Sharecropper Radio

' a guitar, is a guitar, is a guitar '

2010-07-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

July 14, 2010

‘ A guitar, is a guitar, is a guitar….’

What makes a guitar special to a musician? It’s the way it feels and the way it sounds. So with that statement, a guitar… is not just a guitar.
What is better a Fender or a Gibson or a Dollar General guitar? Which one is better is a personal choice. To those of us that have spent innumerable amount of years of playing time on this instrument, the name on the headstock really doesn’t matter, unless you are wanting to impress someone by having a named brand guitar.

I’ve said this as to say, that all Christian music, may not really be Christian. It’s all in the spirit that drives the music.

I have learned in these past years and experiences that ‘ALL’ art is spiritual. Music is a critter that seems to play on the heartstrings and eludes the serious temporal thought patterns. By saying, a song may grab at our hearts and move us to tears, or even conviction, and by moving us to deal with a sin that is corrupting our life, that we can prove a move of the Holy Spirit working through that song. What about the opposite? As we may find ourselves in a worship service, or a coffee house, and we hear a song that touches us and leads us to praise Jesus, is that a Holy Spirit filled song or artist? Are we really thinking about the lyrics and what they are saying, or the music, or are we just being carried away by a force that is truly ungodly? This thing we should ponder on.

Too many times, I’ve walked into a church where the praise team seemed more interested, and worked very hard to entertain the faithful, as if a feeling should be taken away from this venture. Why? To those musicians who are called of God to lend their talents to praising the Lord, they should be working together for one goal. EDIFYING JESUS! Not playing for the sake of their agenda.

I’d spent many years playing for the devil in bars or parties. I learned the value of entertaining the patrons I was playing for. I never considered myself as a great entertainer. I felt more of the mold of the troubadour , a minstrel that is more concerned at getting the point of the song across, than jumping through the hoops to have someone leave the ‘show’ feeling they got their money’s worth. I have then learned that there is a fine line between performance and praise, a very fine line. We must be careful to think consciously as we approach an opportunity to share with others what the Lord has given you.

I love to play the songs Jesus has given me. And I love to share the love of the risen savior.
Rock On !!!!!

Weeds In The Garden

2010-07-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2010

This summer morning was cool with a light breeze. So I decided to pull some weeds from my Mother-in-law’s flower garden. As I was pulling the weeds , I felt the Lord Jesus speaking to my heart.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been harboring anger and resentment over a situation at the church my wife and I attend. As the situation had come to a head, and had escalated to a point to where I stormed out of a midweek service in anger. My anger was not that of the righteous kind but that directed from one human to another. Sin is sin anyway you look at it, and my anger was as sinful as it gets.

The Lord began to open my eyes to the fact that these weeds were like a cancerous growth of sin strangling out the life in the garden God was working on in my heart. I was holding this anger inside just for my own justification of the matter as I saw it. But I was not doing my eternal connection with my Savior any good. In fact, I was polluting the stream that flowed between us with poison.

1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

I was beginning to see that rebellion, which has stricken me for years, was tearing not only in my personal life to where I couldn’t get over a so minor a thing as the situation at our church, but it was literally tearing my life apart and destroying my relationship I have with Jesus. As the moment seemed to hold my mind fixed upon the situation at hand, I repented desperately to my Heavenly Father. I was so sorry for carrying this sin as an alter to my own righteousness , which we are told in the word of God, is but filthy rags. I was wrong and I had to get right!

I so love Jesus for loving me more than I could ever say. By pulling me out of hell, literally, He made the most profound statement on my life that my memory will ever hold dear.
I have repented for my sins and I have pulled myself up and dusted myself off. I will go forward with Jesus.

I pray what has happened to me will help someone else. Rock On!

Station Content Now at Soundclick

2010-04-24T05:09:00.000-07:00

Butch has set up an account at Soundclick that has all his music and many of the commentaries and Bible teachings we featured when we were streaming. See sidebar for link

Audio Excerpts From Our Station

2008-10-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Sharecropper is not streaming at this time, but we invite you to browse the posts on this blog, many of which contain audio excerpts from our station.

