L-A PEOPLE FILES
- Rene Lafout - Jackson Lahmeyer - Vijayesh lal - William H Lamar IV - Joni Lamb - Jessica Lamb-Shapiro - Richard Land - David Lane - Curt Landry - Becky Laney - James Lankford - Susie Larson - Barbara Latta - Mike Law - Lanny Lawler - Paul Lawler - Bennet Arren Lawrence - Steve Lawson - Deborah Layton -
==rene lafout======
Rene Lafout was born in South Africa, and immigrated to Canada in 1977. He went to a university but while working on a PhD, He became brutally ill with Schizophrenia. He is currently working at a shelter in Vancouver, BC. His books are available for sale on IngramSpark distributing channels, Amazon and your friendly neighbourhood bookstores. Format’s available are eBooks (kindle & Kobo & Apple Books & others), paperback and hardcover. His three most important books are called: "Exploring Faith, Hope & Love"; "Dismantling the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Within So Love Can Thrive"; and "Contrasting Humility and Pride". His books are about how to navigate learning curves when it comes to love and overcoming sin strongholds.
Rene Lafaut
Brad Jersak’s book called, Can You Hear Me? (Copyright Permissions granted) Gives a working model on how the imagination works and is very helpful in taking healthy control of it. He views the imagination as an interior screen that we use to project images on. We can project good images with the help of God. Or bad images with the help of the devil. On the contrary, we can conceive a mixture of the two when we have a divided hearts. Initially, we hold the power over what we project or imagine. But if we give ourselves over to darkness in an area, then what is imagined takes on bad energy and can hurt others, self, and be very unwelcome by God. The more we believe in the bad constructs of our imaginations, the more they will lock in our expectations, desires and judgments. They will create an unhealthy faulty reality in our interior lives. Once the structures are created via our imaginations they make their presence felt in our hearts and minds as powerful forces for good or evil. But we can sense the pursuit of the Good Shepherd and His call on our lives. We can begin to see some of the created structures as unwelcome and begin to petition God to dismantle them from within our lives. Because we often don’t know how to pray, repent, and renew our minds correctly we can feel stuck in this area. So how do we clean up our imaginations and what they make us do? In conclusion, we in part get healthy imaginations through confessing to God the sins we create through them. Next, we repent in prayer from these sins with God’s help. Then we begin to renew our thoughts, beliefs, expectations, and attitudes in conversations with God, His Word, and close sisters and brothers in Jesus. When we imagine good stuff God joyfully enters into the process. When we imagine evil stuff the devil enters into the power of our imaginations. And he robs us of the joys the imagination was intended to be. --Rene Lafaut; Christian Learning; Have You Ever Overlooked Cleaning Up a Dirty Mind? 1/20/21
==jackson lahmeyer======
Jackson Lahmeyer earned a B.A. and M.A. in theological and historical studies from Oral Roberts University. Lahmeyer's career experience includes owning a business and working as the lead pastor of Sheridan.Church. Lahmeyer (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Oklahoma. He lost in the Republican primary on June 28, 2022.
After Charlie Kirk’s killing, conservative evangelical leaders hail him as a martyr
And although authorities haven’t announced a motive in Kirk’s shooting and he was speaking at a secular university when he was shot, several religious leaders framed his killing as an attack on the Christian church.
“The attack on Charlie Kirk was much deeper than a political attack on the First Amendment,” said Jackson Lahmeyer, the pastor of Sheridan Church in Oklahoma and the founder of “Pastors for Trump,” a group of pastors who lobbied for Trump’s reelection, at his Sunday morning service. Some 5,631 people attended his 10 a.m. sermon, including both online and in person, he told CNN. “The attack on Charlie was spiritual in nature and an attack on the very institution of the church,” Lahmeyer said.
(CNN 9/12/25) READMORE>>>>>
And although authorities haven’t announced a motive in Kirk’s shooting and he was speaking at a secular university when he was shot, several religious leaders framed his killing as an attack on the Christian church.
“The attack on Charlie Kirk was much deeper than a political attack on the First Amendment,” said Jackson Lahmeyer, the pastor of Sheridan Church in Oklahoma and the founder of “Pastors for Trump,” a group of pastors who lobbied for Trump’s reelection, at his Sunday morning service. Some 5,631 people attended his 10 a.m. sermon, including both online and in person, he told CNN. “The attack on Charlie was spiritual in nature and an attack on the very institution of the church,” Lahmeyer said.
(CNN 9/12/25) READMORE>>>>>
Over 12K Sign Christian Petition Condemning 'False Prophet' Mike Johnson
In response to Mike Johnson recently becoming the new House speaker, over 12,000 people have signed a Christian petition condemning the congressman as a "false prophet" among other Republican Party members.
Faithful America, an online Christian group that supports social justice causes, released their second-annual "False Prophets Don't Speak for Me" campaign featuring a list of top Christian-nationalist leaders in both church and politics along with a petition on Tuesday. The list, which in addition to Johnson, identifies former President Donald Trump, pastor Mark Burns, self-proclaimed prophet affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) Julie Green, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, conservative activist and radio talk show host Charlie Kirk, pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, Texas' Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Archbishop Carlo Viganò, self-proclaimed prophet affiliated with NAR Lance Wallnau, and co-founder of Moms for Liberty and school board chair in Sarasota, Florida, Bridget Ziegler as "false prophets."
(Natalie Venegas/Newsweek 11/4/23)
Read More>>>>>
In response to Mike Johnson recently becoming the new House speaker, over 12,000 people have signed a Christian petition condemning the congressman as a "false prophet" among other Republican Party members.
Faithful America, an online Christian group that supports social justice causes, released their second-annual "False Prophets Don't Speak for Me" campaign featuring a list of top Christian-nationalist leaders in both church and politics along with a petition on Tuesday. The list, which in addition to Johnson, identifies former President Donald Trump, pastor Mark Burns, self-proclaimed prophet affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) Julie Green, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, conservative activist and radio talk show host Charlie Kirk, pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, Texas' Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Archbishop Carlo Viganò, self-proclaimed prophet affiliated with NAR Lance Wallnau, and co-founder of Moms for Liberty and school board chair in Sarasota, Florida, Bridget Ziegler as "false prophets."
