August 1, 2008
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From the Crosstalk website:
Free speech is increasingly being threatened on the Internet, as the exploding number of blog sites that provide an outlet for opinions and interaction with readers has caused some to try to silence those with whom they disagree.
Traditionally, blog sites that invite comments often create a lively exchange that if not administered properly, can get out of hand, in language, innuendo, and even vicious attacks. Many blogs allow this to continue, while others try to maintain more civility.
But in this case, the response by one individual, Richard Abanes, who is a strong supporter of Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven ministry, took the battle to a whole new level. Instead of simply stating his disagreement with statements by Ken Silva, he accused him of slander in an article written by Ken three years ago. Without trying to work directly with Ken Silva, Abanes contacted the hosting company to demand that the article be removed.
The web host, IPower, sent Ken an email demanding that the article be taken down within 48 hours or his site would be taken down. Due to the troubling precedent this sets in the blog world, this incident has also become a hot topic of conversation online.
In this Crosstalk program Ken and Ingrid also go into the background context which would later lead to the article in question A Pastor’s Assessment of Richard Abanes. You can listen to and/or download this program here.
See also: SETTING RICHARD ABANES STRAIGHT ON MY RICK WARREN ATTACK
August 1, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
From the Crosstalk website:
Free speech is increasingly being threatened on the Internet, as the exploding number of blog sites that provide an outlet for opinions and interaction with readers has caused some to try to silence those with whom they disagree.
Traditionally, blog sites that invite comments often create a lively exchange that if not administered properly, can get out of hand, in language, innuendo, and even vicious attacks. Many blogs allow this to continue, while others try to maintain more civility.
But in this case, the response by one individual, Richard Abanes, who is a strong supporter of Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven ministry, took the battle to a whole new level. Instead of simply stating his disagreement with statements by Ken Silva, he accused him of slander in an article written by Ken three years ago. Without trying to work directly with Ken Silva, Abanes contacted the hosting company to demand that the article be removed.
The web host, IPower, sent Ken an email demanding that the article be taken down within 48 hours or his site would be taken down. Due to the troubling precedent this sets in the blog world, this incident has also become a hot topic of conversation online.
In this Crosstalk program I also go into the background context which would later lead to the article in question A Pastor’s Assessment of Richard Abanes. You can listen to and/or download this program here.
See also: SETTING RICHARD ABANES STRAIGHT ON MY RICK WARREN ATTACK
August 1, 2008
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Here is a great testimony of a wonderful sister named Carla Rolfe. It’s under six minutes and well worth the time that it takes to listen to.
She also runs an online store that has many products like stuff from Alpha and Omega Ministries and Iron Sharpens Iron. (You might even recognize a person or two in the scrolling ad on the first page. 
)
Also, here is Mark’s testimony (aka johnMark or jM in James White’s chat channel). It’s a great testimony to God’s grace, too, and one that I can sympathize with in many ways.
END OF POST
August 1, 2008
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Chapter 1 of 2 Peter is a positive, encouraging summons for us to confirm our call and election by availing ourselves of God’s power for godliness through faith in his precious and very great promises. Chapter 2 is a very bleak portrayal of the false teachers in the churches who do not avail themselves of God’s power and give themselves over to sexual indulgence in the name of Christian freedom. The main point of the chapter is that these false teachers and those enticed by them will in the end experience condemnation and destruction. The chapter intends to do in a negative way what chapter 1 aims to do in a positive way, namely, make us earnest about the business of confirming our call and election.
(click here to read this post)
August 1, 2008
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Click here to listen to the latest Slicecast recorded today with David Wheaton.
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August 1, 2008
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Pastor Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries will be my guest at 2pm Central time today on Crosstalk Radio Talk Show. We will be discussing the growing threats to free speech in the blog world/media when it comes to sharing biblical teaching and views. Listen live at the Crosstalk website or to the mp3 later.
