Thanks so much!!! I really needed that encouragement…I respect and commend you highly in the Lord for the work you are doing as a local pastor…I’ve often believed that it is one of the most important positions one can have, due to the nature of what God requires from shepherds. I’m humbled by your kind remarks and uplifting words. It’s really too much, as I don’t consider myself to be worthy of any compliment. I’m thankful for God’s continued grace in my life, and individuals like you who He has allowed me to encounter on this journey. Keep me in your prayers, and I will do the same for you.

Soli Deo Gloria,

R4C

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25

He is able to make us! I weep openly before my God at this point. Wow!

Not only is it unnecessarily verbose, it ignores the clear need for people to be educated on how the pimps are after their money. Which they are.

How could anyone in their right spiritual mind not see that?

I don’t have cash on me or certified check so here is my credit card no: 999-yeah-right exp. date is when -cows- fly-2009

Another terrific object lesson for those who claim they are only taught by the Holy Spirit, yet ignore the Holy Spirit’s provision of the office of teacher in the church.

Hey FDM,how come all you guys who ignore the Holy Spirit’s provision of teachers in the church disagree with each other so much??

Do you all have different Holy Spirits??Or is the Holy Spirit just telling all of you dudes different stuff to mess with you??

But public speaking was my forte way before I knew enough doctrine to earn the right to speak publicly. And unfortunately, if you know how to move folks doctrine generally doesn’t matter very much.

We’re starting a very small home fellowship here, and hopefully what gifts I’ve been given can now be used to move folks to God rather than false doctrine (or worse, to myself).

I know I fear myself in that respect. I loved the adulation, and the elevation, and being marked by elders as an “up and comer”. No sense denying it or putting a false front on it. The thought that I might put myself before God again that way terrifies me, so y’all pray for me.

Now let’s bring an actual incident from Jesus’ day and place (insert a Bishop/Televangelist of you choice here) him/her in Jesus’ position. In Mark 10: 17-18 where the rich Young ruler (we will call him Bill Gates in 2008)approached Jesus about salvation. Bill Gates would ask (again, insert name) what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? Pastor/Bishop (insert name) would say…………..

OK let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. Let’s just say to be politically correct they did offer the message of salvation, do you think their eyes would be on Bill Gates’ wallet also? Do you think they will tell him to give to the poor or give to their ministry(sow a seed)? Let’s not kid ourselves folks.

I must say I can relate to N’Catina in one of her posts below where she says she hasn’t been posting here because she says she was “unseasoned … in the sense of not wanting to contribute to the blog on straight impulse or emotionalism to specific posts, but to gather a sufficient-enough background on what is discussed to contribute intellegently.”

I’ve been reading some of your posts here for years G², and I respect you much. Thanks for understanding.

I concede that in our modern capitalist society, things “cost money” and “ya don’t get somethin’ for nothin!” But that is because we as a body of believers have assimilated ourselves with the buying and selling society in which we live. This is NOT the way the early christians dealt with each other. You say that:

And you make my point precisely. The fact that the buying and selling of the life-giving Word of God has been made into a money-making “business” is no different than those who sold doves in the Temple, and I submit to you that Jesus’ reaction to what they did indicates (to me anyway) that such a practice is disgusting to Him!

Providing for the spiritual needs of the people should be an act of love by the one who “took the time to put it together,” and if such a one expects to receive monetary gain from that work, then my OPINION is that that person is motivated by something other than loving his neighbor as himself … 1 Corinthians 2:12 states “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” Shall one then turn around and then expect monetary compensation from people for passing on to those people that which the Lord has provided to them for NOTHING? That sure is a pretty good deal if one is in this thing to make a PROFIT like the PIMPS are! Whatever happened to “freely ye have received, freely give?”

