{"id":1969,"date":"2009-12-31T01:45:42","date_gmt":"2009-12-31T05:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/?p=1969"},"modified":"2026-07-19T15:12:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T22:12:25","slug":"year-in-review-top-10-articles-by-lighthouse-trails-authors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/year-in-review-top-10-articles-by-lighthouse-trails-authors\/","title":{"rendered":"2009 YEAR IN REVIEW: TOP 10 ARTICLES BY LT AUTHORS"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. Tantra Sex: Evangelicals Catching Up with New Agers?<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by Caryl Matrisciana (Out of India<\/em>):<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Tantra and \u201cSpiritual Sex\u201d? Tantric sex incorporates mysticism into sexual activity. Couples, who seek out help for their relationships, are instructed to go into meditative states while being intimate. In her book, Conjugal Spirituality <\/em>(which is promoted by Gary Thomas<\/strong>, a popular Christian author), Mary Anne McPherson Oliver discusses and encourages the use of tantric sex. Oliver suggests that \u201cthe Upanishads and Tantric writings [are] the basis of moral theology for couples\u201d and that \u201cmystical experiences can be associated with erotic love.\u201d Oliver tells readers to use mantras and breath prayers to induce the tantric experience. (January 12, 2009)<\/p>\n

2. Is Lighthouse Trails \u201cHaters?\u201d<\/strong><\/a> by Ray Yungen (A Time of Departing):\u00a0<\/strong>Recently, at a large Christian youth event, Lighthouse Trails was indirectly referred to as \u201chaters\u201d because of our articles and books exposing the emerging church movement. We realize that many people think ministries like Lighthouse Trails are mean-spirited, hateful and derive pleasure from causing trouble for others. On the contrary, what motivates and drives Lighthouse Trails is a sense of duty to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We see that<\/em> being the issue at stake. (June 1, 2009)<\/p>\n

3. Freedom \u2026 To Die<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by Anita Dittman (Trapped in Hitler’s Hell<\/em>):\u00a0<\/strong>The antiquated train gave a sharp whistle. Our goodbyes were short, for we were sure we would soon be reunited. Pushing forward to board the train were hundreds of frightened, fleeing people\u2013people thankful for a new lease on life, but riddled with fear for loved ones being left behind\u2013sometimes their whereabouts being unknown …<\/p>\n

The next day Germany invaded Poland. Also on that day the German borders were closed, and Germany thereafter refused all mail from England. Our visas and passports were to come from England; they were in the mail but never made it to us. Two days later, on September 3, 1939, England and France declared war on Germany. (July 3, 2009)<\/p>\n

4. Rick Warren, Leonard Sweet, and Sweet\u2019s \u201cNew Light\u201d Leaders<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by Warren B. Smith (A “Wonderful” Deception):\u00a0<\/strong>Shortly after Deceived on Purpose<\/em> was published, I came across a book titled Quantum Spirituality: A Postmodern Dialectic<\/em> written by Rick Warren\u2019s \u201cEvangelical\u201d colleague Leonard Sweet. Also, around the same time, I was given a cassette tape set of a presentation Sweet had done with Warren in 1995. Their recorded discussion is titled The Tides of Change <\/em>and was packaged as part of an ongoing series called \u201cChoice Voices for Church Leadership.\u201d At the time this audio project took place, Sweet was a Christian author, Methodist minister, and the Dean of the Theological School at Drew University. According to information on the tape set, this presentation was about ministry on the emerging \u201cnew frontier.\u201d2 (July 17, 2009)<\/p>\n

5. Fractals, Chaos Theory, Quantum Spirituality, and The Shack<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by Warren B. Smith:<\/strong>\u00a0In the movie The Seeker<\/em> a young boy is a chosen one who is to find signs hidden throughout time, which will help fight against the encroaching darkness … [E]ach sign that the boy is to find is known as a fractal. When I heard the term fractal, right away I realized that I had heard that same term somewhere else recently. Later on that day I remembered where I had heard it, The Shack<\/em>.\u00a0(August 9, 2009)<\/p>\n

6. When a Young Girl Meets a Mystic<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by Carolyn A. Greene (Castles in the Sand<\/em>):\u00a0<\/strong>The school\u2019s spiritual formation professor had been responsible for bringing Ms. Jasmine to Flat Plains Bible College as their new spiritual director. Tessa was immediately drawn to her. Ms. Jasmine was so down to earth\u2026. [Tessa] admired her from the very beginning. Tessa\u2019s mind turned to Ms. Jasmine\u2019s promise to soon introduce them to the inner life. Although Tessa felt guarded about anything that came close to her inner life, she was drawn to Ms. Jasmine \u2026 (October 19, 2009)<\/p>\n

7. Bethel University (MN) Throws Students to Interspiritual Wolves<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by Jan Markell (Olive Tree Ministries):<\/strong> I wasn\u2019t prepared for what I was about to hear the evening of November 3. My alma mater, Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, sponsored an Interreligious Symposium promoting some kind of \u201ccommon ground\u201d\u00a0between Buddhism and Christianity. One would think if a Christian had an ounce of discernment, they would deduce that Christianity has nothing to do with Buddhism and such unions are playing with fire. But a panel concluded that there was \u201ccommon ground\u201d when it came to \u201cmeditation.\u201d\u00a0 Granted, this kind of meditation could put one in a dangerous altered state of consciousness, but maybe that\u2019s ok as long as we can find a bit of unity here! Some would call this common bond of meditation \u201ccontemplative prayer.\u201d (November 10, 2009)<\/p>\n

8. Evangelicals and Catholics Together and the Rejection of End-Time, Bible-Believing Christians<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by Roger Oakland (Faith Undone<\/em>):<\/strong> If you haven\u2019t already noticed, anti-Christian sentiment is growing toward those who believe in a biblical last days\/Book of Revelation scenario prior to Christ\u2019s return. A 2005 article titled \u201cLutheran leader calls for an ecumenical council to address growing biblical fundamentalism\u201d should help convince you. The article shows not only this growing resentment towards Bible-believing Christians but also the interspiritual path this change in attitude is taking. (December 7, 2009)<\/p>\n

9. Dear \u201cContemplative Christian\u201d: Are you the victim of seducing spirits?<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by Ray Yungen:\u00a0<\/strong>I once heard a radio interview with Richard Foster that revealed the high regard in which many influential evangelicals hold him. The talk show host made his own admiration obvious with such comments to Foster as, \u201cYou have heard from God . . . this is a message of enormous value,\u201d and in saying Foster\u2019s work was a \u201ccurriculum for Christ-likeness.\u201d I found this praise especially disturbing after Foster stated in the interview that Christianity was \u201cnot complete without the contemplative dimension.\u201d1\u2009Of course, my concern was that Foster\u2019s curriculum would result in Thomas Merton-likeness instead. (December 21, 2009)<\/p>\n

10. A Year-End Message: \u201cThe Lord is calling His people out from the midst of the false.\u201d<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by Kevin Reeves (The Other Side of the River<\/em>):<\/strong> History is filled with stories of those who have stood for truth, many of whom gave their lives to defend the faith God had put in their hearts. History is also filled with those who tried to squelch that truth. In his riveting account of the Nazi empire, historian William L. Shirer meticulously documents the internal workings of a system that once threatened to take over the world. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich<\/em> is a chilling account of the effects of mind-numbing propaganda. (December 28, 2009)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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