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| August 31, 2009 |
| Buddhism Strengthens Ties to Church [Excerpts]What in the recent past seemed exotic and foreign is now almost routinely folded into “the fold.”Buddhism is not only accepted as a mainstream American religion, it is a path increasingly trod by faithful Christians and Jews who infuse Eastern spiritual insights and practices such as meditation into their own religions.When John Weber became a Buddhist at age 19, his devout Methodist parents were not particularly pleased.
In recent years, however, they’ve invited their son, a religious studies expert with Boulder’s Naropa University, to speak at their church about Buddhism. “That never would have happened before,” Weber said. “They would have been embarrassed.” The Pew Forum’s Religious Landscape Survey in 2007 found that seven in 10 Americans who have a religion believe there is more than one path to salvation. A growing number of people are contemplating more than one each. And they are contemplating contemplation itself. There are Jubus – Jews who bring Buddhism into their practice of Judaism – and Bujus, who are Buddhists with Jewish parents. Then there are UUbus, or Unitarian Universalist Buddhists, and Ebus, or Episcopalian Buddhists. There are Zen Catholics. “There is a definite trend and movement that will not be reversed,” said Ruben Habito, a laicized Jesuit priest, Zen master and professor of world religions at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. “We are in a new spiritual age, an inter-religious age.” (Draper, The Denver Post, 8/9/09, http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13023827 ) [TBC: “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).]
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end of article……
On a personal note….I have experienced the problem of the introduction of Buddhism in our own church. Foreign films were being shown on weeknights so that the congregation could be “educated” because “knowledge is power.” Enough of us complained and the movies were stopped, but the lack of concern for the most part shocked me. When I researched the movies being shown, it became evident that they were part of a “unity” program to unite all religions by indoctrination of “common ground”.
Revelation 6:12
“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,”
source:
http://earth.webecs.co.uk/index.htm
Below is a graph showing how the number of all magnitude earthquakes has grown over recent years. Although we are primarily concerned with long term trends for larger magnitude earthquakes in this report, it is worth noting the trend as it applies to all earthquakes – whether large or small, over a 30 years period or so from the mid-1970s.
However, this trend needs to be understood in relation to the increase in seismographs. Certainly, in the last 25 years, more lower intensity earthquakes have been noticed because of a general increase in the number of seismograph stations across the world and improved global communications. This increase has helped seismological centres to locate many small earthquakes which were undetected in earlier decades. Therefore, an upward trend is not unexpected in the graph, although the rise in the number of large earthquakes will be of more significance to our assessment of the trend. By limiting the range of earthquakes being counted in this report to magnitude 7 or above, it means these earthquakes can easily be identified by a limited number of seismographs, and we have ensured that any increase in frequency for these larger earthquakes cannot be down to the increase in overall detection rates in this 25-year period, as all these larger earthquakes are able to be easily detected with fewer seismograph stations.
About the “End Times”
Speaking of the signs that will happen, leading to his return to judge the peoples of earth (at the end of the age), Jesus is quoted as saying ‘in various places there will be famines and earthquakes – these things are the beginning of birth pangs’ (ref: Matthew 24). Now, because birth pains begin small and then increase in intensity and frequency, this passage can be interpreted to mean that earthquakes (and famines – caused primarily through lack of rainfall in certain areas) will increase both in frequency and impact/strength prior to Jesus’ second coming. Although Jesus is clear that no one will know the day or the hour, and his return will indeed happen “when you do not expect”, he does give us broad pointers, one of these being natural events – like earthquakes.
End of article..
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I created an updated chart which I inserted in the above article by using two criteria from Historical Activity – All Quakes and Number of Quakes. It is truly graphic showing the frequency of earthquakes which verifies Jesus words of “birth pangs.”
Try it for yourself or create other charts here:
http://research.dlindquist.com/quake/historical/?mag=0&type=num&freq=year&style=raw
There is an amazing prophetic study that the first five seals in Revelation have already been opened. The next seal is the sixth seal, the great world-wide earthquake.