(Natalie Venegas/Newsweek 11/4/23)
Read More>>>>>
Far right 'Pastors for Trump' trashed by evangelical leaders for flirting with Christian nationalism
Allies of former President Donald Trump, including Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, are backing a far-right Christian group designed to keep evangelicals in the former president's camp for 2024 — but more mainstream Christian denominations are standing up and fighting back, reported The Guardian on Monday. The group, Pastors for Trump, is drawing sharp rebukes from mainstream Christian leaders for being extremist, distorting Christian teachings and endangering American democracy, by fueling the spread of Christian nationalism," reported Peter Stone. "The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based evangelical pastor and businessman Jackson Lahmeyer leads the fledgling Pastors for Trump organization. Lahmeyer told the Guardian it boasts over 7,000 pastors as members and that he will unveil details about its plans on 11 May at the Trump National Doral in Miami, an event Trump will be invited to attend." (Raw Story 5/1/23) Read More>>>>>
Allies of former President Donald Trump, including Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, are backing a far-right Christian group designed to keep evangelicals in the former president's camp for 2024 — but more mainstream Christian denominations are standing up and fighting back, reported The Guardian on Monday. The group, Pastors for Trump, is drawing sharp rebukes from mainstream Christian leaders for being extremist, distorting Christian teachings and endangering American democracy, by fueling the spread of Christian nationalism," reported Peter Stone. "The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based evangelical pastor and businessman Jackson Lahmeyer leads the fledgling Pastors for Trump organization. Lahmeyer told the Guardian it boasts over 7,000 pastors as members and that he will unveil details about its plans on 11 May at the Trump National Doral in Miami, an event Trump will be invited to attend." (Raw Story 5/1/23) Read More>>>>>
==vijayesh lal======
What Another Trump Presidency Means To Evangelicals Around the World
Vijayesh Lal, general secretary, Evangelical Fellowship of India
I don’t expect many changes in the overall foreign policy trajectory under a new Trump administration, as India is a key strategic partner in balancing China’s growing influence in the region. On issues like minority rights and religious freedom, it’s safe to assume Trump will not place as much pressure on India as a Democratic president probably would have. In fact, when visiting India during his previous term, he infamously praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s record on religious freedom. While the Trump administration may focus on religious freedom globally, it probably will not comment on the treatment of Christians and Muslims in India. Many Christians in India and South Asia who lean Republican may welcome his return to office, but for the church in India, I don’t see any significant gains. The church in India doesn’t place its hopes in political leadership, whether in the US or in India. (Christianity Today 11/7/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Vijayesh Lal, general secretary, Evangelical Fellowship of India
I don’t expect many changes in the overall foreign policy trajectory under a new Trump administration, as India is a key strategic partner in balancing China’s growing influence in the region. On issues like minority rights and religious freedom, it’s safe to assume Trump will not place as much pressure on India as a Democratic president probably would have. In fact, when visiting India during his previous term, he infamously praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s record on religious freedom. While the Trump administration may focus on religious freedom globally, it probably will not comment on the treatment of Christians and Muslims in India. Many Christians in India and South Asia who lean Republican may welcome his return to office, but for the church in India, I don’t see any significant gains. The church in India doesn’t place its hopes in political leadership, whether in the US or in India. (Christianity Today 11/7/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==william h lamar iv======
'Keep off our property' | DC area Christian leaders ask ICE to stop parking in church lots
Here are the 19 clergy that signed onto Saturday's letter:
- Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler; Plymouth United Church of Christ; senior advisor Fellowship of Reconciliation Pastor Christopher Zacharias; John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Rev. Rubin Tendai; United Church of Christ , Rev. Patricia Fears; Fellowship Baptist Church , Rev. Jamall Calloway; Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ , Rev. Lewis T. Tait; The Village, Rev. William H. Lamar IV; Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Marcus Leathers; Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Rev. Wanda Thompson; The Ambassador Baptist Church, Rev. Keith W. Byrd Sr.; Zion Baptist Church, Rev. George C. Gilbert Jr.; Baptist Convention of DC and Vicinity, Rev. Daryl Washington; DM Washington Ministries, Rev. Kenneth King; New Hope Baptist United Church of Christ, Rev. Kendrick Curry; Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. Clarence Cross, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Rev. Howard Finley; at-large, Bill Mefford; The Festival Center, Rev., Abhi Janamanchi; Cedar Lane Unitarian-Universalist Church (Bethesda, Md.), Rev. Darrryl LC Moch; United Church of Christ of Fredericksburg (Fredericksburg, Va.)
(WUSA9 8/23/25) READMORE>>>>>
Here are the 19 clergy that signed onto Saturday's letter:
- Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler; Plymouth United Church of Christ; senior advisor Fellowship of Reconciliation Pastor Christopher Zacharias; John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Rev. Rubin Tendai; United Church of Christ , Rev. Patricia Fears; Fellowship Baptist Church , Rev. Jamall Calloway; Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ , Rev. Lewis T. Tait; The Village, Rev. William H. Lamar IV; Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Marcus Leathers; Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Rev. Wanda Thompson; The Ambassador Baptist Church, Rev. Keith W. Byrd Sr.; Zion Baptist Church, Rev. George C. Gilbert Jr.; Baptist Convention of DC and Vicinity, Rev. Daryl Washington; DM Washington Ministries, Rev. Kenneth King; New Hope Baptist United Church of Christ, Rev. Kendrick Curry; Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. Clarence Cross, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Rev. Howard Finley; at-large, Bill Mefford; The Festival Center, Rev., Abhi Janamanchi; Cedar Lane Unitarian-Universalist Church (Bethesda, Md.), Rev. Darrryl LC Moch; United Church of Christ of Fredericksburg (Fredericksburg, Va.)
