Red Flag This: Ruth Haley Barton & Self!

Self, self, self--there's lots about self in Ruth Haley Barton's book: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.  There's the authentic self, the true self, the real self, the essential self, the false self, the ego-driven self, the childhood self, the truer self, and the soft body of self; there's coming home to one's self, settling into one's self, finding one's self, opening up to one's self, and losing touch with one's self; and there's our own transforming selves, and our own original selves.

And yet not one of these terms, or ideas can be found in the Bible.  And what's more many of the terms are not what you'd expect them to mean.  In the Bible you will read of the new man, and the old man or the natural man; you will read of the new creature in Christ, and old things.  But nowhere in scripture do we find the "selves" named above.

Be aware, too, that in Ruth's book nowhere is there anything about anyone ever needing to acknowledge one's sin to put off the old man, and to trust in Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior from sin so as to become a new man, or a new creature in Christ.

From where, and from whom does Ruth get these terms or ideas?  Let's begin to find our answers by simply typing such titles as "The True Self" and meditation, or "The True Self" and yoga to see what answers you will find.  Here are some for starters:

A "Sahaja Yoga Meditation" Course says:  "In this class you will experiment with your true Self.  It is the Self which is the reflection of the absolute beauty of the source of life.  It is the reflection of the universal love and innocence in every person ..."

An article "Awaken to Your Higher-Your True Self" describes our "higher self" as "the most perfect form of who we are."

A Transcendental Meditation participant says, "Readers who practice the TM technique will recognize in these passages (examples given) clear descriptions of transcending-the natural activity of mental activity settling down like waves on an ocean.  ...  We experience pure consciousness.  We realize that this our true Self, beyond time and space, infinite and eternal."

Catalyst Yogi uses a chart to contrast the True Self vs. The False Self.  Of the "True Self" he writes, "True Self, among many descriptions, knows god and me, and me and god are ONE."

This is just the tip of the ice berg about what you can find from various sites about what "The True Self" means.  The "Spirituality and Practice" site (Brussatts) under their ABC practices will give you more definitions.  Try "You" to find more quotations.
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/practices.php?id=36&g=1

Red Flag These: Ruth Haley Barton and Her "True Self" Mentors!

Who were some of Barton's most influential "true self" mentors?  Barton tells us in her Silence and Solitude chapter nine notes where she writes, "The concept of the true self and the false self is a consistent theme not only in Scripture but also in the writings of the church fathers and mothers. Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen (particularly Nouwen's  The Way of the Heart) and Father Thomas Keating are contemporary authors who have shaped my understanding of this aspect of spiritual life.  This is a way of identifying the false part of ourselves that relies on deeply patterned and often unconscious self-protective behaviors developed in response to the presence of sin and wounding within and around us.  Spiritual transformation involves peeling back the layers of the false self in order to reveal the true authentic self."

With these words in mind let us examine this "trio" of "true self mentors" beginning with Trappist Monk Thomas Merton.

Father Thomas Merton

What did Thomas Merton teach about the "true self" and the "false self?"  Father James Martin, SJ provides some answers in Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints.  Chapters include: "The Short Life of Thomas Merton,""True Selves and False Selves,""Writing the True Self," and "The Truest Self."

Martin begins his book with a quote taken from Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation where Merton wrote, "For me to be a saint means to be myself."  Merton also wrote, "Therefore the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and discovering my true self."

Father Richard Rohr 's back cover endorsement reads, "Probably nothing is more important to practical religion than the discovery of the 'self we have to lose and the self we have of find.'  Jesus said it first, Thomas Merton made it clear, and James Martin, if you can believe it, makes it even clearer."
http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Who-You-Are-Christian/dp/158768036X#reader_158768036X

Priest Henri J. M. Nouwen & Wil Hernandez

Famed author, and priest Henri Nouwen's legacy has become the special project of Wil Hernandez, (Mentioned in Ruth's notes; misspelled as "Will") an Episcopalian spiritual director, professor, life coach, worship and retreat leader, and author of  Henri Nouwen and Spiritual Polarities: A Life of Tension with two other books.  Hernandez founded "The Henri Nouwen Legacy: Celebrating Henri Nouwen's Spiritual Impact."
http://www.amazon.com/Henri-Nouwen-Spiritual-Polarities-Tension/dp/0809147416#reader_B0087HT6JY

Nouwen, especially, as you read, influenced Barton in her thinking about the "true self," and "the false self."  Hernandez, in turn, addresses this polarity teaching how through Nouwen's example we can learn how to befriend its inherent tension in order to transform us.

Hernandez's foreword is written by Father Richard Rohr OFM, of the "Center for Action and Contemplation" (CAC), who having known Nouwen personally, praised him highly.  Hernandez writes about the inward, outward, and upward polarities.  Immediately chapter one addresses the psychological tensions of the true and false self.  In his preface, Wil fills us in on how the book came to be written giving thanks to Rohr for insights he gleaned from two Rohr events, and one Rohr book:
The Naked Now.

"Spirituality and Practice"* (Frederic/Mary Ann Brussat) gives a review of "this enlightening paperback."  They write, "In the matter of Tibetan Buddhists, Nouwen, a Catholic priest, did not run from ... considerable tensions but sought to embrace and befriend them.  Hernandez shows how solitude enabled this teacher and writer a chance to confront his false self and strengthen his authentic self ..."

Read about Hernandez and the "Nouwen Legacy here:
http://www.nouwenlegacy.com/

Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI

Roman Catholic priest Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, quoted in Barton's book, also weighs in on Hernandez's Nouwen work.  He says, "Henri Nouwen is our generation's Kierkegaard.  Like Kierkegaard, he helps introduce us to ourselves.  Wil Hernandez aids us in the next step, he wonderfully introduces us to Henri Nouwen."

And just who is Father Rolheiser?  He is a speaker, author, columnist, and President of the Oblate School of Theology.  He sounds sincere and spiritual, but is Rolheiser a believer of the true gospel that in order to reach heaven, as Nicodemus, we must be born again, or saved?  No, he is not.  his recent column "Have I Been Saved?" (8-25-13) gives us our answer.  In it he writes, "The real question in our lives shouldn't be: What must I do to go to heaven?  Or, what must I do to avoid going to hell?  ... the point is rather our deepest motivation has to be to do things for others and not for ourselves.  For the main part our own salvation will take care of itself if we focus on the needs of others ... Teresa of Avila suggests that we're mature in following Christ if our questions and concerns no longer have a self-focus: Am I saved?  Have I met Jesus Christ? ...  Our real question needs to be: How can I be helpful?  (Note: Rolheiser did not use quotations in this section of his article.)  Read the rest of the piece here: http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/ron/ron_656.html

Reader, I challenge you, if you're reading Ruth Haley Barton, and following her advice her book is filled with religious men exactly like Rolheiser who are not genuine believers, and certainly do not believe that "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."  (Ephesians 2:8,9)  Ruth's writings are overflowing with Roman Catholicism, and interwoven with unscriptural doctrine that seems enticing, but what deceptions are beneath her web of words.  Beware of her "true self" mentors!

Priest Henri Nouwen

If you wish to know the real Henri Nouwen, and his true beliefs read this outstanding article:
"Henri Nouwen: "Exalting Self and Diminishing the Cross" by L.S. Ormiston (Berean Beacon).
Ormiston notes, "Even a quick review of history uncovers many causes for concern beginning with the simple fact that he was a Catholic priest ...even though he rarely dressed like a priest ... used 'Catholic sounding language' ... He was, nevertheless, a life-long devotee of Roman Catholicism with its false gospel, worship of the Eucharist and devotion to Mary.  Ormiston points out that, beyond the priesthood, Nouwen was heavily influenced by Gordon Allport who introduced "self-esteem" to psychology.

Ormiston lays out three examples of how the "spirituality" of Nouwen had "everything to do with self."  Here are two:  Nouwen: "Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is self-rejection."  The Bible: "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man (self) which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts." (Ephesians 4:22); and Nouwen: "I had to be in touch with my own goodness..."  The Bible: "there is none that doeth good, no not one." (Romans 3:12)

Ormiston continues by pointing out that in Nouwen's The Way of the Heart he states, " (Solitude) it is the place of conversation where the old self dies and the new self is born."  (And that is exactly what Ruth Haley Barton teaches in Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership  that one needs to enter solitude and silence to find one's true self in God.)  Nothing in Nouwen's writing mentions true conversion through salvation through grace.  Ormiston, goes on, saying, "no, it is through solitude; ... through some mystical process in which you turn inward on yourself, and somehow find within yourself the intrinsic goodness and godliness you have always wanted and unknowingly possessed.  Read the entire paper here:
http://www.bereanbeacon.org/RC_Apologists.html

*"Spirituality and Practice" is an ecumenical organization for all religions and spiritual paths that is packed with information that unlocks the beliefs, and world views of a number of authors quoted by Barton.  Some authors Barton quotes, listed as "Living Spiritual Teachers," include: Richard Foster, Alan Jones, Thomas Keating, Ted Loder, Wayne Muller, Parker J. Palmer, Richard Rohr, Jane Venard, and Jim Wallis; or authors listed as "Remembering Spiritual Masters Project" include: Thomas Merton, Henri J. M. Nouwen, and M. Basil Pennington.  The web site for the organization also lists an ABC list of meditation terms that one should be knowledgeable about, as well as other information that may be of help to a discerning believer.

Father Thomas Keating, OSCO

If you'd like to know more about Father Keating, the third person in Barton's trio of most influential
"true self" mentors you'll want to read "Resting in God ... An Interview with Fr. Thomas Keating, OSCO" by Anne A. Simpson posted on "Rosaries of Divine Union: Rosaries for the Contemplative Dimension of Prayer."  This insightful interview with Keating, a "Johnny Appleseed of the soul who, along with a cadre of clergy, and lay people, is sowing seeds of contemplative prayer and spreading Christian contemplation across the country." 

Simpson records, "In his taped lectures and his books ... he describes the inner changes that occur, including letting go of the false self ( a self-image that impedes one's relationship with God) in favor of expressing one's true self (our basic 'core of goodness') ..."  To read the complete interview see:
http://www.livingrosaries.org/interview.htm

Red Flag These: Ruth Haley Barton & More of Her "True Self" Men!

Father Albert Haase, O.F.M.

Father Albert Haase is a priest, and author of Coming Home to Your True Self,  that Ruth favorably endorsed when she penned these words, "Haase is a wise and winsome guide for the spiritual life and his book is a helpful companion for the journey of coming home to the true self."

Another endorser of Haase, whom Barton often quotes and admires, is heretical priest Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M. who writes, "This is a practical and profound spiritual guidance!  If we do not clarify some of these foundational issues, there will be no real flourishing in our search for God."  Writer of Haase's foreword is, one of Ruth's Transforming Center faculty and presenter at her retreats, M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.  He, too, puts his stamp of approval on Haase's teachings when he says, " I believe Coming Home to Your True Self will be a significant blessing for those who hunger for a genuine spiritual journey."

In his preface we immediately know from whom Father Haase received his "strong influence" in his understanding of "spiritual formation."  For he writes that it was at a ten-day centering prayer workshop under Abbot Thomas Keating at the Trappist monastery in Snowmass, Colorado where seeds were planted that grew over the years.  And Ruth, also, wrote she was greatly influenced by Keating.  Besides, in her book Ruth shares a story from the monastery at Snowmass.
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Home-Your-True-Self/dp/0830835172#reader_0830835172

M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.

Here's another of Ruth's "true self" men, who like Ruth writes IVP (InterVarsity Press) Formatio books as did Father Haase.  Mulholland's title says it all:  The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self.  Once again, Barton is an endorser of this teaching.  She said, "Most of us are aware that there is something terribly wrong.  It is called the false self.  The Deeper Journey  provides understanding and guidance for the journey from the false self to the true self ...  The book
is filled with much needed wisdom from one of the most trusted spiritual guides of our time."

And this "most trusted guide" shares that he takes his concepts of "the false self" from many mystics as Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Richard Rohr, David Benner, and others.  In a review of  the book Gary Gilley says Mulholland's writing can't be understood without filtering it through the lens of the words of his mystical mentors.

Gilley noted that Mulholland's use of "the false self" is a "misleading term invented by such as Thomas Merton (p.165) but is nowhere found in scripture."  Gilley explains our flesh can't be "false" for that is who we truly are apart from being regenerated by Christ.

Another term used by Mulholland is "self-referenced."  How to rid yourself of this "self-referenced life" is to mystically detach and center on God who is found inside ourselves.  Gilley concludes his review by stating "The Deeper Journey"  in no sense takes us into a deeper life with God.  It not only leads us astray from biblical Christianity, but deep into the heart of ourselves. For more of Gilley's review read: http://www.svchapel.org/resources/book-reviews/4-christian-living/712-the-deeper-journey-the-spirituality-of-discovering-your-true-self-by-m-robert-mulholland-jr

Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M.

Still another priest Ruth relies on for "true self" wisdom is Franciscan Father Richard Rohr founder of "The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in New Mexico.  Rohr writes for "Radical Grace" (his publication), and "Sojourners" (activist Jim Wallis).  To get a glimpse of Rohr's audio products is to meet the real Rohr.  These products include such titles as: "Jesus and Buddha, ""Following the Mystics Through the Narrow Gate,"  "God as Us!""The Cosmic Christ," and "The Enneagram and Grace " (With Russ Hudson, Ruth Barton's enneagram teacher)  It is no wonder Rohr is listed as a "living spiritual teacher" by "Spirituality and Practice."
http://www.soundstrue.com/shop/The-Enneagram-and-Grace/4409.pd

Rohr not only teaches the false/true self through his writings, but through the use of the "enneagram" as well.  Hudson, and Rohr (above) have done enneagram workshops together including one at the Conscious Living Center in Cincinnati.  And if at this center you complete the basic enneagram courses your next step is to take a class called "Consciousness Ascending."

In her article "The Enneagram GPS: Gnostic Path to Self" Marcia Montenegro writes, "The enneagram purports to lead a person not only to self-understanding, but to an integration to all aspects of self and, ultimately, to an awakening of the true Self.  'Self' is capitalized because the Self is considered by the original (and most contemporary) Enneagram teachers to be divine."
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_ContemplativePrayer2.html

For further insight and information about Ruth and her enneagram retreat, as well as a list of her enneagram spiritual directors who help her teach this practice please read the previous blog: "The Transforming Center: A Path to Roman Catholicism and New Age Paganism."

Here's a recent report by a Deb Turnow (8-15-13) who is a spiritual director, and executive director at Kavanna House in York, Pa.  "In Welcome to My Shadow Side," Deb records, "This past weekend I spent uncovering my shadow side.  I am part of Ruth Haley Barton's Transforming Community and we spent the majority of the weekend looking at the enneagram and using it as a tool to better understand ourselves.  Turnow ends with this thought: "I am very, very grateful for a new awareness of how I move in the world, in both my True Self and my False Self, and because of this new awareness, I can better lean into God to be the source of my identity."
http://www.kavannahouse.com/kavanna-house-blog/entry/welcome-to-my-shadow-side.html

Would that these deceived retreatants would have spent their time looking into "the mirror of the Word."  An old children's song echoes through my mind:  "God's Word is like a hammer, breaking the rock in twain, a light to guide our footsteps, upon the stormy main, a sword that has two edges, a mirror ourselves to see, oh yes, this the book of books, the B-I-B-L-E!"

One of Rohr's newest books is The Immortal Diamond: The Search for Our True Self  (2013) in which he explores the soul, the True Self, and the resurrection with scripture, tradition, and inner experience.  A review on "Read the Spirit" web site by editor David Crumm observes "The MESSAGE of his latest book, ...can be conveyed in a single sentence: "At the core of each life is true eternal goodness--and the key to a successful life is opening up that true self so that we can compassionately connect with God's world."
http://www.readthespirit.com/explore/richard-rohr-on-timeless-wisdom-in-immortal-diamond/

Rohr wrote too, "Because far too many religious folks do not seriously pursue this 'reverence humming with them,' they do not recognize that something within them needs to be deeply trusted and many things must be allowed to die ... And when the slag and the dross is removed  that which evokes reverence is right there waiting."

Rohr indicates Jesus refers to our "True Self" as treasure in a field.  He also labels the "False Self" as the "small self."  He goes on to teach once someone finds his "True Self" the "False Self" begins to fall away.  And if you realize that you have the divine image in you, you'll see it in others too.  But, the Psalmist writes in Psalm 51, "that in sin did my mother conceive me."  Romans 3:23 records, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  Oh, the deception of such writing as Rohr writes, and oh the accounting Ruth Haley Barton will have to give for leading "evangelicals" to such men, and such practices.

Parker J. Palmer

One more "true self" advocate whom Barton prominently quotes is Quaker, living spiritual teacher, Parker J. Palmer who is an activist, educator, author, and visionary.  Palmer, incidentally, is also a contributor to, and an advisor for the "Council of Advisors for the Spirituality and Practice Center."
This multifaith and interspiritual organization is supported by such partners as "Contemplative Outreach (Keating); "Community of the Mystic Heart;" "The Upper Room;" and "The Threshold Society." (Sufis)  S&P is also advised by a Zen sensei, a Sufi, a Buddhist lama, a New Age guru, and so many more.

And just what does Parker say about the "true self?"  He writes, "Vocation does not come from a voice 'out there' calling me to be something I am not.  It comes from a voice 'in here' calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given to me at birth by God." (p.77  Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership)  In Let Your Life Speak Palmer also writes, "The figure calling to me all these years was, I believe, what Thomas Merton calls 'true self.'"  In addition, Palmer also quotes Unitarian Universalist May Sarton who said, "The pilgrimage toward true self will take 'time, many years and places.'" 
http://www.explorefaith.org/palmer/chp2_9.html

Red Flag These: Ruth Haley Barton & Her "True Selfisms!"

Here are some Barton "true self" quotes from Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership:

p.19  "Truly, the best thing any of us have to bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.

p. 26  "... stay on the path of becoming our true self in God-- a self that is capable of an ever-deepening yes to God's call on our life."

p. 53  "All we stand to lose is the false self--the adaptive behaviors that are ultimately in opposition to the life of love and trust and being led by God that our hearts long for.  To give ourselves to this process, we must trust that our true self is hidden with Christ in God, and to be revealed as God sees that we are ready to live into it."

p. 53   "The purgative way is a commitment to self-knowledge, which is essential preparation for serious Good News.  Purgation ( or self-simplification) is a way of 'clearing the decks for action.'"
(Quoted from "Living Spiritual Teacher" Alan Jones of Episcopal Grace Cathedral in San Francisco)

p.77-78  "But if we are willing to pay attention, we can catch glimpses of the true self ...  Some of the best hints about who we are really come from memories of unguarded moments in childhood ... If we are able to look back on our childhood self with curiosity and attention, we may remember moments when we were completely and unreservedly ourselves ... This essential self  existed before we had anything to prove..."

Ruth has obviously forgotten the verse from Genesis 8:21 that reads, "for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth ..."

p.127  "The journey of self-knowledge that leads us beyond the false self to living and leading from our authentic self is a challenging one, but it is certainly worth it.  This is the kind of truth that ultimately sets us free to lead from a truer self, one that is compelled by truer motivations that God placed with us before the foundations of the earth."

p.134   "All these rhythms (silence, solitude, stillness, community) create space for God ... All of these rhythms put us in touch with something more real in ourselves and others than we are all able to produce.  We touch our very being in God."

p. 161 "... allowing ourselves to face our ultimate alone compels us to 'travel inward' and 'to meet ourselves and to meet the infinite love and riches of God dwelling inside our beings.'"  (From Fr. Ronald Rolheiser)

Finding your "true self" in God in silence and solitude is the thread that runs through Barton's book.
It is the thread that connects her to her "true self" mentors for each sanction the same mystical prayer practice over and over in their writings.  Yes, each put forth the mystical prayer practice known as "centering prayer" where one quiets the body and the mind; breathes deeply; let's go of all distractions by chanting a mantra; and then "settles into" (Ruth's pet phrase) a deeper communion so as to find the true self, the real self, the authentic self, the truer you within your self--"the divine within" as the mystics call it.

To conclude, these are some words of Ruth Haley Barton, and these are some words of her "true self"
mentors; but these are some words of God as found in your Bible.

Genesis 6:5  "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

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

Jeremiah 17:9  "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Romans 7:18  "For I know that in me dwelleth no good thing."

II Timothy 3:1,2  " This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves..."

II Timothy 3:13  "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."

Proverbs 3:5,6  "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

For further verses read: http://apprising.org/2008/08/12/the-real-truth-about-your-true-self/

Now, I ask you which words will you follow?  Which words will you trust?  Will you turn to your own self, to your own understanding?  And I ask you if men and women abandon the Word of God for another gospel and another Jesus will you fight for the faith, and from such turn away?  I pray you will!  I pray I will!

Learn to Discern Granny or "Grandmother Lois Verses:"

II Timothy 4:1-7  "Preach the word; ...For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; ...they shall turn away their ears from the truth, ... I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith!"


Definition of the "False Self,"& "Higher Self" from Ray Yungen's "Glossary of Terms" in
A Time of Departing:

False Self:  The false self  is the ego or personality that is observable by others.  One rids oneself of the false self to find the true self  through mantra-meditation.  New Agers would consider people like Buddha, Ghandi, and even Jesus Christ as examples of people who found their true self.

Higher Self:  Supposed "God-self" with that New Agers seek to connect with through meditation.  Also called the Christ-self or True-self.




    




 

Richard Rohr's The Naked Now at Nyack

At Nyack Christian and Missionary Alliance College in Nyack, NY in the fall of 2011 Dr. James P. Danaher, professor and chair of the Philosophy Department, taught Father Richard Rohr's The Naked Now to his Nyack students.  Not only did he teach this heretical book, but Danaher dared to do it on You Tube for the whole world to see.

Clutching the book in his hand,  Danaher read aloud sections of The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See to his students.  Stopping to discuss each part he continuously endorsed all Rohr wrote.  He especially wanted to emphasize to his students that they rid themselves of all or nothing thinking, and let themselves be open to the "Yes!"  He tells the students they are "now here, (New Age for "nowhere") or in the past" but where we want to go "is to get out of our minds" so we can "just be present."  And how can one "be in the moment?"  Danaher answers: "Through contemplative prayer."

To enable the reader understand who Danaher is, and why the above scenario is so frightening the following facts will help paint the picture:

Dr. James P. Danaher, Chair Philosophy Department, Nyack College
http://www.zoominfo.com/s/#!search/profile/person?personId=139293042&targetid=profile

Wrote:  Eyes that See, Ears that Hear: Perceiving Jesus in a Postmodern Context (2006)


*  Published by: Roman Catholic Liguori Publications/ Redemptorists
*  Endorsed by: Father Richard Rohr
*  Quoted by:  Dr. John H. Armstrong, Wheaton College
http://johnharmstrong.typepad.com/john_h_armstrong_/2010/10/defining-the-most-misused-word-in-modern-christian-conversation.html

In his article "Our Perception of Reality" (February 16, 2011) Armstrong glowingly praises Danaher for abandoning the structure and the authority of modernity, and seeking to be freed of its rigidity of knowing exact truths to truth that is found in beauty and story.  He wrote,  "If you are confused ...
if you are a student... a 20 or thirty something who wonders if you can remain a Christian based upon how you were taught to perceive the world... if you older ... read Danaher."  Armstrong continues on answering the question as to why everyone should read this book.  He says, "You have heard ... how bad postmodernism is for the Christian faith, equating the word with liberalism, denial of Christ and rejection of Biblical authority. Question that premise with all your mind ..."  He then emphatically says he has read the book twice, and he will read it again.  It has become, he emphasizes, one of the most important books in his library.  He underlines the words: "I cannot encourage you too strongly toget this book."
http://johnharmstrong.typepad.com/john_h_armstrong_/2011/02/our-perception-of-reality.html

Wrote:  Article: "The Postmodern Gospel" (January, 2006)
Interview: "My Conversion to Life in Christ" (2006) 
*  Critiqued by: Robert N. Wilkin, author and editor of Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
*  Comment about: Wilkin's paper "The Gospel According to Evangelical Postmodernism" 

In his article intro Wilkin wrote: "Evangelical Postmoderns embrace doubt. They aren't sure God exists. ... the Bible is God's Word, ... Jesus is the Savior...there is life after death, ... that they have everlasting life ... Evangelical Postmoderns put a high premium on experience. ..."

About Danaher's article Wilkin commented: "Note that there is no mention here at all of any benefits of the Postmodern gospel beyond the grave.  What Danaher talks about is "an ever greater opportunity to order our lives."  Wilkin continued: "Note too that Danaher denies any universal or objective truth.  If our truth is not universal, this implies there is another truth out there that allows other religions to find a way to order their lives around a different person, maybe a Mohammed or Buddha.

About Danaher's interview Wilkin said:  "Note what is missing here: no reference to faith in Christ, no reference to eternal life or justification, and no reference to anything related to eternity."
Wilkins also wrote:  "Note what is present here: a repeated emphasis on 'experiences with God,'
repeated discussion of 'a transformed life,''a radically new and different life' is the aim, and surrender is the condition of this new life."
http://www.faithalone.org/journal/2007i/1_Wilkin%20edited.pdf

Wrote:  Jesus After Modernity: A Twenty-First-Century Critique of Our Modern Concept of Truth and the Truth of the Gospel (2011)


*  Published by: Cascade Books
*  Endorsed by: Father Richard Rohr, Dr. John H. Armstrong, and Dr. Ronald Walborn
*  Back Cover Summary:  During modernity we came to believe truth as objective, certain, and precise.   Mathematics became the model.  This then led to how we saw truth when we presented the gospel.  Jesus' teachings, on the other hand, were often vague, ambiguous, and contradictory.
Fortunately, says Danaher, now our understanding of the human condition has debunked this once held notion of truth.  As a consequence this has freed us to rethink truth more in line with what Jesus said, and in line with what we now know as truth given the limits of our human condition.
*  Reviewed by:  Armstrong, on Amazon.com, once more strongly recommends this book.                

Wrote: Contemplative Prayer: A Theology for the 21st Century (2011)
http://www.amazon.com/Contemplative-Prayer-Theology-Twenty-First-ebook/dp/B005QEPMEE#reader_B005QEPMEE


*  Published by:  Cascade Books   
*  Foreword written by: Dr. John H. Armstrong, Wheaton College
*  Endorsed by:  Father Richard Rohr
*  Endorsed by: Dr. Ronald Walborn the Dean of the Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, NY
*  Acknowledged:  Michael Scales (President, Nyack College); David Jennings (VP College); David Turk (Provost of Nyack); Ronald Walborn (Dean of Seminary); & Fernando Arzola (Dean of Nyack's Arts and Sciences). 
*  Thanked:  "For Richard Rohr, 'His words always made me feel I was not alone.'"
https://wipfandstock.com/store/Contemplative_Prayer_A_Theology_for_the_TwentyFirst_Century
*  Nyack NYC Scholars Symposium, Feb. 3, 2011:  Danaher presents his book.
http://www.nyack.edu/blog/NyackNews/790

Update November 2013:

Writing: The Second Truth: A Brief Introduction to the Intellectual and Spiritual Journey that is Philosophy  (To be published: March 2014)

*  Published by: Paragon House
*  Endorsed by:  Father Richard Rohr
*  Endorsed by:  Maggie Ross
*  Description:

Enraptured by Rohr:

  *  Danaher spent eleven weeks at Rohr's "Center for Action & Contemplation" (CAC) in 2008.
  *  Danaher was an intern at CAC working on Special Projects/Stillpoint. 
  *  Danaher's summer session mentioned by Nyack's The Path (p.22).
  *  Danaher used Rohr to endorse all his books.
  *  Danaher taught a Nyack College Small Group "Jewish Prophets & the Enneagram" (Tuesdays,
2PM, Simpson 200A in Fall 2011.)
http://www.nyack.edu/files/NYACK_SmallGroups_Fall2011.pdf
  *  Danaher used Rohr's book The Naked Now for a You-Tube Course from Oct-Dec. 2011.
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=19451
  *  Danaher told You Tube students he is so full of Rohr that he isn't aware when Rohr's thoughts leave off and his take over.
What Interns do at CAC:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Jl6la8OBI
More About CAC:
http://www.examiner.com/article/interns-grow-spiritually-while-working-at-center-for-action-and-contemplation
Another Intern's CAC Story:
http://spectrummagazine.org/article/interviews/2010/03/01/year-center-action-and-contemplation


To know Rohr is to know where Danaher is coming from.  When you truly find out who Rohr is you'll understand why the deception Danaher teaches is so dangerous.  If possible get Rohr's book/s; look up all the web pages; and check out the critiques and you'll
know why one should "run from Rohr!"     

More about Rohr:
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/teachers/teachers.php?id=212&g=


  *  Rohr has founded the Center for Action &Contemplation (CAC) in New Mexico.
  *  Rohr has held a conference at CAC with Emergent leaders (e.g. Brian McLaren) in 2008.
  *  Rohr has taught such topics as "God as Us! The Sacred Feminine & The True Masculine;"
"Enneagram Intensive;""Following the Mystics;""Jesus & Buddha;""The Great Chain of Being;"
and so much more.
  *  Rohr has been on Oprah & Friends; and has been interviewed by Dr. Mehmet Oz.
  *  Rohr has been criticized for his heretical doctrine by Catholic apologists.

Criticism of Rohr by Catholic Bryce Andrew Sibley:
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6819
Criticism of CAC by "The Catholic Media Association:"
http://www.catholicmediacoalition.org/rohr_CAC.htm
CAC's Labyrinth:
http://www.gentleartofwandering.com/walking-a-labyrinth/
Spirituality & Practice: About Rohr:
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=16112

November 2013 Update:  Danaher contributor to Rohr book: Oneing: The Perennial Tradition
James Danaher, along with Richard Rohr, Mark Burrows, Ilia Delio, Mary Beth Ingham, David Benner (Books used by College, Seminary, Empower Program), John Esposito, Robert Sardello,
Jamie Manson, &James Finley, writes article for Oneing.  See: http://www.amazon.com/Oneing-Perennial-Tradition-Richard-Rohr-ebook/dp/B00EVXACBE

http://www.contemplative-life.org/richard-rohr/-oneing-an-alternative-orthodoxy.html
This page is from the "The Contemplative Book Store."  Notice the MANDALA in the upper left hand corner.  Scroll down to see the heretical books here. 



Danaher Endorser: Dr. John H. Armstrong:


  *  Armstrong is an adjunct Wheaton College professor.
  *  Armstrong is the President of ACT3: Equipping Leaders for Unity in Christ's Mission.
  *  Armstrong is heavily into Roman Catholicism being a personal friend of once Protestant -now prominent Catholic- Scott Hahn.
  *  Armstrong is the person who arranged for Chicago's Cardinal George to be his guest in March 2012 at Wheaton's Edman Chapel.
  *  Armstrong is also an admirer of Richard Rohr.

Danaher Friend: Dr. John H. Armstrong:



  *   Armstrong, through Eyes that See, Ears that Hear, wrote to Danaher.
  *   Armstrong telephoned Danaher; and sent him his book: No Church Is Too Small.
  *   Armstrong later endorsed two of Danaher's books.
  *   Armstrong subsequently met Danaher in person.
How Armstrong & Danaher Met:  
http://johnharmstrong.com/?p=4070
   *   Armstrong introduces Danaher to another contemplative brother-Dr. Craig Higgins.
Higgins, a Presbyterian Pastor, teaches "Contemplative Meditation" at Wainwright House,
a Spirituality Center.
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Church-Is-Too-Small/dp/031032114X

Danaher's You Tube Classes:  Danaher Teaches Father Richard Rohr's Book: The Naked Now: Learning to See As the Mystics See



Danaher's You Tube Class: Oct. 4, 2011-"Mysticism the Other Logic:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H1gyqD7pB8


*  Danaher begins this session discussing the modernity belief that truth can be certain; he says that's "ego" or "that's orthodoxy."  Postmoderns use "orthopraxy."
*  Danaher reads The Naked Now stopping to explain about "All or Nothing Thinking;"  and "Left Brain, or Dualistic Thought." 
*  Danaher challenges anyone not to think they can believe the whole Bible; everyone is in the middle. 
*  Danaher says the "ignorant masses" are impressed with those who never change their minds. 
*  Danaher refers to Rohr's comments on "Jesus lived personally" while "The Buddha lived experientially."
*  Danaher notes Rohr visited a Buddhist monastery ("this is really neat") where he observes their
"consequentialist debates."  (Note: the book says a friend "Thomas William" visited the monastery.)
*  Danaher reiterates the fact that he and various colleagues do not see eye to eye, but they are learning from each other and learning how to "smile" at the end of their debates as the Buddhists do. (See chapter five "A Lesson from the (Tibetan) Monks.")
*  Danaher tells a tale from his youth where he glorifies the Catholic traditions.
*  Danaher uses bad language in this lecture.
*  Danaher mentions folks ask him: "Why he is still at Nyack?  Why he hasn't been run off?"
*  Danaher also tells how he delivered his new contemplative prayer book to President Mike Scales, and how Scales said this type of prayer was something he needed personally.  And Danaher says: "So you have a president that's into contemplation, and looking for that deeper journey.  Pretty cool stuff!"

Danaher's You Tube Class: Oct.6, 2011-"Mysticism the Other Logic:" 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXwvqcewzyo

*  Danaher continues reading and teaching from The Naked Now.
*  Danaher listens as student asks about the internet Vatican warning about Rohr teaching "New Age" ideas. The student says:  "I guess he's (Rohr) not the average Catholic."
*  Danaher response is to wax eloquent on the various orders of the R.C. church as the secular priest, the Dominicans, the Franciscans... and liberty, under Roman Catholicism. that they have each having their own prelates.
*  Danaher alludes to his three-month internship with CAC, and priest he met.
*  Danaher reads more; then mentions "theology heads" are a "six" in the "Enneagram" system; a student mentions his number was a "six" too when he began these studies.
*  Danaher quotes one of Rohr's most remarkable quotes between Rohr says this, and Rohr says that.
*  Danaher uses bad language about 7:25 into lesson.
*  Danaher talks with lady who tells she wants out of a church she attends; that she is especially (bad language) about those folks who say: "They know for certain!"  But, she like Gandhi, is trying to be the change and she is teaching "contemplative prayer;" she's getting it in.
*  Danaher says the beauty of Nyack is that at one point (just like he once was) people need a foundation; but that they aren't ready for the "deeper" things he's teaching.  At Nyack, he says, there's
"conservatives" they can go to; and there's "liberals" too.

Danaher's You Tube Class: Oct.11, 2011- "Mysticism the Other Logic:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuWRAjFB8_Y



*  Danaher continues his Rohr indoctrination.
*  Danaher teaches religious, judgmental people begin with the "No!"   Rather, they should step back, wait, and then stand in the moment.
*  Danaher jots the New Age term "now here" on the board; and he asks the class what this means.
The answer is "nowhere!" 
*  Danaher goes over the idea how active our mind always is either being in the past, or the future; but we want to quiet that and just be in the present moment--not in our mind.  We want to be in "liminal space!"
*  Danaher once again tells how he awakens, and attempts to pray using a mantra "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"
*  Danaher reiterates "the mind wears you out" so you use a "mantra" to focus, or even Catholics use a "rosary" to focus.  We need this contemplative "discipline of prayer."
*  Danaher says we need to be a Mary, not a Martha. He then references "Brother Lawrence."
*  Danaher, next, shares how Father Rohr takes a yearly retreat to "Monk Thomas Merton's Kentucky Hermitage."
*  Danaher tells he did a talk on contemplative prayer to the Manhattan Campus, and the evaluation
was not what he wanted as people preferred he talk on "intercession."  He puts that idea down in a condescending voice.
*  Danaher uses a Rohr-like term "doing religion;" he also adds some not-so-nice language.
*  Danaher tells the students they can order Rohr videos through the internet, and names one they might like to purchase.
*  Danaher also puts down true Christian internet apologetic web sites who explain what "contemplative prayer" actually is.
*  Danaher, as in other lessons, refers to the occult practice of using an "Enneagram."



Enneagram Memo:  If you aren't aware of what "The Enneagram" is please read "The Enneagram GPS: Gnostic Path to Self" by Marcia Montenegro a former New Ager.

http://christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Enneagram.html

Danaher's You Tube Class: Oct. 13, 2011- "Mysticism the Other Logic:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kWR_ItIHeI

*  Danaher continues with more Rohr.
*  Danaher stresses we have never arrived, therefore we are always seeking forgiveness enabling us to be merciful and forgiving.
*  Danaher relates during a nightly prayer time he used a mantra over and over "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!" to keep from being distracted.
*  Danaher reteaches again that we're trained in the "Left Brain," and we need to get out of the "Left Brain" and just "let go" and "be present!"
*  Danaher often alludes to such Catholics as "Mother Teresa."
*  Danaher again and again hammers the idea of our needing forgiveness continuously so that we in turn can give "mercy and forgiveness."
*  Danaher praises Nyack for having liberal viewpoints, and providing all kinds of professors so students can get the right fit.
*  Danaher tells of an old head of the Bible Department who took him to task.  A students quizzes him as to who that was.  Danaher does not name him because he says we're on You Tube!
*  Danaher tells of students who avoid his class as they have labeled him a heretic.

Danaher's You Tube Lecture: November 8, 2011- "Mysticism-Class Discussion:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eRP2eUrGg8



*  Danaher teaches in the twenty-first-century we think about knowledge differently.
*  Danaher says our goal is to have a "Jesus Perspective."
*  Danaher cautions, "Don't trust your own understanding; struggle with it!" 
*  Danaher instructs, "Do violence to your understanding!"
*  Danaher shares he no longer takes "Honor Students" because they just can't get with these ideas.
*  Danaher says during "modernity" mystery was eliminated for rational reasoning.  And after modernity we want to taste mystery and forgiveness.  "Open your head!" he advises.
*  Danaher once more drives home the point that contemplative prayer is being "present to God."
*  Danaher gets on his "soap box" about our continual sinning and being forgiven, so we can show "mercy and forgiveness" to others.
*  Danaher refers to Tony Campolo, a very controversial 'Christian' Eastern University professor, who used a bad word to describe a sad situation; to emphasize the word Campolo used Danaher repeats this several times.
*  Danaher says ( a few sentences later), "I was going to drop the F-bomb."
*  Danaher says "patriotism" is a form of "idolatry"; the then mocks the flag salute.
*  Danaher follows, soon after, with a sentence using still more unacceptable language.
*  Danaher believes the Bible is a "progressive revelation."
*  Danaher interjects the only answer is to get "The Jesus Revelation."
*  Danaher reiterates "contemplative prayer" means "being present" rather than "in our head" with its thoughts of the past and the future.  Saints like mystics Catherine or Genoa or Meister Eckert, he says, felt a "conscious union with something deeper."  With one last expletive, and a few more words he ends the session.
 
Note:  I listened to all of these "You Tube Lectures" sometimes several times; they speak for themselves.


Update January 2014:  After sending a copy of this article, and other information to Dr. Stumbo all of these videos have been taken down.  Hopefully, it wasn't just to hide them, for as I write in my most recent blog Danaher's book/article are still being touted on Nyack's web pages.  Please research Rohr to know why this continues to be a true travesty.    



