Lighthouse Trails is a Christian publishing company. While we hope you will read the books we have published and support our authors, we also provide extensive free research, documentation, and news on our Research site, blog, and newsletter.

We pray that the books as well as the online research will be a blessing to the body of Christ and a witness to those who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

spiritual formation: a movement that has provided a platform and a channel through which contemplative prayer is entering the church. Find spiritual formation being used, and in nearly every case you will find contemplative spirituality. In fact, contemplative spirituality is the heartbeat of the spiritual formation movement.

How Widespread Has Spiritual Formation Become? Read our list of ministries that are promoting it. Please pray for the leaders of these groups that their eyes may be opened.

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We also want to let you know that Lighthouse Trails Research now has a spot on YouTube, where we will place video clips of people like Warren Smith, Ray Yungen, and Roger Oakland.  Luke, a young man from the East Coast, is helping us with this project, and we are so grateful for his efforts. We do not have open comments on YouTube at this time as we are unable to moderate them, but you can sign up as a subscriber and receive email notification when we add new clips.

Thank you for your continued interest in our newsletter and research site. We pray we might be a service and a blessing to the body of Christ and a light pointing to the Light of the World, Who is the only means of salvation.

Now that the election is over, Lighthouse Trails has a question, and that is, "What about the Department of Peace?" Most Christians have probably never heard of it. Those who have been tracking the news through Lighthouse Trails for some time most likely have. One thing that may happen with the new administration is that the Department of Peace will become a reality.

Right now in Washington DC, a group of New Age lobbyists are working diligently to get the government to establish what they are calling the U.S. Department of Peace. The chief lobbying organization--The Peace Alliance--was founded by New Age leaders Marianne Williamson and Neale Donald Walsch. In essence, the Department of Peace, should it become a reality, will be a means to enforce New Age based hate crime legislation.

The legislation could very well lead ultimately to what Barbara Marx Hubbard calls the selection process, which is based on the New Age belief in order to stop the crises and turmoil in the world, all must go along with the plan, and resistance of any kind will be intolerable. The spiritual reasoning behind it is that unless humanity is enlightened to realize its own divinity, the world will head into Armageddon, and those who are self-centered (biblical Christians) are the only ones standing in the way from the planet being saved. We, of course, know that God's enemy, the devil, hates the Gospel and the messengers of this Gospel of true peace (because of the atonement for sins by Jesus Christ).

With the increased voice and influence that Oprah Winfrey will most likely gain because of the new president-elect, it seems inevitable that the Department of Peace will come into place. Lighthouse Trails believes this governmental body will dovetail at some point with Rick Warren's global P.E.A.C.E. Plan. We can say this with the utmost confidence because of Warren's efforts to bring about what he calls a three-legged stool reformation where government, business (economy), and religion will come together to solve the world's major problems. In addition, because of Obama's support of Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan and his support for the $845 billion Global Poverty Act (which is bound to happen now), it's very likely that Warren's peace plan will get a financial shot in the arm from an Obama administration.

But let's take a closer look at the Department of Peace so that when it comes to pass, we will have a better understanding of its significance.

In former New Age follower Warren Smith's 2002 book, Reinventing Jesus Christ, he addresses the Department of Peace. Only back then it was called the The Global Renaissance Alliance, co-founded by New Age leaders Marianne Williamson and Neale Donald Walsch. Here are Warren's remarks:

Marianne Williamson's radical transformation from a little known author appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1992 to best-selling author, "spiritual leader," and co-founder of The Global Renaissance Alliance has been remarkable to say the least. As already noted, Winfrey's enthusiastic public endorsement of Williamson's book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, made Williamson, her book, and the Course instantly famous.

While A Return to Love made Williamson a key player in the contemporary spiritual arena, a subsequent book, Healing the Soul of America, has now brought Williamson and her "new gospel" message into the political arena. The combined message of these two books is that we, the people, can heal the soul of America and the soul of the world if we "return to love" by accepting the [New Age] "new gospel" along with its A Course in Miracles-based principles. Because of the popularity of her books and her continued favored status in the media, Williamson has fast become the unofficial ambassador for the [New Age] "new gospel Christ."