(WUSA9 8/23/25) READMORE>>>>>
==joni lamb======
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Christian Leaders Celebrate Israel Amid Warnings Of Waning Support The list’s breadth speaks to the diversity of Israel’s Christian supporters. Among this year’s honorees: Rev. Johnnie Moore, director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation; world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, lauded for funding emergency aid after the October 7 attacks; Daystar Television founder Joni Lamb; Pastor Jentezen Franklin, recognized for leading humanitarian relief for Israeli communities; Fox News host Sean Hannity; Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy; CPAC Hungary Director Miklós Szánthó; actor and producer Kelsey Grammer; and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. Each, the IAF says, has played a crucial role in “mobilizing global support for Israel, especially in the face of rising antisemitism and international criticism.” “This year’s list reflects the extraordinary commitment of Christian leaders who have stood with Israel, particularly during the challenges of the past two years,” IAF President Josh Reinstein told Breitbart News. “Their support is a testament to the enduring bond between the Christian and Jewish communities, rooted in shared Judeo-Christian values.” (Grand Pinnacle Tribune 10/6/25) READMORE>>>> Top of the Week: Breaking Update: Daystar President, Joni Lamb, Releases Official Statement on Recent Allegations Daystar president and co-founder, Joni Lamb, addressed recent allegations and the decision to terminate son Jonathan Lamb’s employment at the network. In a video posted to YouTube, Lamb addressed the ongoing situation to Daystar viewers. “Recently, Daystar made the decision to terminate my son, Jonathan Lamb’s, employment,” Lamb says. “That decision was not taken lightly. It followed a 15-month review of Jonathan’s performance and his refusal to take any steps to satisfy a detailed performance improvement plan put in place. He also refused my offer to participate in a formal mediation to resolve grievances in a biblical and professional manner.” (Charisma 11/30/24) READMORE>>>>> Canadian Broadcaster Pulls Program from Daystar Due to ‘Ethical Deficits’ Canadian broadcaster Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson announced in a live broadcast yesterday that she is pulling her daily TV program, Laura-Lynn Live at the Eagle’s Nest, from Daystar TV due to “ethical deficits” in the network. “It is with great sadness and personal angst that we are going to give notice to Daystar Canada that we will be removing our show from their network . . . due to what we perceive to be numerous ethical deficits,” Thompson said. ....As reported by The Roys Report (TRR), former Daystar Vice President Jonathan Lamb and his wife, Suzy, claim that Jonathan’s mother, Daystar President Joni Lamb, covered up the abuse of their daughter by a family member. (Julie Roys 11/27/24) READMORE>>>>> Son of founders of Daystar Television Network fired from company Jonathan Lamb, the son of Daystar Television Network co-founders Marcus and Joni Lamb, was fired last week from the global Christian television network headquartered in Bedford. In a Thursday interview, Lamb said Daystar had a “submission culture.” He said he was removed from the network’s board and from his role as vice president in 2023 after he was unwilling to sign a nondisclosure agreement. (MSN 11/22/24) READMORE>>>>> |
September 5, 2024: Charisma reported: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke out about God and politics to Daystar’s Joni Lamb and Doug Weiss in a recent episode of “Ministry Now.” After RFK Jr.’s step away from the presidential race and endorsement of Donald Trump, he is now speaking about the necessity of unity during this time, and how his upbringing in faith has made a difference in his worldview. “First of all, I was raised in a very, very Catholic family and I integrated that into my thought, into my soul,” RFK Jr. says. “We prayed the rosary everyday, sometimes on multiple occasions, we went to church almost everyday…we prayed before and after meals, we prayed the rosary at night, we read the Bible every night. my dad read the Bible to me, so I know that was part of who I was growing up.”
November 21, 2024:
The DayStar Family Feud That's Shocking Everyone
November 25, 2024: Joni Lamb: Recently, Daystar made the decision to terminate my son Jonathan Lamb’s employment. That decision was not taken lightly. It followed a 15-month review of Jonathan’s performance and his refusal to take any steps to satisfy a detailed Performance Improvement Plan put in place. He also refused my offer to participate in a formal mediation to resolve grievances in a biblical and professional manner. Rather than take any steps to improve his performance at Daystar, it seems clear now that Jonathan was focused on fabricating a smear campaign. You see, Jonathan was extremely disappointed that he was not named future President of Daystar following the death of his father and my husband, Marcus, despite the fact that Marcus had clearly given a directive to the family and to the Board that I would succeed him as President. His disappointment in not getting his way only deepened when I married Doug Weiss, who has been such a blessing to me, the rest of my family, and Daystar. Jonathan’s disappointment escalated to the point where he attempted to blackmail his way into becoming the future President of Daystar. |
Daystar TV Flew Executives to Trump Victory Party on Private Jet, Raising Questions About IRS Compliance
Christian television network Daystar TV spent an estimated $38,000 this week to fly executives to Donald Trump’s victory party on Daystar’s private jet, raising questions about the ministry’s compliance with applicable laws. The U.S. tax code prohibits churches and religious nonprofits from supporting political candidates or any political campaign activity, since the so-called Johnson Amendment was enacted in 1954. It’s uncertain who paid for Daystar’s trip, and whether it was considered a ministry expense or a personal one. (Julie Roys 11/9/24) READMORE>>>>>
Christian television network Daystar TV spent an estimated $38,000 this week to fly executives to Donald Trump’s victory party on Daystar’s private jet, raising questions about the ministry’s compliance with applicable laws. The U.S. tax code prohibits churches and religious nonprofits from supporting political candidates or any political campaign activity, since the so-called Johnson Amendment was enacted in 1954. It’s uncertain who paid for Daystar’s trip, and whether it was considered a ministry expense or a personal one. (Julie Roys 11/9/24) READMORE>>>>>
Joni Lamb’s Astonishing Prophetic Vision Involving Marcus Lamb
In a recent video posted by Daystar, Joni Lamb revealed how God gave her a prophetic vision about her late husband, and the three things God uncovered to her through this encounter. “This has been a couple of months ago, actually, I had a vision, a kind of a waking vision…I heard the voice of my late husband, Marcus Lamb,” Joni shares. While she did not see Marcus in the dream-like vision, she heard his voice. It was then through this vision that she heard three distinct things she needed to know.
(Charisma 8/28/24) READMORE>>>>>
In a recent video posted by Daystar, Joni Lamb revealed how God gave her a prophetic vision about her late husband, and the three things God uncovered to her through this encounter. “This has been a couple of months ago, actually, I had a vision, a kind of a waking vision…I heard the voice of my late husband, Marcus Lamb,” Joni shares. While she did not see Marcus in the dream-like vision, she heard his voice. It was then through this vision that she heard three distinct things she needed to know.
(Charisma 8/28/24) READMORE>>>>>
==jessica lamb-shapiro======
Don’t Be Duped by This Year’s Biggest Religious Trend
We save us.”
