A reader just e-mailed a link to the following article. When Jim Bakker fell because of a sex scandal, MorningStar bought the Heritage Grand Hotel. The York County City Council has given them until the end of June to get the building up to code or it will be demolished.
MorningStar has a plan in the making of renovating the hotel, but it will cost a whopping $40 million. They plan to turn it into a refirement facility. No, I didn’t make a typo… the facility is meant to refire people and send them back out into the ministry on fire for God and basking in the hypercharismatic anointing! So far, there haven’t been many takers, though, and they’re stuck with a deadline to renovate the facility or city council is going to do it for them… PERMANENTLY! Demolition squads are funny that way.
MorningStar’s vice president said that demolishing this hotel would cause irreparable and significant hardship to MorningStar’s finances. Wouldn’t it be convenient if they could suddenly whip up a nice outpouring where the spirit and the money starts flowing? They would have those renovations done in no time flat!
MorningStar also asked that this dispute not be made public until it is resolved. Wonder why? What do they have to hide?
Old PTL Hotel Owners Face June Demolition
York County again is giving a deadline to the owners of the old Heritage Grand Hotel – who want to convert it into a retirement facility – to make it safe to live in or the county will demolish it.
MorningStar Ministries’ $40 million plan would convert the 21-story ramshackle hotel into what the church calls a “Refirement Center.” Instead of retiring people, the facility would “re-fire” them back into the ministry.
The building was one of the centerpieces of Heritage USA, the now-defunct Christian theme park built in the late 1970s and 1980s. It stands on property once owned by Praise The Lord ministries, which crumbled when televangelist-founder Jim Bakker was caught up in a sex scandal and later convicted of fraud and conspiracy.
If the county moved to demolish the building, it would “cause irreparable and significant financial hardship” to MorningStar Fellowship Church, the ministry’s vice president Dave Yarnes wrote to the county in a Feb. 17 letter.
Since 2004, MorningStar has worked to restore the 345 rooms, suites and office spaces of the old hotel.
“If they can’t convince us they need more time, it’ll have to be torn down,” York County Council Chairman Buddy Motz said Monday. “They’ve passed their time for renovations.”
So far, though, the ministry hasn’t been able to get enough people to commit to buying into the retirement facility – which has made it more difficult to get the financing the ministry needs to bring the building up to meet county safety codes.
County officials say MorningStar is past a previous six-month deadline to hold up its end of the bargain.
The council voted Monday to notify MorningStar of the new deadline, threatening to demolish the building if it isn’t up to code by the end of June.
If the county moved to demolish the building, it would “cause irreparable and significant financial hardship” to MorningStar Fellowship Church, the ministry’s vice president Dave Yarnes wrote to the county in a Feb. 17 letter.
MorningStar also asked the county not to talk about the dispute publicly until the dispute is resolved.
Well, this is sure interesting… and especially that MorningStar asked that the public not be informed about it. However, it’s certainly not surprising, as we’ve all heard that behind other scandals and weird behavior, is (usually) something major (and disingenuous) concerning money.
While reading the Word this morning, I came across Prov. 24:23-25 and thought of how Joyner has tried to make Todd (and Jessa –and himself) look a lot more innocent than the true case of it. The verses say that these types will receive cursing and denunciations. Well, many of us don’t curse them, but we do denounce them. And well we should. And they should expect it!
Here are the verses: “These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good: [Let's see... did Joyner show partiality in restoring someone he otherwise would not have (especially so quickly), if it was not someone who he thought could roll in money for him?] Whoever says to the guilty, ‘You are innocent’– peoples will curse him and nations denounce him. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.”
In other words, those who discern correctly and expose false teachers –that is, “convicting the guilty” using God’s Moral Law as revealed in His Word– will be blessed. So, Chrystal, keep on.
It’s sad to see anyone fall, fail, or get hurt. I don’t gloat over their impending doom at all. But it does show that God does not acquit the guilty.
Rachel
Is this the reason Joyner got his home boy Todd restored in record time?
Got to get the cash flowing.
Rick, you sneaky old dog.
I hadn’t thought of Jim and Tammy for awhile. I used to catch their early morning radio broadcast on my way home from work (Midnights). Their answer for every controversy? “Oooh, the old devil sure hates it when we preach the truth! He’s attacking us because we’re Holy!”
No, you took destroyed your alleged ministry with your own sinful behavior. Satan may have gotten a good laugh out of it, but you did it to yourselves.
