Having a great time in Baltimore at...

[olger]

The GYC. Almost 7000 kids expected on Sabbath. Y'all come next time !!

oG

[phkrause]

Some great photos too olger, on FB, of Baltimore of course. :)

[Gerr]

Where in Baltimore is this being held at? My wife & I are in Towson visiting our son & his family.

[olger]

1400 kids went out canvassing (and adults). 38,000 doors knocked on. 2250 people prayed with (Nancy & I prayed with 2). 1400 requests for Bible study. We met a lot of people, and encouraged the downtrodden.

neat story: Mark Finley And Ted Wilson and Elder Jackson went out canvassing too. The men were paired off with young ladies. The first door that Finley came to... The young girl introduced herself and said "and this is my friend Mark." The lady who answered the door stared....her mouth was moving but no words came out....finally she found her voice.. "YOU'RE Mark Finley. I was baptised in an evangelist series that you conducted in the Philipines"...and then she began to weep. She said she had fallen away from God and her life was in limbo...she invited them in and Mark and the young lady went in and had prayer together and she re-dedicated her life to the Lord. God is alive and reaching people in Baltimore.

g

[olger]

The Convention Center (Inner Harbor).

[phkrause]

1400 kids went out canvassing (and adults). 38,000 doors knocked on. 2250 people prayed with (Nancy & I prayed with 2). 1400 requests for Bible study. We met a lot of people, and encouraged the downtrodden.

neat story: Mark Finley And Ted Wilson and Elder Jackson went out canvassing too. The men were paired off with young ladies. The first door that Finley came to... The young girl introduced herself and said "and this is my friend Mark." The lady who answered the door stared....her mouth was moving but no words came out....finally she found her voice.. "YOU'RE Mark Finley. I was baptised in an evangelist series that you conducted in the Philipines"...and then she began to weep. She said she had fallen away from God and her life was in limbo...she invited them in and Mark and the young lady went in and had prayer together and she re-dedicated her life to the Lord. God is alive and reaching people in Baltimore.

g

That's awesome olger, Praise the Lord. AMEN

[Woody]

I've not heard ONE thing from any young people who attended GYC. But I have heard of a lot of OLD bones yak about it. Were there any young people who attended or just the old ones spying on the young?

[olger]

Chester Van Clark III

"Is thanking God for the blessings of GYC, and grateful for the GYC ECom team that worked so hard."

Esther Morris

"I am so thankful to be at GYC :-)"

Amanda R. L.

"GYC was great... such a blessing! now for a great week"

Allen Powell

"GYC was awesome! Headed back home to apply the things I learned:)"

Dylan W.

"GYC was a special time for me this year."

Ivan Gil Rey

"WOOOOOW ! MY FIRST TIME AT GYC AND IVE BEEN BLESSED SOO MUCHHH !

JESUS IS THE BEST !

NOW, I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT GYC !"

Patrichino Seniel

"GYC chAnged my lIfe fORevER!!!! :)"

[John317]

It's wonderful to hear those reports, Olger. Thank you so much for posting them!! :-)

[olger]

Some favorite speakers:

David Shin

Sam Pipim

Don Mackintosh (this guy is hilarious).

Eric Walsh

Herbert Douglass (talked about the emerging church apostasy).

Elder Ted Wilson "What an honor for the Columbia Union to host this great meeting."

[Gordon1]

Herbert Douglass (talked about the emerging church apostasy).

Can you fill us in Olger?

How is this apostasy defined?

[olger]

Yes I can. Thanks for the question Gordon.

The Emerging Church phenomenon gained momentum in the late 1990's. It hit full stride in the mid 2000's.

It means different things for different people, but let me provide three of its guiding principles.

"All roads lead to God." This mindset ascribes equal legitimacy to atheism, Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, and the occult. All are ways that a person can find the "other." Within this system there is no differentiation between powers of darkness and the power of God Himself.

Spiritualism/ Mysticism By virtue of the above belief, The Emerging Church Movement has opened itself up to deadly darkness(s). For many Emergents, praying towards Rome, candlelit labyrinth walking, universal interspirituality, contemplative prayer and yoga define them. Conspicuously missing from these practices is the authority of the Word of God, and the role of repentance. Dr. Jovan Markovic from Andrews University has studied the EC movement on his own for the last 4-years. He has flown to all their national meetings in an effort to learn.

