Church for
their split. “She became unrecognizable as the person I
married, and, in the name of her religion, she distanced herself
from me,” his affidavit said.
- He admitted that distance led him to stray from his marriage.
He admitted to an affair. “Venessa Mills expressed appropriate
concern for his transgressions,” the court order stated.
Venessa Mills asked the court to order that her husband have
no decision-making authority related to the children’s education
or religion. Continued:
- http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4757848/
- -----
- PASTOR HAILS 'WITHOUT WALLS' FORECLOSURE DEAL
 Pastor Randy
White of Without Walls International Church talks about a foreclosure
agreement that saw the church's lender agree to drop demands
for control of the church's books, tapes and other intellectual
property.
By NEIL JOHNSON - njohnson@tampatrib.com
- Published: March 8, 2009 - TAMPA - Without Walls International
Church escaped the specter of foreclosure after its lender agreed
to drop demands for control of its books, tapes and other intellectual
property, Pastor Randy White said today. White, the church's
founder, told his congregation during this morning's service
that the California-based Evangelical Christian Credit Union
had agreed to a modified loan agreement Wednesday that took the
church out of foreclosure. The church defaulted on a $1 million
loan due in August, prompting the credit union to begin foreclosure
proceedings in November. The foreclosure proceedings included
another $24.5 million in loans for the Tampa ministry, headquartered
at 2511 N. Grady Ave., and its Lakeland branch. "That's
a miracle in today's economy," White said. At a press conference
after the service, White said attorneys had been negotiating
since the lender announced the foreclosure but met a logjam on
the credit union's insistence the church give up rights to its
intellectual property including its name, all tapes and books.
The church's attorneys told him not to agree to the demand, White
said. "That's your birthright," he said. The restructured
agreement also calls for interest-only payments and no penalties,
White told reporters. The credit union announced the modified
loan agreement last week but disclosed few details. White said
the settlement caught him by surprise. The church has outgrown
its Tampa location, which is still for sale, and would like to
build a facility that's free of debt, White said.
- Without Walls has tried for about a year to sell its Tampa
property, housed in a former Canada Dry headquarters, and its
campus in Lakeland, the former 10,000-seat Carpenters Home Church.
The church last week hired back three of seven employees laid
off about two months ago, White said today. The seven people
who lost their jobs make up about a quarter of the church's staff.
He also said that the church had hired a Beverly Hills lawyer
to explore a lawsuit against The Tampa Tribune. From the pulpit
and in statements, White has blamed critics and the credit union
for trying to bring down the church. White said the church had
never missed a payment in nearly eight years. The credit union
was desperate to seize the potentially lucrative properties because
the bank itself was at risk for going under, he said. The credit
union, which manages $3.4 billion in assets, is among the most
financially sound lenders in the nation, spokesman Jac La Tour
has said. Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731.
- http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/08/pastor-hails-miracle-deal-saved-without-walls-chur/
- -----
- VISITATION ARRIVES FOR SLAIN ILLINOIS PASTOR
 Associated Press - March 12,
2009 Churchgoers comfort each other while standing outside of
Maryville First Baptist Church Sunday in Maryville, Ill., after
a man shot a pastor to death and injured others at the church.
(AP photo by Marci Winters-McLaughlin / March 8, 2009 EDWARDSVILLE,
Ill. - Members of a southwestern Illinois church are saying farewells
to their pastor, who was gunned down last weekend while giving
his sermon.
- Visitation was scheduled for six hours Thursday at First
Baptist Church in Maryville for the Rev. Fred Winters.
- Prosecutors have accused Terry Sedlacek (SEHD'-lak) of Troy
of killing Winters during a Sunday service as about 150 congregants
watched in horror. Sedlacek received knife wounds while being
subdued by two church members who also were injured. Continued:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-il-churchshooting,0,4520050.story
- -----
- DUTCH SHEETS IN DRIVER'S SEAT OF NEW APOLOSTOLIC REFORMATION
This latest is from Dutch Sheets. He is now in ‘the driver’s
seat’ of the apostolic movement. “My dear friend and
partner in ministry Chuck Pierce stated prophetically to me that
there was a major shift coming to the Apostolic Reformation.
He then challenged me to hear from the Holy Spirit as to what
this new phase looked like and what my leadership role in it
was to be. Chuck felt that this new assignment for my life was
what Dr. Peter Wagner had seen in a dream concerning me. In Peter’s
dream I had moved into the driver’s seat of a vehicle in
which he and I were riding. We were left to interpret what that
“vehicle” represented. The three of us now believe
it was the Apostolic Reformation with all three of its components.