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August 1, 2008
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I’m back from vacation with a bang today. Down at the studios I walked into none other than David Wheaton, a talk-show host from the Twin Cities on AM980, KKMS. He was in town for a tennis tournament and also just returned from playing senior doubles at Wimbledon. David won the Grand Slam cup during his 13-years on tour and played tennis greats like Andre Agassi, Jimmy Conners, Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl, Michael Chang, etc. His testimony of being a false convert in a Christian home, going off to college and leaving his Christian convictions behind is an excellent warning to Christian parents who may take for granted that their children are committed Christians. He consented to sitting down in Studio E and chatting, and the results are the latest Slicecast I will have up later this afternoon. David wrote the book, University of Destruction, a book that details the dangers that young people face when going off to college. The assaults on the faith of Christian students in college are many, and we discussed that and other topics on today’s podcast.
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August 1, 2008
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This is a sermon given by Paul Washer Sunday July 27, 2008 at Grace Life Church of the Shoals (formerly First Baptist church of Muscle Shoals). Thanks to the kind folks at GLCS for letting me host this video here. You can buy the DVD, download the mp3, or buy the CD here (Biblical Manhood 2): http://www.gracelifeshoals.org/worship/worship/listen_online/service_archive
Also, their new website is fantastic.:
http://www.gracelifeshoals.org/
(HT: calvinistgirl for letting me know about this.)
DISCLAIMER: I don’t necessarily agree with all of the ads that pop up on a video.
Author: LaneCh
Keywords: manhood biblical servanthood slavery paul washer heart cry missionary jeff noblit anchored in truth
Added: July 31, 2008
August 1, 2008
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Ingrid Schlueter writes at Slice of Laodicea:
**This post contains subject matter that some will find offensive. Consider this a warning. What is most offensive to me, however, is that this teaching is gaining traction among evangelicals who are listening to teachers like the one discussed. Due to the serious nature of what is being proposed here, I think it’s important to identify the error this man is teaching. These new concepts are exactly what I was talking about when I made the prediction that I expected to see increasing eroticism in evangelical churches—all in the name of a fuller spirituality. That time is upon us.**…
August 1, 2008
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From the Catholic News Agency:
The Italian region of Alto Adige, where Pope Benedict XVI is spending his vacations and where a small but active German-speaking Catholic community resides, is experiencing a renewal of faith with the presence of the Holy Father in the region…
August 1, 2008
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In the words of the movie rendition of the person Doc Holiday, “It seems mah hypocrisy knows no bounds“. A few days ago, I posted an article that exhorted us all to not get too hung up on the issues that recently arose regarding Richard Abanes and Ken Silva. I plainly said that while it needed dealt with, there were other issues as well we need to address, namely, preaching the Gospel unabashedly. However, I would like to post something I was directed toward the other day.
This is written by a man with whom I have strong disagreements. I want that to be clear. I can find where he has pointedly gone against what is said by Ken Silva, myself, and others here. I have returned the favor now and then in comment threads, where, of course, I bested him with ease… 
Seriously however, I think it only fair to quote something he wrote the other day that I do appreciate. This is coming from one who has said things I would still categorically disagree with and contend were I in a position to do so. One can find in the original post links to articles written by this man against Ken Silva, our sister Ingrid, etc., and links to articles of like nature written by them regarding this man in particular. I decided not to post the links as I think they can be found on your own if you desire to do so. Many here will know all the disputes that have transpired. Those that don’t can look the author up as well. To post the links, I believe for most of us here, is unnecessary. It is enough to say this comes from a man who has made no uncertain terms in his views over the years. This was written as his own response to the issue regarding my friend Ken Silva and Richard Abanes and also as a result of things said by others following the events of July 24, 2008 and on. Read as follows,
“Ken Silva and I are friends. We have had, as do friends, disagreements ranging from moderate to serious, but we remain friends. I want to share publicly what most do not know. It has been suggested that Ken is not even a brother in Christ, however in my personal interaction with him he has shown some fruit that even many who do not appreciate him have not shown. Both Ken and Mrs. Schlueter have criticized me and been criticized by me, but neither I nor they have ever attempted to attack the right to blog.
[...]