For more information click HERE about “Earthquake Resurrection”
Red Moon Rising is also a site to be visited. Click HERE This prophetic model also concludes that the first seals have already been opened.
A local Episcopalian church recently ran an ad in my local newspaper advertising their celtic worship service and promoting the “ancient wisdom.” One could also come on a weeknight to discuss the teachings of Marcus Borg. It all ties in together, doesn’t it? Moving away from biblical truths leads people so far astray, so far from the truth, they become completely lost.
Please read this by David Cloud
The Jesus Seminar, which claims that only a small part of the four Gospels contain authentic sayings of Jesus, has been revitalized in recent days. After the death of founder Robert Funk in 2005, the organization nearly went out of business. Now it is moving to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and is receiving an influx of money to carry on its Satanic work of destroying people’s faith in God’s Word.
Through the Jesus Seminar, the hiss of the slithering serpent can still be heard asking, “Hath God said?” In the 1980s, the Jesus Seminar boys cast ballots on the authenticity of Christ’s sayings in the four Gospels, using red balls to indicate that a saying was probably authentic, gray, that it was possibly authentic, and black, that its authenticity was improbable. Less than a third of Jesus&rs quo; sayings received red votes.
In 1992, Marcus Borg, a participant in the Jesus Seminar, said, “It makes no historical sense to say, ‘Jesus was killed for the sins of the world.’ … I am one of those Christians who does not believe in the virgin birth, nor in the star of Bethlehem, nor in the journeys of the wise men, nor in the shepherds coming to the manger, as facts of history” (Bible Review, December 1992).
The Jesus Seminar is only one voice in a loud chorus of end-time unbelief that was supernaturally prophesied in the very Bible they so blindly denounce.
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).
“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” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
“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 Peter 2:1).
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts” (2 Peter 3:3).
(Friday Church News Notes, August 28, 2009, http://www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) –
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on Friday approved a resolution to allow gays and lesbians in same-sex relationships to be ordained. ELCA’s highest legislative body voted 559-451 during the biennial Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis.
I attend a ELCA church. Today our Pastor announced he is leaving the ELCA because of the above resolution. There are going to be lines drawn in the sand in our church. It is going to be interesting to see who leaves with the Pastor and who wants to remain in the apostasy of this liberal synod.
We have an older congregation and many hold to the truths of God’s Word and we cling to each other. Some do not hold to the truths and are being seduced by ecumenism and universalism.
A new article by Jan Markell is fascinating because the excerpt below, describes what is happening this very day in our congregation.
Since the vote on Friday I have heard from good Lutheran people who plan to leave the ELCA. May their vote with their feet send a message that urges others to follow them. The ELCA is likely not going to change, so lovers of truth and the Bible in all liberal denominationsshould take a cue from disgusted ELCA members now looking for a new church home.
Read “Was God in the Whirlwind?” by Jan Markell ….HERE
I believe this tornado was a judgment against the church… Please boldly stand with those who have the courage to separate themselves from the apostasy and walk in obedience to the Word of God.
Rom 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
Rom 1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
I have enjoyed immensely Dave Hunt’s book, “An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith, A Prophetic Alarm for the Bride of Christ.”
I want to share these excerpts:
The situation in the church today is reminiscent of the last days of Israel’s kingdom. Instead of heeding God’s Word, God’s people consulted spirit mediums (Isaiah 8:19). Israel had sunk into the mire of occultism, astrology, and idolatry (Jeremiah 19:4,5,13; 32:29). Immorality was rampant even among the priests (Ezekiel 16:15-59; Hosea 6:9). God’s righteous judgment was about to fall, as it is upon today’s church and world.
