Rick Warren and John Piper Together....WHAT ????

is puzzling . I met Dr. Piper at this conference in Los Angeles for African American Pastors and he seemed to be a nice man very humble and an extremely gifted preacher and speaker. In this clip he attempts to explain why he invited Warren to his conference. He mentions something about "picking his brain" I'm not sure what that means or if it's relevant. However I suspect that Rick Warren does provide an element of publicity to the Desiring God Conference and I reckon that some feel that any publicity- no matter what it is or how it comes about- is better than none. However Warren has very little in common with orthodox Christian thinkers, conservative Evangelicals, Reformed Pastors, and Calvinist proponents. He neither believes what most of the guest speakers at the conference believes nor does he adhere to most of the basic doctrines of grace as understood by basic protestant dogma via the reformation. The time alloted at the conference to someone like Rick Warren I feel, could have been given to someone in Reformed circles that would have edified the body of Christ more sufficiently, but I guess it wasn't practical.

Rick Warren is obviously a controversial individual within mainstream evangelical circles. Although popular with the laity and some in the Christian community, among knowledgeable leaders, he is a man of somewhat questionable ideas, beliefs and methods. As a pastor and author, he has made some strange statements about the social and cultural world we live in when confronted by mainstream media. Why John Piper invited such a polarizing figure as Rick Warren

Not a Calvinist? Watch this and you will be.

Many Christians unfortunately don't know the doctrines of grace, often called Calvinism. However it is basic orthodox Christianity. Because very few individuals know classical church history, they often ignore or dismiss the teachings of the great theologian John Calvin- which when examined carefully are the fundamentals of basic Christian dogma. As Baptist we do have some disagreements with some of the tenants of Calvin-no man is perfect- but all in all Calvin is tops in my book!



Here is an interesting video from Sis. Lizel (I'd love to take the credit for it but I can't) that's a new cool substitute for the Acronym TULIP called "STUDIO". It's short, but I think you'll enjoy. Calvinism is often a little hard to swallow for most folks, but then again the truth usually is.

Benny Hinn: apparently not enough faith to heal his marriage

he is "neither a prophet or the son of a prophet" (as Amos would say). Benny Hinn has been thought of by many as a counterfeit for years so it is no surprise that his wife has decided to leave him. The question is why did it take so long? The reason is money. She, like all the rest of the crew that works with this man, has been reaping off the funding that a ministry like this provides. This then is the reason why she went along with the game he was running for almost 30 years. Unfortunately people are always attracted to the idea of getting healthy and wealthy through religion. The nature of human beings is instantly attracted to anything that appeals to the flesh rather than the Spirit. That's why a man like Benny Hinn will continue to strive amidst this controversy. Until people are willing to look to a Savior who died on the cross for their sins and that is "able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of God with exceeding joy", they will continue to look to the likes of Benny- a man that is as phony as a three dollar bill.


The so called "faith healer" Benny Hinn could "heal" anything but his marriage. Here is a man that has been investigated as some kind of " anointed healer" and there is yet to be found one legitimate healing in his so called "ministry". Simply because

Divorce Battle: Joseph Reyes Faces Jail Time for Taking Daughter to Church - ABC News

Divorce Battle: Joseph Reyes Faces Jail Time for Taking Daughter to Church - ABC News

people of darkness. No matter what religion they are or even if they are not religious. If they are not followers of Jesus Christ they have not come into the light therefore they are "children of wrath" doomed for eternal judgment. Christians are to flee from and not marry non-Christians because this is in violation of the word of God. We should never apologize to the world for what we believe because we answer to God, Him alone and His church. The idea that believers are so desperate to marry, that they will marry un-believers is not only ludicrous but also sin. A Jew, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Mormon, etc. are un-believers. Because they are religious is meaningless if they have not given their lives to Christ and become His followers. Christians are a redeemed people, called out of a world of darkness into the marvelous light by the power of the gospel. The gospel of a Savior who has died to set us free from the bondage of the world, the flesh and the devil. So click on the blue link above and see the sad consequence of ignoring the demand of scripture and what happens when we "lean to our own understanding" rather than the word of God.
WHY CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TO MARRY UN-SAVED PEOPLE
This story of child custody ,is a prime example why believers are forbidden to marry unbelievers. Because un-believers are not people of light they are...

