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Friday, March 25, 2011

Hip-Hop, Idolatry, & The Church Pt. 14 ~ An Ode To The "king"

This post was kind of difficult for me to categorize. It was a cross between the current title and my Nephilim series. I'm sure you'll understand why as we continue. The Radio Podcast related to this post can be found HERE and HERE
Singer/ Actress Lauryn Hill (aka  L. Boogie now Ms. Lauryn Hill) has been one of the music industry's most prolific stars. Beginning with the hit group called the Fugees, Lauryn has not only made music but also had starring roles in films such as Sister Act II, Hav Plenty & King of the Hill. She was formerly married to the son of music icon Bob Marley, Rohan Marley.  She is said to have a net worth exceeding $10 Million just from record sales and other closely held investments.  

What is strangely unique about Lauryn is her disappearance and absence from fame and industry, and a temporary and planned future reemergence with what seems to be a spiritually centered and focused message. After winning over 4 Grammys in 1998 for her release, "The Miseducation Of Laury Hill" she disappeared for 4 years. She has threatened to reappear with a new spiritual dimension and offering better than ever. Some say that her disappearance was due to a settled lawsuit ( $5 Million) involving the claim of  New Ark (Vada Nobles, Rasheem Pugh, Tejumold and Johari Newton), who held that Lauryn had tried to stiff them of credit for their work in writing and assisting on many of the albums songs. Prior to the suit, when asked about a written contractual agreement between her and the production company, Ms. Hill stated:  
The Fugees
"We all love each other. This ain't about documents. This is blessed."
Lauryn then reemerged in 2001 with a MTV 2.0 release in 2002 in which she introduced some spiritual/revolutionary type songs such as "The Conquering Lion" and "Everything Is Everything", "The Mystery Of Iniquity"  and "Oh Jerusalem". What many still don't know is that all of these songs were dedicated to and based upon the actions of a man that she considers to be Christ on earth. His name was Haile Selassie.

The Conquering Lion

Haile Selassie (aka: Tafari Makonnen) (7/1892 - 8/1975), Ethiopia's former Regent (1916-1930) and Emperor (1930- 1975), was an influential world leader, and one that set the standard for NATO and other world organizations as it pertains to peacekeeping and nation building. He was not fond of any official political or economic system and was deposed by communism towards the end of his reign. He claimed to be the distant grandson of direct relation of King Solomon and the Queen Of Sheba (1 Kings 10:13). According to legend, Solomon not only gave the Queen material items, but also impregnated her before she left upon her visit to Jerusalem to speak to teh wise King. As a result this union produced another royal line and offspring of David and another branch of the Jewish nation. 

Haile Selassie's name means "Power of the Trinity" or "Might of the Trinity". Haile is said to have been a member of the  Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church until his death. However, seemingly, beginning in Jamaica in and around 1930, he was hailed by his loyal followers as God incarnate, and Jesus reincarnated. Therefore, he was said by his devotees to have been God in the flesh.


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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Except Those Days Should Be Shortened

Matthew 24: 21-22 ~ "21-For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22-And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

The devastation and loss of human life and life in general has never been so pronounced in this generation as we have seen over the last 10 years or so. From, mass wildlife die-offs to earthquakes, tsunami's, volcano eruptions and more, it seems that the Earth and those of us on it are under attack. According to the US Geological Survey over 1 million people, an average of 100,000 per year, have died as a direct result of the most dangerous earthquakes in the last 10 years around the world. According to data compiled from the by the same organization, there is an upward trend of about 150 earthquakes per year above category 6 over the last 30 years. This averages out to be about 3 per week somewhere in the world. Although that number spikes at times, it is generally holding to that trend.    
Japanese Coast Line
Before (above) and after (below)
Because there are advanced detection and sensor systems in use, scientists have been able to observe some rather interesting effects that the natural disasters have caused. Scientists can now measure how these events effect the whole Earth. Most specifically when we look at some of the recent earthquakes we find that they actually effected the Earth's rotation and axis resulting in a reduction in time by causing the Earth's rotation to speed up. According to a a Yahoo News article by Liz Goodwin:
  • The 2010  massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile also shortened the day by 1.26 microseconds
  • The 2004 Sumatra quake shortened the length of day by 6.8 microseconds and shifted Earth's axis by 2.76inches
Dr. Richard Gross of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, stated the following:
"An earthquake can make Earth rotate faster by nudging some of its mass closer to the planet's axis, just as ice skaters can speed up their spins by pulling in their arms. Conversely, a quake can slow the rotation and lengthen the day if it redistributes mass away from that axis" 


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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Calling Out To ALL COGIC Bishops

The Late Founder
Bishop Charles H. Mason
Caring For The Sheep
With the passing of General Board member and former Presiding Bishop, Bishop Chandler D. Owens I believe that there is a serious call to the leaders of the Church Of God In Christ. The perception is that we, as a church, must stem a tide  of secularism and political and social liberalism and elitism that many Saints have contacted my office and this blog regarding. The ugly trio of politics, liberalism and elitism have reared their ugly head and the response is a grumbling and travailing within the spirit of believers calling for a restoration and reversion of this church to biblical principles and godly precepts devoid of politically and secularly inspired aspirations that lend to the seduction and consequent subdual of the masses.

