The song’s title is ‘Heresy’ and the artist is Jovan Mackenzy… His album is called ‘The Narrow Road’ and you can pick it up at Jovan’s myspace…

http://www.myspace.com/jovanmackenzy

Video done by Transplant Ministries… You can visit us at…

www.transplantministries.com and

also get equipped for evangelism at…

www.eastcoastevangelism.com

I agree with everything that Piper said here. But I wished he would have addressed the question in another way.  Or maybe the question should have been asked in another way. Being,, “is there people who have believed in the prosperity Gospel; that have not believed the gospel of 1Corintians 15; 1-4,, and if so; are they saved?”

I believe Jesus has promised that He we remain faithful, even if we are not. But if we deny Him, He will deny us. So therefore it follows that if it is indeed a fact that the prosperity gospel is another gospel (and not the second half of the gospel as WoF’ers proclaim) and people who have believed the gospel of the grace of God through faith in Jesus start believing in things that are not truth. Jesus will be faithful for he cannot deny himself. BUT my concern is this,,,,,

Most people who become WoF are coming out of the denominations (including mainline and Pentecostal/charismatic denoms), so to me,,, their salvation is not in doubt. BUT what of those that are not previously saved? Are they being taught the salvation message clearly. Are they coming to Jesus to be saved,,, or to be “Prosperous”.  Are they coming for atonement and remission of sin through propitiation, or are they coming for gain assuming Godliness is a means of gain?

My relative said that “when she was a baptist,, all she had was the salvation message and a giving plate.” Inferring that all baptist preach is salvation. I would say that salvation is presented in three tenses in the bible,, so there is much to be preached on including justification, sanctification and our future glorification. And that baptist preach on allot of other issues.  I personally wish some baptist preachers focused as much on soteriology as they do eschatology. BUT I have never heard any WoF’er preach a straight up salvation message.

Case is point,,, at the end of Joel Osteens sermons,, he says “we would like to let people take the opportunity to make Jesus your Lord and Savior of your life” (my paraphrase, maybe he just says savior)

Can someone show me where Joel had preached a salvation message and told anyone not only how to get saved,,, but why we need to get saved in the first place?

And since Joel readily admits that he does not like to use the word sin. How do people know they even need to get saved. And how do they know to walk in sanctification and not sin. I am not a Lordship Salvation proponent, but there has to be some change at some time. Even if we backslide or become carnal again,, there should be some change in our life concerning sin. We should start hating sin.

Does the WoF teach this? And does the WoF teach the saving gospel? Or is the gospel of salvation overshadowed by the gospel of propserity?

Another 3 month span of time has elapsed, it is time to get some blood drawn  and check my PSA level once  again. The anxiety level is high and waiting for the results adds to the stress of the moment. The roller coaster ride of stage 4 prostate cancer is in full effect. It seems lately that I have been getting  very tired in the evening and the hot flashes are becoming more intolerable which are both side effects of the medicine. It has been a full 3 years now since I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and sometimes I get emotionally low, but that’s when I thank the Lord Jesus for keeping me alive another day.  My days are filled with highs and lows, studying the Bible daily, working out in the gym and being with my family are the highs. The lows come from having too much time on my hands and thinking about when will be the next curve ball that prostate cancer will throw at me.

The amazing thing about this whole process is that the cancer is in remission and that the lupron  has arrested the spread of cancer to my bones and organs for now. I praise the Lord Jesus for extending and sparing my life. My oncologist has told me that most people die within 2 years of being diagnosed. Why was I spared? To be honest I don’t know. I do know that God is Sovereign and that He has mercy on whom He has mercy on. With that being said I think of Farah Fawcett who was diagnosed the same time as I and now has passed on. She was  such an inspiration to me and went through all the treatment with such grace for the amount pain that she experienced. Most of my problems seem minor to what others have endured, and really most of mine are side effects and not from the cancer.

So where am I in this battle against prostate cancer, well my PSA came back and it went up a little 0.38 from 0.21. I will have to go back in 6 weeks and get another PSA test. The oncologist is not that concerned as long as the PSA stays under 1, my survival is looking better and better as each day goes by. If I am still in remission by year 5, I can probably stop treatment and see if my PSA rises. All throughout I always expected the worst scenario because of the seriousness of the cancer, right now I have a fighting chance to make it and with Jesus help I  know  I  will.

