Y@'s Blog

God Alone Is Enough: A Spiritual Journey with St. Teresa of Avila (Book Review)

2010-06-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make: my "prayer life" is nothing any self-respecting Christian would aspire to. Oh, I do spend a good portion of most days contemplating God, Jesus, the Scriptures, Truth, Justice, purpose, church history, and a host of other heavy subjects. But in my 40+ years of life as a Christian, I've never set up a regular time each day to pray. And now I'm married, with five young kids. There are weeds to be weeded, tomatoes to be picked, a lawn to be mowed, and...well, you get the picture.

The truth is, for all my theological pondering, I have a lot to learn about prayer. Which brings me to a new book I started reading last night -- God Alone is Enough: A Spiritual Journey with St. Teresa of Avila, by Claudia Mair Burney.

If St. Teresa was anything, she was a woman of prayer. In Chapter 3, entitled "Make a Garden," Burney presents us with a beautiful parable by St. Teresa, in which she likens the human soul to a garden:

"The beginner must see himself as making a garden for the delight of his Beloved. But the soul is very barren and full of noxious weeds. His Majesty himself pulls up the weeds, and replaces them with good seed. Keep in mind that all this is done before you even set out to learn how to pray."

Clearly, it is Burney's intention to give the reader much more than just a recitation of dry facts or autobiographical information about a saint of the Catholic Church. True enough, the book is chock full of interesting facts and trivia (if that word can even be applied here) about this beloved and important figure. But it's much more than that. God Alone is Enough is a personal and intimate look, dare I say -- an encounter -- with this amazing, inspirational woman.

Along the way, Burney does a little inspiring of her own. She is a strong writer with a light touch, solid prose, and familiarity with her subject.

"All good gardeners must labor. God's done the difficult prep work, braving the noxious, unwelcoming weeds, but we have our own task. Our job is to take the time to water the plants he's started so they don't die. We want our flowers to take root, shoot from the soil, bud, and flower. Soon, they'll grow lush enough to perfume the whole garden with their fragrances."

What lovely imagery. Like the Master himself, both Burney and Teresa have a knack for beautiful, earthy parables that can touch your soul, and lighten your load.

I highly recommend God Alone is Enough.

P.S. My wife has also written a review of God Alone is Enough. Check it out.

Jesus, Colbert, Ehrman and an Elephant

2009-04-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

Stephen Colbert gives Bart Erhman a pretty good grilling on his new book, "Jesus Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don't Know About Them)." After watching his lackluster performance here, it's hard to believe Ehrman was on a state championship-winning high school debate team.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Bart Ehrman

colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

NASA Name Contest

For my wife, Rhonda Roberts

2009-03-15T05:24:00.001-07:00

I have GOT to do this before I die

2008-12-30T08:47:00.000-08:00

Of course, I just might end up doing it immediately before I die.

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Christmas Greeting from Sammy Whitaker

2008-12-01T05:03:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Greeting from our youngest boy, Sammy Whitaker. Listen closely and you'll hear him squeak at the end. How cute is that!

Top 10 most irritating expressions

2008-11-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

According to the University of Oxford, these are the top ten most irritating phrases of 2008:

At the end of the day

Fairly unique

I personally

At this moment in time

With all due respect

Absolutely

It's a nightmare

Shouldn't of

24/7

It's not rocket science

From here:

Remix the Wealth

2008-10-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

Funny video from James Kotecki of Politico.Com

Dedicated to Raymond and Drewe Llyn, Andy and Shannon

2008-10-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

Dear friends -- you might be walking through a valley right now. But God is holding you in His hands.

Confused by the whole "bailout" thing? Read this.

2008-09-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

By Jeffrey A. Miron

Editor's note: Jeffrey A. Miron is senior lecturer in economics at Harvard University. A Libertarian, he was one of 166 academic economists who signed a letter to congressional leaders last week opposing the government bailout plan.

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Congress has balked at the Bush administration's proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. Under this plan, the Treasury would have bought the "troubled assets" of financial institutions in an attempt to avoid economic meltdown.

This bailout was a terrible idea. Here's why.

The current mess would never have occurred in the absence of ill-conceived federal policies. The federal government chartered Fannie Mae in 1938 and Freddie Mac in 1970; these two mortgage lending institutions are at the center of the crisis. The government implicitly promised these institutions that it would make good on their debts, so Fannie and Freddie took on huge amounts of excessive risk.

More...

I agree with Bill Clinton (and yes, that scares me)

2008-09-22T18:58:00.001-07:00

I never thought I'd be saying this, but here's a video clip in which everything Bill Clinton says -- everything I can recall, anyway -- I actually agree with.