Sharecropper Video Library

2008-06-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

This Playlist Grows as New Video Segments are added Regularly

Sharecropper Christian Radio Random Segment 5

2008-06-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

Jonah (ever devoted) and Sophia (still stringing him along) enjoy listening to this segment of Sharecropper Christian which features a testimony of supernatural healing from high blood sugar, a commentary on native spirituality from native leaders, and the music of independent artists on Sharecropper Christian Radio which streams 24/7 at www.ShareCropperRadio.com

Sharecropper Christian Radio (random segment 3)

2008-06-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

Enjoy the peaceful interactions of Mr. and Mrs. Jonah (who are unfortunately separated at the moment due to domestic violence) while listening to a random segment of Sharecropper Christian Radio featuring a selected Bible reading, a Dorcas Network commentary (Christian response to domestic violence), the music ministries of THE FAMILY TRADITION and the PSALM RIDERS, and a dramatized Bible story. Listen 24/7 at www.ShareCropperRadio.com

Sharecropper Video 1 (Miraculous healing Testimony)

2008-06-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

Recorded Segment of Sharecropper Christian Radio featuring Jonah and Mrs. Jonah, a Bible Reading, a commentary, Testimony of Butch Watkins miraculous healing when he destroyed his kidneys by drinking anti-freeze in a suicide attempt, and the anointed music ministry of Tom Beam

Updated Music Submission Guidelines

2008-06-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

We air music by Christian artists from a broad spectrum of denominational affiliation or lack thereof.

We do not air music from artists or groups that promote or are affiliated with Prophetic Ministries, who practice and promote Contemplative Spirituality (Christian mysticism, meditation, the Silence, Practicing his Presence, etc.) or any aspect of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven agenda.

Our research on these subjects can be viewed at: http://hungryheartsministries.com/

If you own the rights to your music and would like airing time mail us:

1.) Your CD('s) and Photo(s) (non-returnable)
2.) Written permission to play your music and post your images and photos on our websites and blogs.
3.) web address to your official website(s) and/or blog(s)

Hungry Hearts Ministries
P.O. Box 1954
Auburndale, FL 33823

Want even more visibility on Sharecropper (always FREE)? Subscribe to Sharecropper from this blog to learn how: http://sharecropperradio.blogspot.com/

Book of Revelation Video Series by Jocelyn Andersen

2008-05-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

New "Book of Revelation" video series has been started at:
http://the-bookofrevelation.blogspot.com/

Subscribers to this blog may want to consider subscribing to "The Revelation" blog as well. Blog entries there will not be duplicated here and will not be announced from this blog with the exception of this initial notice.

Ministry Choices

2008-04-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

Janis, What is your opinion about a young couple in their late twenties who are engaged, but cancelled the wedding due to lots of conflict concerning lifestyle choices and religious disagreements? They have decided to move in together and be roommates instead until they can be comfortable with getting married. Both of these people profess Christ. One of them plays the drums during the worship service at church every Sunday. They insist they are not "living together" only roommate situation. Jocelyn

From Janis Hill (Belize Biblical Resource Center):
When we profess to be anything, no matter what it may be, we have to appear to be what we say we are. Otherwise we cast doubt in the mind of others.

I Thessalonians 5:22 commands us to Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Living in the same house--even if it is only as roommates--puts temptation in this couple's path. When Jesus set a standard for how we are to pray, in part He said "..and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." From this passage it is clear that we can be led straight into temptation...and if we are allowing ourselves to be led into temptation, then who is doing the leading (we are also commanded in scripture to flee temptation)?

Jocelyn, I believe the couple should be told that if they are already in disagreement about such vital matters, it would be best to separate and to seek the Lord and His will for their lives. They also need to be made aware that if they continue to live together (platonically or not) that (s)he should not be allowed to continue in the music ministry at church as their living arragements bring reproach to the Lord.

Explain that one does not have to be in sin for others to perceive sin...and that others who know them (co-workers, etc) are watching and they will never believe that this couple is not involved in a sexual relationship, therefore it brings reproach to the very Lord they profess to serve! In other words, in affects their testimony before others.

Excerp of a sermon entitled, "Are you truly a child of God?" preached by Andrew Hill (Belize Biblical Resource Center):
When the Holy Spirit comes into a person He makes His presence felt. It happens in the same way that your presence is felt in your home. When you go home today and walk into your house, I want you to notice how the furnishings are arranged. You have a table in a certain place and chairs placed a certain way, a picture on one wall.... Why are they arranged that way? They are arranged that way because that is how you like them. This is the same kind of thing that happens when the Spirit of Christ comes into a person. He begins to arrange the" furniture" of your life to His liking. He makes His presence felt by changing the things you like and dislike....Would you like to know for sure if you are God’s child? Today, I want to challenge you to examine yourself by God’s Word to see if you are truly His child.

From Sharecropper Christian Radio:
We emailed the question that began this blog to our friends, Janis and Andrew Hill in Belize. We also sought counsel from two other respected Christian friends--whose responses were identical to the Hill's. The reason for the emails was that we were involved in confronting that very situation at a small church fellowship we were attending. Before sending the emails, We had already given both the couple in question and the pastor of the church the same counsel we received from the Hills and the others--but to no avail. The pastor of our church (along with his wife) had no problem with the church drummer publicly living with his Fiance.

We left the church.

