Tim Keller Endorses Emergent Church Book

Trying to re-packing poison to make it easier for everyone to swallow:

Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional by Richard Belcher, foreward by Richard Mouw. That is Tim Keller's name & endorsement in the upper right hand corner of the book.

Reviews at Amazon:

"Jim Belcher shows that we don't have to choose between orthodox evangelical doctrine on the one hand, and cultural engagement, creativity and commitment to social justice on the other. This is an important book." --Tim Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York

Endorsements are chock-full of Emergents:

Tim Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City

Mark Oestreicher, president, Youth Specialties

Dan Kimball, author of They Like Jesus but Not the Church

Collin Hansen, editor-at-large, Christianity Today, and author of Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists

Makoto Fujimura, artist and author of Refractions: A Journey of Art, Faith and Humanity

Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research

Rob Bell, pastor, Mars Hill Bible Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, author, Velvet Elvis

Tony Jones, author of The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier

Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church, Seattle, president, Acts 29 Church Planting Network, president, Resurgence

Scot McKnight, Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies, North Park University

Richard J. Mouw, president, Fuller Theological Seminary

Dr. John H. Armstrong, president, ACT 3, and author of Your Church Is Too Small: Why Unityin Christ's Mission Is Vital to the Future of the Church

Alan Hirsch, author of The Forgotten Ways, and founder of Forge Mission Training Network and Shapevine.com

Tim Keller Spoke At Inter-Faith National Cathedral

Tim Keller spoke at the inter-faith the National Cathedral Church. How ironic, considering his speech topic.

Keller speaker at the Cathedral: On November 5, join Keller and Cathedral Dean Sam Lloyd as theyexplore the notion of “counterfeit gods,”how we have become entrapped by false notions of security and success,and where the answers are on the road ahead. This evening event includes a 30-minute book presentation by Keller,a public conversation between Kellerand Lloyd, audience questions, and a book signing.

“Counterfeit Gods,” with Tim Keller,
November 5, 7:30 pm. Tickets $13–$18
at www.nationalcathedral.org or
(877) 537-2228.

National Cathedral is INTER-FAITH:

The Cathedral is a spiritual resource for our nation: a great and beautiful edifice in the city of Washington, an indispensable ministry for people of all faiths and perspectives, and a sacred place for our country in times of celebration, crisis, and sorrow. Generous friends, members, and donors around the world support our mission.

Washington National Cathedral is a church for national purposes called to embody God’s love and to welcome people of all faiths and perspectives. A unique blend of the spiritual and the civic, this Episcopal Cathedral is a voice for generous-spirited Christianity and a catalyst for reconciliation and interfaith dialogue to promote respect and understanding. We invite all people to share in our commitment to create a more hopeful and just world.

NC has a prayer labyrinth

When Being Others-Minded Is Considered Poor Self-Esteem

I heard a woman caller on a radio show say that she had low self-esteem and worth because for years she was giving and caring and didn't put herself first.

Selflessness is now called BAD and low self-worth!

Calling good evil and evil good.....psychology has perverted people's fallen minds and selfish hearts even more so.

Over Dead Baby Bodies, the GOP Won Kennedy's Seat

With the win of Scott Brown in MA not 24 hours old, the media is talking about him running for president. Unbelievable. This guy is pro-abortion, and a sordid past (posed nude for Cosmo), and won in a thoroughly Democratic state, he's not a true Republican, any more than Schwarzeneggar is or Mitt Romney. The easy acceptance of a purportedly huge lose by the Dems tells me something's up.

I don't count this as a win on any level, because the GREAT issue is abortion and Obamacare will pass anyway.

Haiti's Self-Inflicted Poverty: a symptom of its spiritual death

A symptom of Haiti's biggest problem: spiritual death:

Excerpts from Haiti's avoidable death toll by Dr. Walter Williams

As tragic as the Haitian calamity is, it is merely symptomatic of a far deeper tragedy that's completely ignored, namely self-inflicted poverty.

The biggest reason for Haiti being one of the world's poorest countries is its restrictions on economic liberty.

Corruption is rampant. Haiti ranks 177th out of 179 countries in the 2007 Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. Its reputation as one of the world's most corrupt countries is a major impediment to doing business. Customs officers often demand bribes to clear shipments. The Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom says that because of burdensome regulations and bribery, starting a business in Haiti takes an average of 195 days, compared with the world average of 38 days. Getting a business license takes about five times longer than the world average of 234 days – that's over three years.