The Church is Now Using Kung Fu to Draw Men Because They Think Exalting Christ Won't Work

the god of American pragmatism is used rather than the gospel for bringing people to Christ. A New York Times Article , reveals what some churches are doing to get people to come to church. Today's church is not only confused about what it means to reach the lost for Christ, but they have no idea of what to use to reach them. This is because they do not believe in the Power of The Gospel (Romans 1:16) and it's ability in rescuing depraved sinners. So they resort to the buffoonery of men in tights whacking and kicking each other. This reveals how far humans will move themselves: from the preaching of the cross and atoning work of Christ, to the clown tactics of wrestling and hitting one another. Entertainment then becomes a vice of the flesh that some churches feel they need to lure people to a worship service in order to rescue men from the judgment of God. However people need more than just "coming to church" incentives, they need deliverance. In fact they need to be saved from their sins and not from boredom. Therefore the gospel is the only thing that will work in capturing men who are lost, confused, and "dead in trespasses and sin"-not "marketing techniques" of people fighting. It is the belief in Christ, his death, and resurrection that humanity must be interested in rather than martial arts. For Jesus himself states: "He that believes in the Son has eternal life but he that believes not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abiding on him" (John 3:36) . Now that's a "wrestling hold" you can't get out of.


"If I be lifted up I'll draw all men unto me" are the words of Jesus Christ, God incarnate; but the modern church has said "no thanks, we'll use ultimate fighting". Surprised? Don't be- because this is precisely what happens when

Yes we have a few "Kooks" in the Christian faith

The ENTIRE universe is cursed because of the "fall" and that the "whole creation groaneth" (Romans 8:22). Tragedies unfortunately happen to the "just and the unjust". These disasters in Hatti, as well as other places, represent a sin infected earth that is waiting it's redemption as well as human beings in cursed bodies which are dying and decaying, as we wait for our own redemption. As far as Hatti making a "pact with the devil", well, the Haitians are no more under the control or "pact with the Devil" than a Wall Street executive, a teacher, a soccer mom, a dentist, a auto worker or any other person that has not been saved by Jesus Christ. In fact, all who are not covered by the blood of Christ and saved by faith in Jesus Christ, are by nature, "children of wrath"(Ephesians 2:3) - without making a "pact". They in fact, obey "the god of this world", and are "serving divers lust" under the dominion of "principalities and rulers of darkness" (Ephesians 6:12). And this goes for people of every nation: rich and poor, developed and non-developed, third world and first world, because "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:23). And unless the people of Hatti- and any other people groups as far as that is concerned- are under the control and power of the Holy Spirit, they and all people, regardless of nationality, are under the bondage of the evil one. And until they and mankind in general are free, all will need salvation, deliverance and redemption from Jesus Christ, the only one who can rescue them from something much greater than an earthquake: the wages of sin.


Listen as Televangelist Pat Robertson rambles off some non-biblical gibberish that sounds as if he's making it up as he talks. If Pat Robertson would read his bible instead of mouthing off nonsense, he would see how scripture relates to the Hatti disaster when it says...

Being "Nice" a myth and tool of demonic proportions

SINFUL. Not only is it not a virtue but instead is form of manipulation- he points out this in a recent interview and you can read it in this article

The idea of being "nice" for men- and in fact for anyone- but in this case men, is a complete farce. Nice people are usually walked on, weak and passive and this is a death trap for most men. However there is a reason for this. In a fabulous book, by author Paul Coughlin, No More Christian Nice Guy he outlines the fallacy of being nice as a Christian and points out that it is neither biblical or ethical instead it is

Can Christians Say 'Allah'? In Malaysia, Muslims Say No

"If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin. He that hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause." (John 15:22-25)


Here is a clear example of what Jesus Christ talks about when He mentions that "the world will hate you because it hates me." Muslims burn down churches and persecute Christians in Malaysia simply because they use the word Allah.Here is the article that points this out:Can Christians Say 'Allah'? In Malaysia, Muslims Say No
Although the article is interesting, however Jesus gives the answer and the real reason why when He says...