Todd Bentley, the Snake Lady, and Apostles Who Apparently Aren't

2008-08-18T07:47:00.001-07:00

If the recent "commissioning" of Todd Bentley proves anything, it is that the so-called apostles and self-described prophets of the neo-charismatic movement are neither. They have no spiritual discernment whatsoever, nor do they possess anything even remotely resembling an "apostlic" annointing.

During the "commissioning" service, described by participants in Charisma Magazine as "one of the greatest moments in revival history," self-appointed leaders from the three "apostolic" organizations laid hands on Todd Bentley. The ostensible purpose of the ceremony was to bring Todd "into alignment."

Overseeing the event was C. Peter Wagner, the head of the International Coalition of Apostles, who made the following "decree:"

"I decree to Todd Bentley, your power will increase, your authority will increase, your favor will increase, your influence will increase, your revelation will increase....I also decree that a new supernatural strength will flow through this ministry. A new life force will penetrate this move of God."

Then, ironically, Wagner said this: "God will pour out a higher level of discernment to distinguish truth from error. New relationships will surface to open the gates to the future."

What, exactly, is a "decree?"

Before I continue, it's important to understand the significance of what Wagner was doing here with his "decree". According to Dutch Sheets, protege and understudy to Wagner:

"Kingly intercession is released through decrees. With them we 'legislate' God's will on earth, in much the same way an earthly king would dictate his." A decree, says Sheets, is "a type of governmental intercession or legislating from the heavens"

In Releasing the Prophetic Destiny of a Nation, Chuck Pierce writes:

"A decree is an official order, edict, or decision. A decree is something that seems to be foreordained. This is what makes a decree prophetic...Decree can also mean to order, decide, or officially appoint a group or person to accomplish something. A decree is linked with setting apart or ordaining something or someone."

All this is just to point out that to make a "decree" isn't simply to express a desire that something will happen. It is an act of "legislating God's will on earth." A decree bears the imprimatur of Almighty God. It is a "earth realm" proclamation of what God has already declared in the spiritual realm. As Mr. Pierce says, it is "an official order, edict, or decision."

Tsk, tsk.

Four short weeks after Wagner decreed that Mr. Bentley's influence, favor, and authority would increase, Todd has become a pariah, an albatross around the necks of those who rushed to Lakeland during the height of Bentley's popularity. Revelations about Mr. Bentley extramarital affair with a staff member has forced him to step down from his own ministry.

Furthermore, reports are now coming forth that news of Bentley's affair is just the tip of the iceberg:

"[A]ccording to what we have heard from several sources, this is much more than just an emotional relationship. According to staff And former staff members, they claim that Todd is a pathological liar. The board privately has said that Todd has been lying to them all along. We are praying for those around Todd to demand for him to get the help he needs before thrusting him back into ministry like they did 2.5 years ago when he had an affair with a different staff member."

His influence will increase? His favor will increase? Those words, those utterly false, empty and powerless words of C. Peter Wagner, were the tinkling of a cymbal, the banging of a gong, the hollow utterances of one who believes that he, one day in the not too distant future, will rule the entire world.

The Snake Lady

During Bentley's commissioning service, shortly after Wagner's decree, "Prophetess Stacey Campbell" (aka The Snake Lady) was called to the stage to join Wagner, Rick Joyner, and the other leaders of the three "apostolic streams."

Within seconds of arriving on the stage, Ms. Campbell launches into an uncontrollable frenzy of spitting, flailing, hissing and shaking. It's an absolutely amazing display, mainly because those standing around her during this bizarre episode, those "apostles" and "prophets" who claim to be leading the body of Christ, DO ABOSLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT!

Why didn't someone subdue Ms. Campbell? Why didn't someone take the microphone away from her, politely escort her off to the side, and then cast the devil out of her or otherwise relieve her of whatever demonic force she is obviously suffering from?

Watch the video below. As the spit flies across the stage, as this poor, clearly deranged woman jerks, and convulses, and hisses like a snake, take a look at the faces of the men around her. Look into their eyes, then ask yourself this question: Are these men behaving like leaders? Or are they acting like children, cowering in the face of evil?

"[W]henever a prophet speaks in my name and the prediction is not fulfilled, then I have not spoken it; the prophet has presumed to speak it, so you need not fear him." - Deut 18:22

Chuck Pierce: "Truth in the Kabbalah"

2008-08-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, I wrote about Chuck Pierce's response to charges that he and his pastor, Robert Heidler, are teaching Kabbalah, an occult form of Jewish mysticism.

In it, I said that their response amounted to a "blanket denial." However, after re-reading their letter, I think I need to revise my statement. In fact, Heidler's and Pierce's letter is not a blanket denial, but a qualified rejection of some Kabbalistic teaching. Here's what Mr. Pierce said:

"There is some truth in the Kabbalah when it comes to the names of God and the ancient mysteries connected to the Hebraic letters."

