Alistair Begg Withdraws from Reimagine Conference with Leonard Sweet

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

The Reimagine Conference, which will be held in December and hosted by the CCCA (Christian Camp and Conference Association), is featuring New Age sympathizer and mystic proponent Leonard Sweet. Widely popular and trusted teacher and pastor,Alistair Begg is also scheduled to be one of the speakers, but according to an assistant at Begg's office, Begg has withdrawn from the conference. Lighthouse Trails spoke with Begg's office last week about the spirituality of Leonard Sweet. Begg's assistant contacted Lighthouse Trails on August 15th and said: "After prayerful consideration, as of today Alistair has respectfully asked to be removed as one of the speakers at the Reimagine Conference in December."

This is not the first time CCCA has brought in emerging church leaders to speak at their sponsored events. Past speakers include Tony Campolo and Brian McLaren, both who would resonated with Leonard Sweet.

The Reimagine Conference is one of many conferences taking place across North America right now that is propagating the emerging (merging) church movement, which is founded on mysticism, interspirituality, and panentheism. Leonard Sweet has been sharing what he calls the "New Light" movement for nearly two decades. He recently spoke at Rick Warren's Small Group Conference. In view of the following statement by Sweet, this should concern all biblical Christians:

In addition to Sweet's view on the "Christ consciousness" (a New Age belief that God is in all), Sweet is a strong advocate for mysticism (the avenue through which man supposedly awakens to his divine self). The following quote by Sweet is just one (of many) example of his propensity toward mysticism: For those who understand New Age spirituality, an examination of Sweet's book, Quantum Spirituality(found on his website as a a href="http://www.leonardsweet.com"> free download) will reveal the true nature of Sweet's beliefs as well as the direction he and Rick Warren (who has endorsed, promoted, and partnered with Sweet since 1995) are heading.

Lighthouse Trails is grateful that Alistair Begg has apparently removed himself from the Reimagine Conference. However, as of this writing (Saturday, August 16th), his name, photo, speaking schedule, and description are still on the Reimagine website. Because Begg is such a highly respected Christian figure among many Bible believing Christians, his name on the website will possibly draw many unsuspecting and trusting individuals to attend the conference. Therefore, Lighthouse Trails beseeches Alistair Begg to not only have his name and photo removed from that website very soon but also to come out with a public statement warning of the dangers of Leonard Sweet's spirituality and the emerging church at large. Because promotional material has already been distributed by Reimagine with Begg's name and photo, a public statement is essential.

It is very troubling to watch the partnering of respected authors, pastors, and teachers with those who are involved with the contemplative prayer movement (i.e., spiritual formation) and the emerging church movement. A number of respected teachers have partnered with, sponsored, and teamed up with Rick Warren and Bill Hybels, two of the emerging churches greatest evangelists. Some have also partnered with Robert Schuller, Ken Blanchard, and a host of other leaders in the same camp as Rick Warren and Bill Hybels. With so much spiritual deception pervading our society and our churches, isn't this a time for biblical leaders to stand courageously for the truth, even if it costs them dearly?

Related:

Christian Camps and Retreat Centers - Often Havens for Contemplative

Christian Camping and Conference Association Bringing in Emerging Speakers

This article or excerpt was posted on August 16, 2008@ 2:43 pm .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Rick Warren and Other Contemplative Proponents at Thomas Road Baptist Innovate Church Conference

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

Contemplative proponents Rick Warren and Lance Witt will be speaking at Thomas Road Baptist Church (home of the late Jerry Falwell) at the Innovate Church conference, starting Monday, August 11th going through Wednesday, the 13th.

Rick Warren, who has been promoting contemplative for over a decade and whose website recommends some of the most blatant mystical promoting books in the Christian market today, will speak Monday night. One of the books featured on Warren's site right now is SpiritualDisciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun. This book promotes mantra meditation, giving detailed instructions on several types of contemplative practices. In addition, the author quotes from many New Age sympathizers and New Age contemplatives. In Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, Ahlberg Calhoun encourages the use of centering prayer, breath prayers, contemplative prayer, labyrinths, palms-up, palms-down exercises, and recommends for further reading a who's who of mystics.

Lance Witt, another speaker at Thomas Road Baptist this week, is pastor of Spiritual Maturity at Saddleback. In an article written by Witt, titled "Enjoying God's Presence in Solitude,", Witt says we are "designed to enjoy the presence of God, but that's easier said than done." In the article, Witt uses Thomas Merton as an example of someone who knew about solitude. But Merton's solitude was connected to his Buddhist sympathies. Merton likened contemplative prayer to an LSD trip.

Lighthouse Trails has spoken with Lance Witt, via email, and asked him if the kind of contemplative prayer he taught was a practice in which words or phrases are repeated over and over. He told us that it was indeed this type of prayer he taught.