According to the University of Southern California’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture, the dominant religious trend of 2025 can be summed up by this phrase. A top religious trend of 2024 was similar: “Self-care as the new religion.” In her book Promise Land: My Journey Through America’s Self-Help Culture, Jessica Lamb-Shapiro humorously tells the story of the time she attended a writers’ conference for self-help authors. What she describes is less humorous: “I witnessed a pedagogy more befitting a tent revival than a classroom.” When a popular self-help author gave his keynote speech, “his congregants exulted, swooned, and wept.” The religious zeal with which the world pursues self-help isn’t surprising. Lacking a Savior, nonbelievers will look inward to solve their problems. But it’s concerning when self-help methods begin to trickle into Christian thought and teaching. In Colossians, Paul warns the church not to be taken captive by any human doctrine that is “not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8)
(The Gospel Coalition 12.13.25)READMORE>>>>>
We save us.”
According to the University of Southern California’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture, the dominant religious trend of 2025 can be summed up by this phrase. A top religious trend of 2024 was similar: “Self-care as the new religion.” In her book Promise Land: My Journey Through America’s Self-Help Culture, Jessica Lamb-Shapiro humorously tells the story of the time she attended a writers’ conference for self-help authors. What she describes is less humorous: “I witnessed a pedagogy more befitting a tent revival than a classroom.” When a popular self-help author gave his keynote speech, “his congregants exulted, swooned, and wept.” The religious zeal with which the world pursues self-help isn’t surprising. Lacking a Savior, nonbelievers will look inward to solve their problems. But it’s concerning when self-help methods begin to trickle into Christian thought and teaching. In Colossians, Paul warns the church not to be taken captive by any human doctrine that is “not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8)
(The Gospel Coalition 12.13.25)READMORE>>>>>
==richard land======
Richard D. Land (born 1946) was the president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, a post he had held since July 2013. October 23, 2013: Land announced his intention to retire. Russell D. Moore filled the post.
Evangelicals divided over what faith demands as immigration tensions deepen
Last fall, the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, known as the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, broke ties with EIT, due in part to pushback in the denomination that the group had become too liberal on immigration. The break was notable because Richard Land, a legendary SBC figure who led the ERLC for decades, had been one of EIT’s founders and had long promoted immigration reform. That split highlights tensions among evangelicals over immigration that have grown during the Trump era of mass deportations — including in Minneapolis, the current epicenter of immigration enforcement.
(Julie Roys; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>>
Last fall, the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, known as the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, broke ties with EIT, due in part to pushback in the denomination that the group had become too liberal on immigration. The break was notable because Richard Land, a legendary SBC figure who led the ERLC for decades, had been one of EIT’s founders and had long promoted immigration reform. That split highlights tensions among evangelicals over immigration that have grown during the Trump era of mass deportations — including in Minneapolis, the current epicenter of immigration enforcement.
(Julie Roys; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>>
Southern Baptist Convention breaks with the Evangelical Immigration Table
The Southern Baptist Convention will go its own way on immigration policy, the denomination’s top public policy official said Wednesday (Sept. 17), breaking ties with a coalition of other evangelical Christian bodies focused on the issue. “We feel we need to take a more independent posture on our immigration-related work,” Miles Mullin, acting president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the SBC’s policy arm, told the agency’s trustees in announcing it had severed ties with the Evangelical Immigration Table, according to Baptist Press. Southern Baptists have long advocated for immigration reform that includes secure borders and a path to citizenship for people in the country illegally. That led former ERLC President Richard Land to join other prominent evangelical leaders to found the Evangelical Immigration Table in 2012 to advocate for immigration reform based on biblical principles.
(Religion NewsService 9/18/25) READMORE>>>>>
The Southern Baptist Convention will go its own way on immigration policy, the denomination’s top public policy official said Wednesday (Sept. 17), breaking ties with a coalition of other evangelical Christian bodies focused on the issue. “We feel we need to take a more independent posture on our immigration-related work,” Miles Mullin, acting president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the SBC’s policy arm, told the agency’s trustees in announcing it had severed ties with the Evangelical Immigration Table, according to Baptist Press. Southern Baptists have long advocated for immigration reform that includes secure borders and a path to citizenship for people in the country illegally. That led former ERLC President Richard Land to join other prominent evangelical leaders to found the Evangelical Immigration Table in 2012 to advocate for immigration reform based on biblical principles.
(Religion NewsService 9/18/25) READMORE>>>>>
Apr 29, 2023: The Published Reporter: The Christian Post Wins Awards At Evangelical Press Association Christian Media Convention
Dr. Richard Land, executive editor of CP, won second place for Editorial with his piece, titled “The Will Smith event: Why it matters.” Land said the slap seen by a billion people worldwide was “shocking, painful and inexcusable,” as Smith admitted.
Dr. Richard Land, executive editor of CP, won second place for Editorial with his piece, titled “The Will Smith event: Why it matters.” Land said the slap seen by a billion people worldwide was “shocking, painful and inexcusable,” as Smith admitted.
Richard Land says he has ‘read about’ some Christian nationalists but he doesn’t know any
Richard Land insists he’s not a Christian nationalist. The former president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and currently president emeritus at Southern Evangelical Seminary, wants to set the record straight: “I’m not a Christian nationalist. I’ve read about some, but I don’t know any.” He added: “I think it is a tactic by the Left and their toadies in the media to suppress patriotic beliefs and to suppress the idea that America is a unique country. They hate that, they don’t believe it themselves.” In Land’s imagination there are no Christian nationalists. It’s like arguing there are no Native Americans in our country. It’s like saying there’s no coffee at Starbucks. (Baptist News Global 9/29/22)
Read More>>>>>
Richard Land insists he’s not a Christian nationalist. The former president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and currently president emeritus at Southern Evangelical Seminary, wants to set the record straight: “I’m not a Christian nationalist. I’ve read about some, but I don’t know any.” He added: “I think it is a tactic by the Left and their toadies in the media to suppress patriotic beliefs and to suppress the idea that America is a unique country. They hate that, they don’t believe it themselves.” In Land’s imagination there are no Christian nationalists. It’s like arguing there are no Native Americans in our country. It’s like saying there’s no coffee at Starbucks. (Baptist News Global 9/29/22)
Read More>>>>>
March 31, 2012: On Richard Land Live!, Land accused the Obama administration and civil rights leaders of using the Trayvon Martin case to deliberately stir up racial tension and "gin up the black vote" for Obama in the 2012 presidential election.