The Question & The Call

Are there officials, especially Bishops, yet within the church that will undertake agenda that will benefit ALL members and factions of the church? This is the question that should be posed and one that I believe is deserving of an answer. Now, to be fair, some of the issues we face are issues based on individual and personal accountability or lack thereof. Then on the other hand public trouble is generated by a few who are visible because they do and allow what the church, especially the Grand Ole COGIC,  is not supposed to do and allow.
To recap, some of the more pertinent issues, we must examine how churches are currently being handled in periods of transition. As I have featured on this site, we now have what can only be perceived as greedy Bishops that engage in suing and bringing shame to the churches that they oversee as we will further explain below. Church laws that were instituted to protect the Saints are being used to bind them and restrict them under the eyes of our national leaders and leadership.

Then there are other serious issues that have developed from Clergy Sexual Abuse and Misconduct of the innocent. Seemingly, those that have been hurt in these types of cases have been hurt without repair. Others have been awarded resources and finances of the church to the tune of millions of dollars at a time. We have been directed to experience pastoral training on the effects of CSA and CSM within the jurisdictional setting, but we must ask, are there yet leaders within the church willing to undertake these issues from a victims perspective, calling an end to the ungodly practices of denial, avoidance and media posturing? Are there any that will make it known that what this church needs from top to bottom is an awakening and a reversion to plain, simple and honest truths rendering godly service to the people that they have been called to lead?  

Atrocities

1 Tim. 5:22 ~"Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other men's sins keep thyself pure"

In outling these issues, please know that I yet believe that the Church Of God In Christ is one of , if not the


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Sunday, March 6, 2011

In Memory Of Bishop Chandler D. Owens

A must read:

Bishop Chandler D. Owens
10/1/1931 ~ 3/6/2011
Supt. Harvey Burnett, the New Bethel/ Bethel Epiphany COGIC, The T.T. Rose Memorial District Of Illinois 3rd Jurisdiction and the Dunamis Word, stop to honor the memory of the late Bishop Chandler D. Owens who passed from this world on Sunday March 6th 2011.

Bishop Owens served as a former Presiding Bishop Of The Church Of God In Christ (1995-2000)  was the pastor of the Greater Community Church Of God In Christ in Marietta, Georgia,  the Bishop of Central Georgia Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and a General Board Member of the church Of God In Christ for over 35 years. He is said to have been a preacher of the gospel for over 70 years.


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Saturday, March 5, 2011

"In The Name Of"...The TRUTH & The Granville Sharp Rule

Matthew 28:19-20 ~ "19-Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20-Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Acts 2:38 ~ "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

In my post dealing with Bishop Noel Jones and his recent attempts to make the heretical belief in oneness doctrine and its resultant baptismal formula requirement "In Jesus Name" more palatable and acceptable for mainstream and trinitarian believers, the Bishop challenges those that disagree with him with the following statement:
"Well if they were baptized in the name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost, it can't be a contradiction"...."It' can't be a contradiction or Jesus would have started the biggest revolution in the whole Christian matrix"...In Matthew 28:19: the name of Jesus was implicit, it was implied. In Acts 2:38 the name is not implied, it's explicated. Now, my word to anybody who would call me a heretic, is, if something is implicit and something is explicit, it can't be contradictory"..."Matthew 28:19 does not contradict Acts 2:38, neither does Acts 2:38 contradict Matthew 28:19."
I have dealt with the bishop's assertion previously in print HERE, and by audio HERE and HERE, but I thought to revisit the issue adding a little more detail to my previous argument in effort to equip believers with additional information. 

Preface

I would like to say that, this topic wasn't confused by the early church as some may think. The early church certainly struggled with the concept that God revealed himself as three distinct persons in his dealings with the church and the world, but this distinction wasn't blurred until the 4th Century  heretical beliefs of Sabellianism appeared. The misteaching is that The Council Of Nicea established the Trinity. This is a patently false understanding! Nicea defended how Jesus was deity rising to establish a standard against the heresy of Arius, who taught that Jesus was god but not the eternal God. Arianism taught that Jesus was the greatest of all God's created beings, was created out of nothing and was divine in as much as he was like the Father but that he was yet a created being. I will deal with this issue and what happened at Nicea in a separate post.


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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

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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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Calling The Community From Death To Life

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved"
Romans 10:1

I think I'll just let them speak:

The Testimony


The Poem


Testimony ~ "Born in sin, shaped in inquity, open to do all sorts of things BUT..."