Crime and lawlessness are rampant in Haiti. The U.S. Department of State website, long before the earthquake, warned, "There are no 'safe' areas in Haiti. ... Kidnapping, death threats, murders, drug-related shootouts, armed robberies, home break-ins and car-jacking are common in Haiti." The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warns its citizens that, "The level of crime in Haiti is very high, and the police have little ability to enforce laws. Local authorities often have limited or no capacity to provide assistance, even if you are a victim of a serious crime." Crime anywhere is a prohibitive tax on economic development, and the poorest people are its primary victims.

Private-property rights are vital to economic growth. The Index of Economic Freedom reports that "Haitian protection of investors and property is severely compromised by weak enforcement, a paucity of updated laws to handle modern commercial practices, and a dysfunctional and resource-poor legal system." That means commercial disputes are settled out of court often through the bribery of public officials; settlements are purchased.

The way out of Haiti's grinding poverty is not rocket science. Ranking countries according to: 1) whether they are more or less free-market, 2) per capita income, and 3) ranking in International Amnesty's human-rights protection index, we would find that those nations with a larger free-market sector tend also to be those with the higher income and greater human-rights protections. Haitian President Rene Preval is not enthusiastic about free markets; his heroes are none other than the hemisphere's two brutal communist tyrants: Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Fidel Castro.

Haiti's disaster demands immediate Western assistance, but it's only the Haitian people who can relieve themselves of the deeper tragedy of self-inflicted poverty.

For the full article go here.

I Won't Join The Scott Brown Celebration *Update*

Given that Scott Brown is pro-abortion and has a tainted past posing for Cosmo in the 80's, why are the Republicans celebrating his victory in MA last night? I saw an ad for him on WND "the change beings 10-19-10", to which I ask, WHAT change?

A Republican who wins in a thoroughly deep-seeded Democratic state is NOT a true Republican. It means he's a RINO. Brown is one of those.

So I won't join the celebration. Its more of the same junk. Principles are worth more than a few bucks back in my pocket.

***UPDATE***

Politico reports: quote:

Eight Republicans bucked their party in backing the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell" policy, potentially risking a backlash from the conservative base while giving the historic vote a stronger bipartisan finish than many expected.

The Republican senators who voted yes on the repeal with the Democrats were Richard Burr of North Carolina, Mark Kirk of Illinois, John Ensign of Nevada, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, George Voinovich of Ohio, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both of Maine...


Two of the Republicans — Brown and Snowe — are up for reelection in 2012.

“The vote speaks for itself,” Brown told POLITICO, before an aide added that he had explained his position in prior published statements.

End quote.

Folks that's why I said what I said a year ago. Brown wasn't a true Republican nor Conservative. No true Conservative/Republican wins in a liberal state. Why did you Repubs in MA vote for him?

The Truth Hurts: dividing from Christians to keep Democrats happy

Originally I wrote this as a response to a purported Christian Republican aquaintance who didn't like my forthrightness in stating the fact that there's no "hope" for California unless we get rid of the liars and liberals. She didn't want my comment to offend her Democrat friends, so she removed it. Sticking her head in the sand, she didn't want to deal with the conflict and reality of the problems, both politically, and more importantly, spiritually. She rather just stay positive and "happy" (as defined to her by a recent PBC show on that topic).

Quote:

Schwarzeneggar, whom you brought up, really is a liar. I wasn't just spouting off the cuff. I have the facts. For instance, he lied about being against raising taxes (his main emphasis when campaigning), then he raised taxes; he fought hard to pass measures 1A-1F(tax increases); then nominated a pro-tax candidate for the state AG, and had the gall to turned around and proclaim he's for cutting taxes. State assemblyman Anthony Adams did the same thing as a Republican too. Schwarzeneggar is also for homosexual rights. The leaders of our state are absolute liberals and they ARE the problem with pushing homosexuality in the schools, restricting discussion of Jesus Christ, restricting speech that favors heterosexual marriage, etc. How is any of this positive? How does any of this reflect biblical principles, much less conservative ones?

One's political views reflects one's spiritual condition because one is based on the other.