Rev A. L. Mason, you are certainly entitled to your OPINION, and to be sure, I know nothing about you, but your comment comes across to me like you are in agreement with the pimp practice of making a profit off of the Word of God! I am not going to try to change your OPINION, because I don’t think I can. You seem to be holding on to it pretty tightly. It is my OPINION that there are other ways of supplying the Word to the masses who so desperately need it. I think this is where the concept of giving out of the kindness of one’s own heart comes in. Christians giving out of their abundance to provide what is needed for the body as a whole should be the way those things you mention are financed.

I do concede sir, that in our present society which seems TOTALLY preoccupied with making money, money, and more money, that such a concept is foreign, and is difficult to accomplish at best, because the church in “West Coast Town” knows little about, nor seems to care much about the needs of the church in “East Coast Town.” But one body of believers providing for another body of believers is the example that I believe we see in the early church.

This issue can be argued about ad infinitum and go nowhere. Rev Mason, like I said, you are certainly entitled to your OPINION and I see you believe strongly to it, but I just as strongly disagree. I do not believe ANYONE should make a “business” out of the Word of God, because that is EXACTLY what the PIMPS have done in my view, but I do not wish to get into an argument with you about it, because I believe that doing so would not be very productive. As I have stated before … this is a NON ESSENTIAL, and it is not worth dividing over. Your opinion is out there. My opinion is out there. The day will come when all things shall be made known, including this issue, and until then, even if I think you’re wrong, I am willing to live at peace with you.

As for Joyce Meyers… I considered attending one of her crusades back in 2003 after my 2nd yr of college. Every time I was going to get a ticket, something happened and the money was needed elsewhere. I’m so happy that the Lord in His graciousness kept me away from that and I’m happy that He led you and BooBoo’s Dad out of it. God knows who are truly His and He’ll never leave you in a situation if you are truly seeking Him and the truth which is only found in the Word of God.

Mispelled on porpoise. Ha!Ha!

One question for you: are you presently on mind-altering drugs?

Awaiting your informed response.

By the way, thanks for stopping by to provide a chuckle for us all.

Great post!

“Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!”
But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:7-10).

Stan, can you imagine your own wife encouraging to do thus? The wife can be a very powerful influence. Amen?

Btw, are you the stan over @ Independent Conservative? If you are, kudos to your response to Rick Warren’s comments at the Davos Conference: you nailed it, man!

We, here at Pulpit Pimps, are anxiously awaiting your response to ready4change’s comment (2008-02-03) in Melvin’s posting “I Think I Love the Lord.”

As a white boy from Pittsburgh, perhaps you can enlighten me on a few things - since, according to your Barak African Ministry website - your “mood” is “enlightened” with a “smiley face”.
Question #1: Are you alluding to Barak Obama, what has he done?, or to Ehud Barak, the most decorated soldier in the history of the Israel Defense Forces?
Question #2: Is the “Eloheem” to whom you are referring, the rapper, aka “Mr. Perfect,” or is this just a hip spelling of Elohim?
Question #3: Perhaps I missed it: is there any mention of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on your site?

From the tone of your responses as researched on the Munificent Despot’s website, REV. A. L. MASON/aka centerofworship, you appear to be an angry man. (Please see James 1:19-21 and understand that James is speaking specifically to Christians, so you may be exempt.)

It is my prayer that you come to believe Jesus’ statement, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM” (John 8:58). Renounce and throw in the dumpster, your confused Egyptology/Hebrew/Black Muslim Nationalism and hope that the Father has chosen you as one of the elect!

By the way, if you would like a Bible - and based on the paucity of your references to Scripture in your comments - you NEED one. Click here: http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/
Unlike your site, ahem reverend, you will not see any Donate Buttons at Gateway or at Pulpit-Pimps.

We hope to hear some arguments from you soon - from Scripture of course!

