News

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Tickling ears is big business . . . and business is good.

Portfolio.com is reporting in this article that megachurch ear-tickler Joel Osteen, aka “Reverend Feelgood,” and his wife Victoria (whose new book Love Your Life which is in direct contradiction to Jesus’ command not to love your life) are reportedly taking in $75 million dollars a year through their Lakewood church (not counting his $13 million dollar advance for his latest book). Here’s a quote from the article:

We are a nation stumbling through our worst financial crisis in a generation and our worst housing market in a lifetime. And so we come, seeking gentle salvation, inspiring prayers, steadying words, soothing notions, and calming thoughts that will allow us to become, in Joel Osteen’s words, “victors, not victims.”

And Time.com is reporting that the prosperity “gospel” may have actually contributed to the current economic crisis. Read their article here.

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Jeff Noblit on Church discipline coming to South Carolina.

Wendi from Declared Righteous by Christ Alone asked if I would be willing to publish an advertisement on an upcoming Church discipline conference by Pastor Jeff Noblit. Knowing Pastor Noblit’s uncompromising preaching, I am honored to get the word out.

Exactly one month from today, Pastor Jeff Noblit will be at Holly Ridge Baptist Church in Blacksburg, South Carolina speaking on Church discipline.

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Would a Christian vote for Barack Hussein Obama?

Not could a Christian vote for Barack Hussein Obama, but would a Christian vote for Barack Hussein Obama?

When I say “Christian” I don’t mean a lukewarm, name-only, self-deceived “Christian,” but a true, born-again, regenerated Christian (think: the Apostle Paul vs Brian McLaren).

So what are those professing Christians of the Matthew 25 Network in the previous video endorsing?

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It’s Official: Islamic Law Has Been Adopted In Britain

Rowan Williams might actually be a prophet!

Seven months after Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was pilloried for suggesting that the establishment of sharia in the future “seems unavoidable” in Britain, it’s now official that Islamic law has been officially adopted in Britain, with sharia courts given powers to rule on Muslim civil cases.

Sharia courts have been set up in London, Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester with the network’s headquarters in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Two more courts are being planned for Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Source: Times Online.

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Breaking: Todd Bentley can heal cancer, but not his own marriage

Just found this over at I’m Speaking Truth:

It also appears that Todd’s is leaving his wife:
Separation May End Bentley’s Lakeland Appearances

Todd Bentley, the evangelist who has led the Florida Outpouring revival here in Lakeland since April 2, has filed for separation from his wife and might not return to the revival, according to his former local spokesperson, Lynne Breidenbach. She said Bentley made the announcement to his staff this afternoon. Bentley and his wife, Shonnah, have two daughters and a son and are Canadian citizens. Under Canadian law, separation is a first step in divorce proceedings and takes nine months. Bentley and his wife have been in marriage counseling for several months, Breidenbach said. She called the situation “very sad” but insisted it “doesn’t invalidate what Todd did” at the revival.

I hope I don’t sound like I’m laughing at this situation, as God hates divorce (Malachi 2:14-15). But, like IST, I find this situation highly ironic, in that Bentley claims that God is working through him to work “signs and wonders,” yet God can’t manage to put the Bentleys’ marriage back together.

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Where are we ever “safe”?

I’m sure, by now, you have heard the news about the shooting at the church here in Knoxville:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities on Monday were investigating why an apparent stranger entered a Unitarian church and opened fire during a children’s performance based on the musical “Annie,” killing two, including a burly usher hailed as a hero for shielding others from gunfire.

No children were hurt, but seven adults were wounded as frightened congregants dove under pews and ran from Sunday’s shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, authorities said. Witnesses said some of the men present tackled a man who pulled a shotgun from a guitar case before at least three loud blasts rang out.

Jim D. Adkisson, 58, has been charged with first-degree murder and was being held on $1 million bail, according to city spokesman Randy Kenner.

Church members praised Greg McKendry, 60, who died as he attempted to block the gunfire. Church member Barbara Kemper told The Associated Press that McKendry “stood in the front of the gunman and took the blast to protect the rest of us.”

Before I begin, let me just say I sympathize with those who lost friends and loved ones in this dispicable act. But such is the condition of the unregenerate human heart. It is always bent toward evil, and only the restraining grace of God prevents us all from becoming Jim Adkissons of our own making. That said, there are a couple of ironies I pulled from this development:

(1) There are people, even at our church, who will not help in the ministry we do in the projects. Why? Because they think it’s “dangerous.” They think they’re going to get shot, held up, robbed, carjacked, whatever, as soon as they get there. However, the church where this shooting took place is located in one of the two wealthiest neighbordhoods in Knoxville. Houses in this area of the city–an area known as Sequoyah Hills–START at $500,000. Some go for upwards of $1M. Knoxville Police Department patrol there regularly. If there is any area that ought to be safe, it is this area.

