Francis’ new book: “Until Unity.” He says if he could rewrite the title, he’d call it “Sacred Unity.”
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In this conversation, we talk about his remarkable encounter with Benny Hinn, his recent thoughts on church unity, how he’s revisited his beliefs about the Eucharist, and we reflect on the pros and cons of being educated at The Master’s College (now University) and Seminary.
This heavy, honest film just opened up a new level of understanding to me for what many have gone through.
The abuse showed itself in many ways and was devastating to his mother too, who then also abused Russ and his brothers. But this statement of how Russ’ own pastor father was jealous of Russ’ talent when the Holy Spirit filled him, that’s just sick beyond what I had thought possible.
So I’m doing this post on Russ’ dad giving him the silent treatment because he was jealous of his own son.
Russ then lied about his addiction, living a superficial life for decades until he was emotionally healed.
Thankfully, he married the right lady; 30-day rehab worked, and was prayed for by a special man who expressed the heart of our Heavenly Father!
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Famous Christian musician Russ Taff speaking about his alcoholic, abusive pastor father’s jealousy of his son, Russ:
“When I started really shining he got jealous. That started a dance between he and I until I left home — that when I would do real well and the Holy Spirit would move he would emotionally punish me, where he wouldn’t even acknowledge me for a couple of days.”
5:32:55 “When was the last time we confessed our sins to one another?”
5:33:40 For 30 years, Dana has been accountable to six men, to whom he writes a letter each Sunday, telling them his temptations, frustrations, challenges, relationship with his wife, church situations, etc. — as transparent as he can be. So they pray for him in those areas. He’s accountable to them.
5:36:10 For nine years, every Tuesday night, he and 6-10 guys (some are the same as those above) pray for one another. “That Tuesday night prayer time is a no-miss for me.”
5:38:05 Dana’s serious health problems he’s dealt with and has mostly has overcome!
I purchased the DVD/CD boxed set used here, but the video portion (almost 4 hours) can be watched for free at Amazon for those who have a Prime account: Part One & Part Two.
The late 60’s and early ’70’s were a time of tremendous upheaval in American culture as the hippie generation abandoned the values of their parents, turned to drugs and away from materialism, and went on a search for love and peace. For these young people, “the establishment” which included the church, seemed irrelevant. At times it felt like the very fabric of our nation might tear apart.
It was out of this tumultuous era that young, musical voices began to surface. These newly converted musicians began singing about the new hope they had found through Jesus Christ.
First Love examines the life and music of the people who birthed the sounds of a revolution that swept American culture. It became know as the Jesus Movement. For three historic days, these artists gathered for the first time in a mountain retreat in Southern California and First Love Volumes I & II captures almost 4 hours of each of their incredible live performances and reveals a rare look at the heart and motives of each artist as they describe in intimate detail the drama of their personal transformation.
With performances by [those who influenced me are in bold – editor]:
• Randy Matthews
• Barry McGuire
• Annie Herring
• Chuck Girard
• Matthew Ward
• John Fischer
• Andrae Crouch
• Jamie Owens Collins
• 2nd Chapter of Acts
• Terry Clark
• Keith Green tribute with Melody Green
• Randy Stonehill
• Love Song
• Paul Clark
• Darrell Mansfield
• Honeytree
“We didn’t know very much. We were naive. All we knew was we were blind, now we see. And that was enough.” – Love Song
The majority of Evangelical view is that once someone has accepted Christ as Saviour they are guaranteed salvation. But is it safe to assume that once we are saved, we are saved for always?
David Pawson investigated this through biblical evidence, historical figures such as Augustine, Luther and Wesley, and evangelical assumptions about grace and justification, divine sovereignty and human responsibility. He asks whether something more than being born again is required so that our inheritance is not lost. This book helps us to deicide whether ‘once saved, always saved’ is real assurance or a misleading assumption. The answer will have profound effects on the way we live and disciple others.
49:20 “There’s a scripture that says ‘when you have done all these different things that is such is your reasonable service.’ … When you get to the height of heights, there’s no reason for you to take any credit for it or feel like you did something because that’s just your reasonable service.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. – Rom. 12:1
II 7:50 Most “worship” today is “entertainment worship,” people watching but not worshiping.