Tim Clinton will also be speaking at Innovate Church. Clinton is the president of the AACC (American Association of Christian Colleges). This organization has been promoting contemplative spirituality for some time. In the AACC Code of Ethics, which incidentally is sitting on the Liberty University website, it admits that mystic Richard Foster has "influenced" the work at AACC (and Liberty?). 1 (see p. 3) The AACC website promotes the following mysticism-promoting authors: David Benner, John Ortberg, Gary Thomas
in the recent past Leonard Sweet, Dan Allender. In Clinton's own book, Competent Christian Counseling, he turns to mystics proponents such as Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, New Ager M. Scott Peck and others for spiritual insights. Gleaning from Foster and Willard (p. 421), Clinton says spiritual disciplines, including solitude (contemplative) must be taught.

Dave Earley will also be speaking at the conference this week. Earley is Chairman of the Department of Pastoral Ministries and Church Expansion at Liberty Theological Seminary. In an article on his website that he wrote titled Special Intimacy Prayer, Earley says: "Special intimacy prayer is more than prayer of the lips or of the mind. It is the deep prayer of the heart." This is where he references Richard Foster's book, Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home. In that book, Foster explains what he means by "prayer of the heart." He recommends the practice of breath prayer (p. 122) - picking a single word or short phrase and repeating it in conjunction with the breath. This is classic contemplative mysticism (Yungen). Foster adds: "You must bind the mind with one thought" (p. 124). As research analyst Ray Yungen points out, "The goal of prayer should not be to bind the mind with a word or phrase in order to induce a mystical trance but rather to use the mind to glory in the grace of God" (A Time of Departing, p. 75). In that same book, Foster says: "What is the goal of Contemplative Prayer? ... union with God.... our final goal is union with God, which is a pure relationship where we see nothing." But when Foster says "union with God," he isn't referring just to the born-again believer. He has stated many times throughout his writings that he believes contemplative prayer is for everyone, not just the believer. It is impossible for an unbeliever to have "union with God." Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man.

Related information:

Saddleback Church IS a Contemplative Church

Research on Richard Foster and Contemplative Prayer

This article or excerpt was posted on August 11, 2008@ 3:18 pm .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Conference Alert: Lead Like Jesus Revolution

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

CCN (Church Communication Network) is sending out notices about their upcoming Lead Like Jesus Revolution conference, which will take place on October 17th. The event will be broadcast to various locations across North America. Advertisement states that this one-day event features "the nation's most influential Christian leaders." Two of those "influential" leaders are Ken Blanchard and John Ortberg (who are also the hosts of the event). Both men are two of the strongest and most influential proponents of the contemplative prayer movement.

Ken Blanchard has been the topic of many Lighthouse Trails reports. Best known for his One Minute Manager top seller, Blanchard professes to have become a Christian in the late 1980s. However, he has been promoting and endorsing books, authors, practices, and organizations which have an eastern religion emphasis consistently for over twenty years. Often, he has written the forewords to books that outwardly teach New Age meditation practices and books that are Buddhist or Hindu in nature. A recent example is a book titled Little Wave and Old Swell (2007 edition) (see our report), in which the author of the book says it is "inspired by Hindu swami Paramahansa Yogananada." Blanchard also sits on the board of advisors for a New Age group called The Hoffman Institute. The Institute takes its name from a method called The Hoffman Quadrinity Process. The book The Hoffman Process (written by Tim Laurence) is a primer in eastern-style meditation and New Age spirituality. Here are a few quotes from that book:

Of the Hoffman Process, Blanchard says: Another book Blanchard wrote the foreword to is Jim Ballard's book, Mind Like Water. In the book, Ballard states: In this book, Ballard instructs on breath prayer, visualization, mantra meditation, and a number of other practices to enter the altered state of consciousness. Blanchard, who spoke at Saddleback last year and who currently sits on the New York Leadership Center'sadvisory board with Rick Warren and Bill Hybels, says in the foreword of Ballard's book: Blanchard, who will be co-hosting the CCN Lead Like Jesus event with John Ortberg, another contemplative proponent, is considered a leading influencer in today's Christian world at large.

Ortberg's 2005 book, God is Closer Than You Thinkhas a who's who of mystic proponents, some of which include Anne Lamott, Annie Dillard, Gary Thomas (Sacred Pathways), Brother Lawrence (who danced violently like a mad man when he practiced the "presence"), interspiritualists Tilden Edwards (Shalem Institute), Thomas Kelly (Divine Center in all), Jean Pierre de Caussade, Frederick Buechner, Meister Eckhart, Dallas Willard and Thomas Merton. Ortberg's book, The Life You've Always Wantedhas many of these names as well. Ortberg and contemplative promoter Ruth Haley Barton Barton co-authored Ordinary Day With Jesus, which clearly instructs readers in mystical prayer practices. Both helped to develop Willow Creek's Spiritual Formation program.

CCN represents most of today's popular Christian figures: Beth Moore, T.D. Jakes, Max Lucado, Philip Yancey, James Dobson, Gary Thomas, Rick Warren, Leonard Sweet, Brian McLaren, and Erwin McManus. A large percentage of the 80+ CCN speakerspromote both contemplative spirituality and the emerging church.

