Persons Or Manifestations? "neither one of them totally get it for me" ~ Bishop T.D. Jakes

Recently (1/25/2012) at an event named "The Elephant Room" a round table discussion was moderated by Mark Driscoll and James MacDonald in which Bishop T.D. Jakes was put on the spot regarding his proposed belief in modalism aka" oneness doctrine. 

I have featured posts on modalism on this blog. Sabellianism, as it was initially known, was a third century teaching deemed a heresy by the early church. The concept, rooted in a method of interpretation of certain biblical passages, affirms that there is only one God, but claims that the one God's name is Jesus and that Jesus simply changes role from Father to the Son and from Son to Holy Ghost. Sabellianism holds that Jesus merely "manifests" himself as the Father, and as the Holy Ghost. In contrast, trinitarian believers hold that based on the biblical description, that there is only one God who eternally exists as three persons. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Trinitarians affirm an eternal distinction of the personal identity of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost based on mind, will, intellect, self-awareness and not merely based on role or actions.

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States Rights, The U.S. Constitution & The 2012 Presidential Election

 "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." 

The 10th Amendment Of The United States Constitution 

ratified 12/15/1791 In Virginia

I find it interesting how various individuals interpret the United States Constitution. For some, with certain experiences, the interpretation of the document falls along a certain line of reasoning. For others with other experiences, the interpretation falls along another line of reasoning. This difference is never marked more so than when it comes to the the rights of the States vs the rights of the Federal Government. 

As some reason, the States are always under the control of the Federal Government. Others affirm that the States are free to implement laws independent of the Federal Government and in some cases even in violation of Federal mandates. Two such arguments that have reared their head and will have serious implications toward the 2012 Presidential election are the cases of health care and immigration. 

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Pulpit Whores

1 Samuel 2:22-25 ~ 22-Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23-And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24-Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. 25-If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

Pulpit Rapist Whore
We Know Who U R

As Christian bloggers we routinely receive information from various individuals. Recently, I met an individual in another internet forum that delivered information stating that she had been raped by one of the nations more visible ministers ie: a widely known "leader". For now, he and his name are unimportant and I won't focus on that. Initially, I didn't believe it nor did I believe her and wasn't too nice. She had to prove her case to get my respect and she did prove it, by certain means that I will also go without noting in this story. Even though I advocate for victims and victims rights, I know that the internet if filled with libelous statements, character bashing and just plain old false representations of people claiming many things about other persons when they get upset for whatever reason. So my "third degree" was not wasted, neither was it misdirected. Trust me on that one. 

Unfortunately, in modern times, one can never really know a persons motivations for anything. I mean look at it, I have endeavored to tell  the truth with evidence, and featured various of those that I have called pimps, charlatans and false teachers on this site and in response some of them have lied, trumped up issues and continued to make a mockery of themselves in effort to win the minds of people. Some, from what I've come to understand, don't care one bit about living a holy lifestyle. they never were really saved. They simply use the church and salvation as a means to their materialistic ends. For them all things are about image, image management and making "mo-money". Resistance to exposing charlatans, and confusion over the nature of God's love and justice abounds. Many of the same charlatans are the ones confusing the people how to balance love and justice and it always comes out in their favor. Criticism is leveled many times toward those who would engage the internet, a post modern culture, and a back-slidden Christian church. One can expect to hear almost anything almost anytime.

With all of that said, there are people who have been hurt and simply don't know what to do or who to turn to, so they express their hurts, pains and frustrations the best way they can and to whomever they can. It's for those real victims that I render this article to let them know that they are not alone and that there is help and healing at the end of the day. To all those that have suffered sexual abuse, and who have been the victims of these seducing charlatans whom I have chosen to call  "pulpit whores", (and I use the word "whore", and not "pimp", because what I will describe is nothing less than whoreish) you need to know that you don't have to be a lifetime victim. You can take steps to liberate yourself, with the help of the Lord, and there are plenty of people who will accept and receive you and do their best to help you heal. For the whores, there is redemption also, as we will discover at the end of the article. You too can be free from this bondage that doesn't let you rest at night and that drives you to drugs, drinking and erratic behavior.

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Detroit Funeral Directors ~ "Enough Is Enough, I Do Not Want To See Young People Destroy Themselves Like This"

Cantrell Funeral Home at 10400 Mack Ave. handled the arrangements of the last funeral that I did in Detroit wonderfully. Prior to that I conducted a funeral At Swanson's Funeral Home, who also did a wonderful job and who's leader is featured in the video. 