This thursday July 30, 2009 the Collier County  FL School Board will be voting on whether to allow a pro homosexual course to be included in its sexual education curriculum. The word has gone out to all the Churches in the area to show up and voice opposition to this indoctrination  of  the children  K-12. I will be there to voice my opposition as well as hundreds of people from my Church. Sometimes Christians just throw up their hands in frustration and quit or just bury their head in the sand. Saying maybe it will go away, well I am here to say it won’t go away and we must draw a line in the sand and get active. As Christians are we supposed to stand idly by and let the ungodly people run roughshod over us and future generations ? The answer to that question is absolutely no, for years most Christians have been apathetic about actively pursing the cultural  issues and the cultural war.

Look at what’s happened to this country, we are all to blame for letting the progressives set the agenda when it comes to abortion, prayer in schools, gay rights. Christians have gone into their shell, playing church but not being the Church. It is time to stand up and let your voice be heard, before the fascist’s  take away your voice all together. And don’t think that those in charge of this government today are not thinking about doing that as well. If the Bible is made illegal like it was in the Soviet Union, and the way it is today in Communist China, church services will go underground and so will our freedom slip away if we let it. Whether we win or lose we must not wimp out, but stand up for what we believe in and not back down but fight for what is right

http://rickydslife1waytoheaventhroughjesus1.wordpress.com/

Over the past 30 years the homosexual agenda has been  been somewhat hidden in the closet, denied, or lied about and kept under a rock. Now the agenda of the Gay and Lesbian activists is totally clear  and very obvious which is to tear down and destroy the very fabric which holds society together and that is the institution of traditional marriage. How did gay rights find its way to the forefront of our nation’s policy makers and what are the consequences of religious intolerance as portrayed in the proposed “Hate Crimes” bill.

The so-called gay rights movement, found its way to this nation through the matrix of secular and ungodly lawmakers and its willing accomplices the Federal Court system. By using the same pathway as the 60’s civil rights used, and by declaring  that gay sand lesbians were a race of people they found a way to become a protected class. Now I ask you how can someone’s sexual deviation be even considered for a class status or a race of people. In the Book of Genesis chapter 19 vs 24 God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah  for the sin of homosexuality plain and simple. Homosexuality is a sin and a wicked degrading sin as well which will lead its participants into the pit of Hell for all eternity. This act is pure wickedness and immoral, not  some glorified gay right as stated  its vocal arrogant  supporters who are rebellion against God Almighty.

The gay drive for public approval of their alternative lifestyle began in the early 1970’s with efforts to portray homosexuality and its deviant sexual practices  as a valid, healthy and equally acceptable way of life. Gay activists were demanding even then that public school sex education courses taught by gays should present homosexuality as a healthy alternative. (Time, September 8,1975)  There has been an emotional manipulation of the American public. Firstly ordinary citizens have been made to feel guilty, by a constant barrage of accusations, that they are bigoted and homophobic for having seen their homosexual lifestyle as antagonistic to their basically Judeo- Christian value system. Secondly the gay militants through their acts of  violence, plainly intimidate average Americans into acceptance of their deviant homosexual lifestyle.(Kinsey, Sex, and Fraud,103) I have a word for the militant gay activists, I will not be intimidated. I will continue to stand up and speak out against the sin of homosexuality not mater what type of hate speech law is passed.

Homosexuality is a learned behavior, people are not born that way as some sympathizers say. Alfred Kinsey  the father  of sexual programming in the public school system and SEICUS espoused  that children can enjoy and benefit from sexual interaction with adults. Kinsey’s grand scheme is almost realized through establishing homosexuality as normal behavior. By promoting sexual promiscuity blurring the lines where pedophilia is concerned. Through attacking religion to undermine the Judeo-Christian concept of sin and eliminate the distinction between right and wrong. Lobbying the Judicial system  to reform sex laws so that aberrant sexual behavior is not considered criminal. To redefine Family to break the hertosexual model of nuclear family with a mother and a father.