Israel desperately needed rescue from a merciless, invincible invading army, but deliverance could only come through repentance and submission to her Lord. God had patiently sent prophet after prophet to indict Israel with her rebellion, idolatry, wickedness, and occult practices and to plead with her to repent, but she would not. She needed to face the truth, but turned instead to the numerous false prophets who lulled her to sleep with their soothing lies. [pg. 219]
While being soothingly assured by today’s “prophets” that we are in the “greatest revival ever,” the church is sinking deeper into the last-days apostasy foretold by Christ and His apostles. [pg. 220]
Isn’t this so true. The church today is embracing mysticism by walking labyrinths, centering prayers by focusing on one’s “inner-self”, and doing “Christian” yoga.
There is a new wave of Taize services being conducted in the churches. These services are created to appeal to the general worshiping public so it contains no doctrine. But you will find mind-numbing repetitions that serve to dull the thinking of the participant. This process may elevate or heighten feelings, but it is self-serving. What glory does this bring to Jesus Christ? How can we worship in Spirit and Truth, when we just want to make ourselves look and feel spiritual?
So we are repeat offenders. The church is falling into the same trap that Israel did. But God always saves a remnant of true believers.
For those who truly belong to Christ, though they mourn for the delusion and disaster they see coming upon the world, there is a joy and excitement of knowing that it cannot be long until they will hear that shout from Christ Himself calling them to meet Him in the air.
What motivation that realization give for both holy living and for declaring the clarity God’s message to mankind! [pg.221]
Find Dave Hunt’s book, “An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith”
Here at the Berean Call
Luke 18:8 haunts me.
“….However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
The Bible predicts that there will be an end time apostasy or falling away from the faith.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away come first, and the man of sin is revealed , the son of perdition.
There is debate as to whether it refers to an apostasy among those who once followed God, or a general worldwide rebellion. But, Paul may have both in mind since there is evidence of each in the end times (1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 4:3-4).
Do we not see this falling away today?
Paul in Galatians was astounded at how fast the people who heard the Word were turning to a false gospel. Paul said that this false gospel is “no gospel at all”. If the gospel being preached today is not the gospel, then the sad truth is that people are not being saved.
The epistles are full of warnings to the church. In Timothy, Paul was warning this young preacher about false doctrine, myths, and controversies.
A most read verse in Timothy that is applicable today is 1 Timothy 4:1
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Again we see that people are abandoning the faith, or truth. Peter also writes of false teachers.
2 Peter 2:2-3
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Sovereign Lord, who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and bring the way of truth into disrepute.
Did you notice the words in bold? This warning is for the church. The false teachers are in the church. They lead people away from the truth and it is happening today. Unbelievers have their own truth, rejecting the inconvenient truth found in scripture.
Many false leaders today downplay sin and hell. But in 1 John 1:8 we find the truth.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
John also had to deal with gnosticism. This involved the Jewish mystics, or Kaballah. There is a resurgence of the Kaballah today. These centers are sadly found worldwide and in Hollywood. (Madonna) They believed they had advanced knowledge beyond the teaching of the apostles. The greek word for “knowledge” is gnosis. Many today advocate a secret or advanced knowledge, but it is either puffed-up worldly wisdom, or gained by mystical methods which the Bible calls detestable in Deuteronomy as divinations.
The warnings in scripture are clear and need to be prayed about. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the deeper things of God’s Word for the end-time deception and apostasy. When Christ returns will He find you in the faith? The faith is the belief in Jesus Christ, The Son of God, who died for us for the forgiveness of sin, and was resurrected and is now at the right hand of the Father. When one truly believes this, he repents and turns away from his old life and is reformed. The change in our life creates a thirst for the Living Water and hunger for the Word.
Jesus is the only way of salvation for mankind.
John 14:6
I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.
Sitting in church one Sunday, I was thinking about how the body of Christ is becoming to identify itself more and more with the world instead of keeping itself separate and holy as commanded by the Lord.
While studying Leviticus, our Bible group came upon verse 19:28. It says,
“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” (KJV)
This verse is pretty clear to me when it come to the case of tattoos. Do not print any marks on you.
Here are some questions to consider from Eric Barger Ministries on the subject.