In first John, the Bible tells us that if we are able to comfortably practice sin, then we do not belong to Christ. We are commanded in scripture not to make lifestyle choices that are obviously sinful--all the while professing to be Christians. The Bible clearly tells us that we are not to live our lives in such a way as to bring a reproach upon the name of Christ.

We are confident that the artists we feature on Sharecropper Christian Radio care deeply about how they represent our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ--not only through their music, but through their public Christian testimony as well.

Early next year, we will be sponsering the very first Sharecropper GATHERING in which all Sharecropper Artists will have opportunity to participate in the music ministry of the event. We encourage you to bring your friends, both saved and unsaved. We will love and accept them all. But we also ask that any who do not belong to Christ or who profess Christ but whose personal testimony and lifestyle brings a reproach upon his name, not be included in the ministry team at our event (hopefully at your events too!).

Allowing someone who is not saved or who professes salvation but whose life-style is not reflecting what their mouth is professing (such as the situation described in our email to the Hills) to sing or play an instrument during a public ministry event is not the way to minister or witness to them. In fact, it is a great spiritual hindrance to them and everyone else present as it sends a false message as to what is acceptable to Christ and what is not.

Christ is only honored through us when we are doers of the Word and not hearers only.

As we prepare for our first Sharecropper GATHERING, let us keep these things in mind. THE GATHERING is intended for fellowship with, and the edification of, Sharecropper Artists, but it will be held outdoors in a lovely public setting, so the opportunities to reach out to the lost through our fellowship and music ministry to one another (and just plain fun jamming throughout the day) will be excellent.

Sharecropper Christian Radio is the radio voice of Hungry Hearts Ministries, and we at Hungry Hearts Ministries do not believe in lowering the bar. The standard set in scripture is the only standard there is. And the Bible says, "Ye shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am Holy." The Scriptures also say, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man will see God."

If this blog post has been forwarded to you by a friend, we invite you to visit this link and add your email address in the subscription box for Sharecropper Christian Radio blog: http://ShareCropperRadio.blogspot.com

Who's Driving the Purpose Driven Church?

2008-04-16T02:09:00.000-07:00

James Sundquist, author of, Who's Driving the Purpose Driven Church?, was our guest on Sharecropper Christian Radio. Listen to the interview by clicking the links below

Part One:
http://hungryheart100.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/01jamessundquist.mp3

Part Two:
http://hungryheart100.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/01jamessundquist2.mp3

Interview With Bible Prophecy Author Terry James

2008-04-16T02:03:00.000-07:00

Terry James, author of 18 books ( over 100,000 books in print) on Bible Prophecy was our guest on Sharecropper Christian Radio.

Listen to the Interview Here:
http://hungryheart100.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/01terryjames04-12-08.mp3

Feeling Positive

2008-04-11T05:06:00.000-07:00

Mich Writes: >>What I'm saying is that a positive mood is better for creativity than negative mood<<

Jocelyn Replies: Hi Mich, I found it interesting that you would mention the concepts of "positive and negative" because I have been writing about these for the past few days.

It seems we are increasingly “loading” our language and boxing ourselves in with slogans rather than engaging in real, honest to goodness communication with each other. And in the process are becoming somewhat mindless, rather thoughtless, automatons in our conversation with clouded understanding, shrunken vocabularies, and a vastly reduced capacity for critical thinking.

Using the words "positive and negative" in reference to emotions is an excellent example of this.

Look up these words in a dictionary, and see what they mean. They have to do with energy and electricity. They are polar opposites of each other. However, when we use them in reference to such things as emotions, conversation, being absolutely certain about something, good, bad, optimistic, pessimistic, affirming or non-affirming, we are using them as slang terms which can be extremely vague. After all, being absolutely certain about something is definitely not the same as being optimistic about something, and it would not be the polar opposite of pessimistic or bad. But we frequently use the words "positive and negative" (in slang usage) as polar opposites of each other, an erroneous usage to say the least.

So, when you say that being in a "positive mood" is better for creativity, are you saying that feeling optimistic is better for creativity? Or are you saying that feeling absolutely certain about everything is better for creativity? And wouldn't the term "feeling absolutely certain" be somewhat oxymoronic, since absolute certainty would need to be based on facts and not something as biased and abstract as feeling an emotion?

Shouldn’t we just say what we mean using words relevant to the conversation, and leave the positives and the negatives to the electricians, and physicists?

What Are We Doing with the VOICE God has Given Us?

2008-03-18T05:26:00.000-07:00

We are confident that those of you who requested to join the Sharecropper Family by submitting your music and ministry info for us to share with our listeners care deeply about the message you are transmitting through your music and ministry associations.

Here are some recent posts to our blogs we feel will be of special interest to you. If you would like to receive these by email as soon as they are posted, it is recommended that you subscribe to each blog individually. We sometimes send these notices but usually do not. We are sending this one because we feel that knowledge of the subject matter is of urgent importance to the body of Christ and particularly to those whom God has given a public VOICE--which includes all Sharecropper Artists.