The plan involves taking the apostolic, prophetic and prayer
movements to a much more practical level, resulting in regional
transformation. Most of us in the Apostolic Reformation have
been transformed by the movement individually, as have our congregations
and networks. However, if we are honest, we must acknowledge
that for most of us this has not resulted in regional cultural
change. For this to occur, we must expand from relational apostolic
networks primarily, to functional apostolic alliances, as well.
God has given us (Dr. Wagner, Chuck Pierce, Robert Henderson,
and me) a blueprint to accomplish this. Continued: http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2009/01/31/
- dutch-sheets-in-driver%E2%80%99s-seat-of-new-apostolic-reformation/
- -----
- OLDER CHILDREN'S BOOKS BANNED UNDER NEW U.S. LAW
- David Cloud Friday Church News Notes, March 13, 2009, www.wayoflife.org
- The following is excerpted from Walter Olson, "The New
Book Banning," City Journal, New York City, Feb. 12, 2009:
"It's hard to believe, but true: under a law Congress passed
last year aimed at regulating hazards in children's products,
the federal government has now advised that children's books
published before 1985 should not be considered safe and may in
many cases be unlawful to sell or distribute. Merchants, thrift
stores, and booksellers may be at risk if they sell older volumes,
or even give them away, without first subjecting them to testing
- at prohibitive expense. Many used-book sellers, consignment
stores, Goodwill outlets, and the like have accordingly begun
to refuse new donations of pre-1985 volumes, yank existing ones
off their shelves, and in some cases discard them en masse. The
problem is the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008
(CPSIA), passed by Congress last summer after the panic over
lead paint on toys from China. Among its other provisions, CPSIA
imposed tough new limits on lead in any products intended for
use by children aged 12 or under, and made those limits retroactive.
... Penalties under the law are strict and can include $100,000
fines and prison time, regardless of whether any child is harmed.
Not until 1985 did it become unlawful to use lead pigments in
the inks, dyes, and paints used in children's books. Before then
- and perhaps particularly in the great age of children's-book
illustration that lasted through the early twentieth century
- the use of such pigments was not uncommon, and testing can
still detect lead residues in books today. This doesn't mean
that the books pose any hazard to children ... no one seems to
have been able to produce a single instance in which an American
child has been made ill by the lead in old book illustrations
... the commission did allow an exception for vintage collectibles
whose age, price, or rarity suggested that they would most likely
be used by adult collectors, rather than given to children. ...
Whatever the future of new media may hold, ours will be a poorer
world if we begin to lose (or 'sequester' from children) the
millions of books published before our own era. They serve as
a path into history, literature, and imagination for kids everywhere.
They link the generations by enabling parents to pass on the
stories and discoveries in which they delighted as children.
Their illustrations open up worlds far removed from what kids
are likely to see on the video or TV screen. Could we really
be on the verge of losing all of this? AND IF THIS IS WHAT GOVERNMENT
PROTECTION OF OUR KIDS MEANS, SHOULDN'T WE BE THINKING INSTEAD
ABOUT PROTECTING OUR KIDS FROM THE GOVERNMENT?" http://www.wayoflife.org
- -----
- RETHINKING CHURCH
- The Eye-Opening Bestsellers - In January 2008, Pagan Christianity
rocked the Christian world. Yet it was only the first half of
the argument. It was never meant to be a stand-alone book. In
August 2008, Reimagining Church was released. It's the second
half of the argument. Both books can be likened unto a puzzle.
Pagan Christianity demonstrates that the picture on the box has
been wrong, and that's why the pieces haven't been fitting together.
Reimagining Church presents a fresh vision of the picture on
the box that's rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
Pagan Christianity is the deconstructive side of the argument;
Reimagining Church is the constructive side. Both books go together,
forming a compelling and insightful vision of the church after
God's own heart.
- http://www.reimaginingchurch.org/
- -----
- ECUMENISM: SOCIAL WORK AND ENVIRONMENTALISM DRAWING BAPTISTS
AND ORTHODOX TOGETHER IN EASTERN EUROPE
- Friday Church News Notes, February 20, 2009, www.wayoflife.org
- Earlier this month the International Baptist Theological Seminary
in Prague, Czech Republic, hosted a four-day dialogue between
Baptists and Orthodox. The basis for the ecumenical rapport is
social work and environmental concern or creation care. The Baptists
and Orthodox exchanged gifts as a sign of the continuing partnership
(Baptist, Orthodox Leaders Hold Groundbreaking Conference, Associated
Baptist Press, Feb. 13, 2009). Baptist World Alliance head Neville
Callam called for ecumenical cooperation between Baptists and
Orthodox on visits to Russia and the Republic of Georgia in 2008.