April 14, 2012: Baptist blogger Aaron Weaver discovered that Land's commentary on the Martin case had been lifted almost verbatim and without attribution from a column by Jeffrey Kuhner of The Washington Times. According to Weaver, while Land included a link to the article in show notes that were posted online, he did not disclose that his commentary was based almost entirely on that column. Weaver also discovered that Land had also lifted material in previous broadcasts from other sources as well and passed them off as his own words.
November 19, 2012: At a American Enterprise Institute event on immigration reform, Land stated that he was "ashamed" of the Republican Party in the 2012 presidential election.
April 14, 2012: Baptist blogger Aaron Weaver discovered that Land's commentary on the Martin case had been lifted almost verbatim and without attribution from a column by Jeffrey Kuhner of The Washington Times. According to Weaver, while Land included a link to the article in show notes that were posted online, he did not disclose that his commentary was based almost entirely on that column. Weaver also discovered that Land had also lifted material in previous broadcasts from other sources as well and passed them off as his own words.
November 19, 2012: At a American Enterprise Institute event on immigration reform, Land stated that he was "ashamed" of the Republican Party in the 2012 presidential election.
==curt landry======
Rabbi Curt Landry’s ministry brings to light the prophetic aspect of God’s Word. He has the heart to empower others with the revelation and truth of God’s Word to enable them to know their identity and walk out their God-given purpose.
Curt Landry
As a Believer, the Spirit of God is always at work within you, restoring and renewing you–His Holy Temple. He is Perfect Love and 1 John 4:18 tells us “perfect love casts out fear.” As you are filled with the fullness of God, He leaves no room for fear. His love seals you and changes you.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
—1 Corinthians 6:19-20
If you are operating in a spirit of fear, you have a fixed mindset that resists restoration and renewing. A fixed mindset pushes back on Spirit-led instruction and transformation. These mindsets enable the spirit of fear by blocking you from receiving the fullness of God’s love. Through bitterness, unbelief, hopelessness, apathy, etc., a fixed mindset aims to shut down your heart to God, robbing you of His healing power. To overcome the spirit of fear, you have to identify the mindset that is blocking your freedom. Operating out of the spirit of fear is a symptom of a hardened heart…
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
‘Today, if you will hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
in the day of trial in the wilderness,
where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
and saw My works forty years.
Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and said, “They always go astray in their heart,
and they have not known My ways.”
So I swore in My wrath,
“They shall not enter My rest.”’
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
—Hebrews 3:7-13
But there is good news! You have authority in Jesus to overcome the spirit of fear!
Fear is based on a false belief. Therefore, to overcome the spirit of fear, you cut to the heart of the false belief using the Word of God as your sword.
--Curt Landry; Overcome the Spirit of Fear | Transformed from Lamb to Lion
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
—1 Corinthians 6:19-20
If you are operating in a spirit of fear, you have a fixed mindset that resists restoration and renewing. A fixed mindset pushes back on Spirit-led instruction and transformation. These mindsets enable the spirit of fear by blocking you from receiving the fullness of God’s love. Through bitterness, unbelief, hopelessness, apathy, etc., a fixed mindset aims to shut down your heart to God, robbing you of His healing power. To overcome the spirit of fear, you have to identify the mindset that is blocking your freedom. Operating out of the spirit of fear is a symptom of a hardened heart…
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
‘Today, if you will hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
in the day of trial in the wilderness,
where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
and saw My works forty years.
Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and said, “They always go astray in their heart,
and they have not known My ways.”
So I swore in My wrath,
“They shall not enter My rest.”’
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
—Hebrews 3:7-13
But there is good news! You have authority in Jesus to overcome the spirit of fear!
Fear is based on a false belief. Therefore, to overcome the spirit of fear, you cut to the heart of the false belief using the Word of God as your sword.
--Curt Landry; Overcome the Spirit of Fear | Transformed from Lamb to Lion
==david lane======
David Lane (born c. 1955) is an American political activist who works to increase the political strength of religious groups on the Christian right, to promote social conservative values in the United States.
Funded largely by the American Family Association (AFA), Lane has organized political briefings with appearances by fundamentalist pastors such as David Barton and politicians such as Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann and Haley Barbour. In his behind-the-scenes work for right-wing politics, Lane has been described by The New York Times as "something of a stealth weapon for the right".
Funded largely by the American Family Association (AFA), Lane has organized political briefings with appearances by fundamentalist pastors such as David Barton and politicians such as Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann and Haley Barbour. In his behind-the-scenes work for right-wing politics, Lane has been described by The New York Times as "something of a stealth weapon for the right".
David Lane Files
"God’s enemies—Big Business, Big Tech, Bud Light, Fortune 500, and Big Biden--venerate the golden calves of multiculturalism, political correctness and secularism as they incite instability in the culture, whip up division between races, and promote political upheaval. Deifying wokeism, Critical Race Theory, DEI [diversity, equity, inclusion], and radical environmentalism, the State’s sacrosanct sacraments include abortion, “anti-racism” struggle sessions, vaccines, and obsessive recycling.
As individual freedoms wane, government mandates and edicts are now viewed as the ultimate source of authority. American Christendom meanwhile cowers behind the four walls of the church building, giving center stage to butts, buildings, and budgets instead of getting involved in the culture. Yet it would seem that a focus to ascertain God’s model for cultural transformation would be deemed essential for a healthy church." --David Lane: Charisma: Like Martin Luther, Today’s Believers Must Destroy Golden Calves; May 28, 2023
As individual freedoms wane, government mandates and edicts are now viewed as the ultimate source of authority. American Christendom meanwhile cowers behind the four walls of the church building, giving center stage to butts, buildings, and budgets instead of getting involved in the culture. Yet it would seem that a focus to ascertain God’s model for cultural transformation would be deemed essential for a healthy church." --David Lane: Charisma: Like Martin Luther, Today’s Believers Must Destroy Golden Calves; May 28, 2023
Dec 14, 2022: The Independent: Evangelicals may be turning away from Trump, but Christian nationalism isn’t going anywhere
David Lane, the leader of the American Renewal Project, which is dedicated to mobilising evangelical pastors to run for office, wrote in an email to some 70,000 evangelicals following the midterm elections that Trump’s original “mission and the message are now subordinate to personal grievances and self-importance.”
