Pope John Paul II Kissed The Koran. According to theFundamental Baptist Information Service, in May 1999, during an audience granted to three Muslims at the Vatican, Pope John Paul II bowed to the Muslim holy book, the Koran, and kissed it (Christian News, Oct. 18, 1999, p. 16). The three Muslims were the Shiite Imam of Khadum mosque, the Sunni president of the Iraqi Islamic Bank, and a representative of the Iraqi ministry of religion. The photo of the gesture has been shown repeatedly on Iraqi television. The Pope is diligently building the end time apostate "church" of Revelation 17. A mere six months later, Indonesian Muslims demonstrated their reply to the Pope's gesture by slaughtering Roman Catholics in East Timor who had voted their independence from Indonesia. ELB

The United Methodist Church "has been reduced to a kind of pussycat church," a Houston pastor says. "We're bringing up a generation that will offend nobody, not even the devil," William Hinson, senior pastor of the 13,500-member Houston First United Methodist Church, said. He made the remark during his keynote address at the national conference of the Confessing Movement,Within the United Methodist Church held Sept. 9-11 in Indianapolis. The movement, an unofficial part of the UMC, says it is trying to bring the denomination back to its doctrinal foundations. It numbers 1,315 "confessing churches," 3,212 clergy, and 600,145 United Methodists. United Methodist pastors have become reluctant to preach clearly on moral issues for fear of offending someone, Hinson said. "We have to choose between being popular and being faithful." "When 2.5 million souls are lost in 30 years, it's safe to assume something has gone wrong," Hinson said, referring to the UMC's loss of members. The average age of members is more than 57, according to church reports, United Methodist News Service said. ...Hinson decried the "marginalization of those of us with a high view of Scripture." Graduates of conservative UMC theological schools, such as Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY., are intimated when seeking appointments, he said. The denomination's General Conference in the spring "will be pivotal in shaping the direction of our divided, distracted, and declining denomination," William Bouknight, president of the Confessing Movement, said. "I am hopeful that God may yet help us recover our Wesleyan heritage, based on biblical authority." (Gleaned from Religion Today) ELB

Ted Turner Promotes Ecumenical-ism. Billionaire anti-Christian Ted Turner is at it again! Just after admitting he is a socialist, he joins his socialist friend UN General Secretary Kofi Annan in calling for a gathering of the religious leaders of the world to "bury ancient enmities and cooperate in resolving world conflicts." According to the London Sunday Telegraph, "the UN will extend its peacekeeping role into spiritual territory next year by hosting its first summit for world religious leaders, bringing ... the pope, the archbishop of Canterbury, the aga Khan, the grand mufti, and other senior clerics (as many as 1000) from Cardinals and rabbis to imams and gurus..." (and perhaps Christian ministers) at the New York headquarters in August. No doubt what will emerge from such a summit is an international call for tolerance in the name of "world peace." For years now the media and historians have blamed all wars, ethnic cleansing, and inhumanity to their fellow man on "religious differences." Rarely do they blame communism, greed, the lust for power or many other evil causes. They would have us believe it is the intolerance of other religious beliefs. Pre-Trib Perspectives

Carter & Graham Agree Anyone Can Worship God - Southern Baptist former President Jimmy Carter agrees with SBC Evangelist Billy Graham that other religions worship the same God as do Christians. NBC's Today interview by Katy Couric aired Carter saying other religions worship the same God as Christians. (NBC Today, 10/27/99) Even though they only look upon Christ as a "good person." In an interview by Robert Schuller, Graham said: "...whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ..." (Plains Baptist Challenger, 9/99) Let Jesus answer for Himself: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44). This is what the Lord said about those who despise Christ and His followers: ". . .and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him (God) that sent me." (Luke 10:16) - (W. W. Mosley hereafter WWM)

Lottery Tickets Don't Pay - Lotto Texas has hit a slump. (LAJ, 10/27/99) This is of great concern to Texas Lottery Commission. The promoters of Texas lottery spoke of great things to be accomplished if Texas voters would give it a chance. They did and the promised accomplishments have failed. Teachers salaries and school benefits would escalate, they said. Sin tax will always fail to fulfill its claim. The Devil's tactics always cost more than they produce. If all who call themselves Christians would stop buying tickets the drop would be even more. The believer's life is a life of faith not of chance. - WWM

Women's Sports Icon Joins Hall of Fame - Chicago, famous for its wind, has another bluster to fame. Billie Jean King has just been inducted to their "Gay/Lesbian Hall of Fame." (LAJ, 10/27/99) Many women who lauded her tennis career should hang their head in shame at this accomplishment(?). She is a staunch representative of "women's sports equity." What a debauched recognition for America "...for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:" (Rom. 1:26) - WWM

Rome's Children Coming Home - "Catholics, Lutherans work to narrow differences," is the headline in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 10/30/99. The article announced that "Roman Catholics and the Lutheran World Federation will sign an agreement Sunday (10/31/99)" in Augsburg, Germany. Ben Kasteel, Catholic, and Robert Barndt, Lutheran, both of Lubbock, TX are pictured comparing notes for Sunday's ceremonies celebrating the event. Seems both groups found out they were "not that far apart." The agreement was "affirming that justification comes through God's grace and through faith alone." If this is what they truly believe why do both groups sprinkle, confirm, and ritualize to make grace and faith work? What a mystery that Baptist(?) Evangelist Billy Graham and others can fellowship with such religious nonsense. -WWM