You can be delivered from the homosexual lifestyle by repenting from sin, believing in Jesus  to be your Lord and Savior. And you will not be condemned to Hell for all Eternity. Read the Bible, join a Bible believing Church, go to  Bible study and give Jesus the praise for deliverance from a perverse and sinful lifestyle.

What I see happening in the Charismatic World is more of the same  old stuff. Some Christians just don’t seem to get it, and are still looking for the next Great Revival of  Signs and Wonders. You would think that with all the information out there about Todd Bentley’s false healing revival in Lakeland Fl  that people would come to their senses and have some discernment.  But no, the Signs and Wonder chasers are still out there in full force, looking to be deceived by the next “Anointed Preacher” or New Doctrine. It seems that itching ears have to be itched over,  and over,  and over again. As II Timothy 4 vs 3 states that:“For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine”. If only Christians would be able to discern the times we live in, they would understand the time that II Timothy speaks about is the present age we live in. Not in some future time to come , but right in the here and now.

This is a right now word, how many times have I heard that only to find out that the TV preacher was trying to sell some of that right now  word for a special price of only $19.99. Benny Hinn’s miracle crusades are still drawing huge crowds with people desperately seeking  Signs and Wonders only to be crushed when their guaranteed miracle does not happen.

Morris Cerullo is still hawking his how to pray books and special prayer Bibles along with next crusade of whatever. Paul Crouch and Richard Roberts are still begging  the viewer to send in their seed faith gift and their miracle will come. How about some miracle anointing oil from Jerusalem as sold by the Elijah List.

Even Perry Stone has veered  off course and will be interviewing next week someone who went to heaven and spoke with their relatives. Now that is necromancy and spiritualism which is specifically forbidden by the Bible. He went on to say that the person had a near death experience, and came back to share what happened.  Even my daughter recognized that speaking to the dead was forbidden by God. I guess he had to fill in time and figured the way to boost ratings  was to show something that  bordered on the bizarre. Perry’s teachings  now have more of a Kabbalah influence than that of the Bible.  Does anybody see a pattern here, there is really something wrong with this picture. As Christians are we really that gullible, the answer unfortunately is an astounding yes. But we can change that by going back to sound teaching and doctrine. Start by reading some of the classic Christian sermons by preachers such as EM Bounds, Charles Spurgeon, Harry Ironside, or DL Moody maybe then  we can get back on the right path obeying God rather than man.

Is there such a thing  as  being drunk in the Spirit ?  Slain in the Spirit or Holy Laughter. In my many years of being a charismatic of  which I am a  now a recovering charismatic. It sounds similar to a  being  a recovering alcoholic  and in essence it is. The emotional experience in most charismatic services is what becomes top priority. Most charismatics mistake the feeling generated by  the music minister leading the praise and worship during the service as Holy Spirit ordained. The exhilarating  feeling that is felt is mistakenly called the move of the Holy Spirit. The preaching of the Word becomes an afterthought and takes a back seat to the music. I was in one service where a woman fell out and landed right on my left arm  which was a good thing because if my arm was not there she would have hit her head on the metal chair. She would have been in considerable pain, sometimes you just don’t know what is going on with people.

Now we get down to the heart of the matter, what is being drunk in the Spirit, Slain in the Spirit or Holy Laughter. As Kenneth Hagin said many times over drunk again. I looked in many Bibles including many Translations and never did see the Apostles ever mention that being drunk in the Spirit was a manifestation of the Spirit.  I just could not find any substantiation for this doctrine.The only people who said that the Apostles were drunk on the day of Pentecost were the mockers( Acts 2 vs 3).  So if the mockers were saying the Apostles were drunk; and Kenneth Hagin also said that he drunk and stumbled around acting like a drunk. There is only one conclusion that can be reached and that is Kenneth Hagin and the mockers in Acts 2 were of the same mind. Kenneth Hagin by saying he was drunk in the Spirit was actually mocking the Holy Spirit. Here is a short video clip of Kenneth Hagin and Ken Copeland in what is called Pentecostal Bedlam.

