On Monday night, August 25th, emerging church author Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz) gave the closing prayer at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. This comes on the heels of the news that Brian McLaren (prolific writer and emerging church leader) is now an advisor to Barack Obama. A concerted effort is taking place … [Read more…]
In May of 2013, Lighthouse Trails released a report titled, “They Hate Christianity But Love (Another) Jesus – How Conservative Christians Are Being Manipulated and Ridiculed, Especially During Election Years.” In view of the upcoming elections and some of the things going on around the country in the “background,” it seems diligent to repost … [Read more…]
LTRJ Note: The following is the content of Roger Oakland’s booklet, The New Missiology – Doing Missions Without the Gospel. We are reposting this important article because Lighthouse Trails has many new readers who may not have seen this. By Roger Oakland Emergent Missiology I must add, though, that I don’t believe making disciples must … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: Please see the video clip by Paul Wilkinson below the segment of this out-of-house news article. Also see a 2013 article by Jim Fletcher. “Anti-BDS activists decry Lutherans’ ‘obsession’ with Israel” By RAFAEL MEDOFF The Jerusalem Post The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), the largest Lutheran denomination in the US, passed two … [Read more…]
To Lighthouse Trails: What is “The Voice” translation of the Bible and what do you think of it? Our Comments: Our answer (from a 2007 LT article): According to an article in Christian Today, “New Bible Project for Young Generation Launched”, Thomas Nelson’s 2006 “Bible” project called The Voice is going full speed ahead. The … [Read more…]
In 2012, Lighthouse Trails posted an article titled “Young Life’s History of Embracing Contemplative Authors Continues,” showing that the Christian youth organization, Young Life, was introducing Young Life leaders and kids to contemplative/emergent authors and speakers. The article we wrote talked about a meeting we had in 2002 with the Young Life director of training … [Read more…]
By Jim Fletcher Prophecy Matters Lynne Hybels is a woman of vast influence in the evangelical world. She and her husband, Bill, founded Willow Creek Community Church in 1975; today the Willow Creek Association (9,000 member churches worldwide) is one of the most influential groups in Christendom. Willow Creek’s annual “Leadership Summit” often hosts speakers … [Read more…]
June 2013 Update: In 2008, Lighthouse Trails wrote an article about the contemplative propensities of the FGBC (Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches). We have posted that article below this update. Please note that many of the FGBC links on the 2008 article have been removed by FGBC and CE National. This update will discuss two items. … [Read more…]
They Hate Christianity But Love (Another) Jesus – How Conservative Christians Are Being Manipulated and Ridiculed, Especially During Election Years written by the Editors at Lighthouse Trails is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet. The booklet is 14 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are as much as 50% off retail. Below is … [Read more…]
The New Missiology – Doing Missions Without the Gospel written by Roger Oakland is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet. The booklet is 14 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are as much as 50% off retail. Below is the content of the booklet. To order copies of The New Missiology … [Read more…]
By Jim Fletcher WorldNetDaily Used with permission. At the Catalyst East conference in Atlanta, I listened to Lynne Hybels give a talk about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. One of her concluding slides was an image of the security fence Israel erected to keep out terrorists. It’s worked quite well, and that seems to bother critics of … [Read more…]
Today we received a phone call from a Lighthouse Trails reader asking what the recent status on Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan is. In 2006, we placed the Christian university on our Contemplative Colleges list and posted the following (we replaced any broken links we could find): Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan states that … [Read more…]
Note: At the end of every year, Lighthouse Trails presents its YEAR IN REVIEW. Over the next few days, we post about 4 or 5 categories with our top 10 stories in that category. Our first category this year is our “Top 10 Book and Film Reviews for 2012.” This is an opportunity to read important … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: Ray Yungen and the editors at Lighthouse Trails have put together our Top 50 “Christian” Contemplative Books – A “Not Recommended Reading List.” If your pastor, your professor, your children, or your friends are reading any of these books, then they are being led down a path that will take them toward a mystical, panentheistic spirituality … [Read more…]
In answer to an e-mail we received this past week asking if Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS is a contemplative school, we responded: As to your concern whether contemplative is being taught at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, the sad truth is the seminary is promoting contemplative spirituality. Here are a few links from … [Read more…]