For more research on Ken Blanchard, click here.
This article or excerpt was posted on July 13, 2008@ 9:32 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Alert: The Canadian Contemplative Youth Workers Conference

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Roll Over Menno

If you go to the Mennonite Brethren Conference (Canada) website and click on 'Ministry Quest' or 'Canadian Youth Workers Conference' you will find yourself on the website of the Canadian Youth Workers Conference which is going to be held in Toronto Dec. 4-7, 2008. This conference is put on by Youth Specialties and Canadafire.

[I]f your church is sending its youth leaders and workers to this convention, perhaps they need to be warned that instead of being grounded in biblical truths, they may be getting a large does of ecumenical, monastic, emerging, contemplative spirituality and bringing it back to the teenagers in their care. Click here for links and to read this entire report.

This article or excerpt was posted on June 25, 2008@ 11:56 am .

From: http://rollovermenno.wordpress.com

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Conference Alert: Al Gore and Tony Campolo to Address Baptist Organizations

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

The New Baptist Covenant, an alliance of over 30 Baptist organizations, will be hosting the 2008 Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant conference starting today, January 30th. A luncheon will be held with guest speaker, Al Gore. Other speakers at the event include Tony Campolo and former presidents Bill Clinton (keynote speaker) and Jimmy Carter (the founder of the New Baptist Covenant).

Former presidential candidate, Al Gore, is a popular speaker and author on environmental issues. What many may not know is he is also a promoter of New Age thought. Research analyst Ray Yungen explains:

The 30 plus Baptist organizations that are part of the New Baptist Covenant represent 20 million Baptists around the world, according to the NBC website. Baylor University and the Baptist Standardnews source stand among the groups that have joined the NBC. While some may be surprised that Baylor University is on the list, the school's spiritual affinity toward the New Age showed up last year when they invited New Age sympathizer Leonard Sweet to speak. 2

The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Baptist body in existence, is not part of the New Baptist Covenant. A statement on the NBC website explains why: In addition to Al Gore and Tony Campolo, both advocates of eastern mysticism, some of the "Presenters" at the conference starting today are also proponents of mystical meditation: MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), The Alban Institute, and The Upper Room.

While this article will not attempt to determine whether there are political motives behind this newly formed organization that includes at least three major political personalities, one thing can be stated with surety: The New Baptist Covenant has the potential of being another avenue through which mystical spirituality will enter the lives of millions of people and thus take them further away from the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Related Stories:

Carter, Clinton Back Moderate Baptists

Video announcing the New Baptist Covenant (Carter/Clinton)

Thousands of young people to attend New Baptist Covenant event

This article or excerpt was posted on January 30, 2008@ 8:47 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Conference Alert: Breakforth Conference in Canada with Kay Arthur, Josh McDowell and Erwin McManus

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

Last year at this time, Lighthouse Trails reported on the Breakforth Conference that took place in Edmonton, Alberta. The speakers included popular teachers Kay Arthur and Josh McDowell along with contemplative proponents Tony Campolo and Jack Hayford (see report). We concluded that report by stating:

Now, Breakforth 2008is quickly approaching (January 25th - 27th), and the line up of speakers proves to be another disconcerting mixture: Kay Arthur, Josh McDowell, and emerging leaders Chris Seay and Erwin McManus.

McManus is just wrapping up his Rethink Conferencewith Robert Schuller at the Crystal Cathedral. Within a week he will be sharing the platform with Arthur and McDowell at Breakforth. If Arthur and McDowell are prepared to stand on stage at Breakforth and renounce the spirituality of McManus and the emerging church as well as the contemplative prayer movement, giving an exacting warning to those attending, then by all means, they should go. But they did not do that last year when they shared the platform with Tony Campolo - thus we do not anticipate they will do that this year.

What Arthur and McDowell may not realize is that by their participating at Breakforth, they are giving the thumbs up signal to thousands that the emerging church and contemplative spirituality are acceptable avenues to reach God; and in so doing they become part of the deception, and people's spiritual lives are going to be affected.

Josh McDowell is presently scheduled to speak at the Breakforth USA 2009. 1

Related Stories:

Kay Arthur/Josh McDowell to Share Platform with Contemplative

More conference alerts

This article or excerpt was posted on January 20, 2008@ 10:22 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Southeastern University (AOG) Invites Contemplative Proponents to Conference

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

In March 2008, Southeastern University, an Assemblies of God institution, will be presenting the 2008 National Leadership Forum. The motto of the conference is "Igniting the Flame of Servant Leadership." Those scheduled to speak at this year's event include New Age sympathizer Ken Blanchard, emerging church leader and mysticism promoter Erwin McManus, and contemplative proponent Kay Warren. Other speakers include Colin Powell, Andy Stanley, and Jeb Bush. The three day conference will cost between $600 and $700 per person.