David Lane, the leader of the American Renewal Project, which is dedicated to mobilising evangelical pastors to run for office, wrote in an email to some 70,000 evangelicals following the midterm elections that Trump’s original “mission and the message are now subordinate to personal grievances and self-importance.”
==becky laney======
Becky Laney is a reader who has a background in English literature and library science. Laney has a BA and MA in English literature from Texas Woman’s University. She has a MLS degree from Texas Woman’s University. Her specialization is children’s and young adult literature. She says "this is my calling in life to promote the love of reading, the love of books, to connect books with readers, to encourage lifelong reading habits." She writes at Becky's Book Reviews, Young Readers, and and Operation Actually Read Bible.
Becky Laney
When we give into "vain imaginations," when we neglect to "bring into captivity" our [natural] thoughts, we set ourselves up for trouble.
In our imaginations we often rewrite things our own way:
We rewrite who we were, who we are, who we are going to be.
--Becky Laney: Operation Actually Read the Bible: Vain Imaginations 9.15.18
In our imaginations we often rewrite things our own way:
We rewrite who we were, who we are, who we are going to be.
- We rewrite who God is and what he is like.
- We rewrite what we need, what we expect, what we DESERVE.
- We rewrite relationships: how we relate to each other and how we relate to God.
- We rewrite priorities. We make big things little and little things big.
- We rewrite definitions and truths.
- We rewrite "good" and "evil." Isaiah 5:20
- We dismiss the realities we don't like and thrive upon fantasies.
--Becky Laney: Operation Actually Read the Bible: Vain Imaginations 9.15.18
===james lankford=====
GOP senator condemns ‘hateful’ Fuentes rhetoric
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) condemned the “hateful rhetoric” of far-right nationalist Nick Fuentes, who, the senator said, does not represent the values of the Republican Party. In an interview Sunday on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” moderator Kristen Welker asked the conservative senator about a recent interview that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson conducted with Fuentes, calling the far-right figure “a white nationalist” who “has expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler.” Lankford, a devout Christian who was a minister before his election to the Senate, said the country’s history of accepting people of all religions can be traced back to former President Washington, who wrote to a Jewish congregation in 1790, “to what he called the ‘children of the stock of Abraham,’ that they would live in peace with the people around them. They would live under their own vine, their own fig tree, and not be afraid,” Lankford said. (The Hill 11/10/25) READMORE>>>>>
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) condemned the “hateful rhetoric” of far-right nationalist Nick Fuentes, who, the senator said, does not represent the values of the Republican Party. In an interview Sunday on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” moderator Kristen Welker asked the conservative senator about a recent interview that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson conducted with Fuentes, calling the far-right figure “a white nationalist” who “has expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler.” Lankford, a devout Christian who was a minister before his election to the Senate, said the country’s history of accepting people of all religions can be traced back to former President Washington, who wrote to a Jewish congregation in 1790, “to what he called the ‘children of the stock of Abraham,’ that they would live in peace with the people around them. They would live under their own vine, their own fig tree, and not be afraid,” Lankford said. (The Hill 11/10/25) READMORE>>>>>
==susie larson======
Christian Devotional Books: 10 Faith-Based Daily Companions
Waking Up to the Goodness of God by Susie Larson: Inevitable disappointments and unmet expectations can leave us feeling lost, frustrated and doubtful. That's why bestselling author and Bible teacher Susie Larson created this 40-day guide to lift readers' spirits with heart-mending Scripture, practical tips and ways to recognize the blessings all around us. Larson takes us on a spiritual journey that cultivates new habits and reminds us that God keeps His promises. When you feel let down, stressed or anxious, you can lean on God's goodness to restore true peace! What readers are saying: "This is an engaging devotional that will keep you inspired and anticipating God's goodness each day. I look forward to each morning now with holy expectancy instead of just bracing for impact." (MSN 7/2/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Waking Up to the Goodness of God by Susie Larson: Inevitable disappointments and unmet expectations can leave us feeling lost, frustrated and doubtful. That's why bestselling author and Bible teacher Susie Larson created this 40-day guide to lift readers' spirits with heart-mending Scripture, practical tips and ways to recognize the blessings all around us. Larson takes us on a spiritual journey that cultivates new habits and reminds us that God keeps His promises. When you feel let down, stressed or anxious, you can lean on God's goodness to restore true peace! What readers are saying: "This is an engaging devotional that will keep you inspired and anticipating God's goodness each day. I look forward to each morning now with holy expectancy instead of just bracing for impact." (MSN 7/2/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==barbara latta======
Barbara Latta is a freelance writer with southern roots. She grew up in Arkansas and several addresses later, home is in middle Georgia. She is a member of the Conyers, Georgia chapter of Word Weavers International and is a graduate of the Christian Writers Guild Apprentice program. She completed the first year of study at Charis Bible College in Colorado and is a current student of the Israel Bible Center. She is a contributor to Christian Devotions, Refresh Magazine, CBN.com, and Living by Design. Her articles have appeared in Georgia EMC magazine, The Upson Beacon, The Glenwood Herald, and she currently writes a monthly column in the Pike-Journal Reporter. Barbara has also contributed to the anthologies Pens in the Piedmont, More Christmas Moments, Stupid Moments, Loving Moments, Abba's Promise, and The Power to Make a Difference. Her book, God's Maps, Stories of Inspiration and Direction for Motorcycle Riders was published in 2018.
Paul prayed this prayer for the Ephesians and all believers to receive wisdom and revelation.
After Solomon was anointed king over Israel, he asked Jehovah for wisdom to administer justice among the people (1 Kings 3:9).
We face opportunities to make decisions every day. Some are more important than others, but our response makes a difference in the outcome. We need godly wisdom to avoid emotional and sometimes physical disasters.
---Barbara Latta: Crosswalk: 9 Prayers in the Bible and What They Mean to Us
After Solomon was anointed king over Israel, he asked Jehovah for wisdom to administer justice among the people (1 Kings 3:9).
We face opportunities to make decisions every day. Some are more important than others, but our response makes a difference in the outcome. We need godly wisdom to avoid emotional and sometimes physical disasters.