Here is the question I would ask. If I had posted such a letter about you, would you still be my friend? Ken still remains a friend and did not attempt to take down my blog because of my post. Is this not the behavior of a Christian? With anything I disagree with Ken about, he has acted as a brother in Christ even when I have confronted him publicly and in private. I always tell him I will still speak my conscience and he understands. In that I salute him for showing forgiveness.
Not many would continue to communicate with me given those circumstances, even the non-ODMs.”
The man’s name is Henry (Rick) Frueh. This was sent to me by him the other day with this statement: “I owe Ken to share this with his readers.”
So, Rick. Thanks. And I keep praying that, by God’s Grace, you and I will see more eye to eye in the future.
Psalm 71
August 1, 2008
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Richard Abanes dropped by and left a few comments regarding this post, “Throwing Cyber-sand In The Face of A Purpose-Driven Resister”.
In light of his visit, Watcher’s Lamp shares the following.
Mr. Abanes,
I am not sure why you had to make a statement for the record regarding lawsuits, as my post made no such reference or implication.
You are entitled to your interpretation of these events. You are entitled to your opinion about what Pastor Ken Silva wrote in both articles in question.You are entitled to defend your position.
In these personal entitlements to which you avail yourself, have you considered that the leverage of your entitlement is solely driven by your personal opinion?
Do you really want to subjugate a pastor’s role in protecting the church from false teaching
(Acts 20:28-31; 1 Co. 14:29; 1 Tim. 4:1-6; Tit. 1:9-13) to your personal pursuit?
Do you really want to publicize a lack of charity, honor and respect to a pastor ( 1 Th. 5:12-13, 1 Pet. 5:3, Heb. 13:17) and create a stumbling block for others ( Romans 14:13-18) who are observing this issue?
Do you really want this matter to be simply a pursuit of public opinion at the expense of doctrinal purity and Christian example?
If you really feel that you have been civilly harmed, take it offline and get legal counsel.
In all your getting Mr. Abanes, may I suggest you contact a Biblical pastor and get Biblical counsel to this Biblical matter.
August 1, 2008
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**This post contains subject matter that some will find offensive. Consider this a warning. What is most offensive to me, however, is that this teaching is gaining traction among evangelicals who are listening to teachers like the one discussed. Due to the serious nature of what is being proposed here, I think it’s important to identify the error this man is teaching. These new concepts are exactly what I was talking about when I made the prediction that I expected to see increasing eroticism in evangelical churches—all in the name of a fuller spirituality. That time is upon us.**
I have been accused of being a prude because I have publicly opposed the idea of churches using provocative billboards to promote their sermon series on sexuality. One blogger named Joe openly lied about me and claimed that I had stated that sex was a “burden.” Another blogger suggested that I had “issues” because of my statements on what I view as the cheapening of a sacred topic by Christians today who seem to be obsessed with sexuality. I would like to authoritatively state at the front of this post that God’s design for procreation and sex within marriage is a beautiful, holy thing. It is precisely because it is beautiful and holy that we shouldn’t be treating the matter lightly, flippantly, or in a fashion that makes it tawdry and cheap as the world does. My opponents create a false dichotomy. Either someone must be prepared to accept anything some churches are doing today regarding this subject matter or they must be repressed, bitter and view sexuality as dirty and off-limits. That’s complete hogwash. I submit to you that what we are seeing today is the next phase of the explosion of sensuality in the church today. The article I will be addressing today is further proof of that and much more.
This article from the Vancouver Sun reports on a teacher who is introducing “spiritual sex” for Christians. Read it carefully, however. When WorldnetDaily reported on the same individual, (the first article I noticed), they made it sound as though Canadian Christian psychologist, Chuck MacKnee, was just defending how great sex within marriage was and that Christians who were married enjoyed the most fulfilling relationships. Upon closer scrutiny, however, it is clear that he is introducing believers to something far more than that concept. This quote from the article will give you an idea of the direction he is going.
