We start this edition off with news that maybe the expanding universe theory is really just a theory...

Here is a nifty little video concerning the emergent church, but I am not sure that I agree with some the 'history' that it speaks to.

Here...but didn't Peter refuse adoration? But the Catholics do have a good stance on social concerns, like torture.

Good quote here...

Example #157, 890 that Rick Warren is really Antichrist Driven and someone else saying something about it.

Remember the Jesus son of Joseph Ossuary that made big news and suddenly faded...here is a good video

Iyov, as always, posting great articles, but here calls attention to something I discovered some time ago.

Another worldy denomination shows it's fruit

And someone is standing up to the Canadians.

And on the need to remember that evil has a beautiful side as well, here. Here is an excellent thought on the 'Florida Outpouring'. And of course, others are calling Todd B. demonic, which is the truth. And if only... but you know, he would still have his 'Christian' supporter, and I guess they would put it on 'God TV' which has seen an enormous surge in viewership. Here is a take on Todd from a fellow charismatic of his. And aren't these the same people that 'commissioned' Todd B.? Of course, when they deviate from the Truth, they will accept any liar. Here is a wonderful site that continues to expose the truth about ole Todd B. Doug at Metacatholic enters into the fray a bit.

I guess Ray Comfort (is Kirk soon to follow?) is finding comfort at the Word of Faithers.

Something I didn't know about Luther. One has to remember that Luther and others were reformers, meaning that essentially they saw nothing wrong with Rome. Shame that. From the same site, here.

A sick thought indeed, but it happens more than you think. What a shame that some political leaders in this country have called it a religion of peace. Muslims care more about postcards then children, it seems.

Why Islamic dating sites just don't work...

A good post, as always, from Fr. Ted, here.

Unicorns and the KJV. And something else related.

He's right, you know, I have never heard it like that! When you begin to put the pieces together concerning Iran's leader, you understand who he thinks he is. And when you do, you have to realize what he thinks he has to do.

HAVE YOU TRIED THIS YET?

Houston, we have a problem...

Ben Witherington is attacking a book that attacks, among other things, Catholics and show us several things. First, bad scholarship will undermine even the strongest truth, and second, that just because you attack Catholics, it does not make your weapons right. It is going to be a multi-part series, so stay tuned to it.

How nice it is to be reminded that we (Americans) don't know everything, but at I know what rotates around the Earth.

Obviously Obama didn't read my post before he did this.

This is pretty funny.

I have been following this developing story for a long time. It has taken a while to get this far, but then again... they have waited about 2000 years since the last temple.

What a shame she must be for her parents and why would her demographic be young girls that age?

Might have to get this book here.

How much is a child worth?

Here is a site that I am interested in exploring and it is free!!!! And this is one that might be interesting as well. And speaking of resources...

Anything about Bonhoeffer will usually get on this blog somewhere.

What would your answer be?

Looking good here.

and

Here

***hat tip to djenk23 for the scoop on this news article***

When Carlton "The Heretic" Pearson was shunned by (almost) the entire Christian community when he unveiled his new found "revelation of inclusion" that you don't have to accept Jesus Christ in order to gain access to Heaven, many thought he'd just find a corner and a few folks to spew his heresy to.

Well, old Carlton is climbing back up the mountain of "Pentecostalism" and moving closer and closer to his former popularity. Since the church is in the early stage of it's free fall into total and complete apostasy, Carlton the Heretic is finding welcome audiences around the world who are just eating his garbage up (unrepentant homosexuals, Atheists, Unitarians, Universalists, Ecumenists, and all other manner of God's enemies).

Well, Carlton the Heretic is moving his vipers den to a new church in Tulsa:

Pearson's Church To Meet In All Soul's

by: BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer
6/14/2008  12:00 AM

The Church will host a small Pentecostal-style congregation.

Bishop Carlton Pearson's New Dimensions church will begin meeting Sunday at All Souls Unitarian Church, bringing together a small black Pentecostal-style congregation and a large white congregation with a staid, intellectual style of worship. "It is truly historic. Nothing quite like this has ever happened before," All Souls senior minister Marlin Lavanhar told his congregation last Sunday morning.

"And it comes at a time when it seems like our entire nation is entering a new era" . . . when "the next president of the United States may very well be African-American," he said.

All Souls "is opening its doors, and its hearts, to a black Pentecostal preacher who has spent 25 years trying to cast demons out of this place," he said.

"Something new is trying to burst forth in human consciousness right here in America, and right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is a new day, when Unitarians and Pentecostals, young and old, black and white, gay and straight, Democrat and Republican can all find themselves sharing a church and caring for one another and each other's children — that's the beloved community. That's creating the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven," he said in his Sunday sermon. (click here to read the entire article)

The article goes on to talk about Carlton the Heretic's affiliation with the United Church of Christ - Jeremiah Wright's denomination:

Despite their external differences, All Souls and New Dimensions are both liberal and progressive churches. Pearson and his church last year affiliated with the United Church of Christ, one of America's most liberal denominations, and among the first to openly embrace gay and lesbian members and leaders.