What's Wrong With Rohr?  The Naked Now? 
 

*  Rohr refers to "the Buddha," and to "Buddhism" and "Hinduism" throughout his book.
Consider these quotes!  Notice Rohr often puts "Jesus" on the same plane as "the Buddha."

P.33  "It is the primary form of 'dying to the self' that Jesus lived personally and the Buddha taught experientially.  The growing consensus is that, whatever you call it, such calm, egoless seeing is invariably characteristic of people at the highest levels of doing and loving in all cultures and religions.  They are the ones we call sages or wise women or holy men.  They see like the mystics see."

p.35  "The fact that nonpolarity thinking is at the core of three of the world's great religions--Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism--demands that we give it at least a 'Gamaliel hearing.'"

p.39  "A Lesson from the Monks" (Buddhist Monks!)  "Do not plunder the Mystery with concepts."
(Zen Masters) and "My religion is kindness." (The Dalai Lama)

p.43  "He told me that during the young novice's training,  he or she is presented over a period of three years with each and every one of the Buddha's teachings."

p.44  "The concern in Tibetan Buddhism is not to achieve a conceptually perfect answer, which has to be defended, but to call forth a happy, loving, aware, and perceptive human being.  Is that not one type of 'salvation?'"

p.49  "Almost all spiritual teachers say something to this effect: 'Do not judge.'  There is Jesus in Matt. 7:1 and Luke 6:36-38; there is the Buddha in the Dhammapada, 4:7. Do not judge."

p.52  "In all situations, ... the all-important question  is 'Is it true?'  Not: 'Is it from my group?''Does it please me?' ...  Who cares? the saint would say.  'Only the ego cares,' the Buddhist would say; and the ego is not interested in truth or in God, only in control."

p.53  "As Rumi (Sufi) said, "There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground.'  ...  Buddhists called it meditation, sitting, or practicing.... Sufi Islam called it ecstasy. ...  Vedantic Hinduism ...
spoke of it as nondual knowing or simply breathing."

p.59  "Knowledge is the gathering of information.  It consists in knowing about "the ten thousand things," as the Buddhists poetically call it."

p.60  "We already know far more than Jesus or Buddha ever knew, but the great difference is that they knew what they did know from a different level and in a different way".
p.63  "Good religion, however, is always about seeing rightly. ...  And to see rightly is to be able to be fully present-- without fear, without bias, and without judgment.  ... this wisdom has been kept a huge secret, even though Jesus, perhaps Moses, and surely Buddha taught it to their followers."

p.75  "... I would like to point out one teaching in Luke's gospel that I think is pivotal-- one that, some would say, sounds almost exactly like the saying of a Zen Master, Jesus is addressing both the Pharisees and the disciples, therefore both outsiders and insiders at the same time."

p.77  "In both of these passages (Luke 17) Jesus is exactly repeating the Sanskrit neti, neti of ancient Hinduism. 'Not this and not that' was taught by ancient sages to protect the final unpronounceability
and full knowledge of the Holy."

p.85  "Lonergan (Jesuit) taught that the only real way to find objectivity today was to help people clarify and heal their subjectivity!  These words might remind us of the Buddha. ..."

p.99  "Ancient Hinduism actually painted a third eye onto the forehead.  The tika, which originally was a sign of this new seeing or enlightenment, eventually became a cosmetic decoration for women, as it is today."

p.100  "Some call it (alternative consciousness) by the various names of light, including enlightenment (Hinduism, Buddhism, John's Gospel), some call it conversion (the falling of scales from Paul's eyes in Acts 9:18-19), Jesus calls several people who see correctly and act on it quite simply saved (see Luke 8:48, 17:19, Mark 7:28); or in words almost too simple, 'Do this and life is yours.'" (Luke 10:28)

p.134  "Religious teachers, including Jesus, the Buddha, as well as many Hindu sages, are always telling us to wake up--to be alert, alive, awake, attentive, or aware."

p.138  Summary/paraphrase of Romans 14-16  "Mediators and Buddhists would call this the 'Stable Witness,' which is attained by discipline and practice, leading to 'realization' of union with Being Itself."

p.153  " ... I am impressed that all three of the great Asian religions-- Hindu Vedanta, Mahayana Buddhism, and Chinese Taoism-- build upon a worldview of nonduality and paradox."

p.159  "Be the change you want to see in the world." --Mohandas Gandhi

p.171-172   Christian Tantra:  The "Welling Up" Exercise:  "It is really quite similar to what the Hindus discovered in tantra, where you hold the powerful gift and do not express it, so that it can be deepened and refined.  I think it is also what Jesus is offering the Samaritan woman when he says to her: 'The water that I shall give you will turn into a spring inside you, welling up into limitless life."
(John 4:14)'"

Check out "Christian Tantra" on the internet to see why this is not "Christian" at all!  

p.177  "In India they have the notion of the darshan:  The Hindus go to the temple, not to see God, statues, or rituals, as much as to be seem by God."
    
You can go through the book choosing "dualistic thinking," "the ego,""the third eye," or any other reoccurring theme and your results will be the same; Rohr is not teaching Biblical doctrine in any form or fashion.  Instead, he is weaving in all sorts of other deceptive and destructive teachings.  To think that Danaher has the liberty to teach such a book at a Christian college is a travesty.  How very far we've fallen!



In summary, although Dr. Danaher may appear knowledgeable to his students, and even very funny at times, his conduct as well as his teachings leaves one absolutely flabbergasted as to how this man ever would be teaching future Christian leaders.
 

Learn to Discern Granny Verse from II Timothy 1:13:  "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

         

        

        

The Christian & Missionary Alliance Theological Seminary: Not Your Grandfather's Seminary!

ATS has changed radically, as have many other Christian colleges and seminaries, being flooded with postmodern or Emergent teachings as well as mysticism and contemplative spiritual practices. 
And because of these teachings it is imperative for students, parents, supporters, alumni,  pastors, and missionaries to look into these teachings to learn exactly what's happening at an alarming rate inside Christian academia.  For more information on Christian colleges/seminaries which promote
Emergent and spiritual formation practices please read booklet "Epidemic of Apostasy."
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=11923  and
http://www.lighthousetrails.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LTP&Category_Code=BKT

To begin it is important to become acquainted with  Dr. Ron Walborn who has been leading the Alliance Seminary, and Nyack College into all things contemplative.  Thus, the purpose of this article is to document how Walborn and his colleagues have been saturating the seminary and the college with spiritual formation, and all its spiritual disciplines. While doing this he and other colleagues have been teaching books, courses, and practices that are leading their students, and others into Roman Catholicism with New Age overtones.

This paper will also show how Walborn is connected to his former student and lead Pastor Rich Villodas of the heavily contemplative New Life Fellowship church; how he's associated with Adventures in Missions (AIM) and its Emergent leader Seth Barnes; how he's acquainted with New Apostolic Reformation prophets through his former Redding, Ca. church; how he's close friends with Dr. Rob Reimer of a contemplative CMA church; and how he's part of the Global Leadership Inc. (supported/endorsed by Leighton Ford) working with Dr. Martin Sanders.   Here are the facts:

Dr.  Ron (Ronald) Walborn,  Dean of the Alliance Theological Seminary

Walborn's Bio:

*  Walborn is the dean of the Alliance Theological Seminary.
*  Walborn is the head/chair of the Pastoral Ministries Dept. at Nyack College.
*  Walborn is a board member of the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church.
*  Walborn was a pastor at Risen King Community Church in Redding, California.
*  Walborn was educated at Nyack, ATS, and Fuller Theological Seminary.
Update January 25, 2015:  See my newest blog: "ATS Dean Ron Walborn Recommends Bill Johnson's Bethel Church Podcasts for Pastors."



Walborn's Wife-Wanda Walborn:

*  Wanda Walborn, too, has played a significant role in helping introduce Nyack students to spiritual formation.
*  Wanda Walborn has been the head of the "Spiritual Formation Department" for eleven years.
*  Wanda Walborn has taught spiritual formation classes at Nyack.
*  Wanda Walborn has written Introduction to Spiritual Formation (2011).
*  Wanda Walborn has spoken at various seminars and training sessions with Ron.
*  Wanda Walborn has also been helping lead "Women's Certificate Program 2013-14-Empower Program" (Metro District CMA) with credit at college/ATS including Bible/theological studies;  spiritual formation; mandatory three day retreat; and "Soul Care" Mentoring.
http://metrocma.org/strategic-ministry/womens-ministry/empower/

How can we know if the dean is into these contemplative things? Matthew 7:20 says,
"By their fruits (spiritual formation practices, centering prayer, monastery retreats) you can know them."

Walborn's Personal Spiritual Formation:

*  Walborn teaches an eighteen-part course called: "Personal Spiritual Formation."
*  Walborn requires that all students take "Spiritual Formation PMN 346."
*  Walborn stipulates that students take required retreats to Roman Catholic Graymoor Monastery, Garrison, NY to practice stillness and solitude. In "A Bible, Journal, Pen, & Pillow" a former Nyack student describes his weekend away at Graymoor Monastery.  Of that weekend he wrote, "Over the course of the weekend our mentors  took us all over the sprawling grounds of this beautiful facility.  Leaving us only with our Bibles, our journals, and a pen we were given six hours to sit and soak with Jesus.  My mentor had given me a specific passage of scripture to soak on that day. ...  Ten years later I have returned to Graymoor for a few days of soaking ..."  Here again, we meet another of what I might dub one of Walborn's "monastery men."
http://servingstrong.com/a-bible-journal-pen-and-a-pillow/
*  Walborn endorses spiritual disciplines as "Centering Prayer."  Here's what "centering prayer" really is:   http://carm.org/centering-prayer
*  Walborn taught these podcasts during a three period from 2005-2007 at Delta Lake Bible Camp.
Listen to these eighteen podcasts here: http://www.adventures.org/podcasts/psf/
Note!  On the internet page notice the photo that accompanies the podcast list: "Two nuns" walking up steep steps.
Update March 2014:  These Delta Lake Podcasts were removed after I wrote a letter to Dr. John Stumbo at the CMA Headquarters.  However, this material continues to be taught. 



"By their fruits (contemplative course books/ personal book lists) you can know them."

Walborn's Personal Spiritual Formation Course Book List/Book Endorsements:

*  Walborn endorses the following contemplative books (among many others) for this course:
The Sacred Romance (John Eldridge/Brent Curtis); Wild at Heart; Journey of Desire; & Waking the Dead (Eldridge); "Anything and Everything Brennan Manning (Roman Catholic Priest)": The Ragamuffin Gospel, The Signature of Jesus, A Glimpse of Jesus; Abba's Child ;
Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Discipline (M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.)*;
The Return of the Prodigal (Roman Catholic Priest Henri Nouwen)*;  & Into Abba's Arms (Dr. Sandra Wilson).
*  Walborn lent his support to Dr. James P. Danaher endorsing two of his books along with heretical Father Richard Rohr.  He also allowed Danaher to teach Rohr's mystical book The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See.  He again endorsed another contemplative  Barnes' book as well as AIM.  And still another contemplative endorsement by Walborn has also been given to Dr. Rob Reimer.

*  Read my article: "Red Flag This: Ruth Haley Barton & Self!" to find out why Mulholland, Rohr and Nouwen present great deception!  See Villodas' Mulholland comment below.
*  Read: Brennan Manning's "New Monks"& Their Dangerous Contemplative Monasticism" by John Craddock to find out who Manning is. 
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=13023

"By their fruits (teaching of, use of materials, retreat requirements) you can know them."

 Some SF (Spiritual Formation) Courses at ATS:

*  SF 503  "Initiation in Spiritual Formation" (Year 1)  Required retreats.
*  SF 603  "Field Education" (Year 2)  Includes mentoring.
*  SF 703  "Spiritual Formation Capstone" (Year 3)
*  Spiritual Formation Teacher Jan Dale:  Courses Taught/Books Required:
    -Courses: Initiation in Spiritual Formation/ Spiritual Formation Capstone
    -Some Books for SF 503: Spiritual Formation Workbook (James Bryan Smith); The Practice of the Presence of God (Brother Lawrence); Celebration of Discipline (Richard Foster); What's Your God Language (Myra Perrine); Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Pete Scazzero); & The Deeper Journey (M. Robert Mulholland).  Note:  On a book of choice the students could choose "Tozer."  I noticed in some of these classes whenever there were controversial books if one throws in a little Tozer, or A.B. Simpson this makes all the rest look good.
    -Some Books for SF 703: Live Your Calling (Brennfleck); The Call ((Os Guinness); The Return of the Prodigal Son (Henri Nouwen); The Power of Mentoring (Martin Sanders); Listening to God: Spiritual Formation in Congregations (John Ackerman); & Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered (James Wilhoit).

Some SF (Spiritual Formation) Courses at the College:

*  PMN 101  Intro to Spiritual Formation
*  Info from Fall 2012 Intro to Spiritual Formation Syllabus:
    -  Books to be read:  NIV Bible; Outrageous Love, Transforming Power (Terry Wardle);
    30 Days (Nicky Gumble); Experiencing God Through Prayer (Jeanne Guyon); Introduction to Spiritual Formation (Wanda Walborn); and The Shack (William P. Young).
    -  Bible Verses to memorize:  Notice three come from The Message Bible which is filled with New Age references!
    -  Students are required using resources given to write a 3 and 1/2 year Spiritual Formation Plan and present it to class as an oral presentation.
*  PMN 346  Personal Spiritual Formation

Worship Art & Disciplines Course CD701.RA:

*  Instructors:  Amy Davis, Kelvin Walker
*  Books:  Emerging Worship (Dan Kimball, David Crowder & Sally Morgan); The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn & Wintertime (Phyllis Tickle); Worship Old & New (Robert Webber); and Introduction to Christian Worship (James White).  Note:  These authors are all well-known Emergents.  Pyllis Tickle, e.g., is often coupled with heretic Brian McLaren.

"By their fruits (associations with, endorsements of, preaching at) you can know them."

Walborn's Connection to Contemplative New Life Fellowship Church: Pastor Pete Scazzero & Pastor Rich Villodas:

*  Walborn has spoken at services at Pete Scazzero's New Life Fellowship Church.  Walborn, in fact, has just recently spoken in the 8-25-13 morning service being introduced by Pete Scazzero.  Pete gives him a warm welcome mentioning what close ties the college and seminary have had with New Life over their past twenty-six years.  He also mentions that Pastor Rich Villodas has been really influenced by Nyack, and in particular with Ron Walborn.  He tells the audience to be sure to check out more about the college and seminary after the service with Walborn.  Walborn begins with saying. "It is always great to be at New Life."  He says, there are famous churches in New York, but that New Life makes Jesus famous! **
http://vimeo.com/73087304
*  Walborn has had close contact between NLF and Nyack.
*  Walborn has had both Scazzero and Villodas preach at chapels/meetings at Nyack.
*  Walborn welcomed Villodas this winter to preach Deeper Life meetings; and Walborn, his wife, Dr. Mike Scales, & Villodas are pictured in a photo beaming with their arms round each other.  
*  Walborn has given support to Villodas mentoring him, and naming him one of the 2013 Alumni of the Year.

**  The sermon here is not problematic; but it is the association with this church and these pastors and all they represent that makes it truly tragic!  And it is Walborn's legacy that he is leaving in having helped ready this young pastor-Rich Villodas- to assume his role as lead pastor teaching from the books and from the experiences that began at Nyack.  Surely apostasy has crept in unnoticed as Jude has so clearly warned us of!  I wonder are you aware of this, and are you doing your part to alert those in authority about what is taking place?  If not recall James 4:17 KJV that says: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin!"  The NIV says it this way: "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

By his fruits (associations, sermons, friends, books, blogs, twitter, spiritual disciplines, mentors) you can know them."

Villodas & His Nyack & NLF Connections:

*  Villodas is lead pastor (formerly associate pastor) of New Life Fellowship Church, Queens, NY.
*  Villodas is an alumnus of Nyack College (2003) and ATS (2009).
*  Villodas has preached at Nyack's Deeper Life Series sponsored by Nyack's Office of Spiritual Formation. ( Feb. 2013) http://www.nyack.edu/blog/NyackNews/1386
*  Villodas is very fond of Walborn considering him a close friend and mentor.
*  Villodas has been groomed by Pastor Pete Scazzero (former lead pastor at New Life) and Dr. Ron Walborn  to practice spiritual disciplines which lean heavily into Roman Catholicism.
*  Villodas has blogged, and twittered much about his affection for contemplative  practices, persons, and books.

 Examples of Villodas' Activities:

*  Villodas ( May, 2010) told of a "Day Alone with God Retreat" at RC Bishop Molloy Retreat House where he led thirty New Life Fellowship folks in "lectio divina" or "holy reading;" and an exploration of the "retreat grounds."
http://richvillodas.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/day-alone-with-god-retreat/
*  Villodas (June, 2010) in "My Recent Trip to a Trappist Monastery" wrote: " Last week, I went on my annual monastery retreat.  This is the second time that I attended St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, MA. ...  It's been my conviction since I was a student at Nyack College that the disciplines of solitude, silence and prayer are essential to the life of a follower of Jesus. ..."
http://richvillodas.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/my-recent-trip-to-a-trappist-monastery/
*  Villodas (August 2011) blogged,  "Actually, monasticism and desert father spirituality has been a love of my life since my days in college. ...  For the last three years I have spent time in St. Joseph's abbey ...  I spend 5-7 days hanging out with the monks."
*  Villodas interviewed Roman Catholic Father William Meninger, famed teacher of centering prayer, at New Life Fellowship Church.  (Fall 2011, 2012)  See "Living Prayerful Lives:"
http://vimeo.com/52860233
*  Villodas (2012 "Yes Our Pastors Get Paid to Pray and Rest" noted: "Just a reminder that we have DAWG (Day Alone with God) tomorrow. ... Here are some guidelines I encourage: ...  Another option is to bring a book which focuses on the inner life of prayer ... Books from authors like
Henri Nouwen, Merton, Benner, Rohr, ..."
http://richvillodas.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/yes-our-pastors-get-paid-to-pray-and-rest/
*  Villodas listed his best books on a "Favorites Page"  which has numerous Roman Catholic/Emergent connections.
*  Villodas (Feb. 2013) tweeted Pope Benedict's Lenten remarks.  Villodas wrote,  "For the last ten years I have read through the works of great Catholic theologians.  They have so much to teach evangelicals."  He also recorded: " ... I have enjoyed reading some of the Pontifex works.  He's quite the theologian."
*  Villodas  (April 2013) attended "The Academy for Spiritual Formation" where he heard contemplative authors Marjorie Thompson and Robert Mulholland. Villodas mused,  "I first heard of Robert Mulholland as a student at Nyack College.  His book, Invitation to a Journey was one of the first books on spiritual formation that I came across."  He also said,  "The overall thrust ... focused on rhythms, spiritual formation practices and uncovering the relationship between our 'false selves' and 'true selves in Christ.'"  (See my blog: "Red Flag This: Ruth Haley Barton & Self!") Villodas continued, "I took over twenty pages of notes.  I'll be processing this for the foreseeable future."
http://richvillodas.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/10-highlights-from-the-academy-of-spiritual-formation/
* Villodas also wrote from the retreat :  "Heard lectures on contemplation and the false self.  Really impacted my life!"
*  Villodas (April 2013)  tweeted, "So sad to hear Brennan Manning (Roman Catholic priest about whom Walborn said on his podcast, "Anything and everything Manning!") died 2day.  For the last 12 yrs has been a top 5 "mentor" to me thru his books.  Thx for everything Brennan!"
*  Villodas (April 2013) retweeted a quote from the new Pope Francis.
*  Villodas (June 2013 "My Story and Thoughts about New Life Fellowship ...") wrote, as he was transitioning into lead pastor, "When I was a college student, I spent a significant amount of time reading through the sayings of the Desert Fathers and monastic writers.  The commitment to prayer, silence and solitude has shaped me throughout the years."
http://richvillodas.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/my-story-and-thoughts-about-new-life-fellowship-and-the-future/

Here is a must see documentary on "centering prayer"& its connection to  the New Age, Yoga, TM, far Eastern religions, and ultimately to occultism.  This supports all I have written in this paper, and in my other blogs.
Please view, and share! 
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=13554#.UmLYFm-PD6Z.facebook

Rich Villodas' Connection to Manhattan Pastor Drew Hyun:

*  Hyun was an assistant pastor at New Life along with Villodas.
*  Hyun is a good friend of Villodas.
*  Hyun accompanied Villodas to St. Joseph's Abbey/ other retreats.
*  Hyun has spoken at a Nyack Chapel.
*  Hyun admires Father Richard Rohr, met him at CAC, and shared his deep admiration with Villodas. http://drewhyun.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/my-weekend-in-albuquerque-new-mexico/
*  Hyun looks up to David Jennings, V.P. of Nyack, as an outstanding leader.

"By their (books, blogs, twitter, seminars, retreats, associations, recommendations, and so much more) you can know them."

Pete Scazzero and His Connection to the CMA & Nyack:

*  Pete and Geri Scazzero established New Life Fellowship as a CMA plant.
*  Pete and Geri Scazzero have written a series of contemplative books ( The Emotionally Healthy Church & Emotionally Healthy Spirituality) read by the CMA, and the college.
*  Pete and Geri Scazzero practice spiritual disciplines associated with Roman Catholicism.
*  Pete and Geri Scazzero preach and teach all things contemplative traveling (Now with Bill
 Hybel's Willow Creek) round the globe sharing deceptive teachings.
*  Pete is mentored by Leighton Ford who is deep into mystical contemplative teachings.

Here's a totally contemplative and New Age sermon Scazzero recently preached.  It is entitled:
"Relaxing from the Deep Center!"  Alarm bells ought to be going off , and red flags ought to be flying just by reading the title.  Try typing in those very words, and see what kind of New Age information comes up!  In this sermon Scazzero even shows someone doing "yoga" up on the screen!Watch here:
http://vimeo.com/68958052
 
Reader, I consider Pete Scazzero's "New Life Fellowship Church" (once a CMA plant) the poster child or the poster church, if you will, for all things in a church that has gone totally into spiritual formation via Roman Catholicism, and even New Age paganism.  And in turn I consider Rich Villodas, the poster boy or the poster pastor, for a young man who has gone whole heartedly into all things contemplative.  The saddest thing of all is that here is a young man, bright and passionate and so likeable, who has trusted his life and his education into the affable and well-meaning, but badly deceived, hands of  mentors like Walborn and Scazzero; and this is the end result.  This is but one example of a student who went to Nyack, and was subjected to being immersed in these spiritual disciplines which include monasteries, retreats, silence, solitude, Catholic priests and more. And here is the result--sad, sad, sad!  Dear reader, look into these deceptions by going to apologetic web sites of former Roman Catholics who came out of the bondage of good works, worshipping the Eucharist, worshipping Mary, and all the idolatry of  Roman Catholicism and see why they are so disheartened to see "evangelicalism" marching right back home into the arms of Rome!  

Here is a web site of Evangelist Mike Gendron, who was saved out of Catholicism in his thirties, and who has a tremendous desire to see Roman Catholics find Jesus as their all-sufficient sacrifice for sin.  He also has a deep burden to point out to evangelicals that Catholics are not Christians if they have never understood the gospel, and are trying to reach heaven through the teaching of the Vatican.  Please read and listen here:     http://proclaimingthegospel.org/

A second powerful web site is the "Berean Beacon," of former Roman Catholic priest Richard Bennett, which helps Evangelicals understand exactly what Roman Catholics believe; and how they need to be saved by grace through faith in order to become Christians.  Find here:
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=ArRuzvGyszp268UVOkcWs0abvZx4?fr=yfp-t-122-s&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=berean%20beacon%20ministries

A third apologetic Christian site "The Berean Call" hosted by former Roman Catholic, Tom McMahon, has countless articles and programs on the dangers of spiritual formation, Roman Catholicism, and many more topics.  Check it out here: http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AnLqnivLukp.A2rURnVYtu6bvZx4?p=The+Berean+Call&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-122

"By their fruits (contemplative spiritual formation practices) you can know them."

David Jennings' Connection to Nyack/New Life Fellowship Church:

* David Jennings is a former executive pastor of New Life Fellowship Church.
* David Jennings is the current Executive Director at New Life Health Center
* David Jennings is the Executive VP & Treasurer at Nyack College.

"By their fruits (endorsements, Emergent acquaintances, practices, books) you can know them."

Walbon's Connection to AIM (Adventures in Missions)/Seth Barnes: 

*  Walborn has been a speaker at the World Race Training Camps.
*  Walborn has recently trained World Racers with contemplative Dr. Rob Reimer.  See
blog: "CMA's Rob Reimer Reads Ruth Haley Barton to Feed His Soul."
*  Walborn has spoken on various Emergent/contemplative topics: e.g. "The Contemplative Instinct" associated with "focus on the interior" and "listening prayer."
*  Walborn has participated in AIM's BreakThru Conferences in 2008 & 2009 speaking with Wanda
Walborn, Seth Barnes, Andrew Sherman, & Michael Hindes.
Read: http://www.adventures.org/docs/breakthru.pdf?tuid=62226
*  Walborn has given his endorsement to AIM's program.  See here:
Walborn wrote:  "Adventures in Mission does an amazing job of blending healthy discipleship and spiritual formation with Holy Spirit empowered missiology.  ...  I strongly recommend to you the powerful ministry of Adventures in Missions."
http://www.adventures.org/about/index.asp?iname=missions#
*  Walborn has endorsed Barnes' book Kingdom Journeys: The Lost Spiritual Discipline (2012).
Walborn said:  "...  I was convicted, challenged and encouraged as I read this great book.  I have another new tool for Kingdom growth: Kingdom Journeys."
-- Dr. Ron Walborn, Dean of Alliance Theological Seminary and the College of Bible and Christian Ministry at Nyack College http://kingdomjourneysbook.com/endorsements/

Note, too, who else endorses this book!  Dissident Franciscan Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M.
For much more on Rohr and his various endorsements -including Dr. James P. Danaher-
see older blogs on "Father Richard Rohr's Book: The Naked Now at Nyack."  Also see:
"Red Flag This:  Ruth Haley Barton & Self!"

To know AIM is to know its leader and workers; Seth Barnes from his blog "Radical Living" makes crystal clear who, and what he endorses!

"By their fruits (Heretical Roman Catholic priest/book; New Age guru, & so many more) you can know them."

Quotes from Seth Barnes'"Radical Living" Blog:

12-13-2007  "Richard Rohr: A Conversation"

Barnes recorded: "I met Richard Rohr at a retreat ... for an extended conversation.  I'd read a few of his books and found his insights profound. ...  The first book of his I'd read, Adam's Return, helped me understand the importance of initiating men.  ...  I told him about The World Race and asked him for advice about how to design it to initiate young people.  ... Another of Rohr's books, Everything Belongs, has been a huge influence in my thinking about how we grow. ... We talked about ... (that) we need to give God undistracted space in our schedule so that he can speak to us. ...  At the end ... I asked Rohr to pray for me.  He held both of my hands ... and gave me a wonderful blessing.  Since he is ... a Franciscan, I suppose some of that great saint's anointing filtered into my spirit.  I don't really know how it works, but I'll take whatever I can get."
http://www.sethbarnes.com/?filename=richard-rohr-a-conversation

 3-3-2011:  "Our Deepest Fear" Poem by well-known New Age author: Marianne Williamson.

For an in depth look into who Seth Barnes is, and to what his organization involves please read
Claris Van Kuiken's "An Open Letter to Ingrid Schlueter, VCY Crosstalk America Concerning Adventure's In Mission's (AIM)"
http://ingridschlueter.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/articleonaim.pdf
Or order her book: Missions, Mysticism, & Magic (2012) here:
http://www.amazon.com/Missions-Mysticism-Magic-ebook/dp/B007R6KUGY#reader_B007R6KUGY

Walborn's Connection to Risen King Community Church, Redding, Ca./New Apostolic
Reformation's Prophet's Bill Johnson, & Tim Fox:

*  Walborn was a former pastor at Risen King Community.
*  Walborn was at Risen King in February 2013 for a "Kingdom Come!- Redigging the Wells of the Supernatural" Conference.
*  Walborn  & Reimer are to be at Risen King February 2014 for another "Kingdom Come!"
Conference.  New this year is the addition of Spiritual Director Sarah Herring.
http://risenking.org/KingdomPower/index.html
*  Walborn had a special meeting with Prophet Tim Fox (2013) who is associated with radical New Apostolic Reformation Prophet Bill Johnson.
http://prophetfox.com/   See link at right to "Risen King Church" of which Fox is a member.
*  Walborn preached in 2010 with Bethel Church's Bill Johnson, and others at a May 2010 "Kingdom Power Conference."  For just how radical and how controversial Bill Johnson is see:
http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/warning-bill-johnson-and-bethel-church/
*  Walborn taught in Feb. 21-28, 2013 a "Kingdom Holiness" class in Redding with 30 some ATS
students.  Worship at this class included Bethel Church's Jeremy Riddle. 
http://life.nyack.edu/back-from-redding-ca/

Walborn's Connection to Global Leadership, Inc. & Dr. Martin Sanders:

Dr. Martin Sanders Info:

*  Sanders is the Director of Global Leadership, Inc.
*  Sanders is the Director of Doctoral Programs at ATS.
*  Sanders was interim CMA pastor at Living Christ Church.
*  Sanders works closely with six couples including: Ron & Wanda Walborn; Rob & Jen Reimer; and Chuck & Ingrid Davis.

Global Leadership Activities:

*  Global Leadership sponsors Global Leadership Development Conferences.
*  Global Leadership sponsors "Soul Care" Conferences.
*  Global Leadership sponsors Inner Healing, Breakthroughs, & Holy Spirit Conferences.
*  Global Leadership sponsors ATS Seminary and Doctoral Students Programs.
*  Global Leadership sponsors Missional Community Seminars.

"By their fruits (endorsers, partners, books, practices) you shall know them."

Global Leadership Link with Leighton Ford Ministries:

*  Global Leadership has partnered with Leighton Ford Ministries.
http://www.globalleadershipinc.org/#!__resources/vstc1=partners
*  Global Leadership has a large Leighton Ford endorsement on one page.
http://www.globalleadershipinc.org/#!__ministries/blank
*  Global Leadership has had Leighton Ford speak at several functions.
*  Global Leadership has had Leighton Ford endorse two of Dr. Sander's books.

To understand why Leighton Ford and his ministry are into contemplative spirituality please consider the following facts:

*  Leighton Ford was once an evangelist with the Billy Graham Association.
*  Leighton Ford has now turned to all things mystical, and contemplative.
http://www.cephasministry.com/evangelists_grahams_fruit.html
http://zondervan.typepad.com/npc/2008/10/meet-leighton-f.html
*  Leighton Ford writes for InterVarsity Press publisher of mystical/contemplative books.
*  Leighton Ford has written e.g. The Attentive Life reviewed by Gary Gilley here:
http://www.svchapel.org/resources/book-reviews/4-christian-living/619-the-attentive-life-discerning-gods-presence-in-all-things-by-leighton-ford

Benner, Benner, Benner & More Benner!

Dr. Martin Sanders & Dr. David G. Benner:

Small Sampling of Benner!
*  Spring 2009:  "Emotional & Spiritual Development Weekend"
*  Books Required: Reggie McNeal (Get a Life); Read one: David Benner (Care of Souls;
The Gift of Being Yourself; Healing Emotional Wounds).
*  Fall 2013: "Christ's Mission & Spiritual Gifts for the "Empowering Women Program"-The Gift of Being Yourself (Selected Bibliography).
*  Fall 2008: SF 505:  Sanders/Reimer: The Gift of Being Yourself;  SF 770RA Sanders: The Gift of Being Yourself; Care of  Souls; Spring 2009: SF772.RA Sanders: Care of Souls; The Gift of Being Yourself; Healing Emotional Wounds; Fall 2009: CD 702 Sanders/Russ: Strategic Pastoral Counseling; SF 505.RB Sanders: The Gift of Being Yourself;   
 
Spiritual Formation Jan Dale Professor & Benner:   Dale too has a list of Benner books as well as many more contemplative books of every stripe.
 
*  And who is David G. Benner?  The story is a sad one for once David G. Benner was raised in a godly home--a Plymouth Brethren home in Canada--a home like I too was raised in.  But today Brenner, by his own words, tells us how far he has fallen.  For Dr. Benner, enamored by Father Richard Rohr like so many others I have written about, is now a Master Teacher, and contributor  to the Oneing Journal at the heretical "Rohr Institute's Living School for Action & Contemplation."  Please read his stories here:  http://www.drdavidgbenner.ca/my-journey/   Also see: "Professional Bio,""My Family," and "Reader's Questions" at the same site. 

Recall!  Speaking of Fr. Richard Rohr that Dr. Ron Walborn has endorsed Danaher books, and a Seth Barnes' book along with Richard Rohr.  I challenge you look into Rohr!!  No one who calls himself a true Christian should be associating themselves in any way with his totally heretical beliefs!  

Wanda Walborn & Benner:
*Fall 2012:  Spiritual Formation Course Assignment for "Empowering Women Certificate Program":  Read: (David G. Benner): The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery.  Write a brief summary of the book and what was helpful to you in your spiritual journey.
http://metrocma.org/metro-wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Spiritual-Formation-Assignments-for-November.pdf

Benner Again!

November 2013 Update:  Wanda Walborn/Spiritual Formation Empower Program Component:  Again Wanda highly recommends the book The Gift of Being Yourself by David Benner as an excellent follow up for your spiritual journey.  Would that Wanda would find out what David G. Benner really is all about, for Benner's very own words should awaken discerning believers to BEWARE of Benner, period! 

I would end by pleading once more, if you are truly a caring CMA Christian rise up and do something before it is forever too late!!  Remember Jude warns that certain men have crept in unnoticed, and that we must be earnest contenders for the faith!  How about you?  Are you intentionally contending for the faith?  Or do you choose to ignore this apostasy?  May we all intend to contend, and to stand for the truth regardless of cost!

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  Jude wrote:  "I found it necessary to write you an appeal, that you vigorously defend the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."  From Jude 3
 

A Review of "Another Jesus" Calling by Warren B. Smith

"Person to Person Calling"  was a particular kind of telephone call, that I as a telephone operator, performed over and over in the days before unlimited long distance rates.  And this "person to person" calling is what Sarah Young purported to have heard in her best selling book Jesus Calling.

The question for us is:  "Was Jesus Calling?"  Former New Ager, Warren B. Smith, gives us the answer in his provocative little book: "Another Jesus" Calling.  And the answer, Smith most decisively proves, is this, "No, Jesus was not calling!"  And here's why:

Saturating his thirty concerns with scripture, as to why Jesus did not personally speak with Sarah Young, Smith lays out a precise picture providing us with a book of which you can, with confidence, share with skeptical friends or family that have been deceived into devouring Young's channeled devotional.

Smith first introduces us to Sarah Young, who seems like an unlikely person to have been lured into receiving channeled messages from "another Jesus," having once been a student at Francis Schaeffer's L'Abri, but in spite of  this background this was where Sarah became aware of a lovely presence whom she called "Sweet Jesus."

Smith next introduces us to God Calling- the book Sarah embraced  before she, too, became a listener with pen in hand.  In this section Smith provides numerous scriptures along with each of his ten concerns, as to why God was not calling those two lady listeners; and as to why Sarah was deceived from the get-go when she based her own book on the listener's spiritual dictation.

Each concern is in a separate chapter which is short, but presented in such a clear and compelling manner. Smith's ten concerns from God Calling include these examples:  Concern 1: Channeling a book from "Jesus."  Scripture:  Deuteronomy 18:10-12 warns "a consulter with familiar spirits" is an abomination unto the Lord.   Concern 3: Opening the door to Universalism. Scripture:
John 14:6 states there is but one truth.  Concern 4: Teaching God is "in" everyone.  Scripture:
Includes John 2:24-25 to Ezekiel 28:2 which tell us that God is not in everyone!   Concern 6:  Replacing God's Word with experience.  Scripture: I Timothy 3:16,17 which shows, above all else, scripture supersedes all experience.  Concern 7: Jesus is needing us more than we need him.  Scripture: Acts 17:25 says that Jesus Christ, creator of the universe, who gives us life, breath, and all things certainly doesn't need us more than we need him.  Concern 9:  Connecting Psalm 46:10 to entering the silence has to do with God's rebuke to the nations!  Concern 10:  Equating the New Age with Christianity  Scripture:  Galatians 5:7-9  describes that the "Jesus" of  God Calling asserts that God is "at the centre of every man's being" helping expose the fact that this book is most assuredly New Age-- for this is its core teaching.  

Smith,  himself, having come out of the New Age, teaches us "new age" terms that we should be looking for, and be alert to that are woven so deceptively into Jesus Calling by Young's "Jesus."
Therefore, make note of these terms and phrases --and yes, use your computer and look them up yourself.

Lastly, Smith introduces us to Jesus Calling- the book from which Sarah takes pen in hand to write down her channeled messages from "another Jesus."  Here are some of Smith's twenty concerns from Jesus Calling:  Concern 1:  Treasuring a  channeled book. Scripture: A "treasure verse" from Matthew 6:21.  Concern 2:  Bringing channeling into the church.  Scripture: John 8:31-32 says we are called to be disciples, not channels. Concern 5: Laughing at the Future.  Scriptures:  Matthew 24, Mark 13, & Luke 21 refute the idea that we are to laugh at the future. Concern 6: Flattering  by "Jesus."  Scripture:  Proverbs 26:28, instead, warns that "a flattering mouth worketh ruin."  Concern 7:  Resting by the Wayside:  Scripture: Luke 8:11-12 shows that the wayside is where the devil waits to snatch away the Word of God.  Concern 8: Visualizing Jesus.  Scripture:  Jeremiah 10:2 warns us not to adopt the ways of the heathen which includes meditation, contemplative prayer, and creative visualization.  Concern 9:  Imagining the night of Jesus' birth as dark.  Scripture:  This revisionist idea does not sound like the voice of our Savior; but, as it says in John 10:5, it sounds like the voice of a stranger.  Concern 10:  Describing Abraham as being guilty of "idolatry," and "son-worship."  Scripture:  Hebrews 11:17 pictures Abraham as faithful and obedient, rather than a son-worshiper or idolatrous.  Concern 11:  Connecting contemplative prayer, the New Age, & Psalm 46:10  Scripture:  I Peter 1:13 admonishes us "to gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end..."  not let our guard down, relax, and be defenseless.  Concern 13:  Co-creating with God.  Scripture:  Ephesians 3:9 shows that man is neither one with God, nor God's co-creator.  Concern 14:  Teaching about the quantum leap and the Quantum-"Christ."  Scripture:  I Timothy 6:20-21 teaches we are not to trust in science over faith.  Concern 17: Teaching Jesus is above all and "in" all.  Scripture: John 2:24-25 refutes this by stating that Jesus knew what was in man.  Concern 18:  Moving toward a New Age/ New Worldview  Scripture:  Matthew 24:23-25 Jesus warns us that false Christs and false teachings would come in his name, whereas the "Jesus" in Jesus Calling doesn't warn us at all but instead insists, "I am totally trustworthy."  Concern 19:  Magnifying "Jesus" presence above the Word of God.  Scripture: Psalm 138:2 tells us "thou hast magnified thy word above thy name."  Concern 20:  Spreading the idea "Another Jesus" is calling.  Scripture:  Mark 13:22 asserts that even the elect can be seduced by false Christs and false prophets with their signs and wonders.
    