Blanchard and McManus participated at last year's Leadership Forum at Southeastern as did author and leadership trainer Laurie Beth Jones. Jones holds to New Age thought as can be seen in her book Teach Your Team to Fish: Using Ancient Wisdom for Inspired Teamwork. She says her personal mission is "to recognize, promote, and inspire divine connection in myself and others." 1

It appears that Southeastern University is lacking wisdom when it comes to protecting their students from the influences of the New Age. As another example, while their school online bookstore offers a disclaimer, the store, which bears the university name, is loaded with books on subjects such as Yoga, Reiki, Wicca, Tai Chi, Tarot Cards, Witchcraft, and more. In addition, there are books offered of a pornographic nature. While the university leaders may feel a one page disclaimer is enough, the fact is SEU has placed its name on a website that has New Age, occultic, pornographic, and homosexual material.

Such conferences as Southeasern's Leadership Forum are occurring frequently across North America with many of the same speakers sharing the platforms. Leadership is the focal point. Willow Creek had their Leadership Summit this year with two of the speakers that will attend the Southeastern event: Marcus Buckingham and Colin Powell. In October, the Lead Like Jesus conference took place and included several speakers that will participate at the Southeastern conference: Erwin McManus, Ken Blanchard, Patrick Lencioni. Worth noting is the appearance of Kay Warren and Erwin McManus also at the upcoming Rethink Conference at Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral.

Related Research:

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Professor Earl Creps Promote Contemplative Spirituality

Assemblies of God: Committed to Spiritual Formation, Contemplative and Emerging

Christian Colleges That Promote Contemplative

This article or excerpt was posted on December 20, 2007@ 11:58 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Bob Coy Joins Contemplative Promoters Rick Warren and John Ortberg for Conference

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

On November 13th and 14th at Saddleback Church in California Bob Coy, pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale will join Rick Warren and John Ortberg for the Exponential 07 conference. Both Warren and Ortberg are strong proponents of contemplative spirituality, and attendees should use caution and discernment.

While staff at Coy's Florida church have told Lighthouse Trails on various occasions that they do not promote contemplative spirituality or the emerging church, the walk-in bookstore at the church has been selling books by contemplative and/or emergent leaders and authors such as Rob Bell, David Crowder, and Liz Babbs.

Crowder, author of a contemplative promoting book called Praise Habit, also performed at the Fort Lauderdale church this past February.

An interview with Liz Babbs reveals her proclivities for eastern-style meditation.

Rob Bell's mystical affinities can be seen in his book Velvet Elvis for one, where he tells readers (often teens) to spend three months studying a book by New Ager and Buddhist sympathizer Ken Wilber (see Faith Undone for more information on Rob Bell's beliefs).

The Exponential 07 event describes itself in the following way:

Unfortunately, the experiences Rick Warren and John Ortbergoffer followers could include the contemplative experience. Ortberg co-authored the Willow Creek Spiritual Formation curriculum with Ruth Haley Bartonof the Tranforming Center, a place where Christian leaders are taught the dynamics of contemplative prayer. In Ortberg's book, God is Closer Than You Think, Ortberg quotes favorably from contemplatives such as Anne Lamott, Annie Dillard, Gary Thomas (Sacred Pathways), Brother Lawrence (who danced violently like a mad man when he practiced contemplative), interspiritualists Tilden Edwards (Shalem Institute), Thomas Kelly (believed a Divine Center was in all people), Jean Pierre de Caussade, Frederick Buechner, Meister Eckhart as well as Dallas Willard and Thomas Merton.

One of the other speakers at the Exponential 07 is Allen Hunt, senior pastor at Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, where the Walk to Emmaus is hosted.1The Walk to Emmaus is a meditative experience/lesson created by Upper Room Ministries, a pro-contemplative/mystical organization that encourages all types of eastern-style meditation. According to the Walk to Emmaus website, it is "an adaptation of the Roman Catholic Cursillo Movement, which originated in Spain in 1949." 2A women's group at Mt. Pisgahis focusing on contemplative prayer proponent Larry Crabb. In Crabb's book, The Papa Prayerhe talks about the benefits of centering prayer.3

A "Sneak Preview" promotional video clipof the Exponential 07 conference states: "The principles taught here are fantastic, right out of the Word of God." But in view of the speakers this year, the principles taught may be more dangerous than "fantastic" and may offer something contrary to the Word of God. It may be best for Bible believing Christians to steer clear of the Exponential 07 conference at Saddleback Church this year. And we pray that those who do attend will not be exposed or introduced to the dangerous teachings of contemplative spirituality.

Related Stories:
Is Rick Warren Promoting Contemplative Prayer?

Will the Next Billy Graham Be a Mystic?

