At The 109th COGIC Holy Convocation... Pray For Our General Board Bishop

Thursday Nov. 10th at the end of a dynamic message from the Lord, the Bishop and General Board Member of the Church Of God In Christ, J. Drew Sheard collapsed. 

We suspect that dehydration may have been the culprit here. The Bishop does have a superhuman schedule. One thing we know, GOD IS a healer and a very present help in time of trouble!

A second thing we KNOW is that Bishop Sheard is a holy man that fears the Lord and DOES live right!!! My message to these internet idiots claiming otherwise...PLEASE SHUT-UP!!!!

May the Lord bless Bishop J. Drew Sheard. We are praying for his quick and full recovery. 

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BMI...A Tribute To ~ Commissioned

Now, anyone that knows me knows that I am all things Commissioned. Not simply because of personalities, but because every one of the group members that I know (past and present) are sincerely dedicated to Christ and the building of Christ's Kingdom. In other words, they are saved folk, and not just playing the part and making money. So when my friend Karl Reid posted a part of BMI's January 2011 tribute to Commissioned as sung by the Clark Sisters, I was more than happy to add it to the blog. As a bonus I added The Men Of Standard tribute to Commissioned also. This is yet another fantastic song that blessed my life. These songs were written at a time when Gospel music actually had lyrics that let you know they were singing gospel...isn't that a novel idea??? BTW: I'm rootin' for another tour with all NEW songs this time...in other words a new Commissioned project with all the original and current group members. I think we would be well served to go back to real gospel music with Christ centered lyrics.  

(Special note: I hope that the Clark Sisters and other gospel singers will continue to tribute gospel folk instead of secular folk such as Frankie Beverly...Just a thought!)

The Clark Sisters ~ "I'm Going On"


Men Of Standard ~ "Runnin' Back To You"


Blessed!

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Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 7

When God's People Pay Tribute

If I were to say that gospel award winning producers and artists such as Donald Lawrence, The Clark Sisters, Kiki Sheard, J. Moss and other modern gospel industry artists were gathering themselves together to give a special tribute to someone, many of us would ask which gospel personality, minister, singer or otherwise would they be coming together to commemorate? That would be a good question.

But what if I said that they were not coming together to celebrate anyone or anything that had to do with the gospel in any manner. What if I said that gospel artists were going to render their gospel talents in celebration of a person and group who has never preached one gospel word, saved one soul for Jesus Christ, and in fact have consistently contributed to the kingdom of darkness spanding for over 32 years???

Well, here it is. In another of the more strange developments within the gospel community, Frankie Beverly, founder of the secular group Maze, (who has never won a secular industry music award) has chosen Donald Lawrence as a member of his production team to place together an all star cast of individuals to pay special tribute to Frankie Beverly and the works of the group called Maze, called the "Silky Soul Music...An All Star Tribute to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly". As part of this homage, top gospel music producer, Donald Lawrence, has also agreed to rewrite and release a Maze song, "I Want To Thank You".

Now, there is some confusion over when the song (I Want To Thank You) was originally presented to the world and I think I know why. The song that Donald Lawrence is rewriting, wrapped up as a gospel song, was originally released with another song called "Southern Girl" in 1980 on a 12" 33.5 RPm Promo through Capitol Records. The song was re-released in 1983 on the album 'We Are One' by Capitol Records and later by EMI Music (Netherlands) Although my accounting of release dates and times are listed on their website, the following is stated in the Press release:

• Beverly has also secured an “all-star” production team to join him in the studio with this collection of great artists, including Grammy nominated producer Rex Rideout and Grammy and Stellar Award winning producer Donald Lawrence. Lawrence is producing a gospel rendition of the Frankie Beverly classic, “I Wanna Thank You,” originally released on Maze’s 1983 “We Are One” LP.