So we can now see further confirmation of the UCC's allegiance to heresy and false doctrine as well (especially since Wright - a UCC preacher - and his church Trinity UCC espouse the wicked false gospel of Black Liberation Theology).

Another nugget from the article:

"Both churches reflect inclusion consciousness," Pearson said.

Lavanhar said religion should be "inclusive, liberating. That's the good news."

He noted that while Oral Roberts and former All Souls senior minister John Wolf often were sharply at odds, he and Pearson, representing the next generation in their respective traditions, are not.

"There's a new trend in America, a new openness."

So there you have it, Carlton the Heretic is taken advantage of the ignorance of the church by pushing his heretical garbage and calling it "a new trend in America, a new openess".

While Carlton the Heretic and other enemies of God want us to think this "new consciousness" is a new phenomenon sweeping across America, thank God through Jesus Christ that the Apostle Paul warned us about this thousands of years ago:

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (New American Standard Bible)

Apostasy

 1But ^(A)the Spirit explicitly says that ^(B)in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to ^(C)deceitful spirits and ^(D)doctrines of demons,

 2by means of the hypocrisy of liars ^(E)seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

Please please please stay away from ANYONE who claims that there are multiple paths to Heaven apart from Jesus Christ when HE HIMSELF clearly stated the contrary (John 14:6).

I cannot exactly reproduce his text, but I am going to use of of the scriptures and go from there. For those just reading the first few lines, this covers the Lakeland Revival and indeed all prosperity preachers.

What has to be remembered that is that the God of the Old Testament was a very merciful God while taking a very hardline against Sin, but He was a God that sought to protect Israel from the outside at all costs. (It has to be remembered that God only allowed invasion when Israel had sinned and sinned again, after many warnings). One of the first protections that God gave to Israel was the right to police her own borders, religiously speaking. (And, except for the stoning part, I believe that the Church has the same right today.)

In Deuteronomy chapter 13, we read that God had set out certain boundries for who a prophet of God actually was. (I have used the KJV because, frankly, it sounds more authoritative.)

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them[1];

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in.[2]

If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities[3], which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently[4]; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you; Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword[5]. And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again. And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers; When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
(Deu 13:1-18 KJVA)

I have included my commentary for that passage at the bottom. Dr. Jim West today made mention of Jeremiah 28 in response to Todd B. It is a battle scene between the prophet of God, Jeremiah, and one who wishes to profit from God, Hananiah. The false prophet would go on to prophecy that within two years, God would restore the goods stolen by the King of Babylon to the house of Judah.

Jeremiah's response shows much poise, more than I would have in the face of someone like Todd Bentley. When Hananiah finishes his 'prophecy' what what is coming (think John Hagee), the rightful prophet simply says,

Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. (v6)

Sure, the Church wants people healed and brought to life and blessed (spiritually). Surely the Church wants people drawn to God. But the Church wants it done biblically. Todd B. and his ilk preach a smooth gospel, and thus a perverted gospel. When the Church preaches about blessings, she speaks about spiritual blessings, not that of a new car. When she speaks about seeds being planted, she speaks about the gospel story being told to someone new. When we speak about healings and miracles, we speak about the resurrection from the life of sin. Granted, we do not dismiss the power of God and His ability perform these things again, but we know that since the beginning of the Church, these things were not the focus. As a matter of fact, how many that saw these miracles endured to the end. Judas, a witness to things greater than what is recorded failed in the end to find his faith.

Jeremiah then goes on to issue a sort of a warning by saying,

The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.
(Jer 28:8-9 KJVA)

We see the stark picture of a false prophet standing before the rightful prophet of God Almighty with the Lord plainly speaking: I have prophets and I have given them messages already and I have given Israel a way to know them. Yet, the false prophet goes on to issue another false prophecy. It brings to my mind that one who will stand in the temple of God and declare himself God, knowing full well the prophecies that proceed him doing this.

In the end, the LORD sends to Jeremiah another message. Hananiah recieved no more warnings. No more calls to heed to the Truth. Instead, Jeremiah leveled this:

Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
(Jer 28:15-17 KJVA)

Returning to my pastor's text from yesterday morning,

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
(1Jn 4:1-6 KJVA)

John tells us to try this spirits that attempt to attach themselves to the name of Christ and thus the Church. Even in John's day the false prophets abounded. Whether the Gnostics or Alexander, the Church was assailed. What we know is that the Church managed to survive. The Church, as many will agree, is the keeper of the Truth and thus is the measuring tool against those things and those people that are heretical. Billy Graham, Todd Bentley, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Patricia King, Paula White, Joyce Meyer and the many others are following in the footsteps of those in John's day, in Paul's day, in the days of Ingatius and Polycarp, Theophilius and Marcellus and others. Granted they have such things as God TV and TBN, etc..., but their message is still the same - anything but God.

The false prophets always sought to deviate from the doctrine that God had laid down, and whether it was a mere change in a minute part of the Temple service or bad prophecies, such as Hananiah, these all had taught rebellion against the LORD God.