The truth is that the Democrats are also ruining this country (pro-abortion, pro-socialism, pro-homosexuality; not to mention anti-Constitution). This is in direct violation of God's standard. It is a good thing Sen. Dodd is stepping down; he's a leader of this anti-biblical, immoral junk; besides which, he rebuked the freshmen Senators for being brash, but didn't rebuke his own party leaders like Pelosi for doing the same thing. Its interesting how Republicans across the board are so afraid of offending the Democrats that they go silent, but the Democrats don't have that worry; they don't care who they offend.


I don't know about you , but my hope isn't in how good things might be today or tomorrow. Its not based on people and getting along with everyone. My hope and joy (note: its not "happiness"--which is based on circumstances and is fleeting) has to be in Christ Jesus alone, regardless of what is going on around me. That means if I am loyal to Christ and Him alone, it will cause division. Truth always does. The Sword is doubled-edged. Dealing with falsehood and error might seem negative to some, but its actually demonstrating the love for Christ Jesus, His Word, and people. We are commanded as Christians to deal with it :

Eph 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead EXPOSE THEM. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

Gal 1: 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Consider carefully the words of Christ Jesus:

Mat 10:32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. 34 "DO NOT THINK that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I HAVE NOT COME TO BRING PEACE, BUT A SWORD. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And WHOEVER DOES NOT TAKE UP HIS CROSS and FOLLOW ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. [emphasis & caps, mine]

The reality is that there's a lot of evil going on in this world, and as Christians, we are called to not ignore and have some superficial happiness, but rather confront it head-on as God gives opportunity, with of course, right motives and means (Acts 28:19;Eph. 6).
God will not bless this country when people are WILLINGLY IGNORANT OR SILENT on such foundational issues as abortion, homosexuality, etc. Those who truly love Christ and Scripture cannot afford to be silent because that is compromise. Its also a lack of loving the souls of others and of Christ Jesus and His Word. This isn't so much about politics as it is about professing Christians standing up for Truth no matter the cost. Trying to influence liberal friends doesn't work; usually is the liberals who end up influencing the "conservatives" to lower the standard and thus compromising for the sake of friendship. What kind of friendship does that?

Jer 6:14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' WHEN THERE IS NO PEACE.

Appeasing the liberals isn't peace nor is sticking one's head in the sand peace. Neither does it bring much happiness. Reality always rears its head.

Please don't misunderstand me: I don't believe politics is the answer for society's sins. In fact Scripture says: Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.’” However, as long as Christians are a part of the government ("of the people, by the people...") we are in a unique position to stand for righteousness. This means we divide from compromise, too, because our loyalty is for Jesus Christ, not party affiliation or what have you.

God is grieved over what is happening in this country and it should grieve those who claim the name of Christ.

End quote.

If we're ever to fight for our state and our nation, if we're ever to fight for biblical Truth, then we are obligated to delve into the fray and wrestle with those who oppose the Truth...not just let it go at the first sign of opposition or heat. Tenacity is a lost character with most people today and its sad, because folks, we're in a battle not just for our country politically, but most importantly spiritually. How in the world are we to influence others if we stay silent when they don't feel like hearing us?

Rich Buddist Tiger Woods and Poor Voodoo Romanist Haitians Have The Same Spiritual Condition: so where's the call of repentance to them?

Poor Voodoo Romanist Haitians are in the same spiritual condition as Buddist Tiger Woods. So where's the call to repentance for them? Now, of all times, is THE opportunity to proclaim the only way of salvation.

Or do we merely care suddenly, for the Haitians because of an earthquake? Temporal over eternal cares?

Do you realize how many souls just went to Hell? And how many of those were told they were working their way to Heaven?

Its so easy to point to someone immoral and rich like Tiger Woods. But the Haitians are just as immoral and spiritually dead, without hope, entrenched in demonic religions.

Former El-Al Head of Security Gives Insight for American Airport Security

El-Al is the Israeli airline--no attack in 40 years. They might have some wisdom we should impliment.

El-Al head of security talks about airline security here in America:

Quote:

Isaac Yeffet, the former head of security for El Al and now an aviation security consultant in New York, said El Al has prevented terrorism in the air by making sure every passenger is interviewed by a well-trained agent before check-in.

"Stop relying only on technology," Yeffet told CNN. "Technology can help the qualified, well-trained human being but cannot replace him."

Yeffet spoke to CNN Friday.