This article or excerpt was posted on September 16, 2007@ 5:24 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Tim LaHaye to Speak at Pro-Contemplative Conference

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

The 2007 World Conference, presented by the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), will take place September 12th - 15th this year. Because of the pro-contemplative persuasions of the AACC, it is not surprising that contemplatives such as Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, Larry Crabb, and several others will be part of the speaking platform. Larry Crabb, the spiritual director for the AACC, has shown his spiritual persuasions in his books, such as The Papa Prayer, where he states:

The AACC is supportive of contemplative spirituality (mysticism), as can be seen in their Code of Ethicswhere they admit they are "influenced" by the "paradigm offered by Richard Foster" (p. 3). With this in mind, it is surprising and disturbing to see a name on the World Conference plenary speakers list(scroll down page) that has not in the past been associated with contemplative or mystical prayer. That name is Tim LaHaye. LaHaye is known mostly for his Left Behind series, which fictionalizes a possible end-time scenario on the earth. What is surprising is that the Left Behindbooks have consistently shown, through the story lines, the negative effects of the New Age movement and the role mystical spirituality plays in end time deception.

Some may ask, "What's the big deal? So what if LaHaye shares a platform with contemplative leaders? That doesn't make him one." That's true. But what it does do is two things: First, it makes one ask if LaHaye's visionhas become blurry as has happened to so many other Christian leaders (e.g., David Jeremiah, Chuck Swindoll, etc.) who have been influenced by contemplative spirituality; and secondly, his participating in this event will give credence to the entire contemplative movement and has the potential to confuse countless Left Behindreaders (remember, over 60 million copies of his books have sold).

Perhaps LaHaye will say (as did Kay Arthur when she spoke with Tony Campolo recently)1that he will speak anywhere, on any platform as long as he can get his message out. In certain carefully selected situations, this reasoning could be valid, but unless LaHaye is prepared to stand on the World Conference platform and denounce what the AACC and many of the speakers stand for, unless he is going to rebuke and expose what is really being promoted at the World Conference, then for him to share the platform is misleading and is like a slap in the face to faithful believers who have defended the faith and stood against apostasy in these days in which we live. And based on many, many other similar situations, it is highly unlikely Tim LaHaye will stand at that conference and denounce contemplative spirituality (i.e., spiritual formation).

There is also something else to consider. Bringing LaHaye into the contemplative fold as the AACC is doing could help further the convergence that is taking place between contemplative/emerging participants and mainstream Christians. In essence, LaHaye's appearance at the conference could potentially have far reaching effects. We hope and pray that LaHaye will turn down his invitation to speak at the AACC, and in so doing make a bold statement in defense of the Christian faith.

Other contemplative promoters who will be speaking at the World Conference include Dan Allender (Mars Hill Graduate School), H.B. London, Jr.(Focus on the Family) and Max Lucado. Incidentally, Kay Arthurwill be there too.

See also:

Max Lucado Hops into the Contemplative Camp

Example of Workshops at the World Conference:One workshop is called "Using a Curriculum of Christlikeness in Spiritual Formation." According to its description 2, the presentation is inspired by Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Gary Moon, the presenter, is a contemplative advocate.3(see other workshops)

This article or excerpt was posted on May 31, 2007@ 11:00 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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CONFERENCE ALERT: Pastors' Wives Conference Speakers Promote Contemplative Authors

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

The Eighth Annual First Lady Conference will take place on June 7-9 in Dallas, Texas, and attendees should be on the look out for contemplative themes. Two of the speakers, Kay Warren (wife of Rick Warren) and Priscilla Shirer, have contemplative affinities. Lois Evans, wife of Pastor Tony Evans, will be hosting the conference. 1

A news article on the event explains that this year's theme for the conference is "Devotion Not Commotion." Priscilla Shirer talks about getting rid of this "commotion" (or distractions, in other words) in last year's Be Still DVD, which is an infomercial for contemplative prayer. The DVD that Shirer participated in also features contemplative advocates Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline), Katherine Brown-Saltzman(a UCLA professional who uses guided imagery and meditation with her patients), Buddhist sympathizer Peter Kreeft, and Beth Moore (who later admitted she was in favor of contemplative spirituality2).

In the Be Still DVD, Priscilla Shirer explains how she now views prayer:

To understand what Shirer means by "stillness" and "go into His presence," a look at contemplative teachers she resonates with is vital. On her website (now in an archived file), Shirer recommends several contemplative mystics such as Calvin Miller (Into the Depths of God), Madame Guyon, Brother Lawrence(who danced violently like a madman when he went into contemplative states), Richard Foster, and Jan Johnson (When the Heart Waits). These authors have all played significant roles in the advancement of contemplative spirituality within Christianity. While Shirer gives a disclaimer that she may not agree with everythingthese authors write, she does not warn her readers about the main thesis of these author's books - contemplative mysticism - but says they will encourage and challenge you. That's like giving a child a handful of jelly beans, with 80% being poisonous red ones and 20% other colors, and saying, "They might not all be good for you, but I'm not going to tell you which ones are harmful so enjoy." This kind of disclaimer means nothing except to say, "Hey don't blame me if you get hurt." In March of 2006, Shirer participated in the CCN Be Still projectwith contemplatives Dallas Willard and Richard Foster.

