See also Part 1 of our 2017 Year in Review.
The following are the Top 10 stories in 2017 written by like-minded ministries (who are also authors Lighthouse Trails represents):
1/Preliminary to Armageddon . . . Paris Jan 15
(Bill Randles)
An event is occurring today which portends to be one of the last preliminaries to the shattering events outlined in the book of Revelation, and the end of the world as we know it. The event is the opening of a new Embassy, the Palestinian Embassy in Vatican City. This will be the opening of the first Palestinian Embassy in the European Union.
The main characters in this scenario are Pope Francis and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian State and the Vatican.
2/Boy Scouts’ Rulings Put Boys at Risk
(Greg Reid)
The cost to a kid who gets molested is higher than most people know. It’s too easy to minimize the damage by saying, “It’s just one of those things,” or “Get over it.” Sexual violation is a violent thing even when it’s not violent. It takes so much inside. After many years, I’ve taken notice of the losses (much of which has been healed and restored), and I want to tell you about it so you’ll know.
3/Signs of the Times – Global ID and the Cashless Society
(Tony Pearce)
The next generation of children born in Britain ‘will not know what money is,’ Tim Cook, chief executive of Apple, has predicted as he promoted the smartphone app, Apple Pay, (Daily Telegraph 11/11/15). Speaking to students in Dublin, he forecast the death of cash by the time current university students have a family.
4/“The Shack,” TBN, and the New Age
(Warren B. Smith)
Trinity Broadcasting Network has seen fit to provide The Shack author William Paul Young with the world’s largest “Christian” stage—his very own television series on TBN. Young’s “Restoring the Shack” episodes are masterfully produced on location in beautiful Montana. His presentations are usually underscored and enhanced with soothing music that is clearly designed to evoke a strong emotional response and positive assent from viewers to whatever Young may be preaching or teaching.
5/Salt-Free Christianity—the Way of Today’s Church
(Mike Oppenheimer)
We hear of all different kinds of ingredients in food that we should avoid for our health. Salt is high on the list. Today, salt is used as a flavor enhancer, but in biblical times, it had a more important purpose, it preserved meats. It was the most available way to keep meat from going bad.
6/A Further Unveiling of Assemblies of God Resolution 3 & the Serious Implications
When I wrote my commentary on July 28th about the Assemblies of God Resolution 3, which will be voted on during the 57th Assemblies General Council (August 7-11th) in Anaheim, California, I was quite unprepared for the firestorm that ensued.(1) I was especially surprised by George Wood’s response.(2)
7/Taizé Worship – Growing in Popularity, But Roots Are in Mystical Monasticism
(Chris Lawson)
The worship practiced at Taizé has attracted many people from around the globe and from many different denominations. While many of the words found in Taizé worship music are words found in Scripture or words that do not necessarily contradict Scripture, the Taizé songs and worship services themselves are centered around contemplative, ecumenical, and oftentimes emergent spirituality themes. The emphasis is not on the teaching or exhortation of the Word of God but rather is to help participants “experience” God through sensory-focused music and singing.
8/A Public School Transgender Agenda Alert: A Wake Up Call for Christians
(Lois Putnam)
Recently, a board meeting at the school caused a huge confrontation between upset parents and a defensive teacher and school board. In the end, the board boldly asserted that topics dealing with “gay, lesbian and transgender issues” are open for discussion at Rocklin, and that parents may not always be notified before such discussions occur. The board also maintained that opting out of
9/Jerusalem – The Capital of Israel
(Roger Oakland)
(photo by bigstockphoto.com; used with permission | You may read more by these authors by searching for their names on our two sites: Lighthouse Trails and Lighthouse Trails Research Project)