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Thursday, February 24, 2011

The Most Dangerous Place


In response to a high abortion rate in New York city which touts over the 17,000 black babies murdered at the hands of abortion providers in 2010. That's almost 50 abortions per day by black women in New York City alone. Then there's the statistic that although Blacks only comprise 13% of the US population, they are over 36% of abortions annually. Pointing out that dismal statistic is an antiabortionist group called Thatsabortion.com. Building on solid statistical data they have undertaken to place another add bringing attention to what can only be considered to be a genocide occurring within the black community.

As I've written previously, since Roe vs. Wade in 1973 there have been over 50 million babies killed by the abortion industry with a disproportionately high number (over 11 million) by black women. This is an average of 1,450 Black children that are killed by abortionist efforts daily. As we will note in this article, there are many reasons for this high rate and statistic. Aside from the fact that some have simply made bad decisions, other factors such as poor education, economic disparity and a spiritual and moral value decline have contributed to this. Not to mention social pressures from the most liberal and elite class Blacks associated with Black boule efforts to control and manage population of the Black community. (I'll speak more on this in another article)

An Offence To Some? 


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Friday, February 18, 2011

"Revelatory Expressions?" Does Bishop Noel Jones Deny "Oneness"?

Review these enlightening audio podcasts and hear Bishop Jones in his own words
Noel Jones. Trinity Pt. 2
In what can only be deemed as a highly confused if not even down right deceptive, radio interview, former (current) PAW (Pentecostal Assemblies of the World) Bishop Noel Jones appears to have denied the teaching of Oneness. Oneness, is a doctrine mostly prevalent in organizational Apostolic circles and is normally called "Jesus Only" teaching. This doctrine primarily centers around the thought that Jesus is the Father in creation, the Son in redemption and the Holy Ghost within the the church. This is called modalism. In this teaching we observe Jesus in three "modes" or roles as God. To be more specific, the emphasis is that God (more specifically Jesus) has "manifested" himself as the Father, "manifested" himself as the Son and "manifests" himself today as the Holy Ghost. Please keep this in mind as you will see it later in new clothes.

Early in church history, modalism was rejected as a description of God not contained or found within scripture. It was considered to be a heretical doctrine and those that believed it were considered to be heretics. It was hailed as an ascription or imposition upon the nature of God and an inaccurate portrayal of the person of Jesus. One of the reasons that this is a heresy is because under the modalistic construct, Jesus cannot be truly eternal. He (as son) "begins" or starts "to be" as it pertains to the redemption of man and mankind and more specifically when he puts on flesh. Trinitarians hold however that Jesus exists eternally, from the beginning with God, is God and is a participant within creation itself as scripture describes:

John 1:1-3:~"1-In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2-The same was in the beginning with God. 3-All things were made by him; and without him was
not any thing made that was made."


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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Difference Between Happiness & Joy

Because many have given themselves to the pursuit of life's more substantive issues, and in many cases accepted what is considered to be healthy spiritual, moral and philosophical standards of life's issues, it is interesting when philosophical standards and encouragements that do not point to or reinforce objective biblical standards are presented. Worldly philosophical standards often stick out in the crowd. 

Ie: For those of us in Christ, values that are less than Christ centered (worldly values systems) are not  appealing as they lack Christ and biblically centered encouragements.

At least that is my opinion of Essence's March 2011 article "The Happiness Quest". Now, to be clear, Essence is not a Christian publication, neither is it a Christian manual or guide to living for Jesus. So a condemnation of Essence is not the point of my article. However, Essence does deliver advice and certain information designed from a secular and in some cases an Eastern religious perspective, geared toward making one happy. The aim is to provide information that will offer individual self improvement or satisfaction as it pertains to the current condition of life. Personally, when I gather information that is aimed at my quality of life, I seek to align that information up with and compare it to information found within the biblically centered Christian worldview that I espouse. After all, if something is declaring that it will better life, then as Christians we should examine it in light of the truth found or contained within scripture. 

So when I saw the cover, I thought to look and see what essence says makes one joyful and could potentially change your life. I found many things...I'll focus on the "Joy" list of "25 Life-Changing secrets to Getting Happy" on the front cover:

Can Essence's List Of 25 Bring One Happiness?

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Friday, February 4, 2011

We Won't Marry 'em, But We'll Pretend


Illinois Governor
Pat Quinn
"Today is an important day in the history of our state because today we are showing the world that the people of Illinois believe in equality for all," Quinn said. "We look forward to individuals and businesses from across the country choosing to move to Illinois where we believe that everyone is entitled to the same rights."

Set for en-action June 1, the law of the land of Lincoln stems from the signing of Senate Bill 1716 which creates the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. According to CNN, the newly extended rights include:
  • Automatic hospital visitation rights,
  • The ability to make emergency medical decisions for partners,
  • The ability to share a room in a nursing home,
  • Adoption and parental rights,
  • Pension benefits,
  • Inheritance rights, 
  • The right to dispose of a partner's remains
Not only do these rights extend to gay couples, they also extend to those heterosexual couples who have been "shackin' up". All one has to do is pay the appropriate fees to the county and received a certificate. 

