CHARISMATICA

I have literally found at least a dozen references in articles to the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ as actually one of the factors in the economic downturn, particularly the mortgage crisis. The main article that everyone is quoting is from Time Magizine online: "Maybe We Should Blame God for the Subprime Mess", by David Van Biema. Here is how it starts out:

J. Lee Grady, editor of Charisma magazine was also quoted in the Time article:

Dr. Albert Mohler also quoted this article and responded with some thought of his own- "Are We Promised Prosperity?"

Response: So there you have it folks—’Prosperity’ Charismatics and Pentecostals may have triggered the downturn along with greedy brokers and manipulating bankers?              *Top

Related articles by Zemanta

Picture-Wall Street by Still Burning via Flickr

Lately, the economic news in America and Europe has been rather frightening as one bank and financial institution after another closes or faces bankruptcy with hopes of some kind of bailout.

Recently,there have been reports that the churches near Wall Street have seen lots of financial folks lately on their knees in prayer.

I have read a lot of accounts lately about the economy and no one really seems to know how to correct the mess we are in or whether the ‘bailout bill’ just passed by Congress will actually help or not. Some even think it could make matters worse.

I believe that God is calling his church and his people to stand up in faith and participate in his Kingdom/Revival economy.

I believe that a Kingdom/Revival economy is always successful regardless of the world economic condition.

I believe that God can choose to bless his people regardless of the dominant economy.

I believe that there are a number of important economic principles given to us from the teaching and ministry of Jesus.  The Kingdom/Revival economy starts with Matthew 6:33 and faith is what makes it all work: Seek ye first the Kingdom.

More on this later.            *Top 

Related articles by Zemanta

My Fellow Americans,

There’s an effort to elect an unknown random person as President… and it’s actually someone we know! Watch this online video about the surprising new nominee:

<<Click here for New Campaign Video>> (1min:45sec)

May God Bless America. Jot back a comment to let me know what you think! lol            *Top

Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III, is seeking his 3rd wife on the web. The good Bishop is going to document his effort in 10 streaming video “Web Episodes” of his reality show “WHO WILL BE THE NEXT MRS. WEEKS” on his website.

Thomas is the ex-husband of televangelist Juanita Bynum.

Response: I really did think that this was some kind of joke at first. All I can do is just shake my head and wonder how any part of the American church has come down to this in my lifetime.            *Top

Here is "Lots of healing stories" from our friends involved in street ministry in the UK. I guarantee that this praise report will bless your day!            *Top

A once prominent leader in the charismatic movement, Bishop Carlton Pearson has been forced to shut down his church and merge it with a  Unitarian church.

Bishop Pearson was once the pastor of a large Charismatic church with over 6,000 members, use to be on the board of Oral Roberts University, guest host on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and was even part of a group of black religious leaders who use to advise President George W. Bush.

However, 8 years ago he began to teach a false doctrine of universal salvation, that everyone goes to heaven, which he called "the gospel of inclusion".  Soon, he was rejected by other Charismatic and evangelical leaders and the membership in his church fell to only a few hundred. Recently, the church’s property went into foreclosure and was lost.

Response: How the mighty have fallen. This is very sad, at least I feel a sadness born by the Spirit, and it is nothing to celebrate about, which I was ready to do until the Lord let me know how sad he was about it. Yet it should be an example to others and encourage pastors to remain faithful to the Gospel.

One would have hoped that after all the discipline and criticism that Pastor Pearson received that he would have come back into the fold. The only worse thing that could have happened would have been if Pastor Pearson’s church to continued growing as he taught false doctrine.

We do need to continue to remember him in prayer. Remember, it isn’t really over till it’s over.

One can only hope that this would happen to every pastor who continues to teach false and heretical doctrine.           *Top

I found this on Adrian Warnock’s blog—an app. program by the folks over at Logos Bible Software: Reftagger

This program automatically provides a pop-up window that displays every bible reference in your blog or website in the version you choose. Take a look how it works, just point your curser at the following scriptures and watch how it pops up:

John 3:16     Matt. 28:18-20     Is. 7:14

What is really great, it literally only takes 5 minutes to install on most sites. There is even a plugin available for self-hosted WordPress blogs that allows you to further customize it for your site.

What a great addition for ministry blogs, particularly for teaching, preaching and Bible study sites.            *Top

We are in an economic crisis is this country. I have spent the last couple of days reading article after article from supposed ‘experts’ with ideas about how we can get out of this mess. All vastly different.

The Bush administration has come up with a proposal that could do the job for now, but with little assurances that it would not result in trouble for the future.

In the middle of a presidential election, and also one where the Congress and some of the Senate are running for re-election in November, is probably the worst possible time for politicians to think about the welfare and the future of the country. This is a time when partisan politics is in full bloom with each party trying to hang the problems on the other. They are both to blame.

Nevertheless, the situation not only demands quick action, but also the right stuff. Politics needs to be put aside for a few days and a bi-partisan solution needs to be hammered out.

I have also read several prophecies (I will not link them) from different prophetic ministers warning that we are at a cross-roads where the whole thing could come down like a house of cards–unless Christians intercede. The bottom line, we really do need to pray.

We need to pray for our leaders that they would quit their usual party bickering and come together.

We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire some of the best and most influential leaders with long-term solutions to the problems before us–a more permanent set of solutions which will not only solve today’s problems but not create different ones for the future.

We need to pray that our leaders will actually be humble and accept inspiration from God—-and we need to pray that there will be time to get it all together.             *Top

This is another Gov.Palin controversy pointed out by Newsweek writer by Lisa Miller. The subtitle of the article is "The senior pastor of Palin’s former church preaches hellfire for anyone who isn’t saved by Jesus".

I guess this seems to bother some and it is out of step with an ‘Oprah’ culture which proclaims that there are many different ways to God.

I like Dr. Albert Mohler’s response:

This is just way too much fun!            *Top

I don’t know if you have seen the now famous Oliphant ‘tongues’ cartoon that was published in the Washington Post. I warn all Charismatics/Pentecostals to view it at their own risk. Rich Tatum posted on this with links to some articles and responses including one from the AG Church. Rich’s perspective on the issue is well worth reading.

Also, here is a link I found on Commonplace blog to a post about Keith Olbermann on MSNBC making fun of tongues, praying to God, and Palin.

Response: Whether you support Gov.Palin’s candidacy or not, this is way over the top. These are just a couple of examples, there is a lot more out there!  Here’s a link to a post of mine on my Movie-TV review site with a video of Matt Damon criticizing Palin for believing in the creation–this one is just fun! Matt the ’spy guy’ says that he’s afraid of Sarah.         *Top