Delinquent Adults Teaching Delinquency - The sin nature is passed from one generation to the next from Adam and Eve to the present. However, the depth of sin that a person sinks to is largely dependent on parenthood and society. (It does take more than a village.) America has survived for over 200 years only because God was honored by our founding fathers. A Franklin, OH school teacher is joining lawmakers taking God and His principles out of the mind of young people. The teacher was only "reprimanded" for giving the following subject to the class for a writing assignment. "If you had to assassinate one famous person who is alive right now, who would it be and how would you do it?" (LAJ, 10/26/99) If the same teacher had given a Bible related assignment they would have been removed not reprimanded! Teaching "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;" in public schools would have a purifying effect on our nation. (Psa. 33:12) - WWM

Falwell And Gay Preacher Mel White - Moral Majority founder, Jerry Falwell, held services on Sunday 10/24 for "200 gay Christians(?)." (Lynchburg, VA. {AP}, LAJ, 1-/25/99) Falwell's sermon was designed to "reduce violence against gays and Christians." Mel White, gay minister from California, helped Falwell lead in the service. White covers the country supporting the gay/lesbian lifestyle and is often obtained by state supported universities for enormous fees. (The real cost is yet to be assessed.) Falwell recently became a supporter of the SBC. He obviously has forsaken the conservative(?) stand he once held, if indeed he ever had such convictions. I am not surprised to see the Harlot Church's chickens come back to their roost so why should it surprise anyone to see 2 Peter 2:1 fulfilled before our very eyes. - WWM

British Gays Gain Legal Rights - British gay couples now have the same rights as heterosexuals. The House of Lords ruled that property owners no longer can ask gay couples about their sexuality. (Catholic World News, 10/29/99) The report said "British homosexuals were celebrating" after the ruling. The House of Lords obviously did not consult the Lord's Word when they made this ruling. The gay/lesbian crowd better celebrate in the open now because they will later cry for the rock and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of the One on the eternal ruling throne. (Rev. 6:16) - WWM

Clinton & Assisted Suicide - Although Pres. Clinton did not say if he would veto a bill by the House banning the use of federally-controlled drugs in assisted suicides, he did urge the Senate not to put such a measure on his desk. (Catholic World News, 10/29/99) If he doesn't want assisted suicide banned he must approve it. How long will it be before forced assisted suicide will be acceptable? Euthanasia may not stop with those in terminal pain, or with the unborn, but also with the impaired or the aged who seem little more than a nuisance to society. Lord, help our nation to turn from sin to righteousness. (Prov. 13:34) - WWM

"Homosexual Jesus" Play Opens In Britain - Terrence McNally's blasphemous play has opened in Britain. Protesters have peacefully demonstrated outside London to keep the play from moving to the heart of London's theater district. (Catholic World News, 10/29/99) The strongest weapon against this would be the preaching of another Baptist preacher with the spiritual stamina and tenacity of Charles H. Spurgeon. I pray God will call young men to preach with biblical conviction enough to call sin by its first name. - WWM

Y2K's Greatest Threat - Society! In a recent Washington Post report the FBI is warning police nation wide that the greatest threat on New Year's Eve will come from extremist. (Drudge Report, 10/30/99) High on the list are religious extremists, racists, cults, etc. A society with no hope in Christ produces religions which try to hook on to the tail of a comet by committing mass suicide will likely have no trouble inventing other bonehead moves. "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." (Eccl. 7:29) - WWM

Gore & Bradley Refuse To Sign Marriage Pledge - President hopefuls Al Gore and Bill Bradley refused to sign "The Presidential Candidate Pledge on Marriage" that was drafted by those who support biblical family values. The candidates were asked to pledged to uphold "the sacred institution of marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman" and to oppose attempts to define it to encompass homosexual relationships. (Baptist Press, 10/20/99) The Vice President is heartily on the side of gay/homosexual lifestyles as well as partial-birth abortion. - WWM

Falwell Changes Ministry Statements After White Meeting - Jerry Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA entertained homosexual pastor Mel White and 200 of his homosexual followers. The Baptist Press, (10/25/99) stated "Falwell ordered some changes made in one of his ministry's statements after White pointed out the fallacies, White said." What a pathetic act for any Baptist preacher to alter his stand against any sin, especially the sin of homosexuality. This says more about Falwell's convictions than his joining the SBC. - WWM

Homosexual Preacher Works To Change Falwell -Mel White, homosexual preacher & gay/lesbian advocate said, "I have been working...to help him (Jerry Falwell) understand the difference between preaching his conscience about homosexuality and the things that he says about homosexuals that are really false and inflammatory." White may convert Falwell in this area but he has no influence at all on what God has to say about it. (Lev. 20:13; Rom. 1:24-27) - WWM