He said "the mystics are attracting more emergents than the rest. At the Emergent meeting in Dallas - Richard Rohr (Roman Catholic mystic) said that emergents are coming back to the Catholic church in droves. Don't read all books as if they are devotionals. Keep your filter on. When you read books ask "why?" Emergents say that the problem with non-emergents is that they think dualistically. "Black & white thinking." Eastern mysticism is the basis for non-dualistic thinking, and it leads to the abdication of guidelines for right & wrong. A higher consciousness frees you from dualistic thinking. Social justice = utopian kingdom of God. In Emergent theology there is no room for the Great Controversy. Only one division allowed by God in the end. Obedient/ disobedient. He summed it up nicely in Centerville 5-7-2010, by saying "This thing is a monster. I need help to expose it."

Truth If we get the truth question wrong, we are going to be aberrant in every dimension of our life. Postmodernism questions if truth can be known, if it can be expressed in human language. The Emerging Church movement is a hard-line version of postmodernism. I heard this great quote in Baltimore last Friday "Postmodernism is the bastard child of modernism. It is always trying to kill its parents." The Emerging Church movement fulfills John 10:10. It steals our organic relation to the truths of the Advent Message. It kills the Great Controversy, and destroys our comittment to Scripture.

The EC has made inroads into the Adventist Church, particularly one midwestern conference.

That may be enough for now. I'll add this one thought as I close, in the Emerging Church Movement it is cool to seek God, it is not cool to FIND HIM.

Rejoice always,

gcw

[Gordon1]

Thanks Olger. Quite a wicked web. These notions are gaining traction everywhere - they seem to sprout from ecumenism.

It's plain to me we must be more acquainted with the Scriptures.

[Gail]

Just a note to tag on- I found this on a FB page:

Quote:

“Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God.”

This is not the Biblical definition of meditation... but it is what I'm hearing more and more of these days. People are looking for someting they can feel and sense with their senses.

[olger]

Herbert has coined the term "new spirituality" to describe the mysticism that is flowing into the church. Contemplative prayer appears to be an entry point for the rest of it.

Be of good cheer,

"Truth is stronger than error, and right will prevail over wrong."

g

[nuff sed]

Herb Douglass is one who "has his head screwed on straight".. Nuff sed

[Gail]

Yes, and he has a new book out, "The Heartbeat of Adventism."

Back to topic! :)

[Gail]

Wait a minute! Looking closer at Douglass' new book, I think it might fit right in with the topic of this thread.

Tis comment on the back cover makes me curious:

Quote:

What a book this is! Understanding the theme in this book (The Great Controversy theme- Gail) will be a shield against the thousands of delusions sweeping the Christian world; especially the many forms of seductive spirituality. Because the fog of war surrounds the great controversy, this book will give the reader instant tests to discern truth from error. Here you will find truth and loving-kindness in perfect balance. Knowing evil's battle plan may not quard against bruises, but it surely will provide hardy reasons to remain loyal." Jay Gallimore, President, Michigan Conference

I think I've heard that Michigan has a hard-right administration (please correct me if I am wrong) but I think that Douglass has been respected for enough years to hold his own.

[lazarus]

Yes I can. Thanks for the question Gordon.

The Emerging Church phenomenon gained momentum in the late 1990's. It hit full stride in the mid 2000's.

It means different things for different people, but let me provide three of its guiding principles.

"All roads lead to God." This mindset ascribes equal legitimacy to atheism, Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, and the occult. All are ways that a person can find the "other." Within this system there is no differentiation between powers of darkness and the power of God Himself.

Spiritualism/ Mysticism By virtue of the above belief, The Emerging Church Movement has opened itself up to deadly darkness(s). For many Emergents, praying towards Rome, candlelit labyrinth walking, universal interspirituality, contemplative prayer and yoga define them. Conspicuously missing from these practices is the authority of the Word of God, and the role of repentance. Dr. Jovan Markovic from Andrews University has studied the EC movement on his own for the last 4-years. He has flown to all their national meetings in an effort to learn.

