The "New Holocaust" (New Spirituality?)

Good friends & fellow believers in Christ Jesus...

In my unceasing search for the truth, I have come upon a website that has presentations (both video and audio) from many of today's comtemporary authors, theologians, and church leaders. Warren Smith, Ray Yungen, and Roger Oakland are among these. As I was perusing the titles, I came across a speech by Roger Oakland called "05 The Emerging Church: Revival or Return to Darkness?" (bottom of page). This well documented speech explains the concerns I have with the Emergent Church, which is infiltrating many of our churches across America and the world, much better than I could ever explain myself to you, the reader. I hope you take the time to listen to it...it is about 50 minutes in length...I think.

Warren Smith's "Signs of the Times; A Course In Miracles" is another excellent talk that relates many of my concerns about Rick Warren's continual use of terms that are misleading, some his "more than questionable" associations with New Age authors and evangelists, and his past association with Robert Schuller (will Schuller ever admit he is really a "new-ager"?). This speech is bit lengthy at 70 minutes...but, again, well worth the time. Once you are on this website, be sure to check out the tons of other excellent videos pertaining to nearly every topic of concern to your walk with Christ in today's world. I promise, if you do, you will soon be looking to read a few of these authors and theologians.

I fully understand a reluctance to read apologetics...they can be burdensome and tend to be repetitive, but they are an excellent source of information about current topics concerning Christianity. It is crucial to Satan's plan that he "re-invent" Christianity in a way that will be attractive enough to people so as to entice them into changing their concept of Salvation without them even knowing that they have also changed their beliefs. Today's authors are on one side of this topic or the other...good...or evil. Both claim to be on the side of Christ. One is the True Christ of the Bible...the other is the antichrist of the Bible.

My life-long friend, Gary Hammer, who is now in prison for two years for embezzlement (from his mother...something he would never have done normally, yet did under the influence of the New Age) recently read Warren Smith's book "The Light That Was Dark", which explains how he (Warren Smith) got into, then out of, the New Age, told me, "David, you have no idea how widespread this really is! Andrea (his ex-wife...who is still in the New Age and dying of cancer...hmmm...New Age christ & Reiki didn't help?) and I encountered "Readings", "Spiritual Healing (Reiki)", "Channeled Voices", and "Meditative Prayer (occult)" everywhere we went for four years. From New Mexico to South Dakota and California to Illinois...it was everywhere!" He told me that the selling points are:

• Guilt-free lifestyle (there is no sin, no devil, no evil...therefore, no need for salvation).
• Increased well being (better health through meditation, Reiki healing touch, and therapeutic massage).
• Increased wealth (through meditation you will meet your "Inner Self" or "Higher Being" who will guide you to wealth and happiness.)
• Less stress (also through meditation).
• A secure feeling of belonging and knowing you are "one with God" (concept of "Oneness" or idea we are all gods...although they do not come right out and say this). This a general state of "overall well-being" and happiness.

Who wouldn't want to feel better, get rich, not worry about sin or what you do unto others to succeed in life (very big in business world today), have less stress doing it all, and know that, no matter what happens, you are always saved because you are a part of God (after all, God can't sin!). This movement is sweeping our country. I truly believe it is the great falling away the bible warns us about. The reinvention of Christianity by means of the oldest trick in the book..."Hey...you there...you can be a god." Instead of taking a bite of an apple, all you have to do this time is meditate and allow Satan's spirit guides to talk to you and guide you out of Eden and straight to hell. The Emerging Church is following this path with symbolical faith that says we need to go back to the "Old Ways" to find a "New Faith". What's wrong with the old faith? I told my friend in prison that my local pastor does not believe this New Spirituality Movement (Emergent, New Age, Contemplative...take your choice) is as serious as I make it out to be...he laughed and said, "You have NO IDEA how seriously massive it is!" Warren Smith, Ray Yungen, Roger Oakland and others reiterate the same warning!

I read one very interesting article by Jack Hook (website: Babylon the Great Is Falling - read "What's New") relating how this "Falling Away" from Christianity much resembles the methodology used by Hitler to reinvent Christianity during his time to win over German Christians in the 30's. Although Hitler did not use meditative prayer as his main tool (he did dabble in the occult though), his intentions were basically the same...to change people's perception of what Christianity is expected to do for people. He basically united state and church (Roman Catholic Church) so that they were inseparable before the war ever started. That way, once the fight actually began, the church (and thereby the majority of people) was obligated to back him up. In order to do this, Hitler had to make people believe that Jesus was on Germany's side and wanted the German people (who were, at the time, much depressed and repressed due to world-wide depression of the 1930's) to "regain a sense of nobility" as a nation.

He actually sold the idea that Christ had a vested interest in the recovery, nobility, and notoriety of the German state and that it was the duty of the Roman Catholic Church to back him up for the betterment of German society as a whole (other churches would have to follow suit of course). What an ingenious plan! As it turned out...truly demonic. Much the same as is Satan's plan today...to reinvent Christianity in the minds of the masses. The Holocaust will be a bee sting on the butt of humanity compared to what is happening today. New Age Spirituality believes that anyone who cannot realize that they are part of God are "separate" and are holding back the rest of humanity from achieving their ultimate goal of "Oneness with God" and the Kingdom of God on Earth. Therefore, they must be removed...dealt with...exterminated (sound familiar?). Oneness cannot be obtained as long as there is even one separatist alive. So, the great persecution of True Christians begins...we must be fully informed, discerned of God's Truth (Holy Scripture), and protected by the Full Armor of God in these coming days lest we be "caught sleeping."

Imagine, if you will, the Rockefeller (I used this tree because he is a Mason...hmmmmm) Christmas Tree being lit. Wait a minute! One bulb does not work so the whole tree doesn't lite up. This is much the same principle as "Oneness" in the New Spirituality Movement. That one bulb is holding back the entire tree from illustrious birth (heaven on earth) and MUST be immediately removed WITH PREJUDICE! If you hold out for a belief in a solitary Christ, Jesus, you too will be singled out and removed....PERMANENTLY.

I hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits...the "Truly Good Spirit of Christ" that is...

David K. Irwin

We Have Come Full Cycle...Apples to Riches.

Hello and Good Health...

I had planned on starting each new post with the words from Simon & Garfunkels "Sound of Silence" but decided that would make each entry too lengthy. Besides, I think you get the point without repetition. In the beginning there was Adam, Eve, God, Satan, and an apple tree. Satan took on the form of a serpent and enticed Eve to try a bite from the apple on the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil"...or, so the story goes. This tale of temptation and weakness...inherent goodness and inherent evil...has been around forever it seems...many religions having different versions. But, what is the story really about? Is just a parable explaining what Christians call "the sinful nature of man" or is it something else? Is it a warning about inherent evil in the world? Does it tell us anything about when Satan fell from Heaven? Or, does it simply mean that women are man's downfall? (please...no hate mail).

To tell you the honest truth, I have no idea. I like to believe that God's Word written in the Holy Bible is the spoken Word of God written verbatim as He dictated it to the authors of the many books of the Bible. But, that's just me and my belief. Each of us must determine for ourselves how much, if any, of the Bible we take literally. What I can tell you is that the example of Adam & Eve's downfall has come full cycle in our world today. No...there's no serpent (well, not yet anyways) and you can still eat apples without worrying about being cast out of America or wherever you are. However, we are all being given a chance, once again, to choose between good and evil.

