As the world watches on in fear and anxiousness over what is currently taking place in the Middle East, let us pray that the body of Christ throughout the world will continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who are spiritually lost. Perhaps more now than any time in history, the purity … [Read more…]
by Berit Kjos During the 1996 UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), I attended a day-long “Dialogue” on the meaning of “Solidarity” at Istanbul’s elegant Ciragan Palace. Registered as a reporter, I received a list of 21 panel members. It included UNESCO’s Director General Federico Mayor, the now discredited UN leader Maurice Strong, … [Read more…]
For some time now, Biola University has been promoting contemplative spirituality. Biola’s Institute for Spiritual Formation teaches contemplative prayer, and Biola has a seat on the Board of Directors with the very contemplative Spiritual Formation forum. As is so often the case with those who follow after contemplative, emerging spirituality goes hand in hand. In … [Read more…]
“The rise of centering prayer is causing many churches to become agents of transformation. Those who practice it tend to embrace this one-world-religion idea.” – Ray Yungen, 1991, 1st Ed. For Many Shall Come in My Name As you may already know, Lighthouse Trails Publishing has been carrying Ray Yungen’s first book, For Many Shall … [Read more…]
by Larry DeBruyn Contemplative Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer. Between contemplative spirituality and biblical Christianity there reside watershed distinctions between first, the definition, and then, the practice of prayer. Simply stated, prayer is talking to God. In speaking to God, believers are free to disclose their hearts’ deepest longings and vexations to him, including their … [Read more…]
by Roger Oakland Why did Calvary Distribution remove Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven books and related materials from their distribution? I believe these four reasons I have discussed are reasonable and a valid answer to that question: Differences in Eschatology Differences with regard to the Emerging Church Differences with regard to contemplative prayer and mysticism Differences … [Read more…]
Dear Ray Yungen and Lighthouse Friends, My deepest thank-you for this website and the book, A Time of Departing. I have been a born again believer for six to seven years now and a youth leader for two. I have passionately pursued Jesus through all of them. However, not always according to truth as … [Read more…]
by Kjos Ministries When applied to religion, the “new ways of thinking” means setting aside our old “narrow” beliefs for the sake of unity. For this to happen, Christianity must either bend or break, yet even church leaders are imposing these psycho-social strategies on their unsuspecting followers. In fact, many Christians now believe this new … [Read more…]
The phone calls and emails started coming in about three years ago. Sometimes the caller was in his mid-eighties, sometimes the caller was crying. But all of them had the same kind of story to tell – when their churches decided to get involved with 40 Days of Purpose, everything began changing and when they … [Read more…]
In a recent Chicago Sun-Times article, the headline reads, “The Next Billy Graham?” At first glance, someone like Rick Warren or Luis Palau (both of whom have been mentioned to take the place of Graham), might come to mind. But neither of those names was mentioned in the article. Instead, a popular emerging church leader, … [Read more…]
Ray Yungen Without question, the most influential practical mystic today is talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Her predominantly female audience, numbering in the tens of millions, looks to her as the source of spiritual inspiration?even more so than church, in many cases. I realize speaking critically of someone as warm and caring as Oprah might … [Read more…]
by Understand the Times with Roger Oakland Brian McLaren is viewed by many as a key leader of the Emerging Church Movement. The following interviews and the article will explain McLaren’s position on “hell” and “homosexuality”. Click here for interviews and more information.
Many think that the Emerging Church movement was started by a bunch of young people who wanted a hip atmosphere at church … not so at all. According to an article in the recent edition of Criswell Theological Review,written by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill, it was the Leadership Network that initiated the Emerging Church … [Read more…]
Brennan Manning, popular writer and speaker, is considered by many to be a kind of expert on the topic of God’s grace. Philip Yancey, editor for Christianity Today magazine, says “Brennan Manning [is] my spiritual director in the school of grace.” On the back cover of Manning’s book, Ragamuffin Gospel, Max Lucado states: “Brennan does … [Read more…]
Conversations Journal (a “Forum for Authentic Transformation”) is an offshoot of Psychological Studies Institute. The Journal’s target audience “is purposefully broad — all thoughtful, seeking followers of Christ who long for a complete transformation of soul and full restoration of His image within.” Of the journal, Wheaton College calls it “penetrating” and “high-quality” and carries … [Read more…]
by Understand the Times with Roger Oakland Twenty years after the World Day of Prayer for Peace, the Italian city of Assisi will again be a point of interreligious meeting and prayer on Sept. 4-5. The World Day that Pope John Paul II convoked in St. Francis’ city in October 1986 was unprecedented. It saw, … [Read more…]
by Let Us Reason Ministries (Mike Oppenheimer) Walking the labyrinth has become a popular spiritual exercise across the country and around the world. I first read of it in Leadership Magazine, a Christian publication and became a bit concerned, since looking into it further I’m definitely concerned. Labyrinths are said to been used for over … [Read more…]