The underlying issues raised here need to be considered:
· – Are we not the Temple of the Holy Spirit? (I Cor. 3:16, 6:19)
· – Is there something wrong with the way God created us without tattoos/piercings?
· – Would tattooing affect or influence your future spouse or even your children?
· – Is getting a tattoo actually more about defying authority (spirit of rebellion) than about having the actual tattoo itself?
· – Are Christians who defend and promote tattooing coming from a truly biblical viewpoint, or are some defending tattoos because they have marked their own bodies and want others to join them in their often rebellion-laced decision?
Why Now? – Preparing for “The Mark”
Why has there been such an increase in both the acceptance of and the acquiring of tattoos during our day? When considered in the light of Bible prophecy, the explosion of tattooing and the exponential increase of thirst for demonic supernaturalism are, I believe, no accident. This is a calculated, demonic, end-time phenomena, the purpose of which is to desensitize as many as possible concerning markings on their bodies.
Read more from this source:
http://www.ericbarger.com/emailers/2009/update4-2-2009.htm
Here is a commentary from David Guzik of the Blue Letter Bible which adds additional insight.
Cuttings in the flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: These were also pagan practices God wanted Israel to separate from. The trimming of the hair, the beard, cutting, and tattoos were all connected with pagan rites of mourning.
i. Part of this message to us today is that what our culture thinks and how they perceive things is important. If some clothing or jewelry or body decoration would associate us with the pagan world, it should not be done. This is a difficult line to draw, because the standards of culture are always changing. Some modern examples of changing standards are hair length and earrings for men.
Here it is explained that the verse in context tells us that the tattoos were part of a pagan rite. This for me is further proof that we should not do this thing because we are not to do as the pagans do. If the line is indeed difficult to draw, then maybe we should stay away from the line. While we have freedom in Christ, I Corinthians 8:9 tells us to be careful. I would not want to advocate a practice that another Christian would later regret… forever.
“Be careful, however, that the excercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”
If you are considering this procedure, instead I pray, please keep your body unmarked and set aside for the use of God. Our bodies are the temple of Christ. I think the verse in Leviticus is crystal clear, “Do not print any marks on you.”
These quotes are from Ray Yungen who wrote two of my favorite books, “A Time of Departing” and “For Many Shall Come In My Name” Theses books identify new-age movement in the church and the increase of seducing mysticism.
“Interspirituality is the cross-pollination of religious traditions. It is the blending of esoteric practices from different religions while still identifying with one’s own religion.”
“For instance, it is the belief that one can be a “better Christian” when one practices Buddist Meditation.”
Watch this video for elaboration.
Next this an important video from Warren Smith who wrote “Reinventingjesuschrist.”
The church needs to renew its commitment to the Bible and start using words like sin, repentance, and obedience. The emergent church dismisses sin, with a wave of the hand. But this is self-deception. Jesus died on the cross because we are sinners. Anything that eliminates the need for the cross is an enemy of God.
The Faithful
Once I read a comment on a blog from a woman complaining that her church was focusing on faith. “Faith, faith, faith” she ridiculed.
I went to my concordance in the Bible and wrote down the most referred to subjects. A full page of verse references was 3 columns. Here is what I found were the top four words.
Lord – 9 columns
God – 8 columns
Love – 6 columns
Faith – 5 columns
Lord, God, and love are obvious subjects one would find in the Bible but are you surprised to find out Faith is the fourth most used term recorded in the concordance? Obviously, faith is a very important aspect of our walk with Christ. But strangely enough at the second coming of Christ, He will certainly find a lack of faith.
Luke 18:8
“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Hebrews 11 is known for its teaching on faith and tells us of the people of God throughout biblical history who lived by faith alone.
Let’s see who is mentioned. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, the parents of Moses, and Moses.
All of these men are wonderful examples of their great faith and all were tested. None of them saw all the fulfillments of what was promised but they looked forward to the heavenly promises. When we realize that the things of this world are just temporary and we wait patiently for our true eternal home we begin to realize how important it is to walk in faith. Faith is storing our treasures in heaven ( Matt 6:20) where they are not seen with today’s lustful eyes.