After the events of September 11, 2001, Williamson became one of the "experts" the media called upon to provide support to the nation and to make suggestions about how we should spiritually respond to these disastrous events. With everyone's heightened concern about terrorism and the general state of the world, Williamson and other "new gospel" activists are introducing spiritual strategies for America's future. Suddenly, "spiritual politics" is center stage as the "Christ" of the "new gospel" brings his updated spiritual teachings into everyone's living room--whether people know it or not.

Desirous of establishing a single, unified organization to help create peace, Marianne Williamson joined with Conversations with God author Neale Donald Walsch to co-found The Global Renaissance Alliance. Alliance members include a veritable "who's who" of best selling "new age" authors and powerful "new gospel" advocates such as Barbara Marx Hubbard, Gary Zukav, James Redfield, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer and many others.

The Global Renaissance Alliance describes itself as a "citizen-based network of spiritual activists" whose "mission is to make a stand in our local and national communities for the role of spiritual principle in solving the problems of the world."1 The unspecified "spiritual principle" is the "new gospel" notion that we are all "one" because we are all a part of "God."

Although the organization presents itself as an alternative to "politics as usual," its members seem to maintain the old political practice of not being very out front about their real agenda. As expressed between the lines of their writings, one of the obvious goals of the "new gospel" and of the Alliance organization is to completely "reinvent" (if it were possible) the traditional Gospel of Jesus Christ. While members teach that all paths lead to God, they know that there is no place in their new spiritual world order for those who insist that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Saviour.

The Alliance presents itself as a "grassroots" organization of everyday folks, but it is important to remember that the Alliance is spearheaded by a high level group of [New Age] "new gospel" advocates who appear to be operating from a general blueprint channeled from the spirit world years ago by esotericist and occultist, Alice Bailey, who is the author of many channeled works. Her blueprint is continually being affirmed and updated by the recent "new revelations" received by Schucman, Hubbard, Walsch, Creme and others.... In a revealing passage in her book, Healing the Soul of America, Williamson writes:

Beyond the appearances of history, there is a great and glorious unfolding plan for the destiny of nations. According to the mystical traditions, God carries this plan within His mind, seeking always, in every way, channels for its furtherance. His plan for the evolution of humanity, and the preparation of teachers to guide it, is called within the esoteric traditions the Great Work.2

The significance of Williamson, Walsch, Hubbard and other very influential "new gospel" advocates choosing to demonstrate their unity and oneness at this time through their global association cannot be overstated.

The amount of networking and mutual support among Alliance members is widespread as they continue to join together in increasingly powerful ways to put their "new gospel" agenda before an anxious world that is searching for spiritual answers. Furthering their common cause, Walsch has written the introduction to Hubbard's last two books, Conscious Evolution and Emergence. Hubbard, in turn, recommends Walsch's and Williamson's books in her writings. Williamson does the same with Walsch and Hubbard. The three of them, in their mutual support of each other, provide a strong nucleus for the Alliance's high-powered network of [New Age] "new gospel" advocates, many of whom have bestsellers and followings of their own.

The Alliance has definitely unified the "new gospel" leadership over the last few years. However, it wasn't until after the events of September 11 that they stepped forward in an even more significant and public way to begin introducing their "new gospel" plan for the conscious creation of world peace. (from Reinventing Jesus Christ, chapter 6)

That was written by Warren Smith in 2002. In 2005, the Global Renaissance Alliance changed its name to the Peace Alliance. Williamson joined forces with people like news icon Walter Cronkite, Senator Dennis Kucinich, and a number of well-known Hollywood stars and singers. The Global Renaissance Alliance with its wide array of New Age leaders was too obvious. Now, the Peace Alliance has gathered a "respectable" group of leaders, pressing forward with the same agenda as the Global Renaissance Alliance. That agenda? According to Barbara Marx Hubbard and former Global Renaissance Alliance board member, to "reorient our great social and scientific capacities in alignment with Christ consciousness as to transform this Earth (from the GRA website)

Today, Williamson's Department of Peace efforts (bill HR-808) has gained the sponsorship and support of 70 U.S. Representatives. Incidentally, every one of them except Rep. Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland, is a member of the Democratic Party.