All of the Directors I've met are some great people. All of them are saying that they don't want the type of business they have been receiving lately. Coming off a year in which there were 344 homicides there has been 19 murders in the last 17 days. Sons are dying senselessly when there is yet so much to live for. These directors are taking a stand in their community. The question is will the church also take a stand? Without Christ we can do nothing. 

Special thanks to a reader and poster FM

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The New Civil Rights ~ "You're Not Black If You Don't Support Obama"

As we arrive at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday season, commemorating the struggle for civil rights and freedom from racial oppression, I want to deal with the sentiment that seems to be arising within the black community. It seems that a new thought has arisen that says that if a black person does not endorse President Obama, or if he/she critically assesses him or what he has delivered during this Presidency, that they themselves are less faithful to the black community and in many cases not really black.

Blacks Rejecting Other Blacks With Various Opinions

Although I have been observing this phenomena for a while, recently, in my community, Tavis Smiley was rejected from being a featured speaker at the annual MLK Jr. Luncheon by a group of women calling themselves the Colored Ladies Book Club. This group, consisting of what would be considered successful, black women, many of them wives of successful black men, many of whom assume the civil rights leadership position as it pertains to the local black community. The Colored Ladies Book Club threatened to "boycott" the event because they had a problem with the criticisms that Tavis regularly levels towards President Obama and his actions during his presidency in relationship to the needs of the black community. In response to the abrupt end to his invitation to motivate the Peoria black community, Tavis said this:

“I don’t see my role as one of criticizing the president. I see my role as one of holding the president – this and every other president accountable,”...“Something is wrong with this country…that so often the political right, and I am no defender of the political right…gets accused of playing the game of political correctness. What this underscores is that those on the left, the Democrats can play that game of political correctness as well,” ~ Tavis Smiley

My thoughts and insights into the situation and a review of what I believe is the error of the Book Club, can be found on the Peoria Pastors Blog.

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In The Defense Of Marriage

American Catholics Call All To Defend Marriage And Reject Notions Of Bigotry

In a Jan 12th, 2011 release, the American Conference Of Catholic Bishops released a statement calling on all Christians and all people to defend the traditional views of marriage as being between one man and one woman as well as reject the notion commonly promoted by the homosexual extremists that those who oppose gay marriage are bigoted. Outlining the problem as being beyond the Catholic Church and its agenda, the latter part of the statement said:

"For example, in New Jersey, the state cancelled the tax-exempt status of a Methodist-run boardwalk pavilion used for religious services because the religious organization would not host a same-sex "wedding" there. San Francisco dropped its $3.5 million in social service contracts with the Salvation Army because it refused to recognize same-sex "domestic partnerships" in its employee benefits policies.Similarly, Portland, Maine, required Catholic Charities to extend spousal employee benefits to same-sex "domestic partners" as a condition of receiving city housing and community development funds. 

In short, the refusal of these religious organizations to treat a same-sex sexual relationship as if it were a marriage marked them and their members as bigots, subjecting them to the full arsenal of government punishments and pressures reserved for racists. These punishments will only grow more frequent and more severe if civil "marriage" is redefined in additional jurisdictions. For then, government will compel special recognition of relationships that we the undersigned religious leaders and the communities of faith that we represent cannot, in conscience, affirm. Because law and government not only coerce and incentivize but also teach, these sanctions would lend greater moral legitimacy to private efforts to punish those who defend marriage."

In essence the statement introduces the notion that the government, by redefining marriage, as President Obama has committed and vowed to do, vicariously become agents supporting religious discrimination. In

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Dr. Steve Perry...Need I Say More?

When I first saw this video, I was motivated and inspired by what I see as one of the greatest educators of our time. When I saw it again recently, I am even more so inspired. If we had a Steve Perry in each community, the educational system and the world would be a different place. This is the cutting edge and we need to be there. Take a minute and listen to this. Your perspective will forever be changed.

I challenge each reader of the Dunamis Word, to take one day every two weeks to volunteer your time, talent and energy at the local school. I guarantee the principals and teachers will love it and even more, the young people you touch will too. 

Blessed! 

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Why Do We Hear "Black People" When White People Mention "Food Stamps"??