Kay Warren, another speaker for the upcoming women's conference, also resonates with contemplative prayer. Listen as Ray Yungen explains:

Toward the end of Henri Nouwen'slife, after many years of adhering to the contemplative way, Nouwen said the following: And it is for this very reason that we continue to warn about contemplative spirituality. Those who practice this mantric-style prayer and embrace the belief system behind it often end up with panentheistic viewpoints -- going into the "stillness" changes the way one looks at God and the Gospel. Just this week, a man called us who had this exact thing happen to him. He said he was a Christian, but over time, through meditation, he began to change his views on truth and become "enlightened" (much like Sue Monk Kidd when she started reading Thomas Merton). Now, this man believes that all things are one, that God is in all things, and that while Jesus Christ has a christ-consciousness, he is not the only one who does; Gandhi, Buddha, etc. also share this virtue. This man who called us said that the world is coming into a place where all will be enlightened through a critical mass, and when I asked him about the role meditation will play in this, he acknowledged it's significance. He also said something that is noteworthy: "Most Christians have no idea what the New Age movement is all about." Unfortunately, he himself has become a victim to it and is immersed in its deception.

If women attending the Eighth Annual First Lady Conference are introduced to Henri Nouwen, Richard Foster, Brother Lawrence and other mystics, these women could potentially be put in harms way, and their spiritual lives may be at risk. We pray and hope that Kay Warren and Priscilla Shirer will not recommend or make favorable references to contemplative teachers. On the contrary, we hope they will issue a solid warning against contemplative spirituality.

This article or excerpt was posted on May 19, 2007@ 3:05 pm .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Wycliffe Not Included on Sponsor List of This Year's Cornerstone Festival

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

The 2007 Cornerstone Festival will take place June 25th - 30th in Bushnell, Illinois. The festival promotes contemplative spirituality and the emerging church. Last year, we reported that World Vision and Wycliffe Bible Translators were two of the festival's sponsors. In our report, we stated:

While this year's festival will still present features like Imaginarium(no children viewing please), The Burning Bushand many workshops and seminars on contemplative/emerging spiritualities (which are based on occultic philosophy), World Vision and Wycliffe do not appear to be sponsoring the event this year. On the Sponsors page, both organizations' names are missing.

There have been growing concerns that World Vision is being influenced by contemplative/emerging leaders. A May 2006 article titled "World Vision Promotes Emerging Leader", reported that World Vision's Child View magazine carried a full page article by emerging church leader Brian McLaren. World Vision later responded with the following comments: Unfortunately, this "inclusion" creates a serious problem for the Bible believing Christian because contemplative/emerging spiritualities ultimately are panentheistic (God in all) and occultic in nature.

According to archived web files, 2005 was the first year Cornerstone Festival website showed its sponsors1. The 2005 sponsor list included World Vision, Wycliffe, Zondervan publishers, Teen Mania, and Greenville College. The 2006 Sponsor list also included Zondervan, Teen Mania, and Greenville College (along with World Vision and Wycliffe). 2The 2007 list not only is missing World Vision and Wycliffe Bible Translators, it does not include Teen Mania and Zondervan either. However, Greenville College is still sponsoring the event. Added to this year's list is Compassion International.

Greenville College has an emphasison spiritual formation and offers courses such as COR102: Christian Thought & Life, which include Henri Nouwen, M. Scott Peck, Robert Webber (Ancient-Future worship), and Richard Foster as "possible text" material. A 2005 new materials listin the Greenville library shows titles by Brian McLaren, Eugene Peterson, and Michael Frost. With regard to Cornerstone Festival, a 2004 press release shows that Greenville's decision to be a part of the festival had to do, at least in part, with the music.3Greenville College is affiliated with the Free Methodist denomination.

We hope that Greenville College and Compassion International will reconsider their sponsorship toward Cornerstone Festival, which is a conduit for mystical spirituality.

For related information:

The Music and the Mysticalby Pastor Larry DeBruyn

Our List of Contemplative Promoting Christian Colleges

This article or excerpt was posted on May 14, 2007@ 11:26 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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CONFERENCE ALERT: British Columbia Mennonite Brethren Going Contemplative?

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

This coming May, the THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CONFERENCE OF MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCHES will be presenting the MB Pastors & Spouses Retreat 2007, which will feature Pete Scazzero. Scazzero is the author of the 2006 book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, which is described as "a groundbreaking work on the integration of emotional health and contemplative spirituality in our discipleship and formation in Christ."

As we reported last November (see report), Scazzero is a proponent of contemplative prayer and promotes several mystics and panentheists in his book.