The Religious Freedom Part

At least Illinois decided to not make persons with religious prohibitions against civil unions participate:
"Section 15. Religious freedom. Nothing in this Act shall interfere with or regulate the religious practice of any religious body. Any religious body, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group is free to choose whether or not to solemnize or officiate a civil union."
Isn't that sweet?

The complete bill can be found HERE.

Blessed!

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Monday, January 31, 2011

Chicago Politics

What an absolutely amazing situation in the Chicago race for Mayor. This is one example of how jacked up anything political is in Illinois right now. Special thanks to my buddy Mrs. Monique Caradine!

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The Celebration Of Secular Seduction

Last year, when I wrote the Idolatrous Celebration Of Steve, I said to myself that I wasn't going to try to keep up with the "evil" that BET calls the Celebration Of Gospel. I had pretty much made up my mind that it really wasn't worth taking the time to point out the flat out riotousness that this so called Gospel celebration of music has gone to in order to mass market and appeal to the people. However, after watching the show and looking at the subtitle "Keeping the Faith",  I said that I must at least speak on some aspects of this years stage performance and obvious battle to confuse the mind, especially since the aim was to "Keeping The Faith". The first observation was that it was very hard to see that anyone knew what the "faith" really is. Yes, all this was, was a stage performance. The whole thing was devoid of anything that defines "the faith" or anything that I am aware of that was spiritual or even gospel oriented in nature. In addition, it was also a seduction of the mind and spirit geared toward confusing and obfuscating the truth...even attempting to reverse what many hold to be truth...that there is and should be a difference between clean and unclean.

The Sale & The Roster

TV is about ratings for sure. If there is a small audience, advertising dollars will not flow. This is the first thing that we all must realize. The TRUE gospel doesn't sell, on a regular basis on TV. (at least many times although there are some exceptions) Nevertheless, this year's roster was filled with secular singers, as always, but in a little different position than normal. This year they were highlighted, featured and in an advanced position. From El Debarge and Howard Hewitt to Chaka Kahn (who didn't even try to sing a gospel song, choosing instead to sing her oldie "Through The Fire") to Kelley Price and ultimately to Whitney Houston, the primary focus was upon the secular singer. The grand event of the evening seemed to be when Whitney Houston took the stage along with new gospel gone secular star Kim Burrell. Remember, this was the same Kim Burrell who is yet the COGIC Assistant International Minister Of Music and the same one that wants to record with Prince...It seems that she was at home in her new element singing Whitney's song, "Look To You". Although it wasn't Prince, clearly the audience was excited about Whitney's return standing the whole time she sung and vigorously applauding at her performance. Well, Whitney is a consummate singer...of that there is no doubt, but should I remind you that this was a "gospel" event, not a secular event??? Supposedly...
To be fair the stage was filled with the usual and highly suspect gospel singers also. Suspect because so many appear of them appear to be gay. Even Kirk Franklin had on his standard nerd garb, along with Israel Houghton who seemed to also be caught up with a Jr. High/High school uniform fetish or infatuation that Tye Tribbit also espouses. I have no idea why grown men have such a desire to present themselves as teenagers and wear clothes that are too small for

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Nephilim Pt. 1

Genesis 6:1-4 ~ 1-And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2-That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3-And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4-There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

In a sense this is the second part of an article done in 2009 called "Where are The Prophets Now" in which we looked at the open sins and issues of a few more popular past ministers. I think we are best served to know that although evil men may spread themselves and increase their kingdoms, they don't last. Unfortunately,  in some cases their influence lives on to some extent, and some remaining ideas must be cut down  in every generation.

The diligent study of history can be an important element of both current and future success. It's funny that although things change all too many things yet remain the same. Like the scripture has said, there is really nothing new under the sun. Some things can't and won't be duplicated in exactly the same manner because of certain advances in communication and education. However, through examination of the past we can see how the trend may change, but certain actions and seductions are yet in tact. In other words, a new day, a new face and even a new method, but the same ole devil.

Early in ministry I had the opportunity to come to personal knowledge of some of the country's greatest past charlatans. I can honestly say that due to the stronghold and influence that some of these had over the minds of people we should be able to honestly thank God that they are gone into judgement especially when we look at all of the damage they did while here on earth. Rather than look at biblical chronology examining the nephilim, I thought it best to look at some nephilim (tyrannical giants) that have developed in modern times. These men rejected salvation through Jesus and told the public that salvation was only offered through them, and obedience to their words. Some, who have examined their lives, say that they were mentally ill. I can only say that persons can't exalt themselves, blaspheme God and expect to remain sane. With that said however, it is still yet amazing to me to see the influence that many of them yet have and hold on America's church and the black church in particular. Some of us do and say things today, based on what some of these leaders established through their ungodly actions. Some of these men were victims of their times, suffering great racial injustice and oppression, but that becomes not an excuse as all were overtaken by the flesh and excess.