There are people falling, laughing and running all over the place. The scene is absolutely sad and chaotic, the Holy Spirit was never and I mean never in this mess. There was a spirit there  a false spirit, a demonic spirit, an unclean spirit masquerading as the Holy Spirit. God is not the author of confusion but the devil  and he is the father of lies. The people in this clip have given themselves over completely to the influence of Satan. They are under a delusion and are completely apostate. Peter replied to the mockers in the book of Acts 2  vs 15 “For these men are not drunk as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day” which is 9 AM.

According to an article by Biblical Discernment  Ministries that :

Hagin cited Acts chapter 2 in an attempt to prove that the Apostles were drunk in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This is nonsense. Those who said the disciples were “full of new wine” were the mockers who wanted to debunk the miracle of tongues which was occurring (Acts 2:13). The mockers did not say the disciples were drunken because they were staggering about and slurred in speech and falling to the ground, but because of the many languages which were used to preach the Gospel that day and because they wanted to slander the servants of Christ. In his reply to these mockers, PETER PLAINLY SAID THEY WERE NOT DRUNKEN (Acts 2:15). In Ephesians 5:18, Paul CONTRASTS drunkenness with the filling of the Spirit. The drunk is not in control of himself, but is under the power of a foreign substance. In contrast, the Spirit-filled Christian is entirely in control of himself under the direction of the Holy Spirit. There is absolutely no case in the New Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ or the Apostles or early Christians staggering about in a drunken stupor, unable to attend to necessary duties, as those in the laughing revival are experiencing. THE CHRISTIAN IS COMMANDED TO BE SOBER AT ALL TIMES (1 Thess. 5:6,8; 1 Tim. 3:2,11; Titus 1:8; 2:2,4,6; 1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7; 5:8).

If for no other reason, one should reject Hagin on this basis alone: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

The only example of “spiritual drunkenness” in the Bible is in the prophets, referring to God’s judgment upon sin and apostasy (Isa. 29:9-14; Jer. 51:37-40). These prophecies sound a solemn warning to the Laughing Revival crowd. They have rejected the sound teaching of the Bible; they have refused to be sober and vigilant; they have mocked careful Biblical discernment; they have exalted experience over doctrine; they have gone awhoring after feelings and “signs and wonders”; and they have been blinded by demonic delusions. God warns that those who refuse to obey the truth will be blinded by lying wonders (2 Thess. 2:9-12).

Throughout the rest of Hagin’s sermon, various people were laughing hysterically, making it difficult to follow his message. The service could best be characterized by confusion. It ended like it began, with a rock concert disguised as a worship service.

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/hagin/general.htm

http://rickydslife1waytoheaventhroughjesus1.wordpress.com/

Wow, it has been an amazing past two weeks. First of all since I have started speaking the truth about about the false teaching Kenneth Hagin and Word of  Faith. My wife’s cousin eliminated me from her facebook friends list. I for one was not shocked for I  am no stranger to controversies. But I am amazed  at how brainwashed people are today by the false teaching that has been circulating through the Churches in Charismania. The Bible in Isaiah 1 vs 18 calls to come now and let us to reason together. What I see happening today in the Charismatic World is a complete shutting down of any dialogue of reasoning.

There is a complete split coming , if it is not already here between Orthodox Christianity and the signs/ wonders crowd. Between  studying the Bible  and those seeking Spiritual experiences. Between the lukewarm seeker friendly  and those that will stand for the True Gospel of Christ calling sin, sin. Between the false prophets,  who  prophesy lies in the name of the Lord and those who call for repentance and a turning back to the Lord before the Judgement of God falls on America. Between those who call for Restoration and what is truly needed Reformation.

The Bible says in II Timothy 4 vs 3 &4 “For the time will come when they(Christians) will not endure sound Doctrine; but they after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”. The sign that we are now seeing by the proliferation of all the false teachers, false prophets is God’s Judgement on the Church for it must begin in the House of God first.( 1st Peter 4 vs 17 & 18. Look at Joel Osteen, Joyce Myers, “Positive” and “Happy Gospel” and compare it to the  true teachings of Jesus in the Gospels there is a big difference. Paul Washer has spoken clearly about this subject as well.