False prophets will never preach the true doctrine.

---

[1] Even the devil can perform ‘miracles’. Pharaoh’s priests were able to match, for the most part, Moses’ actions. Todd Bentley and his ilk reportedly perform miracles constantly (no matter that there is no identifiable proof); however, they are attempting to lead people into worshipping a very false god.

[2] Granted, it is not advisable to start stone false prophets today, but we can cast them out of the Church and stand against them with all spiritual weapons available to us.

[3] One of the cities can be something like Lakeland, Florida or perhaps even a congregation. There have been times, throughout history, where congregations of the Church have been led astray by false prophets, so again, perhaps we can understand cities to be congregations.

[4] The Lord tells his people through Moses, the very symbol of a prophet, that if they hear of such people arising, then they should make a search and seek out the truth most diligently. (I will not mention that this is a very Messianic passage where Christ responds by telling the Pharisees to search the Scriptures concerning Him) We are to search out whether there be false prophets in the land/Church and make sure we stand against them.

[5] What a graphic picture. If a false prophet was to infect a city of ancient Israel, that entire city was to be treated as leprous and cast out into destruction. Why? Because as Saul would come to understand, if you leave a bit of the infection around, then the entire body will be consumed. Look at the ancient heresies that was not completely stamped out and their resurgence.

And, what would Monday be without some nice videos

I wonder, where are the gospel stories of such violent paths to healing?

This has been a bit of a challenging time for me the last week as these thoughts have tumbled around in my head. There’s been an intense desire to make peace with the past so that I can move forward focussed an no longer concerned with unanswered questions. I made a difficult choice last night, which I can’t go into, but am glad that I did.

Ironically, in all my desires to expose or challenge the validity of what I did before, through making the correct but difficult decision I did, I found the perfect way to express my thoughts. I’m going to post the letter I sent to our church when we left. It’s funny to read now as I talked about my desire to follow Jesus in the context of Judaism proper. Oil and water don’t mix well do they?

I’m also going to post an email written to a valued friend last year with questions that were beginning to bother me. I never received an answer to those questions. As I looked at these things again today I realized it’s the perfect way to make peace with the past. Specifically, I would like your answers to these questions if you want to take a minute to share your thoughts. 

So here it is. My mind given to you all to pry into just a bit. I invite you to post your thoughts. My only request is that responses be articulate, thought out, and meaningful. I spent 5 years of my life with these people, started my family with them, trusted them, and wanted to see the best in them. In a way, this is a funeral because I will soon die and become like a new baby. (It’s so refreshing to put these concepts into their proper Jewish contexts!!!) Also, I put a lot of work in this blog to post even my frustrating moments in as sophisticated light as possible, and I ask the same in return.

Resignation Letter 
I sent this letter to my congregation March 2007. It’s funny to read this letter now. If you told me then that I would be converting to Judaism I would have said you’re crazy.

On Matters of Faith & Practice
This is the email which really helped me start solidifying the conclusions which had been forming. The really funny thing about this is that the majority of my writings on the subject of messianic christianity has been to answer these questions. Your response to these questions would be valuable.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. My next post will cover my beliefs about Jesus. 

We need to stick together and come up with something big. Perhaps a week long campaign in the blogosphere against Todd!

Many of you are aware of the Ecumenical movement and the Emerging church movement and how they believe that we must "reinvent" the Christian faith (life), which means changing the true Word of God (Bible) to fit into their self-seeking, self-pleasing, humanistic point of view. If you are unaware of this movement, you can read about it at these links: Understand The Times, Slice Of Laodicea, A Little Leaven, Lighthouse Trails, Discernment Ministries also, if you would like more links, please visit my "Links" page.

These movements have caused quite the shake in the Church and are gaining momentum in some outrageous ways as of late. This article is just one more example of the heretical teachings that are creaping into the Church just as the Bible predicted would happen in the last days.

2 Peter 2:1 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

2 Timothy 4:1-4 "I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

 Dr. Killinger seems to look down on fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, however, to be a true Christian... you must believe what it says in the Word of God on how to become a Christian... This is fundamental, correct? Otherwise you are just playing a game that has no true outcome of which you strive for, so that being said, what would be the use? Your effort would be in vain. The Word of God is an all or nothing sort of thing. Jesus Himself said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15) and also, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10). It is logical, don't you agree, that in order to do what the Word says, you must believe what the Word says and then you get what the Word says... eternal life in the Lord's love.

Now, lets take a look at some excerpts from the article...

Excerpt 1

"Doctrine isn't the driving force to many people today" except "to the fundamentalists who insist on it," Killinger said. "But doctrine is a thing of the past now religiously."

Pastors can follow this cultural shift by preaching about Jesus' human side rather than insisting that He was God and that He always existed, Killinger said.

This excerpt goes along with what I have stated in the previous paragraph as you can clearly see.