One strand of commonality is that these "ministers" all had a strong desire for fame, wealth and attention. Those desires were born out of wanting to actually see the condition of the people change or become better, followed by a time of self-serving and self-exaltation. That's where we observe the changes in these men's lives. At the point where serving the people met serving self. It seems that self won the battle in almost every case. 

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Born In Sin


Psalms 51:5 ~ "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."

Sin is most certainly a theological concept. In many instances, both Christian and non-Christian alike has redefined sin as simply bad, unethical  or immoral behavior. In fact many people do not wish to be called or considered a "sinner" because of the implications of the word and the immoral or bad behavior to which the use of the word is normally associated.

In a recent conversation on Facebook the very issue, of being called a sinner, appalled my niece (who is an atheist by the way) so much that she resorted to lying, fabrication, insult and simply anything to strike back at what she considered to be a derogatory comment toward her. It seems that calling her a "sinner" gave her the thought of being identified with a morally reprehensible group of people and individuals.

While it may or may not be true that sinners are associated with the materially immoral, according to the bible every nonbeliever or sinner is associated with the spiritually immoral and non-functional. As in the case of my niece, it seems that persons even devoid of what Christians would consider to be a right relationship with God and  spiritual values, consider the association with sin and sinners negatively and interpret the label in a negative light.

The Doctrine Of St. Augustine?

Many, including the modern day Jew, believe that what is called the Doctrine Of Original Sin began with St. Augustine. However, nothing is further from the truth. The doctrine of original sin began within the pages of Old Testament scripture and is revealed in the New Testament as the "curse of the law"

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Friday, January 14, 2011

Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 13

The New Age

Act I
Kanye & Jay-Z
In what may be the signal of the accelerated pace of hatred and destruction that the devil wishes to perpetrate upon humanity and women in particular, Kanye "Jesus Walks" West and Jay "I Am Jay Hovah" Z have taken their talents of ungodliness and mysticism to a completely new level portraying the murder and destruction of women as if it were art in his new video called "Monster". To be fair, dark portrayals are sometimes what sells in Hollywood and  this type of dark portrayal of women has taken place and is hailed as an art form by some who love "dark" and sadistic artistic expressions. However, when all things are considered, including statements, symbolism and moral and spiritual implications of the presentation, it is rather disturbing to say the least. Here is one of the scenes from the video. We should ask, is this what we call art?
Released Dec. 30th 2010, "Monster" seems to set the world on edge displaying the mutilation of of women and models, even portraying them being beheaded while Kanye and his number one friend, Jay-Z, dance and rap around the dead corpses while both of them proclaim that "every body know that I am a mutha(***Shut Yo Mouth***) Monster". Now, immediately, individuals revert to the thoughts of a metaphor or contrast to their talent and money being so great that they could be considered "monsters" of the stage. However, what does that have to do with dead women and the dismemberment and mutilation of bodies? Stop and think for a minute, what if they are saying more than just that their ability to make money is superior and that their talents are off the hook? Since it's obvious that these men are under the influence of satan and satanism if only for show, what if the spirit through them is proclaiming much more than meets the eye? We must further ask, since these people are doing these things for fame, money and controversy; is it true that they have sold their souls for it? In addition, what does a truly possessed person look like? We picture the demoniac in Gadara, running wild and crazy in the graveyard with no clothes on, and say certainly "he" was possessed. What about the modern artist that brings the graveyard scenes to life in YOUR living rooms and through music that infects our children and adults by the droves...Could this be what possession in the 21st Century actually looks like??? THINK!  
The Outcry Against Misogyny

Did you read outcry? Well, as stated, an outcry doesn't exist as the video is hailed as being a display of "art" by many within the music industry. Yes, we are aware of freedom of speech and artistic expression, but there is also something called responsibility that comes along with every freedom that we have. These men show absolutely NO responsibility for their whims. It is called being intoxicated with sin and the world itself. Thank God that What About Our Daughters.com has spoken on the issue. They said this:

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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Hop-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 12

The Deception

Genesis 3:1-7 ~ "1-Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2-And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3-But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4-And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5-For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6-And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7-And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."

The scripture referenced is fundamental toward developing our understanding of the nature of the devil (serpent) and his method of evil (deception) Many lose focus, claiming that God didn't call the serpent the "devil", and that teachings toward this are somehow invalid. We know that, although the relationship of the devil to the serpent was a later ascription found within Judaism, the point was not to confuse that this correlation was meant to indicate the personification and literal existence of the devil and evil.