Smith's cover subtitle says:  "How False Christs Are Entering the Church Through Contemplative Prayer" which highlights the contemplative connection of hearing new revelation from God from other sources than God's holy scriptures.  Of contemplative prayer and the New Age Smith says,
"Countless references to meditating, being quiet, being still, relaxing, resting, letting go, and reciting Psalm 46:10 are found throughout God Calling and Jesus Calling.  They all suggested ways of entering the silence in order to experience God's presence.  The NEW AGE/Spirituality likewise places great emphasis on these same ways of entering the silence in order to experience God's presence."

Included also at the end are three terrific appendixes which include warnings about deception, the gospel of the true Jesus Christ, and ways to be more discerning.  Following these are Warren Smith's well-documented endnotes and index.  This book, a little gem, is full to the brim with scripture and material you need to know in order to steer clear of deception!

A suggestion: As you read Smith's book have your Bible handy, and be ready to highlight each scripture reference Smith lays out.  If you do this, I guarantee that you'll be so much the wiser, and so much more discerning yourself when you're through. 

If only we'd remember that even the best intended people--the very elect the Bible says-- can be deceived.  Peter warns us to beware that we're not led away with the error of the wicked and fall from our own steadfastness, but instead we should grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  And where does this knowledge come from?  It comes from the pure milk of the word.  It comes from the holy scriptures--there and only there is where we will hear from the Lord.  In conclusion, as Smith so aptly shows, counteract deception with scripture, and hang up immediately on "Another Jesus!"

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  II Corinthians 11:4
"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

Nyack's  Dr. Danaher Does it Again with Another Rohr Endorsement!


Front and center on the "Nyack's College of Arts & Sciences January 2014 Facebook Page & Blog" is Dr. James P. Danaher's newest book: The Second Truth complete with Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico endorsement.


Note also that Danaher's new book is also endorsed by one Maggie Ross.  Ross, a mystic Anglican solitary, is the author of several books including Writing the Icon of the Heart, which in turn, was endorsed (no surprise) by James P. Danaher, author of Contemplative Prayer: A Theology for the Twenty-first Century;  Fr. Richard Rohr, Founding Director, Center for Action and Contemplation; and John H. Armstrong, President, ACT3 Network.  (See previous blog: "The Naked Now at Nyack.")


For more Rohr scroll down the Nyack Arts & Sciences Facebook Page to find a prominent photograph of the Oneing: An Alternative Orthodoxy (The Perennial Tradition)  explored by 21st. century thinkers including:   Richard Rohr, Mark S. Burrows, Ilia Delio, David G. Benner, John L. Esposito, Diana Butler Bass, Mary Beth Ingham, James P. Danaher, Robert Sardello, Jamie L. Manson, James D. Kirylo, Cynthia Bourgeault, and James Finley.


Exactly who are these other authors?  What do they share in common?  What do they each contribute to Oneing?  Why would Richard Rohr select them as contributors?  For some answers go to Amazon.com books to Oneing  and click on "Look Inside."  Notice the "Contents" which lists articles written from Rohr's "Introduction," to Benner's "Ancient Wisdom for Contemplative Living," to Danaher's "What's So Perennial About the Perennial Philosophy?" to Finley's "Epilogue."  See the listing of each contributor with personal web sites.


While researching these authors, whom I'd dub: "Rohr's Radicals," I've found most of this group to be the cream of the crop of vocal liberals who've embraced Rohr's "we are all one" mantra.  And just who are the "who's who" of Rohr's ardent admirers?  To begin there's Mark S. Burrows, mystic poet and scholar, who translated Rilke poetry from German to English.  There's Sr. Ilia Delio OSF, an outspoken theologian scientist and author, who reimagines Christ by teaching evolutionary Catholicism or cosmic Christology.  There's David G. Benner, an ex-evangelical depth psychologist and soul care author, who left his former faith for mystical practices (contemplative prayer, lectio divina, icons) and interfaith dialog (Buddhists, Taoists). There's John L. Esposito, once a monk, who now is an expert on world religions and a spokesperson for Muslim & Christian understanding.  There's Diana Butler Bass, Episcopalian feminist, who is a contributing editor for Jim Wallis' Sojourner Magazine, and a friend of such Emergents as Brian McLaren, Phyllis Tickle, and Tony Jones.  There's Sr. Mary Beth Ingham CSJ, philosophy professor and author of a book with Richard Rohr, as well as numerous books on Franciscan theologian John Duns Scotus.  There's James P. Danaher, Nyack College Philosophy Chair, postmodern and contemplative author of four Rohr-endorsed  books, and advisor to and writer for Rohr's Oneing journal.  There's Robert Sardello, a leading philosopher of the soul revered by authors James Hillman and Thomas Moore, who as co-founder of the School of Spiritual Psychology has authored such books as Steps on the Stone Path:  Working with Crystals and Minerals as a Spiritual Practice and Silence: The Mystery of Wholeness.  There's Jamie L. Manson, a Catholic feminist and defender of the homosexual agenda, and columnist for The National Catholic Reporter.  There's James D. Kirylo, professor of education and defender of "Liberation Theology," who authored the book Paulo Freire: The Man from Recife.  Finally, there's James Finley, once a monk mentored by Thomas Merton, now turned clinical psychologist who teaches such retreats as: "The Four Noble Truths of the Buddha for Us All,"  "The Interior Castle of St. Theresa of Avila, " and  "Zen as a Path of Spiritual Fulfillment."


On the opening page you can also find the meaning of the old English word "oneing" as used by mystic Lady Julian of Norwich.  It is defined this way: "Oneing  describes the encounter between God and the soul.  The Rohr Institute proudly borrows the word to express divine unity between all divisions, dichotomies, and dualisms in the world.  We pray and publish with Jesus' words, 'that we may be one.'"  Ponder this statement!!  For "oneing's" meaning unlocks the reason for Rohr's purpose in promoting these mostly Roman Catholic, mystical, often radical writers.  Yes, "oneing's"
meaning is what Rohr and his cohorts are all about!


Think!  Dr. James P. Danaher, Philosophy Chair at "evangelical" Nyack is part of this group of writers promoting we are all one, and we are all divine.  And then notice the members that comprise "The Rohr Institute Advisory Board:"  James Danaher; David Benner; Ilia Delia, OSF; Sheryl B. Fullerton; and Marian Kustenmacher.  This "five some" includes: Danaher, the contemplative philosopher; Benner the mystical depth psychologist; Delio the evolutionist nun; Fullerton the mind, body, and soul literary agent; and Kustenmacher the occult enneagram specialist.  Once again the question must be raised: "How can an evangelical philosophy professor be associated with such a board?"


At the CAC web site we additionally find the "Living School for Action & Contemplation" whose all-star teachers each bear witness to the Christian voice of universal awakening, grounded firmly within its mystical and transformational tradition.  Hoping to open Christianity to more inclusive theological visions a core faculty (Rohr, Bourgeault, & Finley) and invited master teachers (Rob Bell, David G. Benner, Walter Brueggemann, Paula D'Arcy, Ilia Delio, Ruth Patterson, and Robert Sardello) will teach deep and grounded practices in contemplative prayer, chanting, and kenosis.  CAC writes:  "In the joined presence of these faculty, this School is at its heart a Mystical Christian Living School."


One can find Oneing  and many more Rohr products featured on the New Age "Contemplative-Life" page with a "Mandala" icon at the top left corner of its web page.  Read Rohr's clear and concise definition of Oneing's "Perennial Tradition Theme", which is in all the world's religions, is all about:


     *  There is a Divine Reality underneath and inherent in the world of things.
     *  There is in the human soul a natural capacity, similarity, and longing for this Divine Reality.
     *  The final goal of all existence is union with this Divine Reality.


In conclusion, with the above description firmly in your mind, I would ask why Dr. James P. Danaher can continue to teach at Nyack College, and at the same time be part of this heretical organization?  I would ask why Dr. Danaher's newest book gets top billing on Nyack's "Arts & Sciences" page and blog?  I would ask why such a completely unbiblical and radical journal would be pictured as news worthy?  I would ask exactly who it is that is responsible for allowing Danaher to be part of Rohr's organization?  Surely, not just Danaher will be held accountable; for those over Dr. Danaher will also give account for their encouragement, their endorsements, and their allowing him to continue to spread Rohr's teachings to CMA students as well as the CMA denomination and beyond.


*  See below for web site documentation!




Learn to Discern Granny Verses from Acts 20:28-30:


Paul wrote this warning in his day, and it still applies!  "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, sparing not the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them."


*  Danaher's book:  Second Truth 
http://www.amazon.com/Second-Truth-Introduction-Intellectual-Philosophy/dp/1557789126/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391694275&sr=1-1&keywords=James+Danaher%2C+The+Second+Truth


*  Oneing  Journal: Danaher Author:  Click "Look Inside!"  for much more information.
http://www.amazon.com/Oneing-Perennial-Tradition-Richard-Rohr-ebook/dp/B00EVXACBE/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391694651&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=Oneing+Journal+Rohr


* "Spirituality & Practice:"  "Living Spiritual Teacher: Father Richard Rohr"
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/teachers/teachers.php?id=212&g=


*  "Spirituality & Practice:"  "Living Spiritual Teacher: Cynthia Bourgeault"
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/teachers/teachers.php?id=255&g=


*  School of Spiritual Psychology: Robert Sardello
http://spiritualearthschool.com/Store/silence/


*  Nyack Blogs: Nyack College Arts & Sciences News: Announcement of Danaher's new book
https://www.nyack.edu/blog/CASNews/1722


*  Nyack College Arts and Sciences Facebook Photos:  2014  Photo of Second Truth  second row;
2013 Photos:  Photo of Oneing  Journal about seventeen rows down on far left with caption "Dr. Danaher Examines Perennial Philosophy."
https://www.facebook.com/NyackCollegeArtsSciences/photos_stream




*  Nyack Blogs: Nyack College Arts & Sciences News:  Announcement of Danaher's piece in
Oneing  with CAC store address where you can purchase the journal.
http://nyack.edu/blog/CASNews/1512


April 2014 Update:  Excellent piece "Much More on Rohr" from "Rather Expose Them."  
http://ratherexposethem.blogspot.com/2013/04/much-more-on-rohr-plus-enneagrams.html 

David Benner's The Gift of Being Yourself: A Great Book for Your Journey?  Not!

Wanda Walborn, Spiritual Formation Director, Instructor at Nyack College, and Teacher for the CMA Women's Empower Program, touts David G. Benner's The Gift of Being Yourself  as a great book for your spiritual journey.  Sadly, she and many others have missed the red flags beginning with the covers.  In fact, a discerning reader would not even have to open the book to know here is a work that will be filled with deceptive teachings!

Front Cover Flags:

Notice the title:  The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery.  Note verses:  II Timothy 3:1-2 says, "But know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves..."

Notice the foreword writer:  Dom M. Basil Pennington, OCSO.  Note this BP quote:  We Are God's Dream:  "We do not know how precious we are in ourselves.  As Dame Julian of Norwich, that delightful English mystic declared, we are God's dream, his homiest home.  We have too little respect for ourselves, too little esteem for our own importance.  God sees things otherwise."

Back Cover Flags:

Read that Benner is a depth psychologist, a spiritual director, a former professor of Psychology and Spirituality, a retreat leader, an author, and an editor.
Read that Benner is first endorsed by Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Read that Benner is also endorsed by these contemplatives: John Ortberg, Mark R. McMinn, Margaret Guenther, and Gary W. Moon.
Read that Benner is published by "Formatio Books" from IVP Books.

First Page Flag:

Here's a Thomas Merton epigraph.  Think: Merton is much admired by Benner.  For Benner has said, "I started reading Thomas Merton in my twenties and to this day he remains my favorite Christian mystic ...  I felt drawn to the journey he described but wasn't ready to personally make it my own for many years."
Here's a Thomas Merton quote:  Think:  This quote from Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation contains the core teaching of this book and that is: "Your true self is divine."  For Merton wrote, "There is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace, and my happiness depend: to discover myself in discovering God.  If I find Him I will find myself and if I find my true self I will find him."

Formatio Flag:

Check out the Formatio publisher's chambered nautilus shell logo.  IVP writes that they use this logo as a symbol of spiritual formation because of its continual spiral journey outward as it moves from its center which sounds much like the New Age idea that it represents the expansiveness of awareness, and the evolution of consciousness.  Another telling description of its meaning can be found at "The Theosophical Society's" web site in a piece entitled "Ancient Wisdom in a Chambered Nautilus."
http://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/1345 After reading that this shell is a piece of "sacred geometry," and a known New Age symbol one must ask why a so called "evangelical publishing house" might select it as its logo?

Check out the Formatio agenda of publishing spiritual formation books; check out the IVP authors.
Take a close look at the kinds of authors published here.  Who exactly are they?  Do they teach salvation through faith in Jesus Christ?  Next examine Benner's bio.  Look into his books by clicking on the book title, and on "details" to see the contents, various reviews, and special features of each work. 

Benner & The Basil Pennington Part:

In the David Benner article, and interview "Touched by an Author" done for the Fall 2003 Conversations about Basil Pennington's book True Self/False Self: Unmasking the Spirit Within  Benner tells how Pennington's writings impacted his life and ultimately The Gift of BeingYourself. http://conversationsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Conversations_Journal_Issue_1_1.pdf     As you read this piece and interview you'll see where Benner gets some of his false self/true self ideas used in his book.  You will also note that Benner mentions that "a real fringe benefit" of Pennington's work is that one will be introduced to "centering prayer."  Chapter six, the Merton chapter, says Benner is so meaningful that  it would be enough if there wasn't any more to Pennington's book.  Apparently, Pennington made such an impression on Benner that he asked the Dom for his foreword endorsement of  The Gift of Being Yourself.  For more on Pennington please click on "Spiritual Teachers" and go to "Remembering Spiritual Masters" to find M. Basil Pennington.

http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ 

Benner's Merton Thread:

From the Thomas Merton epigraph to the epilogue a Thomas Merton thread is found woven throughout the entire book in each chapter.  There's mention of Merton in the epigraph on the first page, in the preface on p.17, in chapter one on p.19, in chapter two on p.35, in chapter three on p.47, in chapter four on p.62, in chapter five on p.81, in chapter six on p.95, and in the epilogue on p.110 (Finley's Merton book)  Benner quotes from Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation, The Ascent toTruth,  and Thoughts in Solitude besides James Finley's Merton's Palace of Nowhere: A Search for
God Through Awareness of the True Self; and Ekman Tam's article: "Message to the Wounded World: Unmask the True Self -- Zen and Merton."  Truly, this book is saturated with mystic Merton.

Benner the Enneagram Man:

Benner's end notes tell us that Benner is an Enneagram fan.  He writes, "However, I am a fan of the Enneagram ...   as a tool to assist in deep knowing of our core of sin tendencies."  Benner also asserts that Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson have much to teach us on enneagrams in The Wisdom of the Enneagram.  "And for an explicitly Christian approach to the Enneagram"one should read Richard Rohr's Enneagram: Naming Our Illusions.  For the real Christian viewpoint on enneagrams read "The Enneagram GPS: Gnostic Plan to Self." by Marcia Montenegro.http://christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Enneagram.html

Benner & Imaginative Meditation:

Benner teaches his readers to do what he calls "Gospel Meditation," or "Imaginative Meditation" where one uses the Ignatian (Ignatius of Loyola) Technique of imaginatively entering into an event in the life of Christ.  Benner throws in some centering prayer techniques as well as he says to quiet yourself, close your eyes, pray, and then read a scripture passage slowly, and then allow yourself "to daydream on the situation presented in the story."  He encourages "as if you were a spectator, observe the events as they unfold.  Watch, listen and stay attentive to Christ.  Don't be distracted by ... And don't try to analyze the story ... Just be present to Jesus and open to your reactions."  Further he counsels, "Wandering thoughts are inevitable.  As soon as you become aware of them, simply return your attention to the meditation." For more about "Imaginative Meditation" read "Pray with your Imagination" by David L. Fleming, S.J. here:
http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/pray-with-your-imagination/

And why did Benner begin to use "imaginative meditation?"  It was because plain old Bible reading had become stale so he wrote, "After decades of Bible reading, I realized my relationship with God was based more on what I believed than my personal knowing."  After advocating one practice "Gospel Mediation" he goes on to also prescribe one take up "The Daily Examen."  Commit, says he, to fifteen minutes at the end of the day at first and you will soon meet yourself in deeper places.

Benner's False Self & True Self Beliefs:

Benner is a proponent of abandoning your false self to find your true self (Please see my previous blog: "Red Flag This: Ruth Haley Barton & Self")  In chapter five "Unmasking Your False Self" Benner writes, "Coming out of hiding (the bushes of our false self) is accepting God on God's own terms.  Doing so is the only route to truly finding our unique self-in-Christ."

Chapter six is entitled: "Becoming Your True Self."  Right away the word "becoming" jumps out.
The Bible does not teach about becoming one's true self.  On the contrary it says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)  It also says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31) (not become saved)  Furthermore, it states that once we repent of our sins, and trust in the Lord Jesus as Savior that we are "a new creature in Christ, and that old things are passed away and behold all things are new." (II Cor. 5:17) 

However, Benner teaches, "The true self is who, in reality, you are and you are becoming."  He goes on, "...it is your total self as you were created by God and as you are being redeemed in Christ." (p.91)  There's that word "being" again.  He states, "Jesus is the True Self." (p.92)  But my Bible reads, "Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man cometh unto the Father but by me."  (John 14:6)  Why Benner even states, that our Lord Jesus, coequal with the Father, had "to find his way, his self."  He further suggests we "speculate" about Jesus early years before he found "his true self." (p.93) Benner tells us, "Jesus was on his way to knowing his calling because he was perfectly and completely the True Self." (p.98) Jesus was not the "True Self," but he was the Son of God!"

Benner & A True Self Man-Ekman Tam:

Eckman Tam is another writer that has shaped Benner's view of both Merton, and the teachings about the false and the true self.  Tam does an article "Becoming Real: Thomas Merton and the True Self" for the Fall 2003 Conversations.  There you can also read an interview "Tam Talks with David Benner."  Tam was a spiritual director of Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre & Interfaith Dialog where he founded a formation program in Christian Spiritual Direction.  And it was to the east to Tam's Hong Kong centre that Benner and his wife--much like the revered Merton--went to spend several extended periods of time dialoging with Buddhists and Taoists.  Of these experiences, Benner commented, "Once I tasted the richness of meeting people of other faiths in this sort of sacred place there was no turning back."  For updated information on Tam see:
http://www.gtfeducation.org/faculty-staff/Tam.cfm

Benner & "The Givens of His Being:"

Benner rambles on about living out the truth of our uniqueness, and that as a teen he was pointed to the Bible to find God's calling for his life vocation.  And says he, with out downgrading the Bible, I now understand that it is a more basic place God's will has been communicated to me and that is--"in the givens of my being." (p.101)  And what is "the givens of our being?"  An answer may be found at a psychotherapy site called "The Human Givens Institute" where the term/background "human givens" is defined as knowledge we're born with which manifests itself by feelings and emotions.  These feelings, so claims the institute, have evolved over millions of years.

At the institute one can also find a book called Human Givens by Joe Griffin and Ivan Tyrrell.  With a quick "Look Inside" on Amazon.com you can get a taste of what this book will be all about.  Its prologue "Why We Need Healthy Minds," begins "IT TOOK millions of years for the human mind to evolve to the point where we have knowledge to direct our own development..." Chapter eight, "Water Babies & Our Distant Aquatic Past,"  includes topics as "Fishy Features,"  "Autistic Fishlike Behaviors," and "Casualties of Evolutionary Pressure."    http://www.hgi.org.uk/

Benner's Reference to Dr. Gordon T. Smith:

If you've followed the recent news on several apologetic sites you may have seen photos and news of CMA's Dr. Gordon T. Smith, President of Ambrose University, who has sponsored an ecumenical conference between Evangelicals and Catholics at Ambrose. https://ambrose.edu/chapel-recordings
Smith is also a Formatio author, and one whom Benner read for Smith's work Courage and Calling is listed in Benner's notes for "Becoming Your True Self." (chapter six)  And Smith, a lot like Benner, having learned at the feet of Father Thomas H. Green, S.J. in the Philippines at a Jesuit university, began a journey of ecumenicalism advocating sampling other faith traditions and dialoging with them.

Benner's Finley Ending:

Benner ends with an epilogue entitled "The Transformational Journey."  In it he quotes James Finley, a Merton contemporary and follower, who long ago slipped into the New Age.  In these pages we're told that God's intended home is our heart.  "This is where we become one," Finley writes in Merton's Palace of Nowhere: A Search for God Through Awareness of the True Self, "with the Risen and Deathless Christ in whom all are fulfilled."  (Note the "all!")

Benner's Background or "Getting to Know Benner Better:"

Finally, Benner's very own story, as told on his web site, will help you become aware of who Benner was, where Benner has been, and what Benner has now become.

Benner's Journey:

Benner comments that his apparent shift in perspective, spirituality, and personal theology has not been "a single shift, but a life-time of unfolding ... following my quest to be the truth of myself in God."  Read his bio here:  http://www.drdavidgbenner.ca/ 

Benner's Youth:

Benner mentions that his very conservative Plymouth Brethren family was deeply religious.  He states:  "I took my religion seriously."  While he credits his parents with love, he is not so generous with his praise of his PB upbringing saying it was anti-intellectual and culturally isolated.   He felt the idea of taking the Bible literally was "intellectually naïve."  He felt that it was the "restrictive and oppressive"world view that he had internalized which made him yearn for something more freeing, something broader.

Benner's First Awakening:

College was the first place where he began to have a great period of intellectual awakening.  He had now escaped the glass box.  Not too far into his academic studies he switched to psychology which fit with his increasing value of mystery and complexity.  And through his Freudian studies which pointed to Jung and others he found a way "of making psychology a thoroughly spiritual matter."  During this time he began his fascination with dreams, and began to keep a "dream journal."  His home during these years was still evangelical Christianity, but because of his quest for the mysteries of life without "hiding behind the simplistic formulaic frameworks for belief"he began to embrace a more liberal view.

Benner's Mid-Life Awakenings:

In his mid-thirties Benner was the Chair of the Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology at Wheaton College.  In those days both his family and church life were going well; but underneath he was finding that he was uncomfortable as he wrote, "with the reduction of faith to beliefs." What he longed for, he says, was an authentic knowing of God.

Benner's Later Life Awakenings:

Once he'd broken free of his past he was taken into spiritual direction, and into his first encounters with contemplative stillness and retreat.  Following this, it was on to the mystics going far beyond his evangelical traditions.  This led to the Russian Orthodox Jesus Prayer and icons, as well as the Roman Catholic Benedictine and Cistercian traditions of centering prayer and lectio divina.

These experiences in turn let him to walk through wider ecumenical portals where he sampled the writings of the Sufi poets Hafiz, and Rumi.  Not long after, he and his wife traveled to Tam's Tao Fong Shan Centre for interfaith dialogue with Buddhists and Taoists.  There he found he had more in common with those of other traditions instead of those "who had allowed faith to be reduced to beliefs and counted the holding of these beliefs to be their journey."

Journeying onward he fellowshipped with those of any faith, or no faith.  He also became an Anglican to savor its liturgy.  Now, relates Benner, my personal journey has become one of transformation rather than preservation.

Presently, having left all the old doctrines and traditions behind, he's joined forces as a writer, and master teacher with dissident Franciscan priest Father Richard Rohr, and with the Rohr Institute's Living School for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Please see my previous blogs to find out more about Rohr and his heretical agenda.

Reader, have you noted Benner's repetitive description of his former faith that was so restrictive and so oppressive, in contrast to his present faith that has opened him to ever widening view points and traditions?

In conclusion, Benner, as related during his journey of awakenings, has left the God of his childhood, and early manhood for mysticism, contemplative prayer, imaginative meditation, lectio divina, enneagrams, the New Age, and ecumenicalism with hopes of  coming home to his true self in  God. Sadly, he's left "The Way of the Cross."  As the old hymn says:  "I must needs go home by the way of the cross, There's no other way but this; I shall ne'er get sight of the Gates of Light, if the way of the cross I miss."  As Peter penned in Acts 4:12: "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  Proverbs 16:25

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."                      

A President John Stumbo Visit: An Exposure of the USA CMA's Position in Support of Contemplative & Roman Catholic Practices

In March my husband and I had a visit in our home from CMA President Dr. John Stumbo.  If you're shaking your head and wondering why--so were we as we felt as though we were "Little David" versus "Giant Goliath."  And if you're asking how this happened here is our story.

After several years of carefully documenting research on the CMA concerning Nyack, ATS, its dean, and instructors' immersion into spiritual formation, centering prayer, and Roman Catholic practices in January 2014 I wrote a personal letter to the CMA President Dr. John Stumbo.  Along with the letter I included documented articles found on my blog: "Learn to Discern Granny."

So you can see just how I approached the research content, and articles I had documented I will include parts of the letter here: 

January 2014

Dear Dr. Stumbo:

My husband and I, as a young married couple, attended _____ CMA Church under the loving leadership of _____. ...  And now in our retirement years we're once again attending a CMA church in _____.

Prior to our attending the CMA we were students at Houghton College.  ...  Along the way we attended other denominations (at least five others) including ...  And yes, we've been a part of all these groups.  So our view of evangelicalism is not narrow, but wide.

And so it was we had an awakening to become more discerning ....  And because the Lord had impressed upon us a desire to become better contenders for truth we began research ....  We read and reread Ray Yungen's A Time of Departing.  We discovered our alma mater ...  was into all things Emergent: ...

Since then we've been heavily into apologetic work ....  Because of our in-depth studies we began to understand about contemplative colleges and their dabbling in monasticism, frequenting monasteries, reading priests, practicing centering prayer, embracing Catholic practices, reading contemplative writers ....  The more we read, the more we realized how wide spread was the deception growing on Christian college campuses and seminaries ....

And because Ray Yungen (A Time of Departing) ...  quoted past CMA President Dr. Paul Bubna ... this led me to Nyack College to see Don Bubna (Paul's brother) had died; but what really caught my attention was the Philosophy Chair, Dr. James P. Danaher, had just published a book on contemplative prayer.  This concerned me greatly.  So the result was I began to carefully research Dr. Danaher, the Walborns, and others.  A friend, all her life in the CMA and former Nyack student, ... asked me to look into all of this more closely.  So we set up a blog so I could document my findings ...  This isn't a project I did lightly ....  This is something I had to do for I had discovered facts I could not turn away from for as a true believer I am commanded to stand up ... to contend ....  For  to whom much is given much is required ....

I particularly am appalled over the heretical things ... Danaher is into, is teaching, and is part of with dissident priest Father Richard Rohr.  I (we) have researched Rohr endlessly, and there is absolutely nothing you can give me (us) to defend any born again Christian uniting with, or teaching anything that concerns Rohr.  ...

When I listen to our dear friend _____ tell about the old days at Nyack, and know he has little idea that someone like ... Danaher is teaching impressionable young CMA students while venerating Father Richard Rohr ... and at the same time using language that is so reprehensible ....  It makes me want to cry out is there anyone ... that truly cares for those students, and soon to be CMA leaders?  Is there ... anyone who has seen all the You Tube videos of Danaher teaching The Naked Now  ...?
Is there anyone who has noticed Danaher took a sabbatical as an intern at Rohr's Action & Contemplation Center in New Mexico?  Is there not someone who has read ... Danaher ... contributed to Rohr's Oneing  Journal with the now heretical David G. Benner?  Is there no one who has noted that Dean Walborn has endorsed, along with Richard Rohr, two of James Danaher's books and one of Seth Barnes' books?  Is there no one ... who has called into question ... Walborn teaching centering prayer at Delta Lake ... recommending persons get away to Graymoor Monastery?  Is there no one who has read that Dr. Rob Reimer is feeding his soul on Ruth Haley Barton, and frequenting monasteries?  Has anyone ... knowledge that Leighton Ford ... endorser of Dr. Martin Sander's book and ministry ... is into all things contemplative?  Is there no one ... who would question how New Life Fellowship's Pastor Rich Villodas, affable as he is, hangs out with monks ... endorses all things contemplative while still being Nyack's 2013 alumni of the year?  Is there anyone left who would dare question the CMA's contemplative immersion ... into all things Roman Catholic?  Is there anyone has observed Walborn's ties to Prophet Tim Fox; and to NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) Bill Johnson of Bethel church ... Redding, Ca.?  ...  Please tell me that never again will students be told that reading Depth Psychologist Dr. David G. Benner, who has turned his back on all evangelicalism, will help them along on their spiritual journey.  Please tell me that never again will students ... sit under such heretical teachings as found in Rohr's The Naked Now!

Surely, for the sake of the godly heritage of the CMA, perhaps you will be the one to be convicted to stand for the truth, and for the gospel.  For the sake of all the godly members still left in the CMA who do not realize what deception has crept into their ranks, perhaps you will be the one convinced to return to the faith of our fathers.  I have absolutely no vendetta against any in the CMA ... I ... would plead with you as a ... leader of the CMA to dare to take a strong stand for the faith once delivered to the saints.  I will close with _____'s words that ring in our ears as we try to explain the things that have changed in the CMA: "Oh, but the CMA would never get into that!"  Would that they had not!

Sincerely in Christ: _____


Sending the letter to the Colorado Headquarters, via certified mail, I waited for a reply.  None took place.  But, I did notice, shortly thereafter, several things that I'd mentioned in the blog articles disappeared off the internet including the horrendous Danaher classroom You Tube videos teaching from the Rohr book as well as the Walborn Delta Lake Spiritual Formation Podcast List with the two nuns walking up the steep steps.  However, what I did note, documented in my blog "Nyack's Danaher Does It Again with Another Rohr Endorsement," was Danaher's newest book along with the heretical Rohr journal, were pictured on a January 2014 Arts & Sciences Facebook page.  This indicated to me that nothing had changed:  the You Tube videos and the online podcasts had just been hidden.

Fast forward to a March Sunday, two days prior to Stumbo's visit, we were informed that a letter from headquarters to our church had been overlooked, and that someone would meet that very week with us.  No details were given.  So you can imagine my surprise when I learned Monday afternoon that Stumbo himself would meet with us on the following day.

To Stumbo's credit one would have to admire him for his driving to our home, and for his actually taking the time to talk with us.  He was courteous, and for the most part listened politely.

As to the meeting, to start it seemed he questioned why it was that we took such a strong stand against Roman Catholicism?  "What is your problem with that?" he queried.  "Why would we not support such things as the silence?"  "Why would there be a problem with getting away to a monastery in this busy world?"  "Why would we have concerns over spiritual disciplines?"  "Wasn't Lectio Divina a great tool for scripture reading?"  "What about reading such books as St. John of the Cross?" 

Secondly, his real interest seemed to be to defend his good friends that had been named in the blogs.  However, a close reading of my blogs show I tried not to characterize any one in an unkind way. As I listened to Walborn's spiritual formation podcasts, for example, I felt he was totally well intentioned and well liked.  However, to be likeable and to be sincere, does not negate the fact that what one teaches can be sincerely wrong, and not in line with scripture.  Not only was Ron Walborn wrong, but outright deceptive when, for example, he taught undiscerning campers centering prayer practices that are nearly identical to TM techniques and told them this was "Christian."  Think too where these practices led Thomas Merton as he found his meditative practices to be just like his Buddhist friends of the East, and that this made them all one!

Thirdly, I was very careful to thoroughly document all I stated, and to keep my findings factual.  I felt Stumbo was astounded by all the information uncovered, and may have worried that this would spread farther.  When I mentioned my abundant documentation, as well as my notebooks of articles he admitted my work was documented all right!

To conclude, our thoughts about the visit are these:  Dr. Stumbo appeared to come to defend his friends, to defend spiritual disciplines, and to defend Roman Catholic practices.  It seems that he didn't intend to change any thing that has been happening, but rather to leave all just as it is.  We were taken aback by his acceptance of so many Catholic practices, and how deeply he is into this.  If we had known this before hand, I believe we would have asked him many more questions. 

Our response has to be: "Lord, we must continue to contend, to be bold, and to stand for truth no matter the cost.  We will not be deterred.  Lord, open the doors and the topics you want us to address.  May we ever be true to your Word."  From what we heard we were given a glimpse into the true position of the CMA, who like many other compromised denominations, seems to be on a path to joining with Rome which signals but another step in the direction of a one world religion as foretold in scripture.  May we with the Lord's help, along with other true believers, vow to always stand firm in the faith!

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  I Peter 3:15

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 

Dr. Rob Reimer Loses His Way in  Pathways to the King: A Review

Dr. Rob Reimer, pastor of the Christian and Missionary Alliance South Shore Community Church, adjunct professor at the Alliance Theological Seminary, and speaker at various conferences has authored a book: Pathways to the King: Living a Life of Spiritual Renewal and Power.  To look inside is to learn how Reimer loses his way straying onto contemplative and kingdom now roads as he strives to experience, and expand God's kingdom on earth.

The Beginning:  Reimer's Renewal Pathways:

Reimer relates the church desperately needs renewal, and in order to reach this goal we must pursue intimacy with Christ.  To attain this goal there are eight pathways to the King from the first chapter's "Personalize Our Identity" to the final chapter's "Persist."

The Ending:  Reimer's Back Cover Endorsees:

Endorsements are given by Dr. Ron Walborn (Dean of ATS); Seth Barnes (Head of Adventures in Missions); Bishop Carlton T. Brown (Pastor, Bethel Gospel Assembly); and Rev.Tom Flanders (District Supt., CMA, New England).

Reimer's "Soul as a Container Image:" (p.22)

Reimer asks the reader to picture one's soul as a container with walls that thicken through sufferings.  If we process suffering well then we thicken the walls of our soul thus expanding our capacity to experience more of God.   If the walls of our soul are thin then we can't sustain the presence of God, and it will blow out the walls of our soul.  Curious!  Scriptural?  You be the judge.

Reimer's Spiritual Activities That Produce Kingdom Fruit:

Reimer suggests a number of activities to enable you to internalize truth about who God says you are- "from the pavement of your brain to the soil of your soul."  Then practice them "until it comes!" (revelation, awareness of God's presence)

Practice "Lectio Divina:"  (p.35)

To personalize our identity Reimer says to practice the ancient practice of divine reading, or lectio divina.  However, he neglects to say where this practice originated, nor who practices it today.  He doesn't make clear that lectio involves using meditative techniques akin to TM or Mindfulness.  He doesn't warn people, who quiet themselves, get comfortable, focus on a mantra word/phrase, and who go into silence, that they are opening themselves to other spirits.

In his March 2, 2014 sermon, "Feeding Our Souls with Scripture" Reimer teaches his entire congregation how to do lectio divina using Psalm 23.  Listen here:
http://www.southshorecommunitychurchma.com/teaching/sermons/growthfeeding-our-souls-with-scripture/

For more information read this lectio resource: "Lectio Divina: What it Is-What it Is Not-And Should Christians Practice it?  Find here:  http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=10887

Practice "Imaginative Meditation:"  (p.36)

Reimer suggests using Jesuit Ignatian Imaginative Meditation where one visualizes oneself in the various scenes of a Bible story as another way to meditate.  This meditative method, by the way, is much used by one of Reimer very favorite authors- Ruth Haley Barton.  Reimer writes, "Feel it.  Hear all the sounds; see all the sights; smell all the smells; picture right there in the scene.  Soak in it."

Practice Pursuing "Intimacy with God:" (p.52-53)

Reimer reiterates over and over that God invites us to deep relationship --to intimacy with God.  Reimer writes, ""The Bible says that we are in Christ, and Christ is in us.  Paul uses these phrases...
This is what the ancients called 'Divine Union'  It's intimacy with God."  (Surely Paul was not one of "the ancients.")  On p.70 Reimer even makes mention that the O.T. uses "the image of God as our lover, our husband, and we are his bride."  The N.T. teaches, as well says Reimer, that Jesus is the bridegroom; and the church is the bride.  Such references make one think of the NAR's "Bridal Paradigm."

Practice "Something New!" (p.52, 56)

Whatever you're doing to pursue God, Reimer suggests, that you "up the ante" as: "Get up early.  Stay up late.  Sacrifice sleep.  Go on a fast.  Take a retreat.  Do something spiritually strenuous and sacrificial.  Take a trip. ..."  It seems as if Reimer, in his chasing of God, is running from one spiritual practice to another ever hoping to experience an even greater revelation.  Reimer instructs, "Practice his presence.  Go after it.  He is calling us to a divine union."

Practice "Short Prayer Retreats:"  (p.55)

Reimer encourages prayer done in "short prayer retreats" similar to what monks practice at a monastery.  If your mind wanders while you're attempting this, Reimer says to use a common meditative technique of just bringing your mind back to God.  Here again Reimer copies Catholic prayer rituals to further an unending pursuit of becoming more holy, and thus more ready as we partner with God to help bring his kingdom on earth as it is heaven.

Practice "Dream Interpretation:" (p.63-64)

Reimer had a reoccurring "sports bar dream"; he wrote the details in his journal.  And he retells the dream in the book adding his interpretation.  In this wild dream he meets a women who prays for him. Leaving the bar an enormous beast attacks; he fights back with a little sword.  A panther attack ensues followed by his being back in the bar meeting "a prophetess."  She tells him the N.O. Saints would win a Super Bowl; four years later they did as "God revealed."  Reimer then relates, "The Lord told me difficult times were coming; but I would have a sign."  And, he writes, this dream has kept me anchored until now.  Very strange!   I wondered after reading this dream if Reimer was familiar with "dreamwork" techniques that Thomas Moore and David G. Benner use in their soul care books as both authors are featured on his church resource page.

Practice "Listening for God's Voice:" (p.68)

Reimer states that, "The gift of the spirit is about a direct experience with God.  We will hear God's voice--through dreams, visions, and prophecy-- and that will authenticate the presence of God and draw people to direct experiences with Him.  This is for all God's people: men, women, and children."

Reimer's Blog Post:  In a 2011 blog post: "God Speaks. Are You Listening?" Reimer lists six ways God speaks to us today.  Number one was: "God speaks in an audible voice!"

Reimer's Sermon:  In his March 23, 2014 sermon: "Feeding Our Souls" Reimer repeats the six ways we hear God emphasizing we can hear him audibly--yes, aloud--today!  He even asks for a show of hands from his audience to who has heard God's audible voice!  Hear the sermon here:
http://www.southshorecommunitychurchma.com/teaching/sermons/growthfeeding-our-souls/

E. Benz's Blog Post:  On the blog "Do Not Be Surprised" in "God Speaks but How?" Benz challenges Reimer.  Benz begins with a Justin Peter quote, "If you want to hear God speak, read your Bible.  If you want to hear God speak audibly, read your Bible out loud."  Benz adds, "Yes, the Lord speaks today ... through the closed canon and written revelation of His Word."  Benz also says that in spite of having the great word called the Bible congregations all over, do as Reimer does,and offer progressive revelation.