Prayer, Why it is So Extremely Important

The Practice of Prayer
by
Moonjang Lee

It is commonsense to say that prayer is crucial in the Christian life. Prayer is a must for anyone in ministry. Ministry without a consistent and deep prayer life will be misery. Strangely, however, it is not easy to meet with men and women of prayer in most Christian circles today. The rhetoric on prayer or prayer life abounds, but the culture of prayer seems to be deteriorating. How can we restore the habit of prayer in Christian life and in ministry? I personally think that widespread spiritual ignorance is the main culprit for our laxity in prayer life. The way we Christians perceive the world has become blurred, and we do not seem to realize what is going on in the spiritual domain. So we have to be awakened to the satanic reality which has deeply permeated the fabric of our earthly lives. If we look closely into our inner life, we will be surprised to find that we carry so many ungodly things in our heart and mind which affect negatively the way we think, speak and behave. Many of our families are dysfunctional. We hear stories of violence and conflict in the regional and global context every day. In essence, we live in a dysfunctional world, i.e., a fallen world. People are victimized by all kinds of satanic attacks on every front. Our lives could hardly be characterized by glory, holiness, power and freedom in Christ; rather, we are subjected to all forms of satanic bondage and oppression: hatred, depression, misunderstanding, sensuality, pride, fear, worry, diseases, divorce, conflicts, wars and many others. We are reminded every day that we exist not in the heavenly reality, but in the satanic reality.
Our life on earth is to be characterized as a good fight against the presence of this reality. If we really perceive the satanic reality as the cause of all sorrows (individual, familial, societal and global) in this fallen world, we may have a divine anger towards the evil power operating in our midst. If we really see that our fight is “against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” we will be filled with a sense of God’s mission to “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). If we see clearly who our adversary is, then how can we not pray to the almighty God, our heavenly father?
We need to pray to fight against ourselves to purify our heart, and to rescue ourselves from the rules of the flesh. Our struggle is to grow spiritually to be like Jesus Christ. Our aim in life is to restore the image of Christ in us. With¬out prayer, this fight against our flesh cannot be won. We also need to pray to help others be freed from satanic bondage. To function spiritually, pastors should become prayer warriors, because the nature of their job is spiritual. Pastors should go into a deep prayer life if they really want to rescue people from the devil’s schemes in their everyday lives. Some pastors talk about prayer as the key to church revival. That is not wrong all together. However, pastors should not consider prayer merely as a tool for church growth or a successful, powerful ministry. Pastors should spend many hours a day in prayer in God’s presence because they become troubled in their soul to see the pain and to hear the inner cries of their church members. If pastors are not troubled in their soul, they are in real trouble!
Let me share a few practical tips to restore our habit of prayer. First, we need to cultivate the habit of converting all our thoughts (monologues) into a dialogue with God. We may have to stop thinking and start talking to/with God in all circumstances. If we admit that God is here with us and hears even our meditations, we cannot ignore Him in our thoughts. At first, we may feel that we are talking to God without getting any response from Him, but as we continue talking to/with God, a real dialogue can happen.
Second, we need to cultivate the habit of asking God whenever we are to make a choice–big or small. God is the best counselor and it would be most natural for us to ask the all-knowing God for everything in our daily walk. We have to practice what’s written in Proverbs 3:5-6a: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him.” If God is real in our lives, our dependence on God should also be real.
Third, we need to cultivate the habit of spending regular hour(s) every day for private prayer. We know that professional golfers practice at minimum two to three hours a day to remain competitive in their games. Unless we maintain a few hours in prayer daily, our ministry cannot be competi¬tive in the spiritual battleground.

Moonjang Lee, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of World Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.




Here again is one of the most interesting articles on prayer that I have ever read! Although it is geared to those in ministry, I decided to post it again for anyone struggling in their prayer life and is questioning the severe necessity of prayer. I think this article will do the trick to snapping you our of your stupor.

A Cancer in The Christian World

Because the carnal state of sinful man is always craving things of the flesh.The unregenerate nature of humans is never satisfied with things of the Spirit of God instead it seeks satisfaction with the physical world of materialism and human happiness. It isn't until people are made new in Christ Jesus, the crucifixion of self takes place and the mortification of sin begins, that the fulfillment of the "old man" ceases and the "new man" begins its life.


The Prosperity Gospel Spreading Like a Disease --- One way to build a ministry is by telling people what they want to hear: "You'll be rich and happy if you follow God". Why is this so?