We have a grave responsibility to be very careful about what we promote--even unwittingly--with the VOICE God has given us.

A Course in Miracles (a must listen!)
http://prophecyplus.blogspot.com/2008/03/course-in-miracles.html

Short Definition of Contemplative Spirituality and Spiritual Formation
http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2008/03/definitions-of-comtemplative.html

Chrysalis and Walk to Emmaus
http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2008/03/chrysalis-walk-to-emmaus.html

We know that many Sharecropper artists didn't have a clue about contemplative spirituality when they wrote to us requesting submission guidelines from our station. We know that because we received emails back from some saying we don't have a clue what this stuff is, so we are postive we do not support it. Articles like the ones linked above will give you more than a clue and hopefully help you begin to understand why no Bible believing Christian should have anything to do with Contemplative Spirituality that is being spread through the church like wildfire through Spiritual Formation programs.

For more info, visit our main website at www.HungryHeartsMinistries.com see "contemplative" on the navigation bar.

Fair Use Notice

2008-01-28T03:46:00.000-08:00

This site contains some copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc.

We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in (processed as of May 13, 2006) section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

My Trip to the Rethink Conference

2008-01-28T03:18:00.000-08:00

My Trip to the Rethink Conference
By Roger Oakland
http://hungryheartsministries.com/

Over the 30 years I have traveled the road of life as a born-again, Bible-believing Christian, I have experienced a number of significant events that have provided inspiration and direction for the ministry God has given me. The Rethink Conference held at Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral, January 17-19, 2008 can now be listed as one of those watershed events.

While I was not able to attend the entire conference because of a missionary trip scheduled to the Philippines, the opening day of Rethink: new perspectives from global influences provided ample evidence to evaluate the significance of the event. For nearly two thousand years, most professing Christians have seen the Bible as the foundation for the Christian faith. The overall view at the Rethink Conference, however, is that Christianity, as we have known it, has run its course and must be replaced.

Co-hosted by Erwin Mc Manus and Robert Schuller, the conference declared that a paradigm shift is now underway. Speakers insisted that Christianity must be re-thought and re-invented if the name of Jesus Christ is going to survive here on planet earth now that we are in the twenty-first century.

The Observable Evidence

With the risk of being labeled a negative divisive critic who is against everything, I am compelled to tell you what I witnessed at this conference. This commentary will paraphrase the actual statements made by the speakers as I took extensive notes.

The conference opened with an on-stage dialogue between Schuller and McManus. Schuller gave a brief overview of his accomplishments through his many years of ministry. He explained how pleased he was to be able to look back at the tremendous leaders he had mentored over the years, which include Willow Creek’s seeker-friendly pioneer pastor Bill Hybels, the six million member Church of God in Christ’s Bishop Charles Blake, and Rick Warren who has pioneered the purpose driven church and the purpose driven life.

While Schuller said he was very pleased with all the great accomplishments of the past, his vision to impact the world in the future is even bigger and better. He told the audience that even though he is now over 80 years old, he believes there is even a greater potential to succeed now at a time in his life when he is no longer subject to “temptation.”

Erwin Mc Manus, a much younger version of Robert Schuller, offered a solution to anyone in the audience that might have that problem. He mentioned there were “pills” available on the market to curb “temptation.” Schuller quickly retorted that he knew there were other pills available for those who were supposedly over the hill.

While some of the people sitting around me were noticeably bothered by such out-of-place comments, the majority of the people in the auditorium seemed to enjoy these opening remarks.

Re-thinking Think Tank

Following this brief introduction by the two hosts, Bishop Blake was scheduled to speak. For reasons not announced to the attendees, Bishop Blake did not appear on the platform when his name was announced. Schuller then reappeared, joking that he was Schuller and not Bishop Blake. It was difficult to know whether this was a pre-planned moment of silliness or not.

A moment later, Mc Manus reappeared on the platform and told the audience there would be a slight change in the schedule. At this point a coat rack was brought out on the platform with three hats hanging on it. A skit was performed which involved an off- screen person asking questions of an onstage actor. I later found out the talent for this drama was provided by Mc Manus.

The drama was obviously designed to set the tone of the conference and was of professional quality. The actor played three characters who represented different well-known men throughout history. The first was Copernicus. The second was Christopher Columbus, and the third was Martin Luther. These three men were revolutionary in their thinking at that particular time in history, and each was going up stream against the mainstream of society.

The actor who played the three different characters finally appeared as himself. He announced to the audience that he was a new Christian. However, he said he had a problem with Christianity now that he was a Christian and was disgusted with how hypocritical traditional Christianity had become. He suggested that the church as we know it today needs to be re-thought.