Do we need to hear from the false prophets like Kim Clement, Paul Cain, Rick Joyner, and the like to know what is going on in the world today. Wake up Christians !!!! Wake up people!!!!!!!!!! Read your Bible and understand the signs of the times, Jesus said as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man (Mathew 24 vs 37 & 38)

The time is right for reformation, to turn from these false teachers, repent and understand that the Church will not subdue all nations for Christ as Kingdom Now and Manifest Sons of God teaches. But Jesus will rapture for his Church first, then the 7 year Tribulation period, and at the end of the Great Tribulation Jesus comes back again at the battle of Armageddon. Just as the  Bible  says in the Book of Revelation!!!!!!!

LifeWay urged to remove books ‘contrary to gospel

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=596124

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

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

SBC president Johnny Hunt ruled Kilgore’s motion was not in order because it would have asked the convention to act like trustees. Kilgore says the books he wants removed from LifeWay stores are “contrary to the gospel” and the 2008 Baptist Faith and Message statement.

“For example, in The Shack, it’s very unclear and muddled in a lot of its views on the Trinity, the role and person and work of Christ, and the way of salvation,” Kilgore believes. “And in regards to T.D. Jakes, he will not come out and use classic, orthodox language in regards to the Trinity – and that is a cornerstone doctrine of Christianity.”

Kilgore notes that in 2005, LifeWay president Thom Rainer said that “LifeWay will not be a business, but a ministry to the church.” However, Kilgore contends LifeWay is not ministering to the church by selling the books of “word of faith” teachers and authors who deny the Trinity.

http://religiopoliticaltalk.blogspot.com/2009/07/drive-through-church.html

(I’m Speaking Truth h/t)

I’ve questioned the validity of “child preachers” for some time – especially since they often mimic poor “preaching and teaching” that they’ve seen in their lives. Now, we see a clear example of guardians pimping a child preacher from birth – essentially grooming a golden goose that will lay golden eggs for them for some time. May God have mercy on this debacle.

Commentary can be found on my blog: http://imspeakingtruth.wordpress.com

I was once asked this question in a MSN Christian debate room,,, “”there are 34,000+ different Christian denominations today. Who is to say which churches constitute the congregations of ‘true Christians’?”

I responded to some of this misconception about denominations in an article called 34,000 differing denominations or Unity Within Diversity UNITY IN ESSENTIALS by Damon Whitsell

The misconception perpetuated by the questionnaire is that Christianity is a fractured belief system and their is nothing but divisions among Christians. The misconception in its most basic sense says that Denominations, Sects and creeds are a bad thing, NOT OF GOD and should be avoided because there is no unity among Christians. BUT MY FRIENDS,,, this is just absurd.

THIS IS 180 DEGREES OFF. The bible says 1Co 11:19 (ASV)  For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you. And while Jesus did say,,,,, Joh 17:11b Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. He did say that the Unity he desired was in Him,,,, Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. There can be no unity apart from truth and the True biblical Jesus.

Word of Faith’ers, Charismatics and all Christian cults usually take this passage out of context to say that denominations are bad. 1Co 1:10-13  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

But the thing that anti-denominationalist do not want to see is that all these groups where united in Jesus, His teachings and the teachings of the Apostles. These where not denominations or sects because there was only one Christian church until the Eastern Orthodox Church split from what we now call the Roman Catholic Church in 1054. They where boasting one over another about who had fathered or discipled them in the faith. While it was childish and carnal behavior, this passage does not support the assertion that there should be no divisions among the church. 1Co 11:19 (ASV)  For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you.

Indeed God says Eph 4:4-6  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. BUT He says there are many parts to the body 1Co 12:12-14  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

If you have studied the Word of Faith Movement, or the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, you will see that they have a disdain for denominationalism and creeds. They are also very anti-intellectual! Instead of studying to show thyself approved,,, they opt for more esoteric forms of learning such as,,, God’s Spirit told me, and,, Gods Spirit taught me. BUT Many time what “the Spirit” tells them contradicts that which the Spirit has already told them in His written revelation. This is how heresy runs rampant among these groups, because they are anti-intellectual, anti-denominational and anti-Creedal. AND MY FRIENDS,, THIS IS THE SAME FOUNDATION ALL CHRISTIAN PSEUDO CULTS ARE BUILT UPON

Lets look at Mormonism’s Joseph Smith’s first vision to prove the point.