Excerpt 2

"I find from pastors a greater and greater reluctance to preach from the Gospel of John, which used to be the greatest pleasure for most preachers because John was so assertive about the incarnation and the role of Christ" versus "the tendency to go back to Mark and Matthew and Luke to see the more human side of Jesus, who was anointed at the time of His baptism to be the savior of Israel, but not necessarily to be the preexistent one that we find in John."

The part of this excerpt that stands out the most is the very last phrase, which is underlined by me. I would like to share the following verse with you, which was written before Jesus, the man, came to earth.

Psalm 110:1 "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

Also, Jesus clarified Himself to the scribes in the following statement:

Luke 20:41-44 "And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?"

Now, how do we know for sure that it was Jesus, the Lord (as Jesus Himself claimed to be)? Well, lets take a look at the following:

Hebrews 1:13-14 "But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

This proves that it was not an angel which was spoken of. Lets continue...

Acts 2:34-36 "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Ah-ha! I think we have a winner! Jesus is the One! Is Dr. Killinger going to through out the book of Acts along with the book of John? If so, then how do we explain the Church being filled with the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit which they so love to claim? You can learn more about the exploited gifts of the Spirit by researching the Toronto Blessing, etc. from the links which were provided above.

Excerpt 3

"Jesus Himself has had a lot of things said in His behalf that He never intended. This is one of the things that's going on today in biblical studies -- and I think is much more promising than some of the fundamentalists will allow -- is that we are questioning whether Jesus Himself said this or whether an institutional church that grew up in Jesus' wake said this. This was the purpose of the so-called Jesus Seminar," Killinger said.

Lets just take a look back at what Jesus said about Himself, shall we?

John 14:6-7 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."

Then Jesus is questioned by Philip regarding what Jesus just told them and Jesus responds with:

John 14:9-10 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

This is why Dr. Killinger doesn't want to hold to the doctrine in the book of John.  The book of John is to the point, direct, in your face or as Dr. Killinger stated, "assertive".

Excerpt 4

"I'm just suggesting that I think we need to be a little less certain about what Jesus meant, what He was about, what His life and work were about. I think we're reevaluating all that."

For example, Jesus did not conceive of Himself as the Savior of the world and may not have viewed Himself a sacrifice at all until the crucifixion, Killinger said.

Again, please notate the underlined portion, emphasis mine. Now, lets take a look at some more scripture:

John 3:14-21 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

 This as we can clearly see, is another reason why Dr. Killinger doesn't want to pay attention/teach the book of John... it clearly states that Jesus IS the Savior. Jesus clarifies in the following verses:

Matthew 16:15-17 "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

 The word "Christ" in the Greek is Χριστός which means:

 Christ = "anointed"

1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God

2) anointed

Dictionary.com determins Christ as a Messiah. It also clarifies a "Messiah" as a savior, deliverer, liberator.

 So, as we can see... whether by the Word of God (English, Greek, Hebrew) it all spells out that Jesus was, is and always will be the Savior of the World. 

Dr. Killinger goes on to state that he can read the book of John to himself and compares it to a "mystical" experience. This is classic Emergent phylosophy.  

Excerpt 5

Many CBF pastors agree with his views of salvation, Killinger said, citing an experience at a gathering of pastors in South Carolina. When he asked them what salvation meant to them, they all talked about self-fulfillment and love rather than doctrine, Killinger said.

The pastors also said they did not disbelieve in an afterlife but were not overly concerned about it, Killinger said. When asked whether they thought people of other world religions are going to hell, the pastors replied that they did not think in terms of heaven and hell, he said.

 I find it interesting that Pastors today are so not concerned about heaven and hell, yet Jesus cared enough to warn us all about it. (Please read the books of Matthew - John and the book of Revelation for specifics, for there are too many to list now).

Dr. Killinger goes on to attempt discrediting the book of Daniel and its prophetically acurate writings, stating that the book of Daniel "fibbed a lot".

I have given you pretty much the gist of the article, however, I do recommend that you read it in its entirety. I hope that all of you will search out the scriptures and align everything with them, in the proper context, not withholding any books because of personal preference, as Dr. Killinger and others are trying to do. If these heretical teachers do not turn from their destructive ways, the Lord Himself will come unexpectedly with their just reward (condemnation), which they will not escape.

We are all accountable for what we influence others toward, so as watchmen on the wall... you have been warned. Now it is up to you what you will do with that, as you will be accountable for it.

Montanus was a 2nd century heretic that proclaimed a 'new revelation'. From wikipedia

Scholars are divided as to when Montanus first began his prophecy, having chosen dates varying from c. AD 165 to as late as AD 177. Montanus travelled among the rural settlements of Asia Minor after his conversion, and preached and testified what he purported to be the Word of God; however, his teachings were regarded as heresy by the orthodox Church for a number of reasons. He claimed not only to have received a series of direct revelations from the Holy Ghost, but personally to be the incarnation of the paraclete mentioned in the Gospel of John 14:16. Montanus was accompanied by two women, Prisca, sometimes called Priscilla, and Maximilla, who likewise claimed to be the embodiments of the Holy Spirit that moved and inspired them. As they went, "the Three" as they were called, spoke in ecstatic visions and urged their followers to fast and pray, so that they might share these personal revelations. His preachings spread from his native Phrygia (where he proclaimed the village of Pepuza as the site of the New Jerusalem) across the contemporary Christian world, to Africa and Gaul.

