Beware of following a church leader who is all about himself.

Prof Eileen Barker of the London School of Economics, who has spent years studying groups like the Moonies and Scientologists, says there are similarities between OneCoin and messianic millennium cults, where people believe they are part of something big that is going to change the world - and no matter what the evidence, once they've signed up, it's very hard for them to admit they are wrong.
"When prophecy fails they believe more strongly," she says. "Particularly if you have invested something, not only money, but belief, reputation, intelligence. You think, 'Wait a bit longer.'"
Money might push people to invest in the first place, but the sense of belonging, of doing something, of achieving something, is why they stay, Barker says. "And in that sense it's cultic."

https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-50435014

Jesus prepares his disciples and us. Luke 8-9

Reading Luke 8-9, the sub-headings stood out at me...

• Jesus' mother and brothers

We are Jesus' family if we follow him.

• Jesus calms a storm

God will protect us

• Jesus heals a man with a demon

God heals us and sets us free from Satan and his evil spirits.

• Jesus heals a woman

God heals even incurable diseases.

• Jesus heals Jairus' daughter

God can raise from the dead if he wishes.

• Jesus sends out the 12 apostles

We are to be lights and messengers in the world.

• Peter confesses Jesus as Christ (messiah)

When we are close to Jesus, we experience his power and realize he is God.

• Herod is perplexed by Jesus.

The world tries to understand what is going on, but fails to.

• Jesus feeds the five thousand

God provides for our physical needs.

• Take up your cross and follow Jesus

We muse die to ourselves daily. We must crucify the flesh.

• Jesus foretells his death.

God's power was manifest when Jesus was at his weakest - at his death on the cross. That is when we come into God's family if we believe and follow Jesus.

God comforts by showing us his presence.

These words are taken from the books of Isaiah and also the book of Revelations in the Bible. The prophet Isaiah was in mourning because righteous King Uzziah had died that year. The Lord comforted him by showing him his presence. In Revelations, the elders and thousands upon thousands of angels fall down and cry worthy is the lamb (Jesus) upon the throne. Isaiah 6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. Revelation 5 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!

An encouraging note on My Dream Church

Willy Tanis GelevanAnil, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and model of your Dream church. Two years ago, our “pastor” and leadership team left our fellowship. Quite a shock. We decided to continue using a congregational structure in the near term and have spent the last two years affirming many of the principles you are espousing. The level of ministry activity, ownership and commitment from all members has never been higher. We are still in the process of knitting together a sustainable structure, but we too are convinced that the priesthood of all believers is foundational to the structure to be implemented. Your Dream Church description affirms much of what we found works and has given us more to think about as we move forward. Blessings to you.

https://churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/326402-how-to-disagree-about-theology-without-kicking-each-other-out-of-the-church.html?fb_comment_id=fbc_1977438778993674_2366274123443469_2366274123443469

God partners with us

God partners with us...

For most of my Christian life I have wondered why God doesn't miraculously do things out of thin air to help his people. After all, he can create anything from nothing.

It is exactly what Satan also asks Jesus.

Matthew 4Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

In refusing to answer Satan's challenge, Jesus answers it later on but also teaches us the answer to my question above.

John 6:1-14
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

God could have easily made food from nothing instead, the little boy had to give his food in faith and trust. God partnered with the little boy to multiply his Giving. 
This is new and different from the OT when manna rained down from heaven. God was making a point about how he will work with mankind differently: I will not turn stones into bread nor thin air into manna. I will partner with man to turn his giving and his labor into bread.

During Jesus time on earth, he walked and traveled with his disciples, ate their food stayed in the same place as them. People somehow think he did not know anything about airplanes and spaceships and technology. They forget that the world was created by him, and through him, and for him. He could in fact, transport himself without any technology. He could also have commanded modern transport to be created for him and his disciples to whisk them from place to place...
Instead he walked, sweated, was tired, hungry and thirsty - just like them. He was partnering with us...

And again:

John 21:1-14
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered.6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 

Pastors often preach this sermon and imply that Peter was backsliding by going back to his nets. This is false. If he was backsliding by going back to his nets to provide for himself and family, then he would never have caught anything and Jesus should have rebuked him. In fact, Jesus was affirming the value of secular work by helping him catch an abundant supply of fish. He was partnering with Peter. But at the same time he was saying, "I shall supply all your need".

Again, God could have instantly made fish from nothing; instead, the fishermen had to toil in faith and trusting God, to try again. God partnered with them in their hard work.

Why am I a volunteer?

Driving on yet another Saturday morning for volunteer training, 36 miles one-way to South Chicago, one of the most dangerous places in the nation, I looked within myself to understand why I was doing this.

1. I do not want to read of tragic deaths of children in the news (like AJ who died probably half hour away from where I live) and feel anguish, anger and helplessness, "Why doesn't God do something?".
2. When I was a teenager, I wish I had someone who was a mentor or who guided me in the right way. Now the agency is just the "eyes and ears" of the court and not a mentor, but still, is a person who observes and makes recommendations in the best interests of the child. 