The reality of Eve's choice was to remain as she was...a naked, beautiful, healthy, sin-free, innocent woman who could live an eternity in Eden...or, eat from the Tree of Knowledge and become "like a god" or one with God and attain all the knowledge of good and evil. The temptation proved to be too much for Eve and she succumbed to Satan's forked tongue. Satan gave Jesus the very same choice in the desert when he said he could give all the Kingdoms of the World to Jesus to rule as they were his to give as promised by God. Jesus did not give in to Satan's trickery but rather chose the Kingdom of God...His Father...a Kingdom of Eternity. Today, you and I are facing a whole new plague of trickery from Satan.

He is going to and fro with his many helpers (New Light Leaders, Maitreya, the Ancient Ones, shadowers, the Desert Fathers, etc.) convincing important people...influential people...here on Earth that they can become "one" with God. That, indeed, they are gods because god is in everything and in everyone. It is the exact same ploy Satan used on Eve only it is very cleverly hidden within a message of "Feel Good" faith. But, don't be fooled! It is a faith based in deeds and accomplishments and not in sound Biblical Truth. As a matter of fact, the proponents of this new faith or New Spirituality (as they call it) will tell you that the bible is not to be taken literally. It is not the Word of God but just a story about how to live. I believe that Satan is manipulating many important people today...perhaps even Barrack Obama, Rick Warren, Gorbachev, Leonard Sweet, Oprah Winfrey and many more. Read this excerpt from "Appolyon Rising 2012" by Tom Horn in Part 8, June 1, 2009:

Signs and evidence of such supernatural involvement in the current move towards worldwide totalitarian government have been increasing in political commentary, occult symbolism and numerological ‘coincidences’ over the past decade. As public opinion is engineered toward final acceptance of the international subordination, we would expect to see these ‘mirrors of occult involvement’ continue. Recently there have been so many semiotic messages (visible signs and audible references that communicate subliminal ideas) in the open that it is starting to feel as if the ‘gods’ are mocking us; challenging whether or not we will willingly admit their involvement. This has been exponentially true since the election of US President Barack Hussein Obama, the ‘President of the world’ according to news services around the planet. While the grandiose title “President of the world” granted Obama by euphoric crowds on election night remains to be prophetic, the glorified ideal behind it reflects the global hunger for, and movement toward, the arrival of ‘the one’ who represents the invisible agencies mentioned above and who, for a while, will appear to be the world’s answer man.Consider the unprecedented messianic rhetoric that reporters, politicians, celebrities and even preachers used in celebrating the ‘spiritual nature’ of Obama’s meteoric rise from near obscurity to US President. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mark Morford characterized it as “a sort of powerful luminosity.” In Morford’s opinion, this was because Obama is “a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to… help usher in a new way of being on the planet…” [12] The dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, Lawrence Carter, went further, comparing Obama to the coming of Jesus Christ: “It is powerful and significant on a spiritual level that there is the emergence of Barack Obama… No one saw him coming, and Christians believe God comes at us from strange angles and places we don’t expect, like Jesus being born in a manger.” [13] Dinesh Sharma, a marketing science consultant with a PhD in Psychology from Harvard appraised Obama likewise: “Many… see in Obama a messiah-like figure, a great soul, and some affectionately call him Mahatma Obama.” [14] It would have been easy to dismiss such commentary as the New Age quiverings of loons had it not been for similar passion on the lips of so many people. The following is a brief list of like expressions from a variety of news sources:

“Barack’s appeal is actually messianic… he… communicates God-like energy… What if God decided to incarnate as men preaching ‘hope and change.’ And what if we… let them slip away, not availing ourselves… to be led by God!” Steve Davis, Journal Gazette [15]

“This is bigger than Kennedy. . . . This is the New Testament! I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don’t have that too often. No, seriously. It’s a dramatic event.” Chris Matthews, MSNBC [16]

“Does it not feel as if some special hand is guiding Obama on his journey, I mean, as he has said, the utter improbability of it all?” Daily Kos [17]

“Obama, to me, must be not just an ordinary human being but indeed an Advanced Soul, come to lead America out of this mess” Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun Times [18]

“He is not operating on the same plane as ordinary politicians…the agent of transformation in an age of revolution, as a figure uniquely qualified to open the door to the 21st century.” Former US Senator Gary Hart, Huffington Post [19]

“He is not the Word made flesh [Jesus], but the triumph of word over flesh [better than Jesus?]…Obama is, at his best, able to call us back to our highest selves.” Ezra Klein, Prospect [20]

“Obama has the capacity to summon heroic forces from the spiritual depths of ordinary citizens and to unleash therefrom a symphonic chorus of unique creative acts whose common purpose is to tame the soul and alleviate the great challenges facing mankind.” Gerald Campbell, First Things First [21]

“Obama was… blessed and highly favored…I think that… his election… was divinely ordered… I’m a preacher and a pastor; I know that that was God’s plan… I think he is being used for some purpose.” Janny Scott, New York Times [22]

“He won’t just heal our city-states and souls. He won’t just bring the Heavenly Kingdom — dreamt of in both Platonism and Christianity — to earth. He will heal the earth itself.” Micah Tillman, The Free Liberal [23]

“The event itself is so extraordinary that another chapter could be added to the Bible to chronicle its significance.” Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Politico [24]

Though he tried to keep it subtle himself, Obama encouraged such public perception of him as an ‘anointed’ one whose time had come. Officially produced Obama campaign advertising consistently used such words as ‘faith,’ ‘hope,’ and ‘change.’ Republican nominee John McCain picked up on this during his run for office and put out a cynical video called “The One.” Using some of Obama’s own words against him, the video mocked Obama’s play as a Christ-like figure, showing him in New Hampshire saying, “a light beam will shine through, will light you up, and you will experience an epiphany, and you will suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Barack!” The video failed to mention that having an “epiphany” actually means the sudden realization or comprehension of an appearance of deity to man. Another part of the video included Obama during his nomination victory speech in St. Paul, Minnesota, saying, “this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.” Anybody that followed the presidential campaign would have picked up the same nuances—angelic children organized to sing about Obama, logos depicting rays of sunlight beaming out from his ‘O’ shaped hand sign (a gesticulation Hitler used as well), books such as Nikki Grimes “Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope” (Simon & Schuster), comparisons to Plato’s ‘Philosopher King’ without whom our souls will remain broken, comparisons to the ‘spiritually enlightened’ Mahatma Gandhi, comparisons to the Solar Hero Perseus, comparisons to Jesus Christ and even comparisons to God Himself.

While all this was highly unusual, even unprecedented, it was not surprising. Obama had spent significant time during the campaign distancing himself from conservative Christians, evangelicals and especially the Religious Right (which had held prominent sway over Republicans since Ronald Reagan held office) countering that his faith was more universalist and unconvinced of Bible inerrancy. In a 5-minute video available on YouTube, a pre-election speech by Obama was highly cynical of Bible authority and even derided specific Old and New Testament scriptures. “Whatever we once were,” Obama says on the video, “we’re no longer a Christian nation,” adding, “Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific values… this is going to be difficult for some who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible as many evangelicals do.” [31] Consequently, the conscious effort by Obama to reorient America away from conventional Christianity was widely embraced by people who identified with the man who carried a tiny idol of the Hindu god Hanuman in his pocket—whose blessings he sought in the race to the White House—together with a Madonna and child. For Obama, who grew up in a household where the Bible, the Koran and the Bhagvat Gita sat on a shelf side by side, organized religion was best defined as “closed-mindedness dressed in the garb of piety,” but a useful political tool nonetheless. And so he used it masterfully, and earned a cult following while doing so. By February 2009, Obama had replaced Jesus Christ as America’s No. 1 hero according to a Harris poll, and dedication to his come-one come-all mysticism has continued to spread, with evangelists of the new religion calling for the ‘tired’ faith of our fathers to be replaced with a global new one.