According to the Bible, the only basis for unity between Christians
is spiritual reality (e.g., the new birth) and doctrinal purity.
Those who preach a sacramental gospel that begins with infant
baptism do not hold the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude
3). They have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof,
and should therefore be rejected (2 Timothy 3:5). http://www.wayoflife.com
- -----
- VATICAN CARDINAL CALLS GAZA "BIG CONCENTRATION CAMP"
January 7, 2009 - ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict's point man
for justice and peace issues on Wednesday issued the Vatican's
toughest criticism of Israel since the latest Mideast crisis
began, calling Gaza a "big concentration camp." Cardinal
Renato Martino, president of the Vatican's Council for Justice
and Peace, made his comments in an interview in the Italian online
newspaper Il Sussidiario.net. "Defenceless populations are
always the ones who pay. Look at the conditions in Gaza: more
and more, it resembles a big concentration camp," Martino,
whose informal title is Vatican "justice minister,"
was quoted as saying. Pope Benedict has made several general
appeals for an end to the violence in Gaza but has not openly
criticised Israel. The pope is due to visit Holy Land sites in
Jordan, Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank in May.
- http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE5066OA20090107
- -----
- O.R.U. HAS DOLED OUT HONORARY DOCTORATES TO THE LATE KATHRYN
HUHLMAN AND REX HUMBARD. BOTH ACCUSED OF MULTIPLE IMPROPRIETIES
- February 20, 2009 - ORU has doled out honorary doctorates
to the late Kathryn Kuhlman and Rex Humbard, both accused of
multiple imporprieties; the late plagiarist and false teacher
Kenneth E. Hagin; prosperity teachers Frederick Price, Creflo
Dollar, Marilyn Hickey, Joyce Meyer, Jesse Duplantis, Paul (David)
Yonggi Cho, his wife, and Kenneth Copeland; former NFL player
Roosevelt Greer; the late entertainer, Bob Hope; false teachers
and founders of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Paul and Jan
Crouch. But most egregious was ORU's awarding of honorary degrees
to the following teachers who were exposed in international scandals
for various instances of crookedness: Bishop Earl Paulk (who
has faced a slew of sustained sexual misconduct accusations over
the years); disgraced television preachers Robert Tilton and
Larry Lea (who were both targets of PrimeTime television exposes
by Diane Sawyer); and faith healer Benny Hinn, who has faced
dozens of major scandals during the past 15 years. And there
are many other lesser known false teachers given honorary doctoral
degrees since ORU began the practice in 1972. http://www.cultlink.com/news/honorary.htm
- -----
- HEAD IF USCCB MEETS WITH OBAMA: ALSO RELEASES VIDEO SAYING
DECISION ON CONSCIENCE PROTECTION A MOVE TOWARDS "DSPOTISM"
 By John Jalsevac
March 17, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On the same day that Cardinal
Francis George released a video expressing, on the behalf of
all American bishops, his deep concern about the Obama administration's
decision to rescind conscience protection regulations put in
place by the Bush administration, he has met with President Obama
at the White House. News of the private, half-hour meeting between
the two was only released late this afternoon. The meeting was
not included in President Obama's daily schedule. The statements
from the White House and the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) give few details about what the Cardinal and
the President spoke about, although the timing of the release
of the Cardinal's video may indicate that the conscience protection
regulations were at the top of the agenda.
- "The president and Cardinal George discussed a wide
range of issues," stated the White House release, "including
important opportunities for the government and the Catholic Church
to continue their long-standing partnership to tackle some of
the nation's most pressing challenges." The statement from
the USCCB said: "The meeting was private. Cardinal George
and President Obama discussed the Catholic Church in the United
States and its relation to the new administration." Cardinal
George, the president of the USCCB, taped the video released
today after the Obama Administration announced in early March
that it was rescinding the regulations which guarantee that health
workers cannot be forced to provide services that violate their
consciences, including abortions.
- "As Catholic bishops and American citizens, we are deeply
concerned that such an action on the government's part would
be the first step in moving our country from democracy to despotism,"
says the Cardinal in the video.
