Breaking News!

Just wanted to inform you all that the new Foxe's Book of Martyrs - American Edition is out now. Click here for a sneak peak.

Where have all the Hurricanes Gone?

Here is an interesting little peice in regard to the lack of tropical activity for all the global warming prognosticators. As I'm sure you all remember, last season was a record year for hurricanes and who could forget what Katrina did to the Gulf coast states. That area is still a major mess with homes and lives that were shattered by a monster of a storm. The thing that's interesting is that there were so many blaming the storm on global warming which I felt and still feel was a leap of logic.

Well, now it's 2006 and next to nothing has happened weather wise with tropical development. So does that mean global warming is off? If I were to follow their logic, that's the conclusion I would come to. The reason (according to the global warming alarmists) we had so many hurricanes was because of the rise in sea surface temps. in the Carabean and Gulf of Mexico due to global warming, and their prediction was that it was going to get much warmer resulting in more frequent and intense hurricanes. Well guess what, the sea surface temps have gone down. Now how could that have happened with all the global warming? I don't know how these people get away with this propaganda. I mean, the weather forcasters can barely tell you what is going to happen in the next couple of days let alone the next 50 years. They're pathetic over here in the UK, as we have had many days where they can't even predict the weather for the next day accurately. Yesterday was one of those days as they predicted partly sunny skies and we spent much of the day dodging rain drops.

Anyway, here is a good article summing up what I've said and the stats to back it up.

Good News!

Here's a good news follow up story to the previous post. Many times I wonder what good it does to post some of this stuff but because Bud Press from the Christian Research Service put the effort in to contact Lifeway Books and post his concerns, they have set a precedence by removing all of their questional New Age leaning material.

Praise God for impressing upon them the importance of this in these very confusing times. Today there are so many philosophies crossing the planet at the speed of sound, it is imperative that Christians bring forth a clear gospel message not a message muddled with uncertainty.

New age books being sold by Lifeway Online Christian Bookstores

Not long after I became a Christian I found myself in a Christian bookstore checking out the books and the music. The thing that struck me was how they seemed to use the same marketing techniques as secular book and record stores. I would later find out that this was because most of the Christian publishers and record companies had been bought out by huge secular companies and the bottom line was and still is the bottom line.

I have always struggled while looking at some of the titles and authors of books in these stores with the lack of either discernment or concern over some of the material they would put on their shelves. It just seemed like they would sell just about anything if it resembled Christianity in some manner. That being said, I never thought I would see compromise to the point of selling full on New Age books in Christian bookstores. Check out this article by Bud Press from the Christian Research Service about what 'Lifeway', the online 'Christian' bookstore is selling these days.

Christian Yoga?

Some of you after reading the title of this post may be shocked or surprised and some may see it as no big deal. Well, believe it or not so-called 'Christian Yoga' is becoming a pretty big deal in some churches and some pretty big names are promoting it claiming it has many benefits. Check out what this Hindu has to say about Christian yoga on this program.

Here is an article written by a Hindu prophessor about so called 'Christian Yoga'.

Here is a link to several more links on the subject.

As I'm writing this I am just thinking I can't beleive how blatent the apostacy in the church is becoming. Remember these words from Deut. 18:9-13

"When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God."

These verses also come to mind:

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." - 2 Timothy 3:1-5

"They said to you, In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." Jude 19



Here's one more link. This one is a PBS program on the Emerging church and how some of them are practicing 'Christian Yoga'. Click this link to see the program.

The more I am writing on this the more I am just blown away at the deception hitting the church right now. Pray before you read and view this stuff and then pray for the church.

Biblical Verses Cultural Christianity

I have often pondered how much the church has soaked up the culture to the point of losing it's distinction from the world. In doing this I have had to examine my own life and see where I am guilty in this regard. Intersting that I would find this comparison chart between biblical and cultural Christianity. I have to admit that as I read it I found myslef in the wrong column on a few of the catigories. I think it's always a good idea to be involved in personal spiritual inventory so give it a look and don't be surprised if it's a bit surprising and convicting. I have discovered that I have many blind spots that in part is the result of buying into much of what the church has been dishing out through the years in the spirit of being appealing to everyone. Jesus never told us to try and get everyone to like us. As a matter of fact, He said many would hate us for what we believe.

Remember the words I spoke to you: `No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. - John 15:20

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matt. 5:11

"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. - Luke 21:12

There are many, many more. I guess the point is that our main focus is not to be people pleasers but it's to be obediant to Christ Jesus who allowed himself to be spit on, beaten, mocked, flogged and crucified on a cross all so we could spend eternity with him in heaven. Had Jesus been the voted most popular prophet in Jerusalem, I doubt he would have ever made it to that redeeming cross where he shed his blood for our sins.

Here's the comparison chart link:
http://www.crossroad.to/charts/cultural-Christianity.html

Keep Your Eyes On Iran

August 22 is a big day in out family because our son Liam was born on this date back in 2000. It is also lining up to be an interesting date for the globe because this is the date the Iranians have marked to give their anouncement with regard to their nuclear intentions. According to the article linked below, this could be much more than a simple statement.

Give it a read and pray that God would give our leaders wisdom and discerment.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110008768

End Times?

Unless you've got your head completely buried in the sand you have to have noticed there's been much happening in the world that is quite disturbing. A casual reading of the news today seems to mirror what Jesus spoke in Matt. 24:3-8
"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, `I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."

Now the Middle East has always been an extremely tumultuous region in the world but it seems that today the whole region is about to explode. I'm not one to jump to conclusions in regard to biblical prophecy but you have to admit, things are getting very interesting to say the least. Rather than blather on I thought I'd refer you all to a couple of well thought out sources on this subject. One is a sermon by Brian Broderson from Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California. You can listen to his message by clicking here and then scrolling down to the message entitled,"Signs of the Times".
The other link is an article found here. Both are well reasoned and thought provoking so I'll just shut up and get out of the way.

Emerging Church Gone Wild Follow Up

Here's a good follow up peice to the story I posted a couple of days ago about the Emerging church in California that is using sex to market their church.
Here's the link: http://stevenjcamp.blogspot.com/2006/08/weekend-update-ec-gone-wilddo-you-have.html

'Psalm in a bog' linked to Israel's current war

Check out this story and how it relates to the current war with Israel. This is mind blowing to say the least. These are crazy times we are living in to be sure.

Using Sex to Sell the Church

I guess anything goes when you result to subjective reasoning rather than the word of God. Here is a great example of where it can lead you. This Emergent church has decided to use sex in marketing their church services. Check out the link here: http://www.mosaicrialto.com/
Sorry, but this has to be one of the most rediculous things I've seen in a long time.