Although it is more difficult to understand the broad appeal of Obama’s New Age philosophy to the many evangelical and Catholic voters who supported him, the phenomenon can be explained to some degree as the result of a changing culture. Over the past 50 years and especially as baby-boomers listened attentively to pastors telling them to focus on human potential and the “god within us all,” eastern philosophies of Monism, Pantheism, Hinduism, and Self Realization grew, providing Americans with an alluring opportunity to throw off the “outdated ideas” of fundamental Christianity and to espouse a more “enlightened” monistic worldview (all is one). Aimed at accomplishing what the builders of the Tower of Babel failed to do (unify the masses of the world under a single religious umbrella), God was viewed as pantheistic and humans were finally understood to be divine members of the whole “that God is.” Pagans argue this principle of inner divinity is older than Christianity, which is true. The gospel according to such New Age concepts—a gospel of “becoming god”— is as old as the fall of man. It began when the serpent said to the woman “ye shall be as gods” (Gen. 3:5), and it will zenith during the reign of the anti-Christian god-king.

If...just if...Satan does have a plan to unite the world in peace with one leader, one government, and one religion, and if...just if...that one person is an instrument of Satan's to eventually force all the people in the world to take his mark, live as he determines, and call him god...what better way to start out than by convincing many of today's most popular political, clerical, authoritarian, and entertainment figures that the true path to happiness and survival (survival being very important) is to accept the idea that we are each gods in our own rights. With no guilt, no fear of death, no sin, and no need for redemption or salvation, what is the downside? I mean, isn't that what everyone wants...a guilt-free life without having to change one eyeota? And, all you have to do to join up is say, "I believe in Oneness...that we are all gods because god is in everything." Or, to paraphrase it: Take a bite of this apple and you will be like God. Hey, I'll even have one of my shadowing demons dictate a book about Quantum life, Comtemplative Prayer, or some other nonsense and make you wealthy beyond your wildest dreams.

You might say to yourself about now, "Well, that's just plain silly. That will never happen...people are too smart to allow that to happen." Well, think again! It is already happening all over the world and Maitreya, the self-proclaimed anti-christ is already buddying up to Gorbachev, Oprah, and too many others to name. He is staying in the shadows for now...but his helpers are possessing more and more people every day and soon it will be too late to stop the tide of change. I can't help but wonder where our church leadership is at this crucial time of salvation for so many people who are being falsely saved by a false christ. Why aren't they ringing the church bells and crying out for the Truth of God? Why are they standing idly by while author after author destroys the Word of God and Bible Scripture? Why aren't they screaming when Rick Warren meddles in political affairs where he has no business being? Why? Why? Why?

As Christians, too many of us have become passively objective and blatantly blinded by the importance our church leaders are putting on "feeling good about ourselves." Don't misunderstand me. There is nothing wrong with that...but it is not enough. We also have to fight Satan at every turn and we cannot do that if we have no idea what he is up to. Has your church talked about Satan and what he is doing in the world today to win the battle of eternal life in the last week? In the last month? In the last year????? Sadly, my church has not spoken about it once in more than a year that I have attended. Salvation is not gained by feeling good about ourselves for what we have done to change our lives or the lives of others. Salvation is not gained by deeds alone! Salvation only comes through a personal relationship with Christ Jesus, the Son of God. And the only way that God is in us is through the indwelling Holy Spirit. God is not inherently in everyone as New Agers would have you believe. They will come at you from every angle with things to make you feel good, things to make your life more functional, things to make you wealthier, things to make you give more, and things to make you think that that is enough. But, the important word in that message is "things"!!!! Apples to Riches...God to Satan...satisfaction to neediness...sin to sinless...nothing to plenty. You choose the side you want to be on...one leads to an eternity of life with God...the other leads to an eternity in the Lake of Fire with Satan.

Everyone seems to think it is simple to tell the difference between good and evil...well, it's not always cut and dry. Satan is no fool...actually, he is one of God's highest ranked angels and it wasn't until his rivalry and his attempt to sabotage God's rule that he lost the favor of Heaven. Now, he rules on Earth...it is his domain...his Kingdom for a time... and he will not give it up without a battle and a very clever plan. To convince millions of people that Contemplative Prayer, mysticism, idol worship, yoga, incense, shadowing, and other mystical and occult practices are not only appropriate, but a logical and acceptable path to a new found freedom and understanding of god's nature is not only clever, it is diabolical. By the time anyone raises an alarm, billions of people will already find themselves under the influence of demons who will be shadowing their every thought and action. Satan will use those who are most influential to change the very intrastructure of the world's governing mechanism so that one person will be in charge...one government, one ruler, one religion. Then, it will be too late.

Yours in Christ, friendship, and LOVE...

David K. Irwin

With a heavy heart...

Greetings fellow believers and curiousity seekers...first, allow me to aplogize for the lengthiness of this article...but, it is of utmost importance.

Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again. Because a vision softly in creeping, left its seeds while I was sleeping, and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams, I walked alone narrow streets of cobblestone. 'Neath the halo of an East street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp, when my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light that split the night and touched the sound of silence.

And, in the naked light, I saw ten thousand people, maybe more. People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening, people writing songs that voices never share and no one dare disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools" said I, "You do not know…Silence like a cancer grows. Hear my words that I might teach you, take my arms that I might reach you!" But my words like silent raindrops fell, and echoed in the wells of silence.

And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made. And the sign flashed out its warning, in the words that it was forming. And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls." And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to you today. Our founding fathers from some of our most devoted (to fundamentalist Christian belief) congregations are quickly being removed from office to make room for the Emerging Church of Mystic Comtemplation and the New Age Spirituality Movement. It saddens me greatly to see church after church turn to this occultism as the world is quickly being consumed by the teachings of the antichrist. All I can do is continue to publish articles and talk about how our basic truths found in scripture are being replaced by such things as "Oneness", the belief in "As Above, So Below" or an immanent God, fractals, Chaos Theory, and Quantum Spirituality.

This past weekend, Rick Warren and Saddleback Ministries held their Summit 2009 meeting. I have not heard the details as of yet...but, I am most interested to see how many of the New Age/New Spirituality proponents were present and who gave speeches at this huge convention. Twitter was all a-Twitter with many comments about how moving an experience it was. Too bad that the movement that is moving people is into a false christianity hosted by a false prophet. Now, I hope I don't lose you folks here that are fans of Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven drive to world PEACE...because the segment that follows from Lighthouse Trails Publishing is all about Rick Warren, the Calvary Chapel movement, contemplative worship, and too many other important things to list. Anyone who does not read it...well, let's just say that Satan has a way of keeping his followers from hearing the Truth...and here follows the honest to God truth about what is happening in our churches today and what every Christian should know.
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SPECIAL REPORT: Calvary Chapel Termination Has Profound Implications

Lighthouse Trails regrets to report that on May 5th, Paul Smith, brother of Chuck Smith (the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement), was fired from his position in the Calvary Chapel (CCOF) organization during an unscheduled meeting that day. The motion to fire Paul Smith was made by board member Roger Wing and seconded by Chuck Smith's son-in-law, Brian Broderson. Other board members affirmed the motion, and Paul Smith was dismissed.