We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” This is one of most important verses in Hebrews.
Lastly, I go to Habakkuk. Once I had my Bible open and someone inquired “What are you reading?” I replied, “Habakkuk,” to which I received a puzzled look in response.
But what do we find! Habakkuk 2:4 says “See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright – but the righteous, will live by his faith.” This verse is so important it is repeated in Romans, Hebrews and Galatians.
God is not out of reach for those who walk in the faith of the Word of God. We seek God by prayer, and reading His Word. Be content with what you have, because discontent is really a lack of faith. Expect tests and discipline from the Father who loves us. When a parent disciplines it is because of love, and so it is with our Heavenly Father. If we struggle on this path of faith think of others who also struggle and help them. When our faith strengthens we can take our eyes off of ourselves, put them on Jesus, and begin to help others.
The use of spiritual energies for healing is dangerous indeed. Anything that conjures up a spirit guide is occult and not divine. The Bible warns spiritual deception will be prevalent during the end-times. Reiki is a psychic phenomena on par with faith healers and occult surgeons who are mediums that contact the spirit word. Scripture tells us that this paranormal contact is off-limits and detestable. Why? The spirits are deceivers.
Deuteromony 18:
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, inteprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord…”
Please read this from The Berean Call:
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In a recent article in Reiki News, it was revealed that 15 percent of all US hospitals are now implementing the practice of Reiki. In Reiki, a type of therapeutic touch, it is believed that the ki (chi) energy (a supposed universal energy that flows through all things) can be used to heal people. In the Reiki News article written by Reiki proponent William Lee Rand, Rand expresses a concern about a statement released by US Catholic bishops asking Catholic hospitals not to use Reiki because of its Buddhist roots. Rand tries to show that Reiki is a scientific method that has healing results.
However, as Rand explains his views on Reiki, the discerning reader begins to realize that Reiki is not scientific at all but rather a spiritual approach. Rand admits that “Reiki healing energy directs itself.” He says:
“I was unable to direct it with my mind or will and realized this wasn’t necessary as Reiki had its own form of guidance that was superior to my own. This experience has been verified by other professional Reiki practitioners and forms the basis of one of the important keys to using Reiki: If you want Reiki to provide the best healing experience, it’s necessary for the practitioner to set their own desire, will and ego aside, and allow the Reiki energy to guide itself.”
Author Ray Yungen, who says there are now over one million Reiki channelers in the US alone (a million in Germany also), explains this “energy” behind Reiki further: “One practitioner describes the experience in the following way:
“When doing it, I become a channel through which this force, this juice of the universe, comes pouring from my palms into the body of the person I am touching, sometimes lightly, almost imperceptibly, sometimes in famished sucking drafts. I get it even as I’m giving it. It surrounds the two of us, patient and practitioner” (“Healing Hands” (New Woman Magazine, March, 1986), p. 78).
What is this “juice of the universe?” The answer is an important one, given by a renowned Reiki master [Rand] who explains:
A Reiki attunement is an initiation into a sacred metaphysical order that has been present on earth for thousands of years … By becoming part of this group, you will also be receiving help from the Reiki guides and other spiritual beings who are also working toward these goals” (William Rand, Reiki: The Healing Touch, Southfield, MI: Vision Publications,1991, p. 48).
While this is not widely advertised, Reiki practitioners depend on this “spirit guide” connection as an integral aspect of Reiki. In fact, it is the very foundation and energy behind Reiki. One Reiki master who has enrolled hundreds of other masters spoke of her interaction with the spirit guides:
“For me, the Reiki guides make themselves the most felt while attunements are being passed. They stand behind me and direct the whole process, and I assume they also do this for every Reiki Master. When I pass attunements, I feel their presence strongly and constantly. Sometimes I can see them” (Diane Stein, Essential Reiki (Berkley, CA: Crossing Press, 1995), p. 107).
DiscernIt 
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