Joseph Smith History 1:18-20: “My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.”

“I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw• near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” He again forbade me to join with any of them;…“

Mormons, all other cults, Word of Faither’s, Pentecostals and Charismatics have a few other things in common. They believe that mainline Christianity has apostatized and needs to be restored to it’s previous doctrine and practice.

Here is a section of an article I wrote called The Heresy of Restorationsim by Damon Whitsell. It is a section of an article on the restoration movement.

The key principles of the Restoration Movement and the Restorationist are,

1. Christianity should not be divided, Christ intended the creation of one church.

2. Creeds divide, but Christians should be able to find agreement by standing on the Bible itself (from which they believe all creeds are but human expansions or constrictions) instead of on the opinions of people about the Bible.

3. Ecclesiastical traditions divide, but Christians should be able to find common ground by following the practice (as best as it can be determined) of the early church.

4.Names of human origin divide, but Christians should be able to find common ground by using biblical names for the church (i.e., “Christian Church,” “Church of God” or “Church of Christ” as opposed to “Methodist” or “Lutheran”, etc.). It is in this vein that conservative members of the Churches of Christ object to the phrase “Stone-Campbell Movement.” (1)

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE THE WORD OF FAITH, PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC MOVEMENTS TO YOU?

Listen to these silly mottos from the “Restoration Movement” that was used by Mormons, The church of Christ cult, Jehovah’s Witness and all other cults that came from the restoration movement. And you will find that many Word of Faither’s, Pentecostals and Charismatics use the same ideas to perpetuate the  idea that denominations and creeds are bad. BUT IS THIS SO???

Many who make such claims are totally ignorant of Christian Church History and why denominations call themselves by denominational names. BUT some deliberately perpetuate these misconceptions to foster their preconceptions

I was listening to this sermon called Why are Christians divided into so many denominations? It was the best out of two sermons on the topic of denominations that I listened to. In it Pastor Howe quoted CS. Lewis from his classic Christian book “Mere Christianity:,, in which Lewis explains Denominations better than I ever could. So here is his quote.

C.S. Lewis – Preface to Mere Christianity.- “I hope no reader will suppose the ‘mere’ Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions – as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in…When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall.”

Lewis describes the denominations and creeds of the church to be a good thing.

Mere Christianity is a Pseudonym for Essential Christian doctrine. Lewis is saying that all true Christian churches agree on the essentials of the faith. And that they differ only in non essential matters. This is very true. Denominations do not divide over essential doctrine,, they are unified in them. Creeds are called confessions because denominations, while divided on non essential issues, openly tell people what they believe and practice up front. UNLIKE THE WORD OF FAITH, PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC MOVEMENTS.

Don’t buy into the anti-denominational rhetoric and propaganda of these groups. Orthodox Mainline Christianity is United within Diversity.

1. During the past 14 years I had 11 surgeries, yes that is right 11 surgeries. Talk about being in the Lord’s Boot Camp I was there, but I feel that the 11 surgeries prepared me for what was to come in 2006 which was being diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. It is truly amazing to look back at how I was able to make it through all those surgeries. I know that the only way I made it was through was with the Lord Jesus help. The Scripture verse from the Bible  that kept me  strong is:” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians  Chapter 4 verse 13. It never started out as 11 surgeries, it started with one surgery and ended with eleven. Here is the list: 5 foot reconstruction surgeries, 3 knee replacements, 1 right shoulder joint replacement, 1 right hip replacement and 1 back surgery which was done in february of 2009.

This is the Lord’s boot camp there was no other way for me to face my health problems but straight on, my back was against the wall and there were no other options.The pain was too great, and the quality of  life was diminishing. I knew from reading my Bible in the Book of Daniel where the the 3 Jewish boys Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were thrown into the fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar because they refused to bow down and worship the image of the king. The three Jewish boys knew that their God was able to deliver them even if they had to go into the furnace and God would deliver them and He did. For there was one walking with them in the furnace who looked lke the Son of God who was Jesus  and they didn’t get burned (Daniel Chapter 3). In my case I knew the Lord Jesus would get me through this trial and everything was going to be all right , it took 14 years. But those 14 years were used for preparation time for the next physical problem to come which was stage 4 prostate cancer.