I’m surprized to hear that even one part of “Heritage USA” is still operating, abeit poorly. I guess the Morningstar ministry might need to rethink their con. Too bad they didn’t lay up their treasures in Heaven, where there are no moths, no rust.
I pray the building will go down as well as that farce of a ministry.
I think the defunct hotel should continue to stand unoccupied in order to serve as a monument to the results of man-centered false religion…
Well, I guess they can always try the “Bethel prosperity chant” (from Bethel’s website)
“As we receive today’s offering we are believing the Lord for:
Jobs and better jobs,
Raises and bonuses
Benefits Sales and commissions
Favorable settlements
Estates and inheritances
Interests and income
Rebates and returns
Checks in the mail
Gifts and surprises
Finding money
Debts paid off
Expenses decrease
Blessing and increase
Thank You, Lord, for meeting all of my financial needs that I may have more than enough to give into the Kingdom of God and promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah!!!!!!”
Name it, claim it – blab it, grab it – oops, wrong heresy. I forgot, Todd is into angels. Where’s that financial angel when you really need it?
http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2008/05/todd-bentley-i-saw-angel-of-finance.html
http://inthedustofyeshua.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/711/
Rick should probably call Pat King and her her send down some of those green angel feathers.
I think it interesting that Jim Bakker had an intern Jessica and lost Heritage and went to jail Now Rick has Todd and Jessa, doing the same thing and Heritage is about to go under. Adultery is pretty expensive.
Is God saying? You won’t kick out the adulterers so I kick you all out.
Jessica? –I thought Jim Bakker’s affair was with Jennifer? –Jennifer Flowers?
Anyway, I see this as a judgement from the Lord, but I also see it as tragic. I don’t think we should be joking around about someone’s tragedy, or their continuous slide toward Hell. We should be weeping –on our faces –on our knees –for the “slain of our people.” (Jer. 9:1) –Those slain by the evil kingdom. –The leaders and all those they are leading astray.
Yes, we are glad when we feel that finally God is intervening and putting a stop to their madness. But how can we joke about people’s lives crumbling before our eyes?
We want them to repent. We want those who have been following them to have their eyes opened. Are we praying for this? Christ died for these false teachers too. And but for the grace of God, we ALL could spiral into delusion and sin and deception.
Rachel
Rachel
Jessica Hahn
I Lit a Fire of My Own Making
By Robert Winkler Burke
Of inthatdayteachings.com
Copyright 10/15/08
Isaiah 50:11
I lit a fire of my own making,
For all the world to see,
I lit a fire of my own making,
And an angel came to me.
How did you kindle this fire? My son,
The angel of me asked.
I said it was not such an easy job,
Difficult was the task.
I ripped pages out of my lectern Bible,
About Christ’s indwelling return,
Then the flames really caught hold,
God’s abiding pages quickly burn!
So what do you use to preach from?
The angel asked incredulously.
I preach from books written by man,
About rapture and prosperity.
Preacher, the angel said, those doxies,
Are full of greed and fear.
Maybe so, I said. But wow! They really,
Draw the kingdom near!
Which kingdom, asked the angel,
Draws fear and greed neigh?
I don’t know, I replied, but it sure,
Makes people really buy!
They buy into this bonfire here,
Made with pages of the Bible.
This fire we broadcast worldwide,
We think it has no rival.
Just one, said the angel,
Your rival is God’s truth.
So much truth you burn,
It’s God Spirit you forsooth.
But I said, Now angel, How dare you,
To chasten me or rebuke?
I rip Revelation Three: Nineteen out now,
It burns brightest, look!
Your fire burns not for heaven’s glory,
But your own vanity,
With each page of the Bible you burn,
You burn your sanity.
Behold now, your ministry implode,
In immorality and lust,
Even as your bonfire grows higher,
It cannot forever last.
You’ll run out of Bible pages to burn,
And also out of time,
Wise people will have enough of you,
And your selfish kind.
Each day in hell you will regret,
Each truth you burned,
You’ll cry in darkness, When it was light,
If only I had learned.
Sure enough, the angel left,
And my fire went out.
So I asked for a million dollars,
From my donors devout.
So people, believe me or the angel,
What have you got to lose?
Look at me, I am worth a billion!
Which now do you choose?
Isaiah 50:11 (Amplified) Behold, all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fires [and work out your own plans of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame!–walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled [for yourself, if you will]! But this shall you have from My hand: you shall lie down in grief and in torment.
Rachael,
You misread my post I am not joking, I am mocking.
I don’t shed tears for men who are leading simple minded Christian away from God.