Also see https://juwo.blogspot.com/2019/06/i-encourage-everyone-to-be-casa.html

Adopted children are legitimate

For years I was bothered by these verses in the Bible:

Deuteronomy 23:2- A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD

Hebrews 12:8 – But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Since the last verse is in Hebrews, they cannot be brushed aside as Old Testament and Old Covenant.

Is an adopted child forever doomed?

But a few days ago, I read these verses and a few days later, realized like an electric current an insight I am thankful to God for:

Luke chapter 2

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover...

43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home...

48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

Now Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus; God was the 'biological' father.

Joseph was the adoptive father.

This is clear because when Mary was pregnant, Joseph wanted to quietly "put her aside" without shaming her, thinking she had sex outside marriage and was not carrying his child. But the angel came to Joseph and told him that the baby was conceived through the Holy Spirit.


So Joseph was the adoptive father.

Yet the Bible refers to Joseph as Jesus' father, and Mary as his mother.

They are both referred to as Jesus' parents.

In other words, the adoptive father and mother of Jesus were his "real" parents.

Of course there is the familiar verse where all children of God are his adopted children.

Romans 8:15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.* Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

I encourage everyone to be a volunteer to help children.

Update: I no longer recommend CASA of Cook County. It has become politicised and unrighteous.


I encourage everyone to be a CASA volunteer. https://casaforchildren.org/our-work/the-casa-gal-model/ On Saturdays this June I have been in training to be a CASA volunteer in South Chicago.
Because I believe that Christians have to shine their light in the world, not in church.
But the Church Organization makes them believe that tithing to the church organization equals giving to God;
Serving the church organization equals serving God.
As a result, Christians end up shining their lights in the church, not in the world.

Think about it. The chicago suburbs are home to at least 3 of the biggest megachurches in America (Chapel, Harvest Bible Chapel, Willowcreek) and perhaps hundreds of local churches.

But yet this 5 year old who lived within 30 minutes of these churches, was battered to death by his own parents recently. (https://www.chicagotribune.com/…/ct-ct-met-aj-freund-crysta…)
He did not have an advocate from the churches because, I believe,

Christians are taught to invest their time, talent and treasure into the church organization rather than helping fix the problems in their communities. 

One must distinguish between the "church organization" and the "church" (body of Christ).

The Church Organization tries to pass itself off as the Church, but it is not the Church.

Sorry, I went on a rant.

Why don't preachers provide verification of miracles done through them?

For many years now, I have listened to charismatic preachers retell how miracles were done through them. I have read books that retell of prophecy, healings, words of knowledge been done.
But I have never heard or seen them provide any proof they are saying is true.
Especially when we read of so many pastors and mission agencies caught in financial and sex scandals and lying to cover up.

How do we know they are being truthful?

Even Jesus, who is the Son of God followed this biblical principle.

“If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. 32 But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. 33 In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. 34 Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. 35 John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 36 But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 38 and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you. (John 5)

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1)

There were 2 supernatural witnesses to testify that Jesus is the Son of God. God the Father, and The Holy Spirit. And there was one human witness testifying about Jesus - John the Baptist.

Thus the accounts of Jesus life (gospels) were written - not by one person, but by 4 authors.

A few specific instances where Jesus provided verification:

1) "...and a man with a shriveled hand was there...  Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they (Pharisees) asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.". (Matthew 12)

There were witnesses who could record what had happened.

2) "Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.' So he said to the paralyzed man, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'" (Luke 5)

Jesus was providing verification to all. It was not an invisible healing.

John the Baptist - faith and humility

I was very moved when I was reading the Bible account of John the Baptist.

Society's perspective:

He was a failure whose life amounted to nothing. An eccentric who led some people astray and was beheaded as a result of his being foolishly outspoken. A misfit in society. He did no miracles and was just an itinerant preacher.

His parent's perspective: 

Imagine a father's agony to realize your son was beheaded as a result of the evil whim of a ruler who just wanted to save face in front of his dinner guests.

Imagine his parents' disappointment to see their son not earning a steady livelihood, but going off into the desert by himself, wearing camel's hair and eating locusts with a dipping sauce of wild honey. 'What did we do wrong? Where did we go off track in raising him?'

Before he was born, an angel visited Zacharias, his father saying, "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord" I am sure they had high hopes for him, and not of a wandering mendicant.

His own perspective:

John did not know the big picture. No idea of his destiny. He was given a narrow view. All he knew was, the Holy Spirit led him to speak and preach. He did not know how exactly Jesus would become "the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world". Like others in Jewish society who grew up under the Maccabees revolt which resulted in bloody oppression, he expected the Messiah to be in the warrior mold of King David. When John was in prison, he did not know if he was mistaken in the vision given to him by God; "are you the messiah or should we wait for another?".
Herein lies his faith and also his humility.

In spite of his narrow view - not just of the Messiah, but also of his own role in all of this - he did it faithfully without demanding answers from God.