Let's Get The Story Straight

Although I will agree that under this President that there are more people on welfare than ever before and that black people have been disproportionately effected. According to Fox News food stamp (EBT) participation and costs have risen under Obama, from 28.2 million participants at a cost of $37.6 billion in 2008 to 44.7 million participants at a cost of $75.3 billion last year, according to federal data of what is officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

This is Newt Gingrich's original speech referencing the food stamp issue at the Georgia Republican Party Convention May 13th, 2011. Proceed to about 14:40 & 19:30-20:05 & the kicker 26:20-27:30

Did you hear that? Amazingly, there was NO MENTION of Black people in this speech! NONE!

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COGIC Clergy Sexual Abuse Interview

Here is the interview I did in October 2011 with Elder D. L. Foster of Gcmwatch.com regarding COGIC clergy sexual abuse. Elder Foster was able to put the audio together and Youtube part 1 for us. 

2012 presents some special opportunities. If you are a member of COGIC and are a delegate to the General Assembly and would like to be a part of an initiative to address and change the culture of silence as it pertains to victims of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct, please email me at dunamis1@netzero.com. This is not a task for those willing to conform to the establishment or cower behind personality. So please serious inquiries only.

Part 2 (audio only) of this interview and all other broadcasts that I do can be found HERE. 

Blessed!

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What Do George Bloomer, Bethel Family Worship Ctr. & Drug Money Have in Common?

You have heard of the expression, "the truth is stranger than fiction"? Well it cetainly is that.  In an unbelievable confession on his Rejoice In The Word program, Friday 12/30/2011, the bishop George Bloomer stated that he purchased his church with $600,000 of DRUG money that he had earned during his drug sales days.

He stated that when he was selling drugs, there were many safe houses that he would use where he would have young ladies hold his ill-begotten drug sales earnings so that when and if he got caught he wouldn't loose his money. This is common in street corner drug sales and the reason that some folk hang out at some folk houses that don't really belong there...but that's another story...In this case, Bloomer explained how he had gone to jail, gotten out, and supposedly during the process, got "saved". We don't know if this was the "use cocaine while preaching saved" or the "cocaine free" version of saved, because according to Bloomer, they are very similar to the same thing. Also according to him a person can be "anointed" in both instances simultaneously. (which is yet another story as well)

Nonetheless, Bloomer recounted that when he got out of jail, he needed some money and this particular lady was in jail and he couldn't get to his money. He said that during this time, he needed money to complete the financial arrangements for his new church and was praying to God that God would intervene and provide the necessary resources for the church. The woman got out of prison and eventually delivered the drug money back to him. He stated that he took it, approximately $600,000, and used it to secure the mortgage on his church. He went on to expound how that event was a "blessing" for both he and his ministry and the unsuspecting audience applauded.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Even though this was met with applause, there are many things wrong with what this bishop stated. I'll outline a few of them and ask that you chime in on the issue if you'd like.

First, this was not a blessing from God. Let's get one scriptural myth out of the way right now...the wealth of the sinner being laid up for the righteous (Prov. 13:22) has nothing to do with this or what happened here. First, the context of  that scripture does not allow it and secondly, this was supposedly the bishop's "wealth". So if he's the sinner, he can't also be the righteous for who this wealth is laid up for. Allow me to challenge you on this and we'll save that for later...let's deal with the greater issues for now:

Money Laundering & Tax Evasion

Bloomer in no uncertain terms stated that this money was gained by illegal enterprise and means. He, in his

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Immutability

Happy New Year! 
May 2012 Be Blessed & Prosperous For All!


Malachi 3:6 ~ "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."

The nature, actions and purpose of God is the ultimate puzzle of all generations. Many have attempted to define these things in many ways. Attempts have given rise to multiple thousands of religions, religious beliefs and interpretive systems  over time.

One of the ways in which God is described within scripture is as unchanging. The term that is used in the New Testament is a term translated as "immutable". The Greek word is "ametathetos", which literally means unchangeable. It is a legal term, an adjective, describing  an unalterable or unabridged position, intent or will. One of the biblical proofs that Jesus is God and not merely a lesser being such as an angel, is that he is also described as immutable in the same fashion that  God is described as immutable in the Old Testament. Example:

Hebrews 13:8 ~ "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

How is God Immutable Or Unchangeable? 

As referenced above, God clearly describes that he is not changeable. However God also deals with man in a continuum where there is constant and consistent change. There is physical, social, and moral change among men and mankind. Many things that men thought were right yesterday or in another age and epoch, are not necessarily right today. Yet the bible describes that God is unchanging and delivers an objective and unchanging truth. 

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