Benz also comments on Rob's 2011 blog noting that "The astute reader may notice something blaringly absent from this list (Reimer's six ways) ... he does not include that fact that God speaks through His Word!"

Read Benz' posts here: http://www.donotbesurprised.com/2013/08/god-speaks-but-how.html

Practice "The Presence:" (p.54)

Reimer tells us to the key to intimacy with God is his presence.  As an example Reimer holds up Monk Lawrence as someone who practiced the presence of God wherever he was.  We too can become more sensitive to this presence as we grow in intimacy.  To chase after that presence Reimer goes away to "the monastery" to draw close to Him.

Practice "Centering Prayer:" (p.56)

Reimer writes "old timers" used centering prayer.  Talk about vague!  Exactly who are these "old timers?"  Certainly, no one in scripture, for such a practice as "centering prayer" is not even mentioned in our Bibles.  Well, from all the references I've read, these "old timers" are the mystical
fathers and mothers of the desert as Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and many others.

Reimer speaks of the "old timers"  as praying the "Jesus Prayer" as a mantra to take them into their silence.  Reimer, as well, uses mantras in his meditation.  He repeats phrases like "Come, Holy Spirit," or "Sweet Jesus" over and over to go into an altered state to find "divine union."

In a Lighthouse Trails mini booklet So You Want to Practice "GOOD" Contemplative Prayer (also called centering prayer, breath prayer, and Jesus' prayer) Lynn Lusby Pratt writes, "I found that contemplative prayer is neither contemplative (thinking deeply) nor prayer (talking to God).  Instead, it involved a mantra ( a word or phrase repeated for ten to twenty minutes) as means for erasing thoughts."  She emphasizes, "The repetition induces an altered state of consciousness in which the practitioner senses a 'Union with the Divine' having presumably contacted the God of choice."

Read more here:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=14470http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=14470

Practice "Monastery Retreats:" (p.51,53, 55, 109, 152)

Reimer reminds us in his book that he finds it needful to run to a nearby monastery to practice meditation or "the silence."  From what Reimer reveals in his "Pursuitcast Interview" with Sam the Seminarian, he returns frequently to "the monastery."

Where Is "The Monastery?"

And from what Rob has referenced in his past blogs "the monastery" he frequents is near to the Quabbin Reservoir.  Now, a close monastery to this reservoir is in Petersham, Ma.  Is this is the one that Rob goes to?  His recent interview with Sam gives a clue.  Rob relates that when he came to a place, while practicing the silence, where he felt so empty he went to a monk for help, and that monk was Father Robert.

From that information, it would seem that "the monastery" Reimer retreats to is run by "The Maronite Monks of Adoration" whose director is Rev. Robert Nortz.  Their web site says this is a Catholic Community of contemplative monks dedicated to prayer and Eucharistic Adoration.

How sad that Reimer should use his money (p.51), and his time to support a monastery that practices idolatry each time they bow down to worship the monstrance wafer during their time of Eucharistic adoration.  How sad Reimer is learning to pray as the monks do.  How sad that Reimer would even be at a monastery at all with the blessings of its CMA president, and others.
http://maronitemonks.org/wp/guesthouse/

Something truly is wrong with this picture.  I pray CMA members might awaken and ask hard questions, and more than just ask questions some would arise, and take action.  I fear, from all we have been finding out just in our small congregation, the average CMAer, unless they were former Catholics, know little about true Roman Catholic beliefs, and somehow have the mistaken notion that all Roman Catholics are our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Former Catholic Mike Gendron, a godly and gracious evangelist, would contend otherwise.  He would beg you to become aware of how desperately Roman Catholics need the gospel, and that they are not one with us in Christ.  Please obtain more information here:
http://www.pro-gospel.org/

Practice Reading: (p.107)

Reimer shares he enjoys reading classic Christian authors as George Muller, or Charles Finney.  However, he neglects to inform the reader that along with these classics on his church resource page he mixes in many questionable, and heretical books by authors such as David G. Benner, Thomas Moore, Thomas Ashbrook, Henri Nouwen, Brennan Manning, Richard Foster, and the list goes on.  Here's just one very troublesome recommendation--pagan Thomas Moore's book Dark Nights of the Soul with New Ager Marianne Williamson's front cover endorsement.  (For further information about Moore please be sure to read my upcoming blog piece, "Beware!  Get to the Heart of Soul Care" where I will document Moore's pagan practices of praying to Gaia and scrying to name two.)

Reimer's Relationship to Bethel's NAR Bill Johnson of Bethel Church, Redding, Ca.

Reimer and Bill Johnson: (p.94,129)

Reimer, apparently, has a high regard for the often heretical, and very controversial Bill Johnson.  Reimer refers to Johnson in his book as well as uses terms from Johnson's books.  Reimer features  Johnson' book  Strengthen Yourself in the Lord on his South Shore Community Church resource site.  In addition, Reimer used the same book in an Empowering Women 2013 Course: "The Kingdom of God" to teach a college credit course to CMA women.  And for his syllabus' biography he touts Thomas Ashbrook's Mansions of the Heart (about mystic Teresa of Avila) as a great book for spiritual intimacy which has inspired him to go places he had never been before!
http://shepherdguardian.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/heresy-alert-why-jesus-culture-bethel-church-and-bethels-school-of-supernatural-ministry-are-spiritually-dangerous-part-3-of-3/

Reimer in Redding:

Reimer is familiar with Johnson having been out to Redding  more than one time, for conferences at the Risen King Community Church (Ron Walborn's former church) in Redding.  This year Reimer, Walborn, and Risen King's pastor were joined by a "Spiritual Director" named Sarah Herring.

Who is Sarah Herring you may ask?  Well, she's someone tied closely to Bill Johnson's Bethel Church's Tony Stoltzfus.  She not only works with Tony at MetaFormation Institute, but she's contributed to a most disturbing book Questions for Jesus. Here's two examples: "Jesus, what do you like best about me?" and "Jesus, what's the first thing you want to do together when I join you in heaven?"  Stoltzfus' coaching materials, also, are used by CMA's Ingrid Davis at the college, and elsewhere.  See here http://risenking.org/KingdomPower/index.html and  http://www.meta-formation.com/staff.html

Reimer & Kingdom Prayers: (p.114)
Reimer instructs, "Pray for Heaven to invade earth. (Title of Bill Johnson's book When Heaven Invades Earth)  That's kingdom praying. When we pray with more of God's presence, and more of the favor of God on our lives, because we are pursuing more of God, then we'll see more of Heaven invade earth when we pray."

Reimer & Raising the Dead: (p.114)

Reimer refers to Matthew 10:7,8 where it says: "And as ye go preach saying, "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils..."

Regarding this verse, Reimer says, "But when is the last time you raised a dead person?  Are you willing to say there is a gap in your soul between what Jesus taught and what you are experiencing?
According to Jesus, I should be raising dead people.  I have a gap. ... I am willing to pay whatever price is necessary.  That is kingdom praying.  I want to close that gap, and I want to see Heaven invade earth."

Bill Johnson too, as you may be aware, also believes raising the dead is possible.  In fact, they've practiced Grave Sucking" or "Grave Soaking" where someone lays on a grave of a revered saint to soak up that saint's anointing. http://youthapologeticstraining.com/grave-sucking/

Reimer's Recent Pursuitcast Interview:

Recently Reimer did an interview with ATS student, Sam, who gushes over Reimer with reverential tones.  Reimer relates to Sam about his monastery visits, even says Sam should understand because Sam has been to the monastery with him.

During the interview Reimer spoke of Moses'"face to face" and "mouth to mouth" meeting with God.  Reimer even declares Moses was a "mouth to mouth lover of God!"  Shamed Moses hid his face, says Reimer, because he had an aversion toward  God coupled with father wound issues.  Find that in scripture!

Sam quizzes Reimer as to books he reads that promote intimacy.  Reimer tells how he enjoys reading Christian classics.  Sam, then, asks for additional recommendations.  Reimer replies that Ruth Haley Barton books are "fabulous reads."  (If you haven't read my older blog please do: "CMA's Rob Reimer Reads Ruth Haley Barton to Feed His Soul.")

Sam mentions, too, David Benner's book The Gift of Being Yourself and its meaningfulness to him.  Benner's book, by the way, is also featured on Reimer's South Shore Church web site.

To end the interview Sam asks Reimer what he feels is something that he does that most promotes revival.  Reimer answers that "the discipline of silence" which he practices at the monastery is the thing that most feeds his soul.  As a matter of fact, Reimer shares, he has just come off a two day monastery retreat.

To hear the podcast go here:
https://soundcloud.com/pursuitnyc/pursuitcast-episode-004

Pathways to Rome and to the New Apostolic Reformation:

In summary, Reimer has lost his way by returning over and over to the monastery, practicing Catholic meditative techniques, and influencing students and others to pursue these same pathways.
Above all, Reimer shows he sanctions rituals and practices Catholics use in order to work their way to heaven, or that NARites use to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth now.

What this review reveals is truly a heart breaking scenario for Reimer seems to honestly want to seek revival.  Oh, that he would get a true revelation into Rome and into the NAR where he's leading hundreds of others!

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  Colossians 1:23

" ... Continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, ..."

July 2015 Update:  Please read my newest review: "River of Life, or River of Deception?" which is a review of Dr. Rob Reimer's second book (April 2015) River Dwellers. 

Beware!  Get to the Heart of Soul Care!

Ingrid Davis is a pastor's wife, former missionary, adjunct professor, life coach, mentor, spiritual direction teacher, emotional healer, speaker, and missionary care giver.  Besides, she's a powerful teacher of "Soul Care" teaching it at the Alliance Theological Seminary, CMA churches, and overseas.  Her sixty page online course (ILF 2012 Costa Rica) highlights such "soul care" greats as Thomas Moore, and David G. Benner.  But do these fathers of soul care teach godly principles that Ingrid should be introducing to hundreds of undiscerning souls both here and abroad?  Should these men be used at all?  If not, why not?  Read on!
http://ilf.iteams.org/attachments/article/60/ILFSOUL%20CARE%20PRESENTATION%202012.pdf

Be a Soul Care Berean!

If you want to get to the heart of soul care you must get to its roots, and you must actually look into these teachers and all of their colleagues, and associates; all of their quotes and notes; and all of their writings.  You must intentionally become a "Soul Care Berean!"  Yes, you must ask: Are these things really so?  Are these things Biblical, man-centered, or even downright pagan?

Soul Care Synopsis:

But before going any further a very good place to begin your soul care research would be with this Lighthouse Trails Ministries article:  "Soul Care: New Term, Same Ol' Contemplative Thing."  Here you can find the answer to "soul care from where?"  Here you can read a definition of what soul care entails; and that it's connected to "spiritual formation, spiritual direction and directors."  Here you can learn more of what's at the core of "soul care."  Lastly, you can check out more sites for further information.
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=451


Care of the Soul Father: Thomas Moore

In order to get to the heart and soul of "soul care" one must become acquainted with psychotherapist Thomas Moore, author of the national bestseller Care of the Soul (1992) which, some say, began a refocus on the soul.  Former monk Moore, archetypal psychologist, mythologist, imagination teacher, theologian, musician, philosopher, author, lecturer, columnist, and advisor himself was mentored by his close friend and Jungian archetypal psychologist James Hillman.  He also an affinity for his colleague New Ager Robert Sardello.

Care of the Soul  Synopsis:

Cover:  National Bestseller
Acknowledgment:  Thanks "original thinkers who taught him to think about the soul, especially James Hillman and Robert Sardello" (p. IX)
Introduction:  Quotes Marsilio Ficino who says, "What we need is soul in the middle, holding together mind and body, ideas and life, spirituality and the world." (p. XIV)
"Soul Is:"Moore says soul "is not a thing, but a quality or a dimension of experiencing ourselves.  It has to do with depth, value, relatedness, heart and personal substance." (p.5)
A Summary Critique:"  Tom Snyder, a Christian commentator, said both Moore and Hillman
believed that there were many different ways of being spiritual, and there certainly wasn't one way to God.  This is known as "psychological polytheism."
"Truth is:"  Moore wrote truth is always developing, and is not absolute.  He stated, "Truth is not really a soul word; soul is after insight more than truth."  (p.246)
Suggestions for Further Reading:  Some additional Books Moore lists include: A Blue Fire (Hillman anthology edited by Moore); The Homeric Hymns (Hymns/stories offer praise to gods/goddesses); Memories, Dreams, Reflections (Carl Jung); Letters to a Young Poet (Rilke Writings); Facing the World with Soul (Robert Sardello); & Ordinarily Sacred (Lynda Sexton) among others. 
Back Cover:  Two back cover endorsees include Hillman, Moore's revered mentor; and Sam Keen, once a fundamentalist Christian.  Keen, now a believer in "personal mythology," broke free from narrow Christianity inoculating himself against any "true belief."

Some More Moore Writings:

Moore's Newest Book: A Religion of One's Own

Just before its publication Moore listed ten ways to fashion a religion of our own.  These include: meditate; live ethically; live responsibly; have a dream practice; be a mystic; be intimate with nature; be a monk or monkess; aim for bliss; develop a philosophy/theology of life; and learn from the world's religious and spiritual traditions.  This reminds me of Judges 21:25: "... every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=25838

Moore's E-Course: "Practicing Spirituality with Thomas Moore"

Moore has recently taught an online e-course led by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat of Spirituality and Practice.**  The Brussats wrote, "In the past twenty years, Thomas Moore has almost single-handedly revived interest in the soul.

*  Spirituality and Practice is a New Spirituality ecumenical site much like "Lighthouse Trails Ministries" is an evangelical site.  Spirituality and Practice is full of lists as living spiritual teacher, deceased spiritual masters, spirituality terms, book reviews, and much more.  The site can be helpful in exposing their viewpoint, and keeping one abreast of happenings in their world.
https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ecourses/ecourses.php?id=33

Moore's Guideposts Piece:  "An Inner Voice"

In an "Inner Voice" from Mysterious Ways (Guideposts) February-March 2014 Moore invites readers to practice five steps to develop our ability to hear our "inner voice."  These include: clear the decks, look to nature, read, be an artist, and embrace the unusual.  Moore concludes, "As adults, we must take steps to open up our imagination and our minds to wonder.  When we do, the light comes on, the darkness lifts and our path unfolds, bringing us closer to who we're destined to be."
http://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/mysterious-ways/in-search-of-an-inner-voice

Mysterious Ways Finds Me!

I had been researching "soul care," and reading books about it but seemed "stuck" when on a recent Sunday a dear lady pressed into my hand the Moore article.  "Read this!" said she.  "I remembered you told us about 'Thomas Merton,' and when I read this I knew that there was something wrong. Do you know anything about this man?"  Did I?  I had just been researching him, and yet this lady had no idea I knew anything at all about Moore.  Then, I knew that I knew I was to continue writing about "soul care" no matter how long it took!

Moore's Spirituality and HealthArticle:  "Care of the Soul: Joyfully Adrift"

This September-October 2013 article gives insight into how Moore is now "adrift" as he writes from his former conventional life of being a more soulful person. Moore wrote:  "As I grow liberated in many ways I pursue my interest in UFOs and aliens, develop my skills with the scrying mirror, and use my intuitions as the main guide of my life."  And this drift, he says, has taken him toward the divine.  "And maybe," reflects Moore, "as we become more soulful, we drift into reality rather than away from it."
http://spiritualityhealth.com/articles/care-soul-joyfully-adrift

Moore's Findhorn Workshop: "Love, Magic, Miracles"

At a Findhorn Workshop in 2012 Moore presented "Love, Magic, Miracles."  Included was: "Lessons from an Obsidian Mirror" where Moore introduced how to use the scrying* mirror.  The workshop focused on a magical way of life by exploring dreams, the arts, deep intuition, prophecy, and simple trance as ways of living more deeply.

*  Scrying is the ancient art of divination for the purpose of clairvoyance.

Moore's Resurgence Article: "Pray to Gaia"

This article from March-April 2008 begins with "Let us pray to Gaia and awaken the sleepy unconsciousness of our time."  Moore continued, "Today the very existence of Gaia is threatened ... so this would be a good time to return to the practice or praying to her--God manifested as the Earth."
https://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article2302-pray-to-gaia.html

A Thought:

Just this short summary of who Moore is, and what Moore writes would be enough to eliminate anything Moore has written on how to do soul care.  How much we need to pray the "Discernment Prayer" found in Philippians 1:9,10: "And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ."

Moore Mentor: James Hillman

Because Hillman's influence was so much a part of Moore to know Hillman is to know Moore too.
And to know them both is to know Benner.  Throw into the mix some soulful Sardello and you'll see what a dangerous foursome they are.  (Recall Blog: "Danaher Does it Again ..." to recall that Benner, Sardello, and Rob Bell are Master Teachers for the Father Richard Rohr Institute.)
http://whputnam00.blogspot.com/2014/02/nyacks-dr-danaher-does-it-again-with.html

Hillman, archetypal psychologist, is author of the Soul's Code, The Dream and the Underworld, 
and Re-Visioning Psychology  among others.  He was a student of Carl Jung, and later Director of the Jung Institute.  He was an avid advocate for mythology, philosophy, and art.  In addition, he was a co-founder of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture; and a lecturer of archetypes in myths, fairy tales, and poems.  To better know Jung please read this enlightening article: 
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/nathan/jung.htm

Both Hillman and Moore were proponents of Psychological Polytheism, and both attacked fundamentalists of all kinds.  Hillman attempted to restore "soul" to its proper place in psychology.
His well-known dream phrase was "Stick with the image!"  Another teaching he's remembered for is the "Acorn Theory of the Soul"  For more information on both Moore and Hillman read this excellent Thomas Lee Snyder review of Care of the Soul  here.
http://www.equip.org/articles/care-of-the-soul/


Another Soul Care Father : David G. Benner

Benner's Care of SoulsClassic (1998):

David Benner's Care of Souls is a classic work which many Christians accept as gospel.  However,  probing just beneath the surface, especially into his quotes and notes, will unlock why this work contains ideas and practices far removed from scripture.  To discern some of its deceptions please thoughtfully read this review.

Benner 's Thomas Moore Connection:

In Benner's intro it is to Moore's bestseller Care of the Soul that Benner credits with "the concept of soul" making its reappearance in modern times.  Benner relates that this interest in soul came with a renewed interest in spirituality.  This spirituality was, said Benner, a reaction against Christianity which signaled a worldview shift to postmodernism.

Benner's Definitions of "Soul" and "Soul Care:" 

Benner says, "soul" refers to the whole person, "but with particular focus on the inner world of thinking, feeling, and willing;" (p.22) while "soul care" can be defined as "the support and restoration of the well-being of persons in their depth and totality, with particular concern for their inner life." (p.23)

To Know Benner Better --Notice "His Men" Named in His Notes:

We've all heard of the phrase "a few good men," well much the opposite is the case in Benner's work.  For many of "His Men" might be labeled as "a few deceptive men,"  "a few pagan men," or "a few _____ men."  You fill in the adjective.  To wrap your mind round these men will unlock Benner's true agenda, and this agenda is far from anything evangelical!

Who are these men?  Read on!

Fritz Kunkel, the we-psychologist whose religious psychology was based on a synthesis of Freud, Adler, and Jung, taught that the we-feelings of the preegocentric child, was our hope for growth and wholeness.  Others, said Kunkel, are indispensable for self.  (p.75)

John Finch, author of what he calls Christian existential psychology, espoused a way through the false self, back to spirit, and finally the grounding of spirit in Spirit.  Finch described this spiritual encounter as "... uncluttering the conscience and attempting to witness of the Spirit to the spirit, to encourage the spirit to emerge and be itself." (p.81)  Benner notes that he borrowed from Finch's intensive existential psychotherapy model as he developed his own intensive soul care retreat. (p.201)

Adrian van Kaam, Catholic psychologist who wrote On Being Yourself ,believed one should search for his original self as hidden in God to find one's true self.  Van Kaam wrote, "Spiritually ... resides in the core of my being, in my deepest self or spirit...." (p.81)

Urban T. Holmes, an Episcopal Priest, known as the Very Reverend Urban T. Homes, did his doctrinal work under the Jesuits.  In his book A History of Christian Spirituality Holmes taught about kataphatic (positive images of God as tools), and apophatic (using an emptying technique) meditation.  He also taught we approach God in two ways speculative, and affective: the first emphasizes the illumination of the mind, while the later emphasizes the illumination of the heart. (P.90-91)

Rudolph Otto, a German Lutheran theologian, wrote The Idea of the Holy, which describes one's encounter with "the numinous" as creature consciousness or an awareness of our smallness when up against awe-inspiring might of some kind.  In Benner's description of this in "Quest for Mystery" he tells of Otto's description of this "mysterium tremendum."   Someone else who describes this mystery is none other than Father Richard Rohr in his Daily Meditation "Experiencing the Holy" on October 28, 2012.  (p.123)

David Bohm, physicist and communication theorist, was a dialogue advocate where the group "becomes open to the flow of a larger intelligence" and thought is approached as collective phenomenon.  In her article "Boning Up on Bohm" in Seeds of Unfolding Patricia Carlin revealed what Bohm's true dialogue agenda was. http://www.seedsofunfolding.org/issues/04_06/resources_1.htm
Burggraf, and Grossenbacher, contemplative psychology professors at Naropa University, in a table on how to achieve contemplative modes in education, cite David Bohm as well as Parker Palmer as authors to consult to help students "suspend assumption and judgment" while practicing "careful listening and dialogue."  (p.132)
http://www.wabash.edu/news/docs/Jun07ContemplativeModes1.pdf

Peter Senge, a follower of Bohm, and contemplative author of The Fifth Discipline, is a promoter of team dialogue in organizational discourse that suspends held beliefs to achieve insights not held individually.  Senge is also an ardent practitioner of Taoist gruesome "White Skeleton Meditation or Visualization."  (p.134, 243)
http://infed.org/mobipeter-senge-and-the-learning-organization/   (Scroll down to "Team Learning.")

Jeremy Taylor, Unitarian Universalist minister, wrote Dream Work: Techniques for Discovering the Creative Power in Dreams.  Note the titles of these two sample chapter: "The Gift of Hermes and The Transformation of the Culture," and "Lucid Dreaming and Dream Yoga."  Taylor has a doctorate from the University of Creation Spirituality (Started by Matthew Fox) and an honorary doctorate from Starr King School (Unitarian College). (p.173)

Bernard J. Tyrrell, S.J., Christotheraphist, wrote Christotheraphy I and II which, according to Benner, when used model a well-developed method of combining both psychotherapy and spiritual direction.  Benner also noted that the overall framework for Christotheraphy is the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.  One of the existential techniques, mind-fasting, touted by Tyrrell can be attributed to Thomas Merton who spoke of "fasting of the heart" which he derived from Chuang Tzu, a great Taoist writer.  (p.220-201) http://www.christotherapy.com/books.html

Alan W. Jones, Episcopal priest and Dean Emeritus of Grace Cathedral, wrote Soul Making in which Jones rails against those who repeat formulas like "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, " or those who teach eternal punishment of those who fail to make a verbal commitment to Jesus Christ.  From this heretical book Benner writes that Jones says that "soul care is helping people become human and that a the core of this is learning to love."  (p.207)

James Hillman, who influenced Benner greatly, wrote The Dream and the Underworld which is listed in Benner's notes as a book we should consult for dream work interpretation.  On the back of Hillman's book we read, "Hillman goes back to classical theories of the poetics of mythology.  He relates dreaming to the myths of the Underworld--the dark side of the soul, its images, and shadows--and to the gods and figures of death."  (p.243)

Louis M. Savary, and Patricia H. Berne are the authors, along with Stephron Williams, of Dreams and Spiritual Growth which Benner quotes and touts as having thirty-seven (ecumenical) dream work techniques great for Christian soul care.  Savary and Berne wrote Prayer Medicine
where they write, "In taking their prayer medicine they are drinking the living water that flows with them.  Savary and Berne also practice "kything" and wrote Kything: The Art of Spiritual Presence
suggesting one center yourself in God, lovingly focus on God or the person you want to kythe with, and make contact with visualization.  And these are authors you'd want to consult for Christian soul care?  I pray not!!  (p. 243)
http://www.thewellspring.com/flex/professional-integration/2463/kything-being-present-to-another.cfm

This is but a sampling of authors Benner quotes, and recommends.  Once more, I would ask, Where is our discernment?  Where is our repulsion against such absolute heresy as contained therein?  Why won't we stand up, and ban such books from being used on our Christian campuses and churches?

Benner's Favorite Phrase: "Deep Knowing of Self!"

David Benner's favorite phrase in this book has to be "the deep knowing of self" which he repeats over and over.  Such a fixation of self.  Whereas Philippians 3:10 states, "That I may know him..."
Reminiscent of Ruth Haley Barton's emphasis on self Benner's work is saturated with self.  If you haven't already, please go back and read my previous blog: "Red Flag This: Ruth Haley Barton and Self!"
http://whputnam00.blogspot.com/2013/09/red-flag-thisruth-haley-barton-self.html

Benner and How to do Dialogue:

Benner contends that the foundation of soul care is "dialogue."  And without dialogue soul care can't work.  For the goal of dialogue is, says Benner, "-- the creation of understanding that supersedes that which existed in the individual participants prior to the onset of the dialogue." (p.132)  Dialogue is the crux of how Benner believes we increase our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world so that in turn we expand our self.

Benner and How to Do Dreamwork:

Benner "In Dreams in Soul Care" advises that soul care recipients need to keep regular dream journals.  Here he suggest that significant dreams have a puzzling quality to them having arisen from the deepest levels of consciousness.  Such dreams, he writes, are charged with "psychic energy." (p. 167)  These dreams are "numinous dreams" for they have an autonomous spiritual quality that transcends our spiritual nature.

Benner relates dreams represent parts of our self like "our masculine and feminine parts, our masochistic parts, our narcissistic parts, our grandiose parts, ..." and so on.  (p.172)  "Dreams
bring us into contact," notes Benner, "with both lost and underdeveloped parts of self." (p.172)  As always "self" is ever present on page after page in a Benner book!

Benner goes on to suggest six techniques to further our "communications from God."  One suggestion even says to conduct an imaginary conversation with "the dream ego."  It would seem that using the list of books and authors from which Benner draws his dream instruction should give any thinking Christian a nightmare!

Benner and Forms of Christian Soul Care:

Benner notes there are at least nine forms of soul care including "spiritual direction," and "intensive soul care."  In regard to spiritual direction, Benner said, its focus was "experience with God."  He wrote, "It seeks to help individuals find their ground in God, and live their lives out of that ground."  (p.195)  He mentions, his favorite, Thomas Merton who felt it was dangerous if a contemplative was guided by nobody.  While in regard to intensive soul care, Benner praised Tyrrell's Christo-therapy that was based on the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.  Now, Benner's own intensive soul care retreat was modeled on Bernard Tyrrell's work as well that of John Finch. (p.200)

Benner and The Challenges of Christian Soul Care:

Some of the qualifications for the Christian soul care worker Benner listed included: love for people (referenced Alan Jones); a deep experiential knowing of God's grace; and a deep faith that light will overcome darkness (referenced Jesuits William Barry/William Connolly).

Benner and How to Prepare for Soul Care:

Lastly, Benner writes because Christian soul care involves a deep engagement between oneself, with God, and with another person prior to participating in soul care one should engage in "the practice of contemplative prayer."  "Such prayerful solitude," says Benner, "is the womb of psychospiritual growth.  The space it creates allows for the birth of a transformed self." (p.231)

Final Thought:

Moore's soul care, and Benner's "Christian" soul care are built on the ideas of men/women most of whom could not be called born again Christians. Therefore, their words are, as Paul wrote to the Colossians, nothing but enticing words after the traditions of men, and after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ! 
   
Final Challenge:

In summary, our challenge would be to become true discerners who will not be beguiled by the enticing words of men, but  be grounded in the unchanging Word!  May we say with the song writer, "Just like the tree planted by the water, I will not be moved!"

Learn to Discern Granny Verses:  Colossians 2:6-8

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, ... Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."








 

Dr. James P. Danaher Puts Down "Sunday School Truth" for "Postmodern 21st. Century Truth"

On the Christian Post: CP Newsroom Program topic: "Will Christians Who Doubt Their Faith Inevitably Become Atheists?"http://video.christianpost.com/will-christians-who-doubt-their-faith-inevitably-become-atheists-5692/   on May 6, 2014, Nicola A. Menzie interviewed Dr. James P. Danaher, Philosophy Professor, and Department Chair at Nyack College, and author of the new book Second Truth.  http://www.amazon.com/Second-Truth-Introduction-Intellectual-Philosophy/dp/1557789126/ref=la_B001JS5LRY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399743332&sr=1-1

"Sunday School Truth" Vs. "21st. Century Seminary Truth:"

Former Nyack student Nicola Menzie opens the interview asking how a Christian loses faith.  Danaher answers that in higher education many lose faith because they cling to their "first truth" or "Sunday School truth," and this doesn't fit with a twenty-first century conceptualization of truth.  And if we are to continue in faith, asserts Danaher, we'll need to re-conceptualize the truth of the gospel to fit into this postmodern world.

Yesterday and Today, and Forever Truth:

Danaher relates that truth is always changing because we are on a journey.  But the Bible says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 KJV)  He never changes!  Whereas, this truth Danaher describes is fleeting, unknowable, and as II Timothy 3:7 says some are
"ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth."

The Mathematical Model of Truth:

Danaher states he has always written against the modern idea that truth can be certain, and objective or as he calls is "A Mathematical Model of Truth."  Now, Danaher advises we move away from this "absolute truth" model to "Truth from Your Perspective Model."   But Paul warns of such men in II Timothy 2:17 that have erred from the truth and taught false doctrine so as to overthrow the faith of some.  And this is exactly what Danaher does when he denies the absolute truth of the Word in favor of a "second truth."

Mother's Knee Truth:

But, repeats Danaher, we must keep an "open mind" to change always remembering that truth is an ongoing journey.  However, he says, many are locked into their primary understanding or concepts they learned at their mother's knee.  While this truth may have seemed certain then, it later becomes mythical and propels us on to search for a second truth.

Re-conceptualized Truth:

Instead of reinventing truth our Bible says to keep the faith, stand for truth, and not to turn away from it as some do.  Danaher asserts those who are stuck in that primary knowledge of truth find openness and change threatening.  So, he teaches, we must re-conceptualize and rethink truth.  We must ditch  obsolete doctrine to fit into today's world.

A Knowledge of Truth:

I and II Timothy speak a lot about truth, and doctrine.  In I Timothy 2:4 Paul wrote, "Who will have all men to be saved (a term Danaher doesn't mention), to come unto the knowledge of truth."  Notice this says "truth"--not the first or second truth.

The First Truth:

Danaher admits he is often hard on people who are at the point he was twenty years ago- still stuck in that "first truth," old-fashioned thinking.  Bless their hearts. History shows us, he goes on, that Christians are always whacking and torturing other Christians because of their different understandings.  Danaher asserts that this is so naïve in this twenty-first century when we realize our experience is an interpretation based on our continuously changing understanding.

No Objective Truth!

Menzie queries if there is objective truth.  Danaher replies he doesn't believe there is; and if there is, only God knows this.  We, relates Danaher, are always trying to throw in doctrinal and theological understandings.  Danaher then explains we need to take on Jesus' perspective as his follower.  We need to conceptualize the world as he did.

The Virus of the Gospel: Another Truth:

Danaher said we should be made in Jesus' likeness, particularly when it comes to mercy and forgiveness.  People, he says, have been trying to become righteous for thousands of years so God will love them.  He further stated, one doesn't have to become righteous just merciful and forgiving; for mercy and forgiveness are what the gospel is all about.  And he emphasized if only "the virus of the gospel" would spread we'd take over the world tomorrow.

The True Gospel: Biblical Truth:

Danaher's gospel doesn't mention sin, repentance, the cross, or salvation.  His gospel says we don't have to become righteous.  But the true gospel says we are sinners in need of a Savior.  It says that when we've become new creatures in Christ all things will be new, and we'll desire to live holy, righteous lives.  I Peter 1:6 tells us to be holy even as he is holy.  I Timothy 5:11 says to follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.  In fact, II Timothy 3:16,17 says all scripture is given for "instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

The Only Truth:

Nicola brings up how popular pastors as Rob Bell have come out with a "new understanding," as opposed to John Piper who said, "Farewell, Rob Bell!"  Avoiding any mention of his Oneing Journal
fellow writer, and Rohr Institute master teacher rebel -Rob Bell- , Danaher says there are those, who like John Piper, are still defending their "first truth understanding," while others have entered the twenty-first century intentionally re-conceptualizing truth.  http://store.cac.org/Oneing-Transgression_p_343.html   Regardless of where you are in your understanding of truth, Danaher stresses, we just all have to get along for it really about having a Jesus' perspective.  And adds Danaher, when Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: ..." that was Jesus'"Second Truth."  No, Dr. Danaher, that is the only truth!

We Can Know Truth!

The feeling I got from this interview was those simple souls, who cling to their old "first truth" ideas, and have the audacity to say there are certain things one can know for sure will just have to throw that overboard, for there's nothing any where that is certain.  There is no objective truth.  It always just ahead, ever changing.  There's nothing firm about it.  We can just chase it.  But, the Bible says much the opposite--that truth can be known.  It says, "And ye shall know the truth, and truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)  It says, too, " ... thy word is truth."  (John 17:17)  But like those described in II Timothy 4:4, Danaher, the postmodern professor, has" turned his ears from the truth, ..."

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  II Timothy 3:7, 8

In the last days Paul writes about men who will be "Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so these also resist the truth..."

Important Note!

Please peruse my previous blogs if you're unfamiliar with Danaher's relationship to heretical Catholic priest Father Richard Rohr, and his "Center for Contemplation and Action" in New Mexico; Danaher's use of Father's Rohr's book endorsements; Danaher's sabbatical as an intern at Rohr's center; Danaher's teaching of Rohr's The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See  
in his Nyack classroom on You Tube; Danaher's writing with Rohr's radical followers for Rohr's journal; and Danaher's being an advisor for Rohr's heretical journal Oneing.

Read these three pieces that tell about Danaher:

http://whputnam00.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-president-john-stumbo-visit-exposure.html

http://whputnam00.blogspot.com/2013/09/father-richard-rohrs-book-naked-now-at.html

http://whputnam00.blogspot.com/2014/02/nyacks-dr-danaher-does-it-again-with.html


Update: Nyack features Danaher and the above program.


http://nyack.edu/blog/CASNews/1849


                

A Labyrinth Danger Alert: Some Labyrinths That Have Crossed Our Path

Labyrinths are everywhere; perhaps closer than you think!  In our research we've encountered them
over and over.  And every time we come across one they raise a red flag that contemplative/pagan activities are taking place at that college, church, retreat center, monastery, or organization.  Here are three stories that have brought "labyrinths" up close and personal to us.

Ponder This: Labyrinths Are Dangerous Paths for Your Feet!

Before relating our stories here are two outstanding resources that give a thorough analysis of exactly what a labyrinth is, and why they are dangerous.  First, is the Lighthouse Trails tract booklet: The Labyrinth Journey: Walking the Path to Fulfillment? by Carl Teichrib; second is Christian Answers for the New Age article: "The Labyrinth: A Walk by Faith?" by Marcia Montenegro.

To describe the labyrinth, Carl records a quote from Breemie Labyrinth in the UK (p.8) which says, "This is an archetypal spiritual tool, found across many times and cultures.  While a maze is a left-brain, rational puzzle, the labyrinth involves the right side of the brain, and helps access our intuition, providing a portal to the Divine."
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/labyrinth.htm
And Marcia writes, "A labyrinth is a flat circle or square consisting of a path that winds to the center.  She also says, "... the labyrinth has come to be used as a spiritual and psychological tool, and has been promoted as a way to approach God, to feel close to God, and to journey into the self.  It is used by both Christians and non-Christians alike, especially those into New Age beliefs."
http://christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Labyrinth.html


Three Labyrinth Stories:

Labyrinth at Maryville, 2011:

We arrived back to our Tennessee home in the spring of 2011 to a flashing message from the Advancement Office at Houghton College.  The message said, "Would you consider representing Houghton College on April 16th at nearby Maryville College for the inauguration of its new president?"  Would we consider this?  We could not!  For, by that time, we were well into our understanding that our beloved alma mater was deep into contemplative and emergent teachings; and we had been at the forefront of exposing it.  We had never been contacted in this way by the college before, so why then?  The only thing that seemed so apparent was the Lord had a hand in it all!
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/apr/17/setting-a-new-course/

Even though I knew we wouldn't represent Houghton I wondered what kind of a college this Maryville was?  So, as we were learning to do at that time, I researched Maryville.  Come to find out Maryville was a Presbyterian College--Presbyterian USA to be precise.  And looking into its spiritual life programs an immediate "red flag" surfaced--Maryville had a labyrinth.  Yes, it had a labyrinth constructed by nationally known Knoxville labyrinth designers Stuart and Mary Bartholomaus.
http://labyrinthlocator.com/locate-a-labyrinth?state=TN&country=United+States&simple_results=no&action=locate&offset=20
Scroll down to Maryville College.

Captivated I read Maryville's 2005 announcement page: "Prayer Labyrinth Dedicated."  Here are some excerpts from it.  "With encouragement to slow down, to listen and to trust and follow God, the Maryville College community dedicated its prayer labyrinth ceremony held April 11 on the grounds of the House in the Woods.  More than 50 people sat or stood on the lawn ... to listen to the ... speakers and later, to walk the labyrinth."

Here's what one speaker shared, "The ten years I've served on the national staff coincide roughly with the period of great upsurge of interest in the labyrinth as a spiritual tool.  And I have found myself asking, 'Why the labyrinth? Why now?  Why not some other arcane practice like fasting or the Gregorian chant?  Why this strange walking around getting nowhere?' said the Rev. Kristine Haig, associate director of the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s office of Spiritual Formation, ... '"One of the reasons labyrinth walking has caught on, ... is because we live in a culture in which we have lost our way, have lost our souls, and by the grace and mercy of God we are trying to find our way home again."
http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/news/431/

Upon discovering Maryville's contemplative bent our response to Houghton was to be in the form of a letter with enclosures explaining what a labyrinth was, alluding to nearby Houghton area labyrinths,
and once more reiterating how Houghton itself was practicing contemplative spirituality.  But, as you can read in our next story Houghton paid little attention to our warnings.

Labyrinth at Houghton College, 2012:

It was January 2012, and our alma mater Houghton College was having "Praxis Week."  That year's theme was "Listening."  And among the many activities listed was the "Ears to Hear: Walking in Prayer" labyrinth located in the Marjorie Paine Prayer Chapel.
https://www.facebook.com/HoughtonCollege/posts/132146953569514

A "listening labyrinth" in the college prayer chapel?  We were horrified!  We could envision our once dignified godly present-President Stephen Paine turning over in his grave.  For this particular prayer chapel, redecorated in Vatican colors and hung with "Stations of the Cross" artwork, was dedicated to his daughter Marjorie who died as a student at Houghton.
https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ACGW_enUS439US439&q=New+Prayer+Chapel+Opens+in+Wesley+Chapel+Basement

And besides the activities described under the Houghton College "Praxis Week 2012: Listening" we encountered more of the same on the college Facebook Page.  Below the labyrinth announcement was a comment which read, "Sounds wonderful!  I like the labyrinth activity."  There were several additional comments to which we added our warnings with pointers to sites where one could learn exactly what labyrinths really were.  Sadly, at that time there wasn't any shiny Lighthouse Trails booklet to refer to.