While Scripture instructs believers to pray for those in authority, it also exhorts us to warn the church of grievous wolves and false doctrines, and to defend the precious faith. Because so many Christian figures are leading countless people toward the New Age/New spirituality, we are compelled to continue our warnings. We know that salvation comes only to those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through faith by His grace - it is this Gospel message we seek to preserve in such dark and trying times. Thus, while the United States and the rest of the world move closer and closer toward a false one world system and a false christ, we will continue speaking the truth in love and boldness, exposing areas of darkness for the sake of the saints and the hopeful salvation of many lost souls.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:57-58)

Notes:
1. Marianne Williamson, Imagine: What America Could Be in the 21st Century (U.S.A.: Rodale, Inc.: Daybreak imprint, 2000), p. 413.
2. Marianne Williamson, Healing the Soul of America: Reclaiming Our Voices as Spiritual Citizens (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000), p. 195.

Related Information:

Update for Chapter 6, Reinventing Jesus Christ by Warren Smith

Global Peace Plans--Who Has Them and What's the Difference Between Them?

Rick Warren--Seeking Unity to Reach "Critical Mass"

Movie Alert: The [Global] Shift Movie (Without Jesus Christ)

The Blood of the Saints

The Great Heretical Idea: Oprah and Eckhart Do the New Age Shift

 "Spiritual leaders gather in Aspen"

 November 9, 2008

The Aspen Institute and the Marxist Praxis

A New Day
A post-election letter by Kathy
((Taken from Kjos Ministries website)

Well, the vote is counted, and we have a new president. But Barak Obama is only the "President of the United States of America."

I invite you all to look up to the throne of heaven, where the KING OF KINGS sits. He will never be ousted. He will never lose to an opposing side. He will never be successfully rebelled against, nor diminish in power, ability, wisdom and might. He remains the same.

In essence, for born-again believers, nothing has changed for us in our "real" world, a.k.a., the heavenly realm. This world and all that's in it, with its lusts of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of life, are passing fancies, as mist blown away in the wind. For us who believe on Jesus Christ, and are born-again by His Spirit, we have an eternal inheritance waiting for us in heaven. Our "real home" is secure, free from pain, torment, upheaval, and it's permanent.

And because we are children of a great King, we need not "change" nor be dismayed because of these new circumstances. We have the Comforter, Whom none other than our Lord and King has sent us -- the blessed Holy Spirit sent to help us. We are not orphaned, abandoned, or alone. We are adopted, and our adoptive Parent, God our Father, provides very well for us. We have God's Word in our hearts to strengthen and guide us. We have a never-ending supply of grace and enabling from on high!

Imagine! Paul wrote to believers encouraging them to pray for those in authority, and Peter talked about those who disrespected "dignities" and what a no-no that was even though the apostles lived in a day when tyrants were governing!! It was no different then than we have now...yet the world was turned upside down by these devout and devoted people of God, by the power of His Spirit and grace given them, at such a time as that was!

All glory to God Who is ABLE to do such a mighty work in mere human flesh! It is a tribute to His grace and power, and He is the same today for as He was for them! Hallelujah!

Our mission is clear. By God's grace and Spirit, we must pray still, just like we have been doing. Pray for president-elect Obama, his family, our country, the world.

We give thanks in ALL things, for this is God's will concerning us.

We keep praising and worshipping with all our hearts in sincerity, admiration, adoration, surrender to a great and Worthy Lord and King, Jesus Christ!

We grow in love and in grace daily in fellowship with the Lord and in His Word, and encourage each other daily, as we see these things coming.

We share our faith with as many people as we can, for the door of the ark is closing.

One last thought: Jesus said that He would come back. There are certain things that "must come to pass" before He does. Jesus told us about this Matthew 24, i.e. Are we at the place described in Revelation 10, where

"a mighty angel, with one foot on the land and one foot on the sea....lifted up His right hand to heaven, and swore...there is no more time."