(Frankly, I'm a little suprised Mr. Pierce has the chutzpah to make such a statement publicly. Perhaps he believes his followers are either too stupid or too lazy to find out what Kabbalah actually teaches about the "names of God.")

What does Kabbalah teach about the "names of God?" Where does Kabbalah get it right, according to Mr. Pierce?

Well, here's a great summary of the whole idea of "The Names of God" from Kabbalah.Com. As you read this...

REMEMBER WHAT MR. PIERCE SAID:
There's "truth in the Kabbalah when it comes to the names of God and the ancient mysteries connected to the Hebraic letters."

From Kabbalah.Com
72 names

Ancient Kabbalist, Rabbi Shimon bar Yokhai writes in the Zohar that it was Moses, not God, who parted the Red Sea allowing the Jews to narrowly escape Pharaoh and the Egyptian army. Moses had a special formula. The formula that he used to overcome the laws of nature was hidden in the Zohar for 2,000 years.

This formula is called the 72 Names of God. The 72 Names are not really names, as in Betty, Bill, Barbara, and Bob. The 72 Names are 72 three-letter sequences composed of Hebrew letters that have the extraordinary power to overcome the laws of both mother and human nature. These 72 sequences are actually encoded into the Bible story that tells of the parting of the Red Sea. They are like conduits that transmit various blends of energy from the Light into our physical world. By using the power of the 72 Names and overcoming their reactive natures, Moses and the Jews were able to accomplish the miracle of the Red Sea.

72 NAMES

The shapes, sounds, sequences, and vibrations of the 72 names radiate a wide range of energy forces. The Light they emit purifies our hearts. Their spiritual influence cleanses destructive impulses from our natures. Their sacred energy removes rash and intolerant emotions, fear, and anxiety from our beings. The Hebrew letters are instruments of power. In fact, the Hebrew word for "letter" actually means pulse or vibration, indicating a flow of energy. The Hebrew alphabet transcends religion, race, geography, and the very concept of language. The three letters signify three spiritual forces—a positive charge, a negative charge, and a ground wire—to create a circuit of energy."

Like Kabbalah, Heidler and Pierce teach extensively on the subject of "The Names of God." You can take a class on it at their Issachar School, and even buy the CD from their web site.

So there you have it. That's what Kabbalah teaches about the "Names of God." And, apparently, it's also what Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler believe.

Utter Bedlam - Robert Heidler And Chuck Pierce Sing With the Sun and Planets, Open Portals to God and Angels

2008-08-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

As a followup to yesterday's post about JoAnn McFatter, who teaches a class on "Worship Sound and Movement" at Heidler and Pierce's Issachar School, this is an audio recording of Heidler leading a service in which he, Pierce, and others join in the "Sound of the Heavens" along with the Sun, and other stars and planets. Without a doubt, this is the freakiest thing I have ever heard.

If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be: bedlam

Heidler does most of the talking here, but Chuck Pierce makes an appearance halfway in (around 11:03), when he tells the audience that "some of your organs will come alive in a new way." Near the end, there's a woman whose face MUST be in the dictionary under the definition of "going postal." Then there's the guy who sounds like he's either dying, or very, very ticked off. Or hey, maybe his organs were just "coming alive in a new way." That's gotta feel weird.

You must have the Flash Player to view this content.

This audio came from a video, which you can watch here. (It begins with C. Peter Wagner...Heidler starts at 19:30)

P.S. I don't know if this means anything, but I was just playing the audio and my dog, Darcy, started barking and growling. Seriously.

Instructor from Chuck Pierce's Issachar School Teaching on "God's Vibrations", Trees that Talk, Colors that Heal, and more

2008-08-04T14:15:00.001-07:00

If you have wondered, as I have, why the heck Chuck Pierce keeps talking about "sound" and what he means by it, well wonder no more. This audio reveals the absolutely bizarre theology held by the likes of men like Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler.

This presentation, entitled "God Has a Sound frequency—And Now You Can Get in Tune With It!," was given by JoAnn McFatter. McFatter is an instructor at the Issachar School run by Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler, where she teaches a class called "Worship Sound and Movement." In the presentation below, McFatter goes into great detail about how we can get in touch with "God's vibrations," how colors can heal, trees can talk...well, just listen.

You must have the Flash Player to view this content.

The CD/DVD of "Worship Sound and Movement," taught by Pierce and McFatter, is still available on the web site for the Issachar School, which is run by Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler.

Also, much of what McFatter says in this audio can be heard on her presentation "Sound: Spiritual Truths and Physical Realities," which, as of August 8, 2008, was still available for download at the Issachar School.

Chuck Pierce, Robert Heidler respond to Kabbalah charge

2008-08-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

Sigh.

Chuck Pierce and his pastor, Robert Heidler, have posted an article in which they purport to explain the difference between what they teach and the Jewish occultic practice of Kabbalah.