I have no pity for snake oil salemen. I asked God to sift him. I asked God if it was alright to turn him over to satan for the destruction of his flesh. I also asked God if this was okay to do, since Paul did it would He please not miss anyone I didn’t name.
I am sick and grieved over my Lord’s name being used in vain, night after night for profit.
Todd Bentley isn’t my brother just because he calls himself a christian, He is no more a christian than a dog is a christian if it wandered into a church during a service.
I asked Him to clear His house of evil doers.
I will continue to pray that way until everyone of these blood sucking for profit preachers are brought low.
I am sorry if that offends you but that is my responce to men who are willing destroying young or uninformed christians.
“Christ died for these false teachers too.”
Actually, He didn’t. Jesus died for the sheep and not the wolves. These false teachers are already destined to destruction.
Phi3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Phi3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
2Pet2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Jessica… Jennifer… Duh. I knew that. –Haven’t thought of any of that junk for years, though.
Shane, there you go again… you Calvinist, you. Even though you quote 2 Peter 2:1, “… denying the sovereign Lord who bought them…” Indeed, He has bought everyone because He died for everyone, paying the ransom that certainly covered the sins of the whole world.
“… God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men…” (1 Tim. 2:3-5)
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)
Rick, I do understand righteous indignation and anger. I wrote in one of my posts that though I do not hate Todd Bentley’s soul, based on Ps. 119:113, I do hate his sin nature –which seems to keep mocking our majestic Lord. And I, too, have quoted Phil. 3:2, “Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil…” when writing against legalistic, deceptive, and wicked Pharisees.
And yes, like you, I am thankful that the Lord seems to be answering our prayers and bringing the wicked down. However, though I’m thankful for this, I also weep for them as individuals. Jesus was stern with the wicked, but He also wept over their refusal to turn. (Matt. 23:37) It is only but for the grace of God that we all are not idiots –sinning, disgusting dogs and pigs eating garbage and vomit.
Rachel
@smilesback
“Shane, there you go again… you Calvinist, you”
I am just a Chrstian I don’t like to call myself a “Calvinist”. I don’t think I subscribe to everything Calvin taught neither do I follow him.
If Jesus paid the sin debt for everyone then there are a lot of people in hell paying for sins that have already been paid for. Sounds a little unfair doesn’t it? If you say unbelief or rejection is the reason they are in hell, then wouldn’t those two things be sins that would have been paid for as well? As far as for what I have read it looks like the Jesus paid the debt for ALL sins. The synergistic/Arminian view of the atonement limits the atonements power. It limits the atonement to a “potential” atonement that can’t really pay for all of a persons sins. Which leaves a believer having to fulfill certain conditions for salvation. From what I have been able to gather from the Bible, salvation is all of God and none of man. The very faith a person has to believe with comes from God. And no man can come to Jesus unless God draws him.
Have you ever studied the doctrines of Grace?
You should study them. At least you should understand more about what you so easily dismiss.
I didn’t believe them either until I began to study them and once I did I couldn’t deny them. I can speak from experience of having the same synergistic view of salvation as you do. If you are really secure in what you believe then why not study the other viewpoint?
Here is a good place to start.
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/gracelist.html
http://www.gty.org/Shop/Audio+Series/280_The-Doctrines-of-Grace
(just select a sermon and you can read a transcript or download it for free)
As as 2Peter goes, the people he is speaking of were never saved. Did Jesus ever call His people dogs or pigs? I think He always said something to the effect of “My sheep” did He not?
On the subject of Morningstar.
Here is an interesting news article I read. It seems like Morningstar is just stalling and full of hot air.
http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/03/05/1995046/fort-mill-tower-project-on-track.html
Shane,
I do not consider myself an Arminian. Just because some beliefs overlap another belief system, doesn’t mean one can be labeled such. So, I won’t label you a Calvinist, if you say you don’t want to be labeled one.
As far as more to read of what you coin “The Doctrines of Grace” (though all of us under grace would believe in the doctrine of grace; just maybe not in that manner you would), I am done with listening to Calvinists teach it. I’ve studied Calvinism in depth, and have concluded that it is a repugnant doctrine. Don’t worry –I’m secure in my beliefs, though I am, at the same time, reasonably open-minded to mature-sounding arguments.
Denise says come on over and discuss OSAS with you at your blog. No thanks. From hers and your statements, I’ve deduced that it would be a waste of all our time, as it is evident that some people have some very fossilized stances.