CNN: What needs to be done to improve the system?

Yeffet: It's mandatory that every passenger -- I don't care his religion or whatever he is -- every passenger has to be interviewed by security people who are qualified and well-trained, and are being tested all year long. I trained my guys and educated them, that every flight, for them, is the first flight. That every passenger is the first passenger. The fact that you had [safe flights] yesterday and last month means nothing. We are looking for the one who is coming to blow up our aircraft. If you do not look at each passenger, something is wrong with your system.

CNN: What is El Al's approach to airline security? How does it differ from what's being done in this country?

Yeffett: We must look at the qualifications of the candidate for security jobs. He must be educated. He must speak two languages. He must be trained for a long time, in classrooms. He must receive on-the-job training with a supervisor for weeks to make sure that the guy understands how to approach a passenger, how to convince him to cooperate with him, because the passenger is taking the flight and we are on the ground. The passengers have to understand that the security is doing it for their benefit.

We are constantly in touch with the Israeli intelligence to find out if there are any suspicious passengers among hundreds of passengers coming to take the flight -- by getting the list of passengers for each flight and comparing it with the suspicious list that we have. If one of the passengers is on the list, then we are waiting for him, he will not surprise us.

During the year, we did thousands of tests of our security guys around the world. It cost money, but once you save lives, it's worth all the money that the government gave us to have the right security system.

I used to send a male or female that we trusted. We used to give them tickets and send them to an airport to take a flight to Tel Aviv. We concealed whatever we could in their luggage. Everything was fake, and we wanted to find out if the security people would stop this passenger or not.
If there was any failure, the security people immediately were fired, and we called in all the security people to tell people why they failed, what happened step by step. I wanted everyone to learn from any failure. And if they were very successful, I wanted everyone to know why.

CNN: What do you think of using full body scanners?

Yeffet: I am against it, this is once again patch on top of patch. Look what happened, Richard Reid, the shoebomber, hid the explosives in his shoes. The result -- all of us have to take off our shoes when we come to the airport. The Nigerian guy hid his explosives in his underwear. The result -- everyone now will be seen naked. Is this the security system that we want?

We have millions of Muslims in this country. I am not Muslim, but I am very familiar with the tradition, I respect the tradition. Women who walk on the street cover their body from head to toe. Can you imagine the reaction of the husband? Excuse me, wait on the side, we want to see your wife's body naked?... This is not an answer.

End quote.

Educated and highly trained security at airports? That's unheard of! You think Muslims will willingly abide by the use of body scanners? Or will THEY get to opt out for "religious" reasons...when Islam IS the problem?


Contrast that to our failed security"system" in today's headlines: "The Centers for Disease Control said a passenger with tuberculosis has been detained after boarding a flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco despite being on a "do-not-board" list."

Out-Blacking the Blacks

Race is now determined by what you do and where you live, and how you behavior, not what nationality or skin color you are. I never thought I'd see the day. And now white people are trying to "out black" black people.

Blagojevich called himself "blacker than Obama" recently:

"In the interview, Blagojevich says: "I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little Laundromat in a black community not far from where he lived. I saw it all growing up."


Toni Morrison called Bill Clinton the first black president:

"Remember the writer Toni Morrison’s remark that one Bill Clinton was America’s “first black president”? In 1998, she eulogised: “Blacker than any actual black person who could ever be elected in our children’s lifetime. After all, Clinton displays almost every trope of blackness: single-parent household, born poor, working-class, saxophone-playing, McDonald’s-and-junk-food-loving boy from Arkansas.”"

Do these people think they are fulfilling Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream, when he said,"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"?

Then again, the Black community often hurls racist remarks toward other Black people who don't fall in line with the mindset of the "leaders", calling them "sell-outs" and "Uncle Toms", etc.

I find this disgraceful and frankly very racist and insulting. What is wrong with people?

Confidence In Proclaiming Christ Crucified

When we preach Christ crucified, we have no reason to stammer, or stutter, or hesitate, or apologize; there is nothing in the gospel of which we have any cause to be ashamed.
- C.H. Spurgeon

Joel Osteen Knows Not the Truth Nor Proclaims It

In light of Joel Osteen's praise and endorsement of lesbian feminist Mayor Parker of Houston, TX, I'd like to refresh your memory of Osteen's ineptness at knowing Truth, but teaching a false gospel.