Wondering what else to do I noted the name of the parent who wrote the "Sounds wonderful!" note.  Later, I wrote a detailed letter to that person about labyrinths and their pitfalls.  I wish I could say we received a letter of thanks in return, but that was not the case.

Labyrinth at Leesburg, 2014 or Scrub-Jay Trail Labyrinth:

Glancing at the Orlando Sentinel's  Lake County News March 24, 2014 I read this caption, "Scrub-Jay Trail to Host Labyrinth Workshop."  Being a birder myself, I had heard of the couple who owned the land on which the labyrinth had been built.  Of the newly completely labyrinth, the owner who had previously walked a monastery labyrinth, Bruce Brown said, "It is a comforting place to come, and labyrinth definitely enhances the experience people have of the surrounding beauty."  According to the article as one walks the Scrub-Jay Trail Labyrinth you can grab a "Prayer Tie"* from a bag at the center eye.  This labyrinth, says its creator Miller, will help all of us to stay in touch with ourselves and the Earth.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-03-24/news/os-lk-florida-scrub-jay-trail-labyrinth-20140324_1_labyrinth-florida-scrub-jay-trail-monte-vista-road

*  What is a prayer tie?  Prayer ties are made from a small piece of cloth in which is placed a pinch or two of loose tobacco (sacred herb) used as a gift to the spirit world.  Prayer ties can then be tied together on a string to enhance the energy flow.  Used in a labyrinth setting folks pick one up, and carry it while walking the rest of the pathway.  This is an earth-centered ritual used as an intentional tool for prayer or healing.
http://healing.about.com/od/prayersblessings/ss/prayer-ties.htm

Knowing a friend who was into scrub-jays, a jay found only in mid-Florida, I telephoned her to ask if she was familiar with author Melinda Joy Miller, founder of Shambhalla Institute, who would hold the labyrinth workshop.  Explaining about the newspaper article, as well as the use of a labyrinth I soon found that not only did my friend know Miller; but that Ms. Miller had given her an autographed copy of her book Shamanic Gardening.  After chatting a bit I told her we'd drop over to talk, and to bring a copy of Carl Teichrib's booklet The Labyrinth Journey as well as the newspaper article.
http://www.amazon.com/Shamanic-Gardening-Timeless-Techniques-Sustainable/dp/1934170364

Later, at our friend's home not only were we able to place the booklet, and the article into her hands; but we were also able to share a little of the contemplative agenda as well.  And we were told, that this Ms. Miller had asked our friend to help with the illustrations in her Shamanic Gardening book.  Understanding now more what this might have involved, this friend realized how grateful she was that she had not helped with the book.

After, I found another neighbor also had spotted the labyrinth article.  Once more I had the perfect opportunity to share the Teichrib booklet with her too.  I also asked if she'd clip the newspaper article for me opening up even more conversation!

Castles in the Sand Labyrinth:

Besides Teichrib's fact-filled tract, Lighthouse Trails Ministries also published a novel Castles in theSand   by Carolyn A. Greene.  This informative story, half fiction and half nonfiction, centers found two Teresas --a college age gal, and the Catholic St. Teresa of Avila.  The story takes place on a Christian campus that has gotten heavily into spiritual formation experiences including walking the labyrinth.

Greene weaves the labyrinth into the story exposing what a labyrinth truly is; and even defines it in the handy glossary at the back of the book.  This unique book is a great read revealing the true agenda of spiritual formation.
http://www.lighthousetrails.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LTP&Product_Code=CS

An Attractive Labyrinth Tract Booklet: The Just-Right Informative Tool!

The Lighthouse Trails glossy tract booklet alluded to above, just like its other tract pamphlets, is the perfect tool to share with anyone.  It will enable you to share labyrinth truth in a concise, well-written, and informative manner that is totally documented.  I heartedly recommend it, and all of the booklets as well!  I only wish we'd had them before when we had to work so hard to dig out information for enquiring friends.  Thumbs up to the Lighthouse for all of its amazing resources!
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?tag=prayer-walks

Learn to Discern Granny Verses:  Proverbs 4:26-27

"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  Turn not to the right hand, nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."

New Age Leaning Roma Downey Tells Nyack Grads to Be Lightworkers! 

Film stars Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, along with World Evangelical Alliance head Geoff Tunicliffe, attended Nyack's May 2014 commencement.  However, just after this Nyack visit Tunnicliffe, CEO/Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance, along with well-known TV evangelists James Robison and Kenneth Copeland, visited with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=15760  Tunnicliffe is to right of the pope.

Nyack Graduation:

Just prior to his momentous Vatican visit, Tunnicliffe traveled to the 131st Nyack College Commencement where friends Lord Edmiston, and Mark Burnett and Roma Downey spoke after each received a honorary "Doctor of Letters" degree from Nyack College.

Nyack Video:

In the videos of the ceremony a Nyack spokesperson says Downey and Burnett of "Light Works Media" are, "...incredible beacons of the light of Jesus Christ in Hollywood and in the film industry..."   In another "Son of God" promotional film shown to the audience Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, and the Archbishop of Los Angeles each can be seen praising the movie.  After this Downey speaks. http://www.nyack.edu/blog/NyackNews/1759

Roma's Remarks:

Downey, as might be expected, gave a very impassioned talk that sounded so very spiritual.  But, it must be noted that in contrast to her predecessor Lord Edmiston's scripture-filled speech, Downey's speech, although full of many spiritual platitudes, was noticeably absent of any scriptural references.  And nearly finished, at about 15:39 in the video, Downey advises the graduates, "I believe that it's the responsibility of us to take the gifts that we have been given and to do what we can to make a difference for good in the world to be the lightworkers. ... You shine your light, and make a lot of noise!"  Listen here:
http://life.nyack.edu/video-131st-nyack-college-commencement-with-lord-edmiston-roma-downey-and-mark-burnett/

Look Out for Lightworkers:

What, you might be asking, could be wrong with that--to be lightworkers?  Well, A LOT!  For the term lightworkers, according to Wiktionary.org, is defined like this: "(New Age beliefs) A person driven and motivated to do work which makes the world a better place, improves peoples' lives and/or elevates people to a higher level of consciousness."  The term, incidentally, was popularized by Doreen Virtue in her book The Lightworker's Way.  Another definition can be found at Lightworkers.org where a lightworker is described as: "Any being dedicated to the cultivation of inner presence and the elevation in the awareness in self and other selves.  This being is called a lightworker and is an evolutionary step toward a state of 'Lightbeing.'"  So you see, Downey slipped in a New Age term which is very much in keeping with the fact that there's ample proof of Downey's involvement with New Age activities.

http://lightworkers.org/what-is-a-lightworker-are-you-a-lightworker


Downey's New Age Affiliations:

Several apologetic blogs/ministries have written extensively on Roma's affinity for New Age beliefs.   

Three good ones are here:

http://www.letusreason.org/current136.htm

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=14764

http://standupforthetruth.com/2013/03/the-new-age-and-roma-downey/


Turning to Tunnicliffe


Tunnicliffe's Photos: 

After the commencement we find Tunnicliffe posing for a photograph with Lord Edmiston; and with his dear friends Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.

https://www.facebook.com/geoff.tunnicliffe  Scroll down to May 10, 2014 to view photos.

Tunnicliffe's Promotion:

Tunnicliffe took time out from his busy WEA schedule to film a promotional video for "The Son of God" movie.  View it here.
http://gnli.christianpost.com/video/geoff-tunnicliffe-the-movie-son-of-god-is-a-gift-given-to-church-28519

Tunnicliffe's Paths to Peace:

Tunnicliffe has been associated with some controversial left-leaning Christian causes.  To begin Tunnicliffe has written for liberal activist Jim Wallis' Sojourner's magazine.  In addition he has joined with Wallis on peace initiatives.  He has also been a speaker at Bethlehem's "Christ at the Checkpoint" conference once again championing peace when he spoke on "Evangelicals as Peacemakers."

http://sojo.net/magazine/2013/02/heart-peace

http://christatthecheckpoint.com/index.php/speakers/125-geoff-tunnicliffe

Tunnicliffe joined the WEA to the World Council of Churches and The Vatican signing a document with them calling Christians to mission and unity, and the WEA is connected to the United Nations working on topics from peace building to nuclear disarmament.
http://www.worldea.org/


In Conclusion:

Hearing Nyack's enthusiastic applause, hoops, and hollers to an extensive list of Burnett's and Downey's achievements, to the "Son of God" promotional film, and to Roma's remarks left one with an acute awareness that here's a college whose leadership and faculty have lost their moorings saturating their graduates/students with teachings that stray far from true evangelicalism.  And unless some strong and courageous CMAers awaken, and take action it soon may be too late!  (Please read previous blogs on happenings at ATS and Nyack College.)

Learn to Discern Granny Verses:  II Corinthians 11:14,15

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

Flee From the Tree of Contemplative Practices: Run From its Toxic Fruits!

The attractive Tree of Contemplative Practices is laden with enticing fruits for contemplative meditators to partake of.  But, beware!  For this is not a tree with fruits one should be snared into sampling, but rather this is a tree that is full of toxic fruits. To find out why please read on!

The Tree of Contemplative Practices: Designed

The TCP was designed by Maia Deurr, an ardent Buddhist, for the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society.  "The center's mission, " writes Deurr, "is to integrate contemplative awareness into contemporary life in order to create a more just, compassionate, and reflective society."
http://www.mindful.org/our-partners/the-center-for-contemplative-mind-in-society

Now, in order to understand the recent explosion of the exploration in society of all things contemplative the center initiated a "Contemplative Net Project" to research why this was happening.  And in the course of this project Maia had the inspiration to use the image of a tree to convey the breath of practices that were being described by research participants.  Maia describes this tree in detail in her paper: "A Powerful Silence" in the section entitled: "The Tree of Contemplative Practices." (pp. 37-42)
https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AjGQd1PbCELXro04tDmQuambvZx4?p=A+Powerful+Silence+by+Maia+Deurr&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-311&fp=1*

*  Click on "A Powerful Silence" to go to paper.

To learn even more about the TCP explore the web site of "The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society" clicking on "Contemplative Practices."  Further click on the TCP where below the tree you will learn about the various branches with their practices listed below each grouping.  Click on an individual practice to find a full description of that practice as well as other links.
http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree  (Updated tree)
http://spirituality.wsu.edu/dimensions-of-spirituality/equanimity/tree-of-contemplative-practices/
(Original tree)

The Tree of Contemplative Practices: Defined

The TCP can be defined as an overview of contemplative practices that one can explore and experi-ence.  And as Maia Deurr, writes in "A Powerful Silence," these practices are intended "to quiet the mind and to cultivate a personal capacity for deep concentration, presence, and awareness."  Deurr continues, "Ideally, the insights that arise from the mind, body, and heart in this contemplative state can be applied to one's every day life."

The question may be asked exactly how these contemplative practices were selected?  Maia gives us insight in her article by stating that eighty-four Contemplative Net interviewees from many faiths were queried about contemplative practices that had proved transformative to them.  From these interviews an ABC list of contemplative practices from Aa as in "Altar building" to Yy as in "Yoga" (hatha, kundalini, siddha) was put together. (p.41)  A second list of contemplative terms to describe qualities cultivated through the use of contemplative practice was also made including such words as awareness, calm, compassion, equanimity, focus, less judgment, mindfulness, presence, and self-knowledge. (p.44)

The Tree of Contemplative Practices: Refined

It is important to note that originally ("A Powerful Silence," p. 38) the TCP lacked foliage, and its main branches as well as its practices were often different from the later more colorful leafy tree.

When comparing the original tree to the updated tree note that several practices from the first tree were eliminated, while others were added.  For example, I noted, that any mention of prayer was eliminated.  On the first tree's Silence Practices Branch "centering prayer" was changed to just
"centering" on the second tree; and on its Generative Practice Branch "the Jesus prayer" was taken out altogether on the updated tree.  On the first tree "sitting and insight meditation" were listed, whereas on the second three this is now simply "meditation."  Another obvious omission on the updated Ritual/Cyclical Branch was "building an altar."  "Mantra meditation" was gone too.

New to the updated tree on the Generative Branch was "beholding; " and on the Ritual/Cyclical
Branch we see "retreats."  Note the latter branch also eliminated specific rituals as "Shabbat,""Vision Quest," and "The Sweatlodge" which were all found on the original tree.

Overall, it's apparent that from the refined tree some overtly religious wording was removed.  This would have made the tree, it would seem, more user friendly to secular schools and settings.  But be warned, whichever tree one uses each is dangerously deceptive from its fruits to its roots. 

Speaking of making practices more palatable for all, Maia shares how changing the wording about a particular practice helped people feel more comfortable, or placated resistors.  For example, one teacher used "strategies for learning readiness," rather than "contemplative practices."  Another used "writing exercises," instead of "journaling."  Still another said "stretching" instead of "yoga." ("P. of Silence," p.116)

The Tree of Contemplative Practices: Just for Me Tree!

Over and over the TCP user is encouraged to run off a blank tree, and to design your own tree so as to open up yourself to even more experimentation and contemplation.  In other words, pick your own fruits, and do your own thing to reach fulfillment.  This reminds me of best-selling author Thomas Moore's latest scheme of crafting your own religion.  Judges 21:25b also comes to mind, "... every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

The TCP Roots: Behind the Design

Maia Deurr, the tree's designer, is a change agent as well as a Zen Zealot, who was the director of Upaya Zen Center Chaplaincy Training Program, and is now part of Upaya's "Engaged Buddhism Faculty."  She's also part of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, and was editor and director of Turning Point magazine.  Besides, she was the research director at the Center for the Contemplative Mind in Society when she created the TCP.  Presently, she writes a blog, "Liberated Life Projects" with such articles as "The Liberated Life Guide: How to Meditate."
http://liberatedlifeproject.com/
http://liberatedlifeproject.com/about-2/about-maia/

For even more on Maia, and the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society see 2009 Lighthouse Trails article: "Efforts Underway to Train U.S. Military Chaplains and Personnel in Eastern Mysticism."    http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=421

Just the title of Deurr's blog, "Liberated Life Projects," reminds me of verses that tell us where to find freedom, happiness, and liberty and it is not in contemplative meditative practices; but rather the Scriptures say, "... and you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."  (John 8:32)  It further says, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."  (John 8:36)  For as Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and life ...!"  (John 14:6)

The TCP Roots: Below the Tree

The TCP roots--communication/connection and awareness--symbolize the two intentions that are the foundation of all contemplative practices.  The goal, says the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, is to go beyond the individual practices so as to build new practices that are being created in secular contexts.

The TCP Fruits: On the Tree

Ripe for the picking these diverse practices tempt the user to experiment to try to find the perfect fit.  And many are experimenting with this tree from educators to spiritual directors, from doctors to lawyers, from business people to contemplative pray-ers, from compassionate society members to interfaith forum members, from those into oneness to those into matrix harmonics, and the list goes on.

What exactly are some of the "meditative fruits" we are invited to sample?  Let's unpack a few.

Bearing Witness: (Activist Branch): is a powerful form of activism which, it's claimed, helps other people understand and respect each other.  Root: Buddhism  Example I:  Retreat for Zen Peacemakers  Example II: From "The Buddha Blog" Maia Deurr's "An Introduction to Engaged Buddhism" (Turning Wheel, Summer/Fall 2008).  Deurr wrote, "Socially engaged Buddhism is a dharma practice that flows from the understanding of  .... the interdependence of all life.  It is the practice of bodhisattva (enlightenment being) vow to save all things. ..."
http://www.pbs.org/thebuddha/blog/2010/mar/26/introduction-engaged-buddhism-maia-duerr/

Beholding Mindfulness: (Generative Branch): is allowing the world to appear to us and to allow ourselves to experience embodied connectedness.  It's also allows us to have the freedom and space to explore our own thoughts without judgment.  Another definition is:  "the level of awareness that is one step deeper than seeing."  Roots:  Eastern Meditation, Buddhism  Example I: Joan Ziegler's
"Seeing: A Contemplative Pedagogy (For Contemplative Practices in Higher Education at Smith College).
http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/beholding
Example II:  Book: Contemplative Practices in Higher Education (2013) by Daniel Barbezat and Mirabi Bush (Chapter 7: "Senses: Deep Listening and Beholding"). Example III:
"The Eye and Ear of Beholding" with "An Evening of Mindfulness Practice, Dialogue, and Exploration with Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD (UMass Medical School).
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118435273.html

Centering:  (Stillness Branch):  is a meditation technique allowing you to focus on yourself and the present to become whole, and aware especially useful at times of upset/excitement.  Roots: All Meditative Traditions  Example I:  "Focus on Breathing Instructions" at eHow.com.  Example II:  Links on Contemplative Mind in Society to Using Yoga as a Centering Practice  by Kelly McGonigal (Open Mind, Open Body).
http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/centering

Lectio Divina: (Generative Branch): is deep contemplative reading of any revered text with steps of reading, reflecting, expressing, and resting.  Root: Catholicism  Example I:  Barbezat and Bush's recent book (See "Beholding") contains secularized steps (or what I'd call "Secular Lectio") to use in reading various texts.  These steps include: literal, metaphorical, moral, and mystical.  Example II: You Tube Video on "Lectio Divina in Classroom Poetry" with Dr. David Scott Simpson, Educational Specialist in Technology and Innovation in Education, Rapid City, SD.  Simpson, at the video's conclusion, sums up a lectio poetry session by explaining that a poem is not to be dissected like some sort of a puzzle; but rather it can be experienced through adapted lectio steps which help the participant to avoid any dualistic, black/white, or either/or thinking but instead to promote both/and thinking sharing nonjudgmental thoughts with the group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35XfCaUPG3w

Loving-Kindness Meditation: (Generative Branch): is a practice taught by the Buddha to develop the mental habit of selfless or altruistic love.  Root: Buddhism  Example I:  "Ways of Arousing Feelings of Loving-Kindness" through visualization, reflection, and auditory means with a mantra.
(From  Buddanet.net)  Example II:  Jack Kornfield's "Meditation on Lovingkindness": Walt Whitman quote: "I am larger and better than I thought.  I did not know I had so much goodness."  Parts: Center
self.  Love yourself.  Watch breath; say a mantra.  Picture yourself as .... Do more mantra repetition; picture a benefactor.  Continue this cycle.  (From "Spirit Rock")
http://www.jackkornfield.com/2011/02/meditation-on-lovingkindness/
http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/loving-kindness

Tonglen: (Generative Branch)*: is Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice for giving and taking or sending and receiving.  This is done on the "in-breath by imagining taking on the sufferings of others, and on the out-breath giving happiness and success to all sentient beings."**  Root: Buddhism  Example I:  H. H. The Dalai Lama is said to practice Tonglen every day saying it gives him peace of mind helping him to be more effective.  Example II:  Pema Chodron teaches "How to do Tonglen" in various venues sharing with TV personalities as Bill Moyers and Oprah Winfrey.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/waylon-lewis/pema-chodron-how-to-do-to_b_278213.html
        
*   Tonglen on "original" or "leafless" TCP.
** sentient:  one who has the faculty of perception; a sentient being

Walking Meditation: (Movement Branch): is a contemplative practice where close attention is paid to walking being mindful of the muscles of the body, the placement of the feet, balance, and motion.
Root: Buddhism  Example I: "Walking Meditation Practice" by Steven Smith.
http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/walking-meditation
Example II: Egreen-way.com articles "Walking Meditation: Bibliography, Quotes, Links, Information, Notes, Resources, Methods and More" by Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.
http://www.egreenway.com/walking/index.htm

Yoga: (Movement Branch): is, according to yogajournal.com a word which means "to yoke or bind, and is often interpreted as 'union,' or a method of discipline."Roots: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism  Example I:  From yogajournal.com in "Yoga" by Cyndi Lee author of Om Yoga :  Lee describes the Yoga Sutra  which lists 195 statements that serve as a guidebook as well as the eight limbs of yoga that's practiced today.  Most people today, Lee says, practice the third limb--asana or Hatha Yoga.  Hatha Yoga is designed to enable the practitioner to purify the body achieving physical strength and stamina needed for long periods of meditation.  Lee emphasizes that yoga is unlike stretching or fitness, for physical practice is but one part of yoga.
http://cyndilee.com/about-2/about/
http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/yoga

Example II: About.com in "What is Yoga?" Ann Pizer writes, "Yoga is said to be for the purpose of uniting the mind, body, and spirit."  She continues, "How can this be achieved?  Meditation is one way."  Pizer stresses that yoga is based on Patanjali's sutras most of which are more concerned with mental and spiritual well-being than with physical activity!

For More Yoga Info:  Read former New Ager Marcia Montenegro's excellent article: "Yoga Alliance Shows its Hindu Teeth." 
http://www.solasisters.com/2012/02/yoga-alliance-shows-its-hindu-teeth.html

Two Trees to Flee: The Tree of Contemplative Practices and The Eight Limbs of Yoga Tree! 

Yoga: Example III:  "Eight Limbs of Yoga Poster Trees:"  A look at these Yoga tree posters  clearly illustrate exactly where yoga leads ...  for from the first "Yamas Limb" to the last "Samadhi Limb" yoga is designed to help you achieve Samadhi!! (bliss that defies description, absorption, union). 
https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8pVED.FTISoAgReJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTIzNnA0cXMzBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM2ODU3MWQxZDRmNzcyOGZiNWRhNDAyYjAzNTEwODIzYgRncG9zAzE4BGl0A2Jpbmc-?back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Deight%2Blimbs%2Bof%2Byoga%2Bposters%26fr%3Dyfp-t-311%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D18&w=500&h=500&imgurl=media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2Fe1%2F36%2Fa5%2Fe136a59109ea7a5cb78ba9b549976508.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F47428602300007759%2F&size=38.6KB&name=%3Cb%3Eeight%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3Elimbs%3C%2Fb%3E.&p=eight+limbs+of+yoga+posters&oid=68571d1d4f7728fb5da402b03510823b&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-311&tt=%3Cb%3Eeight%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3Elimbs%3C%2Fb%3E.&b=0&ni=200&no=18&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11fukb6cl&sigb=13r79994v&sigi=12d0h9p4e&sigt=10qd5ijqf&sign=10qd5ijqf&.crumb=V09/34OfmcB&fr=yfp-t-311

The Tree of Contemplative Practices: Same Fruits in Churches 

One Lutheran Minnesota church has designed its very own "Spiritual Practice Tree" saying it is rooted in "God."  But, even though some of the fruits of this tree are acceptable, one can note that it has many of the very same fruits as the TCP. 

But, so as not to single out this church, one can find denomination after denomination, church after church, pastor after pastor, and person after person who are indulging themselves in many of these contemplative fruits and calling them "Christian." And when you see an organization, church, or person reaching out for these fruits beware for these are unscriptural fruits of man's own making of which we aren't to taste or sample.  For as Proverbs 1:28-33 says, "... For they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD: they would have none of my counsel: ...  Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices ...  But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from the fear of evil."  And Proverbs 2:6 tells us, "For the LORD giveth wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."  In short, it's not the wisdom of the centuries contained in meditative methods, nor the wisdom or goodness within ourselves, but it is the Lord from whom we can gain wisdom and understanding to achieve success in life.

To get to the root of real tree truth read this outstanding Herescope article "Two Trees" which contrasts "The Tree of Contemplative Practices" to "The Tree Planted by the Rivers of Water."
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2009/11/two-trees.html

The Tree of Contemplative Practices: Same Fruits in Education 

The Center of Contemplative Mind in Society has been very busy suggesting that educators at every level check out the TCP to get them started on the contemplative path.  Just a quick look at the society's facebook page revealed a TCP almost immediately.
http://classroommindfulness.com/2013/12/10/week-8-the-tree-of-contemplative-practices/

Additionally, the TCP is being praised, and pictured on college web sites from Buddhist Naropa University in Colorado to Cornell University in New York.  A very recent July 2014 article from Cornell shows the TCP picture posted on a Cornell Chronicle article by Carly Hodes entitled:
"Contemplative Practices Boost Creativity in Problem Solving.
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2014/07/contemplative-practices-boost-problem-solving
A second article by Rodney R. Dietert: "Integrating Contemplative Tools into Biomedical Science Education and Research Training Programs" also features the TCP.  Beside the tree it states, "Practices illustrated in the branches help nurture increased self-awareness and access to information."
http://www.rodneydietert.com/Innovation_Initiative.html

Washington State University also posts the original TCP on its "Spirituality" web page touting that this tree can help relieve stress and promote equanimity.  The blurb over the tree recommends that one find a fruitful practice, and then branch out to another practice within that grouping.
http://spirituality.wsu.edu/dimensions-of-spirituality/equanimity/tree-of-contemplative-practices/

And a University of Massachusetts site features TCP image which says this tree had inspired an upcoming "Contemplative Practices Resource Fair" with such exhibitors as the Boston Maum Meditation Center, Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, Shambhala Boston, UMass Boston Zen, and YogaCaps Inc. among others.
http://www.umb.edu/news_events_media/events/contemplative_practice_resource_fair

These are but a few samples of where the TCP has been featured in collegiate settings to integrate contemplative practices into the classroom of future teachers of our children, and grandchildren.  And because contemplative pedagogy is making such great advances into our educational system now is the time to passionately warn others that a "Mindfulness Tsunami" or a "Meditation Tsunami" is poised to enter, or has entered a school or college near you!  And understand, now, as one mindfulness public school teacher said, "There is a quiet revolution going on!"

Yes, there's a quiet revolution that has crept into our churches and schools and workplaces under the guise of contemplative practices as exemplified in this tree.  Truly, "The Tree of Contemplative Practices" is designed to be a meditative portal into cultivating an awareness and development of one's inner wisdom, and/or divine/God.  Oh, that we'd all awaken to how ungodly, and idolatrous are these meditative fruits.  Once again, in conclusion, I'd warn--flee this tree for from its roots to its fruits it is toxic!

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  II Corinthians 6:17

"Wherefore   COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, AND TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING, and I WILL RECEIVE YOU."

Mark This Book -Mansions of the Heart- As Deceptive! (A Review)

Filled with monks, monasteries, mystics, mentors, meditations, methods, and imaginations Mansions of the Heart  by R. Thomas Ashbrook is a dangerously deceptive work; for while its author mentions and discusses salvation, many scriptures, and maturing spiritual growth he mixes in mega doses of Catholic mystical prayer practices centered round the Teresian mansions and John's dark night making this book a virtual gold mine of contemplative resources.

Mark the Foreword: Meet the Two Mystic Masters of Spiritual Life

From the get-go the foreword endorser, author of the famed Message "Bible" Eugene Peterson, says we'll be immersed in the idea that "that good thing" the Bible was just not enough and that we need something more; and "those good men" as Luther or Calvin were not enough but we need something more.

And who can give us that something more?  Why it is two master mystics, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, who will introduce us, according to Peterson, to "matters of the soul," and to the "sweet mysteries of prayer."  So, says Peterson, just as I was introduced to Teresa and John by a long ago friend, so likewise today Thomas Ashbrook will immerse you in the holy wisdom that you too can learn from these mystics!

Mark the Preface: More in the Mansions

Frustrated and confused Ashbrook claims there has got to be something more!  And the place to go for this something more is through the many doors of the Teresian mansions which will lead you into a new and wonderful life with our Lord.  So, come explore!

Mark the Acknowledgments: Ashbrook Meets a Monk

It is in his "Acknowledgments" that Ashbrook mentions "Brother Bon" not only as the one who taught him to "be still and know God," then simply to "be still," and finally to just "be;" but "Monk Bon" as the one who had also introduced him to Teresa showing him what the seventh mansion looked like.  And says Ashbrook, "I will be eternally grateful to him for calling out the monk within me."

Mark Chapter One: "Is This All There Is?"

Chapter One, "Is This All There Is?" is the crux of Ashrook's theme tracing Ashbook's mission to find more.  And where did Ashbrook find his answers.  Ashbrook found them in a monk, in the monastery, in the Renovare movement, in spiritual direction, in spiritual formation, in the Spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, and in various contemplative practices.  Still this was not enough, until he
discovered that "ancient yet timeless roadmap" --Teresa of Avila's "Seven Mansions!"

Mark Ashbrook's Monastery Story

Ashbrook began his monastery getaways with visits to the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity* in Utah just to find a quiet place to work.  And, as Ashbrook described in his story, almost immediately he was worshipping with the monks in their two-story Quonset church.

*Note Ashbrook identifies the monastery this way "The Holy Trinity Abbey" rather than using its full name with "Our Lady" in it. 

During his second monastery visit while sitting next to Brother Bon for the "Choir" Ashbrook arranged to meet him at the chicken coop.  From that time forward Bon became Ashbrook's special confidante and monk mentor.

Now, as these "monastery scenarios" usually seem to go Tom began visiting again and again.  Besides his periodic visits, he began meeting with his very willing monk mentor many more times.  Soon Bon began sharing "listening prayer."  This followed with Bon teaching him to be still, and later just to "be."  Bon followed this up with teaching him about St. Teresa and her Interior Castle.

Along the way Ashbrook expanded his explorations teaming up with Renovare acquainting himself with such "contemplative greats" as Richard Foster and Dallas Willard.  He even formed his own Renovare covenant group.  From there he went deeper into reading mystics known as the Desert or Church Fathers/Mothers.

Eventually things moved on even more-- just as it does for all who immerse themselves in monastery meetings--for now he writes, "As I began experimenting with Christian meditation and contemplation, I found that God entered the prayer closet of my heart with words, thoughts, feelings, and more profoundly, a sweet silence."

As time went on his monastery contemplative leanings spilled over to his Good Shepherd Lutheran church, and then to his staff.  Soon his entire staff headed to the Abbey to retreat.  There they "miraculously" became of "one mind" returning back to Good Shepherd with a report entitled: "Reflections From the Monastery."

Mark Ashbrook's "Imago Christi" Ministry

As Ashbrook became more enamored with contemplative prayer methods, he left the pastorate to form Imago Christi where as a spiritual director and coach, he now, through his writing and retreats, brings many more bored, and frustrated fellow travelers into the contemplative camp.

Of Imago Christi, Ashbrook shares , that one of its significant contributions is a three-day guided retreat "Spiritual Formation Discovery for Leaders."  This discovery process makes the use of Teresian Mansion method enabling participants to understand God's goals in their lives.  The process ends, asserts Ashbrook, with the development of a "personal spiritual formation plan."  I might also add this process also ends with leaders imbibing a muddled mixture of all kinds of contemplative methods, in addition to shelling out all kinds of money for Imago products which one needs to purchase to better practice this plan!
http://www.imagochristi.org/Pages/default.aspx

Mark Father Thomas Dubay, S.M., Mansion Man Mentor

Father Thomas Dubay, was a Marist priest mentor, of whom Ashbrook has an evident admiration mentioning Dubay at least fourteen times in the book.  Dubay wrote Fire Within, and Gospel on Prayer.  In addition, Dubay was an expert on the two mythical doctors of the church: St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.
http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/dubay/thomas-dubay-homepage.htm

As an ardent retreat leader, Ph.D., seminary teacher, spiritual director, traveler, EWTN participant, and expert on St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross in his book Fire Within, Dubay says,   "...the contemporary Church, in her liturgy, in Vatican II, and in the new canon law repeatedly takes it for granted that 'contemplation,''mystical treasures,' ... and 'an assiduous union with God in prayer' are meant for each and every person in the Church.  In the official liturgy of the Church places on the lips of all the faithful ...  that we should be fed with her (Teresa's) 'heavenly teaching' and that all of us would 'imitate John' (of the Cross) always.  These two saints have been Doctors of the universal Church precisely for what they have to say about contemplative prayer and the way to reach it ...  Teresa and John present the Church's mind about mystical prayer ... about a complete love immersion in Him."  (p.3  Fire Within)

Discerning Reader note exactly whom we are to be fed by, and whom we should imitate. Note too the Catholic church's position on "contemplative prayer."  However, none of this is biblical, nor "evangelical." 

Mark James Wakefield, Mansion Man Friend

Another man mentioned in Mansions of the Heart is James Wakefield, who is touted by Tom as someone whose Ignatian "Protestant" revision's "Five Journaling Steps That Help Us Become Attentive to God," will make us better prayer listeners. (p.103)  Ashbrook, in his "Imago Christi Annotated Reading List", describes Wakefield's Sacred Listening this way: "An evangelical adaptation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius ... These 24 weeks/units have been taken from the 19th annotation of the Exercises." 
http://www.imagochristi.org/Pages/AnnotatedReadingList.aspx

Gary Gilley, in his insightful paper "Ignatius," commented on Wakefield's revised exercises. Pointing out the two major dangers of using these exercises as elevating a man-system of Scripture, and using subjective "imagination" methods to add to Scripture Gilley wrote,  "In this process, the Scriptures become a mere by-product, utilized to engage the imagination. ...  Ignatius' word, therefore supersedes God's Word. We should take seriously the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:9: 'But, in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'"
http://mywordlikefire.com/2013/02/14/ignatius-by-pastor-gary-gilley/

Wakefield's adaptation filled with its "imaginative" exercises from start to finish can hardly be termed "evangelical!"  For even a brief look at Wakefield's copious notes, and quotes show that is saturated with "Jesuit" priests' works/references.  In addition, Wakefield himself did his doctoral studies at Jesuit Marquette University.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/080106614X/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=3484733002&ref=pd_sl_4gq4h6vzn0_p

Note, too, that an endorser of Sacred Listening is none other than Gordon T. Smith (closely associated with Roman Catholic Canadian CMA ecumenicalism).  Wakefield also cites Father Thomas Green's Jesuit works. And Father Green, in turn, was Gordon Smith's former Jesuit Philippine instructor, and workshop partner.

Wakefield relates how he's worked closely with Ashbrook.  As Wakefield began to adapt Ignatius' exercises Ashbrook aided Wakefield in compiling a manual by allowing him to work with parishioners from his churches.  Wakefield (p.10 Sacred Listening) writes, "Tom Ashbrook and I have become life long friends and collaborators.  He continues to use Sacred Listening, and has made many helpful suggestions."

Mark Father Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R., Another Mansion Man

Once again, Ashbrook is suggesting we can learn more from a Roman Catholic retreat master who written on the interrelationship between psychology, spirituality, and human development with application to the three-step-ladder understanding of spiritual formation: purgation, illumination, and union (contemplation).  Ashbrook speaks of Groeschel's suggestions on healing that occur as one enters "the illuminative way."  Ashbrook wrote, "Groeschel's insights come close to a correlation with the Seven Mansions."  (pp. 140, 142, 229)

These insights however do not come from the Bible, but from a priest active in the Catholic church on many fronts.  Additionally, in researching him I found this Mary prayer in his book After This Life (p.129) which reads, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us... O refuge of Sinners, ... And let Your own Body be my food, and Your Blood be my sprinkling, and let my Mother Mary ...."   Surely, this alone is a red flag that Groeschel's insights would not be what a true Christian would read.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Groeschel

Mark The Seven Mansion Model of Teresa of Avila

In chapter three "Your Journey into the Love of God" Ashbrook contends we all need a roadmap for our spiritual development, and that that roadmap or model should have certain attributes.  At the top of these attributes Ashbrook lists "Biblically faithful to the clear teaching of Scripture (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16)."  (p.36)

However, Ashbrook continues it may be surmised that there are a number of models for our growth on our spiritual journey.  However, the best model he has ever found comes from The Seven Mansions of Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle for that meets all his criteria.  But, think exactly where would we go to find the clearest roadmap ever written? Yes, it would the infallible Word of God.  It's the book of books that can make us wise unto salvation, and that can show us how to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mark The Seven Mansion Castle Imagined by Teresa

Teresa, a Carmelite nun who had vivid visions, mystical meditations, and even rapturous levitations imagined the heart as a Crystal Castle with many rooms with the "Sun" at the center.  Further she imagined these rooms being seven in number.  She also imagined that the first three dwellings were "The Active Mansions," and that the last four dwellings were "The Infused Mansions."  She imagined, too, that one would progress through these dwellings with the final goal of obtaining union with the Trinity in the seventh mansion.  See a depiction of these imaginations on p.48 that Ashbrook has titled "Figure 3.1 The Seven Mansions of the Interior Castle.  See the Seventh Mansion--"Mystical Union with God."  Clearly biblical?  Not even a shred of scripture supports this!
http://catholicfirst.com/thefaith/catholicclassics/stteresa/castle/interiorcastle01.html

Mark the Imaginative Mansion Stories of Abigail and Michael

Chapter four is the start of more "imaginations''--this time Ashbrook's composite tales of two imaginary people Abigail and Michael-- based on clients and friends Ashbrook knew plus projections based on Teresa's explanations.  Thus, beginning at chapter four "New Beginnings: The First Mansion" through chapter eight "Longing for Oneness with God: The Fifth Mansion;" and then
through chapters ten and eleven: "The Passion of God's Love: The Sixth Mansion and "The Life of Love in the Trinity: The Seventh Mansion" Ashbrook paints such vivid portrayals of the spiritual lives of these two "persons" that the reader begins to feel that they are real. Through these innocuous vignettes the author skillfully implants even more meditative techniques into the reader's mind spinning a web of contemplative confusion and deception.

Mark "The Long Dark Corridor: The Dark Nights of the Soul"

Ashbrook takes time out from the Teresian Seven Mansion imaginations to introduce us to one of the great mysteries of the Christian life: long dark corridors of our spiritual growth called "The Dark Night of the Soul" written about by St. John of the Cross.  "This ... poem," according to gotQuestions?org, "outlines the soul's journey from the distractions and entanglements of the world to the perfect peace and harmony of union with God."
http://www.gotquestions.org/dark-night-soul.html

Before attaining this union, St. John of the Cross, believed that we must pass through a personal experience akin to Christ's passion.  S. Michael Houdmann of gotQuestions?org states, "This time of testing and agony is accompanied by confusion, fear, and uncertainty, ... but on the other side are Christ's glory, serenity, and a mystical union with God."  Ashbrook also comments that people experiencing dark nights felt stuck, backslidden, and dried up. They felt as if during their prayer life God wasn't showing up any more. 

The question Ashbrook asks is, "Why the Dark Nights?"  And the answer, relates Tom, is that as we pursue this union of love for God one must purge or strip away weaknesses thus transforming ourselves to love and trust God more fully. (p.153)  To help us understand these times Ashbrook notes that John divides the dark nights into: "Dark Night of the Senses and Dark Night of the Spirit."  Tom then plods on, quite tediously I must add, describing these two nights.

In the end the central question must be is this teaching biblical?  Houdmann gives a clear answer in "What is a 'dark night of the soul?'" when he writes, "From a theological standpoint, the concept of the dark night of the soul fits with the Catholic teaching of the necessity of purgatory and of earning God's favor through penance and other works.  However the idea ... of self-denial and affliction culminating in glory is not taught in Scripture.  Jesus predicted his followers would face persecution (John 15:20), but He also gives His peace to the same followers (John 14:27).  A believer has God's peace now, he doesn't have to experience a 'dark night' first (Romans 5:1). ... Neither Jesus nor the apostles ever taught a 'dark night of the soul.'"