---Barbara Latta: Crosswalk: 9 Prayers in the Bible and What They Mean to Us
==mike law=====
Mike Law, prior to serving as the Senior Pastor of Arlington Baptist Church, Mike Law Jr. served as the planting pastor of a local church in Northern Virginia and as a Pastoral Assistant to Mark Dever at Capitol Hill Baptist Church. Mike was privileged to grow up in a Christian home and recalls sitting under a preacher as a child and being convinced of his sin and need for a Savior. Mike’s mother first thought he would enter the ministry when he was suspended from the public school bus at age 8 for sharing the gospel, but it wasn’t until he was studying Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland that he was compelled to serve the Lord in full-time ministry. Mike is a graduate of the Reformed Theological Seminary (DC)
The SBC Will Sell Insurance, Retirement to Women Pastors — If They Aren’t Southern Baptists
GuideStone, which provides insurance and retirement plans to pastors, is an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, which last summer passed a constitutional amendment that bars member churches from having women in any pastoral role. That amendment, first proposed by Mike Law, an SBC pastor from Virginia, must be confirmed in 2024 to take effect... Law told RNS that the Bible, not the amendment he backs, bars women from the pastorate. However, he did not see the amendment affecting GuideStone’s work. “God limits the pastorate to men in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, not an amendment,” said Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia. “The proposed constitutional amendment addresses which churches may send Messengers to the SBC’s annual meeting. It does not address who GuideStone serves, that decision is left to the trustees of GuideStone.”(Word & Way 1/10/24) Read More>>>>>
GuideStone, which provides insurance and retirement plans to pastors, is an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, which last summer passed a constitutional amendment that bars member churches from having women in any pastoral role. That amendment, first proposed by Mike Law, an SBC pastor from Virginia, must be confirmed in 2024 to take effect... Law told RNS that the Bible, not the amendment he backs, bars women from the pastorate. However, he did not see the amendment affecting GuideStone’s work. “God limits the pastorate to men in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, not an amendment,” said Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia. “The proposed constitutional amendment addresses which churches may send Messengers to the SBC’s annual meeting. It does not address who GuideStone serves, that decision is left to the trustees of GuideStone.”(Word & Way 1/10/24) Read More>>>>>
March 24, 2023: Christian Post: Docs show churches paid up to $100K to be part of Hillsong Family, an alleged honorarium scheme
“Many have claimed that female pastors in the SBC is not a growing problem, but the data says otherwise,” begins a page on the website created to promote the constitutional amendment proposed by Mike Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Va.
“Many have claimed that female pastors in the SBC is not a growing problem, but the data says otherwise,” begins a page on the website created to promote the constitutional amendment proposed by Mike Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Va.
July 14, 2023: Christian Headlines: J.D. Greear Supports National African American Fellowships' Challenge of SBC's Ban on Woman Pastors
During the 2023 Annual Meeting in June, SBC messengers voted by a two-thirds majority in approval of a constitutional amendment sponsored by Mike Law, senior pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia, declaring that SBC-affiliated churches "affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture."
During the 2023 Annual Meeting in June, SBC messengers voted by a two-thirds majority in approval of a constitutional amendment sponsored by Mike Law, senior pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia, declaring that SBC-affiliated churches "affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture."
June 30, 2023: Christian Post: Elevation Church withdraws affiliation with Southern Baptist Convention
The amendment proposed by Virginia Pastor Mike Law of Arlington Baptist Church will become permanent if it gains majority support at the SBC annual meeting in 2024, according to the SBC Constitution.
The amendment proposed by Virginia Pastor Mike Law of Arlington Baptist Church will become permanent if it gains majority support at the SBC annual meeting in 2024, according to the SBC Constitution.
==lanny lawler======
Feb 28, 2023: The Herald Bulletin: Saving the Sacred: Indiana church closings cause real estate concerns
In July, Rev. Lanny Lawler, the church’s pastor from 2004 to 2015, called the closing “bittersweet.”
“It’s always sad when a congregation closes its visible ministry,” he said.
In July, Rev. Lanny Lawler, the church’s pastor from 2004 to 2015, called the closing “bittersweet.”
“It’s always sad when a congregation closes its visible ministry,” he said.
==paul Lawler======
Christ Church United Methodist (Memphis)
There is No Holiness but Social Holiness
Why Did John Wesley Say, “No Holiness But Social Holiness?” John Wesley was a theologian who founded the Methodist movement in the 18th century. He believed that the Christian faith should not only be practiced individually but also in community with others. This idea is encapsulated in his famous phrase, “there’s no holiness but social holiness.”
Wesley’s penned words emphasize the importance of social holiness, stating that “true religion was never designed to be confined to solitary retirement or narrow, selfish circles.” He explained that holiness is not just a personal matter but also a social one, requiring Christians to unite and help each other grow in faith.
The phrase “there’s no holiness, but social holiness” became a well-known and oft-quoted expression of Wesley’s emphasis on the importance of Christian community and accountability.
Why Did John Wesley Say, “No Holiness But Social Holiness?” John Wesley was a theologian who founded the Methodist movement in the 18th century. He believed that the Christian faith should not only be practiced individually but also in community with others. This idea is encapsulated in his famous phrase, “there’s no holiness but social holiness.”
Wesley’s penned words emphasize the importance of social holiness, stating that “true religion was never designed to be confined to solitary retirement or narrow, selfish circles.” He explained that holiness is not just a personal matter but also a social one, requiring Christians to unite and help each other grow in faith.
The phrase “there’s no holiness, but social holiness” became a well-known and oft-quoted expression of Wesley’s emphasis on the importance of Christian community and accountability.
==bennet arrron lawrence======
77% of World’s Evangelicals from Global South: Dr Bennet Lawrence
Today significant shifts are happening in Christianity, said Dr Bennet Arrren Lawrence, Regional Secretary of Asia Theology Association India. This is in relation to Church history where he explained that going back to the beginning, the first church was established in Jerusalem in the Middle East, later moving to Europe, then to the United States (US). Considering the current shifts in culture, he highlighted the data put out by the World Evangelical Alliance that at present 77% of Evangelicals in the world are living in the Global South. The Global South in broad terms is referred to developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. As such, Dr Lawrence called upon individuals and leaders in Nagaland to prepare for shouldering the responsibilities of the Church. “We are at a crucial juncture as we see key individuals and leaders moving towards us, we need to shoulder these responsibilities, it is our responsibility to shoulder the Church,” he said.