I have read the article, located here, several times.

Basically, the document is little more than a blanket denial of charges that Pierce and Heidler are teaching Kabbalah, rather than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have written several articles exposing the Kabbalistic nature of Pierce's and Heidler's teaching, none of which is mitigated one iota by anything Pierce and Heidler say in their article.

I had hoped to put this business about Pierce, Heidler and Kabbalah behind me. Frankly, I have much better things to do with my time. However, I feel compelled to respond.

And so, in the coming days, I will present more information here about the undeniable link between Kabbalah and the teachings of Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler. In the meantime, I urge you to read this incredible story from a former student who attended the Issachar School run by Pierce and Heidler. It's a first-hand account of what Pierce and Heidler teach, and it is absolutely incredible. Here's an excerpt:

"JoAnn McFatter [an Issachar School instructor] got into some stuff that seems kind of whacky to me and apparently Chuck wasn't there in the room. 'DNA hold memory, sins, etc'. '[we] can talk with animals'....Then the 'plants have emotions'. That was the 2nd time I'd heard that in 2 months time when I heard that on the DVD. Are you guys getting a little OUT THERE or am I being stretched?

I trust Chuck and Robert absolutely implicitly. I trust Robert because Chuck does...However, I can find nothing in scripture that says plants have emotions and we can talk with the animals. True, I find nothing in scripture on other things too, but this, I am questioning.

JoAnn goes on to say when a word is released from a mouth in heaven, comes a numeric equation, music, a color of light, a fragrance. HUH?

Then, she says what new agers say: fragrances have frequencies. So tell me. Am I to believe what JoAnn says? If so, then MOST of what the newagers say is right on. Then how do I tell the difference between what is Godly and what is satanic?

JoAnn McFatter says the trees talked to her at a church.

The DVD blanked out where she said something about walking on water and how we can pass through a wall...Chuck Pierce [says] sounds are connected with everything and every tabernacle. How do I find out what sound is connected with me?

Chuck Pierce said, when starting to talk on movement...'I'm sure JoAnn has taught on this'. No, she hadn't, not at all. JoAnn tends to go on and on and on...So what musical notes go with what essential oils? JoAnn mentioned something about it. And if there is one note God tells me about, say, for coriander, is that the same note worldwide or just for that person? And who is to determine which notes go with what fragrances?

JoAnn says colors heal. So do non-Christians. She says paintings heal and everyone has lots of creativity. I knew that, and am SO glad someone else says it to back me up!

This DVD set skips and goes back and forth and blanks out. When JoAnn is talking mostly.

I think it's totally irresponsible of Glory of Zion, Chuck Pierce, Robert Heidler and JoAnn McFatter to say all of the above and yet not explain anything, to expect people to take what they say on face value without any explanations or reasonings, just nothing!

McFatter seems to be into witchcraft. This is very disturbing since Issachar School, run by Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler is purportedly Christian. She spoke of trees talking to her, of animals being able to speak and commune with humans. She spoke on rocks having frequencies, which in turn, would mean they heal, as those into witchcraft believe. Since no one at the Issachar school is willing to answer questions, it's left up to the thoughts and imaginations of those taking the 'classes' to try to figure out exactly what is going on with these teachings. It certainly robs me of trust I had in Chuck Pierce and his ministry."

If you would like to read more of this fascinating, first-hand account, it's located here.

Lest Pierce attempt to create the impression that McFatter is just a loose cannon and doesn't really represent Pierce's and Heidler's more "mainstream" views, keep in mind, she is a co-instructor, along with Pierce and Heidler, on this Issachar School DVD (entitled "Worship Sound and Movement").

In any case, here's a "Word from the Lord," written by Chuck Pierce, Robert Stearns and JoAnn McFatter in which they claim gold dust magically appeared from heaven during a meeting in 2005. Here's the Issachar School description of the class, here's JoAnn McFatter's home page (bizarre) and here's a Glory of Zion newsletter in which Pierce promotes the class to be taught by McFatter:

"The Issachar School: Worship, Sound and Movement by Jo Ann McFatter (June 11-13)

I am so excited about our next Issachar School course on June 11-13 [2006]. Following the Pentecost Celebration we will have Jo Ann McFatter teaching on Worship, Sound and Movement. I will be teaching along with her and we will be experimenting with sound and movement. I’ll have a full worship team there that will assist us in connecting heaven and earth.

Most all of you know that Jo Ann is a well known teacher, psalmist, and minstrel. Her CDs are some of the best in the Kingdom of God. Even if you haven’t signed up for an Issachar School course before, you probably will want to be at this one."

Christians and the Old Testament Law: Part 2

2008-07-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, I posted an article challenging the notion that Gentiles "have been redeemed from the curse of the law." As I pointed out, Gentiles have never been under the law. As such, there is no "curse" from which they need to be redeemed.