During those 14 years I became a physical therapy expert, rehabbing and reading my Bible daily brought me closer to God. I remember having a cast on my foot and thinking what it would be like to workout again. The waiting time helped me to appreciate the things that we always take for granted like walking, moving your shoulder with no pain or riding a stationary bike. The toughest part of rehab was going through it after knee replacement, in order to get full range of motion the knee must constantly  be worked, bent and put through a whole assortment of movements which were killers, but I had to endure the torture in order to walk right again. All through it the Lord Jesus was helping me to endure and giving me patience to get through this physical thing that I was going through. It’s hard for people to imagine but as soon as one body part was repaired or replaced another part needed attention.

As of today I am back in the gym working out 4 to 5 days a week with stage 4 prostate cancer. And sharing my testimony to all who would listen of  the love and mercy that Jesus has provided for everyone through His death on the Cross and His Resurrection that He would grant eternal life to all who repent and receive Him as Lord and Savior. Through all of this I know that God is Soverign that until I fulfill His plan for my life I am here until He calls me home.

http://rickyd2.wordpress.com/

What  have we  learned about  Todd Bentley and the false healing revival that happened last year in Lakeland Florida. Numerous, numerous lessons were learned one of which  that comes straight out of the Bible from the Gospel of  Mathew Chapter 24 vs 11 & 12 “And many false prophets shall rise and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold”. These two verses capture the distinct age that we live in and say volumes of the lack of spiritual discernment in the Body of Christ and the Churches today.

A very important lesson learned of how as Christians, we must stay sharp and alert in the Word of God as a Watchman on the Wall. We must be vigilant, not let our guard down. We must stand up for the true Gospel of Christ, and speak out to warn the brethren . We must not be intimidated, we must have the boldness of the Holy Spirit to speak the truth in love and finally we need to understand the times we are living  in which are filled with false Christ’s, false prophets, false teachers teaching, deception, heresy, and  apostasy. If we understand the history of the false healers and false revivals we can know what to look for.

The immediate tip off about where Todd Bentley’s false healing  revival was heading was to look at his associations, if you want to know about someone look at the company they keep. The key to spotting any false healer  or prophet is to first check it out with scripture, if they make any reference to dreams, visions from an Angel, Divine revelations, or trips to Heaven  or Hell  a red flag of  skepticism must be raised.  Most of the people attending Bentley’s revival could not tell the difference between true and false because they were looking for an experience and were not reading the Bible  to help them understand the signs of the times.

According to Bentley his heroes and his mentors included William Branham, Kenneth Hagin, Rodney Howard Browne  and of course Bob Jones of the Kansas City false prophet fame. William Branham had an angel  a pillar of light present in his false healing crusades and so did Todd Bentley. The angel which Bentley referred to was a demon spirit or fallen angel  called Emma.

In talking about his help from a healing angel, William Branham  once  stated that he was unable to minister unless the angel was at his side( Occult Bondage and Deliverance, Kurt Koch pp. 49,50).

Branham  and Bentley’s experience with angels of light were very similar. It is extremely important  to understand the devious deception that is taking place in the Body of Christ today. The Bible tells us to test the spirits to see if they are of God, 1st John chapter 4 verse 1 states: “Beloved , believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world”. This false healing revival is exactly what the above scripture is talking about. According to Bob Jones God told him on New Years eve in 2008 that a third wave was coming and that wave was called Winds of Change.

Latter Rain doctrine is a modern version of the classic heresy of Gnosticism, which taught that a spiritual elite possessed “hidden knowledge” of the divine realm which placed their personal revelations, spiritual experiences, and private interpretation of Scripture above the ordinary revelation of God’s Word. In Latter Rain doctrine, Pentecost was the “former rain” or outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Church must yet receive a second Holy Spirit visitation. At this time, the Sons of God will be glorified and manifested to all as they establish the Kingdom on earth before Jesus Christ returns bodily. Latter Rain prophets are now preparing multitudes for this transformation. (Barbara Aho, The Latter Rain Revival)

Todd Bentley asked Bob Jones what was the other two waves, he said wave #1  Toronto Blessing , wave #2 Pensacola and # 3 became Todd Bentley’s false healing revival in Lakeland FL. My question is a rhetorical one; Will We Get Fooled Again? My answer simply is, we should not get fooled the next time, but some will.

http://rickydslife1waytoheaventhroughjesus1.wordpress.com/

ATLANTA, GA - A lawsuit filed in a California accuses Atlanta televangelist Creflo Dollar of stealing a spiritual text message business concept, then marketing the business to his worldwide audience for millions of dollars in revenue.