Yet a man travelled 10 miles, to a neighborhood completely disconnected from his own, planned out an attack whereby he snuck a shotgun into a church in a guitar case, and carried out the imaginations of his heart. A desperately wicked heart. The kind of heart you and I are born with. A heart unrestrained by the hand of God. A heart that, unless brought to life by the Holy Spirit, will continue to act in such a way with no hesitation.

(2) This happened at a Universalist gathering. Universalists believe we are all going to heaven. That when Jesus died on the cross, He saved every single person, and no one is going to Hell. There is more about Unitarianism here from CARM. And here about Universalism. What I am about to say I do not say with malicious intent, but oto make anyone reading this aware of this fact. If those people who died–as courageous as they were in their last act on earth–if they died not knowing who Jesus was, and never knew Him as their Lord and their Savior–then they are in the very Hell they spent their lives denying. Dying a courageous death does not guarantee a person a free pass into Heaven. It is only by faith in the true God and His Christ, repenting from sin, and knowing that we are sinful creatures who need to be saved by the blood of Christ. And yes, these people believe that if the shooter died today, he may be punished for his sins (somehow) but that even if he did not repent, he would indeed be in Heaven.

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Sad news from Old Truth.

Jim Bublitz of Old Truth has published his last post (for at least a long time) due to his health taking a serious turn for the worst. You can read his last post here. Please keep Jim in prayer as he suffers daily and still has to face incredible struggles in the future.

I fondly remember stumbling upon Jim’s discernment/reformed blog Old Truth just over a year ago, and it encouraged me tremendously. At the time God was doing a work on my heart and was calling me to come out of the circus church. However, I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me because I was surrounded by lukewarm professing Christians who did not hunger and thirst for holiness. Instead, these people only wanted to have their ears tickled by the oh-so-funny pastor and they would get a glazed look in their eyes when I spoke of anything other than superficial trivialities around the pastry table after service. I truly had no one to “fellowship” with.

It was refreshing to come across Jim’s blog and it assured me that–although I was physically without other iron to sharpen iron–the work God was doing in me was real and there were (and are) many others in the Body out there who God has also called out of Churchianity, and we can encourage each other even if we’re on the other side of the world.

Old Truth, along with some other blogs, inspired me to start Reformation Nation and eventually this blog, Defending. Contending. Thanks for all you’ve done Jim!


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Warning: You Might Soon Be A Criminal If You’re Christian!

From WorldNetDaily:

U.N. scheme to make Christians criminals

Sharia-following Islamic nations demanding anti-‘defamation’ law

Dozens of nations dominated by Islam are pressing the United Nations to adopt an anti-“defamation” plan that would make Christians criminals under international law, according to a United States organization that has launched a campaign to defend freedom of religion worldwide…

The discrimination is “wrapped in the guise of a U.N. resolution called ‘Combating Defamation of Religions,'” the announcement said. “We must put an immediate end to this most recent, dangerous attack on faith that attempts to criminalize Christianity.”

The “anti-defamation” plan has been submitted to the U.N. repeatedly since about 1999, starting out as a plan to ban “defamation” of Islam and later changed to refer to “religions,” officials said. It is being pushed by the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference nations, which has adopted the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam, “which states that all rights are subject to sharia law, and makes sharia law the only source of reference for human rights.”

Full story.

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Boo Hoo! The Bible Hurt My Feelings And Violated My Constitutional Rights!

I’ve read of that woman suing McDonald’s about coffee that’s “too hot” and won, but this takes the cake in my books…

CASCADE TOWNSHIP — A Canton man is suing Zondervan Publishing and a Tennessee-based publisher, claiming their versions of the Bible that refer to homosexuality as a sin violate his constitutional rights and has caused him emotional pain and mental instability.

Bradley LaShawn Fowler, 39, is seeking $60 million from Zondervan, based in Cascade Township, and another $10 million from Thomas Nelson Publishing in the lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Full story.

Someone tell that man that he’s hauling the wrong folks to court, and he won’t win in the end anyhow. In fact, who he is hauling to court in reality will be his JUDGE one day.

HT: Christian Research Net.

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The Depravity of a 5 year old!

The following very sad article is a direct quote from FoxNews minus the actual names. This is but one more simple proof that children are NOT little angels.  They are wicked at heart and depraved enough to do whatever given the right materials, means, and availability.

At 5 (five) years old, he has already learned to get what he wants.  He has not learned the meaning of “NO!”  He has shown a great aptitude for showing forth his true heart condition – rebellion against authority!  However, don’t worry, a 12 year run in the public school system should prove VERY beneficial to his well-being. <sarcasm>  He will come out a well-adjusted individual with no fear of God and an increased appetite for self-pleasure!

Please do not think that I am calloused, because I am not.  My heart feels for the pain this little fellow has to endure along with that of his family.  What bothers me about all of this is that in his short 5 (five) years, he has been provided the wrong kind of teaching and entertainment.  It is quite possible that he does not truly realize the implications of acting out what he sees on Mr. TV.

“NEW YORK —  A 5-year-old boy is in critical condition with severe burns after he allegedly started a fire in his grandmother’s Brooklyn apartment to punish her.