Mark These Mystical Contemplative Prayer Paths

Teresa tells us that the door of entry to the mansions of the heart is prayer and reflection. (p.54)
In the first three mansions, Ashbrook shares, the first prayer paths are primarily discursive or intercessory in nature.  In the third mansion prayers of reflection, or as Teresa said, prayers of "recollection" also begin.  But after these prayer paths, remarks Ashbrook, " ... the fourth mansion marks the wonderful beginning of 'infused prayer,' ..."  (p.115)

An article entitled "Christian Contemplation" (Wikipedia) provides an enlightening window into the world of contemplative prayer paths.  It's especially helpful in contrasting what is known as "natural or acquired contemplation" or "the prayer of the heart" as opposed to "infused contemplation or mystical union."  Here "infused contemplation or higher contemplation" is defined as: "a super-natural gift by which a person's will and mind become totally centered on God.  It is a form of mystical union with God.  ... This union ... may be linked with manifestations of a created object, as, ... visions of the humanity of Christ, or an angel or revelations of a future event etc.  They include miraculous bodily phenomena sometimes observed in ecstatics."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_contemplation

The article also named the four degrees of Teresian mystical union as: incomplete mystical union; full or semi-ecstatic union; ecstatic union or ecstasy; or transforming or deifying union, or spiritual marriage of the soul with God.

Mark Imago Christi's Abiding Prayer

After introducing "infused prayer" (p.115) on the following page Ashbrook says, "This infused prayer is new to us ....  Our mind finds it almost impossible to be simply still and focus on God; ... like an undisciplined child who can't stop talking or running around.  We have to learn to become still ... letting distractions pass us by."

A little farther on Ashbrook reveals that "In Imago Christi, we use the term abiding prayer to describe the relational dimension of simply being in Christ."  Ashbrook also adds (p.120) about our changing focus in prayer at the fourth level.  He writes, "We just want to behold Him; words almost get in the way.  Abiding prayer is just that: focusing on God alone. ...  When we turn our attention to God alone, ... we call this form of prayer contemplation."  Right here, Ashbrook proves that "abiding prayer" is "contemplative prayer."

Changing "contemplative prayer" to "abiding prayer" is a deceptive tool to make one believe it is something else.  A few other examples come to mind as "Soul Care" becomes "Soul Shepherding,""Theophostic Counseling" becomes "Theophostic Prayer," and "Stillness" becomes
"Stilling" and so on. 

Ashbrook further defines abiding prayer (p.244) describing it like this: "'Abiding prayer' is a spiritual conversation, in the heart, ... expressing thought too deep for words and intuiting the mind of Christ.  Abiding prayer includes listening to God in scriptural meditation, contemplation, and silence."
He goes on to suggest scriptural meditation can be furthered using James Wakefield's adaptation of Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises.  Or, recommends Ashbrook, we might want to research Basil Pennington's Centering Prayer which gives a good overview of contemplation and silence. (p.245)

Soul Shepherding's Bill Gaultiere, in his article "Abide in Prayer," outlines exactly how to enter into "abiding prayer."  He suggests the pray-er get settled and centered in Christ, sit comfortably and relax, breathe in and out, hold out your hands to the Lord, and continue sloooowly to pray a "Simplifying Breath Prayer" as: "Be still and know that I am God" until you get to "be."
http://www.soulshepherding.org/2008/07/abide-in-prayer/

Mark The Mystical Contemplative Term Ecstasy

Ashbrook, in chapter ten, "The Passion of God's Love: The Sixth Mansion," relates, "Now, this silent abiding ... has become the very nature of our prayer life.  In this wonderful 'silence' we may experience ecstasy, rapture, locutions, transport, and flight of the spirit."  Tom then comments, "These terms were certainly new to me as I began reading about spiritual experiences in prayer. ..."
Let me explain ... what they mean." Notice Tom also inserts a little warning note saying, "these experiences can be unnerving and even frightening." (p.181)

What is ecstasy you might ask?  Is it scriptural?  To get an answer, beginning with Tom, read the descriptions given below:  Tom says, "Ecstasy is an experience of intense joy."   And the online "Catholic Encyclopedia" says, "... ecstasy: when communications with the external world are severed or nearly so (in this event one can no longer make voluntary movement nor energy from the state at will).

St. Teresa says, (Catholic Answers Forums: "What exactly is an Ecstasy?") "Now when the body is in rapture (ecstasy) it is as though dead, frequently being unable to do anything of itself.  It remains in the position it was when seized by the rapture, whether standing or sitting, or whether with the hands opened or closed.  Although once in awhile the senses fail (sometimes it happened to me that they failed completely), this occurs rarely ... "  Teresa continued, "... At the height of the rapture the faculties are lost to other things because of their intense union with God, for then, in my opinion, it neither sees, nor hears, nor feels."
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=23127

Father Thomas Dubay, in Fire Within says, "In ecstatic prayer one's inner life of knowing and loving is so intensely increased that the sense of perception of the outer world is proportionately lessened, even to the point of disappearance.  What Teresa calls the bodily energies, that is, seeing, hearing, and touching lessen and fade away. ..."

Tessa Dawson, a character in Castles in the Sand says, "Ecstasy... It's what the Hindus call a state of higher consciousness, a 'blissful' or euphoric state that mystics experience during meditation.  Like the state of rapture where St. Teresa of Avila saw visions into the spiritual world.  Definitely not of God.  I know that now."
 http://www.lighthousetrails.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CS&Category_Code=TI

James W. Goll, New Apostolic Reformation Prophet, in "Three Stages of Prayer," says, "The third phase of contemplative prayer is spiritual ecstasy. ... Ecstasy is contemplative prayer taken to the nth degree. ...  Another way to describe the ecstatic state is to be 'inebriated with God's presence.'"
http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/prayer/17574-3-stages-of-prayer

And Jeffrey S. Brooks (Jhanananda), a contemplative recluse monk, in "Absorption States (Jhanas) Within a Theistic Context" says if we examine mystical states in various religions including Christianity, Buddhism, Sufism, and more that we'll find that all these "ecstatic conditions" are the same.  Brooks remarks, "It is not that insight and absorption are different practice paths, but they are simply the natural consequence of any contemplative tradition ....  "... in Christianity ... there is a record of their mystics experiencing various absorption states, which are often referred to as 'ecstasies.' Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross actually articulated 7 levels of absorption ..."  Brooks goes on to explain, "Each mystic tradition has its own names and ways of describing these ... states.  In Christianity, it is often referred to as a marriage with the Holy Spirit or Christ.  In the Kabbalah it is called devukutt with the Shakina.  In Sufism it is called fana or annihilation, and in Hinduism it is called union (yoga) or absorption (samadhi)." Brooks' words alone should be a warning to any one wanting to enter the Teresian mansions, via contemplative prayer, to seek union that such ecstatic experiences are unscriptural period!
http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/jhanananda.html

Mark the Seventh Mansion Union with the Trinity

Mark the Seventh Mansion Definition:

Tom describes the seventh mansion like this, " The seventh mansion represents the ultimate degree of intimacy with God that one can experience in this life: spiritual union with the Trinity." (p.190)

A bit later Tom asks, "What might it mean to live fully and freely in the life of the Trinity...?  Impossible?  Absolutely not."  Tom adds: "Scripture promises it.  God wants it... and many followers of Jesus have experienced it."  So, instructs Tom, "Maybe a final look at (imaginary)* Michael and Abigail will help us grasp what lies ahead." (p.191)

*  My insert!

Mark Michael's Mysterious Mansion Meeting:

Michael, writes Ashbrook, was catapulted into the seventh mansion one Sunday while cleaning up after communion as he stared at the bread and cup.  Mesmerized he mumbled, "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."  After he was never the same again.  Gone was dryness in prayer.  Gone were dark nights.  In his journal he noted, "I saw You, Father, loving your Son Jesus.  I saw You Jesus, loving our Father.  I saw You, Holy Spirit loving them Both and wrapping me, like a cloud of light, in the love of Your Trinity."  A few months later as Michael sat gazing at a large cross suddenly Jesus was physically before him. Jesus then pulled Michael to him as Michael felt Jesus' blood rushing through his veins.  At the same time he sensed the Lord's thoughts-- maybe millions of them.  (p.192-193)

Reading this preposterous tale makes me want to shout, "How can evangelicals be captivated with such a book as this?  How can they believe this heresy?"  I recall Dr. Rob Reimer, CMA pastor and Alliance Seminary professor, relating that this very book took him places he had never been.  Discerning reader, mark this book!  Yes, mark these imaginative stories for they will take you places you've never been, and never should go!

Mark Teresa's Three Movements in the Seventh Mansion:

Ashbrook goes on to detail Teresa's three experiences or movements that are found in the seventh mansion that will stay with us until death.  These are: a unique vision of the trinity (transformation), a unique revelation of Jesus in His humanity (spiritual marriage), and a unique and ongoing relationship forever after (union).  This unique experience of the reality of the Trinity within us is quoted by Ashbrook in Teresa's words. (p.194)  Ashbrook summarizes it this way, "This Trinitarian vision is unique, different from anything we may have experienced before. ...  Unlike past visions ... this remains present within our heart.  ...  But we know, from this time forward, that the three Persons of the Trinity are there, within us." 

Mark Abigail's Marriage Mansion Meeting:

Abigail comes into her Trinitarian vision at an art gallery where she sat contemplating a painting of a bride, standing beneath a flowered archway, awaiting her bridegroom.  In the midst of her contemplation a man in a white wedding tuxedo appeared to her.  In her heart she said, "Jesus!"  Rising up she took her Groom's hand as he looked into her eyes with intense adoration.  She felt like swooning.  He spoke to her in her heart saying, "I have loved you ...  I want us to live together in a personal way."  It seemed like time was frozen.  After what seemed forever she opened her eyes to see He was gone.

Then she heard these distinct words, "We love you, Abigail."  She looked up to see three figures in the middle of the room.  Tom wrote, "Jesus reached out put her hand in the Father's, and the Spirit wrapped around them like a shawl of living Light.  They were three and yet one. 'We have made our home in you Abigail,' they said in unison, 'Make your home in us.'"

I ask you, discerning reader, if you can recall any Biblical reference where after contemplating icons or art work that we're mystically united with the Trinity? Of this Teresian idea Tom comments, "This Trinitarian Vision is unique ... Teresa calls it an 'intellectual vision.'  It is different because we don't
experience the Trinity imaginatively or visually with our eyes, but we 'see' in our heart." In contrast, the scriptures describe the Holy Spirit coming to reside in us when we first accept Christ as our personal Savior. (Romans 5:8,9; John 14:16-17; I Cor. 2:12)

Mark These Biblical Meditations That Promise Us More

Are you longing for something more?  Something much more than Teresa's "timeless roadmap,"TheInterior Castle, with its many mystical mansions?  Something much more than Thomas Ashbrook's
Mansions of the Heart with its mega doses of Catholic contemplative methods?  That something more can only be found in Jesus Christ, and in his forever Word.  Fall in love with the Word--meditate on it and as the Psalmist penned, "O how I love thy law. It is my meditation all the day;" (Psalm 119:97) and "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation (Psalm 119:99)."

Learn to Discern Granny Verses:  Psalm 119: 103, 104

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way."









  

The Georgi Vins' Story: The Gospel in Bonds (A Book Review)

The Gospel in Bonds by Georgi Vins is a riveting book that you won't be able to put down.
This astounding story tells how persecuted U.S.S.R Baptist pastor Georgi Vins survived eight
years in Russian gulags.  Now, if you're supposing this to be a depressing tale, be ready to
be uplifted and blessed by Vins' vibrant faith which he demonstrated day after day.

Siberian Sparrows

Vins' prison saga begins with a little chapter simply entitled "The Birds" telling of some small
Siberian sparrows to whom Vins fed a few crumbs.  These "dear little birds" reminded Vins that
even at a remote Siberian prison he was not forgotten for as the words of the Lord Jesus say, "...
ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:31)

Mini-Gospel Stories

Of all the wonderful stories in this awesome book those about the treasured mini-Gospels touched
me the most.  For some "mini descriptions" of these episodes please read below.

Vins Meets Victor

In the course of his imprisonment Vins met Victor.  Victor had a mini-Gospel.  Victor hid it
beneath his pillow, but not before Vins saw the mini-Gospel.  How Vins rejoiced that a Gospel had made it into one of the darkest places in Russia. (c.4)

The Mark Mini-Gospel

Vins' family came to visit.  They brought a mini-Gospel of Mark.  Vins wondered exactly how best
to hide it.  He then decided on sewing it into his undershirt.  Amazingly, the little palm-sized Gospel, published secretly by the Christian Publishing House, was not found by the guards.  And it was this
miniature Mark Gospel that was preserved throughout the remainder of Vins' incarceration. (c.10)

Bible Book in Boots

At the same time the mini-Gospel was smuggled in, some other Gospel of John pages were also
secreted in holes that Victor had previously placed under the heels of Vins' boots.  These precious
pages too escaped the prying eyes of the guard.  Later on, Victor retrieved the boot pages, smoothed them out, bound them, and even fashioned a cover for them. (c. 10,11)

Mini-Gospel for Mikhail

Victor was so excited about the Mark mini-Gospel that as soon as he could he borrowed it to give
it to a young man named Mikhail.  Before his imprisonment Mikhail's wife had had a Christian up-bringing.  Mikhail at that time had had no time for Gospels, but now Mikhail gladly read that little mini-Gospel for himself. (c.11)

High Voltage Room Gospel

For a time the mini Mark Gospel was borrowed, and hidden in the high voltage area by Vins' fellow electrician Yahov.  Yahov, too, was most interested in Vins' Lord.  And so during Yakov's year in prison he would isolate himself in the high voltage room to read and read.  After Yakov's year was
up Vins gave him an address of believers in his home town fervently praying young Yakov would soon accept the Lord as his Savior. (c.12)

Stephan's Invincible Truth

Stephan also got to read the little Gospel.  After reading it all Stephan remarked, "Truth is defenseless, but it is invincible."  Asking him what he meant by that Stephan told Vins, "Jesus
Christ lived, was crucified, and died.  But ... he arose.  And ... there are Christians who love and believe Him and are willing to suffer for His teachings.  That confirms that truth is invincible.
... Jesus Christ cannot be destroyed!  Faith in God is great power!  That's why I say truth is
defenseless but also invincible." (c.13)

Gospel in the Garbage

Riding along in the prisoner train corridor several, including Vins, were to be searched.  Just ahead
of Vins the guard were especially harsh with a frail old man.  Saddened, Vins intervened knowing because of this action his own life could be at risk.  Startled by his audacity the guards stopped harming the old man, and turned on Vins.  Rifling through Vins' bag a guard came across his mini-Gospel.  Sneering the guard tossed the tiny Gospel into the garbage.  Vins retrieved it.  Enraged the guard vowed to rip it apart until another officer rescued Vins' beloved Gospel.  Once more the mini-Gospel had been preserved!  (c.14)

The Murderers Read the Mark Gospel

Cursed, and mocked Vins stood among "the murderers" having been thrust into their cell after a lengthy transport.  It you're a Christian someone shouted, "Prove it!  Let's see your Bible!"  "Should
I reveal my little Gospel?" Vins wondered.  He did!  The murderers murmured, "It's so tiny!"  Soon a skinny man, and others were seated at a table listening to a man in a black sweater read aloud from its pages. And so began Vins' week with "the murderers" who were in awe of that holy book.  Vin, also, was in awe how a Gospel had touched and changed them. (c.15,16)

Little Gospel Left in Prison

Before Vins left Novosibirsk the man in the black sweater pleaded, "Give us this gospel.  Your God will give you many more Bibles and Gospels ..."  Some time later in America Vins wrote, "Today I have many Bibles, many Gospels, but my little Gospel of Mark remained behind bars in Siberia.  What became of my Gospel in bonds?  What became of those men in the murderers' cell? ... I won't learn about that until I get to heaven." (c.18)

These stories were so compelling I composed a little poem about Vins' treasured Gospel.

Mini-Mark-Gospel

Vins' treasure book
Mini-Mark-Gospel-
Fit in the palm book,
Sewn in the shirt book,
Hidden from sight book-
Mini-Mark-Gospel.

Vins' treasure book
Mini-Mark-Gospel-
Hidden in nooks book,
Shared with murderers,
n' crooks book-
Mini-Mark-Gospel.

Vins' treasure book
Mini-Mark-Gospel-
Better than gold book,
Never grow old book,
Best story told book-
Mini-Mark-Gospel!

The Rest of the Story

Read the rest of the story about Georgi--his rescue from prison, his relocation to the United States, his restoration with his family, his return to the homeland, and his relentless proclamation of the gospel.
His final poem titled: "Christ and Russia" summarizes Vins' heart--forever sharing and forever caring for his beloved Russian people.

Great Tool for Church School

What a terrific book for children/youth--be it for church school, or homeschooling.  As a teacher
I can imagine giving each student a miniature Bible after telling, or reading the story.  How very
easy it would be also to assemble a Mini Vins Book complete with small objects/photos/drawings to illustrate the story episodes.

Filled with Photos

This book comes alive with its wonderful photos showing Vins' family, as well as various prison
sites.  Even the "Epilogue" includes intriguing photographs of Alexander and Natasha (Vins) Velichkin's present work serving the Lord in Siberia.

Georgi's Prison Poetry

Highlighted throughout the book, and especially in "Prison Poems and the Stories Behind Them"
(c.25) are many of Georgi's poems.  A favorite of mine would have to be the poignant poem
"Obstacles."  Stanza two reads:

Storms shrieked of death and destruction,
And there seemed no appeasing their lust;
Then, I heard from those pages so sacred,
Whispers, "Trust" and again "Only trust."

A Faith-Filled Read

Would I recommend you purchase this book?  I would answer in one word-yes!  For through its pages you'll be inspired and moved by Vins' great love for the Word.  And hopefully, you'll be challenged to rely on the Word in a greater measure in your own walk. Vins' final "Obstacles"
stanza says it all:

O the Bible--God's good news from heaven,
A celestial, inspired melody;
I don't know of a Book more amazing
And how precious its song is to me!

One Last Thought

What an amazing testimony!  How Vins loved his Bible.  How Vins loved his Gospel.  How Vins loved his Lord.  May we too, learn to treasure the precious holy word of God for as Psalm 19:10 says its words are, "More to be desired ... than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  Psalm 119:72

"The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver."


Terrific Lighthouse Trails Resources

Just like this book, Lighthouse Trails Publishers offer more really powerful reads--books that will truly enrich and encourage you in your spiritual growth.  To order Vins' book, or any of the other many inspiring books click here.  http://www.lighthousetrails.com/












    

Pay Attention to Leighton Ford's The Attentive Life (A Book Review)

"Pay attention" is the watchword of this book.  And "pay attention" is what I would like to challenge the reader to do.  Pay attention and awaken to who Ford once was.  Pay attention and awaken to who Ford now is.  In addition, pay attention to "the hours of our lives, " and to the "ones who pay attention."  Finally, pay attention to the poets, authors, priests, and contemplatives Ford champions.

Pay Attention to Who Ford Once Was

Many of you, as did I, recall Billy Graham's familiar radio program "The Hour of Decision."  As a  child part of our Sunday afternoon ritual consisted of listening to Billy.  I can still hear the ending of the program, "That's all the address you need, 'Billy Graham, Minneapolis, Minnesota.'"  I can further remember that, now and then, rather than Billy preaching, a young evangelist named Leighton Ford ably proclaimed the gospel in Billy's place.

Pay Attention to Who Ford Now Is

So imagine my complete shock, when reviewing the Ruth Haley Barton book Strengtheningthe Soulof Your Leadership I read Leighton Ford's foreword which he was writing, from a Roman Catholic oratory garden, while seated beside a pagan labyrinth. 

How did Ford get to such a place as an oratory?  Ford tells us, in this book, in his own words.  Ford begins, "My work has largely focused on evangelism- 'making friends for God.' ... But a shift has taken place."  "But now," Ford relates, "is a time to pay more attention to my own heart, to deepen my own friendship with God, and to walk with others who want to do the same."  Ford also shares, "The deepest longing I have is to come home to my own heart ..."  (p.10-11)

Ford goes on, "If the first part of my own journey involved longing, the second has encompassed mainly looking --coming to important parts of my soul, bring my real self before the real God, and discovering prayer, as Simone Weil put it, as 'absolute attention.'" (p.12)  To achieve these goals Ford writes, "It has meant exploring other ways: silence, stillness, art and poetry, reading Scripture not by going through great chunks but by meditating on smaller portions, listening carefully to God and my own heart, having a trusted spiritual companion as a friend on the journey." (p.14)

Pay Attention to the Benedictine Hours

Ford introduces us to "The Benedictine Hours" and to Benedict who became, according to Ford,
"a shepherd of souls."  This soul shepherd became "St. Benedict" to whom Catholics now pray and worship.  Consider this "Novena to St. Benedict" which begins "Glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God's grace!  Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet.  I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God. ... I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my prayer and obtain for me the special grace and favor I earnestly implore (name it). ..." (p.20)
https://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/benedict.htm

Pay Attention to David Steindl-Rast's Connection to The Benedictine Hours

Ford tells us that his first experience of the hours came at a retreat at the lovely monastery--Mepkin
Abbey in the low country of South Carolina.  But, it wasn't just from Mepkin that Ford learned about the hours.  It was from a book-- The Music of Silence:  A Sacred Journey through the Hours of the Day by David Steindl-Rast and Sharon Lebell.

In his notes Ford records, "It's well worth reading The Music of Silence to understand 'the canonical hours.'" (p. 213)  Yes, it is well worth reading, not to note the canonical hours however, but to examine precisely who Steindl-Rast and Lebell really are, and what they are all about.

Preview the book at Amazon.com books.  Pay close attention to whose endorsement is front and center below the book image--prominent mindfulness proponent Jack Kornfield.  Then read Kornfield's comment, "Music of Silence shows how to incorporate the sacred meaning of monastic living into everyday life by following the natural rhythm of the hours of the day.  The book tells how mindfulness and prayer can reconnect us with sources of joy ..."

Steindl-Rast writes The Music of Silence with Sharon Lebell.  Lebell is best known for her philosophical book: The Art of Living by Epictitus Transaltion.  Endorsements on the back by Jack Kornfield, Slyvia Boorstein, and Huston Smith tell us more about Lebell.  Korenfield says, "A treasury ... of good advice, wise as a grandfather, earthy as Tao."  Smith writes, "This ... classic -- is the West's counterpart to Buddhism's ... Dhammapada-- ..."  Boorstein notes, "Epictitus sounds like the Buddha."

In the introduction foreword writer Kathleen Norris (p.XVII) enthuses, "Brother David Steindl-Rast challenges us to recognize that this appreciation of time is available to anyone willing to see what Buddhists term 'beginner's mind' and simply pay attention."

In Music of Silence the authors write, "From the monastic perspective, time is a series of ... encounters.  We live in the now by attuning ourselves to the calls of each moment ... "  The authors also state, "In the monastery everything in space and time is so arranged that it fosters mindfulness ..." (p.5)

Spirituality and Practice's Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat in their review of The Music of Silence say, "The text is designed to speak to the monk in each of us, tapping into our yearning for a full appreciation of the present moment ..." 

At the end of the book its publishers' Seastone/Ulysses Press advertise such titles as Einstein and Buddhism; The 7 Healing Chakras, What Would Buddha Do? among other similar titles.

Now, Ford references Steindl-Rast fourteen times in The Attentive Life  with much of his work built round The Music of Silence.  How very sad that someone with Ford's background and history would use such a book--what a total travesty!
http://www.amazon.com/Music-Silence-Sacred-Journey-through/dp/1569752974

Pay Attention to Steindl-Rast's Past Connections to Buddhism

Who is Steindl-Rast really?  To begin, he's been a Benedictine monk of the Mount Savior Monastery in Elmira, New York for over fifty years.  And as a Vatican endorsed delegate he's been  into Buddhist-Christian dialogue.  Besides, as a recipient of the Martin Buber Award, he's been a bridge builder between religions.  He's also studied with well-known Zen teachers such as Shunyru Suzuki Roshi.  He's also co-authored The Ground We Share: Buddhist and Christian Practice  with Robert Aiken Roshi.

Pay Attention to Steindl-Rast's Present Connections to Mindfulness

Presently, reports Gratefulness.org, Brother David serves a world wide Network for Grateful Living.  Some of Brother David's recent events have included: "The Greater Good Gratitude Summit" with mindfulness advocate Jack Kornfield (June, 2014); "Wisdom 2 Conference" with conversations in yoga and mindfulness with speakers as Arianna Huffington, Eckhart Tolle, Roshi Joan Halifax, Jon Kabit-Zin and more (February 2014); and "Beyond Religion" with the Dalai Lama and Fr. Thomas Keating (October 2012).
http://www.gratefulness.org/brotherdavid/

Pay Attention to the Rock Hill Oratory

I first read about Ford at The Oratory in Ford's foreword to Ruth Haley Barton's book Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership  (2008).  In that foreword Ford describes The Oratory like this, "... I'm at: The Oratory, a retreat and ministry center in Rock Hill that has become for me a regular sacred place of listening and renewal for my own soul." (p.9)

Is "The Oratory" just a retreat, a ministry center as Ford relates?  The answer would be no; for The Rock Hill Oratory is a Roman Catholic religious society of secular priests who live in religious communities but do not take vows.

Pay Attention to the Oratory Story

The Rock Hill Oratory was founded in 1934, and is part of a federation of sixty independent houses across the United States.  Rock Hill has the distinction of being the oldest and largest house in the United States.  Rock Hill also serves other churches including Our Lady of Grace, St. Mary Catholic Church, St. Philip of Neri Catholic Church, and four others.

This religious society was founded by St. Philip of Neri in Rome who was canonized in 1622 along with St. Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Isidore the Farmer.  St. Philip is known for his catacomb prayer time when it's recorded that the Holy Spirit descended into his heart as a fire ball.  From that time Philip felt his heart had dilated and filled with heat.  After his death, it is said, an autopsy showed his heart was enlarged and that two ribs were broken to make room for it.
http://www.rockhilloratory.net/

Pay Attention to the Oratory Spiritual Director

In The Attentive Life in chapter three "Daybreak" Ford introduces us to "my friend David, whom I was asking to be my spiritual director." (p.66)  Ford also relates that David is "my spiritual companion." (p.67)  Exactly who is "David?"  Ford's "In Attention to Gratitude" (p.224-225) unlocks a bit more when Ford acknowledges that "David Valtiera, a special companion on my journey, has helped me to pay attention."  Where did these meetings take place?  "at The Oratory, Rock Hill, South Carolina."

Further information as to how often he frequented the Oratory can be found  in his 2011 booklet "The Mentoring Community of Leighton Ford Ministries" by Leighton Ford.  He states, after a period of dark times, and dark waters, "I eventually discovered a small community called The Oratory, the center of a Christian ministry to the city and nearby university (Winthrop University).  David Valtiera was their spiritual leader and became my own spiritual companion.  Several times a year for over a decade I spent a day at The Oratory, in quiet reflection and prayer, and in conversation with David."  Ford does not tell us that David was a Catholic priest, nor that The Oratory is a Catholic organization.

With a bit more digging into The Oratory Story one can read that "David" was Fr. David Valtiera, CO who served as the Winthrop University Newman Apostolate Director; he was also a sacramental priest of St. Mary's.  Fr. David also directed The Oratory's Center for Spirituality.

It's quite interesting to note that Ford, upon launching his present "Mentoring Community," mentioned that " ... it was fitting ... that a small group of us met at the  Oratory to plan and to pray for his new initiative." (p.11)

Fr. David had a special admiration for Cardinal Newman.  Ford, too, seems to have adopted this admiration for he features John Henry Cardinal Newman's prayer from A Catholic Prayer Book in
The Attentive Life Appendix.  (p.210)
http://www.rockhilloratory.net/deceased-members/father-david-valtierra/

A Discernment Memo:  In many contemplative books the true identity of various people such as monks or priests is hidden.  And this is one reason why one should always take time to check into the backgrounds of people, places, and practices named in current books.  To be an earnest contender requires one, as Proverbs 2:3 says, to cry out for discernment-- to want to go the extra mile to ferret out truth!

Pay Attention to "The Qualities of Attentiveness"

Ford writes, in chapter one, "Poets, writers, artists, naturalists all help us to understand what it means to "attend" and to think of attentiveness in many ways."  Ford, I might add, should also name contemplatives, mystics, and priests and nuns which he frequently uses.  In fact, of the lengthy list of persons that he considers models of attentiveness few could be considered genuine born-again Christians.  Over, and over I am struck by the kinds of people Ford uses as examples; and by the potential paths they lead naïve readers down.  (p.37)  Colossians 2:8 sounds a warning to each of us to "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ."

Note Ford's first quality of attentiveness--"Being fully present to the moment."  Speaking of "attentiveness" Spirituality and Practice* has an ABC list of spiritual practices starting with "Attention" which is defined like this, "Attention is also known as mindfulness, awareness, concentration, recollection.  It is a primary practice, and not just alphabetically."
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/practices.php?id=1

*Spirituality and Practice is a New Age, or Spirituality multi-faith site filled practices/spiritual teachers that discerning Christians can immediately red flag as pursuits/persons we must steer clear of.  Very sadly, many of the people and books Ford quotes can found at this site warning the reader that if Spirituality and Practice sanctions them run!

Other attentiveness qualities listed by Ford include: looking long enough; looking freshly at what is familiar; being available; becoming aware; waiting with expectancy; being mindful; and being wakeful. (pp.37-39)

Ford follows his attentiveness qualities with a section entitled "Stepping into Attentiveness" where Ford writes "attentiveness" certainly is a call of God, and he hopes to awaken more and more to it.  Here he suggests we pay attention to the words of professor emeritus of the University of St. Mary at Mundelein Seminary, Sr. Agnes Cunningham SSCM.  Cunningham is the Mother Superior of the Holy Heart of Mary Convent in Champlain, Illinois.  Sad so sad, Ford uses words from  a Catholic nun to teach us how to be attentive. (p.44)

Pay Attention to Some Who Practice Mindfulness

Belden C. Lane

Ford quotes Dr. Belden C. Lane, Presbyterian pastor and professor emeritus of Theological Studies at St. Louis University, in an article "Desert Attentiveness, Desert Indifference: Countercultural Spirituality in the Desert Fathers and Mothers from Cross Currents as saying, "No one lasts in the desert without constant attentiveness to exterior and interior landscapes alike.  One must keep an eye out for landmarks." (p.44)

In his notes (p.215) Ford adds more of Lane's quote where Lane stresses the importance of staying attuned to one's inner condition, or as the desert fathers and mothers called it agrupnia, the spiritual discipline of 'wakefulness' ..." (p.215)  Ford also includes a Belden Lane story from his book:
The Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality.  (p.105/p.218)

Who is the real Belden Lane you may ask?  "Mindfulness at Moonshine Hollow," (September 16, 2014) from Tricycle magazine will enlighten us.  In it Lane explains how he hikes into the Moonshine Hollow glen to practice mindfulness.  He also says he comes to practice contemplative prayer-- that kind of prayer that "gets you out of your head entirely."  This prayer is a deeper practice of mindfulness instructs Lane.  He writes, "The mindfulness that wild terrain evokes is actually a sort of 'mindlessness,' an end-run round rational analysis that seeks an immediate presence."

Lane continues, "The mindfulness that wilderness provokes is able to draw me out of the buzz of my incessant, internal conversation with myself.  Like Vipassana meditation in Buddhist practice, it urges my seeing reality as it truly is."  This article was printed from Lane's soon to be released book: Backpacking with Saints: Wilderness Hiking as Spiritual Practice.  In short, Lane is just another in Ford's long list of those we must not pay attention to!
http://www.tricycle.com/blog/mindfulness-moonshine-hollow

David G. Benner

Ford quotes Benner positively (as well as his wife Juliet Benner) in his book. (pp. 84/97) Ford also names Benner/Crabb's book: Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship and Direction, IVP, 2004 as a resource one would find helpful in spiritual mentoring. ("Some Frequently Asked Questions from online booklet The Mentoring Community of Leighton Ford  Ministries.  (p.52)

If you've read my previous Benner blog book reviews you'll be familiar with how dangerous and deceptive Benner is. Presently, Benner has deepened his deceptive writings by delving into mindfulness and heartfulness.  In "Heartfulness" (August 1, 2014) Benner notes, "Interest in meditation has introduced many in the West to an extremely valuable spiritual practice--mindfulness.  However, there is another closely related practice ... I call it heartfulness. ... To be heartful means ... to have brought your mind down into your heart."

How can one become heartful and practice heartfulness?  "Just release the egoic mind," writes Benner, "and with deep exhalation, sink into your center--a place where you-in-God and God-in-you cannot be easily teased apart.  This is the place ... Centering prayer ... takes you.  It is already within you. ..."  This comes from a new book Benner is writing which is provisionally entitled:
Human Being and Becoming.  Reader, beware of mindfulness and beware of so called 'evangelicals' as Benner.  Beware of The Attentive Life/The Mentoring Community that will lead you onto dangerous paths.
http://www.drdavidgbenner.ca/heartfulness-2/

Linda Stone

In chapter five, "The Active Life," Leighton Ford begins with a Linda Stone quotation: "We live in an age of continuous partial attention." Dr. Stone, however, is an advocate of mindfulness to counteract "continuous partial attention."  Mindfulness Training Toronto states, "Linda Stone, a successful business professional coined the phrase 'Continuous Partial Attention' ... the way many of us spend our time and use our ability to attend to our task on a daily basis. ... Daily mindfulness practice, both formal (sitting) and informal (being mindful on a moment-to-moment basis during any task) offer us an alternative to this state of being always- somewhat there ..."  Stone's quote, you might note, is above one from "Dallas Willard" and  "Jesus." (p.100)

Fr. Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O.

Ford refers to Father Thomas Keating six times.  In "Practicing Attentiveness: Guard of the Heart" Ford writes Thomas Keating recommends a practice he calls "guard of the heart" which could simply be called "mindfulness." (p.160)

Ford writes Keating practices "guard of the heart" as "a way to note and release emotions that weigh us down."  According to Keating one way to deal with these emotions is to turn back to whatever we are doing.  Ford expresses it this way, "So I pay attention to the feelings.  Accept them.  Let them go.  And turn my attention to what comes next." 

Spirituality For Life "Contemplative Path" commented on the "guard of the heart practice" like this.  "Practice mindfulness.  Keating uses the words, 'practice guard of the heart.' This is the practice of releasing upsetting emotions into the present moment."

The Garrison Institute, Garrison, NY, of which Keating is one of the institute's founding spiritual advisors, and a co-founder of the international Centering Prayer movement, published an interview (2008) entitled "Mindfulness and Heartfulness: An Interview with Father Thomas Keating."  Keating was asked to give similarities and differences between Centering Prayer and mindfulness meditation.  Keating replied, "Mindfulness is a wonderful practice and has been refined and honed over the ages. ... Mindfulness meditation is about consciousness, it emphasizes the mind.  Christian contemplative practices emphasize the heart and Heartfulness."

Keating's definition of heartfulness was: "Heartfulness is the cultivation of interior silence in relation to ultimate reality, what in the Abrahamic traditions is called God."  The interviewer asked what the relationship was between "mindfulness" and "heartfulness?"  Keating replied, "According to my understanding of Hebrew religion and mindfulness, they are meant to include both mind and heart in the deeper seat of human consciousness. ... Contemplative traditions are moving toward the integration of both sides--mindfulness and heartfulness."  So says the interviewer, " ... do you see a convergence between 'meditation' and 'contemplation?'"  Keating answers, "What the Eastern traditions call meditation is called contemplation in the Western tradition called contemplation.  They are basically the same thing."
Discerning reader:  Beginning with David Steindl-Rast, and throughout the book pay attention to the mindfulness threads that are woven into this book.
http://www.garrisoninstitute.org/component/docman/doc_view/39-mindfulness-and-heartfulness-an-interview-with-father-thomas-keating?Itemid=66

Pay Attention to the Portable Prayer Labyrinth

In chapter two, "The Birthing Hour" we find Ford introducing the reader to "The Labyrinth."  This particular labyrinth was canvas with an embroidered rose in its center, and modeled after the labyrinth embedded in the floor of the ancient cathedral in Chartes, France.

Ford indicates this "prayer walk" was held at a local church --perhaps Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC-- of which Ford is quite familiar having spoken there.  Ford's own home church, by the way, is Myer's Park Presbyterian (U.S.A.)   Find details of Myers Park UM's labyrinth
under its "Spiritual Formation" section.

Ford says the labyrinth leader of the day explained that labyrinths weren't "a fad," nor were they "New Age."  The labyrinth, Ford informs us, "is a spiritual tool, a prescribed path, a sort of 'embodied prayer' meant to help us put aside our chattering and cluttered mind, and walk deeply in the presence of God." (p.51)

Not "New Age?"  Carl Teichrib in The Labyrinth Journey states otherwise. (p.4)  Teichrib writes, "...it's been  (the labyrinth) part of the esoteric world for a very long time.  Which is why, today, labyrinth walks and 'prayer journeys' are being promoted by Rosicrucian groups, at New Age festivals and celebrations and throughout the neo-pagan New Age World ..."  Even "the Pagan Spirit Gathering at Wisteria, OH, holds a nighttime Summer Solstice Labyrinth ritual, ..." (pp. 4-5)
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/labyrinth.htm

Ford's labyrinth definition mentions "embodied prayer."  What is this?  According to S. McArthur, of
First Presbyterian Church, Silver City, N.M.: "it is connecting with our bodies as instruments of prayer, and opening to the Spirit who resides both within and beyond our bodies."  Jon M. Sweeney also writes of embodied prayer from such spiritual traditions as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.  And Daniel Wolpert says, "Embodied prayer is about awareness and listening, in this case the body."  Fr. Thomas Ryan even suggests "Yoga Prayer."  Bottom line, beware of "embodied prayer"-- do not embrace it!
https://shirinmcarthur.wordpress.com/about/

http://www.amazon.com/Praying-Our-Hands-Practices-Traditions/dp/1893361160/ref=la_B001JRXOE2_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415992676&sr=1-12

In this same labyrinth explanation Ford says this prayer path will "help us put aside our chattering and cluttered minds."  Similar meditative terminology can be found in Nancy J. Napier's Sacred Practices for Conscious Living chapter "Mindfulness" where Napier talks about the monkey mind that scampers here, there, and everywhere distracting our meditation.  Most assuredly, Leighton Ford is leading his readers and mentees down dangerous paths.

Pay Attention of Two of Ford's Favorite Poets

Mary Oliver

Ford is enamored with Unitarian Universalist poet Mary Oliver who partnered with literary agent Molly Cook for forty years.  Oliver's "Instructions for Living:" really move Ford.  In fact, they made such an impression he shared them with readers of The Attentive Life, as well as with an incoming Gordon Conwell Seminary president. 

Isn't it a pity that someone whom Ford so admires and quotes is a lady who says she doesn't know how to pray, writes of the Buddha, states salvation is unknowable, and hopes one can have faith.  Besides, she's a poet that's often featured on Buddhist and Mindfulness web pages.