The Catholics and mainline Protestants who are today joining evangelicals such as MacKnee in teaching about spiritual sex are in some ways catching up with Eastern-influenced New Age spirituality. In the West, so-called alternative, or “self,” spirituality, has been teaching for decades that spirituality and sex are intimately related. They’ve relied on spirituality from India, whose religious icons can be openly erotic.
Mr. Chuck MacKnee tells us that his most “spiritual experiences” with God have occurred in conjunction with sex. He introduces the idea that we can/should all have ecstatic experiences with God in this way. So rather than reach for our Bibles and speaking to God in prayer, this mysticism requires heading for the bedroom. His claims seem designed to make anyone reading them feel that encountering God in his Word just isn’t going to cut it any more.
Why is it important to know about this new strain of teaching in Christianity? Nearly 500 years after the Protestant Reformation, evangelical Christians no longer want to find God in His Word. Mystical experience has trumped all today. Whether it’s the use of labyrinths, icons, chanting, Lectio Divina, or contemplative prayer, people are wanting and finding alternative ways to have a spiritual experience. Now we come to Mr. MacKnee who says that sex itself should become a real encounter with God. It’s not just a blessing from God, but it a direct pipeline to God. Just as pagan spirituality had/has strong sexual components, this new brand of Christian spirituality does as well. This is why I believe that we are soon going to see things in “church” that nobody ever dreamed possible just a short time ago. Faith is not enough now. People want to experience a buzz of some kind, some kind of ecstatic, esoteric event. Experiences, however, are not a measure of truth. Biblical truth should measure our experiences.
As the false church continues its inevitable downward spiral, we need to be discerning when we read about men like MacKnee. There are elements of truth in what he says about Christians being most satisfied in areas of sexuality. With respect for and obedience to God’s boundaries come a security and a freedom that nobody can know while they are living in sin. But to go further and tell Christians that this is where they need to have direct encounters with God is heretical and dangerous. Once again, Christians are being told that they need to strive after an experience. So what happens when the experience doesn’t work out as planned? Are they less of a Christian? Do they know their God less than someone like MacKnee with his resume of great sexual/spiritual experiences? Like the Word of Faith heretics who leave Christians burned out and disillusioned when the bills come due and God didn’t drop thousands of $100 dollar bills on their heads, what then? Their faith didn’t work. Their spiritual experience fell flat.
More dangerous still, this kind of erotic mysticism entering the church once again (it was around with the medieval mystics, as well) is leading Christians into a spiritual realm where they are open to deception.
“Well, I know it’s true because I experienced it,” they will say, as if Satan can’t counterfeit an experience. Take care as you encounter these teachings. I believe we will hear more of this kind of thing in the days to come.
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August 1, 2008
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If you like preaching with truth and power like Paul Washer, then you’ll love this sermon by Tim Conway, which I highly recommend all Christians to hear:
(right-click/save-as to download mp3)
Put Sin To Death-Tim Conway – 59 min (directly followed by his wife’s testimony).
Or play it online here.
Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
HT: Puritan Fellowship.
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August 1, 2008
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Some time ago I witnessed to a group of teens on the street, and they had no idea of what sin is, what repentance is, who Jesus is, or what the Gospel is. Yet when I explained, they replied “Oh don’t worry we met some American missionaries yesterday who we repeated a prayer with and so we know we’re going to Heaven.”
Is it any wonder, as Paul Washer says, there are Christians in the Third World who pray that God will stop the American missionaries from coming over.
“It was seven years before Carey baptised his first convert in India; it was seven years before Judson won his first disciple in Burma; Morrison toiled seven years before the Chinaman was brought to Christ; Moffat declares that he waited seven years to see the first evident moving of the Holy Spirit upon his Bechuanas of Africa; Henry Richards wrought seven years on the Congo before the first convert was gained at Banza Manteka” -A J Gordon, The Holy Spirit in Missions.
So why do evangelists today ask “Would you like to pray and ask Jesus into your heart now, it will only take three minutes?” (in fact I’ve heard some say 30 seconds).
Did all those men who were mightily used by God have it wrong, or are many today preaching a another Gospel?
HT: Puritan Fellowship.
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