Court Upholds Partial-Birth Abortion Ban - Illinois & Wisconsin won a temporary battle to ban partial-birth abortions. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals stood by these states on this issue. (Baptist Press, 10/27/99) What really counts is that the God of Heaven made His ruling on this matter in eternity past. (Exo. 21:21-25) Look for the U.S. Supreme Court to come to the aid of the pro- abortion crowd. Although men call it the "high court" it is far too low to make a supreme ruling. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:9) - WWM

Baptist Church With Woman Pastor Leaves SBC - University Baptist Church in Bloomington, Ind., and pastor Annette Briggs, chose to leave the State Convention of Baptist in Indiana. Because of the church's long standing the Convention chose not to remove UBC although they disapproved of women filling the pastorate. (Baptist Press, 10/26/99) Yet the SBC ordained "more than 1,000" women to the pastorate between 1964 & 1994. (Baptist Standard, 8/24/94, p. 4) A committee appointed to interact between UBC and the State Convention was "comprised of the president of the convention, Woody Cumbie, John Rogers and the chairman of the administration committee, Shelia Lightfoot." Sounds like a case of the pot calling the kettle black. See, read, and obey 1 Cor. 14:34,35. - WWM

Partial-Birth Abortion Body Parts Sold - There is a lucrative growing traffic in the sale of organs and body parts of healthy partial-birth aborted human beings. (Baptist Press, 10/22/99) The pro-abortion crowd denies the reality of a human being until after birth. How can they possibly account for the fact that their body parts can be used for transplants? The human heart (center of the soul) "is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9) - WWM

Media Silence About Wedgwood - Wedgwood Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX suffered an incomprehensible savage attack while engaged in worship services. Gunman John Ashbrook walked in with guns ablaze and soon seven worshipers lay dead or dying. The media and national leaders called the brutal murders of Matthew Sheperd and James Byrd hate crimes. Yet both are noticeably silent about the murder of Christians being hate crimes. They likely would not report on the millions of believers of the first centuries AD and the dark ages who were beheaded because they would not recant their faith in Christ. - WWM

GLSEN Targets Elementary Students - Over "700 teachers, administrators, high school and college students and homosexual activists attended" the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's third annual conference in Atlanta. (Baptist Press, 10/8/99) "Strategy sessions on such topics as addressing homosexuality in elementary and middle schools, affirming `transgender youth' and responding to the religious right" was one of the main topics. More time should be spent on considering God's opinion of sodomy. That would raise the hostility GLSEN, ACLU, Clinton/Gore, and the liberal media. God shall have all such "in derision" one day. (Psa. 2) - WWM

Promoting Homosexuality High On GLSEN's Priority List - GLSEN Exec. Dir. Kevin Jennings said "his organization would be `shameless' in promoting pro-homosexual programs to all 15,000 schools in the country." The Baptist Press, 10/8/99, reported Peter Labarbera saying, "Perhaps the most startling aspect of the [3 day conference] was the increasingly bold programs to teach elementary school students to accept homosexual relationships and `gay families'." Mona Mendoza of the Washington Education Association said, "Eighth-graders are coming out; sixth-graders are coming out." If Christians in America remain silent on the `queer question' our nation will rot from the inside out. - WWM

CA Governor Signs Pro-Homosexual Bills Into Law - Calif. Gov. Gray Davis signed 3 pro-homosexual bills into law 10/2/99. These bills also reinforced the rights of homosexual and lesbian public school teachers. (Baptist Press, 10/7/99) This date corresponded with Pres. Clinton's presence at a fund-raising "Gay and Lesbian Presidential Dinner" in Beverly Hills. Art Croney from Committee on Moral Concerns said it is "the first time ever in the history of California to have a governor who is radical enough to sign these bills." The San Adreas fault is not the only shaky ground California straddles. - WWM

SBC President And Roman Catholics - Paige Patterson, president of the Southern Baptist Convention concludes one thing "I think has become crystal clear...the dialogue is that no ecumenical hopes would be in order." (Baptist Press, 10/5/99) This came as a result of a 16 member panel (8 SBC leaders and 8 RC Bishops) studying together the differences between the two groups. What can possibly be gained by any Baptists joining in committee with heretical religions? Reading and believing 2 Cor. 6:14-18 would clear the air before any such committee could be formed. - WWM

Degenerate DeGeneres Wants To Get Married - A "coming out" week recently was celebrated in Vermont. Ellen DeGeneres and her depraved partner were there cheering the State Supreme Court's consideration of the case of three same-sex couples who want to get married. (LAJ, 10/12/99) DeGeneres spoke at the University of Vermont's Patrick Gym to a packed crowd. The crowd cheered when the lesbian leader said, "All right, that does it. I'm moving here." I pray she will meet the taxpayers of that state moving out in honorable contempt of such state actions. - WWM

Half of Catholic Clergy Are `Gay' - This is from the 9/27 Christian News, quoting a Roman Catholic publication: "Thomas Plante, an associate professor of psychology at Santa Clara University who counsels priests, claims that 50 percent of Catholic clergy are gay, even though `they're not all acting on it.' Perhaps, this is an exaggeration. But, as the number of priest scandals continues to mount, one has to wonder. After all, it's no secret that some of the most liberal seminaries in America have long been rumored to be hotbeds of homosexuality." Calvary Contender (Hereafter CC)