Having settled that issue, let us now consider the question of how we, as Christians, are to view the law.

It might be helpful to take a look at Moses and how the nation was governed immediately following Israel's exodus from Egypt. There was no political heirarchy in place, and no delegation of authority. Effectively, this meant that any and every Israelite who had a problem had to deal directly with Moses. From sunup to sundown, all Moses did was listen to, and adjudicate, these cases. As you can imagine, it was wearing him out.

On the next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening...Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good! You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself.

Now listen to me, I will give you advice, and may God be with you: You be a representative for the people to God, and you bring their disputes to God; warn them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. They will judge the people under normal circumstances, and every difficult case they will bring to you...If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied."

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he had said. Moses chose capable men from all Israel, and he made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves. - Exo 18:13-26

What Moses is doing here is quite clear -- he's setting up the government for the nation of Israel. It is a Theocracy, yes, but it's also a bona fide form of representative government. He, Moses, will be the representative for the people before God; under him, rulers of thousands; under these, rulers of hundreds, and so on. Make no mistake about it, Moses is creating the political heirarchy by which Israel will be ruled, so to speak. And its function was more or less identical to that of practically every government in place today.

Having appointed rulers over the people, Moses then famously delivers to the people The Law. Of course, no earthly nation of any reasonable size should expect to endure for any length of time without a written law. This idea is repeated dozens of times throughout Scripture:

"The LORD responded: 'Write down this message! Record it legibly on tablets, so the one who announces it may read it easily. For the message is a witness to what is decreed; it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out.'" - Hab 2:2-3

"Now go, write it down on a tablet in their presence, inscribe it on a scroll, so that it might be preserved for a future time as an enduring witness." - Isa 30:8

According to Jewish tradition, the law that Moses delivered to the Israelites includes not only the Ten Commandments, but hundreds of additional laws -- 613 in all.

"Then Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carry the ark of the LORD's covenant, and to all Israel's elders. He commanded them: "At the end of seven years, at the appointed time of the cancellation of debts, at the Feast of Temporary Shelters, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place he chooses, you must read this law before them within their hearing. Gather the people — men, women, and children, as well as the resident foreigners in your villages — so they may hear and thus learn about and fear the LORD your God and carefully obey all the words of this law." - Deu 31:9-13

So here we have Moses delegating authority to rulers of the people, then codifying the laws by which the nation of Israel is to be ruled. In American English, these two concepts are expressed in the terms "representative government" and "legislation," respectively.

The Roman Historian, Strabo, described Moses this way: "Now Moses enjoyed fair repute with these people, and organized no ordinary kind of government, since the peoples all round, one and all, came over to him, because of his dealings with them and of the prospects he held out to them."

Josephus, most prominent of Jewish historians during the first century, agrees. He attributes the following statement to Moses just prior to his death:

"Israelites and fellow soldiers, who have been partners with me in this long and uneasy journey. Let me suggest to you the means by which you may he happy. There is but one source of happiness for all mankind: the favor of God. He alone is able to give good things to those that deserve them - only be obedient to those whom God would have you follow, [and] do not prefer any other constitution of government other than the laws that have been given to you.

In order to prevent your ignorance of virtue, and the degeneracy of your nature into vice, I have also ordained laws for you, by Divine suggestion, and a form of government, which are so good, that if you regularly observe them, you will be esteemed of all men the most happy."

Then, Josephus writes, "When he had spoken thus, he gave them the laws and the constitution of government written in a book. Upon which the people fell into tears, and desponded about what might happen to them after Moses was dead, and thought they would never have another governor like him, and feared that God would take less care of them when Moses was gone, who used to intercede for them."

Now, whether or not Moses actually said these exact words, I don't know. Obviously, Josephus' authority is not on par with that of Scripture, although much of this more or less mirrors what's written in Deuteronomy. In any case, I do believe Josephus has captured the essence of what was taking place at this point in Israel's history.

Neil Silverberg, an excellent Bible teacher (and Jewish Christian), puts it this way: "Moses is Israel's George Washington." An excellent, spot-on comparison I think. Moses is to Israel, what George Washington is to America.

The appropriate view to take of the Old Testament Law today is that it functioned as a constitution for the Jewish people, as well as any foreigner who submitted themselves to the Law. It was a national charter for the nation of Israel at that point and time in their history, instituted through a covenant the writer of Hebrews describes as "obsolete."

That's right. Obsolete.
"By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust." - Hebrews 8:13, The Message

So the next time somebody tell's you "we've all been redeemed from the curse of the Law," you can politely disagree.