Whether Beverly knows it or not, there is a message being sent through this song and it's rewrite and the association of the rewrite with the 1983 date. This song and this event will effectively make many of the top gospel artists ONE with the world for and during this event. That has happened on occasion and many of the gospel artists themselves promote such currently. Kirk Franklin produced a project based off of the same standard of 1970's and 1980's rewrites, so this is nothing new. The problem here is that Maze has an unusual intoxicating appeal partially because of the subject matter that the group enjoins and also because of the spirit of seduction and mysticism that he (the group) promotes.

(Update 3/30/2010: Thanks to Paul, you can see the gospel singers pay tribute to this idol for themselves: HERE is the video. All I can say is what a SHAME!)

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The New Enlightenment Pt.2

Verse 1:
If you just grasp your mind,
then you ought to be able to speak it with your mouth,
it's yours, it's yours...
Verse 2:
If you can just meditate on it,
and then you've got to focus and concentrate on it.
And then you've got to wait on it,
you've got to wait...
Clark Sisters Name It Claim It ~1982

This was one of the most popular songs during the 80’s. I remember many days listening to it, playing the music and hearing it sung in many congregations. Although I understand the aim of the song, to encourage believers to pursue God and all the he has for you; little did I know that the method was unbiblical. The thoughts proliferated through this song would lay the foundation for many churches that would go on to call themselves Word Of Faith and would also inadvertently open many doors for those who taught "Get what you want and need from the Lord by any means necessary"

Now I want to stop for a minute and reaffirm that I LOVE the Clark Sisters and the body of work that they have traditionally produced and do not intend to make them the poster child(ren) for this sort of practice. I only point out how easily these techniques have infiltrated the camp of the righteous and saturated the children of God with the wrong message, inclinations and even practices.

Unfortunately, many have forgotten the spiritual mandate to seek, focus and concentrate on God and HIS Word and nothing else:

• Mt. 6:33 ~ "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
• Lk. 12:30-31 ~ "For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."

The new consciousness has duped many believers into the practice of focusing in on what you want in an occultic, religious fervor. I have heard preached messages saying,

• "God can’t give you what you want if you don’t define it, or have a picture of it."

Still others have preached,

• "If you want a man, not just any man will do. Tell God the height, color, skin tone…let God know what you want."

Many of you have heard similar, and have heard what you thought were scriptural admonitions to follow and pursue your hearts desires. This is the danger of the new consciousness. It is based on self, and selfish desires (no matter how noble) The new enlightenment encourages individuals to find

• "your truth" and "your God consciousness."

In the new consciousness self desires and personal pursuits replace the pursuit of God and the primacy of HIS will. God is turned to be a force, presence, or enlightenment found "inside of you". Personal achievements somehow are validations of the approval of God. Therefore, the more members, material, and recognition one can amass, the more approval that God has set on an individual, church or even community. In essence, materialism and both human and individual accomplishment becomes the standard whereby others know you’ve arrived or been successful.

Connectedness and ecumenism ultimately means acceptance of all truth and integration of what is Holy with that which is unholy. The object is to confuse, distort and subjectivize truth, and to create a "my truth/your truth" mentality. The result is a dangerous and intoxicating mixture of self-will, erroneous dogma, blind passion and illegible and indiscernible boundaries in which consciousness, feelings and emotives become god, master and director of individual purpose and place.

As stated previously the new enlightenment specifically implores religious eclecticism which tends to use methods of any or all religious systems and beliefs in order to achieve the overarching goal or goals set forth. Primarily rooted in Eastern mysticism, teachers of the new consciousness use thoughts and philosophies that are based on self cognition, identifiable religious and humanistic philosophies such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zoroastrians, and various mind cult philosophies. There is a further potpourri of resurrected metaphysical constructs and demonic world mythologies that God has long since rejected over the course of human history that drive the new consciousness.

One of the most startling elements of this cauldron of damnation, is it’s current validation through institutions of higher educational and corporate venues seeking to enhance the diversity of the educational curriculum and productivity of the workforce. Not to paint a broad brush, but one needs only look at many college curriculums called transcendental meditation, metaphysics and advanced mind science to see the blossoming and burgeoning field of mysticism and mind dynamics in operation within the system of higher education. Simultaneously, one only need look at many of the top Fortune 500 companies to see programs such as Imagine 21, Lifespring and other mind occult and metaphysical philosophies in action with sometimes full endorsement of corporate leadership.