He did not raise himself up - he did not tie his career path to 'a shining star'. When he was preaching and baptizing people who sought to follow him, he did not use it to his advantage to get wealth for himself. In fact, he said he was not worthy to untie the Messiah's shoelace - a job reserved for a lowly servant. He also said when his followers were deserting him to follow Jesus, "He must increase and I must decrease".

He did no miracles or rather, no miracles were done through him to validate his ministry and purpose. No healing miracles like Elisha. No fiery power displays like Elijah. No heroic exploits like David and Deborah and Samson. Just a society misfit baptizing with water, calling to holiness and preaching of a Messiah to come.

Jesus' perspective:

"He was a burning and shining lamp" (John 5)

 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11)

Greater than Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, Solomon, Samson, Daniel, Deborah... all the great men of Israel? Wow!


Why do I feel endeared to John the baptist? One reason is, we all can identify with him in that, he did not see the big picture. No rock star career. Bewildered at times. His ministry and life seemed futile.
Perhaps it is like the often used illustration of a tapestry that makes no sense when seen from the underside, Just a tangle of threads. But when reversed, is a beautiful pattern.

Should a preacher be wealthy?

For years I did not know the answer to the question but then I realized that Jesus worked as a carpenter or stone mason for perhaps 24 years (probably since age 6 as his father Joseph's apprentice, until ministry at 30). Apostle Paul worked as a tent maker. Instead of amassing wealth, Jesus would have provided for his family and given to help the poor.

They could have used the money that their followers donated, to amass houses and possessions but as Jesus said, "foxes have holes and birds have nests but the son of Man has nowhere to lay his head".
Jesus had the power to turn stones into gold. Why didn't he do so?

There was an expose TV program on Inside Edition on the televangelists.
However even local megachurch pastors in my city live like this with private jets and million dollar mansions.

Here is what I believe:
If a person becomes wealthy by providing goods or services to society then it is between him and God how he should use his wealth. For instance, the Waltons (Walmart founder), or even non Christians like Bill Gates (microsoft), Jeff Bezos (amazon).
But if a person is amassing wealth by donations from his followers then he has no right to hold onto it but to give it away. He should live a lifestyle at the median level of his followers. The same applies to wealth from book sales and DVD sales to his followers.

As I commented:

Jesus said we must "beware of wolves that will come in to devour the flock" in Matthew 7. All these people get rich not by inventing some new software or patenting a novel ground breaking invention or discovering a new drug that will cure a disease. They just get money by making their followers donate $$$ or buy their books and DVDs.


Interesting comment from user dante_dt:

dante dt
4 months ago
@David BroganIt's not your own free will when you give after being manipulated to give with a hope to receive. You hear all these deceptive teachings and think 'that means for me to get a breakthrough i need to sow a seed into the ministry'. See, that's not free will. The jet is for the ministry? Yeah right,  the ministry is his (Kenneth Copeland Ministries). So the jet is his. Why  do you keep quoting parts of the bible about prosperity? I'm not saying God does not bless people, i have a lot of faith and i'm where i am because God has blessed me a lot. But i will never give my money to these liars.
My whole point is Kenneth makes money by deceptively teaching people to sow into his ministry and for people to believe God for rewards. He makes money from people, where do people get their money from? If Kenneth wants a million dollars, he'll mention it to the church to sow seeds, but if you need a million dollars you need to believe God. It's not about faith, it's presented as if it's about faith.When you deceive someone, you mix truth with lies.Are you not understanding this basic analysis??

dante dt
4 months ago
@David Brogan Do you call it generous when you deceptively receive money from people and donate a portion of it? My  question again David,  why is Kenneth teaching that people must sow a seed into his ministry but they should ask God for blessings. The whole teaching about 'sow a seed to HIS ministry and you'll receive a reward' is a lie. You brought up Paul and 'asking amiss', you see what i mean, when people want to prosper, they're taught to pray to God, sow a seed, have faith but when Kenneth wants a jet, the money comes from the people. When people don't receive anything they're told 'you asked amiss' or 'your lack faith' or 'it's not God's time yet'. The equation for Kenneth's wealth is simple(Kenneth's wealth = money from people) but the equation for people's wealth is complicated(People's wealth = pray in the will of God x Sow a seed x have faith x God's time x Tithe x more variables as Kenneth takes from the bible to shift the goal post).For Kenneth it's one variable, for people, it's a lot.It's a scam David, it's a lie!?


dante dt
4 months ago
?@David Brogan The selling is done tactically and deceptively. People end up giving money to his ministry after being taught they'll receive their money back in multiple folds. My question still stands: if he gets his money for the jets and a huge mansion from people 'sowing seeds' into his ministry as they're taught to do, where do the people get their money from?People are taught "God will reward you' at some point IN THE FUTURE, meanwhile, his bank account full of cash,TODAY.It's deception at its best.?

dante dt
4 months ago
@David Brogan He sells prosperity to people who are desperate. 2Timothy 4:3-4 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.?

And here is a heartbreaking news article from the BBC. I don't like them for their bias but the truth is the truth https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-47675301

"Plant your investment of your time, talent and money into the local community and you are going to find people who need help," says Larry, adding that he knows his neighbourhood pastor personally.