Of course, we know the Bible teaches that the traditions of man are a hindrance to faith when they are not based on the Word of God. Jesus made it clear that when tradition supersedes the truth of the Word, it is imperative to toss away tradition and get back to the Word. The actor in the drama left the impression that Jesus was referring to our present generation when he spoke these words.

To Think or not to Think

To “think or not to think,” that was the question. The speakers I heard on that opening day sounded very convincing, and from reactions in the audience, their views were heartily embraced. I sensed that most there were drawing the conclusion that rethinking all they had once believed to be true was the only valid option.

Chuck Colson’s half hour talk was primarily focused on the importance of having faith based on the Scriptures. He did a commendable job talking about the authenticity of the Bible, the Trinity, salvation, sin and the need for repentance. But, just before his time was up, Colson said something I found very troubling … and confusing.

Colson indicated how very encouraged he had become on how the emerging church was “energizing” Christianity in such a positive way. I found his statement surprising, remembering an article about a year ago where Colson actually condemned the emerging church. I wondered what caused him to change his mind. He also mentioned the importance of taking our faith to the world in an effort to “establish the kingdom.”

This was very significant to me, as it is well known that Charles Colson is very sympathetic to partnering with Rome in order to establish the kingdom the Roman Catholic Church way. The Roman Catholic Church is planning to establish the kingdom of God here on earth through the Triumph of the Eucharist and the Eucharistic Reign of Jesus.

Why Did Chuck Colson Re-think the Emerging Church?

Chuck Colson may have given a clue as to his change in heart regarding the emerging church. His new book The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It and Why It Matters was not supposed to have rolled off the press until February. However Colson said he was able to convince his publisher to advance the book to the fast track and speed up the printing process so the book would be available when he spoke at Saddleback earlier in the month of January.

It was not hard for me to do some simple deductions. You see, the publisher for Colson’s new book is Zondervan, owned by Rupert Murdoch (one of the presenters at the Re-think Conference). Murdoch’s company publishes many emerging books as well as purpose driven books. The fact that Murdoch’s pastor is Rick Warren of Saddleback cannot be ignored. No wonder the book by Colson was given priority.

Wondering

While we may never know for sure, I cannot help but wonder if Chuck Colson’s new take on the emerging church has anything to do with Zondervan’s willingness to speed up the release date of the book.

Be that as it may, I am reminded of the ecumenical nature of the emerging church, which is driven by contemplative spirituality that traces back to ancient Roman Catholic mystical practices. Contemplative spirituality provides a mystical formula also known as “spiritual formation” in order to get closer to Jesus. The problem is that this state of silence achieved is similar to that which is reached through eastern meditation, and the realm reached is not the presence of God but the possible presence of demons. The Bible is very clear in its warning against practicing divination, which uses mystical methods to conjure up the spirit world. Yet, a growing number of evangelical churches are incorporating contemplative into their church body.

During my day at Rethink, I interviewed a number of men and women. I was often amazed at their comments. Most of them had no idea what the term emerging church meant (even though they were right smack in the center of it), and they had no idea why the conference was called “Rethink.”

When I asked them what they thought about the fact that President Bush senior (a member of a secret society), Rupert Murdoch (a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and who profits from pornographic tabloids) and Larry King (I was told Schuller has been witnessing to him and he is almost a Christian) had been enlisted to provide input to help Christians re-think, they were not able to answer why this would have been so.

Before I left the conference I had the opportunity to give Schuller’s secretary, Kym Smith, a copy of Faith Undone. While I am sure Schuller would not waste a moment on a book with such a negative title, I felt compelled to give a token of my appreciation for being allowed to attend the conference.

Incidentally, the reason I was able to attend the conference was because Schuller’s secretary gave me the opportunity to volunteer for the conference and save over $200 on the admission fee. I worked with about 10 other volunteers for approximately two hours stuffing conference bags at the Crystal Cathedral on January 16, between 9:30 and 11:30 in the morning.

I enjoyed the time working with these other volunteers. The LORD provided an opportunity for me to be able to share with them how the Word of God is changing lives all over the world as Jesus Christ is being proclaimed as the Creator and the Redeemer.

In the future, I will write other commentaries on the Rethink Conference. For now, I am soberly reminded that faith in the Word of God is under attack. The potential for Christians to be led astray by a strong delusion as Paul warned in Second Thessalonians chapter two is not only a real possibility, it is happening right now.

I hope and pray that Erwin Mc Manus, Robert Schuller, and Chuck Colson, along with many of the other speakers will re-think the direction in which they are heading. I pray they will start proclaiming the gospel according to the Scriptures. I pray they will begin to warn about the many unbiblical ideas that are driving the unsuspecting towards an apostate church.