We must remember, our Lord longs to set up His Kingdom of peace, He longs for us all to be together, He longs to put down all unrighteousness, and put an end to those things that have troubled the apple of his eye: His beloved people who know, trust and follow Him!

"Father, I will that where I am, there they be with me.... that they may see my glory." John 17.

Maybe Jesus doesn't want this great day to be put off much longer. It is His day, "The Day of the Lord!" I am not suggesting a day or time for Christ's return. No man knows that. But we can seek for understanding of the season that we are in! I want to be saying, with the Spirit, "Even so, come Lord Jesus!"

We look up, for our Redeemer is coming.

May God Almighty, our great God and Father, and the Lord God and Reigning Sovereign King, King Jesus Christ, embolden, encourage, and equip you afresh today. May the mighty, irresistible power of the Holy Spirit dwell in you richly. I ask the Lord to renew each of you by grace, and to make each of you an honor and glory to Him each and every day, and to strengthen you in the blessed hope we have because of Jesus Christ and what He did for us all on Calvary!

In Christ Jesus,
Kathy

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross..." Hebrews 12:1-2

(Taken from Kjos Ministries website

VATICAN CITY (AFP) - The Vatican's first-ever Catholic-Muslim forum kicks off Tuesday, two years after Pope Benedict XVI sparked outrage among Muslims for a speech seen as linking Islam with violence.

The three-day forum opens "a new chapter in the long history" of dialogue between the two faiths, the head of the Catholic delegation, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, told the French Catholic daily La Croix.

Benedict will meet with the delegations on Thursday.

The Muslim side is led by the mufti of Bosnia, Mustafa Ceric, whose spokesman Yahya Pallavicini told AFP the delegates "represent no state and no ideological tendency."...

Muslims and Christians differ in their concept of God, and follow "different paths to reach this God," said Tauran, the Roman Catholic Church's pointman for dialogue with Islam. Click here to read more.

"Vatican officials and Muslim scholars will begin talks on November 4: the fruit of the 'Common Word' initiative by 138 Islamic scholars and the direct result of a papal invitation."1

Related Information:

Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, and other Christian Leaders Invite Muslims to Share "Common Love for God"

by Ray Yungen

The meditation most of us are familiar with involves a deep, continuous thinking about something. But New Age meditation does just the opposite. It involves ridding oneself of all thoughts in order to still the mind by putting it in the equivalent of pause or neutral. A comparison would be that of turning a fast-moving stream into a still pond. When meditation is employed by damming the free flow of thinking, it holds back active thought and causes a shift in consciousness. This condition is not to be confused with daydreaming, where the mind dwells on a subject. New Age meditation works as a holding mechanism until the mind becomes thoughtless, empty and silent.

The two most common methods used to induce this thoughtless state are breathing exercises, where attention is focused on the breath, and a mantra, which is a repeated word or phrase. The basic process is to focus and maintain concentration without thinking about what you are focusing on. Repetition on the focused object is what triggers the blank mind.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For the past several months we have been praying that God would have mercy on our country and give us what we need and not what we deserve. We now know that we have been given what we deserve. But let us not lose hope, "for our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20). "Let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained...For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things" (Phil. 3:16-19).
Remember that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change (Psalm 46:1-2).

As a shadow of spiritual darkness continues to creep across our country, we must recognize the great opportunity we have as Christians to reflect the glorious light of our Savior. He is still our King and He has declared victory over the devil and his schemes. So let us be encouraged:
"The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out" (Prov. 13:17).

Remember Paul's exhortation, "Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Eph. 6:10-13).

Let us remember what children of the King are called to be!  "You are the salt of the earth...You are the light of the world...Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Mat. 5:13-16).

"In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?" (Psalm 56:4)

A Fellow Servant of the King,
Mike Gendron

Email: ptg@pro-gospel.org

Courtesy Kjos Ministries

Over the past few weeks, Lighthouse Trails Research Project and Lighthouse Trails Publishing have received new looks. We hope that finding information will be easier and more efficient. Below are the links to both sites as well as to our blog.

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