Life Without Limbs: Stop Making Excuses

2008-07-31T07:20:00.000-07:00

How often do you find yourself making excuses for why you "can't" do what you're supposed to do? As a parent of five, I've been blessed to hear some of the most fantastically creative excuses one can imagine. As a human being, I must admit to having used my fair share, too.

But c'mon. When you get right down to it, an excuse is just a nice word for a lie. So, let's stop it, okay? I'll stop lecturing now, and let you meet Nick. He's a man who, from what I can tell, has little use for excuses.

Christians And The Old Testament Law: Part 1

2008-07-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you've probably heard someone declare that "we've been redeemed from the curse of the law."

Actually, that's not true.

Given the currency of this erroneous notion in today's Church, a brief explanation is in order.

The idea that Christians have somehow been "redeemed from the curse of the law" finds its roots in Galatians 3:13, in which the Apostle Paul states:

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'"

Now, if this were the only verse in the New Testament, one might reasonably argue that the "us" Paul is referring to in Galatians 3:13 is all of humanity -- or at least each and every Christian. But that is not Paul's point at all. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.

If we are to make any sense of 3:13, we must read the following verse, 3:14, as well. In other words, we must read it in context:

3:13-14 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.' in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith."

For the purpose of this exegesis, an abbreviated passage should serve to make Paul's point quite obvious:

"Christ redeemed US from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for US...in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to THE GENTILES..."

See, the "us" Paul is referring to here are his fellow ethnic Jews. If you doubt this, dear reader, I suggest you flip to the previous chapter (Context, man! Think context!) and read Galatians 2:15:

"We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners"

The simple truth is that those, and only those, who were under the law could be redeemed from its curse. And the ONLY ones who were ever under the law in the first place were ethnic Jews. Don't believe me? Well, listen to Paul:

Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law."

Did you get that? THOSE WHO RELY ON DOING THE WORKS OF THE LAW are under a curse. At what point in history did the Gentiles start observing Torah? NEVER, that's when. The fact is, the law never applied to Gentiles. And it never, ever will.

Romans 2:14: For whenever the Gentiles, who DO NOT HAVE THE LAW..."

1Corinthians 9:20(b)-21: TO THOSE UNDER THE LAW I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. TO THOSE FREE FROM THE LAW [i.e. Gentiles] I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God's law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.

The Lucifer Effect

2008-06-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

I'm mainly posting this so I don't forget about a book I'm thinking about getting: The Lucifer Effect. Looks very interesting.

Kindergarten teacher has children vote on excluding five-year-old "special needs" child from class

2008-05-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

This is sad and infuriating. A public school teacher asked her kindergarten class to vote on whether Alex, a five-year-old "special needs" child, should be excluded from class.

The teacher, Wendy Portillo, had Alex stand in the front of the class while the other children came up, one by one, and told Alex "what they hated" about him. By a 14-2 margin, the children voted him out of the class. When asked how he felt about being voted out of the class, Alex said: "It made me feel very sad."

Here's an interview with the mother. (Read the police report)

Chuck Pierce: Copy-And-Paste Prophecy

2008-05-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

Chuck Pierce is really pushing his luck.

You must know by now that much of Pierce's fame is based upon his claim that he, like the Hebrew tribe of Issachar, is able to "discern the times." And of course as a prophet, his words come from God; as such, you ignore him at your peril.

So what is God's word for today?

Well, according to Chuck Pierce, it's the very same thing He said four years ago. Much, if not most, of Mr. Pierce's latest "Word of the Lord," which was published on May 22, 2008, has been copied, word-for-word, from an almost identical document he published on June 2, 2004.

May 22, 2008
"In the biblical Hebraic timetable, we have just entered the Pentecost season. We must make a 'shift' in our minds and thinking processes toward HARVEST. The Spirit of God is developing and molding the shape or outline of our future. He is giving direction, meaning, and definition to how we will move and be in the days ahead. Our spiritual life is being disciplined so our mental performance will exceed our creativity levels of the past.

There are many new gates or doors forming and being seen by God’s people at this time. However, many enemies are behind these entry ways into our future. But the Lord says: 'Do not focus on your enemies during this season, but watch the new openings form and be ready to enter into new opportunities that will fully change your life as of NOW! I will give you grace over your enemies.'"

June 2, 2004
"In the Biblical Hebraic timetable, we have just entered the Pentecost season. This prayer focus is for all of us to shift our minds and thinking processes toward HARVEST. To 'form' means to develop or mold the shape or outline of something, or to give meaning, character or nature to something. Another way of looking at a forming time is when something is becoming what it will be in days ahead. This includes the conditioning of our mind and body in regard to its mental performance ahead.

Remember, this is the time that we are to be watching NEW DOORS FORM. Many enemies are behind this forming door, but the Lord says: "Do not focus on your enemies during this season, but watch the door form and be ready to enter into this new opportunity. I will give you grace over your enemies."