The lawsuit, filed by Devone Lawson of Marina del Rey, California, accuses Dollar, his son Jeremy Dollar, and other ministry staff of breach of nondisclosure agreement, fraud, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Starting in 2004, Lawson claims he spent a year working with Dollar’s World Changers Church International ministry on a subscription service that would send daily inspirational text messages to church members’ cell phones. In the lawsuit, Lawson claims the ministry violated a nondisclosure agreement when it eventually formed another company and launched a similar “Word On the Go” text messaging service in 2006.

Attorneys for Lawson estimate the $4.99 per month subscription service generates more than $50 million a year in revenue.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Business/Default.aspx?id=581982

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It appears Pastor Creflo Dollar has been sued for stealing a business idea. SEE COPY OF LAWSUIT HERE: http://nytnegro.angelfire.com/dollarc…

ARTICLES:
http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewConten…

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metr…

(written by Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz)

Indoctrination is the process of inculcating ideas, attitudes, cognitive strategies or a professional methodology. It is often distinguished from education by the fact that the indoctrinated person is expected not to question or critically examine the doctrine they have learned. As such it is often used pejoratively. However, instruction in the basic principles of a science, or the methodology of a profession, can also be called indoctrination, in the sense that people do not necessarily question or critically examine them. From the specific perspective of some people, like the people who don’t critically examine basic principles of a science or methodology of a profession, the word does not necessarily have negative connotations.

Religious indoctrination
Religious indoctrination refers to customary rites of passage for the indoctrination of persons into a particular religion and its extended community.

Most religious groups instruct new members in the principles of the religion; this is usually not referred to as indoctrination, because of the negative connotations the word has acquired. Mystery religions require a period of indoctrination before granting access to esoteric knowledge. (c.f. Information security)

[edit] Military indoctrination
The initial psychological preparation of soldiers during training is referred to (non-pejoratively) as indoctrination. See Recruit training.

[edit] Information security
In the field of information security, indoctrination is the initial briefing and instructions given before a person is granted access to secret information. [1]

[edit] Criticism
Noam Chomsky remarks, “For those who stubbornly seek freedom, there can be no more urgent task than to come to understand the mechanisms and practices of indoctrination. These are easy to perceive in the totalitarian societies, much less so in the system of ‘brainwashing under freedom’ to which we are subjected and which all too often we serve as willing or unwitting instruments.”[2]

Robert Jay Lifton argues[3] that the objective of phrases or slogans like “blood for oil,” or “cut and run,” is not to continue reflective conversations but to replace them with emotionally appealing phrases. This technique is called the thought-terminating cliché.

Part one of an 8 part series on thought reform and mind control.

Cults use many methods of mind control that fall into 4 main categories:

Behavioural Control
Information Control
Thought Control
Emotional Control

I present 23 common methods of thought control and in later videos I will discuss how groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Moonies and Hare Krishna exhibit some of these features.

Dr. Stephen Arterburn answers questions inspired by his book,
TOXIC FAITH: EXPERIENCING HEALING FROM PAINFUL SPIRITUAL ABUSE.

Taped in Long Beach, CA, circa 1991.

PART ONE

Topics covered:

What is Spiritual Abuse?
What is an Outcast?

Common Characteristics of a Cult

1. Members swear total allegiance to an all-powerful leader

2. Rational thought is discouraged or forbidden.

3. The cult’s recruitment techniques are often deceptive.

4. The cult weakens the follower psychologically by making him or her depend upon the group to solve his or her problems.

5. The cults manipulate guilt to their advantage.

6. The cult leader makes all the career and life decision of the members.