LaVrai – The Truth

I am not a fan of “The View,” but I was pleasantly surprised to turn on my TV yesterday and learn that not everyone in the media has drunk the cool-aid. Thomas Beattie came out a couple years ago, claiming to be a man, and was pregnant — Beattie is actually a gay woman who has had a double-mastectomy and is taking hormones. She became pregnant not long ago (and recently again) and the media has dubbed her the “pregnant man” — although men are incapable of conceiving and giving birth — GOD just didn’t make them that way. Everyone I suppose was so concerned about being politically correct, they failed to make note that Beattie has a uterus and therefore a vagina — the basic requirement for child birth.

Here is Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd explaining biology 101, refusing to at least exchange this very basic truth for a lie.

Video Courtesy: NewsBusters. You can watch a longer excerpt of the discussion at “The View” Web site.

England always seems to be the guinea pig when it comes to what we in American can eventually expect to suffer. Here, a Christian preacher is doing the LORD’s work in the streets of England and police officers come by to let him know that he’s been offending people, some of whom have allegedly claimed that he’s been saying homosexuality is a sin — which he says he hasn’t, although it is. Homosexuality is an abomination. The preacher’s name is Andy Robertson.

This is an amazing documentary from PBS Frontline & The Chicago Tribune on Christianity in China. It was originally released on June 24, 2008, but I don’t remember seeing it. If you missed it, please watch this short video (less than 30 minutes) about the lack of religious freedom in China and how Christians truly in love with Jesus Christ are standing up and being knocked down only to stand back up for their faith. It definitely is a humbling experiencing, just to see a glimpse of what our brothers and sisters in communist China go through on a daily basis. I couldn’t help but think of the growing aggression towards Christians here in America while I watched this… Let us remember to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world. It isn’t just us here in America whom GOD loves so dearly.

You can check out the main story along with related features and other videos here… (The video is also available for your iPod or whathaveyou).

Revelation 2

8 … ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”‘

2 Corinthians 4

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

The prosperity “gospel” teaches that God wants to bless HIS people in every way. There’s nothing very wrong with that, for it is quite true (it is HIS desire to give us the Kingdom, Luke 12:29-34). The problem is when one type of blessing gets superimposed over another and essentially takes precedent in a believer’s life — and among the prosperity pimps, money’s the bottom line. And sadly, money is their god and they teach others (usually desperate, just-getting-by people) to worship money as well. If you call yourself a preacher and claim you’ve got the degrees to back it up… then you clearly know what you do and the price you have to pay (Matthew 23:14). You may have once truly known the Word but the deceitfulness of riches has choked the Word out of your heart.

Does GOD want you to be poor? …Perhaps. Jesus Christ said the poor will be with us always, and GOD the FATHER instructed the Hebrews (and us) to never close our hand to the poor. Does GOD want you to be rich? Yes, this wealth, however, is not measured in dollars, cars and homes. Jesus Christ said not to chase mammon, that is, worldly possessions and status, but to pray and trust the FATHER to provide our daily bread (Matthew 6:25-34).

Here is an 11-minute clip from ESPN’s recent program on athletes (who make too much a lot of money) and evangelists who preach prosperity like their lives depend on it. In Outside the Lines’ “Televangelists And Athletes” reporter John Barr takes a look at Creflo Dollar, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer and Randy White (who used to be number one in bringing the athletes into church, according to Barr, and says he couldn’t have purchased his current church without sizable donations tithes and offerings from athletes). Read the rest of this entry »

UPDATE (04/22/09): Full video with commentary here.

I can’t help but be skeptical, especially after reading this piece on ESPN’s Web site and looking at the preview video clips they have posted. The sports network will be airing a package Sunday morning about the prosperity doctrine and athletes, and it appears they talk with Randy and Paula White and Creflo Dollar, among others. Here’s an excerpt of their story and a video clip of what viewers can expect. Please watch the video clip. Read the rest of this entry »