We Love Because He First Loved Us

Posted by Christine Pack

Artist: Kathryn McHenry
Source: Year 27

 Additional Resources 

Year 27: Working to Get the Bible Translated for the Ehty People of South Asia

Seeds of Praise: FREE Download Through Thanksgiving

Posted by Christine Pack

We have recommended the Nashville-based Seeds Family Worship ministry before as a great resource for teaching Bible verses to children (and adults, too). Well, we're happy to let you know that Seeds Family Worship is currently offering a great special through Thanksgiving: their entire Seeds of Praise album....for FREE! Simply follow this link, and then follow the friendly and easy instructions once you get to the download page, and before you know it, you'll be singing along (and memorizing) Psalm 86:11-13, Psalm 46:10, 1 Chronicles 16:9-10, Revelation 148:1-5,  Psalm 136:1-6,  Zephaniah 3:17, and more.

 Additional Resources 

Seeds Family Worship: A Recommended Resource

Sons of Korah: A Recommended Resource

A Few Thoughts on Christian Music

Former New Ager Warren Smith Explains That The "Jesus" of Bestseller Jesus Calling Is Not The Jesus of the Bible

Posted by Christine Pack

Warren Smith, former New Ager,
author of "Another Jesus" Calling

Ladies, do you have friends who have been taken in by the über popular book Jesus Calling? You almost can't miss this book, which has been a bestseller on Christian book lists for several months now, and has spawned many derivatives: devotionals, teen and children's versions, even a study Bible. But is it a biblically sound book?

Former New Ager Former New Ager Warren Smith says "no," it's not a biblically sound book, and explains in an interview on Stand Up For The Truth radio that the channeled entity in Jesus Calling is NOT the Jesus of the Bible, but a demonic counterfeit instead. Warren Smith is also the author of the just released book entitled "Another Jesus" Calling, which explores the problems with Sarah Young's book in greater detail. The title of Smith's book is taken from 2 Corinthians 11:4:

"For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully." (my emphasis)

If you have friends who have been taken in by this book, you will want to forward this interview with Warren Smith to them.


 Additional Resources 

"Another Jesus" Calling

Beth Moore Recommends Jesus Calling Book Claiming Direct Divine Revelation

Jesus Calling By Sarah Young: W.U.I. (Writing Under the Influence)

Warning About Popular Jesus Calling Book

Tim Challies Reviews Jesus Calling

False Teachings About Hearing Audible Words From God Taking Even Deeper Root in Today's Church

Bestseller Experiencing God Misleading Christians With "Soft" Mysticism?

Vision Forum Ministries to Close

Posted by Christine Pack

Vision Forum Ministries has released a statement that Vision Forum Ministries will be closing, and that donations are no longer being accepted. Doug Phillips, president of Vision Forum Ministries, had recently resigned citing a moral failure.

Statement of resignation by Doug Phillips (10-30-13) (online source):

Statement of the closing of Vision Forum Ministries by the Vision Forum Ministries board of directors (11-11-13) (online source):

 Additional Resources 

Doug Phillips of Vision Forum Resigns, Cites Moral Failure

A Recommended Resource: Proclaiming The Gospel Ministry

Posted by Christine Pack

I just finished attending a wonderfully edifying 2-day conference given by former Roman Catholic Mike Gendron. More about Mike Gendron, who is now a born again Christian, from his ministry website, Proclaiming The Gospel:

"A devout Roman Catholic for over 34 years, Mike was saved by God’s grace after attending a three-day evangelistic seminar in 1981. Upon completion of a Masters degree at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1992, he served as pastor of evangelism and outreach at a Bible church in Dallas for three years and founded Proclaiming the Gospel Ministry. Mike has addressed the students and faculty at The Master’s Seminary, The Master’s Academy International Dallas Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute and Tyndale Theological Seminary. Mike has also done seminars at hundreds of churches throughout the world and has appeared as a guest on many radio and TV programs, including The History Channel."

The conference breakout sessions included:

DAY 1: Biblically examining the differences between Christianity and Roman Catholicism, plus Q and A

DAY 2: How to witness to Roman Catholics, wrap-up session, Q and A

This casual, in-home conference included great teaching, yummy food, and intense theological discussions late into the first night, and more great discussion again after the wrap-up today. Unexpected bonus: Dr. Jobe Martin (author of The Creation of An Evolutionist) was there, too. It was a great joy to hear God's word boldly proclaimed, and to be encouraged by the fellowship of the saints ♥

We highly recommend the teaching ministry of former Roman Catholic Mike Gendron, who has such a heart for evangelism, and for helping to equip Christians to lovingly contend for truth with their Catholic family members, neighbors, friends and co-workers.