11:40 “People don’t want straight truth anymore. They want the ear tickling stuff”
Note my comment below (in blue), showing how Hagee deceived Trump into thinking he’s helping rebuild the temple for good; though, it will be an abomination where animal sacrifices will burn, and from where the antichrist will rule during the tribulation, giving the order to chop off Christians’ heads.
Hagee told Trump instead that Jesus will rule from the temple, but this can only happen after the end of the tribulation — if there really will be a millennium.
This is reverse-Christianity.
“Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS, for they shall be the CHILDREN OF GOD.” — Jesus in Mt. 5:9
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The Evangelicals Who Pray for War With Iran
Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, who urged Trump to kill Qassem Soleimani, are ardent proponents of Christian Zionism.
Last Friday, a day after Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and nine others were killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq, the Christian Zionist advocacy group Christians United for Israel emailed its millions of supporters to praise President Trump’s move. …
“First Love – A Historic Gathering of Jesus Music Pioneers”
I found this wonderful gem in which some of my favorite Christian musicians from my early walk with the Lord in the ’70s and ’80s gathered in this cabin in 1997.
[Those who influenced me in bold text]:
• Randy Matthews
• Barry McGuire
• Annie Herring
• Chuck Girard
• Matthew Ward
• John Fischer
• Andrae Crouch
• Jamie Owens Collins
• 2nd Chapter of Acts
• Terry Clark
• Keith Green tribute with Melody Green
• Randy Stonehill
• Love Song
• Paul Clark
• Darrell Mansfield
• Honeytree
One of my favorite albums in those days was “To the Bride,” a two record set of live concerts by Barry McGuire & The 2nd Chapter of Acts, released in 1975, my first year after finding Christ.
Excellent message about American Christianity verses real Christianity. How theologians have twisted the written word of God!
“Fear” means fear! Lukewarm is gross to God!
27:10 “I’m praying that something I’ve said through the years sticks, and especially this morning, that the Holy Spirit of God would light a fire in some of you to where you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, right now.”
We should have the “all healed” revival happening, instead of this stuff going on. Why are so few “Christians” interested in getting real Christianity going, the way it’s always supposed to be: Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and Paul’s standard in Eph. 4:11-16. What’s wrong with us?
No presence of God in churches, no healings, hardly any interest in prayer. Church leaders not getting right with those they hurt. [I’m not saying this was true with Bonnke. But it is true with many I know personally.]
Many years ago about, 35 years ago I was severely backslidden, I had turned away from Jesus and I was serving satan well. I was in corporate business and doing extremely well. …
Please go back to Him, because as long as you are away from Jesus, if there’s sin between you and Jesus, you are in danger of hellfire. We have to make sure that there is no sin between us and Jesus.
How is it okay that today’s ‘churches’ no longer have the presence of the Lord?
Melody says:
“In 1975…, I walked into a Bible study with Keith … during worship…, and I felt the presence of the Lord. And I thought ‘I don’t know what these people have, but I want it.’ … So it was the presence of the Lord that touched me before I ever heard the gospel. … So worship is an essential part. …
There’s something that the presence of God, and worship, and prayer touches in our spirit….”
James explains what has happened since 1975. God can’t live where people hate one another, raising unholy hands.
I heard a lot about Bob Jones (1930-2014) about 30 years ago. Mike Bickle especially talked about him a lot. This is the first time I’ve really dived in myself, soaking up every word, transcribing many.
Some pastors in Anchorage also smile that much, just like used car salesmen. It’s a persona used to sell an unsanctified version of Christianity.
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Jason Bermas, a not-yet Christian’s view about Joel Osteen — while walking with his dog ‘Karma’:
8:20 “Nobody smiles that much. … That’s a persona. Even really happy people that I do know, people that are into church and God, they don’t smile that much. It’s an impossibility. Whenever somebody’s smiling that much, they’re selling you something you probably don’t need….”
I first me Henry Gruver in about 1990, when friend invited me to watch the Ron Wyatt discoveries video Henry was showing to a small group at Anchorage Christian Center (ACC).
Years later, I was able to participate in a short prayer walk that he led in Anchorage.
The last time I saw him was when he spoke at a hotel in Anchorage.
In the late ’90s, I got his Russian Invasion of America visions videos from The Prophecy Club, as well as Dumitru Duduman’s on the same subject. Russia and China is preparing to successfully carry this out, while our media is almost totally silent.