It is generally agreed that the movement was inspired by Montanus' reading of the Gospel of John— "I will send you the advocate [paraclete], the spirit of truth" (Heine 1987, 1989; Groh 1985). The response to this continuing revelation split the Christian communities, and the more orthodox clergy mostly fought to suppress it. Bishop Apollinarius found the church at Ancyra torn in two, and he opposed the "false prophesy" (quoted by Eusebius 5.16.5). But there was real doubt at Rome, and Pope Eleutherus even wrote letters in support of Montanism, although he later recalled them (Tertullian, "Adversus Praxean" c.1, Trevett 58-59).

Prisca claimed that Christ had appeared to her in female form. When she was excommunicated, she exclaimed "I am driven away like the wolf from the sheep. I am no wolf: I am word and spirit and power."

The most widely known defender of Montanists was undoubtedly Tertullian, onetime champion of orthodox belief, who believed that the new prophecy was genuine and began to fall out of step with what he began to call "the church of a lot of bishops" (On Modesty).

The beliefs of Montanism contrasted with orthodox Christianity in the following ways:

• The belief that the prophecies of the Montanists superseded and fulfilled the doctrines proclaimed by the Apostles.

• The encouragement of ecstatic prophesying, contrasting with the more sober and disciplined approach to theology dominant in orthodox Christianity at the time and since.

• The prophets of Montanism did not speak as messengers of God: "Thus saith the Lord," but rather described themselves as possessed by God, and spoke in his person. "I am the Father, the Word, and the Paraclete," said Montanus (Didymus, De Trinitate, III, xli); This possession by a spirit, which spoke while the prophet was incapable of resisting, is described by the spirit of Montanus: "Behold the man is like a lyre, and I dart like the plectrum. The man sleeps, and I am awake" (Epiphanius, "Panarion", xlviii, 4).

From here we can get a glimpse of Todd's Doctrine,

12. FURTHER REVELATION

We recognize that God is continually restoring truth and light to His Church. Therefore, we place no limit on further revelation; however, each must be substantiated according to the Scriptures.

Can Todd Bentley, and indeed the modern Charismatic movement, be described as the resurgence of Montanism? My opinion is yes, or course. Remarkable is the fact that throughout Fresh Fire's doctrinal statement scriptures are given to support their belief, yet when we get to point twelve, we find not scriptural evidence to support a further revelation. (This is the case with other doctrines shared by other people as well, not just limited to Todd.) We also noticed that Todd mentions that God has to continually restore 'truth and light' to the Church.

(B)ut if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1st Timothy 3.15)

Accordingly, if the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth, then doesn't that necessitate that the Church will eternally have the Truth with no need of restoration?

What about further revelation? Jude says,

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (v3)

Paul says,

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
(Gal 1:6-9 NKJV)

We know why Todd cannot use verses to support his doctrine at this point, but we also see that there are verses that directly contradict his twelfth point. What does this say about Todd? We know that Todd constantly claims new and wonderful revelations and prophetic words. (Either through himself, or oddly enough, a woman - remember, Montanus has a triad, including himself and a woman, as well) The Apostles plainly say, even from their grave, that Todd Bentley has denied the faith, is apostate, and is accursed.

I was discussing these things with the Lord this morning, and it dawned on me that the name of the ministry was named Fresh Fire (never mind that proscription to whatever we do, we are to do in the name of Lord Jesus - Col 3.17). Wonder why? Is it because people are always seeking the new, the exciting, the fresh? What about the old fire that fell from heaven during the Feast of Weeks? Is that fire not good enough for today? Has doctrine and revelation changed so much that something, or someone, is constantly needed to 'restore' it? What about the steadfastness of the faith that was once for all delivered to the Saints?

Or is Todd just like the ancient heretic Montanus, in proclaiming a perverted gospel and seeking something new because the old doesn't suit him?

For good doctrine, go here and here.

"Who's the happiest christian preacher out there? I'll give you an example his name is Joel Osteen...He is my christian brother, I do believe that...And I'll tell you what doesn't bother me about the guy. It doesn't bother me that he's got a big church, it doesn't bother me that that he is on the radio, it doesn't bother me that he is on the tv it doesn't bother me that he publishes books, it doesn't even bother me that he is happy all the time because maybe his spiritual gift is encouragement."
(Mark Driscoll - "The Rebel's Guide to Joy")

It is great to see so many people defending against Todd's brand of devil worship

That's bad doctrine...try this doctrine.