Halloween & ATS - Dr. Bill Jackson of Christians Evangelizing Catholics in an e-mail last month quoted from a letter from the American Tract Society: "So when we minister in Christ's name on Halloween, we are reclaiming the Christian roots of this holiday." Jackson comments: "This is just another in a series of evangelical surrenders to Roman Catholicism. Anyone with a knowledge of the history of Halloween knows it is basically a Roman Catholic holiday, and that what the Catholics failed to include was generously supplied by the Druids."-CC

Bad Boy Boone - Pat Boone is at it again. He had a recent heavy-metal album, and now his next one is rhythm and blues rock. An unabashed tongues-speaking charismatic, he was expelled long ago from the Church of Christ (10/4 CT). He's been an elder in Jack Hayford's Foursquare Gospel church for the past 20 years. But even Fuller Seminary president Richard Mouw said: "Pat Boone's leather-and-tattoos masquerade was not unforgivable, but neither was it a harmless spoof." He called the heavy-metal culture's "flaunting of promiscuity and satanic imagery" deeply repulsive and blasphemous. -CC

Is Alpha Course Biblical? - The controversial popular Alpha Course presents a weak guiltless gospel and a feeble Christ (4/1 CC). A 5/99 Evang. Times article says half of the lesson on Spirit-filling is on speaking in tongues. The Holy Spirit's biblical role is to glorify Christ, but in the charismatic Alpha Course the Holy Spirit eclipses Christ (5/99 Austr. Beacon). In overall emphasis, Christ is displaced by the Holy Spirit as the center of attention.-CC

Wilkerson Blasts Word-Faith Preachers - David Wilkerson blasted fellowcharismatics' prosperity doctrines, "holy laughter," and the flamboyance of Benny Hinn in an April 11 sermon to his 7,000-member Times Square Church. He told members to burn books written by any propagators of these doctrines, and to stay away from evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne's Good News NY crusade (10/99 Charisma). He leveled blasphemy charges at Kenneth Copeland's prosperity doctrines.-CC

Both Popes Can't Be Infallible - Pope John Paul II recently rejected the reality of hell being a literal physical place of eternal torment (10/15 CC). But Pope Paul VI in the 1970s termed hell a reality and reminded people of the "terrible truth of a possible eternal punishment called Hell, about which Christ minced no words." Canadian Revivalist editor Dr. Frank McClelland comments: "It is obvious that there is a world of difference between Paul VI's view of hell and that of the present pope." Will the real infallible pope please stand?-CC

PP's Sex Ed Increases Abortions - Planned Parenthood sex education programs can directly contribute to the number of abortions (Heartlink). PP tells teens to be "responsible." Then it defines responsibility as "using birth control when you have sex to avoid getting pregnant and, if you do get pregnant, having an abortion." Those who engage in sexual activity provide millions of dollars to PP. Chastity provides none. PP thus uses its sex ed programs to increase its customer base and sees abstinence education as a threat to its income and survival.-CC

SDA Helped Sponsor F. Graham Crusade? - Ted Olsen (10/4 Chr. Today) said, "The largest Protestant denomination [in Jamaica] is the Seventh-day Adventist Church." It has nearly 500 congregations in Jamaica. One of Jamaica's biggest problems is said to be disunity among churches. But the Celebrate Jesus '99 crusade there in March, with Franklin Graham as the main speaker, was sponsored by all of Jamaica's umbrella organizations: the WEF evangelicals (JAE), the liberals (JCC), Full Gospel churches (JAFG), the Church of God in Jamaica, the Jamaican Pentecostal Union, and the Seventh-day Adventists. So, put it all together and you have new evangelicals, charismatics, liberals and cultists all united in a hodgepodge of ecumenical evangelism. [Jamaican missionary Joe McKnight phoned the main SDA body there and it denied crusade involvement. Bro. McKnight said it would not surprise him if several SDA churches took part in the Graham meetings without Conference sanction. CT writer Ted Olsen (by phone) thinks he got the SDA involvement information from the Graham camp, but would check and call me. He never did.]-CC

Falwell Lends A Hand To Habitat - Habitat For Humanity has built 26,000 homes for poor people in the U.S. and over 45,000 worldwide. HFH founder Millard Fuller is a former missionary with the most liberal United Church of Christ. His "theology of the hammer" has a global religion goal (6/15/98 CC). In the 6/14 C. Today he says: "Here's what Christianity is about. Let us get together and build houses for [people living in squalor] so they'll have a good place to live, and you'll see the kingdom." He said Jerry Falwell's church is "building a house every year, and they take up the Christmas offering for HFH." Fundamentalist Digest editor Dr. Don Jasmin rightly concludes: "HFH is rooted in ecumenism, centered in ecologism, and slanted toward socialism."-CC