This murky mixture of religion and secularism has nurtured the new consciousness and given rise to a resurgence of "repackaged bondage" suitable to subdue the 21st Century mind. This bondage promotes many methods to achieve the higher consciousness, but there is one method in particular that is consistent to a varying degree in many of these teachings and encouragement in both secular, new age and religious efforts. That is the concept of visualization or meditation as a method to achieve human or spiritual potential, goals or success.

As noted in the Clark Sister’s Song:

Verse 1:

If you just grasp your mind,

then you ought to be able to speak it with your mouth,

it's yours, it's yours...

"Grasp it in your mind"..."speak it with your mouth". These are elements of visualization, meditation and pronunciation, which are common metaphysical techniques and which are often used in tandem and combination to produce the desired physical and metaphysical effects.

Verse 2:

If you can just meditate on it,

and then you've got to focus and concentrate on it.

And then you've got to wait on it,

you've got to wait...

Meditation, "focus" and "concentration" or "visualization", then waiting for a manifestation are the encouragements. Once again these techniques are straight of the mysticism handbook and (hypothetically) can open doors spiritually that individuals are not instructed or ready to open.

• John 10:7-10 ~ "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Pastor Burnett, doesn’t the bible encourage us to meditate? How can you say that I’ve somehow yielded to mysticism? This is what I’ve been taught ever since I’ve been saved.

I will close this segment by saying YES the bible clearly teaches meditation in the following manner:

• Meditation was to be on good things: Phil. 4:8 ~ "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." "Think" here is a Greek word logizomai which literally means to consider, take into account or meditate on. The key here is that meditation was to be on "thing’ in relatinship to God, not man or self-desires.
• Meditation was to be on The righteousness of God in relationship to you: Mt. 6:33-34 ~ "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." "Thought" here is a Greek word "merimnao" which literally means concern to promote one’s interest.
• Meditation was to be upon the Lord himself : Ps. 63:6 ~ "When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches."
• Meditation was to be upon HIS Word or HIS Law: Ps. 1:2 ~ "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
  Joshua 1:8 ~ "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

As we note the bible version of "meditate on it" does not include meditation on self, self will, fleshly desires and or material things.

Many have conversely asked, how can God give you anything that you haven’t defined in your mind?

I want to suggest that defining things or knowing what you want is not the issue. The issue is a preoccupation or a spiritual manipulation of reality or natural circumstances. Once again, those are metaphysical practices. To pray, visualize and receive in your subconscious until you can physically almost touch, feel and smell it is an ungodly practice and exactly what the new enlightenment teaches.

Pastor Burnett, the bible teaches us that we should have a "vision". How can we have a vision without visualization?

The bible teaches in Prov. 29:18 – "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

But let’s take a more introspect look at this verse. First of all in context "vision" or "chazown" deals with having a divine revelation or direction towards the Will Of God. The word "perish" simply means to be made naked or exposed.

Putting this all together, we see that the "vision" we are supposed to obtain is one of and from God himself as he has provided direction by his word into HIS will and has nothing to do with "visualization" or focus on what we desire.

In Part 3, I will discuss this and the fallacies of Eckhart Tolle, one of the nations leading "new enlightenment" teachers who teaches that you (the individual) are God and the concept of sin is misunderstood and must be retaught to the world. Mr. Tolle in conjunction with (My Princess) Oprah Winfrey has managed to receive over 27 Million downloads of his teachings on the web. His books are also at the TOP of the New York Times Best Sellers lists and there is seemingly a greater fascination with his convoluted and demonic teachings than anything we’ve witnessed in modern times.

For the average reader this may be challenging, but a challenge that could revolutionize your life.

Deut. 18:9-14 – "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do."

Blessed!

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