Finally, I pray those attending the Rethink Conference will do some rethinking themselves and consider what happens to those who will spend eternity in hell because they did not think about what the Word of God proclaims thus they rejected God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

**see http://sharecropperradio.blogspot.com/2008/01/fair-use-notice.html

Mystical Spirituality & the RETHINK Conference

2008-01-18T07:21:00.000-08:00

Schuller and Christian Leaders Gather to Help Bring About Interspiritual Dream

Rethink Conference: Crystal Cathedral, California
January 17, 2008

Robert Schuller once said: "Standing before a crowd of devout Muslims with the Grand Mufti, I know that we're all doing God's work together. Standing on the edge of a new millennium, we're laboring hand in hand to repair the breach." He made that statement in his 2001 biography, My Journey (p. 501), and today he has taken a giant step forward in seeing his dream of an all all-inclusive spiritual body come true. What's more, Christian leaders and organizations are helping to bring it to pass.

Today, the Rethink Conference at Schuller's Crystal Cathedral began. This three day event is hosted by Schuller and popular emerging futurist Erwin McManus.

In addition to McManus, the Rethink Conference has several other Christian leaders speaking: Gary Smalley, Henry Cloud, Chuck Colson, and Kay Warren, to name a few. While the speaker list includes several names outside the Christian camp (Larry King, George Bush Sr., Rupert Murdoch, etc.), a majority of the speakers, both Christian and non-Christian, are proponents mystical spirituality. The reason this is important to know is because Schuller's vision of an all-inclusive global religious body cannot happen without mysticism.

It is in fact the vehicle through which Schuller's dream will occur. He discloses a little more of this vision in his book: "I met once more with the Grand Mufti (a Muslim), truly one of the great Christ-honoring leaders of faith. ... I'm dreaming a bold impossible dream: that positive-thinking believers in God will rise above the illusions that our sectarian religions have imposed on the world, and that leaders of the major faiths will rise above doctrinal idiosyncrasies, choosing not to focus on disagreements, but rather to transcend divisive dogmas to work together to bring peace and prosperity and hope to the world. (p. 502).In order for this "bold impossible dream" to occur, change agents such as Schuller and McManus realize that Christianity needs to be redefined. Thus, the term rethink. "

McManus has believed this for some time. In an interview, he stated: "My goal is to destroy Christianity as a world religion and be a recatalyst for the movement of Jesus Christ.... Some people are upset with me because it sounds like I'm anti-Christian. I think they might be right!"(1)

It's easier to understand what McManus means by this by reading this next statement from him: "The Barbarian Way was, in some sense, trying to create a volatile fuel to get people to step out and act. It's pretty hard to get a whole group of people moving together as individuals who are stepping into a more mystical, faith-oriented, dynamic kind of experience with Christ. So, I think was my attempt to say, "Look, underneath what looks like invention, innovation and creativity is really a core mysticism that hears from God, and what is fueling this is something really ancient." That's what was really the core of The Barbarian Way. (from Relevant magazine)

To put this in plain terms, there is a three step process in making this new vision become a reality.

First, re-education: convince Christians that the Christianity of today has to be thrown out and replaced by a whole new way of thinking.

Second, get these new thinking Christians to incorporate mysticism into their lives and hear the voice of a new kind of God, not one that is described in the Bible but one that is found through altered states of consciousness.

McManus put it this way: "I build my life not on the Word of God, but the voice of God. The Scriptures are to me the instrument that God has placed in history for me to learn the voice of God." (2)

The voice of this mystical god will direct people to the final step of the process, and that will be to bring about a supposed kingdom of God where all will be one, and where man finally realizes his own divinity. Unfortunately, it will be a kingdom built, not on the truth of the Word of God, thus not on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The rethinking of Christianity is taking place right now before our very eyes. The mystical practices are now being implemented by countless people around the world, including huge numbers of professing Christians through the spiritual formation movement.

It is just a matter of time before this new age dream will take effect, and a great spiritual delusion will overtake the masses. Roger Oakland, author of Faith Undone (the hard-hitting expose on the emerging church), spent this morning at the Crystal Cathedral listening to speakers share their hopes for the rethinking of Christianity. Oakland heard one popular evangelical speaker say that the emerging church is energizing Christianity. What that evangelical leader may not realize is that this energizing is happening through mystical practices. One person who does understand this concept is Robert Schuller.

Ray Yungen explains:
[W]hat many might not know about Schuller is his New Thought proclivities.