For some time now Paul Smith, who has been in full-time ministry since 1951, has been putting forth tireless efforts to help keep contemplative and emerging spirituality out of the Calvary Chapel movement. At times, this caused conflict with other Calvary Chapel figures who did not resonate with these efforts. This Lighthouse Trails report is being presented because of recent statements such as the following that give a biased view of Paul Smith's role at Calvary Chapel:

Smith's desire to codify and enforce not only the "Distinctives," but positions on such matters as "The Shack" and secondary doctrinal issues was at odds with other people in leadership and that eventually cost him his job. Smith was working out of a deep desire to see his brothers legacy remain intact and define what was and wasn't "Calvary Chapel." While I think his motives were pure they also brought a sense of restriction and censorship to many in the movement. (from a Reformed Calvinist pastor, formerly a Calvary Chapel pastor, who runs a blog called Phoenix Preacher)

Comments made on that site suggesting that Paul Smith's firing was warranted have prompted this Lighthouse Trails report. This is the story behind the story.

On May 2nd of 2006, Lighthouse Trails was contacted by someone who wishes to remain anonymous who explained that a book written by Chuck Smith Senior contained quotes by and references to contemplative and emerging figures. In our efforts to expose the contemplative/emerging movement, Lighthouse Trails reviewed the book then issued an article titled, "What Happened to the Calvary Chapel Book, When Storms Come?." The article stated that Chuck Smith's book When Storms Come contained quotes by and references to contemplative Catholic mystic Anthony DeMello, for one. DeMello is discussed in Ray Yungen's book, A Time of Departing. De Mello wrote the contemplative classic called Sadhana: A Way to God and in that book he says:

To silence the mind is an extremely difficult task. How hard it is to keep the mind from thinking, thinking, thinking, forever thinking, forever producing thoughts in a never-ending stream. Our Hindu masters in India have a saying: one thorn is removed by another. By this they mean that you will be wise to use one thought to rid yourself of all the other thoughts that crowd into your mind. One thought, one image, one phrase or sentence or word that your mind can be made to fasten on. (A Time of Departing, p. 75).

Prior to this first article, Lighthouse Trails had begun a working relationship with Roger Oakland who had been involved with the Calvary Chapel movement (teaching and evangelizing) for about twenty five years. We were in the early stages of contracting with Roger Oakland for a book on the emerging church.

On May 18th, Chuck Smith emailed Lighthouse Trails and stated:

[I have] prepared a position paper to be distributed to the Calvary Chapel pastors on the subject of the Emergent Church and its many divergent and unscriptural theological positions that trouble me greatly.

Chuck Smith also thanked Lighthouse Trails for sending him a copy of A Time of Departing, which he said he "read with interest," then added "[A Time of Departing] resonates with the concerns that I personally have concerning the direction that many ministries seem to be taking in their endeavor to unify all faiths. I do believe that straight is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and as Jesus said, He is that way, He is the truth, and the life, and no man can come to the Father but by Him."

Three days later, we reported that Calvary Chapel released a Position Paper, denouncing mystical practices (i.e., contemplative prayer) and the emerging church. A second Lighthouse Trails article discussed this move initiated by Chuck Smith Sr:

This weekend, a position paper addressed to pastors was posted on the Calvary Chapel website. The paper indicates that Calvary Chapel is taking a stand against contemplative spirituality and the emerging church and decrees that the title Calvary Chapel not be attached to such movements.

In the Position Paper, Calvary Chapel pastors were told not to use the Calvary Chapel title on their church name if they were going to go in the contemplative/emerging direction. On May 25, 2006, Lighthouse Trails released a follow-up article titled, "Calvary Chapel May Face Challenge in Upholding Position Paper". In the article, we quoted Roger Oakland regarding the Position Paper:

Calvary Chapel is at a critical point in the history of the movement. If clear correction is made, then the movement will go on and become a lighthouse in these last days. If nothing more happens than a written statement, and pastors and churches are permitted to carry the name Calvary Chapel but embrace contemplative, purpose driven, seeker friendly market driven ideas, the movement will break into various segments. There are many Calvary Chapel pastors who are asking for this kind of clear cut direction and want Calvary Chapel to remain what it once was.

On June 3, 2006, in our article titled, "Calvary Chapel May Set Precedent at This Week's Pastors Conference", we reported that Chuck Smith Jr, then pastor of Calvary Chapel Capo Beach, was officially no longer part of the Calvary Chapel movement because of his contemplative/emerging affinities. It appeared that Calvary Chapel was going to stand strong on their commitment to maintain biblical integrity, even though this was a very painful situation for family members. At that time, Paul Smith expressed his deep sadness at his nephew's decision to embrace contemplative/emerging spirituality. Our article also stated:

Calvary Chapel may be the first large ministry that has been directly influenced to actually denounce the false teachings of these movements. If Calvary Chapel stands firm on defending the gospel message and rejecting these heretical doctrines, it may be setting a precedent for other Christian ministries to do likewise. With organizations such as Purpose Driven, Zondervan, NavPress publishers, Willow Creek and Renovare all promoting contemplative spirituality and with many other ministries appearing to head that way, it is becoming less and less popular to do what Calvary Chapel has done. But it is a time in history when compromising the integrity of the gospel could actually help to unfold the greatest spiritual deception Christianity has ever seen.

Then on June 16, 2006, we issued a short notice titled "Calvary Chapel Rejects Purpose Driven and Emerging Spirituality". In an unexpected move, Calvary Chapel came out publicly against the Purpose Driven movement. Our posting stated:

This week a notice was placed on the Calvary Chapel Distribution website recalling Chuck Smith Sr's book, When Storms Come (which had been tampered with). The notice (no longer online) also stated: "The teaching and positions of Rick Warren have come into conflict with us at Calvary Chapel. Pastor Chuck has directed us to discontinue this product effective immediately."

Shortly thereafter, Calvary Distribution (the resource arm of Calvary Chapel) removed all Purpose Driven materials from their resource database. In the meantime, Roger Oakland was beginning to receive increased criticism for his stand against Purpose Driven and the emerging church. In a July 2006 article, he explained some of his concerns in an article titled, "Calvary Chapel and Purpose Driven". He told what he believed to be the main reasons why Calvary Chapel and Purpose Driven do not resonate with each other:

Why did Calvary Distribution remove Rick Warren's Purpose Driven books and related materials from their distribution? I believe these four reasons I have discussed are reasonable and a valid answer to that question:

Differences in Eschatology

Differences with regard to the Emerging Church

Differences with regard to contemplative prayer and mysticism

Differences with regard to church growth principles and beliefs.

Christianity has always been made up of strong leaders who take different positions. In this case, we see two well-known contemporary leaders going in two different directions. I also know that many Calvary Chapel pastors approved the decision and applauded Calvary Distribution when the Rick Warren materials were no longer being distributed.

Because there are some Calvary pastors who strongly disagree with this decision, it is very possible that in the future there will be a split of the Calvary Chapel movement. The pressures on young pastors today to conform to the current trends for the sake of having a successful big church are ever increasing.

Over the next several months, Roger Oakland wrote Faith Undone: the emerging church--a new reformation or an end-time deception. The book was released in the summer of 2007 and documents many irrefutable connections between some of today's most popular and influential proclaiming-Christian leaders: Rick Warren, Brian McLaren, Bob Buford, Peter Drucker, Richard Foster, Bill Hybels, Leith Anderson, and others. It also reveals the financial backing that was behind the birth of the current emerging church movement, showing that the movement wasn't just the "discontent grumblings of young people looking for answers" (back cover) but entailed a far more structured effort to bring about a new mystical spirituality that would ultimately reject the very core of the Bible's main tenets. Because the book connected dots between the emerging church and highly regarded leaders, needless to say it rocked the boat.