As scripture clearly ascribes, the devil, satan or in this case, the "serpent" was not just a fantasy, or a myth, he was a literal reality. The devil, personifying evil, had a motive and a means to damage mankind. His aim was the subjugation of men to him, and his plan was to use deceit distorting what was plainly seen and known, claiming that God refused to share certain things with his creation and that he had the key to certain knowledge that God had not distributed.

In the early second century this type of thought gave rise to the teachings of gnosticism, claiming that the God described in the Old Testament was an evil God who withheld knowledge from the masses. In 140 AD Marcion presented his version of the cannon of scripture claiming that nothing pertaining to God in the Old Testament was authentic and that the God described within it was a demiruge or an evil God. This was the basis for "secret knowledge" or what the Greeks termed as "gnosis" in which the goal was to arise to a higher consciousness or state of mind among other things.

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Sunday, January 9, 2011

Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 11

Examining The Symbolism Of Occult Imagery Within Hip-Hop.

2 Thess. 2:6-12 ~ " 6-And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7-For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8-And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9-Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10-And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11-And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12-That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Lil Wayne 
A-OK aka: 666 Symbol

This post picks up on our look at the culture of death within Hip-Hop. In our next hip-hop post I will look at where that culture of death comes from and why. However, I will preface this post by saying that parallels DO NOT completely make a case against certain practices. This is a very controversial subject because there are many parallels to many ancient rituals found within some of the symbolism prevalent in modern hip hop culture. Certainly there is a spiritual element to it, which is beyond many of the people who promote these parallels.

This information is not presented to affirm or debunk myths or statements of occultism among media and social elite. We must be careful because what may appear to be a convincing story may not stand under the weight of evidence. However, with all of that said, there is a certain secret knowledge that exists in this world and signs and gestures that indicate allegiance to that secret knowledge that is too obvious to ignore. As a church we cannot simply afford to write things off as being insignificant, but we must be led of the Spirit into all truth for the enemy is revealed and his schemes are brought to naught through the light of truth.

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Thursday, January 6, 2011

There Is A Right Way. Coming Out Of Homosexuality & Sexual Addiction


Gen. 1:26-28 ~ "26-And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27-So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28-And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

Joe Dallas
Understandably, the critics of the church, claim that homosexuality is normal or simply a diversity within all of God's creation. The reason I say that this is understandable, is not because such sentiments are material facts, but rather from a psychological point of view, noone wants to be considered "not normal" or part of something "aberrant" even if that is something is of a sexual nature. Many individuals have a hard time reconciling the fact that we are imperfect and that imperfection is because of sin, not because of how God has created us.  In addition it takes a lot to have lived a particular way from day to day and be confronted with thoughts that you have lived "wrongly" or contrary to the will of God or unpleasing to God in any way. These are real human psychological obstacles and emotions and attitudes that the church must be willing and ready to acknowledge and minister to.


Click HERE To Purchase
This is why the the Chair of Exodus International board of directors, and founder of GenesisCounseling, and former homosexual, Joe Dallas, has continued to deliver a steady stream of information to the church designed to help it minister to homosexuals and those coming out of the homosexual lifestyle. In addition Joe has successfully continued to deliver biblically centered teachings toward geared toward debunking heretical teachings prevalent within society and the gay affirming church which pronounces that the bible endorses homosexuality. Joe's  primary message is that those who are homosexuals and ministries ministering to homosexuals, are not alone in dealing with these issues and that there are ample resources available to help individuals free themselves of homosexual addiction and sexual addiction in general. Joe sums up his drive to teach and write in the following manner:
"Working with people who want their lives conformed to God's will is one of life's greatest honors. Seeing that work bear fruit is one of life's greatest joys"
As stated Joe WAS a homosexual and also advocated for homosexual causes and the gay agenda and is very familiar with the current scriptural misinterpretations and and social and political agendas spearheading the homosexual rights movement.  His new book is coauthored with author and Christian speaker Nancy Heche. The books chapters are outlined as follows:

Part One
Chapter 1: The Church in Crisis, Part 1: Truth Revised
Chapter 2: The Church in Crisis, Part 2
Chapter 3: Homosexuality and Truth: A Time to Speak
Chapter 4: A History of the Gay Rights Movement in America
Chapter 5: Terms, Definitions, and Concepts
Part Two
Chapter 6: Understanding Pro-Gay Theology
Chapter 7: Rebutting Pro-Gay Theology
Part Three
Chapter 8: Homosexuality and American Psychiatry: Where We’ve Been and Why It Matters
Chapter 9: Theories of Origin, Part 1: Inborn Theories
Chapter 10: Theories of Origin, Part 2: Developmental, Spiritual, and Interactive Theories

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Saturday, January 1, 2011

What God Through TRUE Repentance Can Do

Pastor Harvey Burnett & The Dunamis Word wishes a Happy, Wonderful, and Prosperous New Year to all. May the Lord's face shine upon you like never before in 2011 as the day of our redemption draws near.


