[DesMoines Register]

Aides to Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Ia., on Monday downplayed reports that he was dumped by Iowa Republicans as a delegate to the Republican National Convention because of his investigation of six televangelists. Beth Pellett Levine, Grassley’s press secretary, said Grassley won’t be a delegate, but he will attend the convention and will have floor access as a federal elected official.

She said Grassley, as well as Iowa’s two Republican congressmen, Reps. Steve King and Tom Latham, will not be delegates “in order to give additional Iowa Republicans the opportunity to participate in the floor proceedings and activities of the national party convention.”

Levine said that Grassley told state party leaders he would be a voting delegate if they wanted, “like he has previously, but the more Iowa Republicans who participate in the event the better, in his view.”

James Carstensen, a spokesman for Latham, said the congressman “never requested to be a voting delegate so as to allow more party activists to participate in the convention.” Aides to King, similarly, said he didn’t want to take a spot away from other delegates.

Columnist Robert Novak wrote on Saturday that “evangelicals and their allies” dominating the state convention in Iowa earlier this month “dumped their critic,” Grassley. Novak said Grassley aroused the ire of Christian conservatives with his investigation into the finances of televangelists.

In an article Monday, the Washington Times said that evangelical Christians denied Grassley his request to be a voting delegate and that “political observers” in Iowa saw it as retribution.

Grassley aides, however, said that there was no request and that party Chairman Stewart Iverson instead asked him if he wanted to be a delegate.

Grassley’s probe is into how televangelist Kenneth Copeland of Texas and five other media ministries spend their money.

Read more here.

[From me]

When did the Health/Wealth crowd start getting considered evangelicals?  If Grassley wanted to investigate me he could.  This would be a great opportunity for those televangelists to prove to the public how trustworthy they really were.  

What do you think?

[From the Honorable Sen. Chuck Grassley]

“Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn have engaged in open and honest dialogue with committee staff. They have not only provided responses to every question but, in the spirit of true cooperation, also have provided information over and above what was requested.

 

“Both Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn have indicated that they are also instituting reforms without waiting for the committee to complete its review. Self-reform can be faster and more effective than government regulation and is the hallmark of my oversight of The Nature Conservancy, the Smithsonian Institution, American University and the American Red Cross. These organizations are all going strong and are arguably better off than they were before. I support voluntary, independent accreditation programs like those sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and encourage these ministries to pursue similar accreditation. The most successful non-profit organizations recognize the need for transparency about their operations and accountability to their donors and the taxpaying public. They appreciate that Congress has a responsibility to review the effectiveness and fairness of tax laws for taxpayers and tax-exempt groups alike.

 

“The ministries that continue not to cooperate appear to be heeding the advice of attorneys who are not familiar with congressional oversight in general and specifically the Finance Committee’s oversight and legislative work in the area of tax-exempt organizations over the last seven years. These attorneys who aren’t part of the ministries themselves have a natural incentive to prolong the process as long as possible.“

If you don’t want to watch then read here:

WALLACE: And what about Mitt Romney? And I’ve got to ask you the question, because it is a question whether it should be or not in this campaign, is a Mormon a true Christian?

OSTEEN: Well, in my mind they are. Mitt Romney has said that he believes in Christ as his savior, and that’s what I believe, so, you know, I’m not the one to judge the little details of it. So I believe they are.

And so, you know, Mitt Romney seems like a man of character and integrity to me, and I don’t think he would — anything would stop me from voting for him if that’s what I felt like.

WALLACE: So, for instance, when people start talking about Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, and the golden tablets in upstate New York, and God assumes the shape of a man, do you not get hung up in those theological issues?

OSTEEN: I probably don’t get hung up in them because I haven’t really studied them or thought about them. And you know, I just try to let God be the judge of that. I mean, I don’t know.

I certainly can’t say that I agree with everything that I’ve heard about it, but from what I’ve heard from Mitt, when he says that Christ is his savior, to me that’s a common bond.

- Source: FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace, Dec. 23, 2007

[From me]

Oh my.

How did I miss this one?  He said he hasn’t studied Mormonism.  Joel, then don’t say anything!  I’m sorry, but preach Jesus or don’t preach at all.  I get more cynical everyday.  Does the Bible matter anymore?  Or if you can put people in the pews is that what matters?  I love your positive outlook on life.  I think God can use you but take a stand!

What do you think?

Our friend Bill the Mormon (from Gatlinburg, TN) is an expert at the cut and paste technique on this blog. One of the Mormon beliefs that makes absolutely no sense to me is that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers. Yes, you read that right–Mormons believe that Jesus was the brother of Satan.  Before you think I made this up read this from their own official website:

Jess L. Christensen, Institute of Religion director at Utah State University, Logan, Utah. On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some—especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers. Jesus Christ was with the Father from the beginning. Lucifer, too, was an angel “who was in authority in the presence of God,” a “son of the morning.” (See Isa. 14:12; D&C 76:25–27.) Both Jesus and Lucifer were strong leaders with great knowledge and influence. But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer’s older brother. (See Col. 1:15; D&C 93:21.)