“<The boy> was angry about being reprimanded and planned to burn his grandmother’s apartment down in revenge, police told the New York Post and MyFOX New York.

“The blaze at the apartment in the three-story building on K_________ Avenue broke out about 3 p.m. Monday, the Fire Department of New York said.

“Police said the boy called 911 on Sunday night claiming his grandmother had died, according to the Post. But firefighters arrived to find her unharmed. <The grandmother> tried to save her grandson, but he was engulfed in flames, so she escaped.

“The next day, <the boy> allegedly told friends he planned to burn the house down after <Grandma> wouldn’t let him go out and play.

“The blaze appears to have started when the curtains were set on fire with a cigarette lighter, the Post reported, but the FDNY said the cause is under investigation.

“<The boy> is being treated at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, according to MyFOXNY.com.”

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What’s Up, Ray Comfort?

Ray Comfort

Ray Comfort

Ken Silva at Apprising Ministries and Ingrid Schlueter at Slice of Laodicea disagree with Ray’s practice of participating in some conferences where he will be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with health and wealth heretics on the same stage. The more surprising thing is that this is not the first time that Ray has done this.

Having observed Ray’s ministry, I can say without much doubt that I know that he will strive to preach the Gospel as it is without hesitation. However, the issue here is not whether he will preach the Gospel, but whether Ray, whose radio show has on many occasions decried the practices of such heretics and their errant doctrines, should be seen to be in league with these heretics by his participation in such conferences.

I’m of two minds on this issue, not because I respect Ray and therefore am hesitant to point out that he’s wrong if it were indeed so, but because I think there are questions to be answered:

  1. Should Ray be seen to be associated with such WoF heretics though we have faith in his motivation to preach the Gospel at such conferences?
  2. Will such an approach, i.e. preaching the true Gospel in a heretical conference, be effective?
  3. Or is this a case where we can bring up the fact that though Jesus dined with sinners, he didn’t partake of their sinful ways but spoke His truth to them?

Thankfully, Ray has decided to respond openly to Ingrid here.

Having now read both sides of the story, I’d like to ask what your take on this is.

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A storm is brewing while the masses sleep.

Why have international terrorist Osama Bin Laden, and Iranian madman President Mahmoud Ahmad both offered the United States of America an opportunity to convert to Islam? Experts say that an invitation to convert to Islam always precedes an attack.

What kind of attack on the U.S. are officials worried about? An E.M.P. attack. What is an E.M.P. attack and how would it affect us?

For more on these questions I highly urge you to listen to this alarming 13 minute audio clip excerpt from Ron Rhodes’ message Islam: What You Need to Know. It may serve to wake some of us up to the reality of what’s coming ahead.

“What’s coming ahead?” I’m glad you asked. Check out the following news articles to get a possible idea.

A former head of Israel’s Mossad has warned that if Israel does not destroy Iran’s nuclear program within 12 months, they will be susceptible to a nuclear attack. He further warned that Israel may need to act sooner if the U.S. elects Barrack Obama.

Despite offering incentives, the West has failed to persuade Iran to stop enriching uranium. Israeli officials believe the diplomatic process is useless and have been pressing President Bush to launch air strikes before he leaves office on January 20 next year.

They apparently fear that the chances of winning American approval for an air attack will be drastically reduced if the Democratic nominee wins the election. Mr Obama advocates talks with the regime in Tehran rather than military action.

Read the entire Telegraph article here.

The U.S. Pentagon is concerned about Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities before 2009.

Senior Pentagon officials are concerned that Israel could carry out an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities before the end of the year, an action that would have enormous security and economic repercussions for the United States and the rest of the world.

Read the entire ABC News article here.

Iran is preparing to dig 320,000 graves to allow for burial of enemy soldiers.

“We have plans to dig 15,000 to 20,000 graves in each of the border provinces or a total of 320,000,” the general said, some of them mass graves if necessary.”

Read the entire BreitBart article here.

Joseph Lieberman has suggested the possibility of a terrorist attack on the United States in 2009.

“Our enemies will test the new president early,” Lieberman, I-Conn., told Face The Nation host Bob Schieffer. “Remember that the truck bombing of the World Trade Center happened in the first year of the Clinton administration. 9/11 happened in the first year of the Bush administration.”

Read the entire CBS News article here.

Further speculation that Israel will move against Iran soon.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited Israel‘s main nuclear reactor on Tuesday, setting off a round of commentaries in Israeli media about Israel’s intentions toward Iran and its nuclear program.

Read the entire AP article here.

Russia is warning that an attack on Iran would be a catastrophic event.

Any military attack on Iran would have a “catastrophic” effect on the Middle East, a Russian foreign ministry official said Wednesday after reports that Israel might launch such an attack.

Read the entire BreitBart article here.

Any attack on Iran would provoke an unimaginably fierce response.

Any attack on Iran would provoke and unimaginably fierce response and add to further turmoil to the already seething oil market, the country’s oil minister warned Wednesday.

Read the entire AP article here.