Below are some radio interviews that Mike has given:

Mike's Testimony: From Darkness to Light - 7-22-2014 

How True Christianity Differs From Roman Catholicism, Part 1 - Part 2 

The Death of Discernment and Its Consequences - 5-30-2009 

The Loss of Discernment In Our Churches - 9-25-2010

Roots of the Catholic Church,  Unbiblical Trend of Christians Linking With Catholics - 9-8-2012

Universalist Comments By Pope Francis - 9-12-2013

A Discussion About The Reformation - 10-28-2013

Former Roman Catholic Mike Gendron Shares the True Gospel on Catholic Radio - 1-22-2014

Mike Discusses His Book Preparing For Eternity - 3-27-2014

The Direction of the Roman Catholic Church - 10-21-2014

All Mike Gendron interviews and talks on Sermon Audio

 Additional Resources 

Preparing for Eternity (former Roman Catholic Mike Gendron)

Proclaiming The Gospel (former Roman Catholic Mike Gendron)

Christianity vs. Roman Catholicism - A Side-By-Side Chart of the Beliefs (Sola Sisters)

Testimony of Richard Bennett (former Roman Catholic priest Richard Bennett)

Berean Beacon (website of former Roman Catholic priest Richard Bennett)

Catholics, Physical Suffering and Doctrines of Demons (Sola Sisters)

Why the Reformation Was Important (Sola Sisters)

After The Darkness, Light (Post Tenebras Lux) (Sola Sisters)

Redeemer's Tim Keller Recommends Ignatius of Loyola? (Sola Sisters)

Far From Rome Near To God (Amazon)

On The "Faith" of Mother Teresa: John Ortberg Strikes Out (Sola Sisters)

The Myth of Mother Teresa (Challies)

Mother Teresa, A Lost Soul (Berean Beacon)

Mother Teresa in Her Own Words (Sola Sisters)

CNN Reports That Mother Teresa Underwent Exorcism (CNN Archives)

BBC Reports About Exorcism Performed on Mother Teresa (BBC Archives)

Christianity vs. Roman Catholicism - A Side-By-Side Chart of the Beliefs

Posted by Christine Pack

Click on the graphics below in order to better view the charts.

 Additional Resources 

Testimony of Richard Bennett (former Roman Catholic priest)

Berean Beacon (former Roman Catholic priest Richard Bennett)

A List of False Teachings In The Catholic Church (CARM)

Catholics, Physical Suffering and Doctrines of Demons (Sola Sisters)

Preparing for Eternity (former Roman Catholic Mike Gendron)

Proclaiming The Gospel (former Roman Catholic Mike Gendron)

Why the Reformation Was Important (Sola Sisters)

After The Darkness, Light (Post Tenebras Lux) (Sola Sisters)

Biblically Explaining The Heresy of Catholicism (Dr. John MacArthur, GTY)

Redeemer's Tim Keller Recommends Ignatius of Loyola? (Sola Sisters)

Far From Rome Near To God (Amazon)

On The "Faith" of Mother Teresa: John Ortberg Strikes Out (Sola Sisters)

The Myth of Mother Teresa (Challies)

Mother Teresa, A Lost Soul (Berean Beacon)

Mother Teresa in Her Own Words (Sola Sisters)

Mother Teresa's Crisis of Faith (Time Magazine)

Mother Teresa Did Not Feel Christ's Presence for Last Half of Her Life, Letters Reveal (Fox News)

BBC Reports About Exorcism Performed on Mother Teresa (BBC Archives)

(UPDATED) Doug Phillips of Vision Forum Resigns, Cites Moral Failure

Post by Christine Pack

(UPDATE 4-16-14: Doug Phillips' former nanny has filed a lawsuit against Phillips, alleging sexual misconduct. Our article about that can be read here. The filed lawsuit can be read here.... **warning, there is explicit sexual content in the filed lawsuit**)

  Thursday, October 31, 2013  

Doug Phillips has resigned as president of Vision Forum following his announcement of a moral failure, which according to his resignation letter, involved an "inappropriate relationship with a woman." Phillips has long been the face of a particular branch of Reformed Christianity which models very rigid family structures (led by the "Federal Head," the husband), promotes the Quiverfull lifestyle, enforces strictly supervised courtship dating for youth, and also teaches a form of Dominionism (got to have lots of babies, you see, through embracing the "quiverfull" teachings, if you're going to have any shot at taking Dominion of the world). I have personally counseled several women who have come out of this movement, and who didn't quite fit the mold for whatever reason, and whose experiences with Vision Forum leadership ranged from neglect to outright spiritual abuse.

I've also wondered at times, why the Vision Forum form of Dominionism seems to fly under the radar, as opposed to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) form of Dominionism. Probably because the NAR is so easily dismissed, with its angel feathers and gold dust silliness, while the Vision Forum crew are so theologically buttoned up as to seem to earn them a pass.

While I have long disagreed, oftentimes publicly, with many of the Vision Forum views, I have compassion in general for the body of Christ, who so quickly seem to swarm from one big leader to the next, from one hot new book to the next, and are now witnessing the fall of one of the most high profile leaders in the Reformed camp. But Quiverfull legalism and hyper-separationism are no insulation against sin, which is the great leveler of us all. May we all be sobered by this latest scandal, and cleave to our Lord and Savior all the more.

I am sorry for these circumstance for Doug Phillips, and will be praying for him.

The original Statement of Resignation can be read here, along with the Clarification Statement which confirmed that there was a physical component to the "relationship."

 Additional Resources 

Rethinking Vision Forum

Copy of Lawsuit Filed by Former Nanny to Doug Phillips' Family **Warning: Explicit content**

Vision Forum Ministries to Close

Rethinking Vision Forum

Christian Giant Sued For "Using Nanny As Sex Object"

Religious Right Leader Sued For Sexual Battery, Treating Young Follower Like A 'Personal Sex Object'

How God Saves Us In Christ (And Why Legalism Can't Help Us) (Pastor Jeff Crippen)

Why The Law Cannot Sanctify (Romans 7:5-6) (Pastor Kevin Williams)