Excerpts from CNN's transcript of Osteen's interview:

KING: But you're not fire and brimstone, right? You're not pound the decks and hell and damnation?

OSTEEN: No. That's not me. It's never been me. I've always been an encourager at heart. And when I took over from my father he came from the Southern Baptist background and back 40, 50 years ago there was a lot more of that. But, you know, I just -- I don't believe in that. I don't believe -- maybe it was for a time. But I don't have it in my heart to condemn people. I'm there to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them experience the life God has for us.

KING: But don't you think if people don't believe as you believe, they're somehow condemned?

OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I'm for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it's not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that's God's for you. You can live a good life no matter what's happened to you. And so I don't know. I know there is condemnation but I don't feel that's my place.

KING: You've been criticized for that, haven't you?

OSTEEN: I have. I have. Because I don't know.

OSTEEN: Yeah. I don't know. I think coming from the Christian base, and I think the fact that I don't know, it's a book of encouragement and inspiration. And to me it seems like there's so much pulling us down in our society today. There's so much negative. Most of my book is about how you can live a good life today in spite of all that. So I think that had a big part of it.

KING: But it doesn't quote a lot of biblical passages until the back of the book, right?

OSTEEN: It doesn't do a whole lot of it. My message, I wanted to reach the mainstream. We've reached the church audience. So I just try to, what I do is just try to teach practical principles. I may not bring the scripture in until the end of my sermon and i might feel bad about that. Here's the thought. I talked yesterday about living to give. That's what a life should be about. I brought in at the end about some of the scriptures that talk about that. But same principal in the book.


KING: Is it hard to lead a Christian life?

OSTEEN: I don't think it's that hard. To me it's fun. We have joy and happiness. Our family -- I don't feel like that at all. I'm not trying to follow a set of rules and stuff. I'm just living my life.


OSTEEN: We do have rules. But the main rule to me is to honor God with your life. To life a life of integrity. Not be selfish. You know, help others. But that's really the essence of the Christian faith.

KING: That we live in deeds?

OSTEEN: I don't know. What do you mean by that?

KING: Because we've had ministers on who said, your record don't count. You either believe in Christ or you don't. If you believe in Christ, you are, you are going to heaven. And if you don't no matter what you've done in your life, you ain't.

OSTEEN: Yeah, I don't know. There's probably a balance between. I believe you have to know Christ. But I think that if you know Christ, if you're a believer in God, you're going to have some good works. I think it's a cop-out to say I'm a Christian but I don't ever do anything ...

KING: What if you're Jewish or Muslim, you don't accept Christ at all?

OSTEEN: You know, I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know ...

KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They're wrong, aren't they?

OSTEEN: Well, I don't know if I believe they're wrong. I believe here's what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God with judge a person's heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don't know. I've seen their sincerity. So I don't know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus.


KING: Do you ever involve politics in the sermons?

OSTEEN: Never do. My father never ...

KING: Never mention President Bush?

OSTEEN: Well, only to pray. Only to pray. We prayed for President Bush, Clinton, all of them. But I've never been political. My father hasn't. I just, I have no ...

KING: How about issues that the church has feelings about? Abortion? Same-sex marriages?

OSTEEN: Yeah. You know what, Larry? I don't go there. I just ...

KING: You have thoughts, though.

OSTEEN: I have thoughts. I just, you know, I don't think that a same-sex marriage is the way God intended it to be. I don't think abortion is the best. I think there are other, you know, a better way to live your life. But I'm not going to condemn those people. I tell them all the time our church is open for everybody.

KING: You don't call them sinners?

OSTEEN: I don't.

KING: Is that a word you don't use?

OSTEEN: I don't use it. I never thought about it. But I probably don't. But most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change. There can be a difference in your life. So I don't go down the road of condemning.

KING: You believe in the Bible literally?

OSTEEN: I do, I do.

CALLER: Hello, Larry. You're the best, and thank you, Joe -- Joel -- for your positive messages and your book. I'm wondering, though, why you side-stepped Larry's earlier question about how we get to heaven? The bible clearly tells us that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light and the only way to the father is through him. That's not really a message of condemnation but of truth.

OSTEEN: Yes, I would agree with her. I believe that...

KING: So then a Jew is not going to heaven?