Over the next few months after Faith Undone was released, Roger Oakland spoke in different locations around the world, warning believers about the new spirituality that had entered the Christian church. Then two days after he posted an article called Icabod, Roger was promptly removed from Calvary Chapel's radio network/station, KWVE. In our article "Roger Oakland Removed from Calvary Chapel Radio", we stated:

Lighthouse Trails contacted KWVE on November 19th [2007] to confirm the removal [of Roger Oakland] and to find out the reason this took place. Richard McIntosh, KWVE station manager, confirmed the removal and told Lighthouse Trails that while he knew the reason, he would not comment.

During this time period, Roger Oakland and Lighthouse Trails were receiving angry and threatening phone calls and emails by unidentified persons. Nevertheless, we knew we must stay the course.

While the long-time relationship between Roger Oakland and Calvary Chapel became highly strained, in a meeting between Roger Oakland and Chuck Smith, Pastor Smith affirmed his support of Roger Oakland and his ministry. It should be noted too that on a number of occasions, Chuck Smith has expressed his support for the work at Lighthouse Trails. And to our knowledge, he has never reneged on his original statements to keep contemplative/emerging/Purpose Driven out of the Calvary Chapel movement. In fact, Chuck Smith invited former New Age follower-turned-Christian Warren Smith to speak at the 2008 Calvary Chapel Senior Pastors Conference in Murrieta, California. Warren Smith delivered a powerful exhortation to pastors on June 5th, 2008, encouraging Calvary Chapel pastors to stand during these times of great spiritual deception that the Bible warns will take place in the last days.1 A large number of the 800 pastors in attendance gave Warren Smith a standing ovation, indicating that many Calvary Chapel pastors resonate with Warren Smith's message, which is the same message as Roger Oakland, Ray Yungen, and Lighthouse Trails.

But as with most denominations and Christian organizations, there are indications that contemplative/emergent/Purpose Driven is continuing to influence the Calvary Chapel movement contrary to the efforts and statements of Chuck Smith in 2006. For instance, Calvary Chapel speaker Gayle Erwin has come out strong in support of the New Age sympathizing book, The Shack. Erwin's endorsement for William Paul Young's New York Times best-seller sits on The Shack website, and says:

Riveting, with twists that defy your expectations while teaching powerful theological lessons without patronizing. I was crying by page 100. You cannot read it without your heart becoming involved. [emphasis added]

Even though a statement was issued by Calvary Chapel denouncing The Shack, which is reported in our article "New Age Similarities, Popularity Continues, and Calvary Chapel Gives Official Statement" , Gayle Erwin continues speaking at Calvary Chapel churches today.

In the summer of 2008, Lighthouse Trails issued a controversial article titled, "Greg Laurie Connects Purpose Driven to a Move of God - Gives Financial Support". Laurie, one of the most popular Calvary Chapel pastors had given financial support to Rick Warren's New York crusade, and at the same time, called the Purpose Driven movement a move of God. This was disheartening for those who hoped that Calvary Chapel was truly going to stand strong against the heretical teachings of the day. Later, Greg Laurie's ministry issued a statement denying that they had financially supported the crusade, but Lighthouse Trails spoke with crusade organizers who had not only placed the information on their website but confirmed it to us over the phone. In September 2008, we issued a follow-up report: Warren, Blanchard, Hybels, Laurie, Buford - Launching New York Leadership Center.

Concerns over the direction that the Calvary Chapel movement may go after Chuck Smith is no longer heading the organization have continued to grow. And now with Paul Smith, who strongly advocated and supported his brother's hopes of having a NON-contemplative/emerging/Purpose Driven movement, those concerns are mounting. Just two weeks ago, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (home church of Chuck Smith Sr.) hosted a Pure Worship Conference, which included worship leaders from the nearby Rock Harbor church. Rock Harbor has shown signs that it is being significantly influenced by the emerging church, including having had their youth group study New Age sympathizer Rob Bell's book, Velvet Elvis , for three weeks. A few months ago, Rock Harbor held a meeting due to concerns by congregants as to whether they were going emergent or not. Approximately 700 people showed up!

A second event is scheduled between Rock Harbor and Calvary Chapel at the end of May, Movement 2009. The conference will take place at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and will feature Rock Harbor's teaching pastor Mike Erre and worship team. Mike Erre is the author of a new book, Death by Church: Rescuing Jesus from His Followers; Recapturing God's Hope for His People. The book is filled with kingdom-now theology and numerous favorable references to and quotes by people like Brian McLaren, Dallas Willard, and other contemplative, emerging figures. Based on this book alone, it is accurate to say that Erre has all the earmarks of an emerging church pastor. In Erre's 2008 book, Why Guys Need God, he quotes and references a number of contemplative mystic-proponents: Richard Rohr, Larry Crabb, Pete Scazzero, Rob Bell, and others. It is very clear by Erre's remarks about Richard Rohr (whom he references over a half a dozen times in the book) that he esteems him highly. And yet Rohr's spirituality would be in the same camp as someone like Matthew Fox (author of The Coming of the Cosmic Christ) who believes in pantheism and panentheism. Rohr wrote the foreword to a 2007 book called How Big is Your God? by Jesuit priest (from India) Paul Coutinho. In Coutinho's book, he describes an interspiritual community where people of all religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity) worship the same God. How ironic that Paul Smith's firing is sandwiched between two Rock Harbor events at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Members at that church should be very, very concerned.

Recently we reported on Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa's high school in which a teacher there asked his class to read, review, and study How to Stay Christian in College written by Protestant-turned-Catholic J. Budziszewski . The book has references in the back of some editions to mystic emergent Tony Jones, and Budziszewski himself is a proponent of contemplative prayer practices. Our article "Concerned Family Asks Legitimate Questions of Christian Leaders" illustrates what many families are going through in trying to protect their children and teens from spiritual deception. Christian parents must realize that the souls of their youth are at stake.

Paul Smith came on board to Calvary Chapel about four years ago to help with what could possibly be a sinking ship. Paul believed that the only answer for the movement was to hold to the basic tenets of biblical Christianity. As he learned of the various emerging/contemplative/Purpose Driven influences pouring into Calvary Chapel, he often spoke up but was also often received with resistance--until last Tuesday, when an impromptu meeting in the middle of the day brought his efforts to a halt.

When we spoke with Paul Smith this week, he was packing his things, preparing to leave Calvary Chapel. At approximately 80 years old, his mind sharp and his focus straightforward, Paul isn't sure where he will go from here. He isn't sure of the future of Calvary Chapel anymore either. But he is sure of this - the One whom He seeks to serve is faithful and will in these last days draw a line in the sand and ask every true believer to step on the side of biblical truth. Paul sent us an email a few days after his dismissal. We asked him if we could post part of it, and he agreed:

I have enjoyed serving our Calvary Chapel pastors through Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship. Calvary Chapel is a wonderful and surprising work of God. It has been used by God to hold fast to simply teaching the Word of God, book-by-book and verse-by-verse, the whole counsel of God.... It is my prayer that we hold fast to the sufficiency of the Word of God and the sufficiency of the Holy Spirit to guide this blessed ministry of God. My heart's desire is to follow the way of my Lord Jesus Christ. I like what the prophet Isaiah and David have to say about the true Judge who would come and dwell among us and His method and His heart in righteous judgment.

Isa 11:1-5: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD ; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD : and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

This situation with Calvary Chapel is not isolated. Nearly every evangelical denomination and organization of any size in North America is going in this same direction to one degree or another. One key factor in why this is happening so rapidly is that Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries are heavily saturated with contemplative/emerging spirituality. Biola University, for instance, where many Calvary Chapel pastors have attended and graduated, is deeply involved in this "new spirituality."