Lighthouse Movement Is Huge - Small prayer groups from over 200,000 local churches and 300 national ministries believe they can reach every person in America with prayer, friendship, and a video depicting Jesus' life by the end of December 2000. Ministries range from Jerry Falwell's, SBC, Moody Church, Ravi Zacharias, and Kay Arthur, to Crystal Cathedral, Willow Creek, and the Episcopal Church (10/4 CT). Mission America's Paul Cedar is chair. Other key organizers were Bill Bright and Billy Graham. The Lighthouse Movement is coordinated by AD2000's Mission America, Harvest Evangelism (Ed Silvoso), and the World Prayer Center (Peter Wagner and Chuck Pierce). This ecumenical coalition predicts 3 million lighthouses by the end of next year. Prayer is much needed today, but any attempt at common doctrine (which is vitalsee Amos 3:3for uniting in corporate prayer and fellowship) would split this conglomeration asunder. Ecumenical coalitions such as this could be laying the groundwork for the "evangelical" wing of the United Religions, the world church of the Antichrist.-CC

Campus Crusade's New Campus - Campus Crusade is moving into a $45 million 285-acre home base for its expanding ministries. Founded in 1951 by Bill Bright, it is now the world's largest new evangelical organization. The new facility will be at Lake Hart in Orlando. CC now has over 20,514 full-time staffers and over 663,000 volunteers in 68 ministries in 181 countries (10/6 Religion Today). Bright won the $1.1 million notorious Templeton Prize in 1996 and donated it to his Fasting & Prayer ministry. His New Life 2000's goal is to help lead at least a billion people to become Christians by year 2000's end and to help plant a million churches of all denominations. Charismatics and Catholics are warmly embraced by Bright, who signed the 1994 ECT.-CC

Graham At Harvard Praises Dalai Lama - When Dr. Billy Graham spoke at Harvard last month at the behest of its homosexual Chaplain Peter Gomes, he maintained that the way to God is through Jesus Christ but expressed tolerance for other religions (10/2 H. Times). He lauded the Buddhist Dalai Lama for his peace efforts and emphasized the similarities between the Christian and Islamic scriptures. This is a serious, grievous error.-CC

Schuller Again Features Catholics, Liberals - The Robert H. Schuller Institute for Successful Church Leadership, Jan. 24-27, at his Crystal Cathedral, includes the following speakers (10/4 CT): Tony Campolo, Bill Hybels, Luis Palau, John Maxwell, William Bennett (RC), "Father" Michael Moynhan, Roberta Hestenes (a senior pastor), Kent Hunter, Bishop Charles Blake (COGIC), H.B. London (Focus on the Family), Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin Jr., Juan Carlos Ortiz, and Bishop Sundo Kim.-CC

Wake Forest's New Divinity School - Wake Forest University's new divinity school (see 9/15 CC) will take a radical departure from its Baptist heritage, choosing among its faculty a Benedictine monk, a feminist biblical scholar and a theologian who calls God "our motherly father." (8/22 Raleigh News & Observer) This ecumenical school is premised on the belief that denominations don't matter. WFU in 1997 featured a Buddhist monk, a rabbi, snake handler, and Tony Campolo as speakers (10/1/97 CC).-CC

Gore Changes Her Tune On Music - Tipper Gore, who over a decade ago led a crusade to require warning labels on raunchy rock records, now has severed her ties with this and has apologized to West Coast entertainment executives in a private meeting with her husband (8/22 H. Times). Her switch has helped husband Al Gore, who has raised more funds from the entertainment industry than any other presidential candidate this year. [She also recently helped raise big funds for the political coffers at a gay-lesbian fund raiser7-8/99 Fund. Digest.]-CC

What Does `Good' Mean? - Recently, Hillary R. Clinton described her philandering [lying, adulterous] husband as a "good husband and father." (8/21 World) Luciana Morad, the mother of rock singer Mick Jagger's latest illegitimate child, told Europe's Hello magazine that, even though Mr. Jagger has yet to meet his 4-month-old son, he is a "very loving father." [See Isaiah 5:20]-CC

Promise Keepers Attendance Slipping - Nearly 24,000 men crammed into the Charlotte, N.C., Coliseum Aug. 13-14 for a Promise Keepers rally (8/17 Religion Today). Men were challenged to be spiritual leaders at home and to promote unity in the body of Christ. Speakers included pastors Wellington Boone, Larry Jackson, Glenn Wagner, and ecumenical evangelist Greg Laurie. Promise Keepers officials acknowledge that attendance and fund raising nationwide have declined. Attendance has slipped from 1.1 million in 1996 to an anticipated 300,000 this year, and revenue declined from $87 million in 1996 to a projected $41 million this year. That a number of teen-agers came to the rally was seen as a sign of PK's strong future. Fifteen rallies are being held this year. PK is asking churches to hold "Light the Night" gatherings on New Year's weekend to usher in 2000. Calvary Contender (Afterward CC)

Colson, Palau to Gordon-Conwell Board - Chuck Colson and Luis Palau were elected as trustees of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, effective May 1. As pro-Catholic ecumenicals, they should fit well with G-C's new-evangelical stance. Billy Graham has served as G-C board chairman, and G-C has received $4 million in scholarship support from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association over the past five years. G-C's Hilltop paper lists ecumenicals such as John Armstrong, Alistair Begg, and Kay Arthur as fall speakers. G-C in years past, has had liberal speakers (e.g., James Forbes of the ultra-liberal Union Theol. Seminary of New York - 3/15/91 CC). - CC