Check out "The Only Chance to Love This World" from Buddhist Mindfulness in MaryOliver Poetry by Gisela Ullyatt.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/%22The+Only+Chance+to+Love+This+World%22%3A+Buddhist+mindfulness+in+Mary...-a0264761126

May Sarton

Seven times Ford names May Sarton's poem: "Now I Become Myself" as something he especially relates to.  Reminiscent of Ruth Haley Barton, and David G. Benner, Ford, as he reads the poem, ruminates about his deepest self, his true self, and his own heart.

May, like Mary, was a Unitarian Universalist. For more about the real May Sarton read Dr. Mark K. Fulk's 2012 lecture "Sarton as Poet and Secular Contemplative."  Spirituality and Practice also has a Sarton review.
http://goodalehillpress.com/?p=307

Discerning Reader Note:  To find out more information about Universalist Unitarians see:
http://www.uua.org/

Pay Attention to Ones Who Paid Attention

Simone Weil

Leighton Ford has been wowed by activist, French philosopher, and mystic Simone Weil.  Ford records in capital letters, "I OWE A DEBT TO SIMONE WEIL ... this remarkable French woman ..."  Why?  Ford informs us that it was Simone's definition of prayer as "absolute attention."  But was Simone Weil a true "apostle of spiritual life" as Ford suggests in "Simone Weil on a Postage Stamp?" (p. 48)

Just who was Simone Weil?  History records that she was raised in an agnostic Jewish family in France.  In "An Encounter with Simone Weil" trailer Weil was named as a philosopher, labor activist, teacher, factory worker, journalist, revolutionary, soldier, anarchist, mystic, jew, and catholic.

Ford purports Weil became a "believer in Christ" most likely referring to Weil's ecstatic experience she had at Assisi where for the first time in she prayed.  This was followed by a greater revelation while she was repeating George Herbert's  poem "Love III" during which she said, "Christ came down and took possession of her."  Ford also wrote that this time "when the presence came" she understood prayer was a special kind of attention.  This kind of "attention" sounds a lot like St. Teresa of Avila's ecstatic encounters.

Ford said, "Weil never became a baptized Christian," or should we say a baptized "Roman Catholic."  Ford went on, "she believed she could witness to her faith ... as a follower of Christ, as a bridge between the official church who was not enamored with formal religion."  Ford would have us surmise that Weil was someone who was truly born again, and was a genuine believer. (p.48)

However, Wikipedia tells more of Simone's story.  It says, "She was  attracted to Roman Catholicism, but declined to be baptized; preferring to remain outside due to 'the love of those things outside Christianity.'"  It goes on to say, "Weil did not limit her curiosity to Christianity.  She was keenly interested in other religious traditions--especially the Greek and Egyptian mysteries; Hinduism (especially the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita); and Mahayana Buddhism.  She believed that all these traditions contained elements of genuine revelation ..."  Sandra Lipton posted a "Simone Weil Bibliography" entitled "Simone and Buddhism" listing some articles and books on this topic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Weil

A Gratefulness.org (David Steindl-Rast's site) article "Simone Weil: Philosopher and Mystic" by Robert Ellsburg relates Simone's saga.  Speaking of the fact she had chosen not to be baptized Ellsburg wrote, "There were other reservations that held her back from formal conversion.  At heart she was attracted to the pure spirituality she perceived in Greek philosophy ... she was equally repulsed by everything contaminated ... by the spirit of Imperial Rome-- ..."  Caryl Johnson in "Starvation of a Witness" adds, "She became ... --a convert--almost.  The heritage of Rome--and that of the Old Testament--held her back ... The Old Testament remained for her a 'tissue of horrors'..."  Johnson goes on saying, " ... She could not make it to the Resurrection: '... if the Gospel omitted all mention of Christ's Resurrection, faith would be easier for me. The cross by itself suffices me."
http://www.gratefulness.org/giftpeople/SimoneWeil.htm

http://www.southerncrossreview.org/15/weil.htm

While Weil very well may be a fascinating figure, was Weil someone we should be paying attention to?  I think the answer ought to be evident!

Hwee Hwee Tan

Hwee, Hwee Tan is, writes Ford, --someone who pays attention--and some one, Ford says, we must pay attention to.  Should we--pay attention to Hwee?  Why not?  For starters, the 2008 copy of  The Attentive Life (pp. 198-199) said Hwee Hwee Tan was a "he."  However, research reveals that Hwee Hwee Tan is very much a "she."  Discovering this, I wrote to the IVP editor.  I received a reply stating yes Tan was a she; and these errors were being corrected in the latest edition.

Next, in the notes I saw the essay title "In Search of the Lotus Land" from the Image Journal from which Ford took this example.  Intrigued I read it.  In it Tan speaks of traveling about searching for God in such places as a Safari Spiritual Quest, or a Feathered Pipe Ranch.  But if one, like Tan, lives in the icky city we must learn like Christians and Zen Buddhists to see God in all things.  That's why Tan says, "the artist is like a mystic."

Now, Tan's most regenerative trip, according to the essay, was taken in Rome, Italy.  Here she learned the truth, "You are what you contemplate."  From this experience we learn how Tan hops about from Christianity to Zen and back again.  Also, we learn that Tan embraced mystical experiences.

Back in NYC, inside the Statue of Liberty, or the "copper lady" as Tan describes her, Tan is once again sightseeing when she has an "ecstatic epiphany."  Tan mourns she is always desiring another fix, but maybe she ought to just be like a Zen monk happy in any place.
http://imagejournal.org/page/journal/articles/issue-30/tan-essay

Hwee Hwee's Facebook pages, and blogs further show Tan as someone who is into positive thinking, and the prosperity gospel.  She venerates such men as Joel Osteen and Joseph Prince.  She quotes
Jesus Calling.  At the same time, the "Eckhart Tolle Silent Group" is highlighted on her page.  Is this woman someone we should pay attention to?

This example alone underscores how very important it is to do your homework--get into the notes, the quotes, and the background of such persons discerning whether they are Biblically sound!  Remember as Jude asserts, we need to earnestly contend for the faith!!

Pay Attention To These Ford Favorites

Father Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I.

Just like Ruth Haley Barton, Ford quotes Ronald Rolheiser.  But Rolheiser, as you can read in "Have I Been Saved" mocks the gospel, and does not see the need for salvation through faith alone.  Rather Ronald Rolheiser asserted, Theresa (incorrectly spelled) of Avila suggests that we're mature in following Christ if our questions and concerns no longer have a self-focus: Am I saved? Have I met Jesus Christ? ... Our real question needs to be: How can I be helpful?"
http://ronrolheiser.com/have-i-been-saved/#.VGZpryx0wfg

Rolheiser in Pope Francis'"Ten Secrets to Happiness" synthesized the Pope's points in his own words.  For point seven, "Respect and take care of nature." Rolheiser relates, "Christ came to save the world, not just the people in the world.  Our salvation, like our happiness, is tied to the way we treat the earth."  For point nine, "Don't proselyte, respect others beliefs." Rolheiser writes, "What we cherish and put our faith into grows 'by attraction, not by proselytizing.'"  For point ten, "Work for peace." Rolheiser states, "Waging peace ... is to accept in God's house there are many rooms and that all faiths, not least our own, are meant to be a house of prayer for all peoples."
http://ronrolheiser.com/ten-secrets-to-happiness/#.VGZqQCx0wfg

Ford calls Rolheiser's The Holy Longing  a "fine book."  A fine book- I think not!  Further ponder these Holy Longing quotes from "Spirituality and Practice: Living Teacher's Project: Ronald Rolheiser" to understand why this work is decidedly unbiblical. (p.146)

The Meaning of Being Catholic

"What does it mean to be catholic?  Jesus ... said: 'In my Father's house are many rooms.'  This is not a description of a certain geography in heaven but a revelation of the breath of God's heart. ... God has a Catholic heart--in that catholic means universal, wide, all-encompassing.  The opposite of a catholic is a fundamentalist, a person who has a heart with one room.  Thus, any spirituality of the church needs to emphasize wide loyalties and inclusivity."

But, Matthew 7:13-14 reads, "Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and board is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Heaven

"Heaven, the scriptures assure us, will be enjoyed within the communal embrace of billions of persons of every temperament, race, background, and ideology imaginable.  A universal heart will be required to live there."
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/teachers/teachers.php?id=372&g=1
 
Scriptures do not assure us that a universal heart will be required for entrance into heaven, but scriptures do say that there is but one way--for in John 14:6 Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

Deborah Smith Douglas--Camaldolese  Benedictine Oblate

Ford mentions Deborah Smith Douglas in both chapters six, and seven.  In chapter six "The Noonday Demon," Ford uses Deborah Smith Douglas' term for the midpoint of the day as well as the midpoint of one's life "the noonday demon" as his title.  Notice, just above the Douglas reference Ford says that David Steindl-Rast refers to "high noon" as "the hour of the noonday devil."  (p.116)

Ford also notes that Deborah Smith writes that as we enter midlife that we must stay awake, and remain faithful.  Douglas reiterated this in her interview (below) by saying we must be present, and be faithful.  (p.122)

A good overview of who Deborah Smith Douglas is can be heard on "The Student Life," a radio interview (2009) done by Judy Alexander.  During the interview Douglas declares she would have been a Jesuit in another life.  But, for now she is a spiritual director; retreat leader and speaker; Episcopal lay leader; Calmaldolese Benedictine oblate; Ignatian Spiritual Exercise follower; St. Benedict's "Rule of Life" proponent; essay writer for Weavings; The Praying Life author; Commonweal (Catholic magazine) author; "Friends of Silence" member; and Gratefulness practitioner.  Interesting to note, too, that as a Gratefulness practitioner, Douglas quotes, David Steindl-Rast in her March/April 2008 article: "Thanks Be to God."

Douglas is someone who clearly values Benedict's "Rule of Life" and Ignatian Spirituality.  In fact, oblate Douglas frequents New Camaldoli Immaculate Heart Hermitage in Big Sur, California regularly.  Douglas, along with oblate Paula Huston, and spiritual writer Pico Iyer, even spoke at the 1000 year anniversary at a Calmaldolese World-Wide Assembly.
http://ucistudent.blogspot.com/

Pay Attention to Ford's Mentoring Programs

Ford shares that the loss of his college age son, Sandy, in 1981 changed his life dramatically.  In memory of Sandy, Ford and his wife established scholarships for younger Christian leaders.  A spiritual mentoring community known as the "Arrow Leadership Program" was also started.

Now, as Ford has grown older, this program, still very much in existence, has been given over to others, and Ford has developed a smaller mentoring program known as "The Mentoring Community of Leighton Ford" under the Leighton Ford Ministries.

Ford details the founding of the initial Arrow Leadership Program as "a new ministry of spiritual mentoring for young leaders." (p.10)  He further details this program in his booklet The Mentoring Community saying, "This new chapter was one of identifying and developing the emerging leaders of the world."

Ford recalls that although Arrow was teaching about leadership, evangelism, and communication as time went on the need for one on one time with the young leaders became more evident.  "So," writes Ford, "our ministry -- in evangelism, and of developing evangelism leaders--has flowed quite naturally into the ministry of spiritual mentoring." (pp.15-16 The Mentoring Community)  Ford calls his smaller groups by a Parker Palmer phrase: "circles of trust."

Here again, Ford mixes in a man like Parker Palmer who is on the board of Spirituality and Practice, and whose teachings are suspect.  Read my older Ruth Haley Barton blog here where I write about who Parker really is.
http://www.leightonfordministries.org/images/mentoring/The_Mentoring_Community_Booklet.pdf

It seems Ford began his mentoring program with the best of intentions to further leadership and evangelization, but as time went as the focus changed to spiritual formation and spiritual direction Ford departed into Catholic and contemplative pathways.  And as you'll read The Attentive Life is a testament to that departure filled with references to Catholic saints, priests, nuns, and practices as well as references to secular persons of all stripes. 

Pay Attention to These Long Time Mentees

Pete Scazzero

One very prominent mentee, heavily influenced by Ford, is Pete Scazzero author of the
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality  and the Emotionally Healthy Church.  Pete is the former
lead pastor of New Life Fellowship Church, Queens, NY.  Pete presently travels widely pushing programs centered round his books.  It's also interesting to note that Pete is also now an adjunct professor for the Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, NY.

And as Pete noted in his January 2014 blog he had just made a trip to North Carolina to visit his esteemed mentor of thirty-two years--Leighton Ford.  During this visit Pete also presented his Emotionally Healthy Spirituality program to a group at Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC.  Be aware too that Scazzero's latest updated book has a foreword written by Ford.
http://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/my-five-most-important-lessons-leighton-ford/
https://www.mpumc.org/sermons-and-writings/special-programs.cfm

In his February 2014 blog Pete penned in "Finding Your Voice" that one of our tasks is to find our own voice.  To help with this Pete suggested we prayerfully read Mary Oliver's lovely poem: "The Mockingbird" which Leighton had shared with him.  When we know exactly who Oliver is, and what she practiced and believed how could we use her poem that mentions "his true self" as a jumping off point for a devotional?
http://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/tag/leighton-ford/

Knowing that Scazzero (his wife too--she recently stated The Attentive Life was a gift that kept on giving) was so influenced by Ford for such an extended period of time one can't help but see how deeply Scazzero is into contemplative spirituality; and how very much like Ford Scazzero is with his daily offices, contemplative prayer, silence, and Catholic connections.  Surely, Scazzero is part of Ford's legacy.  This is sad indeed.

Ken Shigematsu

Shigematsu, currently a pastor of Tenth Avenue Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, in Vancouver, BC was first mentored by Ford through the Arrow Leadership Program.  Presently, he's part of the Mentoring Community's Sigdor Group.  As Shigematsu wrote October 12, 2014 he just recently met with Ford for Sigdor's annual meeting.
https://twitter.com/kenshigematsu

Shigematsu, author of God in My Everything (Zondervan, 2013), based on his doctoral work on Roman Catholic St. Benedict of Nursia who developed a basic "rule of life."  And as Shigematsu
shares in his book it was all because of a ten-day pilgrimage with Ford to the holy places of Ireland--namely its monasteries--that he had a "second conversion" when he observed the simple habits of the monks practicing this "rule of life."  From that journey he came home to take up his own practices, and in sharing these experiences he then wrote the book.

Shigematsu, Leighton's special disciple, can only be following his revered mentor for Ford in
The Attentive Life based his book on St. Benedict's rule: "Pray and work;" and St. Benedict's "Divine Hours.  (p.21)  It was on a retreat at the lovely Mepkin Abbey Monastery that Ford discovered these hours.  In his book he issues an invitation to his readers--ala Brother David Steindl-Rast--to practice the hours and to pay attention to God throughout our days. (p.22)

Of his own version of the Benedictine Hours which Ford practices, he wrote, "It is becoming (this practice) a way to rein in my wandering mind and to weave together the inner and outer threads of my life."  (p.23)

Ford's referral to "my wandering mind" reminds me of Shigematsu who says he is so easily distracted with his "chimpanzee mind" with its thoughts rushing about through his head.  So, how does Shigematsu tame his bothersome thoughts?  His answer, "I practice meditation."

You can view Shigematsu's demo of this meditation here.  Watch Shigematsu sit on the floor.  Watch him hold out his hands, and close his eyes.  Watch him as he breathes deeply.  Next he uses the mantra "Wait!" or "Jesus!" over and over.  Shigematsu demonstrates this during an interview podcast he did while he was at an Arrow Leadership gathering in June 2014.
http://www.arrowleadership.org/news/over-325-experience-rhythm-for-a-sustainable-life-and-leadership/

And where was Ken Shigematsu this fall?  Shigematsu was at New Life Fellowship Church, Queens at a leadership conference once more sharing his book and continuing the Ford legacy. For much more on Shigematsu look for my upcoming review of his book on this blog.

Pay Attention to Leighton Ford Now

Just what is Ford doing today?  This short list of the past few years gives a little window into Ford's world today.

Oct. 2014:  Met with Mentoring Community's Sigdor Group for a retreat.

August 2014:  Ford, along with other Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders,  signed on to a Presby-terian Church USA statement calling for renewed negotiations for a two-state solution between Israel and Hamas.
http://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/8/14/clerk-welcoming-ceasefire/

January 2014: Ford shared his five most important life lessons with his long time mentee Pete Scazzero.  Number two said: "Listen to the voice most true to your heart."  Three was: "Be willing to listen to other voices too (secular novelists, ... theologians that differ from you.)"  Most certainly,
Ford's book The Attentive Life follows this lesson filling the book with numerous voices, that we as evangelicals, should not be paying attention to at all.

February 2013:  Ford along with Miroslav Volf, and Enuma Okoro spoke at Myers Park, UM's "Mission to Ministers."  Ford spoke first--and what a stirring talk this was--full of stories, anecdotes, and quotes mixed with scripture with many referrals to Billy Graham and the Billy Graham Organization.  But, just as the discerning reader of The Attentive Life will uncover red flags every where, so will the discerning listener detect red flags as Ford quotes for example: Thomas Merton, Bernard of Clairvaux, Dallas Willard, and Richard Rohr.
https://www.mpumc.org/sermons-and-writings/special-programs.cfm

June  2013:  Ford highlights the Unitarian Universalist poet Mary Oliver's "Instructions for Living a Life" in his remarks to Dr. Hollinger at his inauguration as the fifth president of Gordon Conwell Seminary.

May 2012:  Leighton Ford, Dr. Gary Benedict (11th President CMA), and Dr. John F. Soper
spoke at the Mid-Atlantic District Christian and Missionary Alliance Conference-- "Impassioned for Jesus"-- at Emmanuel Alliance Church, Frederick, MD where Ford did two presentations on The Attentive Life.
http://www.cmamad.org/files/Web%20Files%20PDF/District%20Conference%20Materials/District%20Conference%202012/Conference%20Information%20Brochure-Triple%20Fold.pdf

March 2011:  Ford spoke at a Charlotte, NC YMCA Tribute Breakfast where he said that the letters "YM" in "YMCA" used to stand for "young men" but now many more were older, and many were women.  And says Ford, "There are as many women as men at the Y, and especially in my Saturday morning A.M. yoga class." (From the Lausanne World Pulse)
http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/1381

2011:  Publication of The Mentoring Community booklet by The Leighton Ford Ministries.  Read this booklet on line.   Note "The Mentoring Community" was launched in March, 2006.

Pay Attention to the Leighton Ford Legacy

Finally, recalling the Ford of the past--evangelist for the Billy Graham Association; and considering the Ford of the present--spiritual leader for The Mentoring Community one must ask what legacy will Ford leave behind?  A second question, in light of this review, would be what impact will this book have on all of the future leaders it was designed to influence?  After much reflection, and much research it would seem that although Ford may have once been an evangelist for souls, he now is an evangelist for contemplative spirituality--mentoring men and women onto paths of Catholicism with threads of mindfulness woven in.

Understandably the unsuspecting reader, and the naïve listener will be lured by his passionate prose, and oratory.  Because of his charisma, and Billy Graham associations many will want to give Ford a pass; but be warned just about all of the ones Ford asks us to pay attention to in this book do not hold to the Word of God, nor to the simple gospel "by grace are ye saved through faith, and not of works."

We would do well to heed the words from Proverbs 2:1-6: "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thy ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding: If thou seeketh her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

Learn to Discern Granny Verses:  Proverbs 5:1,2 

Pay attention to these verses!  "My son, attend unto my wisdom; and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and thy lips may keep knowledge."

Neo-Monastic Ken Shigematsu's God in My Everything (A Book Review)

Ken Shigematsu, neo-monastic leaning Christian and Missionary Alliance pastor of Tenth Church, Vancouver, Canada, has written a best-selling book advocating drawing closer to God by adapting St. Benedict's "The Rule of Life" into all we do.  While the book contains some good ideas about how to bring the Lord into our busy lives, at the same time Roman Catholic monks, monasteries, and rituals creep into the text.  In fact, Shigematsu's work is saturated with Catholicism for Shigematsu himself is infatuated with it. The end result is a work that encourages leaders and readers to embrace Rome without reservation, for evangelicalism is often so mixed with Catholicism that it is hard to separate the two.

In rave review after rave review by "so-called evangelicals" one has to wonder how such praise can be given without anyone questioning the extent to which its author so clearly demonstrates his fascination with Catholicism especially with Benedictine teachings.  To understand more let's examine this work from its cover to its back page.

Shigematsu's Cover Clue:  The very first clue to Ken's capitulation to Catholicism can be seen on the cover where he uses the words "how an ancient rhythm helps busy people enjoy God."  This rhythm, the reader soon discovers, is none other than St. Benedict's "rule of life."

Shigematsu's Back Cover Endorsers:  The two back cover endorsers include: author, activist, and new monastic Shane Claiborne; and senior pastor of Menlo Presbyterian Church, and contemplative author John Ortberg.  Both write shining endorsements-- Ortberg even says, "He will help us find the way."  Sadly though, Mr. Ortberg, Ken will help us find the way--straight into the heart of Catholicism.

Shigematsu's Inside Pages Endorsers:  Seven more endorsements are given on the very first pages--endorsements from Susy Welch author of 10-10-10,business writer, and columnist for the O! Oprah Magazine; Pete Scazzero, long time Leighton Ford mentee, author of contemplative healthy spirituality books, and past lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, Queens, NY; to radical social justice emergent, and Eastern University professor Tony Campolo.  Included, also, are two Arrow Leadership buddies Mark Buchanan alumnus of Arrow, and professor at Catholic leaning Ambrose College University; and Darrell W. Johnson former CEO of Arrow, and senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Vancouver.

Comments range from saying that the book is a "transformative prescription for life ..." (Welch); is something "I need ..." and "My church needs ..." (Buchanan); is something "All who hunger ...  will find themselves nourished by ..." (Campolo); is something that will take me on a journey that brings great hope ..." (Yankoski); and is something that "I look forward to recommending ... to our leadership and entire church!" (Scazzero).

Shigematsu's Ford Foreword:  Shigematsu's foreword, written by long time mentor Leighton Ford, tells of Ford meeting Ken as a student at Wheaton College, as a student body president at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, as a leader in Leighton's Arrow Leadership Program, and as a mentee on a personal retreat.  Ford says Ken is the "real deal;" and to Ford himself, he is like "a son."  Ford writes Ken "will be a guide to help you journey with Christ in your everything."  Is Ken really a good guide to help us on our journey?  This is the question I will attempt to answer in this review.

Shigematsu's Preface Invitation:  In his preface Ken invites us all "to take a walk down this ancient path that will set you free."  I beg to differ, for the path Ken embraces comes from Rome, and rather than set us free will expose us to another gospel, one that adds to the simple truth that "no man comes to the Father but by me" and to a gospel that adds man's rules to "by grace are ye saved through faith."

Shigematsu's Monk Message:  Chapter one, the monk chapter, takes us straight into how this book was birthed, when on Leighton Ford's pilgrimage, Shigematsu was invited to visit Ireland's monas-
teries.  Here in glowing terms he describes Glendalouch--that awesome monastic community formed by St. Kevin--painting a picture of a place of mystery and mysticism.  At Glendalough Ken recalls, "we wandered in hushed silence ... awed at the solemn beauty."  And relates Ken, his heart was "strangely moved by Kevin's earnest devotion to God."  He adds, "I wanted to slip off my shoes --I felt like I was walking on hallowed ground."  Then he adds, "I came away from my time in Ireland with a new respect for monks and their monasteries."  In fact Ken writes, "Though I didn't recognize it then, my time in Ireland would eventually lead to a second 'conversion' for me, a journey of growing to appreciate the beauty of the monastic way of life."  (pp.16-17)

Shigematsu's Intro to St. Benedict:  Ken next introduces us to "Benedict" who became famous as "a holy man."  Additionally, Ken mentions Benedict's establishment of a monastery in "Monte Cassino" which continues to this day to inspire people to walk in the way of Christ."  Stop here!
Monte Cassino may be inspiring people, but not in the way of Christ alone, but the way of the Church of Rome which teaches a works based salvation contrary to Scripture.  (p.19)

Ken tells us, too, more about this amazing monastic way of life--that it is "a path each of us can embrace."  Just as Father Zossima, in the novel The Brothers Karamazov asserts that a monastic way of life is the life is not just for special people, but "it is simply what every person ought to be."  Ken says, Zossima "is suggesting that every one of us has a monk or nun 'embryo' inside us."  (pp.19-20)

The Glendalough Hermitage, Holy Ground?  Recalling Ken's Glendalough description as "holy ground," a glimpse into Glendalough's Hermitage guidelines given to visitors such as Ken would say otherwise.  Just a brief examination of these guidelines for achieving solitude on its grounds will quickly show these meditative techniques are decidedly mindfulness methods that Ken describes over and over in his God in My Everything book talks/articles everywhere as documented later in this piece.

Glendalough Guideline Outline:  Here's a brief summary of some of the ideas taken from "The Practice of Solitude" from Glendalough's web site.

1.  Arrive: "You are here and this is holy ground."
2.  Take in Your Surroundings: "This is your space--make yourself at home in it."
3.  Become attuned to Silence:  "Take time to become aware of sounds and welcome them ... Notice how they arise and fall away. ... You are a still pond in which sound passes through like ripples."
4.  Listen:  "The voice which speaks the truth you need to hear is already there within you ... listen to this voice.  It is the voice of your deepest self ... It will guide you towards the Ultimate Mystery."
5.  Be Present: "As you listen, you will become more present ....  A quality of mindfulness will develop ...."
6.  Focus:  "when the mind wanders ... we notice and bring it gently back to the focal point. ...  Any number of things could be chosen as a focus: a candle ... an icon ... the breath ... the body itself ... a sacred word or mantra.  Do not scold yourself if your mind wanders. ... Distraction is part of a spiritual life."
7.  Move Mindfully:  " ... pay attention to the sensation of the movement itself.  This can ... deepen the quality of your listening.  It can engender a joyful awareness of being alive and part of the inter-connectedness of all things."
8.  Read Reflectively:  " ... in solitude, it is best not to overload the mind ... This allows the mind to empty itself ... It is this 'de-cluttering' which allows the mind to quieten and eventually come to rest. ... "

For certain, one' s time at Glendalough is more than just getting goosebumps while experiencing its "holy ground," but it is a time of being presented with a New Age agenda to enable one to enter a meditative state.
http://www.glendaloughhermitage.ie/solitude/the-practice-of-solitude/

Shigematsu's Trellis Training:  Chapter two introduces Ken's "trellis teaching" and "the rule of life."  When we hear the astonishing stories of "Francis of Assisi" and "Mother Teresa" great successes, writes Ken, we assume God just gave them a special charism; but now we ourselves could never accomplish something like this.  But, says Ken for everyone to flourish in their spiritual lives one must deliberately practice so to enable oneself "to welcome and respond to Jesus." 

Now this practice of spiritual disciplines should not become burdensome ( In videos Ken often demonstrates this by putting his trellis prop onto his chest and leaning backward.), but we should find rest for our souls. (Matthew 11:28-30)  And so goes this chapter with Ken sashaying between the Bible and Catholicism --one minute he's quoting scripture, laying out some position, and the next minute he is throwing in Thomas Merton and St. Benedict. (pp.21-28) 

Shigematsu's Trellis Imagery: Chapter three continues with the same mixed message --a little scripture, a little Benedict.  A few pages into chapter three Shigematsu pictures his trellis imagery with figure one.  Working upward from its "roots" of: Sabbath, prayer, and sacred reading one goes on to the "relate" bar: friendship, sexuality, and family; to the "restore" bar of: body, play, and money; and finally, to the top bar of "reach out": work, justice, and witness. (p.33)

A Shigematsu ABC List of Catholic Monks, Priests, Nuns, and Others:  Both in his book, and in his notes Shigematsu names and praises at least forty-five or more Catholic adherents as well as numerous Catholic references.  As I researched I opted to list these people in ABC order just to point out how saturated this work is with Catholicism.  From this book alone one could have a true immersion into Catholicism without any warnings of its unscriptural and idolatrous teachings.

Here is a list of persons that I individually researched: St. Aelread of Rievaulx, Cisterian Monk; Br. Alphonsus, Jesuit; Fr. William A. Barry, S.J. and Fr. William J. Connolly, S.J.;  Fr. Theodore Berkeley, O.C.S.O.; ****St. Benedict of Nursia, Rule of Life****; Carlo Caretto, Little Brothers of Jesus; Michael Casey, Austrailian Cisterian Monk; St. John Cassian, Ascetic Priest; Sr. Joan Chittister, O.S,B.; St. John Chrysostom, Priest; Fr. Anthony DeMello, S.J.; Fr. Mayuel de Dreuille, O.S.B.; Fr. Mark Dumont, OSB; St. Francis of Assisi; Fr. Timothy Fry, O.S.B.; Dr. Shirley Glass, Catholic Psychologist; Fr. Thomas Green, S.J.: Dr. Colm Luibheid, Catholic Translator; Brother Lawrence, Monk; Fr. Martin Laird, O.S.A.; Dom Jean Leclercq, O.S.B.; Fr. James Martin, S.J.; Fr. Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O.; Fr. Thomas Moore, O.S.B., former priest; Fr. Elder Mullan, S.J.; Fr. Henri Nouwen, Former Dutch Priest; Fr. John O'Donohue, Former Priest; Mother Teresa, Sisters of Mercy; St. Patrick and Bridget of Kildare; Fr. M. Basil Pennington, O.C.S.O.; William of Saint Thierry, Benedictine Mystic Abbot, Fr. Simon Tugwell, O.P.; Br. David Steindl-Rast, O.S.B.; Fr. Columba A. Stewart, O.S.B.; Father Richard Rohr O.F.M. and Dr. Joseph J. Martos; Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I.; and Dr. Paul J. Wadell, Catholic Author, Professor.

St. Benedict Compared to the Apostles!  Shigematsu's "Prayer: Deeping Your Friendship with God" chapter five is a perfect example of how compromised this book is--the blatant mixing of truth with error.  Ken begins with a quote putting St. Benedict up on a pedestal.  Ken asserts, "After Jesus' original apostles and the apostle Paul, St. Benedict has been called the most influential Christian for the first one thousand years of church history."  (p.56)

Prayer Pauses:  Ken emphasizes making short times for prayer taking several of his ideas from the writing of English Dominican Fr. Simon Tugwell's book Prayer in Practice.  In another work, Tugwell, a member of the Dominican Historical Institute, emphasized the Dominican's nine ways to pray such as gazing at a crucifix, continuous kneeling down and getting up, and various ways of holding out one's hands. 

Ken additionally promotes Jesuit St. Ignaius' prayer of Examen which he practices daily.  Shigmatsu also mentions the daily office comparing it to Daniel's three times a day prayers.  Maybe, says Ken, one might try doing "breath prayers." (Tugwell's book)   Ken tells us,  These pauses are an opportunity "to attune to God's presence." (pp.55-58)

Prayer Places:  Under "A Place for Prayer" he suggests we make a special place to pray by hanging up a work of art, cross, or even placing an icon or candle on a table.  As for "Posture for Prayer" he lists various positions including the one he does to do his "meditation" sitting in a flat-seated chair with one's feet firmly fixed on the floor--this says Shigematsu helps still us and still our mind.  (p.59)

Prayer Partners: The section "Prayer in Community" refers to believers in Acts praying together.  He goes on to say doing something in community fosters joy and gratitude.  Why, reminisces Ken, my wife and I just attended a U2 Concert in Vancouver and together with others we had a better experience than listening alone.

Prayer Methods:  Now, the chapter segways to more traditional "evangelical" methods as Shigematsu continues to mix his message such as using the Lord's Prayer, the acrostic ACTS, or praying the Psalms.  (pp.60-64)

Prayer Without Words:  After more traditional ways to pray Ken throws in a good dose of "contemplative prayer" starting with a Catholic Little Brothers of Jesus, Letters from the Desert Carlo Caretto silent prayer quote: "Prayer is love."  Ken quotes Caretto as saying, "Thus the time comes when words are superfluous." (These quotes, incidentally, are borrowed from Ruth Haley Barton.) (p.
65)

Continuing in this vein Ken highlights a Fr. Basil Pennington quote where Pennington tells us that "saying our prayers gets in the way of prayer."  Ken then follows up this Pennington nugget with an Indian Jesuit Anthony DeMello fish story.  To close, Ken paraphrases a Thomas Merton statement from Fr. Martin Laird's book The Silent Land where Merton tells us inside we realize we are already there--all we need is to experience what we already have." (p.66)

Jesuit Thoughts:  At this juncture the reader should be alerted to Shigematsu's "Jesuit Thread" that runs through the book with the Ignatian prayer of Examen, the quoting of various Jesuits as St. Ignatius, Alphonsus, DeMello, Barry and Connolly and others.  And Shigematsu makes sure we become acquainted with Fr. James Martin, S.J.'s book:  The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life quoting from it in five different chapters.

Jesuit Prayer Litany:  I would challenge the reader to become familiar with the "Litany in Honor of St. Ignatius" prayed by Jesuits to their oracle of the Holy Spirit, lover of our Lord, loyal knight of Our Lady, founder of the Society of Jesus, intrepid foe of heresy and enemies of Christ's Church, "insignis" companion of Jesus, inspired writer of the Spiritual Exercises, glorious intercessor in Heaven for thy society on earth ...--St. Ignatius.  Over and over the prayer intones "Ignatius, pray for us."  This is simple saint idolatry for Ignatius was but a mortal man as you and I.  Conversely, our Bible warns in verse after verse not to pray to anyone but the Lord himself.  For an enlightening Bible study note every passage that refers to other gods, idols, images, statues etc. by marking an "I" every place you find it.  Three words in I Corinthians 10:14 give us the Lord's warning toward it: "Flee from idolatry!"
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1110

Sacred Reading Section:  Chapter six covers the practice of "Sacred Reading," a Catholic term often used for lectio divina.  Ken opens this chapter by admonishing us to regularly read God's Word.  Ken writes, "Psalm 1 describes the person who continually feeds on God's Word as one who is truly blessed, ... or as Eugene Peterson says, a person with 'holy luck.'"  Such a term reminds one of the unbiblical New Age terms/phrases Peterson inserted in his Message paraphrase.

Ken encourages us to read Psalm one aloud, and then to reread it slowly pausing and praying in reference to any word, phrase, or image that has "energy" for you or speaks to you.  Ken then offers various ways to ingest the word--first by "Chewing the Word" a reference from Peterson's contemplative book Eat the Word. (pp. 69-70)

Lectio Reading:  Next up is "Meditation."  Meditation on Scripture, declares Shigematsu, is demon-strated by St. Benedict's practical model of using "Lectio Divina."  Lectio, attests Ken, is "a hungry, prayerful reading of the Bible.  "When we practice lectio divina,"  Ken records words from  Cisterian monk Michael Casey's book Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina that says, "our reading naturally leads to meditation, our meditation to prayer, and our prayer to feasting on the living God." ( p.71)  Is Ken's promotion of lectio divina as a needed ancient practice for a Christian as Ken maintains?  The Lighthouse Trails booklet Lection Divina: What it is.  What it is not.  And should Christians Practice it? gives some definitive Biblical answers.  I recommend it highly!
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/lectiodivina.htm

Ignation Imaginings:  In "Imagining the Story" Shigematsu relates how St.John Chrysostom, "the golden mouthed preacher," urged his listeners to use their imaginations to paint Scripture portraits on the walls of their minds.  Shigematsu then continues inviting the reader to investigate the Ignatian "imaginative method" to visualize Scripture.  Says Shigematsu, "Imagining a scene in Scripture helps us become part of the story and allows the story to become part of us."  (pp. 74-75)

Plenty of Contemplatives:  In this book/notes there are plenty of referrals to many contemplatives as Ruth Haley Barton, Mark Buchanan, Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Marva Dawn, Annie Dillard, Leighton Ford, Richard Foster, Tim Hughes, Darrell W. Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Wayne Muller, Kathleen Norris, John Ortberg, Parker Palmer, Eugene Peterson, Pete Scazzero, Gordon T. Smith, Gary Thomas, Evelyn Underhill, Dallas Willard, Lauren Winner, N.T.Wright, and Danae and Michael Yankoski.

Shigematsu the Man:  To really understand who Shigematsu is, and what he believes is to read posts/articles pertaining to the book which give a wider picture of what Ken is actually up to.
Here are some poignant ones:

February 2008: "Sabbath Sermon- Establish a Rule of Life"  This sermon which was given at Tenth Church  prior to his book publication,  contains many ideas later used in his book.  The sermon talked about "crafting a rule of life" which Ken admits comes "from the world of monks." 

Prop Preacher:  Ken is fond of using "props" while he is preaching.  In this sermon Ken used a "yoga mat."  In another sermon Ken used "Thomas Merton" books.  And currently when taking about his book he always uses his trusty garden trellis.

Shigematsu-Scazzero Connection:  At the end of his "Sabbath Sermon" Ken informs the audience that Pete Scazzero's emotionally healthy spirituality books will help one in forming "a rule of life."  He also shares a "Mary Oliver" poem whose Universalist author is a favorite of Ken's mentor "Leighton Ford."

2008: "Snapshot of Church in Vancouver #3" by Peter Briggs from Canadianchristianity.com.

Tenth Church Snapshot:  Briggs tells of steady growth at Tenth Church saying the church had been down to 200, but at that writing it was at 1,500 and growing.  When asked about the past ten years Ken responded, "There is a strong hunger for spiritual connection, evidenced by a boom in Yoga, and a passion for the environment.  But most don't connect this with 'church.'"
http://canadianchristianity.com/bc/bccn/0908/16church.html

Fall 2011:  "Hearing a Different Kind of Evangelical: Pastor Shigematsu, Tenth Church, Vancouver by Justin Tse from The Rice Paper (Issue 16.3)

Shigematsu's Different!  Tse's piece fills one in on Ken's Asian American, and Asian Canadian background.  It tells also that Tenth Church dropped the name Christian and Missionary Alliance from its title.  Tse said, "In fact the Vancouver Courier also notes, Tenth Church ... dropped the word 'Alliance' from its name to avoid any connection with any political party."  Tse also says, "If Ken's job is to preach, then ours is to hear.  The fact that Ken Shigematsu lies somewhere in the strange mix between inhabiting an Asian Canadian body with a historically Caucasian church, while promoting an evangelical message that sounds oddly inclusive."
http://storage.cloversites.com/tenthchurch/documents/Ricepaper%20Article.pdf

August 2013:  "Celebration of Discipline for a New Generation" by Brent Dolfo of Leadership Network 

Dolfo's New Celebration of Discipline Commentary:  Dolfo tells how Shigematsu felt as if he were "treading water in his spiritual life" when his mentor Leighton Ford invited him on a pilgrimage to Ireland's holy places.  Later Ken, wowed by his monastic journey, related this to his congregation after which they asked for more ideas on how to develop their own "rule of life."  This then led to the book: God in My Everything which was also influenced by Ken's doctoral work at Oxford, and The San Francisco Theological Seminary on the life and work of St. Benedict of Nursia.