According to the BC Conference of Mennonite Brethren website, their vision is "that every person in the Province of BC will have contact with a committed Christ follower who loves them." Unfortunately, if these "Christ" followers are adhering to the teachings of Scazzero and those he promotes (like Meister Eckhart, Tilden Edwards, and Basil Pennington), it may not be the Jesus Christ of the Bible that the people of British Columbia will be introduced to. We pray and hope that the BC Mennonite Brethren will reconsider the consequences of contemplative spirituality and turn away from the direction they appear to be heading.
This article or excerpt was posted on March 25, 2007@ 10:41 pm .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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CONFERENCE ALERT: Missional Matrix

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

The Missional Matrix conference is being held this weekend at the Vineyard Community Church in Shoreline Washington. George Fox University (a strong proponent of contemplative spirituality) is sponsoring the event, and speakers include Scot McKnight (author of The Real Mary; see our related article below), and Todd Hunter, North American president of the Alpha course and a proponent of the emerging church. The speakers are being asked "to share their view[s] from the road and help us make meaning out of the theological and very personal twists and turns we find ourselves navigating as leaders." Unfortunately, contemplative and emerging church leaders identify the meaning of these "twists and turns" in a most unscriptural manner. McKnight is a major catalyst for the current sway by evangelicals towards Catholicism while Hunter is a partner with Renovare (Richard Foster's organization). In addition, George Fox University is a hub of contemplative/emerging activity with a list of adjunct professors that includes Dan Kimball and Leonard Sweet. In 2005, George Fox hired Todd Hunter, Leonard Sweet and Brian McLaren to teach certain classes, and chapel speakers at the university have included Richard Foster and Brennan Manning. Recommended and required reading for classes at George Fox include a wide assortment of staunch contemplatives/mystics like Thomas Keating, Henri Nouwen, and Thomas Merton.

For related information:

Emergent Leaders? Paving the Way to Apostasy

This article or excerpt was posted on March 23, 2007@ 12:24 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Conference ALERT: Arts Conference 2007 (Willow Creek)

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

The 2007 Arts Conference will be held at Willow Creek Church June 13-15. The theme for the event is "Halelujah! What's Right With the World?" and is featuring many contemplative/emerging speakers. According to the conference website, this "is a powerful reminder that that artists and teachers who follow Christ can use their gifts to open a window of hope to our broken world, as they affirm the goodness of God." Unfortunately, the spirituality being represented may open a window that will be more spiritually harmful to our broken world than it will be a window of God's hope (which is Jesus Christ). For instance, Brian McLaren, one of the conference speakers, says that the doctrines of the Cross and Hell are false advertising for God.. He also endorses Episcopal priest, Alan Jones who calls the atonement a vile doctrine.1 McLaren is also a proponent of contemplative spirituality. In a 2004 Christianity Today article, McLaren says that "the emerging church must be 'monastic'-centered on training disciples who practice, rather than just believe, the faith.... He cites Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, with their emphasis on spiritual disciplines, as key mentors for the emerging church."

Another speaker at the Arts Conference is Pete Scazzero, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life in Christ . In the this book, Scazzero favorably quotes Daniel Goleman(a Buddhist sympathizer), panentheists Basil Pennington and Tilden Edwards and several others of similar affinities.2

Erwin McManus is also speaking at the Arts Conference. For information about McManus' spirituality, please refer to our research.There you can read about McManus' "core of mysticism" and his recent remarks about the new film, The Secret (which teaches that we are all God). McManus, who is promoted by David Jeremiah, says that his goal is to destroy Christianity (see our article Christian or Christ Follower).

Other speakers at the conference include Dan Kimball, Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz), and Nancy Beach (from Willow Creek).

This article or excerpt was posted on March 2, 2007@ 1:12 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Conference ALERT: ZOE Group and Leonard Sweet

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

On March 2-4, 2007, the ZOE Group will present the Look to the Hills Leadership and Worship Conference with keynote speaker, Leonard Sweet. Leonard Sweet, author of Quantum Spirituality and SoulTsunami (endorsed by Rick Warren) is a proponent of New Age thought and contemplative spirituality. ZOE Group (and New Wineskins magazine) is a Christian organization that states: "We want our readership to know that we are Christians seeking to honor Jesus Christ in our lives." However, their promotion of Leonard Sweet, Brian McLaren and other emergents will lead readers and participants down a road away from biblical Christianity and towards the spirituality of Thomas Merton, who was a panentheist (God is in all) and said if we knew what was in each one of us (all humans), we would bow down and worship one another.

Quotes:

This article or excerpt was posted on February 24, 2007@ 1:09 pm .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Conference ALERT: Honolulu 2007 Hosts Several Contemplative Speakers

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

Honolulu 2007 will take place March 29th-31st at the Hawaii Convention Center. The event is hosted by Hawaiian Island Ministries. This year's conference will have several contemplative speakers including Tony Campolo, Erwin McManus, H. B. London (Focus on the Family), and Dallas Willard. In past years speakers have included contemplatives as well: Leith Anderson (Ted Haggard's replacement for the NAE), Larry Crabb, Richard Foster, Bill Hybels, Brennan Manning, John Ortberg, and Philip Yancey. It is unfortunate to also see popular Christian leaders like Josh McDowell, Joni Eareckson Tada, and Luis Palau as past speakers.