- Continued: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09031706.html
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- "DRISCOLL'S VULGARITY DRAWS MEDIA ATTENTION"
Baptist Press - NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--An in-depth New York Times
Magazine feature on a controversial Seattle pastor has generated
a new wave of debate about vulgarity in the pulpit. "Who
Would Jesus Smack Down," a 3,200-word profile of Mark Driscoll,
founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Wash., focused
on Driscoll's Calvinist theology but, like most secular reporting
on the Seattle pastor, began with a vignette on his "racy"
sermon topics and casual clothes. Critics like pastor John MacArthur
of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., however take
Driscoll to task over his use of sexually explicit language and
"purely gratuitous humor" they say degrades the Gospel
and the pulpit.... On the heels of the New York Times profile,
Christian talk show personality Ingrid Schleuter criticized Driscoll
for a series of explicit "sex advice" posts on the
Mars Hill Church blog -- material appropriate only for married
couples but available to any visitor, including children. Schleuter
also castigated Driscoll for linking the blog to a website, christiannymphos.org,
"which features articles on how a Christian wife can turn
herself into a dominatrix, the glories of an-l and or-l sex,
and the use of sex toys."
- "At a time when American young people are hit in the
face with graphic sexuality in every facet of our culture, the
church should be a safe haven where the sacredness and privacy
of the act of marriage is respected by pastors," Schleuter
said in a press release. "Those with sexual issues need
to receive private counseling -- not sex seminars in a church
auditorium. "For generations, Christian pastors have managed
to convey the Scripture's teachings on fornication, adultery
and the beauty of sexuality within marriage without sullying
and cheapening it" Schleuter added. "Mark Driscoll
is a sad product of our times. While waving his orthodox doctrinal
credentials, he has simultaneously embraced the spirit of the
age when it comes to his treatment of sex. In the process, he
is pornifying the church and only adding to the moral squalor
of our culture." Click here to read this entire article.
Whole story:
- http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletter03022009.htm
- -----
- REGARDING PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES UNDER HR 1388 (THE GIVE ACT)
(Passed the House so far)
- ".. restrictions made on individuals affected by HR
1388 - I don’t particularly trust the government, .. First,
let’s look at the full Section 1304 of the bill, which (I
believe) lists the restrictions on individuals participating
in national service:
- SEC. 1304. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
- Section 125 (42 U.S.C. 12575) is amended to read as follows:
- ‘SEC. 125. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
- ‘(a) Prohibited Activities- A participant in an approved
national service position under this subtitle may not engage
in the following activities: ... ‘(7) Engaging in religious
instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction
as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction
or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious
instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently
devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any
form of religious proselytization. Continued:
- http://www.cephas-library.com/regarding_prohibited_activities_under_HR_1388.html
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLmSm17rhnc&feature=email
- -----
- CHURCH LEADER STILL HOLDS OUT FOR GRASSLEY’S DEMAND
FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Only two of the six mega-church leaders
turned over financial reports to Iowa Senator
(March 16, 2009)Email to a friend | Print Friendly Buzz up! Republican
Senator Chuck Grassley, on the Senate Committee of Finance, had
called out six televangelists for suspected opulent spending
and possible abuse of their nonprofit status. One mega-church
leader has gone to great lengths to clear her name while one
still refuses to turn over information, according to the latest
update. “My staff and I continue to review the information
we’ve received from the ministries that cooperated, and
we continue to weigh our options for the ministries that have
not cooperated,” Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa stated recently
regarding the probe of the Joyce Meyer Ministries, World Healing
Center Church, Without Walls International Church, New Birth
Missionary Baptist Church/Eddie L. Long Ministries, Kenneth Copeland
Ministries, and World Changers Church International/Creflo Dollar
Ministries, according to an article by Eric Young (Christian
Post Reporter). Grassley’s latest statement came out after
Joyce Meyer Ministries joined the Evangelical Council for Financial
Accountability (ECFA), the Christian accreditation agency that
oversees the financial accountability, fund-raising and board
governance of many leading Christian nonprofit organizations.
Continued: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur51677.cfm
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- HOSPICE CHAPLAIN RESIGNS OVER "GOD" BAN
- (EP News) - 3.19.2009 - A hospice chaplain in Florida has
resigned in protest to a ban on use of the words “God”
and “Lord” in public settings. Rev. Mirta Signorelli
had worked for seven years at Hospice by the Sea in Boca Raton.
Signorelli said the chaplains were told in February to “cease
and desist from using ‘God’ in prayers.” The hospice
CEO said the ban on religious references only applies to staff
meetings, but Signorelli claims the ban will also force her to
censor her words while leading prayers in the chapel and when
meeting patients. “If you take God away from me,” Signorelli
told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, “it’s like taking
a medical tool away from a nurse.”
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