Pastor/Evangelist Jimmy Lee Swaggart
Prior to 1988 Pastor/Evangelist Jimmy Lee Swaggart, known by millions simply as "Brother Swaggart" was preaching all over the country and traveling overseas conducting what we now call mega conferences. He was pastoring over 7,000 members at his church Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, LA. (then a part of the Assemblies Of God), bursting at the seams with a thriving Christian bible college, and receiving donations, from an estimated 8 million American TV audience, (over 500 million viewers world wide) Donations were estimated to be in excess of $150,000,000 annually (that's over $500,000 per day). He was achieving all of this while preaching against sin in all forms from the White House to skid row. 

Before May 1988 however, it would be discovered that Evangelist Swaggart frequently visited at least one prostitute regularly, Debra Murphree, from New Orleans. According to her, Evangelist Swaggart didn't see her to have sex, but to spend some time engaging in other forms of sexual fantasy. Even though she would incidentally fail a polygraph test and claims abounded that Evangelist Swaggart had been set up due to retaliation of another TV Evangelist, Marvin Gorman, whom Swaggart had previously claimed was an adulterer. In spite of a possible set up, Swaggart would yet go on to repent before the word claiming that he had sinned and acknowledging his faults before a national TV audience that made world news and even interrupted regularly scheduled programming.

If that wasn't bad enough this same minister, in Oct. 1991 was caught with another prostitute, Rosemary Garcia, in Indio, CA. and would later go on to tell the church that God told him not to step down and that what he had done was "none of the church's business". By the way, to pour salt in the wound, around the same time he was successfully sued for over $10 million by Evangelist Marvin Gorman (mentioned previously) as the court sided with Gorman that Swaggart's claims were without foundation. 

Thank God That's Not The End Of The Story

Some 19 years later Evangelist Swaggart is back to preaching teaching and doing many of the things he used to do, before his moral failures, only he seems to be doing it all better than ever and much more wisely and

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

When Canadian Freedom Meets Canadian Censorship


Trouble North of the boarder:
Canadian Anti-Free Speech Logo
"Broadcasters should endeavour to make available to the community adequate opportunity for presentation of religious messages and should also endeavour to assist in all ways open to them the furtherance of religious activities in the community. Recognizing the purpose of the religious broadcast to be that of promoting the spiritual harmony and understanding of humanity and of administering broadly to the varied religious needs of the community, it shall be the responsibility of each broadcaster to ensure that its religious broadcasts, which reach persons of all creeds and races simultaneously, shall not be used to convey attacks upon another race or religion". ~ Canadian Association Of Broadcasters (CAB) Code of Ethics, Clause 8 – Religious Programming
Our friends North of the boarder, the Canadians, have never been more important to the future and well being of America. Not only do they participate in keeping the northern hemisphere safe and free from terrorists, but what goes on in Canada could well be an indicator of issues that Americans can expect to address or deal with in the future.  

Canada has a council to regulate offensive television material similar to the FCC in the United States. It is called the CRTC. In effort to police themselves however, Canada's private broadcasters created the Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council (CBSC). The following is directly from their website:
"The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) is an independent, non-governmental organization created by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) to administer standards established by its members, Canada's private broadcasters. The Council's membership includes more than 730 private sector radio and television stations, specialty services and networks from across Canada, programming in English, French and third languages."
Meet Rev. Charles McVety President of Canada Christian College. Both he and his show, WORD TV were censured in June 2010 by the CBSC when, in the process of fighting the good fight of faith, he used his television platform to expose the erroneous teachings of an accepted school curriculum which claimed that children should embrace their built in "6 gender" personality. Yes, for some absurd reason this proposed "in school" teaching claimed  that everyone was born with 6 genders and really cannot find peace and happiness until they learn to embrace them all...The CBSC disagreed with everyone who was in opposition to the program claiming that the curriculum was designed to teach "tolerance". Their claim was that Rev. McVety "mischaracterized" the teaching and not only went on to censure Rev. McVety, but also Premiere Dalton McGuinty and the school board for agreeing to remove and modify the program.

"We spoke against a new proposed sex education curriculum that would teach gender Rev. McVety identity, six genders, and sexual orientation to our children,...And I believe that this curriculum was for the purpose of teaching our children to be homosexuals." ~
Thankfully Rev. McVety was successful in opening the eyes of the community and the school board in his province to the problems of this particular textbook and the curriculum was dropped. Under any other circumstance, that would be the end of the story and we'd all go on to the next battle except for the word "censured" as I stated above.

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Monday, December 27, 2010

Scandinavia...Atheism?...Really???

Psalms 9:17 ~ The wicked shall be turned INTO HELL, [and] all the nations that forget God.

Across the internet, Scandinavia and other so called "secular" nations are held up as the poster children for atheism and secularism, being hailed as a place that proves that men can be "good without God" and that societies in general are better off without God or religion of any sort. Why is this so? It begins with assertions that the country enjoins the lowest rate of social ills and speculations that the country is among some of least religious countries in the world.