Interspiritual scholar Marcus Bach once related the following incident that took place at a Unity church in Hawaii in which Bach was speaking: "Dr. Schuller attended the first of three services, this one at 7:30 am. When we shook hands at the door, he tarried to assure me how much Unity principles meant to him and how helpful they had been to him in his work." (The Unity Way, p. 267)

What could some of these Unity principles be? Bach explains: Hinduism's emphasis on meditation fit[s] well into Unity's patterns for enlightenment.(Ibid, p. 104)

This is one of the major principles that Schuller was making reference to. In his own book, Prayer: My Soul's Adventure with God, he says: "Move into mighty moods of meditation. Draw energy from centers of sacred solitude, serenity, and silence.... Find yourself coming alive in the garden of prayer called meditation.... Yes, the "New Agers" have grabbed hold of meditation.... Hey, Christian! Hear me! Let's not give up the glorious, God-given gift of meditation by turning it over to those outside our faith." (pp. 141, 151)

The point that Schuller misses is that meditation is what makes a person a New Ager! This perspective is something to consider in light of the quarter million pastors who have trained and been mentored under Schuller at his Leadership Institute. (For Many Shall Come in My Name, ch. 3)

The line up at Rethink further confirms that Schuller and McManus see mysticism as playing a vital role in the rethinking and energizing of Christianity. Many of the speakers share McManus' and Schuller's propensity on mysticism's role in transforming the world.

Equally disturbing is knowing that CCN (Church Communication Network) sponsors and is helping to broadcast the Rethink Conference. CCN represents many of today's Christian leaders from Rick Warren, to James Dobson, to Joni Eareckson Tada, to Max Lucado and many many others.

What this means is that mainstream Christianity is going mystical, just as Alice Bailey, the woman who coined the term New Age, predicted so very many years ago.

Yungen ties this all together: "Bailey eagerly foretold of what she termed 'the regeneration of the churches' (Problems of Humanity, p. 152).

Her rationale for this was obvious: "The Christian church in its many branches can serve as a St. John the Baptist, as a voice crying in the wilderness, and as a nucleus through which world illumination may be accomplished." (The Externalization of the Hierarchy, p. 510)

"In other words, instead of opposing Christianity, the occult would capture and blend itself with Christianity and then use it as its primary vehicle for spreading and instilling New Age consciousness!

The various churches would still have their outer trappings of Christianity and still use much of the same lingo. If asked certain questions about traditional Christian doctrine, the same answers would be given. But it would all be on the outside; on the inside a contemplative spirituality would be drawing in those open to it.

"In wide segments of Christendom this has indeed already occurred.... Thomas Keating alone taught 31,000 people mystical prayer in one year. People are responding to this in large numbers because it has the external appearance of Christianity but in truth, is the diametric opposite---what a skillful spiritual delusion!"

Related Stories:
Erwin McManus: The Secret Behind the Secret (with Jon Gordon)

Kay Warren Recommends Henri Nouwen

Jim Burns promotes Ruth Haley Barton

John Ortberg and Contemplative Prayer

Dan Kimball's Emerging Church and Eastern Mysticism

For more information on Schuller's "dream" read Deceived on Purpose by Warren Smith.
Lighthouse Trails Research Project
Lighthouse Trails Publishing

ain't it high time we went.....

2008-01-15T05:28:00.000-08:00

I was enjoying my couple of days of R & R, just me and the 'Girl' (who most of you would know as TahLula Belle). Jocelyn was away in New York (or as us southerners would call it ' The Great White North'), and I had plenty of free time and no agenda.

Whew! What a few days it was.

I was called in for an interview, for a new job I am going after. Took my road test and physical (I'm a truck driver). At least that's what I enjoy doing.

I also spent plenty of 'quality down time' in my recliner, also with the Girl stretched across the footrest.

I also spent many enjoyable moments meandering around various Christian music sites. There's really a lot of good stuff out there. And I told some of these good folks I'd like to play their music on our station.

But alas, my heart is burdened. Let me expound....

I came across an artist on one of these Christian music sites, who proudly proclaims that he plays on Saturdays for a contemplative prayer service at a large denominational church.

It really tore me up when I read this on this artist's page. I know the contemplative and the prophetic movements are the fastest growing movements in the churches today. If you didn't know, they have infiltrated all denominations, including the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Church of God, Assemblies of God, so on, and so on....

It is what is known as the great falling away.

This Is the End Times in which we are living.

Wasn't it Grace Slick and Marty Balin who cried for a revolution, back in the 60's? I think it's high time we went!

What ever happened to letting the Holy Spirit guide us in making music for Jesus?

Why do we have to get our influences from the world?

Why do we have to make our music sound just like what the world wants to hear?

God told us that we were to be a 'peculiar people,' to become seperate from the world. Doesn’t that mean that our music and singing would /should be different from the world.

Why do most major Christian recording artists sound just like some secular artist?

Why have we left our first love and gone whoring after something we don't need?

Does this person know they are involved in something that could lead others or himself to lose their very soul?

Let us Pray...