Dolfo took his review title "Celebration of Discipline for a New Generation" from Mark Buchanan's God in My Everything endorsement remark that the book was "a celebration of discipline for a new generation."  (Think of: Richard Foster's classic contemplative work: Celebration of Discipline.)  Dolfo also noted Darrell Johnson's endorsement that read, "I believe this will become the go-to-book for the church in our time."
http://leadnet.org/celebration_of_discipline_for_a_new_generation/

Our Go-to-Book!  Discerning Reader:  If the go-to-book of our time was the precious Word of God, this go-to-book with its decidedly mixed message would not being awarded rave reviews by deceived Evangelicals.

October 2013:  "Pastor's Book Breaks Down Walls Between Christians" by Anglican Rev. Don Grayston in The Vancouver Sun

Neo-monastic Shigematsu:  Grayston began his guest review by saying, "I have been hearing a lot these days about Tenth Church Pastor Ken Shigematsu--for good reason.  He's head minister at a huge evangelical congregation.  He's into what some call neo-monasticism."

Grayston stated that he'd previously met Ken.  Where?  Grayston relates, "I met Ken ... on a Thomas Merton Society of Canada study cruise to Alaska."  "However," says Grayston, "when I read his new book I understood that his interest in Merton, the twentieth century's best known monastic, had expanded to the entire classic western monastic tradition (as represented by John Cassian and Benedict of Nursia.)"

Mainstream Welcome to Shigematsu:  Grayston further comments, "It's not what in former years I would have expected from an evangelical, but it is clearly part of the phenomenon of evangelical interest in a movement known as neo-monasticism, with its emphasis on community, daily worship, and the union of contemplation and action."  Grayston goes on, "There are some points I would challenge him on ... but for the most part, the book is such that it ought to receive a warm welcome from mainstream Christians."

Old Walls Fall:  Grayston ended with this word, "The encouraging thing about that, of course, is that it points to a crumbling of old walls between evangelicals--some a least, and the Christian mainstream.  I note that prominent evangelical Catholic, Pope Francis, is moving very much in the same direction."
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/10/08/vancouver-evangelical-pastors-book-breaks-down-walls-among-christians/

November 19, 2013:  "How Meditation and Monotasking Help Me Live More Mindfully" by Ken Shigematsu in "The Blog of the Biola University Center for Christian Thought"

Mindfulness on the Biola Blog:  This Biola University Blog is one of the most telling articles about Shigematsu's "meditation" habits.  In it Ken writes about "the chimpanzees jumping around in my head" that keep him constantly distracted.  So, says Shigematsu, since paying attention and contemplation don't come easily to him he needs the grace of God as well as practices that make him more aware of that grace.  Now, the practice that helps him the most is "meditation." 

Morning Meditation Description:  Ken describes how he does his "morning meditation" first setting the timer on his watch so he won't be looking at it.  As he sits he takes deep breaths, and then begins his mantra repeating of a single words like "wait," or "Jesus."  Once his meditation is complete he feels relaxed, focused, and aware of Jesus.  Now, it you feel meditation is a "weird waste of time" instructs Shigematsu, it does help us become more aware of God and more mindful of our choices.  Read Ken's written description here:
http://mission.themeetinghouse.com/a-simple-practice-awakens-me-to-god/

Marcia's Mindfulness Articles:  Just a minute!  Shigematsu is promising young "Christian" collegians that mindfulness meditation works, and they shouldn't consider it strange.  It will give results--he has experienced this!  Well, Marcia Montenegro, former New Ager and mindfulness meditator, emphatically tells us otherwise.  Read Marcia's enlightening articles: "Mindfulness: No-Mind Over Matter," and "More on Mindfulness: Never Mind the Mind."
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Mindfulness.html

Marcia's Monkey Mind Warning:  Regarding "the monkey mind" or as Ken calls it "the chimpanzee mind" Marcia has some choice thoughts on this in "More on Mindfulness" sections: "The Chattering Monkey" and "The Mind and God."  Marcia ends her article with this warning: "Any teaching that the mind or thinking is bad or prevents spiritual understanding is at odds with the nature of God as he has revealed himself.  In giving us his word in the 66 books of the Bible, he expects thinking and reasoning since language cannot function without them.  Using the term 'chattering mind' or 'monkey mind' denigrates the mind God gave us."
http://christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_MoreOnMindfulness.html

Beware of the Buddhist Psychologist:   If Ken's positive meditation testimony isn't enough for someone to believe that meditation works, Ken tries another tactic by attempting to prove scientifically that meditation done over a matter of weeks will increase brain function.  How is this possible?  Ken cites a study done by Stanford psychologist-- Dr. Kelly McGonigal.

Dr. Kelly McGonigal Is...:  Now, Ken doesn't just cite McGonigal in this article, but he cites her often on his podcasts/talks promoting God in My Everything.  This is enough to make one want to just stand up and shout--very loudly!!  For Kelly McGonigal is someone who is not just any old psychologist, but a well-known health psychologist, Stanford lecturer, Zen meditator, yoga expert/teacher, mindfulness guru, mind-body practitioner, conference speaker, prolific author, and Buddhist teacher.  And since Ken is using a Buddhist adherent why does he not inform his audiences of exactly who this lady is?  Why does he deceive them?  Shame on Shigematsu!

Unmasking McGonigal:  Here are two articles that will help unmask who McGonigal really is.  The first is "The Science of Awakening" (From Tricycle Magazine: Mindfulness and Compassion Section) which mentions McGonigal speaking at the Buddhist Geeks Conference dedicated to serving the convergence of Buddhist, global culture, and emerging technology.  The article states, "In his opening keynote, Vipassana teacher Shinzen Young was the first to proclaim that the Buddhist was a scientist, while carefully noting his non-scientific qualities as well."  And reports the article, "Kelly McGonigal, a psychologist as well as a Buddhist teacher, noted that the 'self was a suffering machine.'"http://www.tricycle.com/reviews/science-awakening   A second article: "Yoga, Self-Care and the Dalai Lama" in Mind, Body, Green relates McGonigal is not your typical college professor; but a leading expert on mind-body relationship, and the psychology of yoga and teaches yoga, meditation, and psychology at Stanford.  It states, "We talked to Kelly about yoga as 'self-care,' her collaboration with Tibetan monks including His Holiness, and her upcoming book The Science of Willpower."  http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-939/Yoga-Self-Care-The-Dalai-Lama-Q-A-with-Kelly-McGonigal-PhD.html

Monotasking and Mindfulness Connection:  Meditation helps me concentrate, focus, and "monotask," says Ken.  Monotask?  Is this related to mindfulness?  Yes!  Read this article: "Mindfulness Starts with Monotasking" (focusing and finishing one task at a time) from The Leadership Express.  (February 2013).
http://mcdougalldevelopment.com/2013/02/05/mindfulness-starts-with-monotasking/

And then Ken adds this Zen zinger, "I have been inspired by the wisdom of the Zen tradition to aim to do just one thing at a time.  The Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, says: "While washing the dishes, you might be thinking about tea afterwards and try to get them out of the way as quickly as possible ...  But that means you are incapable of living during the time you are washing the dishes."  Read more about Buddhism--Thich Nhat Hanh too-in these two outstanding Marcia Montenegro articles: "Buddhism and Christianity: How Similar Are They?" and "Mindfulness Goes to Kindergarten."
http://cct.biola.edu/blog/2013/nov/19/how-meditation-and-monotasking-help-me-live-more-mindfully/

http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_BuddhismAndChristianity.html

December 24, 2013: "Prayer Research Opens Fresh Frontiers of Spiritual Practice by Douglas Todd in The Vancouver Sun
 
Quantum Physics Prayer:  Photo Above Article: Shigematsu/others laying hands on girl as they pray;  Caption Below Photo:  Author Bruce Epperly says, "... quantum physics began making it clear roughly a century ago that human minds can create 'action at a distance,' or as (Dr.Larry) Dosey says, 'medicine at a distance.'"

Todd's Take on Shigematsu and Prayer:  Douglas Todd writes a fascinating article which he probes beneath Ken's prayer and meditative techniques, and gives greater insight into what makes Shigematsu tick.  Todd compares Shigematsu's prayer positions to two mainstream Vancouver pastors prayer findings.

Prayer, Meditation: The Same?  Todd writes of Ken's distractibility especially near Christmas, and how Ken describes this Christmas craziness like one thousand chimpanzees racing round in his head.  Todd continues, "So Shigematsu prays. Or should we say he meditates?  The ... pastor uses the words prayer and meditation interchangeably."  Todd adds, "They form the heart of his practice of spiritual contemplation, which he believes helps him and others connect with the mysterious source that grounds existence."

Science Supports Meditation:  Shigematsu tells Todd that he aims to just be aware of his own breathing while silently repeating the words, "wait," or "Jesus."  Todd then says, Shigematsu is a bit of a maverick in his CMA denomination.  Todd sort of defends Ken when he notes, "But he's certainly not the only Christian or other spiritual leader trying to go beyond the dominant Western understanding and misunderstandings of prayer.  He is one of the countless spiritual people tracking the latest scientific studies into prayer and meditation."

Buddhism's Link to Contemplative Prayer:  One kind of prayer, Todd names, is "intercessory prayer."  However, reports Todd, Ken has come to be more interested in meditative, silent, and contemplative prayer.  Todd then cites a book: The Path to Your Door: Approaches to Christian Spirituality by a Vancouver Anglican Rev. Ellen Clark-King who suggests Buddhist meditation --or mindfulness-- has forced Christians to rediscover some of the tradition's less well-known contemplative methods. 

King, says Todd, states Buddhism is the natural home of contemplation whereas Christian prayer is often very wordy.  King, in her book, goes on to see centering prayer as akin to meditation.

Research into this type of prayer, Todd details, has been encouraging.  Shigematsu, Todd writes, sees positive physiological effects coming from contemplative prayer.  Another Vancouver pastor, records Todd, a Presbyterian Rev. Jim Smith also believes in brain change through prayer and contemplation citing findings from author Andrew Newberg.

Shigematsu Quotes Merton:  Todd then inserts this telling Shigematsu quote where Ken echoes the late Father Thomas Merton when he says, "In a sense, contemplative prayer is the kind of prayer that is a discovery of a God who is already present."  Sometimes, Todd says, Shigematsu's prayers are as simple as: "God you are here now.  Help me to be here now."
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/12/24/prayer-research-opens-fresh-frontiers-of-spiritual-practice/

December 24, 2013:  "A Liberal on an Evangelical on Christmas Eve" by Justin Tse of Religion. Ethnicity. Wired.

Shigematsu's Christmas Coverage:  Tse is gleeful over the success of Vancouver Sun's spirituality and diversity columnist Douglas Todd in getting Tenth Church's senior pastor Ken Shigematsu onto the front page of the Christmas Eve newspaper.

Tse comments that he and Todd are on the page regarding Ken.  Tse reiterates that Ken is an unusual evangelist with theological breath.  Tse writes, "And he also has a Doctor of Ministry from Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union in spirituality ... from which his new book is derived."

Tse further notes, "By appealing to the natural sciences, Doug is placing Ken's comments in a liberal Protestant framework."  Tse also says, "Professor Pamela Klassen, of the U. of Toronto, says of liberal Prostestantism that, "It is better situated as a 'scientific supernaturalism,' a desire to bring together strands in the natural sciences with the transcendent."

Ecstatic because Doug has gotten Shigematsu such prominent coverage Tse gloats, " ... the front page of the Vancover Sun has called for theological reconciliation around the beauty of contemplation."
http://religioethnicwired.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-liberal-on-evangelical-on-christmas.html

January 10, 2014:  "Ken Shigematsu: Life Giving Rhythms--A Rule of Life" by Flyn Richie in "Church for Vancouver"

Shigematsu's Thomas Merton Society Address:  Flyn Richie posts a "Church for Vancouver" January 2014 memo from The Thomas Merton Society of Canada of Dr. Ken Shigematsu's presentation of "Life Giving Rhythms" that evening at St. Andrew's United Church, Vancouver.  Richie notes Ken draws from both eastern and western perspectives in his writing and speaking.  Richie also adds Ken is a holder of a doctorate in spiritual theology and author of the best-selling book God in My Everything.
http://churchforvancouver.ca/calendar/ken-shigematsu-life-giving-rhythms-a-rule-of-life/

Couple this with the previous article where Merton devotee Rev. Don Grayston told of his meeting Ken on a Thomas Merton cruise; and the quoting of Merton in Ken's book and sermons one can only surmise that Thomas Merton's work has surely influenced Shigematsu.

January 2014: Shigematsu Scheduled at One-Day Arrow Leadership Grad Events

Finding Rhythm Events:  "Finding Rhythm for a Sustainable Life and Ministry" were scheduled at various Canadian venues to introduce Arrow Leadership Members to Ken's Benedictine "Rule of Life" Trellis Talks for his new book.
http://www.arrowleadership.org/news/over-325-experience-rhythm-for-a-sustainable-life-and-leadership/  View both videos!
http://www.arrowleadership.org/news/alumni-one-day-arrow-events-mark-your-calendar/

Academic Partnerships:  Now, some may say why should one worry about what Shigematsu is doing--he's up in Canada.  How foolish is this for Ken's God in My Everything is spreading world wide through media technology, and face to face talks.  While researching this book I found this Arrow Announcement:  "Arrow leaders have a number of exceptional opportunities to leverage their highly personalized and practical Arrow experience at premiere schools."  (Remember Arrow is Leighton Ford's legacy!)   And what premiere schools are these?  Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Acadia Divinity College, Briercrest College and Seminary, Nyack Theological Seminary,* and Wheaton College Graduate School.  At this Arrow site potential students could immediately click onto the college of their choice for more information. 

*  At Nyack Dr. Martin Sanders, whose mentor and endorser of Martin's work and book is Leighton Ford, is part of this program.  Sanders, too, is one of Ford's former Arrow men just as Shigematsu.  Sanders, also, is named in Ken's God in My Everything.  (p.134)
http://www.arrowleadership.org/program/academic-credit/

July 2014: Shigematsu Speaks at Canada's 2014 Christian and Missionary Alliance Assembly

A Global Thinker:  Ken's speaker bio states as a global thinker he is honored to serve as a trustee for World Vision of Canada.  It goes on to highlight God in My Everything saying people can experience Christ, not only through their formal prayers, but in every other area through "a rule of life."
http://vimeo.com/channels/738827/page:2 

September 2014:  Ken Endorses Michael Yankoski's New Book: The Sacred Year

It Will Restore Your Soul!  Shigematsu joins a host of other endorsers as: Philip Yancey, Phyllis Tickle, Shane Claiborne, Dave Gibbons, Barbara Taylor Brown, Richard Stearn, and many more to gives thumbs up to Yankoski's new work.  Ken enthuses, "It will restore your soul."  Psalm 23:3 reads, "He (the Shepherd!) restoreth my soul."

Oblate of St. Benedict:  Yankoski and his wife (both named in God in My Everything) are pursuing PhDs at the University of Notre Dame; and Mike, in addition, is a (noviate) Oblate of St. Benedict.

Sacred Year Saga:  Mike's sacred year saga began with a "monastery visit" where Yankoski's marvelous monk mentor --Father Solomon-- seemed to have all the answers.  Solomon suggested Mike retreat from life's "carnival" to take time out to try out a variety of spiritual practices.  And so Mike set out to discover his "true self."

Apple Contemplation:  A practice Mike tried was "Apple Meditation" where Mike focused on an apple for long periods so as to increase his attention.  This practice is akin to one mentioned in February 2014 in Time magazine's article "The Mindful Revolution" whose author, Kate Pickert, did "Raisin Contemplation."  It would seem that Ken's friend Mike is into mindfulness as well!
https://s3.amazonaws.com/ThomasNelson/SacredYear/The+Sacred+Year+Sample+Ch.pdf

November 2014: Shigematsu at New Life Fellowship Church, Queens, NY

Such a Gift to the Kingdom!:  Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship (former senior pastor was Pete Scazzero) tweets Shigematsu will be leading their Leadership Conference in November.  Then he tweets, "Such a gift to the kingdom!"
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SHte3BF-zE

Unseminary Program October 2014:  Just prior to Ken's New Life visit, Villodas was interviewed on the Unseminary program by Pastor Rich Birch.  On that program Birch and Villodas discuss a need for "a rule of life."  At the conclusion, Birch asks Villodas for a book recommendation.  And you guessed it, Villodas recommended God in My Everything. 
http://www.unseminary.com/richvillodas/ 

November 14-16, 2014: "Shigematsu in Manila, Philippines at Grace Christian Church

God in My Everything Sessions:  Ken spreads his book to the Philippines presenting four sessions at a Spiritual Life Conference.  And so this deceptive book goes round the world!
https://www.facebook.com/GraceChristianChurchPhilippines/photos/a.181184874991.159844.181159899991/10153167686294992/?type=1&theater

Chapter Fifteen: "Sharing the Presence:"   To be fair, in a review of this book one can't skip over chapter fifteen where Ken shares the gospel by talking about the " The Four Sides of the Gospel"-- a helpful picture which came from Bryant Myers a former vice president of World Vision.  Ken details examples of people who found Christ: a Buddhist, a Cambodian man, a Tenth Church member, a Muslim, he himself, and his family. (pp.199-213)

A Double Message:  This then is the dilemma of this book--it gives a double message with parts of it on target, while others lean Catholic. (And into "meditation" in all of Ken's book talks.) This chapter makes what has gone before so sad, and so confusing.  Ken introduces us over and over to Catholic practices and adherents as if they were born again Christians--he makes no distinctions and points out no warnings. 

Former Catholic Mike Gendron (pro-gospel.org)  has written a provocative piece titled "Catholic Christians-Is This an Oxymoron?"   In it Mike writes, "By definition we will propose a Christian is one who believes the Gospel while a Catholic is one who believes the official teaching and tradtions of his church (presented by paragraph number from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.)  Mike then goes through the topics of authority, justification, regeneration, salvation, saints and priests, the Lord's supper, and condemnation giving both sides.  Here's an example from "Saints and Priests:"  A Christian becomes a saint when the Spirit baptizes him into the body of Christ.  A Catholic becomes a saint only if the Pope canonizes them.  A Christian is a priest.  A Catholic needs a priest."  Mike also added scripture for every part!

Mike concludes this paper like this: "These thirteen teachings of Roman Catholicism demonstrate that a Catholic Christian is indeed an oxymoron.  They also affirm how man made traditions nullify the Word of God. (Mark 7:7-13).  There are many Evangelicals and Roman Catholics who are unaware of how diametrically opposed Catholic dogmas are to the Word of God.  The truth must be told.  Catholics who believe they are Christians must be lovingly confronted with the truth.  Evangelicals must be educated so they can proclaim the true gospel to Catholics instead of uniting with them under a compromised, and diluted gospel. ... in  the final analysis truth mixed with error never hurts error, it only contaminates the truth."

Shigematsu's Rome-Colored Glasses

In summary, Shigematsu wears "Rome-colored glasses" showing his admiration for and his fascination with Catholicism, while at the same time clinging onto evangelical teachings. This sadly results in such confusion, and such deception drawing undiscerning persons deeper into a system that is another gospel--one that adds on to the simple gospel of  John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto the Father, but by me."  So if you've been tempted to mix teachings of Roman Catholicism with the clear message of the Word; I would implore you to remove your "Rome-colored glasses" putting on your "Scriptural Spectacles," and as an inquisitive Berean dig into the Word rather than the "rules of St. Benedict" to find truth.

Learn to Discern Granny Verses: Philippians 1:9-11

Perfect for the New Year this Pauline Discernment Prayer says it all!
"And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."




















 

ATS Dean Ron Walborn Recommends Bill Johnson's Bethel Church Podcasts for Pastors

What tool does the Christian and Missionary Alliance Theological Seminary dean suggest as a great tech tool to help pastors deal with pressures in today's church?  The very unsettling "Unseminary" podcast: "Ron Walborn Provides Help to Leaders Dealing with the Pressures of Today's Church"--
an interview between Pastor Rich Birch and Dean Ronald Walborn-- gives the dean's thoughts in his own words.
http://www.unseminary.com/ronwalborn/

Note:  As you listen, or read note the interview highlights as listed at the site; also note the "Lightning Round Highlights" where Birch asks Walborn's personal recommendations on various topics.  Also pay careful attention to Ron's full length answers to the Lightning Round questions which can be heard on "the audio only" at the very end of the program.

History of ATS:

The dean starts off the podcast interview with Birch by detailing a little of the past history of the seminary.  He then follows this with an overview of the three year "Master of Divinity Program" with its heavy emphasis on spiritual formation.  Walborn says, "In every year they have to do spiritual formation."  The first year is an initiation into spiritual formation where they are quickly gotten into  counseling, if needed.  The second year there is more formation, and required counseling.  The third year ends with "the capstone course."  Besides, emphasizes Walborn, during the entire three years there is constant mentoring from spiritual directors.

Ron's Personal Spiritual Formation Series:

Ron goes on to describe his very own podcast series -- updated materials from part of the original series Ron did at Delta Lake Conference which in 2005-2007 when he introduced the spiritual discipline of "centering prayer" to unsuspecting campers at Delta Lake Camp.  And just as he did at Delta, Ron is still strongly advocating the use of the book of former Roman Catholic priest, and contemplative Henri Nouwen.

Lightning Round Highlights:

*  Helpful Tech Tools:   Rich asks Ron for his personal recommendation of a tech tool that might help a pastor better lead.  Ron answer begins this way, "I'm good friends with a guy named Bill Johnson from out in northern California.  We used to fish together when I was out in Redding (Ron pastored at CMA Risen King Community Church, Redding.) pastoring.  As often as I can I listen to Bill.  I don't always agree one hundred percent with him, but he feeds my soul, he feeds my spirit.  And so when I walk, and when I exercise I listen to Bethel."  Birch replies, "Very cool!"

On page two (bottom) of the transcript click on "Bethel Podcasts" to go straight to " iTunes lists of "Bethel Church Sermon of the Week by Bethel Church Redding."  Besides Bill Johnson, the listener will get an earful of New Apostolic Reformation teachings of other Bethel Church regulars such as Danny Silk, Kris Vallotton, Eric Johnson, and Banning Liebscher.  The listener will also be referred to "Jesus Culture,""Hillsong, " and "Elevation Church."  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bethel-church-sermon-week/id76583739?mt=2

*  Inspiring Leader:  Rich also asks Ron if he could get fifteen minutes to sit down with any leader alive who would this be, and why.  Ron responds, "Barack Obama."  Walborn explains, "I would love to sit down with Barack- Barack Obama.  ...  The reality is I have known some people who have spent time with him, and come away with a very different perspective than those of us who have known him through media."  The dean goes on to relate how he was observing one of his adjunct professors, Gabriel Salguero, when he received a cell telephone call from Obama during his lecture.  Salguero then went out to pray with the president.  Now, Salguero, incidentally, is one of radical Jim Wallis'"Red Letter Christians."

Bethel Church, Redding, California:

Bethel Church, as the reader may be aware, has a very controversial reputation with its spectacular signs and wonders phenomena:  its glory cloud crowds, its glittering gold dust, its oozing oils, its gaudy gems, its falling feathers, its felt angel entities, its impartation fire tunnels, its unruly manifestations, its hypnotic music, its mantra-like tongues, its outlandish visions, its bridal paradigm, its warrior words, and other unbiblical teachings.  In light of this, and the many resources that spell out exactly what is happening at Bethel how can some one not confront Mr. Walborn, and ask exactly how he can make such a recommendation to young leaders to listen to podcasts that come out of Bethel Church, Redding?  Truly, this "Unseminary" podcast is not profitable for Christian pastors or leaders.   And yes, it is most decidedly "unseminary"! 

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  I John 4:1

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 

For More Information on Bethel Church See:

*  Volume III: "Wide Is the Gate" by caryltv.com.  Great expose of New Apostolic Reformation that focuses in on Bethel Church.  (Just published: January 2015)
http://www.caryltv.com/articles/wide-is-the-gate/295-press-release-wide-is-the-gate-volume-3

*  "The New Age Propensities of Bethel's Bill Johnson" by John Lanagan.  This is an excellent Lighthouse Trails Tract Booklet. 
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=15508

An ATS Seminarian's Ecstatic Encounter at the Resting Place: House of Prayer and Revival Center and An ATS Seminarian's Summer Immersion into Shores of Grace: NAR Ministry

In this article you will meet Maddy, a twenty-seven year old ATS seminarian, who genuinely desires a deeper walk with the Lord.  Now, as Maddy goes after these experiences, she describes them in the Nyack "New York's Christian College" official blog called "Life at Nyack."  It is here one can read her astounding story of her encounter with the man with the piercing sword as well as other stories of her spiritual quests.

Maddy Recruits for ATS

Who is Maddy?  Maddy is a third year seminary student who, up to this past summer, was the Admissions Associate for ATS.  In "Why ATS?!", Maddy records just who she is, "I am that enthusiastic face found behind a table, a banner, and a whole lot of ATS and Nyack College material at an event or church.  And I am that woman who prays, encourages, and answers the tough questions and lends a listening ear to ... prospective students of the Alliance Theological Seminary."

Maddy further writes, " ... for me recruiting ... isn't something I do out of obligation.  I recruit for ATS because I strongly believe in everything the ... seminary has to offer."  Maddy continues, "As a student of the Master's of Divinity program God has literally shaken and is in the process of shaking everything that can be shaken within me."  A bit later, she reveals two of the places where this "shaking" has been going on.  She says, "... through lecture after lecture in courses like 'PPTF' and in 'Initiation to Spiritual Formation,' I truly began to understand who it is that God says I am."
http://life.nyack.edu/why-ats/

Maddy Retreats to the Resting Place

In Maddy's blog "Fearless" one finds Maddy at the Resting Place: House of Prayer and Revival Center which she writes is, "... a house of prayer where many Nyack and ATS students frequent."
http://life.nyack.edu/fearless/  And just where is this House of Prayer that Maddy frequents, and what is it all about?

For answers I researched this site: http://www.restingplacehop.com/about.  Below "About" I read: The Resting Place is a House of Prayer and Revival Center in Northern New Jersey "... where we come together to seek His face, believe for encounter, to see heaven come down to earth, and work to hasten/catalyze the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."  Its Mission:  Its purpose the site says is committed to building a 24/7 prayer room and developing schools of ministry on the place of Night and Day prayer.

Its Friends: Bethel Church, Redding;  Bill Johnson; Bob Jones; Che An; John and Carol Arnott; Kansas City IHOP; Lou Engle; Mike Bickle; Heidi Baker; Rick Joyner; Randy Clark; and other NAR stalwarts.  Its Teaching and Podcast Suggestions: Bethel Church podcast, YWAM Fire and Fragrance DTS Podcasts, Weekend Teaching KC IHOP, IHOP Atlanta Podcast, IHOP Atlanta Awakening, and Personal Spiritual Formation by Ron Walborn.
http://restingplacehop.weebly.com/teaching--podcasts.html

Maddy Tells Her "Pierced by Love" Story

Maddy begins her story by saying she was lying face down on the floor of the Resting Place (And Maddy inserts "lots of Nyack College students and ATS students visit this place.") crying.  She felt as if she wanted to run, sit on God's lap, and hug him but this was impossible.  But, God must have felt the sentiments of her heart, relates Maddy, for she was overwhelmed by a great sense of love and longing.  Maddy writes, "I felt this love wrap around me like a tight, strong-passion-filled love."

And in a mystical St.Teresa-of-Avila-like-moment Maddy sees a man clothed in white garments with a golden belt round His waist, and hanging off his belt was a sword with the words "Love" carved into it.  This man had piercing light emanating from his eyes so Maddy could not look.  Then this man took "His sword," says Maddy, and pierced me with it.  Seconds later, the leader of the Resting Place, Mr. Ali Ferrell, was at her side, saying, "He (Jesus) wants to pierce you with his Holy love ...."
http://life.nyack.edu/pierced-by-love/

Maddy Embraces Dr. Rob Reimer's Challenge

Now, what had Maddy been doing just prior to this ecstatic encounter?  Why Maddy had been reading Dr. Rob Reimer's book: Pathways to the King.  In chapter two "Pursue God," she had read Reimer's instructions on how to initiate intimacy with God.  As a result Maddy declares, "I took on the challenge of pursuing God."  Then as Reimer instructs, she says, "I have been sacrificing: time, money, hanging out, etc. to seek the face of God."  What a travesty that Maddy drank in Reimer's prescription for pursuing God.

For a review of Pathways to the King -where I warn of the deception in this book- please see:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=15480

Maddy Attends a Holy Spirit Conference

In "Abuser of God's Grace" Maddy tells how many ATS friends made the annual trek to "The Holy Spirit Conference" at Dr. Rob Reimer's CMA's South Shore Community Church in Brockton, Ma.  There she set up her table with materials to sell more potential students on the wonders of ATS.  It was Dr. Martin Sander's night to preach, and the line that stood out to Maddy was: "some of us are abusers of God grace."  Later during prayer a friend said, "God is saying thank you, thank you for acknowledging me."http://life.nyack.edu/abuser-of-gods-grace/

Maddy Goes to NAR Shores of Grace, Brazil

Maddy's entitles her next blog: "Taking a Risk."  In it she records her upcoming summer graduate course, second continent experience (ATS MIA IC),where she will be part of God's rescue mission for the vulnerable at the Randy Clark Global School of Ministry offshoot "Shores of Grace."

Mandy seems to be reechoing the words of Dr. Ron Walborn's Nyack: New York Christian College piece "Alliance Theological Seminary" where the dean quoted John Wimber when he said, "'Faith is spelled R-I-S-K.'"  With God's grace and the Spirit's empowerment, Alliance Theological Seminary will launch hundreds of leaders ... to advance His Kingdom and bring back Christ our Coming King."
http://life.nyack.edu/adventure-into-the-unknown/

Maddy Listens to Mama Heidi Baker

Maddy's piece "Amor Parce com Algo" finds Maddy one week into her Brazilian rescue mission listening to NAR prophetess Heidi Baker and pondering Baker's words, "Love looks like something."  Maddy, at this point, didn't know what to expect, and was filled with uncertainties.  But, during this time she was about to absorb the words from a book she had ordered that her professor- mentor Dr. Rob Reimer recommended.  That book, not the Bible, was going to make a big difference in preparing her for what was to come. http://life.nyack.edu/lovelookslikesomething/

A Look at Maddy's Shores of Grace NAR Ministry Base

As I researched, it was soon apparent that "Shores of Grace" was not a CMA ministry, but a full-blown New Apostolic Reformation base of which Maddy was to be part of for ten weeks. Reading further, according to its leader Nic Billman, SOG had begun under Randy Clark's Global School of Supernatural Ministry. 

And much like the Resting Place:HOP, Billman lists various NAR endorsements, heroes, friends, churches, and products. Two of several endorsers were Randy Clark, and Patricia King.  Three of its many heroes include Heidi Baker, Patricia King, and Kevin Prosch. (Now, it made sense why Maddy was listening to Mama Heidi for even the Billman children, their site says, list Heidi as their hero.)  Some friends listed were: "We See Jesus Ministries," Lubbock IHOP, Philadelphia Tabernacle of David, and a host of others. ("We See Jesus Ministries!"-- this made me recall that Maddy had written about her 2013 Christmas vacation ministry in Haiti with NAR's Adam LiVecchi.)
http://shoresofgrace.com/en/about-us/leadership

On top of NAR partners and connections, the Billmans are prolific NAR worship musicians featured on Randy Clark's Global Awakening Book Store saying, "For years, people have talked about the new sounds coming, the reality is that we ARE the new sound that God is releasing on the earth."  A Billman CD is simply entitled, "A Soaking CD;" while another "Anthem CD" is filled with intimate love songs, prophetic degrees, and intercessory warfare.
https://globalawakeningstore.com/Nic-and-Rachael-Billman/

Sad it is that Maddy gains ATS credit by freely serving with these NAR ministries, and that she was allowed to write openly on a blog that is meant to entice new students to Nyack.  And even more troubling is how these experiences have so profoundly influenced Maddy herself as she madly chases God at every turn.

Maddy Experiences a "Dark Night of the Soul"

Maddy started her "Sometimes My Time in Brazil Is Like a Dark Night of the Soul" Life at Nyack blog with a NAR musician Rick Pino quote, "Through the dark night of the soul there is still a bride coming forth."     

Again, here was another- new to me NAR celebrity- who I learned is the founder of Fire Rain Ministries whose music is said to be militant, joyful, intimate, and prophetic. He's cofounder, too, of "Fire on the Altar" a fifty-hour non-stop worship service in the heart of the tabernacle of David  And he also leads the "Heart of David (HOD)" School of ministry.  HOD is a movement of musicianaries  who are raising up day and night worship to transform cities, regions, and nations.  Rick Pino also performs with many other NAR celebs as Cindy Jacob, Lou Engle, Jose Diaz, Matt Gilman, Dutch Sheets, Heidi Baker, and others.  Sadly, Pino is but one more NARite who has influenced Maddy.

In her blog Maddy spells out, how Dr. Rob Reimer's recommendation of the book : Mansions of the Heart  had prepared her for hard times she had at SOG that she dubbed her own "dark night of the soul."

The term "dark night of the soul," is associated with St. John of the Cross, a contemporary of St. Teresa of Avila, who lived during the sixteenth century in Spain.  It is in Ashbrook's book --so filled with its monasteries, monks, and mysticism--that Ashbrook spends considerable time explaining  the necessity of the "dark night of the soul."  And after swallowing this teaching, at the end of her SOG time, Maddy shares, "I see a bride coming forth.  I see the beauty of the kingdom on the inside of me."  http://life.nyack.edu/author/madelyn-badillo/

For my in depth review of Mansions of the Heart please see:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=16011

Maddy Writes Her last Official "Life at Nyack Blog"

Maddy's final blog "Get Over Your Self" was written after her return from SOG.  In it she shows a picture of the NAR Billmans, and praises their ministry.  Maddy goes on to say, that once again, she has finally surrendered her all, and gotten over herself for good.  Is Maddy sincere?  Yes, I'd say Maddy is totally sincere.  Has Maddy been compromised?   I'd answer emphatically yes!  For she's been influenced  over and over again by the experiences she is having at that very moment.  And no one warns her of the deceptiveness of the contemplative, and NAR movements into which her professors, her mentor, and her seminary has thrust her.
http://life.nyack.edu/get-over-yourself/

How Many More Maddys Are There?

In conclusion, I would ask how many more Maddys are there being driven about by every wind of doctrine that has entered our Christian colleges? How many more Maddys will be seduced by these unscriptural experiences, and upon exiting college or seminary will spread them even farther?  I fear many, much like Maddy, will be led down wrong paths unless passionate believers awaken to stand for truth!  May you and I, as Paul wrote to the Colossians, "...continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel ..." (Colossians 1:23)  And, may we be  fervent defenders of the faith!    

Learn to Discern Granny Verses:  Ephesians 4:14,15

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

For More Information:

*January 2015: Volume III: "Wide Is the Gate" DVD -an expose of the NAR Movement by caryltv.com.  http://www.caryltv.com/dvd-previews/222-wide-is-the-gate-volume-iii

*February 6, 2015: Excellent  podcast/transcript on Berean Call: T.A. McMahon interviews Caryl Matrisciana about her "Wide Is the Gate Volume III" DVD.
http://www.thebereancall.org/content/new-agejust-old-news-caryl-matrisciana-part-2

* February 11, 2015:  "An Insider's View of the 2015 Jesus Culture Conference ..."  A description of NAR Music/Speakers.  http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=16933

Kevin Reeves' Riveting Story of His River Movement Exit:  A Review of The Other Side of the River

Kevin Reeves was once deep into the experiences of the River Revival Movement.*  As part of a small aberrational group, Reeves was steeped in its errors while at the same time having reservations about its practices.  And in this Reeves' read you'll learn how these reservations led to revelations compelling Reeves and his wife to exit "The River" to return to the Word of God alone.

*River Movement/River Revival Movement encompasses The Toronto Blessing, Brownsville Revival, Dominion, Latter Rain, Word of Faith, Rodney Howard-Browne's laughing revival, the Kansas City Prophets, or a mix of all so some of the aforementioned.  (p. 22)

Rather than harshly criticizing his former "River" partners, Reeves tells his story--The Other Side of the River--with great sensitivity, and genuine love while exposing the deceptions that had enveloped his hyper-charismatic group.  Reeves' two-fold purpose for writing this story is in his words, "First I pray it might be helpful to those who have recognized and turned away from distortions of doctrine and practice that have crept into the church today.  Secondly, I hope it will be a warning, and an eye-opener to those still involved with hyper-charismatic teachings or have loved ones who are."
(p.11)

Right off the bat, Reeves'"Contents" with its list of chapters, and subsections draw the reader into the story with its catchy and intriguing titles.  For example, chapter four: "We All Fall Down" has these subsections: "Called to the Carpet,""Carnality in Motion,""Catch Me if You Can,""Context or Pretext,""A Visit with God's Bartender,""Whose Anointing?""The Biblical Anointing," and "Examine the Source."

Inside each chapter Reeves gives the reader a first hand look into the often bizarre and unsettling practices of his "New Covenant Fellowship" with its river tales.  From the get-go, Reeves introduces and defines numerous "riverese" terms such as "impartation,""blood line,""pattern son,""taking authority,""drunkenness,""personal prophecy,""revelation," and so many more.

While every chapter of this riveting work is chock full of vivid descriptions and eye-opening information found within his river congregation, Reeves final three chapters especially resonated with me from the stand point of the discerning of truth and error through research and documentation and acting upon it.   

As stated earlier Reeves revealed how he had routinely sensed something wasn't right with this river revival.  In fact, Reeves wrote he had secretly read The Seduction of Christianity-- a work that was "anathema" to Charismatics.  But it was Dave Wilkerson's out spoken 1999 Charisma magazine article: "David Wilkerson Blasts Faith Preachers in Sermon" that finally spurred Reeves into action.  So awakened was he that Reeves put aside his "charismatic programming" as he described it, and clicked onto his computer to discover a world he'd never before considered.  As a result Reeves wrote he felt as if, "...truth grabbed me by the shirtfront and gave me a hard shake...."  (p.183)

Describing this time of research, documentation, and reflection Reeves posed some important questions each of us must answer when we stand at a fork in the road.  And of all these questions, the most poignant of all, as Reeves so succinctly put it, was "The bottom line for facing discovery of the false is--what will you do with truth?"  (p.186)

Reeves answered with another question: "What should you do when a question arises about a particular doctrine, practice, or fellowship?"  We should, says Reeves, as the Bereans "search the scriptures."  Reeves further explained that we should "investigate, scrutinize, ask questions, and put on trial" the deceptions we find in light of God's word.  Then, in repentance we must act upon what we find.  We must do an about-face! (p.187)

And an about-face is what Reeves courageously did!  Now Reeves tells us all the details in these final chapters recounting his determined stand for truth.  In the end, out of "The River" but not defeated, Reeves reminisced, "Following 'every wind of doctrine,' I drank deeply of every experience I could, followed by our prophets, and preached with authority from an eldership position--until the day truth mattered." (p.214)   Like Reeves may we also dare to take a stand--for "truth" matters!

Learn to Discern Granny Verse:  Acts 17:11

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so."


More Information:  To obtain this "need to read" Reeves' book--one sure to open your own eyes to the width, breath, and depth of "The River," and to the necessity of understanding its deceptions so you too can discern error, and defend truth please see:
http://www.lighthousetrails.com/