Honestly? Something new? Didn't the heretic Montanus seek the same thing? It seems old heresies never die, they just lie dormant. Todd Bentley, as too many know, is the 'evangelist' (although the news that he brings is not good whatsoever) who is holding the Lakeland 'Revival'. His doctrine is simple - a perverted gosepl based on the supernatural (Sid Roth's favorite subject)

Below is a video that is a small analysis on the Bentley Two-Step. So many people have been proclaiming that the world is to see a revival before the return of Christ, and yet Scripture tells us other wise, with Paul focusing in on the great apostasy that precedes the Tribulation. The prophecies that concern Todd Bentley are those that speak of false prophets and antichrist. The verses that teach against Todd are those which Paul wrote to the Galatians, and many others, warning against false teachers that pervert the gospel of Christ.

How can anyone trust this man when He cannot even trust his own experiences? This man is not leading people to God, but to Satan, into evil, into perversion. What should we say then? Do we hide the fact that this man has gone way beyond false doctrine, but is not leading people into direct worship of demons and experiencing demonic possession?

Anyone concerned with this issue needs to shout it from the rooftops that Todd Bentley is a devil is disguise.

Here's a video of a Christian outside of Rob Bell's speaking tours SCREAMING at the top of his lungs...

It's really long so I don't imagine you watching the entire thing. But I want you to get the idea of the response this Rob guy brings out.

My problem is how angry these Christians are getting. I guess it could be seen as what Jesus said and did with the religious leaders of his time but I don't see any love coming from this video. If nothing else, this guy would completely turn me off of anything doing with Christianity.

From my understanding, the church is supposed to act like Jesus. And from what Jesus did, helping the poor, showing and teaching about how to connect with God; I don't see this guy (if he represents the church) doing that. I see the the Christian church taking care of their own. "If you're a Christian, you'll feel safe in this place with us." This is the way I see churches behaving.

If I were to be part of a church whose purpose is to show the world Jesus, then I would want to be out and showing those who don't know Jesus who he is. I would want a church to be a place for anyone to check it out and not feel awful for dressing, smelling, looking, different.

I want to be part of a group that will get off their seats and use their energy to change the world.

I think people like Rob Bell and a few other groups are getting it. I want to be part of that movement.

Letters From a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles with His Father's Questions about Christianity

by Gregory A. Boyd (Author)

Edward Boyd's agnosticism rested "not ... too much on any positive position ... but rather on a host of negative ones" about Christianity. In an attempt to address these negative issues, his son Greg, a professor of theology, asked his father, a strong-willed, highly intelligent, and stubborn 70-year-old, to enter into a correspondence in which "all of their cards would be laid on the table." Greg would give his father the opportunity to raise all his objections to the veracity of Christianity, and Greg would "answer these objections as well as give positive grounds for holding to the Christian faith."

Three years and more than 30 letters later, Letters from a Skeptic was published and Edward Boyd came to accept Christ. During his journey, he and his son hash through such topics as why the world is so full of suffering; why an all-powerful God needs prayer; how you can believe in someone who rose from the dead; and how another man's death can pardon others. Despite their brutal honesty, both men exhibit respect and love toward one another as they address these volatile subjects. In Edward's second response to Greg, he boldly says, "Well, your distinction between the 'Christian Church' and 'Christians' is interesting and novel, but frankly, I don't buy it." Greg responds, saying, "I've got to admit that you are raising some extremely good points in your letters. You are raising the most difficult questions a theist can face." --Jill Heatherly

REVIEW: Brian Lehman

I have found this book very useful in helping me to combat some of the logical arguments against the faith given to me by non-believers. Dr. Boyd's logic flows very well and provides a great logical argument to many important complaints about Christianity. Don't rely on this book as your only source, though! It contains only one man's opinions. Personally, I have found some of his reasons to be a little weak, and on one point I think he is wrong. His point about how God does not know the future is based on what I feel is incorrect theology. A few other points he makes might also be seen as based on some abnormal theological ideas. This is still a very good book, though, as long as it the reader reads it for what it is - one man's logical defense of Christianity - and also uses other sources (especially the Bible) in defense of the faith. If this book shows you anything, it shows you that Christianity is more than blind faith or emotionalism, it is actually a very logical and intelligent view of the world, one which I am convinced is the correct one.

I hope this letter finds you well. I cannot help but wonder how many of you watched this situation occur, watched your leadership seperate Ruth-Anne and I, and wondered why it was happening. I know I certainly wondered what was happening. I wonder, as my wife lives in terror of her husband, step-children, and her own biological parents I wonder just how many of you really go along believing what is said. I have no doubt you sit there in your meetings, shaking your heads, without the courage to say what's right. Do you realize that you yourself are culpable for what is happening?

You can have no doubt now that AMF is way, way, way off track. Your leadership is defending divorce - implying that the Lord is leading away from His own Word. Can you seriously believe that is the case? Can you seriously believe that because I am willing to speak the truth I should lose my wife? Come to think of it, why does the truth scare Bill, Ardith, and yes, Ruth-Anne too? What is it that causes fear in their hearts? Clearly Ruth-Anne is terrified of me and Devin. Why?