You are not considered a false preacher only because you ask for money……you are a false preacher if you speak anything other than what the Lord (which spoke only what God the Father speaks), the prophets, and the Apostles spoke (which only speak what the Lord has given them through the Holy Spirit). There is a lot of false teaching on this site especially from the one that calls himself (not called by the Lord) the benevolent dictator. And not one of them that say they know the Lord on this site are humble enough to receive correction and they are teaching the unskilled and unlearned that visit this site false doctrine too. Satan loves what you are doing because you are still leading them astray. The only ones that somewhat get mad are the ones who love money and have not attained the riches the “gospel celebrity” false preachers have attained. None of the false preachers you highlight are affected in any way. They are still getting richer and fooling the whole nation……(you have not stopped anything). You assist Satan in deceiving too; because the ones you pull from the “gospel celebrities” you highlight are recommended by others on this site (including you) to more false teachers/preachers and their books, tapes, and sermons that you; being unskilled and unlearned, are following now and in return, you and others are preaching their false doctrine on this site still keeping millions in bondage (do you think the Lord is pleased?…..not). It seems that the only word you have is about false preachers that suppose that gain is godliness….that is the belief of most of the preachers these days…however, you as well have no real revelation of Jesus Christ. Don’t be one of them that cry Lord Lord and he says he knew you not. Even they cast out demons in his name. The Lord’s way is straight and narrow, has not hypocrisy, is no respecter of any man’s person, and is just, righteous, and truth. Only a few take hold to the way of righteousness (a remnant). You guys better stick with the bible and stop reading books, watching tapes, and going to listen to sermons from men which give their word and not the words of the Lord (but say it is). Christians say they believe in the word, they say that we are to obey the bible….I’ve seen it here. But your actions show that you don’t. What does the bible say. Do not add to his words, unless he reprove you and you be found a liar.(Prov. 30:6) but of course you don’t believe it truly otherwise you would be on one accord with all the true men of God and (1John said truly their fellowship was with the Lord and God the Father) But of course this will probably go no where since the benebolent ditator (misspelled on purpose) adds, takes away, and only reveals what he wants you to know…..

But even after all that, it still wasn’t enough to make me walk away from her, because I thought that she was preaching God’s Word, and that this is what God wanted for her. You know, how the “workman is worthy of his wages” (I don’t think the Bible says it quite this way in Matthew 10:10, but that’s what I’ve always heard them say.) I figured that Joyce was entitled to make her money and have her reasons for what she allows and doesn’t allow in her meetings. I just wondered why they couldn’t have posted any signs stating no cameras at the door … it could’ve prevented alot of embarrassment for me or anyone else who may not have known.

Funny thing though … that same usher who was so nasty to me about the camcorder, sure had a big smile on her face when she handed me the big white offering bucket at collection time. It’s one big money-making business, and they will protect their income sources in any way they can. It’s despicable and I long for the day that our Lord decides “this is enough!”

If anyone can help put forward information in a consolidated format (music, books, etc.) that can help a person in their walk with Christ.

This is not to discount the Bible, but I believe that people can find materials that can be of use to someone’s practical situations, providing the subscriber is discerning of what they pick up.

It is honest people like yourself Gary V and others that (along with the Spirit of course)
help to keep me in check. I as a undershepherd of the Lord don’t want to damage HIS sheep in any form or fashion. I love Him and His people too much. That is why I ask the congregation to pray for me all the time. I extend that request to all of the fam here as well. I realize that to some, I as the pastor should have it all together and be a rock for the people. Well I need Jesus just as much as any of the saints do. Any honest pastor will admit he needs the comfort that the Spirit of God provides. I once had a pastor who I respect tell me to never let the congregants hear that you are feeling weak or have struggles. I just can’t put on a front like that. I am not talking about complaining or whinning before people but showing that the pastor is no spiritual superman. I truely believe that the Lord is in the process of exposing men who walk in arrogance and attempt to lead HIS people in their own strength and fleshly knowledge.

I thank God for this site all the time because it is truely helping set the captives free. It is also instumental in preventing others whether they are a pastor or not from going down the same twisted demonic road.

R4C, the kingdom neeeds you brother.

I would venture to say that these pastors will be quick to tell you they are spreading the gospel, For a price that is. (wink wink)

Nonetheless, because so much of what they put out is polluted, it would be a “wash” with you showing heresy in a crowded room.