OSTEEN: No. Here's my thing, Larry, is I can't judge somebody's heart. You know? Only god can look at somebody's heart, and so -- I don't know. To me, it's not my business to say, you know, this one is or this one isn't. I just say, here's what the bible teaches and I'm going to put my faith in Christ. And I just I think it's wrong when you go around saying, you're saying you're not going, you're not going, you're not going, because it's not exactly my way. I'm just...

KING: But you believe your way.

OSTEEN: I believe my way. I believe my way with all my heart.

KING: But for someone who doesn't share it is wrong, isn't he?

OSTEEN: Well, yes. Well, I don't know if I look at it like that. I would present my way, but I'm just going to let god be the judge of that. I don't know. I don't know.

KING: So you make no judgment on anyone?

OSTEEN: No. But I...

KING: What about atheists?

OSTEEN: You know what, I'm going to let someone -- I'm going to let god be the judge of who goes to heaven and hell. I just -- again, I present the truth, and I say it every week. You know, I believe it's a relationship with Jesus. But you know what? I'm not going to go around telling everybody else if they don't want to believe that that's going to be their choice. God's got to look at your own heart. God's got to look at your heart, and only god knows that.


CALLER: My second question would be -- I don't know -- I heard him talking a little bit ago about how he sees faith getting stronger in America and across the world, and I believe that it's the opposite, that -- we're seeing higher rates of divorce, higher rates of drug and alcohol use among young people, and old, and with abductions, and things like that getting worse and worse.

KING: What do you think, Joel? First, inspired word.

OSTEEN: Yes, I believe the bible is god's inspired word. As far as the other we kind of talked about, I can see his point, but I think there's another point. How can we be moving our church into our basketball arena that seats 16,000 people? I mean, people are hungry for hope and encouragement.


KING: All right, what makes a good evangelist?

OSTEEN: Well, I don't know that I really know, but I think that you have a sincere heart, that you're pure before God and that you've got a relevant, practical message. And I think that's one reason the church has grown is because we've changed with the times. I mean, the music is upbeat. My message is what's going to help you during the week and things like that.

End quotes.

Scripture says:

Joh 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."


Joh 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.


1Jo 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT, and because no lie is of the truth.

Joh 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."

Is. 8 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice TO DISTINGUISH good from evil.

Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

1Jo 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Mat 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and THEN you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

1Jo 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

2Jo 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

1Jn 2:22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

Osteen Offers Prayer and Praise for Rebellious Lesbian Feminist Mayor Parker

Jer 8:11 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. 12 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD...15 We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror.


Dave Welch at Worldnetdaily talks about Joel Osteen giving the invocation for Lesiban Houston mayor Annise Parker at her inaugaration :

"… We ask that everything we do would bring honor to you … and we just lift up especially Mayor Annise Parker. … Lord, we thank you just for raising her up and just for your goodness, your mercy in her life, and just for supernatural wisdom, Father. We honor her today and our other officials, and Lord, we count it a joy and honor to be here in your presence with all of our friends and we just thank you for this day. In Jesus name, amen."

Video: marker: 8:30.

Is it a shock that Osteen prays and praises lesbian feminist Parker? No. Why? Well, for one Osteen has a false god and gospel. Secondly he said he didn't know about homosexuals going to heaven or not on Larry King's show several years ago. Thirdly, Osteen just wants adulation from man. Fourth, he has no fear of God. His invocation for homosexual Parker was to the same god as Rick Warren's invocation at Obama's: a god who is false and cannot save.

They will be judged. God will NOT be mocked.

1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1Ti 1:8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
1Ti 1:9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
1Ti 1:10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
1Ti 1:11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Mat 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.


Dave Welch makes a good point in showing how Brit Hume was burned by the uproar of calling Tiger Woods to reject Buddism and turn to Jesus Christ, but Osteen is applauded for invoking His name at a Lesbian feminist mayoral inauguration. The issue is this: one shows the intolerance and powerlessness of Buddism and the ONLY hope is Jesus Christ the Resurrected Lord; the other approves and accomodates rebellion against God and slaps on the holy name of Jesus. Which one do you think the world would therefore be ok with?

Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Here's the real Jesus of Scripture, not the false one of Warren or Osteen which approves of sin and rebellion and deception and unholiness:


Rev 19:13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
Rev 19:15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Rev 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.