Last year's conference included a "Conversations with God" session in which "lectio divina," "the Prayer of the Examen (noticing God's presence in everyday life), and other prayer forms" were taught and practiced.

Hawaiian Island Ministries board member, Peter Chao is currently seeking his PHD at the Peter Drucker Graduate School of Management, and Dan Chun (chairman of the HIM board) was a a speaker at the 2005 Robert Schuller Institute. . Both Peter Drucker and Robert Schuller share the spiritual affinities of contemplatives, thus we can see, at least in part, how Hawaiian Island Ministries has become so influenced. It is our concern that those who attend this conference will unknowingly be introduced to the spirituality of Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen.
This article or excerpt was posted on February 18, 2007@ 9:00 pm .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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More on the Edmonton conference

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

This is a follow up from last evening's report Kay Arthur/Josh McDowell to Share Platform with Contemplative :

Edmonton Journal (Canada)reports on this weekend's conference in which Tony Campolo, Josh McDowell, and Kay Arthur are the speakers:

Don Retson,
The Edmonton Journal
"Tony Campolo wants to take back the evangelical movement from the religious right... For many activist Christians on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, Tony Campolo represents a breath of fresh air.

"Campolo, who lives with his wife in a suburb of Philadelphia, contends that the evangelical movement has been hijacked by the religious right.

"The 71-year-old Baptist preacher and widely acclaimed author will deliver the keynote address tonight at the Shaw Conference Centre, to more than 11,000 delegates at Break Forth Canada 2007....

"The conference is designed to help Christians explore and embrace innovative new ways of expressing faith through worship." Click here to read entire article.

This article or excerpt was posted on January 27, 2007@ 9:46 pm .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Kay Arthur/Josh McDowell to Share Platform with Contemplative

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

This weekend, the Break Forth Conference is taking place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Emergent/contemplative Tony Campolo is sharing the speaking platform with Kay Arthur, Josh McDowell, and Jack Hayford. (see poster) It is our hope that Kay Arthur and Josh McDowell will warn those attending that they should steer clear of contemplative and emergent spirituality, which might be presented at the conference if Tony Campolo's recent book, Letters to a Young Evangelical, is any indication. In the book, which is a collection of letters to young believers, Campolo states: "[T]he West had severed itself from an ancient, magical form of religiosity and replaced it with a modern worldview in which religion was reduced to that which is rational and ethical (p.10)." He adds that he is seeking to become an "actualized Christian" where:

He later reiterates: "Having an intimate relationship with Christ is at the core of being an Evangelical." He explains there are three things to consider: 1. "Centering prayer," 2. "Contemplative Bible study" (lectio divina), and 3. "spiritual disciplines."

Campolo says he "learned about this way of having a born-again experience from reading the Catholic mystics, especially The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola" who developed "a 'oneness' with God," through contemplative practices. Campolo says that when the Reformation took place, we "left too much behind (p. 31)" and that "some Catholic saints" helped to deepen his prayer life.

As with other contemplatives, Campolo had deep mystical experiences from practicing this mantra-style prayer: "When I rise after engaging in this centering kind of prayer, I sense a fullness in my soul (p.31)" and "something happens to me that is strange and blessed (p. 33)."

In Campolo's book, Speaking My Mind, he suggests that the bond between Christianity and Islam is a mystical state. This idea is actually at the very heart of the New Age that teaches that all things are connected together and the realization that universal oneness comes through practicing meditation.

If Josh McDowell and Kay Arthur are going to be doing "Christian" conferences with Tony Campolo, we hope they will tell the conference attendees that contemplative spirituality does not truly make one more intimate with God, regardless of the high feelings and emotions it may produce.

This article or excerpt was posted on @ 12:18 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Pastor's Conference Will Have Contemplative Theme

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

On November 19th, we issued a report titled, BOOK ALERT: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life in Christ . It was addressing Peter Scazzero's book, which heavily promotes contemplative. Now, this coming spring, Scazzero will be presenting a conference for Christian leaders that will have a contemplative theme. The description of the conference reads:

Because the conference is at least partly based on the book, there is no doubt that these leaders are going to be introduced to contemplative spirituality. Many of them may never have heard about this new way to hear God and will come away convinced that the silence and the solitude are the answer.

This article or excerpt was posted on December 14, 2006@ 1:19 am .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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Shadow Mountain Men's Conference To Include Willow Creek Speaker

Category: * Conference Alerts
  Source:  Editors at Lighthouse Trails

On September 28th, Shadow Mountain Community Church (David Jeremiah's church) will present the Men's Ministry Super Summit conference. The conference speakers include Greg Laurie, a Calvary Chapel pastor who recently opposed Calvary Chapel's decision to reject Purpose Driven teachings and Mark Mittelburg, the evangelisim director at Willow Creek, a major proponent of both contemplative spirituality and the emerging church. Mittelburg co-authored Building a Contagious Church with Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels.

This article or excerpt was posted on September 2, 2006@ 8:46 pm .

From: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

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