Are you aware that Devin is on trial here? Do you know that by agreement my visits are not supervised any more? Do you know why? BECAUSE THERE IS NO REASON FOR THEM TO BE AND THERE NEVER WAS. But now that it's become apparent that there is absolutely no reason for me to have to be supervised with my own son, AMF's next best is to put Devin on trial? Have you heard of anything so disgusting as that?

How can you validate the continued support of leadership that is advocating things completely and totally against the Word? They are in control because you allow them to be. I know that your not all brainwashed by what is going on. Some of you are around real, solid Christians all day long. Is it your own marriages your in fear of?

I hope the very best for you but I fear the very worst. You act as though your lemmings, jumping off the cliff in a "soldiers" marching step. It is my sincere hope that you all regain your consciences before it's too late for you. Before you go through all the heart-ache that I, my family, my children, Ruth-Anne's parents, siblings, and friends, past Anchor members, ex spouses, and torn children have been through, thanks to your heartless heretic leadership.

Beware the wolves in sheep's clothing. They will eat you up and spit you out just as they have done to three boys, aged 12, 4, and 2.

Respectfully,

Brian

Tutta un'altra cosa vero?!?! ;)

Due sono i modi per poter rivivere le emozionanti avventure del militare solitario sperduto su marte a tener testa ad un orda di demoni spuntati fuori dal nulla in una veste grafica del tutto rinnovata: installare il deng (nuovo motore grafico) usando il .exe per Microsoft Windows grazie a WINE, oppure usare la versione nativa per Linux.

• Per la prima soluzione basta scaricare l'exe a questo indirizzo ed installarlo con WINE.

• Per quanti riguarda la seconda e più interessante via, senza dilungarmi, vi spiego subito i passaggi salienti per avere sulla nostra cara 8.04 il nuovo motore grafico per giocare ai vecchi e gloriosi DooM, Heretic e Hexen.

Per prima cosa procuratevi i .WAD (originali, shareware o presi da emule che siano) del capitolo che preferite (doom.wad / heretic.wad / ecc ecc.), e teneteli in una cartella in attesa di essere utilizzati dal nuovo motore grafico DoomsdayHQ (es. $HOME/wads/).

Ora scaricate i sorgenti da questo link. (Si avete capito bene, l'unico modo per giocarci nativamente è compilare i sorgenti per la nostra distro). Decomprimete il tutto nella vostra home, e diamo inizio alle danze.

Apriamo un terminale e iniziamo col dare questi comandi:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install build-essential cmake libgl1-mesa-dev libglu1-mesa-dev libsdl1.2-dev \
libsdl-mixer1.2-dev libsdl-net1.2-dev zlib1g-dev libpng-dev libncurses5-dev doxygen graphviz

Così da assicurarci di avere tutto il necessario per la compilazione dei sorgenti. Ora spostiamoci nella cartella doomsday/build/. Se avete decompresso il file scaricato nella vostra home, spostatevi in questo modo sempre da terminale:

cd $HOME/deng*/doomsday/build

Una volta posizionati, diamo inizio alla compilazione:

cmake ../
make
sudo make install

Attendiamo che il pc finisca di lavorare e, se non ci sono intoppi, la compilazione è completa! Il gioco è fatto! Ora dobbiamo solo fare qualche ritocco finale come creare le cartelle dei salvataggi in doomsday/ così:

cd $HOME/deng*/doomsday
mkdir jdoom jheretic jhexen

altrimenti i progressi fatti in gioco non si salveranno! E' ora arrivato il momento di giocare! Possiamo usare la linea di comando:

doomsday -game [gioco] -file [percorso del .wad] -userdir [percorso cartella salvataggi]

Esempi:

doomsday -game jdoom -file /home/UTENTE/wads/doom.wad -userdir /home/UTENTE/deng*/doomsday/jdoom
doomsday -game jheretic -file /home/UTENTE/wads/heretic.wad -userdir /home/UTENTE/deng*/doomsday/jheretic
doomsday -game jhexen -file /home/UTENTE/wads/hexen.wad -userdir /home/UTENTE/deng*/doomsday/jnexen

rispettivamente per lanciare DooM, Heretic ed Hexen. Da notare che la dicitura "UTENTE" nei suddetti comandi da terminale, va sostituita con il proprio nome utente.

Oppure creare degli appositi scripts tramite un qualsiasi editor di testo, per ogni .WAD (DooM, Heretic, ecc.), e lanciare il nostro capitolo preferito con un semplice click, ecco un esempio:

#!/bin/sh
  /usr/local/bin/doomsday -game jdoom -file ~/wads/doom.wad \
      -userdir ~/doomsday/jdoom

Questo è tutto gente! Ora datevi da fare e spazzate via da marte quei luridi demoni! :D

"I want to publicly thank Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Church. God has used the revival in Lakeland Florida to set me free. Yes, folks, I am telling the truth. Please, don't faint. Read on.