Catholic Charismatics In Italy - There are 250,000 Italian Catholic charismatics (9/99 Charisma). Pentecostal leader Remo Cristallo brands the Catholic charismatic renewal in Italy a fake. "By imitating our songs and our style of worship, the Catholic charismatics fool people into believing you can make do without the gospel," he told Charisma. He stresses that the unity being offered by the Catholic Church is political: "Spiritually, nothing has changed." For him, fellowshiping with Catholics means compromising biblical Christianity because he believes two churches will emerge in the future"a political church and an underground church." - CC

Covenant College & Roman Catholicism - A resolution by this title passed by the Bible Presbyterian Church last month stated: "Covenant College, a school whose board of trustees is elected by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, recently sent a choir on a tour of Eastern Europe. While there, the choir sang during two services in Roman Catholic churches. On one occasion they sang during the serving of the mass." - CC

Wake Forest Opens Divinity School - Wake Forest University Divinity School (NC) opens this fall with 24 full-time students (19 women, 5 men) from various denominational backgrounds (Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, etc.). Bill Leonard was named founding dean in 1996 (8/5 Ala. Bapt.). The faculty includes Benedictine monk Sam Webber. WFU is self-governing but retains a fraternal relationship with No. Carolina [So.] Baptists. The divinity school in three years expects to enroll about 110 students (7/31 DMN). -CC

A Fuller Seminary Visit - Dr. Arthur Houk reports on a 7/27 visit to Fuller Theological Seminary, where he attended a class taught by popular Prof. John Goldingay of the School of Theology. Goldingay told the class that "there is no archaeological evidence that the city of Jericho was there and that the walls came tumbling down." He said, "Perhaps this is a parable." Heb. 11:30 indicates otherwise! Evidently, unbelief and denial of Scriptures is still prevalent at Fuller. Also, the Fund. Digest (7-8/99) reports: "Margaret Suster, a `pastor, teacher, church-woman, scholar and writer' who teaches preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary, was one of the guest preachers for a SDA [Seventh-day Adventist] sponsored `interactive seminar' via live satellite, 4/20/99." - CC

Falwell Meeting Features Charismatic Cymbala & SBC Leaders As Speakers - Slated speakers for Dr. Jerry Falwell's Super Conference '99, Oct. 3-6, include the current and three former Southern Baptist Convention presidents. Also featured is Jim Cymbala, pastor of the huge Brooklyn Tabernacle, and his choir. After a positive review of his book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire appeared in the IFCA's July-Aug. '97 Voice, Pastor Gary Gilley termed Cymbala a "charismatic minister" In a short review in the Jan.-Feb. '99 Voice Gilley said he believed Cymbala's book to be "a largely unbiblical, quasi-Charismatic, mystical approach to Christian living." Cymbala was a listed speaker for a "Pentecost, Prophecy & Power" conference at Central Assembly of God (Springfield, Mo., March 8-10), which also featured AOG leader Thomas Trask, and Brownsville Assembly of God ("Pensacola Outpouring") Worship Leader Lindell Cooley (12/98 Charisma). How can Falwell continue cavorting with charismatics and Southern Baptists and remain in good standing with the BBF? - CC

Saudi Arabia Repressive For Christians - A new report by Open Doors, an organization that ministers to the persecuted church, said Saudi Arabia is the world's most repressive country for Christians (8/5 Ala. Bapt.). It is rated first on a top ten list of countries dominated by Islamic control. Others who made the top 10 include (in descending order): Afghanistan, Sudan, China, Yemen, Morocco, Iran, Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt. - CC

China Poised To Take Control Of Canal - Red China is now in position to take control of the world's most strategic waterway, the Panama Canal, after the U.S. turns it over to Panama Dec. 31, 1999. The Carter-Torrijos Treaties were fatally flawed, and a fraud. The ones signed by Panama were radically different from the ones our Senate ratified. To get Senate ratification Pres. Carter had to accede to the DeConcini Reservation, and Panama refused to include this in their version (8/2 New Amer.). This is all another example of our leaders betraying us to godless communism. The 8/9 USN&WR said more drugs are already entering Panama and that when our soldiers leave, traffickers could have a field day. - CC

Pensacola 'Revival' Goes To Other Cities - Evang. Steve Hill, Brownsville Assembly of God pastor John Kilpatrick and worship leader Lindell Cooley took their Awake America crusade to E. Rutherford, NJ, June 28-29 (9/99 Charisma). The crusade was headed by an interdenominational steering committee of 15 local pastors. After the crusade, participating churches will continue working together on other evangelistic programs. "We've come together in unity, in the Spirit." said Father Joe Romanoski of Sacred Heart, a Catholic church in South Amboy, NJ. "This event is not an Assemblies of God event, a Lutheran event or a Catholic eventit's a Jesus event. We've put all the other stuff on the side." - CC

Charisma Says Get Ready To Rock `N' Roll - Charisma Editor Lee Grady says he believes we're on the verge of another youth awakening, ala the Jesus Movement of the 60s and 70s (9/99 Charisma). He said: "We must speak the message of Christ in their language, and sing it in a musical style they can relate to." He added: "Let's bridge the generation gap in the churchand get ready to rock. Another Jesus movement is on the way." - CC