The Days of Awe

2007-11-25T00:50:00.000-08:00

These are the Days of Awe!
That word was given to us by the Lord almost 3yrs ago. Since that time we have seen God move on our behalf many, many times. At times when the situation seemed hopeless, He has come through and shown Himself to be the mighty and true God that He is.
The other day we recieved an email from one of our sharecropper artists, Richard Jeffes, stating how he had been moved by something we have on our station, to write a song. This about the most humbling experience we've had in some time.
What Richard was refering to was a recording we did of Jocelyn giving out the plan of salvation over some interesting music we had found in a thrift store. This recording was done on an old eight track machine I had at the time. Now this recording has been playing since the early days, when our station was nothing more than a webpage, nearly 31/2 yrs ago, as Hungry Hearts Radio.
Now, I'm not patting Butch and Jocelyn on the back here, I'm just presenting a situation in which Almighty God has moved.
You see, it's a domino effect, a chain reaction, it's what real Christianity is all about. In these last days, we must work while it is yet day, for night will come when no man will work.
When God put it upon our hearts to have a radio station, He led us every step. We knew nothing about internet radio stations, but He led us to the folks who did. He led us to put the music we have on. That in reaching out to Indie artists, much like Jocelyn and myself, who's main goal is spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You will hear stuff on our station, you won't hear anywhere else. This is not a prideful saying, just the way the Lord has led us. But then again, I am very proud of the folks we play. I feel so honered to have Richard Jeffes' music on our station. As well as many others. I hear from some of our artists from time to time, and it's good to have such contact.
I may be rambling a bit, but I guess what I want to say is....These Are The Days Of Awe !!!

A Time And Season

2007-11-08T03:53:00.000-08:00

I got an email from my brother in Ireland. He was telling me about an idea he had to do a large festival event to help the needy in this world. Now I think that is a wonderful idea, and I would most assuradly help in any way I could, but I think of the backlash that would come, not from the secular end but from the 'so called Christian folks'. You see there are those who would want all the glory for themselves , without pointing the way to Jesus. You see this wonderful thing could get lost in the commercializm of Christiandom.
I find myself becoming more cold towards my 'brothers and sisters' for their self appeasing attitudes. It's really about me,me,I,I. Let's see how much stuff i can get, that will make me look better to my friends. Let me put on my religous coat before I go parading around in public for all to see.
Of all this I find myself repenting more and more. Forgive me Lord!
True Christians are being about the buisness of the Father, not working themselves to death becoming a part of the congregational many.
Now I know this Brother who sent me the email, has a desire to do all he can for Jesus. I know this as well as I can for not meeting him personally,but only through emails. And if the Lord has placed it upon his heart to bring this event together, then He will provide all!
I believe my Brother will do what he will do, and I will be here to help in any way I can, but Jesus is the one who can do it all.
Rock On!
11-08-07

Written Permissions Needed!

2007-10-26T07:59:00.001-07:00

Due to increasing restrictions and sanctions against internet radio stations, we must have written permission from all artists and groups to play your music and to post your images and photos on our various sites and blogs.

If you have submitted an email permission to us but have not followed up with a hard copy by snail mail please do so immediately as we will be forced to discontinue promoting those we have not received written permissions from.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but hey, the legal-noose is tightening!

Also, please contact us if you are signing with a label not owned by yourself. We hate to lose artists to mainstream media, and we certainly wish your ministry the best and appreciate the opportunity you've given us to work with you, but as you know, because we do not sell advertisements or solicit donations, we cannot afford the hefty fees required to play copyrighted material other than that owned by the artists themselves who give us permission to do so.

Sharecropper Christian Radio can only feature artists who own their own label or complete rights to their own music. If, through our small contribution of exposure, we've helped you along the way to a recording contract, we praise God for it.

Please, get those hardcopy permissions in the mail:

Hungry Hearts Ministries, P.O. Box 1954, Auburndale, FL 33823

I Feel The Need To Bleed

2007-09-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

It's getting closer to 'THAT' holiday in October, even though it's only the middle of September. I'm talking about Halloween. Yes, that demonic day that heathens and Christians celebrate alike. As a matter of fact, I would not be surprised if the biggest sales of Halloween stuff ( i.e. costumes, candy, props, etc.), come from the so called Christian community.

Didn't Jesus die so we would not be in bondage to these oppressions?

Something to chew on.......
the ol' sharecropper

A Good Word

2007-09-10T03:56:00.000-07:00

Question. Why is it that when a person recieves a strong or even harsh word from the Lord through someone else, they are most ready to rebuke, get angry, or even ostrasize that person from their life !
Hhmmmm.....
Let us take a look in Isaiah chapter 39. The prophet gives such a word to King Hezekiah, and all the king can do is praise God for the word. No bad-mouthing the prophet. No cursing God for the word. The king just accepted the word and went on.
Something to chew on.
the ol' sharecropper