In April, Blue Like Jazz, the movie named after the New York Times best-selling book by Donald Miller, hit theaters. While we can’t comment on the movie at this time, having not seen it, we are compelled to say something about the book. No doubt, tens or hundreds of thousands of young people will see the movie, which … [Read more…]
Dear Lighthouse Trails: What is your view of this new translation [the Voice]? Thank for all you do. Looking up. Bob Our answer (from a 2007 LT article): According to a February 11th article in Christian Today, “New Bible Project for Young Generation Launched”, Thomas Nelson’s 2006 “Bible” project called The Voice is going full … [Read more…]
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. I Timothy 4:1 Hipster Christianity, a book written by Brett McCracken, is being publicized by both secular and Christian media, such as the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, American Family News, and … [Read more…]
Note: While reading this article by Carl Teichrib, keep in mind some of the “change agents” within Christianity today, such as some of those at the upcoming Catalyst Conference held at Mariners Church in Orange County, California: Michael Gungor, Andy Stanley, Donald Miller, David Platt, Erwin McManus, and Chris Seay. By the way, Rick Warren … [Read more…]
In 2007 and 2008, books, videos, broadcasts, and news articles were pouring into mainstream America with a guilt-ridden message that basically manipulated conservative Christians into thinking that either they shouldn’t vote because “Jesus wouldn’t vote,” or they shouldn’t vote on morality issues such as abortion or homosexuality. Suddenly, all over the place there was talk … [Read more…]
by Roger Oakland “I must add, though, that I don’t believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion. It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts.1 – Brian McLaren Emerging spirituality is changing the way … [Read more…]
Today we received the following email from a concerned Lighthouse Trails reader. We believe it is worth noting to help warn those who are looking for good Christian colleges to attend that Lincoln promotes spiritual formation (i.e., contemplative spirituality). Dear Lighthouse Trails: I notice on your website that you list “Lincoln Christian College and Seminary” … [Read more…]
According to a Christianity Today article, LifeWay Christian Stores (resource department for Southern Baptist Convention) has decided to end their “Read with Discernment” labels program that began in 2007.1 Books that LifeWay was carrying at that time by emerging church authors such as Rob Bell and Brian McLaren were suppose to receive labels telling potential readers that … [Read more…]
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. I Timothy 4:1 LTRP Note: In September, it came to our attention that both secular and Christian media, in particularly Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, and Christianity Today, were publicizing … [Read more…]
Today, we received the following e-mail from a Lighthouse Trails reader. We have removed any identifying information so as to maintain the privacy of all parties. Please see our comments below the e-mail. To Lighthouse Trails: As a result of a casual conversation with a friend, I was telling her about your listing of contemplative colleges. … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: The following news story is not posted as any kind of endorsement but rather for informational and research purposes only. Please also read: Obama appoints “faith-based” advisory council, “New Spirituality” President’s Plan for Older Citizens, Obama: Grew up with “the Bible and the Koran” – Believes Many Paths Lead to God, Obama Foreshadows the … [Read more…]
The following pertains to our January 25 article, Buddhist/Universalist Sympathizer Woos Nazarene Students at NNU. NNU’s president, Dr. David Alexander, has issued the following response to an undisclosed number of concerned Nazarenes. We are posting this and also our comments and documentation about his response (see our commentary below Dr. Alexander’s response). From Dr. Alexander: Greetings from … [Read more…]
We are seeking to build a movement – hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of Catholic, Evangelical, and Eastern Orthodox Christians who will stand together.–Manhattan Declaration On November 20th, a document called the Manhattan Declaration was released at an event at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. The Declaration has received wide media coverage, and as … [Read more…]
Joel Rosenberg says he will speak at Break Forth, but serious implications should be considered Dear Concerned Christian, If your head is spinning, trying to keep up with the latest happenings of the leaders of the evangelical Christian church, it’s no wonder. For many, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see clearly through the muddy waters … [Read more…]
Dear Lighthouse Trails reader, If your head is spinning, trying to keep up with the latest happenings of the leaders of the evangelical Christian church, it’s no wonder. For many, it’s becoming more and more difficult to see clearly through the muddy waters of organized Christianity. It seems, more than ever, that leaders who have … [Read more…]