I’m sure you are a nice person, as nice people go, but know that I categorize a hardline Calvinist and/or OSAS person in the same group as set-in-their-beliefs JWs and Muslims. Those two (and the two I’ve just mentioned) win for the most argumentative people I ever meet and try to witness to. Even Mormons, Unitarians, witches, Adventists, Krishnas, Buddhists, and atheists, even when firmly entrenched in their belief systems also, are much more cordial.
You are not asking me those questions for an answer. You just want to convert me to your way of thinking. If you are really asking genuinely, then you can easily google it. Besides, have you been “secure” enough to read my articles at my blogsite against Calvinism and OSAS? If not, it is unfair for you to ask me to read your views.
Rachel
“have you been “secure” enough to read my articles at my blogsite against Calvinism and OSAS?”
I can’t. You don’t have a link. At least not one that I can find.
After some Googling I think I found it.
http://knowgodsword.wordpress.com/
For some reason it won’t let me leave a comment. I will try later.
Eternal Security is a foundational teaching of Scripture. If you deny this, you deny the doctrine of Justification. You also deny the Lordship of the Lord, the Sovereignty of God, if you deny what HE said: that HE keeps us to the end; that we are HIS workmanship, nor our own workmanship. These are biblical doctrines which glorify Christ alone.
Denial of Eternal Security is a denial of salvation by grace because it holds to one’s own works to keep that which one never could obtain to being with: ETERNAL Life. Best go study Galatians chapter 3 particularily and John 6 & 10.
To put such biblical Truth into the camp of the CULTS shows utter contempt for Biblical Truth, and no understanding of God’s holiness, the sinfulness and deadness of Man,the Grace of God, and the Sovereignty of God, and the only Gospel that can save and keep.
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain?
Joh 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him NEVER BE THIRSTY AGAIN. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to ETERNAL LIFE.”
1Cor. 1: 8 HE WILL KEEP YOU STRONG TO THE END, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ OUR LORD, IS FAITHFUL.
Jesus is interceding on our behalf: Heb. 2:17-18; 1John 2:1; Romans 8:34;
Jesus keeps us in His hand: John 10:28;
He will not loose His own: John 6:39;40
The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf: Rom. 8:26
The Holy Spirit seals us: Eph. 1:13-14; 2Cor. 1:21-22;
We are kept in the Father’s hand: John 10:29;
Kept by the power of God: 1Peter 1:4-5;Jude 1.
We are not bigger than God; we always fail HIM. HE will be faithful to keep that which HE purchased with theblood of Jesus Christ to HIS glorious grace forever. HE is not a failure.
Understanding for whom Jesus died, and WHY He did so, and what the Atonement is about, is urgent here.
I would exhort folks to check out these two links:
Did Jesus die for false prophets? http://www.gospeloutreach.net/limited_atonement.html
The Atonement: Real or Potential? http://www.gty.org/Shop/Audio+Lessons/80-356_The-Atonement–Real-or-Potential
“As far as more to read of what you coin “The Doctrines of Grace” (though all of us under grace would believe in the doctrine of grace; just maybe not in that manner you would), I am done with listening to Calvinists teach it. I’ve studied Calvinism in depth, and have concluded that it is a repugnant doctrine.”
if you think I coined the phrase “doctrines of Grace”. then it looks to me like you haven’t studied them as indepth as you claim.
I will say that I find it amusing that you consign to hell all of those that hold the doctrines of Grace.
“Calvinists and other “once saved, always saved” groups do no one any favors preaching their error-filled doctrines. They are actually highly unloving as they try to gather more of the flock to hurtle down the cliff with them –toward their chosen destruction.”
http://knowgodsword.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/truth-hidden-from-calvinists/
I would like to engage in discussions on your blog if comments were open.
Shane and Denise,
I thought I had made it clear that I do not care to engage in discussion with either of you. Don’t pressure me to give the reasons.
As far as my blog not allowing comments: I am truly sorry to those who would like to have a genuine, honest, cordial discussion. However, though I appreciate those like Chrystal who expose error and keep us informed, I am not impressed with the comments (many frivolous, un-Christlike, or mocking) at most blogsites.
Also, my main reason is, I just don’t have time. I had a large email list for two years of writing and sending them “sermons” and I am tired of answering people who, for the most part, ask for help, but aren’t genuinely seeking to change either their beliefs or sinful behaviors. I have two other main ministries –on the streets with the homeless and those at the bus stops getting off work, and another with the elderly– and by too much writing, I neglect those.
I believe Chrystal asked us to stay on topic a while back, besides.
Let me just end with this: We will all one day stand before The Judge. All will come to light then. And we will see who had the Truth, who really knew Him, and who really was considered obedient.
Rachel