Contemplative Spirituality

Letting Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling “Jesus” Speak for Himself!

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By Chris LawsonSpiritual Research Network Christian sounding devotional books with striking similarities to psychic-medium channeled material? New Age/New Spirituality/occult concepts and buzzwords? Blasphemous names, titles, and self-descriptions from a counterfeit “Christ”—in relation to himself? Messages from Sarah Young’s “Jesus” that wants his readers to experience his “Presence” and go through lengthy and intensive “training” so … [Read more…]

The Goal of Contemplatives: Changing the Consciousness of Humanity – One Contemplative Prayer After the Next

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By Ray Yungen Two authors from Great Britain portrayed a stunningly clear picture of New Age spirituality. They explained: [T]he keynote of it appears to be a movement for synthesis derived from an understanding of the underlying unity behind all things and the sense of oneness that this brings. This oneness of all life is … [Read more…]

Emergent Manifesto of Hope Despair Revisited—How It Has Affected Today’s Church

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In 2007, Lighthouse Trails wrote a book review on a book titled Emergent Manifesto of Hope. Today, thirteen years later, we are seeing the “fruit” of the emergent church (that, incidentally, was spawned by leaders like Rick Warren, Bob Buford, and Bill Hybels as is documented in Faith Undone by Roger Oakland). The so-called fruit … [Read more…]

Lent and Contemplative – A Likely Match

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According to Wikipedia, Lent is: . . . a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks (40 days) later on Holy Thursday, the memorial of the Lord’s supper the Thursday of Holy Week before Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of … [Read more…]

LECTIO DIVINA – What it is, What it is not, and Should Christians Practice it?

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There’s a lot of talk about it today; umpteen books are published and more are on the way about lectio divina; and an increasing number of evangelical/Protestant figures are writing about it, endorsing it, and teaching it. Some people think lectio divina simply means to read a passage of Scripture slowly (or “praying the Scriptures”) … [Read more…]

Lilly Endowment’s Contemplative-Focused Clergy Renewal Program Updated Lists

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In 2013, we posted an article titled “What’s Up with Lilly Endowment – Funding Pastoral Sabbaticals with a Contemplative Agenda.” Below is a copy of that article (with excerpts from a related 2007 article). In it, it provides a link to the list of churches whose pastors were “winners” of the 2012 Lilly Endowment grants. … [Read more…]

Letter to the Editor: Is the EFCA Lining Up With the Emergent Church?

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Dear Lighthouse Trails: I know you have posted some things regarding the EFCA back in 2013-2014 and contemplative spirituality, but I haven’t seen anything more current so I thought I would share some things with you that I see. As a member (Technically) of an EFCA church, I accidentally stumbled across some things that, if correct, … [Read more…]

Christian Colleges and Seminaries in More Trouble Than Ever As Many Plunge Into Emergent Spirituality

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For nearly 18 years, Lighthouse Trails has been reporting on the slide that evangelical colleges, universities, and seminaries have been taking into the contemplative/emergent/ecumenical river. It would be great if we could say there’s been a real turn around and things at these colleges are getting better. It would be great if we could say … [Read more…]

“Bringing Light To Areas of Darkness”

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By the Editors at Lighthouse Trails In the year 2000, we learned that a mantra-style meditation coupled with a mystical spirituality had been introduced to the evangelical Christian church and was infiltrating youth groups, churches, seminaries, and Bible studies at an alarming rate. In the spring of 2002, we began Lighthouse Trails Publishing with the … [Read more…]

The New Age Christian—An Accepted Oxymoron

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It is important to understand that Satan is not simply trying to draw people to the dark side of a good versus evil conflict. Actually, he is trying to eradicate the gap between himself and God, between good and evil, altogether. By Ray Yungen The current popularity with meditative contemplative mysticism presents a very perplexing challenge for … [Read more…]

Christianity Today: “We are theologically conservative . . . committed to the glory of God.”—CT History Shows Differently

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On December 19th, 2019, Christianity Today, the magazine that considers itself the “flagship” magazine for Christianity released an article written by the just-retired editor-in-chief, Mark Galli, titled, “Trump Should Be Removed from Office.” According to CT, the article set off a firestorm. And by our estimates, millions have now seen the article as scores of … [Read more…]

GC2 Conference on Mental Health Includes “Spiritual Formation” Teachers Rick Warren and Ruth Haley Barton

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On December 12, 2019, Christianity Today posted an article by “new” Christianity pastor Ed Stetzer, giving a recap of the GC2 Summit that took place on December 6th. The article, titled “Lies Pastors Believe, Part One,” states: Two months of planning for our GC2 Summit on Facing Hard Truths & Challenges in Pastoral Ministry couldn’t … [Read more…]

World Leader of Salvation Army Meets With Pope Francis/Vatican to Discuss Ecumenical Plans

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According to a November 2019 posting on the Salvation Army website titled, “World Leader of The Salvation Army General Brian Peddle meets His Holiness Pope Francis,” it appears that the Salvation Army is part of the growing ranks of evangelical organizations in the race toward unity at all costs. The post from the Salvation Army … [Read more…]

A Word About Salvation Versus “the Contemplative Way”

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By Ray Yungen Knowing Jesus Christ is not merely religion or spirituality but is rather a personal relationship with Him. Romans 10:2 speaks of those who have a “zeal for God but not according to knowledge.” Many contemplative writers describe a spiritual despondency they suffer before turning to mystical prayer as a remedy, and consequently … [Read more…]

Jesus Calling Devotional Series—A Path to Mediumship?