Interestingly, too, is the fact that the first 8 days of Mr. Pierce's "prayer focus" on May 22, 2008 was copied directly from the prayer focus on June 2, 2004. (Click on the date links above to compare the actual documents)

You know, I can't help but believe it is only a matter of time before his followers finally catch on to what Chuck Pierce is doing. He would do well to remember the words of Abraham Lincoln:

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."

In Memory of Maria Sue Chapman

2008-05-22T08:09:00.001-07:00

I was very saddened to learn this morning the tragic news that Maria Sue Chapman, the five-year-old daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman, had been struck and killed by an SUV on Wednesday, March 22. Maria was the youngest of three girls the Chapmans had adopted from China.

Both Steven and his wife, Mary Beth, have been outspoken advocates for adoption, and several years ago established Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry to give financial assistance to families who want to adopt. To date, the ministry has provided grants to over 1,700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Please pray about adopting one of these little ones who are desperately waiting for a family to love them.

"I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you."
John 14:18

Chuck Pierce's pastor revises so-called China earthquake prophecy yet again

2008-05-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

Robert Heidler, teacher of Kabbalah and pastor to Chuck Pierce, has revised the date of the so-called China Earthquake "prophecy" yet again.

As I wrote the other day, Chuck Pierce has offered at least two wildly contradictory accounts of his alleged "prophecy" concerning the Earthquake in China.

On May 10, Chuck Pierce claimed the following:

"Recently in Middleton, Ohio (April 24-27, 2008), our worship team wrote a new song...When they were singing this song on Sunday, the Lord began to speak...I then began to hear, 'Earthquakes! Earthquakes! Earthquakes! The ground is shaking. Unusual earthquakes! Asia! Asia, you will now shake...Since then, they have experienced both cyclones and earthquakes."

On May 16, Chuck Pierce tells quite a different story:

"About three weeks ago in our time of baptism, when I was baptizing Lucy Lui, a Chinese student that attends here, I began to hear: Cry for your land, your homes, your businesses and your spheres of authority. Cry glory to the street you live on or to your residence. Shout that the ground is beginning to rise up. Say that the land is shifting! I then began to hear, Earthquakes! Earthquakes! Earthquakes! The ground is shaking. Unusual earthquakes! Asia! Asia, you will now shake! Since then the nation of Myanmar experienced a cyclone and China had a devastating earthquake. After the earthquake occurred in the Chengdu region of China, I found that this is where Lucy's home is!"

Obviously, the two stories contradict each other in significant ways.

We may now add a new, third (and contradictory) account of when the prophecy actually happened. The latest contradiction comes from Pierce's pastor, Mr. Robert Heidler, who now claims that Mr. Pierce "prophesied" about the earthquake in China as far back as February:

"We declare restoration for China. Chuck prophesied in February that there would be a shaking in China, and it would shake all of Asia (and we have now seen this happen)."

Are you beginning to get the picture? This brings to mind the old adage about telling the truth, so you don't have to remember what you said.

We can see a similar pattern back in January of 2005, when Chuck Pierce claimed that on December 4, 2004, his brother, Keith Pierce, prophesied concerning floods in Sri Lanka:

"[A]t our Firstfruits Service at Glory of Zion Outreach, my brother, Keith Pierce prophesied that Sri Lanka would be before world attention within 30 days, then 60 days, and then 90 days. He also prophesied that the Buddhist temples would be flooded..."

Uh...not quite. Here's Chuck Pierce quoting the words that his brother allegedly said:

"There will be a shaking coming to Japan that will bring them to their knees. This shaking will change the industry of the nation. Japan has been built upon a fault line linked with a deep wounding from the past. This shaking will occur before the apostolic team that I am sending to Japan arrives. When they arrive, I will begin the healing of the fault line and release a new anointing for industries....I am causing the mountain to be brought down and the valleys to be brought up. I will create a leveling effect in Japan (from Keith Pierce)."

Obviously, there are a couple of problems here. First, this prophecy is about Japan, NOT Sri Lanka, which isn't anywhere close to Japan. Sri Lanka is off the coast of India, about 3,500 miles from Japan. Second, this so-called "prophecy" has to do with earthquakes, NOT floods.

It's certainly possible that Mr. Pierce is referring to a different prophecy by Keith Pierce about the Tsunami that hit South Asia (including Sri Lanka) on December 26, 2004, and I just can't find it. If that's the case, if anyone can find such a thing, please let me know and I'll be more than happy to revise this article to reflect that.

But all of this raises one important and obvious question (as one commenter on another site has noted):

If Chuck Pierce really and truly had prior knowledge of the earthquake in China -- an earthquake in which tens of thousands of people were ultimately killed -- WHY IN THE WORLD DIDN'T HE TRY TO ALERT THE PEOPLE OF CHINA? He could have called a press conference -- but didn't. At the very least, he could have posted something on his web site -- but didn't.