The spirituality of the desert fathers has gotten a grip on the current theological thought and practice like no one could have predicted just a few years ago, thanks largely in part to the emerging church and the work of Rick Warren and Bill Hybels. Remember, mysticism is what gives the emerging church its momentum. Holistic doctor and author Dr. Rick Levy revealed that in 2008 17 million Americans were practicing meditation (eastern-style). That number is up from 10 million in 2003. At that rate, in another five years it will probably be somewhere between 20 and 25 million. There is no doubt that this surge of mysticism will have a profound effect on virtually every North American family. This statistic is sobering when you consider what Richard Kirby observed:

The meditation of advanced occultists is identical with the prayer of advanced mystics; it is no accident that both traditions use the same word for the highest reaches of their respective activities: contemplation. (Mission of Mysticism, p. 7)

Our prayer at Lighthouse Trails is that everyone involved in this issue would take that statement seriously. Mysticism (i.e., the occult) is overtaking all segments of society, and this means that the world is falling under the spell of sorceries (magical arts) that according to the book of Revelation will deceive all nations (Revelation 18:23).

We close with this: In Alan Jones' book, Reimagining Christianity, he talks about a mystical spirituality in which not only all the world's religions will be united but all humanity will be united whether religious or not. On the back cover of Jones' book, Brian McLaren claims that this view "stimulates" and "encourages" him "deeply" and that Christianity is moving away from "dogma" (doctrine) toward "authentic spirituality" (mysticism).

With the termination of Paul Smith and the embracing of and teaming up with an emerging church, is this "authentic spirituality" the direction that Calvary Chapel is going to go? The answer to that question is becoming clearer all the time.



In His grace,

Editors at Lighthouse Trails Research


www.lighthousetrails.com


www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com


www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog

If you haven't already taken the time to read all the articles presented in the form of "Links" above, you should do so now. They are of great importance to your understanding the Truth behind this movement that is taking over all our churches, our schools, our government, OUR CHILDREN, our society, our news, and our very lives. I am sure that is not too late for Rick Warren to change and thereby save millions of people from being deceived...but, I am not very hopeful that, without some divine intervention (and God seems to be allowing Satan a free hand in these end times as predicted in the Bible), he will turn back from broad path he has chosen, which leads nowhere.

Yours in Christ, friendship, and LOVE...

David K. Irwin

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Under Attack...!

Good day & good health...

I am going to start each post from here on with the words from Simon & Garfunkel's song "Sound of Silence" because I have found them to be profoundly accurate to the apathy in today's Christian world. We are living in the sound of silence...here they are...

Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again. Because a vision softly in creeping, left its seeds while I was sleeping, and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams, I walked alone narrow streets of cobblestone. 'Neath the halo of an East street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp, when my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light that split the night and touched the sound of silence.

And, in the naked light, I saw ten thousand people, maybe more. People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening, people writing songs that voices never share and no one dare disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools" said I, "You do not know…Silence like a cancer grows. Hear my words that I might teach you, take my arms that I might reach you!" But my words like silent raindrops fell, and echoed in the wells of silence.

And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made. And the sign flashed out its warning, in the words that it was forming. And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls." And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.

Since I have openly admitted that I am committed to battling Satan and his followers, I have been under attack from all directions...even in my sleep. I expected no less from Satan...however, I was somewhat amazed and caught off guard by the rapidity of his attack. It flatters me that Satan should think that what I have to say is so damaging to his task that he take a personal interest in knocking me down. As far as I know, he may be the only one paying attention to my posts. Oh well, my Grandfather, John Capps Irwin, a methodist minister, writer, and theology teacher at Northwestern University in Illinois, used to say, "Any audience on a rainy day is better than none at all." I have been able to fend Satan off by hunkering down and putting on the Full Armor of God. I call on Jesus Christ and His Holy Blood to protect myself and my home against Satan's onslaught. As I mentioned, Satan has even infiltrated my dreams with cocaine nightmares that I have not experienced in many years since quitting that drug. I do not fear anything that Satan throws at me...not one bit! I am fully protected by the Lord Jesus Christ and, even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil! For Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me all the days of my life.

Also under attack is Saddleback Church and Rick Warren...and they ought to be! Warren is turning his fellowship into a fiasco of Catholicism. I cannot put this any clearer than the article by Ken Silva that I have copied for you below. If you have had any doubts about the misdirection of Rick Warren and his Saddleback ministry, this article should clear them up for you. PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AND RESEARCH THE LINKS.
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SOUTHERN BAPTIST PASTOR RICK WARREN AND SADDLEBACK CHURCH OPENLY RECOMMEND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Nov 30, 2008 in AM Missives, Current Issues, Features, Rick Warren, Southern Baptist Convention


Saddleback Church Pastors Using Rob Bell Teachings here at Apprising Ministries clearly showed thatEmerging Church icon and teacher of corrupt Contemplative Sprituality/Mysticism (CSM) Rob Bell has penetrated deeply into the mainstream of the evangelical community. So far so that Bell’s weekly sermons are recommended, and his Nooma DVDs sold, by pastors of the highly influential Saddleback Church (SC) of Rick Warren, which is aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention.

But you must understand that it’s really not all that surprising because we’ve already pointed out in Rick Warren and Saddleback Church: Prayer Is Not For The Novice one can purchase books e.g. by Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker “Roshi” Richard Foster, as well as titles by Roman Catholic universalistHenri Nouwen, right in the SC bookstore itself. Little wonder because these books are themselves featured in “The Spiritual Growth Center” online at the Saddleback Family (SF) website. In fact, Nouwen is even listed among books “that shaped” the life of Kay Warren (Online source) in addition to Nouwen’sSeeds of Hope being recommended in the “Spiritual Formation” section as well (Online source).

Well, below follows some of the false hope in the rancid seeds of universalism that Nouwen offered readers foolish enough to grab his non-existent lifeline made of contemplative myth.

Nouwen said:
Today I personally believe that Jesus came to open the door to God’s house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her way to God. (Sabbatical Journey, 51)

Now, the last time I checked that message wasn’t compatible with the historic orthodox Christian faith. Why for that matter, it isn’t even in accord with the much vaunted Baptist, Faith & Message of the spiritually squishy SBC either. And in addition there’s also a ”Must Read Books” section at SF. As expected from Warren’s Saddleback we first find his The Purpose Driven Life; but here we wish to bring to your attention that among these “must read” recommendations from SF we see what they call the “now-classic meditation on grace” Ragamuffin Gospel by teacher of Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP) mystic Brennan Manning (Online source).

For those who don’t know much about Brennan Manning Christian researcher Ray Yungen fills you in:

In The Signature of Jesus, Manning teaches how to suspend thought. He instructs his readers methodically:

[T]he first step in faith is to stop thinking about God at the time of prayer. [C]ontemplative spirituality tends to emphasize the need for a change in consciousness � we must come to see reality differently. Choose a single, sacred word - repeat the sacred word inwardly, slowly, and often. [E]nter into the great silence of God. Alone in that silence, the noise within will subside and the Voice of Love will be heard.