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Readers of A. J. Russell’s God Calling books and Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling series may reject the idea of becoming a medium, channel, or psychic if it is put plainly before them. However, if it is introduced indirectly through Christian-sounding devotions, and if the spirit being channeled is called “Jesus,” they might be more receptive.—BNES … [Read more…]

Letter to the Editor From Dallas Theological Seminary Student—DTS Does Advocate for Contemplative Spirituality

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To Lighthouse Trails: The relationship Dallas Theological Seminary has with contemplative spirituality has been debated on Lighthouse Trails, and defended by DTS. As a current student, I can confirm some departments and professors do advocate explicitly for the contemplative brand of spirituality.  The school requires four semesters of spiritual formation. Students must engage with the … [Read more…]

Beyond a Doubt: Contemplative Prayer EQUALS New Age Meditation

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By Ray Yungen Before writing my book, A Time of Departing, I made sure I could prove, beyond a doubt, that contemplative prayer had not only slipped into the Christian faith, but also prove it is an integral part of the New Age movement. In fact, New Agers see contemplative prayer as one of their … [Read more…]

New Booklet: The Enneagram—An Enlightening Tool or an Enticing Deception?

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NEW BOOKLET: The Enneagram—An Enlightening Tool or an Enticing Deception? by Lois Putnam and the Editors at Lighthouse Trails is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet. The Booklet is 18 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are available. Our Booklets are designed to give away to others or for your own … [Read more…]

Remembering Ray Yungen and Richard Foster’s “School” of Contemplative Prayer

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Three years ago today author and researcher Ray Yungen passed away at the age of 64. As regular Lighthouse Trails readers know, it was through Ray’s work that Lighthouse Trails began nearly 18 years ago. Interestingly, on the eve of this 3rd anniversary of Ray’s departure, we read an e-mail notice we received this week … [Read more…]

“The Kingdom of God on Earth” Without a King

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By Roger Oakland A cleverly devised plan is underway declaring the Reformation is over. The “Holy Spirit” is supposedly uniting the church for a mighty revival before Jesus returns. Ecumenical madness is spreading like a virus. Few pastors take the time to listen carefully to what the present pope himself is saying. He is all … [Read more…]

About Us

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(TO CONTACT US, CLICK HERE.) Lighthouse Trails Publishing, Inc. and Lighthouse Trails Research Project began in 2002. There are currently several authors, editors, news writers, web and computer technicians who work with Lighthouse Trails throughout North America plus a small on-site staff in NW Montana where the offices of Lighthouse Trails are located. We are … [Read more…]

Video: Mike Oppenheimer and Ray Yungen on Mysticism and God’s Word

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Mike Oppenheimer and Ray Yungen discuss mysticism and the emgerging church movement in comparison to God’s Word.

The Music and the Mystical

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By Larry DeBruyn On music’s native ability to engender “religious” experiences Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 Music engenders mystical experiences. This can be discerned from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The … [Read more…]

The Tragic Influence of Catholic Priest Richard Rohr’s Mysticism on Millennial Evangelicals

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An April 2019 Religion News Service article titled, “For Millennials, Mysticism Shows a Path to Their Home Faiths” reveals how young (millennial) evangelicals are “[d]iscovering the Christian mystical tradition through the work of Franciscan friar Richard Rohr.” The article states: [Anthony] Graffagnino [28] was one of a number of millennials drawn to The Universal Christ—a … [Read more…]

10 Things to Ponder—Pathways to Apostasy

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LTRP Note: The links in the following article provide further information on each topic listed. By Roger Oakland While I am certain there are many more, the following ten trends provide a good overview of what is taking place in the church today: Ecumenical unity at any cost, yet completely void of any connection to … [Read more…]

Cutting-Edge Christianity or Shamanism?

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By David DombrowskiChief Editor, Lighthouse Trails Publishing I find it rather interesting how God has orchestrated things in life, which demonstrate His great love and ongoing mercy to ordinary people like myself. But, more specifically, I am thinking right now about how years ago I happened to come across a copy of a nearly forgotten … [Read more…]

Letter to the Editor: The Catholic Catechism and Contemplative Prayer

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Contemplative prayer is hearing the word of God … Contemplative prayer is silence.—Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994 edition, p. 652 LTRP Note: Since 2002, Lighthouse Trails has continued to issue warnings about contemplative prayer. We began our warnings after meeting Ray Yungen in the year 2000 and examining his extensive research. One of the … [Read more…]

Letter to the Editor: Interest in Contemplative Catholic Monasteries Increasing

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The contemplative response is not a luxury or an added extra [for the Carmelite]; it is at the very core of how we see life and cope with the challenges and pressures of what we call our postmodern world. Perhaps this is what Karl Rahner meant when he said, a generation ago: “The Christian of … [Read more…]

Letter to the Editor: Continuing Concern About Moody Bible Institute

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LTRP Note: When we received the following note this past week from a reader, we were reminded again about Moody Bible Institute and some of its professors. Moody, which claims to be a Bible-based learning institution, has an obligation to its donors and students to not veer from biblical truth and to make sure the … [Read more…]