Kansas Did Not Ban Evolution - Time and U.S. News got it wrong when they declared that evolution had been expunged from Kansas public schools' curriculum (9/13 CN). What the board decided was that it would not test students at the state level on evolution but local districts could do it. The state won't mandate teaching of origins but instructors may teach evolution if they choose. - CC

Disney Betrayed - Disney: The Mouse Betrayed tells an unsavory story of how Disney has been subverted in recent years. It exposes Disney's promotion of pay-per-view porn; its underwriting of movies (via its Miramax subsidiary) with themes of violence and sexual perversion, or with a militantly anti-Christian bias; its recording company that pushes rock songs with violent, Satanic, pro-suicide, pro-drug, sex-saturated lyrics; its unprincipled arrangements with Communist China to market its products; and its courting of the homosexual "community." (9/27 New Amer.) The book also discloses shocking facts of rampant pedophilia and other child abuse--and adult sexual abuse rife at its theme parks. - CC

Animal Rights Radical Singer At Princeton - Peter Singer was recently appointed to an endowed chair in bioethics at Princeton University (7/1 CC). To him, a newborn has no greater right to life than pigs, cows, and dogs. He would give patients and doctors the right to kill (not just withhold treatment) newborns with Spina Bifida, hemophilia, etc. (9/27 NA). Per the 10/99 Reader's Digest, he says "killing a disabled infant is not morally equivalent to killing a person. Very often it is not wrong at all." -CC

Gambling Hurts Poor More - Gamblers with household incomes under $10,000 wagered nearly three times more than those with household incomes over $50,000 (9/11 World). Gambling takes from losers money they can't afford to lose. It hits hardest those with the least ability to pay. It produces a subliminal conscience of covetousness, greed, pride, despair, and a false sense of pleasure. No winners in gamblingeventually all are losers! - CC

Catholics Spend $1 Billion In Sexual Misconducts Cases - Three times in a little over a year, sex scandals have driven high-ranking members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy from office, costing U.S. dioceses an estimated $1 billion in payments to victims (Proclaiming the Gospel). A Santa Rosa, CA bishop (1999) became the eighth of his rank or higher to leave office this decade over sexual misconduct. Others were a Santa Fe, NM archbishop (1993) and an Austrian cardinal (1998). - CC

GLADD Demands More Prime Time TV For Homosexuals - The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has complained that TV entertainment is too straight, even with the 28 homosexual, bisexual, or "transgender" characters in the fall lineup (9/27 New Am.). GLAAD wants a glamorized, politically useful portrayal of homosexuality instead of a realistic portrayal which would require immersion in its pathologiesdisease, violence, relentless promiscuity, and premature death. - CC

Pope Describes Purgatory As A Process - Pope John Paul II recently rejected the reality of hell being a literal physical place of eternal torment (9/1 CC). Then a few days later (Aug. 4) he described purgatory not as a place but a "process of purification" that removes man's earthly imperfections so he may enter God's kingdom (9/13 Chr. News). He said purgatory, like heaven and hell, is not a place but a spiritual state of being. He added: "But before we enter into God's kingdom every trace of sin within us must be eliminated; every imperfection in our soul must be corrected [in purgatory]." - CC

FFBC Resolutions - The Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches met in annual session August 16-20 in Montague, NJ and passed good resolutions on the following issues: Gender-Neutral Paraphrases (Zondervan, IBS, NIV); The Scarlet Woman: One World Religion (United Religions); False Pride- The President again openly endorsing perversion by proclaiming June as "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month" in an attempt to pay off the political debt he owes the homosexual lobby; Remembering Our Heritage- The 60th Anniversary of the FFBC; Hate Crimes Legislation- Since Cain murdered Abel, all crimes of violence have been "Hate Crimes." - CC

Marxist & Ecumenical - During the 1970s and 1980s the World Council of Churches' Special Fund to Combat Racism made grants totaling some $4 million to armed insurgent forces in southern Africa that were Marxist-Leninist or heavily influenced by Communism (8/99 Schwarz Report). South Africa's African National Congress government (headed by Mandela's successor, Thabo Mbeki) is run by Marxists, strongly affiliated with the South African Communist Party but presented by our media as moderates. Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe addressed/praised (12/8/98) the WCC Assembly in Harare for having supported his armed [Marxist] revolution. The WCC hypocritically says it opposes violence. It meets in Atlanta Dec. 9-11 on a theme of reconciliation, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a major speaker. Rev. Kathryn Bannister, 29, one of the WCC's eight presidents, will be installed as moderator of the U.S. conference. Ecumenical worship and prayer are planned. -CC

BWA Leader Wants New Attitude Toward Charismatic Movement - Baptist World Alliance Gen. Sec'y Denton Lotz urged Baptists to change their attitudes about the Charismatic Movement, during an address at Prague's Int'l. Bapt. Theol. Seminary. He said: "We need to get over our hang-up of the use of the word `charismatic'" Lotz's two reasons for calling on Baptists to begin to accept the Charismatic Movement were its "sheer number" [over "500 million"] and its "rediscovery of the power and work of the Holy Spirit" (Foundation). The SBC is a major member of the apostate BWA. -CC