If one could draw a spiritual tree of both Manning’s and Foster’s mystical heritage it would look like this: from India, to Alexandria, to the Desert Fathers, to Thomas Merton, to them; and now, through them and others like them, to you. (Online source)

So far Saddleback is very SBC alright; Slowly Becoming Catholic. As I mentioned above the SF website even has ”The Spiritual Growth Center” (SGC); If there was any doubt left that Saddleback Church, aligned with the largest allegedly ”Protestant” denomination in the country, is seriously off the rails having fallen deeply into the spurious spirituality of the Counter Reformation of apostate Roman Catholicism then the following ought to drive away the murky mystic fog from your eyes. The second book we find in the SGC is by Richard Foster’s spiritual twin and SBC minister Dallas Willard, whom SF says is:

one of today’s most brilliant Christian thinkers and author of The Divine Conspiracy(Christianity Today’s 1999 Book of the Year), presents a way of living that enables ordinary men and women to enjoy the fruit of the Christian life. He reveals how the key to self-transformation resides in the practice of the spiritual disciplines, and how their practice affirms human life to the fullest. The Spirit of the Disciplines is for everyone who strives to be a disciple of Jesus in thought and action as well as intention. (Online source)

You can read more concerning Willard in the AM piece Delusions of Dallas Willard so here I will simply point you to an excellent review and refutation of Willard’s book of begging the question by Bob DeWaay who is dead on target when he says:

The spiritual disciplines that are supposedly necessary for spiritual formation are not defined in the Bible. If they were, there would be a clear description of them and concrete list. But since spiritual disciplines vary, and have been invented by spiritual pioneers in church history, no one can be sure which ones are valid. Willard says, [W]e need not try to come up with a complete list of disciplines. Nor should we assume that our particular list will be right for others.” The practices are gleaned from various sources and the individual has to decide which ones work the best…

Willard offers a discussion of each of these, citing people like Thomas Merton, Thomas a Kempis, Henri Nouwen, and other mystics. We are told that practices like solitude and silence are going to change us, even though the Bible does not prescribe them… Willard had admitted that there is no clear list of the disciplines and that each person might choose different practices through pragmatic means… Had he been willing to submit to the authority of Scripture, Willard could have refuted these practices based on Colossians 2:21-23. (Online source)

But of course wise advice never stops disobedient children bent of having their own way now, does it. Our SCG also recommends Celebration of Discipline (CoD) by Richard Foster. As I stated previously, in my estimation, CoD is the textbook for a growing Cult of Richard Foster within evangelicalism as it continues its repudiation of Sola Scripture in favor of highly subjective experience; i.e. a spiritual “buzz.” And the truth is Dr. Gary Gilley was dead on target when he said of Foster’s magnum opus:

Celebration of Discipline alone, not even referencing Foster’s other writings and teachings and ministries, is a virtual encyclopedia of theological error. We would be hard pressed to find in one so-called evangelical volume such a composite of false teaching. These include faulty views on the subjective leading of God (pp. 10, 16-17, 18, 50, 95, 98, 108-109, 128, 139-140, 149-150, 162, 167, 182); approval of New Age teachers (see Thomas Merton below); occultic use of imagination (pp. 25-26, 40-43, 163, 198); open theism (p. 35); misunderstanding of the will of God in prayer (p. 37); promotion of visions, revelations and charismatic gifts (pp. 108, 165, 168-169, 171, 193); endorsement of rosary and prayer wheel use (p. 64); misunderstanding of the Old Testament Law for today (pp. 82, 87); mystical journaling (p. 108); embracing pop-psychology (pp. 113-120); promoting Roman Catholic practices such as use of “spiritual directors,” confession and penance (pp. 146-150, 156, 185); and affirming of aberrant charismatic practices (pp. 158-174, 198). (Online source)

Finally, there’s the Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (SDH) by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun who is:
currently copastor, with her husband, Doug, of Redeemer Community in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She was formerly pastor of spiritual formation at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois. A trained spiritual director, she has taught courses at Wheaton College and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. (Online source)

Interesting that SC promotes Calhoun who in violation of God’s Word is allegedly a pastor; but at the same time, fortunately for Rick Warren with the Idol of Autonomy in the SBC he and his church can actually do and recommend whatever they jolly well wish to. And right on the backcover Calhoun tells us this handbook of heresy features how to information on CCP and Lectio Divina. O yes, as I peruse my personal copy of SDH I’m informed I can learn to “open myself to God” through the Examen of Counter Reformation figure Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the spiritual Gestapo Unit aka the Jesuits.

I’m also told I will learn the ways I can “reliquish the false self” through mantric meditation ala John Main that originated in pagan Eastern religions:

Go into silence, placing yourself in the presence of God with the words “Here I am.” As distractions come to mind, let them go by imagining they are boats floating down a river. Let the current take the distractions away. Don’t follow the distractions. Gently return to God repeating “Here I am.” Let the current of God’s Spirit carry you. What is this like for you? (110)

Big surprise; one of the “Resources on Silence” Calhoun recommends is another book on CCP by Ruth Haley Barton. Actually the list of “Pastor” Calhoun’s acknowledgements is a veritable who’s who of spurious spirituality including Ignatius of Loyola, Willard, Foster, Phyllis Tickle, Richard Rohr, Teresa of Avila “and many more.” Calhoun then informs us that, “Their ideas, voices and examples have shaped my own words and experiences of the disciplines” (10). A sad roll call indeed.

And the evangelical drift right back into the spiritual bondage which brought about the Protestant Reformation to begin with continues its accelerating into apostasy.

See also:
SOUTHERN BAPTIST PASTOR RICK WARREN CORRECTS MARTIN LUTHER
TODD FRIEL: A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ROB BELL SAYS PUBLICLY PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALITY IS OK FOR CHRISTIANS
DR. ROD ROSENBLADT CALLS RICK WARREN’S MAN-CENTERED THEOLOGY “ROMAN CATHOLIC”
CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY OF RICHARD FOSTER ROOTED IN THE EASTERN DESERT AND THOMAS MERTON
SO YOU WANT TO BE LIKE CHRIST… DITCH THE DISCIPLINES OF DALLAS WILLARD
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I will leave you here for this week as there is a good deal of information to be found in the many links associated with this article and, hopefully, you will take advantage of them. I am happy to say that my church, Countryside Community Church, has removed Rick Warren from its list of suggested books to read. Actually, they removed all suggested readings. I do not know if this is a result of my writing about Rick Warren or their own experiences with Saddleback. In either case, I am glad to see they no longer endorse his material on their website...at least, I couldn't find it. I feel that the reading of Rick Warren's material and other authors like him that endorse this New Spirituality concept of "Oneness" with God should be left to those who are aware of the pitfalls associated with reading material laced with arsenic. Even the discerned reader can find his/herself getting led down the wrong path at times. Some of Satan's authors write with a very sweet and attractive voice even though they speak with a forked tongue!

My best advice...DO NOT TAKE ANYONE'S WORD FOR GOSPEL!!!! Do your own research and find out for yourself the truth behind the hype. The Interent is only a source of literature and thought...not Gospel Truth. Anyone can write and author anything on the Internet...truth and lies. Be wary and be wise! Ask God for His Knowledge and He will give it gladly...and that you can rely on! But, most of all...BEWARE THE SOUND OF SILENCE!!!! If your church is not speaking about the movements of Satan, they are not doing their job! God made it quite clear in the bible that ours is the Good fight against evil in this world. That Satan comes like a thief in the night...silently. If your church is being silent on this topic, they are aiding Satan...not fighting him!

Yours in Christ, freindship, and LOVE...

David

Maitreya and the Disciples of Wisdom (The Watchers).

Hello again fellow believers or non-believers...