He said "the mystics are attracting more emergents than the rest. At the Emergent meeting in Dallas - Richard Rohr (Roman Catholic mystic) said that emergents are coming back to the Catholic church in droves. Don't read all books as if they are devotionals. Keep your filter on. When you read books ask "why?" Emergents say that the problem with non-emergents is that they think dualistically. "Black & white thinking." Eastern mysticism is the basis for non-dualistic thinking, and it leads to the abdication of guidelines for right & wrong. A higher consciousness frees you from dualistic thinking. Social justice = utopian kingdom of God. In Emergent theology there is no room for the Great Controversy. Only one division allowed by God in the end. Obedient/ disobedient. He summed it up nicely in Centerville 5-7-2010, by saying "This thing is a monster. I need help to expose it."

Truth If we get the truth question wrong, we are going to be aberrant in every dimension of our life. Postmodernism questions if truth can be known, if it can be expressed in human language. The Emerging Church movement is a hard-line version of postmodernism. I heard this great quote in Baltimore last Friday "Postmodernism is the bastard child of modernism. It is always trying to kill its parents." The Emerging Church movement fulfills John 10:10. It steals our organic relation to the truths of the Advent Message. It kills the Great Controversy, and destroys our comittment to Scripture.

The EC has made inroads into the Adventist Church, particularly one midwestern conference.

That may be enough for now. I'll add this one thought as I close, in the Emerging Church Movement it is cool to seek God, it is not cool to FIND HIM.

Rejoice always,

gcw

Olger,

If I remember correctly there was an unfinished conversation about the emerging church some months ago. There were some issues that were raised about a book you had "read" concerning the emerging church. You said you would get back with some answers. You never did. Yet here were are again with attacks on the movement.

Your last statement is a good illustration of the kind of pejorative that is used but with little basis in fact.

[olger]

What is your question for me, Laz?

[lazarus]

What is your question for me, Laz?

Are you unclear about what I said in my previous post?

[olger]

Ah, yes. You are/were a McClaren disciple... I got that. That's your choice and it makes me tremble for you. Seriously

What is your opinion of Doug Pagitt; and what is your opinion of Samir Selmanovic?

g

[lazarus]

Ah, yes. You are/were a McClaren disciple... I got that. That's your choice and it makes me tremble for you. Seriously

What is your opinion of Doug Pagitt; and what is your opinion of Samir Selmanovic?

g

What are you talking about?

I'm a McClaren disciple? I know you have no evidence of that. Why do you need to lie like that? Your time in Baltimore didn't do much for your spirituality it seems.

So rather than deal with the issue that I raised you chose to attack me personally. Why?

I guess its rather obvious, I suppose.

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: olger

Ah, yes. You are/were a McClaren disciple... I got that. That's your choice and it makes me tremble for you. Seriously

What is your opinion of Doug Pagitt; and what is your opinion of Samir Selmanovic?

g

What are you talking about?

I'm a McClaren disciple? I know you have no evidence of that. Why do you need to lie like that? Your time in Baltimore didn't do much for your spirituality it seems.

So rather than deal with the issue that I raised you chose to attack me personally. Why?

I guess its rather obvious, I suppose.

Things seldom change Laz. I've been told many times on this forum that I'm going to Hell. It seems the nature of the beast here from the conservatives.

They lack substance so they attack the individual who presents Truth.

[Gail]

Tell you what-

Before this degenerates into a feud, I would love to see something from those who are more familiar with the subject on the "pro" side.

On Friday I was speaking with one of our Conference people and he said that he had found a book on this type of spirituality that read very similarly to Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing. He did not detect any of the signs that the "anti" books were warning against.

I would love to hear more examples that show a balanced view of what is good about it. I just can't believe that our pastors would support a Eucharistic Christ or meditational trances.

In recent times the books that have come my way (at the ABC)are "anti"-biased. As I have noted before, I think that the spiritual environment of the U.S. is different than where I am located and this is more of an issue where you are.

I am eager to learn more.