Ask yourself: if you knew someone was in imminent danger, if you really believed God had given you a glimpse into the future about something terrible that was about to happen, wouldn't you do SOMETHING? Of course you would!

No, Chuck Pierce did NOT predict the Earthquake in China

2008-05-18T20:51:00.001-07:00

Chuck Pierce seems to be claiming that he predicted -- or "prophesied" -- that a earthquake would occur in China. He did not.

Let me begin by saying that if such a prophecy were made about Asia (which occupies 8.6% of the earth's surface), it would be akin to predicting that an earthquake would hit somewhere in the continents of North OR South America (which collectively cover 8.3% of the earth).

Moreover, to the extent that such a prophecy could generate any interest at all, it would rely on a general lack of awareness about the daily and numerous occurances of earthquakes around the world. For example, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, there have been 84 earthquakes in Asia in the last week. Here's an eye-opening graphic about the hundreds of earthquakes to occur within the last 30 days. And here's an historical list of what the USGS describes as "Significant" (as of today, May 20, 2008, there have been 25 in 2008. In 2007, there were 55).

But the simple fact is, there is no record of Chuck Pierce making any public statements about an impending earthquake in China prior to the earthquake of May 12. After the earthquake, however, Chuck Pierce claimed God told him it was going to happen.

One need look no further than his wildly contradictory statements about the so-called "prophecy" itself. Here's the first story, written one week AFTER the May 2 cyclone in Myanmar occurred:

May 10, 2008
"Recently in Middleton, Ohio (April 24-27, 2008), our worship team wrote a new song about the sound of the Dry Bones coming together! When they were singing this song on Sunday, the Lord began to speak...All through this prophecy, the singers were prophesying in song. I then began to hear, 'Earthquakes! Earthquakes! Earthquakes! The ground is shaking. Unusual earthquakes! Asia! Asia, you will now shake! You will see shifting winds that are shaking the nations of Asia. You will see nations shaking this week! Pray for Asia!' Since then, they have experienced both cyclones and earthquakes."

All right, so singers are singing this song they had been working on, and in the middle of the song, God supposedly starts to speak to Chuck Pierce about an impending earthquake in Asia. Notice, too, that Mr. Pierce claims that earthquakes have already occurred at this point (on May 10), implying the prophecy, of which there is apparently no record, has already been fulfilled. More importantly, Mr. Pierce does not say that he actually "said" anything about any earthquakes, only that he "heard" God say something. Got it? Good. Now, compare that version with this much different (and, as stories go, much improved) version, published by Chuck Pierce six days later:

May 16, 2008
"About three weeks ago in our time of baptism (we have baptized almost 100 in the last 3 weeks), when I was baptizing Lucy Lui, a Chinese student that attends here, I began to hear: Cry for your land, your homes, your businesses and your spheres of authority. Cry glory to the street you live on or to your residence. Shout that the ground is beginning to rise up. Say that the land is shifting! I then began to hear, Earthquakes! Earthquakes! Earthquakes! The ground is shaking. Unusual earthquakes! Asia! Asia, you will now shake! You will see shifting winds that are shaking the nations of Asia. You will see nations shaking this week! Pray for Asia! Since then the nation of Myanmar experienced a cyclone and China had a devastating earthquake. After the earthquake occurred in the Chengdu region of China, I found that this is where Lucy's home is!"

Notice how the story has changed. In contrast to the first version, where the prophecy was given during a song ("When they were singing"), the prophecy is now given "when [he] was baptizing" and rooted in an entirely new character -- Lucy Lui, a Chinese girl who Chuck Pierce has baptized, a girl whose family lives in or near the region where the earthquake hit.

There's also a new twist. The words above, marked in red, are NEW words Mr. Pierce has added to the updated "prophecy," linking the Chinese girl he is supposed to have been baptizing to the prophecy -- YOUR land, YOUR home, YOUR spheres of authority, etc.

Of course, whichever story is to be believed, if any can, the important thing to note is that Chuck Pierce simply did NOT predict the earthquake in China. He only claims to have "heard" from God about it, a claim he made AFTER the event occurred.

I dare say there will be very few natural disasters of which Chuck Pierce will not claim he was privy through supernatural revelation from God. And to what end? To point to Christ? No. It's all about HIM and his so-called ability to discern the times. He seems to be saying: "Look at me! God told ME, God told ME! I'm a prophet! Buy my candles! Buy my oils! I'm a prophet!"

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven...On that day, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!'" - Matt 7:21-23

Laminin and the Cross

2008-05-16T09:40:00.003-07:00

Very, VERY cool. You will need to watch the whole thing, though. But don't worry...it'll be worth it.

Colossians 1:15-17

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."