I am going to open this post with a letter I wrote to a dear friend who is in prison. He got involved with the New Age group and they quickly took him from 13 years of sobriety/not smoking, a healthy family, and an excellent job to drunkenness/smoking, divorce, and into prison for embezzlement. His new "New Spirituality" advisor told him that his soul was one with god and therefore he need not fear judgement...that his life was pre-ordained and without sin. He had read most of the books written by new age authors, had several personal life-readings, visited with shodowing spirits (Watchers), bought a Taro deck of cards, and much more. Since he has been in prison, he has sobered up, quit smoking, and is, once again, on the path to Jesus Christ. He has managed to overcome and rid himself of the demon that possessed him for several years. I could only watch as my best friend went from a true believer to a truly lost soul as the overpowering strength of his new spiritual friend destroyed his marriage and life. I thought to myself, "If this can happen to Gary, one of the strongest Christians I have ever known, it can happen to anyone!" What is this power? Who are these spirits?

Before I copy the letter into this post, I will tell you a bit of what Jesus has had me reading about lately. He (Jesus) sent me to a site run by Thomas Horn called "APOLLYON RISING 2012: The Lost Symbol Found And The Final Mystery Of The Great Seal Revealed. A Terrifying And Prophetic Cipher, Hidden From The World By The U.S. Government For Over 200 Years Is Here." There are 15 posts so far in this series and I was amazed to find many of the same players mentioned here (such as Maitreya and Disciples of Wisdom in Part Fourteen) as I have been reading about in Warren Smith's books. It was amazing because Tom Horn's writings are basically about the history of Freemasonry, Greek Mythology, and the Roman Empire. To find spirits from both ages with the same name is beyond coincidence...don't you think? Well, here is my letter to Gary...

I am about done with Warren Smith’s newest book, A “Wonderful” Deception: The Further New Age Implications of the Purpose Driven Movement. It seems that Rick Warren got so many emails and letters from parishioners around the world that he had to hire two “damage control” people to deal with the dissension. The first one did not do too good a job…he mostly just dodged the real problems and associations by trying to shift the blame. The second one, although more aggressive, did not do a much better job. He too had a very difficult time explaining away Rick Warren’s multiple uses of “New Age” terminology along with his extensive associations with “New Age” authors of all sorts. The first few chapters of Smith’s new book were totally dedicated to reproving, with fervor, what he had already proved. I also read the pdf file, which is free online, of Warren Smith’s called Reinventing Jesus Christ, which was the “who’s who” of New Age terminology, books, and other literature.

My new blog, For Heaven’s Sake, is dedicated to fighting the good fight against our adversary, Satan. I am now reading a 15 article blog by Tom Horn called Apollyon Rising 2012. It is dedicated to his forthcoming book of the same title and entails a history of the ancient gods of Greeks and Romans, Freemasons (such as Roosevelt, Franklin, Wallace), and the ideology found on the dollar bill (the pyramid, all-seeing eye, Latin literature, etc.). This new direction the Lord has taken me in is vastly interesting and I am finding common ties to what is happening in the New Spirituality (New Age) Movement today. Such things as “The Watchers” who are Maitreya’s helpers and who were prominent in Greek idol worship. It also has a great deal to do with the fact that there might have been what some have termed “Adomic” intellect that has been forgotten and diluted over the centuries since Adam and Eve and the Fall. It seems Adam may have had a knowledge of the stars that recorded the history of God, Creation, man’s creation, earth’s creation, the angels, and the Universe. In other words, the stars may actually hold the true and first recorded history of Creation (or the first bible). This star-intellect was forgotten with all the other godly knowledge that Adam and Eve had but lost when they chose to be gods themselves (The Fall). God then forbade astrology, since it was no longer blessed by His intellect, and the knowledge became diluted. Now, astrology, as a link or modem to life, death, the past and the future, is to be forsaken and shunned because it is not of godly content and can never be until God himself reveals the true tale. This is important because the fallen angels are the ones that are found throughout Greek and Roman history and may well have had their true pasts diluted in the same manner as the star-intellect. Apollo (Apollyon), or the sun god, may well be the number one angel under Satan who is Saturn in Greek mythology. Do you see where this is headed?

All these old mythological gods are the thousands of angels that followed Satan to earth. The Greeks had gods for everything from earth, wind, and fire to disease, health, and marriage. They had a freakin’ god for everything they did. It may well be that these gods/angels came to earth after/before(?) the fall and explained away their appearance as being truly good and beneficial gods…not fallen gods following Satan (I always wondered why the gods messed with Homer’s characters so much…now it makes sense). These are the same gods the Greeks called “The Watchers” because they watched over all matters of life concerning man (inherent evil?). Now, Maitreya says he is bringing back “The Watchers” or, as they have also been called, “The Disciples of Wisdom”. They are already channeling through people worldwide. So, are we headed into a new Roman revival…YES…only now it is called “America’s New Spirituality” whereas it was then called Rome or Babylon under the rule of Nimrod…the most decadent of all historical times when evil ruled the world. Only, this time Jesus will end Satan’s short rule by His return. Satan will move fast during this revival because he knows his reign is limited to a very short time. I look for world peace to happen soon…how?...I don’t know for sure. Will Warren do it? Will Obama do it? It’s not important who gets the credit for the beginning to the end…there won’t be enough history afterwards to make a difference one way or the other.

If I have enough money to order Smith’s new book for you this next week, I surely will. In the meantime, be careful what you read. The written word is God’s tool of conveyance to us mortels and is extremely volatile. It can do as much damage as it can good. Joyce Meyer is not an author I would encourage anyone to read. She is more new ager than anything close to our Christ. Her “feel good” Christianity is just the steppingstone to the dilution needed to weaken our armor. Remember your bible Gary…”a little leaven leaveneth the whole loaf.”

Until next time my good friend…

Tom Horn's posts are impelling proof that these very same "Spiritual Guides" that are now organizing, enhancing, and directing the "New Spirituality Movement" are the very same fallen angels that destroyed the great Roman Empire. They were also the ones responsible for the evil that brought God's wrath to Nimrod (great grandson of Noah) and his empire of Babylon. They have been around forever and they seem to cycle reigns of terror. I fear we are headed into a "New Age" of people who are being led by these very same evil angels that have ruled Earth since the beginning of history and the new fall will be "Babylon The Great is Falling" (or America) as Jack Hook explains on his website so thoroughly (a must read!).

I will leave you here while I do some more reading and exploring of all these new posts. As I have said before, I would not be doing this at all if it were not for the leading hands of Jesus. He leads me to read what is important and necessary for discerning Christian to know. I never proof read my posts as Jesus leads me to write as I work and His work is impeccable! Often, I will pause during a sentence and the words just seem to suddenly come upon me. This whole post came to me last night before falling asleep and is virtually, word for word, what I visualized last night. My mission from Jesus? To enlighten people...all people...as to the workings of our Adversary...Satan. To keep folks informed as to his movements and his intentions for the souls of as many people as he can fool. Satan is extremely wise (being an angel of highest rank) and extremely evil. He has thousands of angels in his ranks and they are called such names as; Maitreya, The Watchers, The Disciples of Wisdom, Legion, Greek/Roman gods, helpers, channelers, shadowers, and the Antichrist (may be here already in Maitreya). They have to be invited into your life to have any power over you (however, they can have power over other people that have power over you...like government people!) and are much, much harder to get rid of than to allow in. They fool us now in the very same way they fooled Adam and Eve...by saying we can be gods.

Be warned...they are after your soul...your very life...and they will not quit or give up. Satan's plans are for the fall of mankind in its entirety and, whether you like it or not, you are part of that plan. So, whose side are you playing on?

Until next time...God's love and good health to you my friends.