Georgetown Names First Muslim Chaplain - Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the U.S., has appointed its first Muslim chaplain (8/28 Dallas Morn. News). He is believed to be the first Muslim chaplain at any major U.S. university. Georgetown has two rabbis and some part-time Protestant ministers (6/15 CC). Pornographer Larry Flynt lectured there last May. - CC

Clinton, The First Postmodern President - Postmodern man never lets himself be restricted by a single set of beliefs, relationships, or character traits. Rather, he is ever "reinventing himself." (9/4 World) Pres. Clinton, the first postmodern president, is unencumbered by ideology. He creates his own truth and reinvents himself. In postmodern fashion, Clinton defender Arthur Schlesinger said (1/11 USN&WR): "A question that has no right to be asked doesn't deserve a truthful answer." - CC

Rock Concert Violence - Thousands are injured each year at rock concertsat least 5,711 in 1998 alone (9/6 USN&WR). Hard-driving acts in the newly popular "rap-rock" genre whip mostly male crowds into a frenzy. Misogyny seems on the rise in rock music. Rap-rock lyrics describe raping, beating, and dismembering women. - CC

The Big Homosexual Lie -The most fundamental lie, repeated over and over, about homosexuality is that homosexuals are born that way. There is no scientific proof that homosexuality is genetic (9/99 Nat'l Lib. Jrnl.). - CC

AIDS Is Still Deadly - For a brief time drug combinations were dramatically reducing AIDS deaths, but now the number of new U.S. cases is static at 40,000 each year (9/13 USN&WR). AIDS deaths plunged 42 percent from 1996 to 1997 but only 20 percent from 1997 to 1998. Most who could benefit from newer drugs already receive them, while drug resistance and side effects force others off medication. AIDS is now the leading cause of death among 25-to-44-year-old black men. - CC

MacArthur Leaves `Incarnational Sonship' - Popular Bible teacher Dr. John MacArthur now says: "I want to state publicly that I have abandoned the doctrine of `incarnational sonship.' Careful study and reflection have brought me to understand that Scripture does indeed present the relationship between God the Father and Christ the Son as an eternal Father-Son relationship. I no longer regard Christ's sonship as a role He assumed in His incarnation." We applaud his willingness to reverse himself and acknowledge that his earlier teaching did not square with Scripture, though he still denies that it is "rank heresy." Will "fundamentalists" who have defended his "serious error" teachings now do a sudden reversal? Will MacArthur now recant his teaching on the blood of Christ which many fundamentalists regard as heresy? His incarnational Sonship (and other) teaching caused a schism in the IFCA a decade ago (see 2/1/90 & 11/15/95 CCs). How now will IFCA leaders, who continued to promote him, and other MacArthur defenders react to his reversal? IFCA's Voice magazine for many years has kept right on promoting MacArthur ministries in full-page ads. Should MacArthur and IFCA leaders who sided with him now apologize to the IFCA for the great harm the "Sonship" error has caused to that fellowship? - CC

Campolo's Confusing Attempt To Clarify - Tony Campolo in a letter to Jerry Falwell tries to explain his recent statement on Christ, judgment, and redemption (9/9 Nat'l Lib. Journal). He says: "Certainly I believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior of humanity." He then says Rom. 2:14-16 "suggests that the work of Christ on the cross may be broader than some of us think", and quotes Billy Graham as saying that "on Judgment Day, there may be people who enter the Kingdom who have not called themselves Christians." Campolo stands by his statement on The Charlie Rose Show that "I am not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians." - CC

Dunn Receives Award - Southern Baptist liberal James Dunn is the sixth recipient of the Religious Freedom Award from the Associated Baptist Press (8/28 Dallas Morn. News). He retired from an 18-year position as head of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs. He becomes president of the BJCPA Foundation and joins the faculty of the new Wake Forest Divinity School. -&nbspCC

Moody & Unity - Moody Bible Institute in recent years has become rather notorious for its ecumenical involvements and speakers. The theme of the Sep-Oct Moody is "Unity." Allen Ross rightly writes: "Unity cannot and should not be maintained when there is doctrinal heresy or persistent disobedience." But he seems not to follow this advice, else he doesn't recognize the "doctrinal heresy" and "persistent disobedience" of Promise Keepers, e.g. He mentions occasions that draw Christians together in a unified effort to help homeless, needy, or others in a crisis. He says: "At such times, our [denominational] differences do not seem to matter as much as ministering to people in Christian love." He says special projects [e.g., Bible translation committees] also draw believers together and help unite the church. He says: "Special movements also draw people together in Christ. For example, Promise Keepers has brought together believers who might otherwise have never done so. What draws them to unite is a shared need." CC

ABC Homosexual `Churches' - There are 37 congregations in the liberal American Baptist Churches USA that belong to the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, a caucus that encourages participation by homosexuals (7/22 H. Times). Rev. Esther Hargis, the pastor of one of four churches recently expelled (see 8/1 CC), has now been notified that due to several protests, the expulsions have been frozen, a step toward a reprieve. -CC

Army Recruits Witches - The U.S. Army has recognized white witchcraft as a religion and has appointed chaplains to oversee pagan ceremonies on at least five bases (5/24 Chr. News). The Pentagon believes that at least 100 witches are attending covens at Ft. Hood. - CC