How could two such great spirits become so totally opposite? The answer lies in the principle of agency, which has existed from all eternity. (See D&C 93:30–31.) Of Lucifer, the scripture says that because of rebellion “he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies.” (Moses 4:4.) Note that he was not created evil, but became Satan by his own choice.

When our Father in Heaven presented his plan of salvation, Jesus sustained the plan and his part in it, giving the glory to God, to whom it properly belonged. Lucifer, on the other hand, sought power, honor, and glory only for himself. (See Isa. 14:13–14; Moses 4:1–2.) When his modification of the Father’s plan was rejected, he rebelled against God and was subsequently cast out of heaven with those who had sided with him. (See Rev. 12:7–9; D&C 29:36–37.)

That brothers would make dramatically different choices is not unusual. It has happened time and again, as the scriptures attest: Cain chose to serve Satan; Abel chose to serve God. (See Moses 5:16–18.) Esau “despised his birthright”; Jacob wanted to honor it. (Gen. 25:29–34.) Joseph’s brothers sought to kill him; he sought to preserve them. (Gen. 37:12–24; Gen. 45:3–11.)

It is ironic that the agency with which Lucifer rebelled is the very gift he tried to take from man. His proposal was that all be forced back into God’s presence. (See Moses 4:1, 3.) But the principle of agency is fundamental to the existence and progression of intelligent beings: as we make wise choices, we grow in light and truth. On the other hand, wrong choices—such as the one Satan made—stop progress and can even deny us blessings that we already have. (See D&C 93:30–36.)

In order for us to progress, therefore, we must have the opportunity to choose good or evil. Interestingly, Satan and his angels—those who opposed agency—have become that opposition. As the prophet Lehi taught, “Men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (2 Ne. 2:27.)

Although the Father has allowed Satan and his angels to tempt mankind, he has given each of us the ability to rise above temptation. (See 1 Cor. 10:13.) He has also given us the great gift of the Atonement.

When the Lord placed enmity between Eve’s children and the devil, Satan was told that he would bruise the heel of Eve’s seed, but her seed would bruise his head. (See Moses 4:21.) President Joseph Fielding Smith explained that “the ‘God of peace,’ who according to the scriptures is to bruise Satan, is Jesus Christ.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957, 1:3.) Satan would bruise the Savior’s heel by leading men to crucify Him. But through his death and resurrection, Christ overcame death for all of us; and through his atonement, he offers each of us a way to escape the eternal ramifications of sin. Thus, Satan’s machinations have been frustrated and eventually he will be judged, bound, and cast into hell forever. (See Rev. 20:1–10; D&C 29:26–29.)

In Hebrew, the word bruise means “to crush or grind.” Therefore, the very heel that was bruised will crush Satan and will help us overcome the world and return to our Father. As we use our agency to choose good over evil, the atonement of Christ prepares the way for us to return to our Father in Heaven.

We can only imagine the sorrow of our Heavenly Father as he watched a loved son incite and lead a rebellion and lose his opportunity for exaltation. But we can also imagine the Father’s love and rejoicing as he welcomed back the beloved son who had valiantly and perfectly fought the battles of life and brought about the great Atonement through his suffering and death.

Huh? How can a group claim to be Christians when they teach such heresy?  No where in the Bible does it even hint that Satan was a deity.  The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is God and was around from the beginning.  It also never mentions that Lucifer was Jesus brother.  The Bible says Lucifer was an angel that rebelled but that is a far cry from being the son of God!  Do realize how preposterous that is?

Now the Mormons will try to tell you that Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price and the Book of Mormon are all considered “Scripture” according to the Latter Day Saints.  In fact, they believe those books are more important than the Bible.  But those books were written less than 200 years ago.  The Bible is living and active.  Jesus Himself was the Word and dwelt among us according to the book of John.  

Look, people can believe what ever they want.  That is the right of every American.  But why do the Mormons insist on being called Christians when they don’t teach the basic doctrines of Christianity?  Just admit that you are not Christians.  Just be happy with who you are–Mormons.  Don’t try to convince people that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus because it is not.  It is a book written by a delusional man named Joseph Smith.  It was not inspired by the Holy Spirit like the real Bible.  So how cant you be a Christian faith if you teach that Lucifer was the brother of Jesus?

[The Vancouver Sun]

Televangelist Peter Popoff’s ministry has reimbursed a Nanaimo woman after she went public with concerns about the fundraising techniques of the California-based church.

Josie Gurney, 58, almost threw away the envelope from the Vancouver branch of the Word for the World Ministries, thinking it was just another appeal for money from the parent organization.

But she looked inside the envelope and found a cheque for $69.08.

It arrived less than a month after Gurney went public with concerns about how Popoff’s ministry raises money by selling “holy water” and other religious artifacts.

Read more here.

[From me]

Maybe all of the health/wealth crowd ill follow suit.  I wonder if the water was checked if we would discover the water came out of the tap from California?

What do you think?