I did attend one service at the Toronto Airport Fellowship. It was a pretty low key service for TAF. I wasn't that impressed but I never looked very deeply into that revival. I have attended meetings in our area where ministers associated with TAF, Brownsville and now Lakeland have spoken. I did <gasp> receive prayer at such meetings and I did once go through a "fire tunnel". Again, I wasn't that impressed. But, again, I didn't look that deeply into these ministers' backgrounds either. I just filed it away as "not really my cup of tea but, hey, if others grow in their walk with Jesus--fine." I did enjoy the worship music.

What is now going on in Lakeland and Todd Bentley's antics has pushed me to look deeper. As you can see by my previous posts regarding Todd Bentley I have very strong objections to his "gospel". Those objections have forced me to look at how these other ministers and ministries are associated with TB and each other. The Holy Spirit has used this whole circus to bring me to repentance about ever sitting in a venue to listen to these "teachers" and allowing them to pray for me.

How does this translate to freedom? Well, I'll tell you. For a long time now I have been struggling to have any desire to read the bible. I could only read scripture for short periods of time and my reading comprehension has been very sporadic. I have been praying and praying about this. Since I have repented of my very limited exposure to these ministries reading the bible has become exciting to me again. The scriptural dots are connecting again. It is awesome.

So, thank you Todd Bentley for being such an obvious charlatan, wolf in sheep's clothing, false prophet/evangelist that I was able to see the whole truth regarding these other ministries and the unfortunate affects of their prayers on my devotional life.

Most of all, thank you Jesus."

Colossians 2:18-19 (ESV) 18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on  asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

by Benjamin Blech (Author), Roy Doliner (Author)

Reviewed by: B. Brockmeyer

This book is easily one of the poorest excuses for scholarship that I have ever encountered. The authors blatantly engage in the single biggest sin for a historian -- interpreting historical events through a contemporary (and biased) lens, and make laughably absurd claims, ranging from reading an innocuous hand position in a fresco as an obscene gesture aimed at the pope to declaring the depiction of another figure's backside as Michelangelo "mooning" Julius II.

There's a reason why this book has been uniformly dismissed as frivolous nonsense by authorities in the fields of both Renaissance history and art history; namely, there's not even the slightest shred of historical or artistic substantiation for the authors' fanciful hypothesis that Michelangelo included secret symbols in the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel insulting the pope, promoting Jewish mysticism (i.e., the celebrity fad known as "Kabbalah"), and encouraging "bridge-building" to the Jewish faith. The authors, who happen to be Jewish themselves, flagrantly project their own twenty-first century attitudes onto Michelangelo's work of art from 500 years ago, leading them to interpret it based on what they wish it to represent rather than what it actually does.

The fact of the matter is that the authors here shamelessly and transparently attempted to capitalize on the runaway success of "The DaVinci Code" by co-opting the formula for Dan Brown's novel (Renaissance artist + famous work of art + esoteric symbolism involving Church-related controversy) and simply swapping Leonardo and his Mona Lisa with Michelangelo and his Sistine Chapel. Brown at least had the intellectual integrity to limit his imagination to the world of fiction. The hacks who authored this work of pseudo-scholarship disgracefully and dishonestly try to pass off their fantasy as history.

Brazenly unheedful of the historical method, lacking substantiation and truth, derivative of a premise stolen from a novel, and utterly ridiculous in every conceivable way, this book is beneath contempt and not worth the paper it is printed on.

Simply speaking, love changes people. Christians, then, by definition, should exhibit the greatest transformation of all because, rightly understood and cherished, God's love makes them increasingly more like the One who has lavished his love on them.This truth is meant to tell believers who they are, their purpose and destiny, and how to faithfully persevere in their struggles against all opposition. But sometimes people lose sight of this.Because He Loves Me restores that vision, reminding Christians of their true identity as beloved children of God& adopted by the Father, espoused to the Son, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.Christianity is not a self-improvement program but a transferring of identity and growth, accomplished in history through Christ and in our daily lives through his Spirit. This book explores and celebrates these truths in an unforgettable way. Study questions and invitations for deeper discovery conclude each chapter. ~ Vicki Cook.

Have you ever been driving home, surrounded by clouds, lost in thought, barely seeing the road ahead of you, when suddenly the sun breaks through with stunning brilliance? Or have you ever seen a familiar word in print, and suddenly it looks strange, unfamiliar, as if you are seeing it for the first time? Elyse Fitzpatrick's new book has that effect on me.

I've been a Christian for over thirty years. I have read alot of Christian books. I know my Bible. I know how to live the Christian life expected of me. So I trudge dutifully through my days, head down, thoughts immersed in the crisis of the hour. My Christian beliefs hover somewhere overhead, clean and complete, somewhat disconnected from the messy ground where I spend my days.

In Because He Loves Me, I find the truth about Jesus Christ, who he is and what he has done for me, pulled out of the sky and onto the street where I live. Elyse connects the facts of the gospel--the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Son of God--not just with the problems I face today, but with the ways I think and speak about those problems. It startles me awake and makes me see my Savior again, for the first time. I am surprised, helped, and filled with wonder.  ~ R. Lauterback

All see THE BEST SERMONS...CLICK HERE