I certainly don't intend to bash the good ole Scandinavian homeland, (Denmark, Finland, Norway & Sweden) but current trends show that crime rates are ever increasing in certain Scandinavian provinces and in some places crime exceeds that of dreaded New York City. With a reported number of rapes being 6 times higher than New York  One online news source reported the following as long ago as 2007:
"No country has fewer police per capita than Norway, as many as 70 percent of so-called petty crimes are never followed up, and while the police force has increased 150 percent since 1960, the crime rate has increased 700 percent."
The Controversy

Atheist/Humanist Phil Zuckerman, associate professor of sociology at Pitzer College in California, in his article, "Is Faith Good For Us" certainly doesn't see things this way at all. He contrasts religious and so called secular societies and states the following:
"A comparison of highly irreligious countries with highly religious countries, however, reveals a very different state of affairs. In reality, the most secular countries-those with the highest proportion of atheists and agnostics-are among the most stable, peaceful, free, wealthy, and healthy societies. And the most religious nations-wherein worship of God is in abundance-are among the most unstable, violent, oppressive, poor, and destitute." ~ Phil Zuckerman
Now, this is a staving and no holds barred assertion and one based on Mr. Zuckerman's experience living within the nations for a certain period of time. Aside from the fact that the statistics, which are public knowledge, don't equal or support his assertions, as Christians I believe that there are questions that we should ask ourselves and  more profound discussions to undertake when addressing the real issues surrounding the argument. I would say this: 

For centuries as Christians we've held, the more God the better. Not just "a god" but the true and living God, through Jesus Christ the Lord as described within the text of the Holy written word of God...but Scandinavia, at least according to the critics, is living proof that the word of God is wrong and Jesus and religion in general aren't necessary for a healthy and vibrant society. Is there any possibility that anti-theistic worldviews are more healthy and beneficial to mankind than those found within religion and Christianity in particular? Secondly, is there any possibility that a nation is better off when they are described as "organically atheist" and therefore not reliant upon biblically described and defined moral values and theism in general?


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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

"I Decree & Declare" A Much Needed Prayer Of Blessing

Straight from the Potter's House...I must say, I was certainly blessed by being reminded of the reason why we preach, teach and pray so hard. May the Lord bless this child, his family and all them that bless him...I decree and declare it!



Ps. 8:1-9 ~ "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.  2-Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.  3- When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4-What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5-For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6-Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7-All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8-The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9-O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"


Blessed!
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Thursday, December 16, 2010

"Watch This" Pt. 6 ~ "A Different Scale" Weighed And Found Wanting

You see, we remember when Bishop Eddie Long wasn't content to just be one of us. He like Juanita II had to be ABOVE us and greater than us all. The command of money and crowd reveals the faults that already exist. Even in that, being above others is OK if God has placed you there, but remember that to whom much is given much is required.(Lk.12:48) We must remember what Eddie said:
"We're not just a church, we're an international corporation. We're not just a bumbling bunch of preachers who can't talk and all we're doing is baptizing babies. I deal with the White House, I deal with Tony Blair, I deal with presidents around this world. I pastor a multi-million dollar congregation. You've got to put me on a different scale than the little Black preacher sitting over there {who's} supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering." ~ Bishop Eddie Long ATL Journal Constitution 2005
Self-Exaltation Does Fail:
Now, after vowing to "fight" and show the world his innocence, I guess he has found that it's cheaper to keeper secret, and paying a private settlement is better than having all the ungodly details of what he actually he did fully examined in the public square. At least Mother Long may get a husband back after this. So that's a good thing!

Accusers...sell yourselves to this man again for his money, but none of what you said you wanted to accomplish will happen. The danger that you wanted to keep other potential victims from will continue on, but you won't be able to say that you didn't have your chance to make a difference neither will you be able to say that you did make a difference and that would be a tragedy especially after all of this.

Daniel 5:25-28 ~ "25-And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26-This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 27-TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28-PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."


Blessed!
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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Reup: Christmas 2009: Reflections On The Divinity Of Jesus

~ Re-Up From Christmas 2009 ~
Originally Published 12/15/2009

A personal message to every reader of this blog,
I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed and Happy New Year!
~ Pastor Harvey Burnett~

Isaiah 9:6 ~ "For unto us A CHILD IS BORN, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."


As we enter the 2009 (now 2010) celebration of Christmas, let us never forget that as Christians we celebrate the miraculous birth of an individual so unique, that his very person simply defies human understanding. Unlike any counterparts or parallels throughout history, Jesus, being God, and without divesting himself of his divine nature, came to Earth for a singular purpose; to redeem man back to God because of the damage that sin had done.

2 Corinthians 5:19 ~ "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of RECONCILIATION."

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