(Morung Express 5/5/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Today significant shifts are happening in Christianity, said Dr Bennet Arrren Lawrence, Regional Secretary of Asia Theology Association India. This is in relation to Church history where he explained that going back to the beginning, the first church was established in Jerusalem in the Middle East, later moving to Europe, then to the United States (US). Considering the current shifts in culture, he highlighted the data put out by the World Evangelical Alliance that at present 77% of Evangelicals in the world are living in the Global South. The Global South in broad terms is referred to developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. As such, Dr Lawrence called upon individuals and leaders in Nagaland to prepare for shouldering the responsibilities of the Church. “We are at a crucial juncture as we see key individuals and leaders moving towards us, we need to shoulder these responsibilities, it is our responsibility to shoulder the Church,” he said.
(Morung Express 5/5/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==steve lawson======
A Christian’s Response to Pastor Lawson’s Moral Failure
In September 2024 Pastor Steve Lawson was swiftly removed from his church in Dallas, Texas after it was discovered that he had an “inappropriate relationship” with a woman.2 The details were murky. In the absence of substantive explanations, social media filled up with speculation and gossip. Pastor Lawson was the very last person anyone expected to suffer such a “moral failing.” The adoption of terms like “moral failing” and “inappropriate relationship” as the go-to descriptors when a public figure is discovered sinning suggests a measurable decline for American Christianity. Biblical words like “sin,” “adultery,” and “fornication” have so fallen out of fashion even in the church that anodyne words like “failing,” “struggle,” and “inappropriate,” more fitting for the peccadillos of Hollywood celebrities, have replaced them. But these terms, especially “moral failing,” leave a lot to be desired. One problem is that they don’t come from the Scriptures. The Bible calls us to be holy, to reflect, by following the perfect law, God’s character in the world. This impossible task drives the sinner to the cross for mercy and salvation.(Christian Research Institute 10/12/24) READMORE>>>>>
In September 2024 Pastor Steve Lawson was swiftly removed from his church in Dallas, Texas after it was discovered that he had an “inappropriate relationship” with a woman.2 The details were murky. In the absence of substantive explanations, social media filled up with speculation and gossip. Pastor Lawson was the very last person anyone expected to suffer such a “moral failing.” The adoption of terms like “moral failing” and “inappropriate relationship” as the go-to descriptors when a public figure is discovered sinning suggests a measurable decline for American Christianity. Biblical words like “sin,” “adultery,” and “fornication” have so fallen out of fashion even in the church that anodyne words like “failing,” “struggle,” and “inappropriate,” more fitting for the peccadillos of Hollywood celebrities, have replaced them. But these terms, especially “moral failing,” leave a lot to be desired. One problem is that they don’t come from the Scriptures. The Bible calls us to be holy, to reflect, by following the perfect law, God’s character in the world. This impossible task drives the sinner to the cross for mercy and salvation.(Christian Research Institute 10/12/24) READMORE>>>>>
==Deborah Layton======
Nobody joins a cult. You join a self-help group, a religious movement, a political organization. They change so gradually, by the time you realize you’re entrapped – and almost everybody does – you can’t figure a safe way back out. Deborah Layton joined the Peoples Temple in Northern California when she was 18 years old, and eventually became a trusted aid to Jim Jones, the group’s charismatic leader.
In her memoir, Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor’s Story of Life and Death in the People’s Temple, she describes how she fell for the answers Jones seemed to offer, and eventually found herself involved in the upper levels of his organization.Faced with increasing media scrutiny based upon allegations by former members, Jones in 1977 moved his followers — including Deborah — to Guyana. Jones promised them a tropical paradise, free from the supposed wickedness of the outside world.
But when she arrived, Layton saw that something was seriously wrong. The settlement of the ‘Peoples Temple Agricultural Project’ — informally known as Jonestown — was surrounded by armed guards. Food was scarce and members were forced to work long hours and follow rigid codes of behavior. She also noticed that Jones became increasingly delusional and dictatorial.
By May 1978, Deborah Layton was ready to make her escape. Four weeks later she submitted a 37-point affidavit about the compound in Guyana, which helped convince United States Congressman Leo Ryan to make his journey there to investigate claims that people were being held there against their will.
Six months later tragedy struck.
On November 17, 1978, Leo Ryan, a Congressman from the San Francisco area investigating claims of abuse within the Peoples Temple, visited Jonestown. During this visit, a number of Temple members expressed a desire to leave with the Congressman, and, on the afternoon of November 18, these members accompanied Ryan to the local airstrip at Port Kaituma. There, they were intercepted by Temple security guards who opened fire on the group, killing Congressman Ryan, three journalists, and one of the Temple defectors. A few seconds of gunfire from the incident were captured on video by Bob Brown, one of the journalists killed in the attack.
On the evening of November 18, in Jonestown, Jones ordered his congregation to drink a concoction of cyanide-laced, grape-flavored Flavor Aid.
– Source: Peoples Temple, Wikipedia. Cited on Sunday, May 24, 2015 – 10:37 AM CET
A total of 918 people, including 276 children, died in the organized mass murder/suicide — the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a deliberate act until the events of September 11, 2001.
It was a tragedy Layton had predicted with eerie accuracy.
Seductive Poison, reads like a thriller, but it is a true story — presented with scrupulous honesty and thoughtfulness. It is generally considered the most important personal testimony to emerge from the Jonestown tragedy.
In his review of the book, Dr. Philip Zimbardo said
Deborah Layton takes us behind the scenes in her chillingly brilliant memoir of her adolescent descent into his hell and her ascent years later as the woman courageous enough to expose this evil to the world. Her privileged status as a trusted inner circle member – responsible for depositing millions of dollars in foreign banks – gives her story an untold perspective on this charismatic leader and the transformations of human nature that took place among so many followers under his domination. Layton’s is a remarkable narrative that reads like a novel, but sadly is all too true.
This mesmerizing, well-written story shows how people from any background — regardless of race, culture, class, or education — can fall prey to the seductive poison of cult leaders and their cults.
--Apologetics Index; Nobody Joins A Cult
In her memoir, Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor’s Story of Life and Death in the People’s Temple, she describes how she fell for the answers Jones seemed to offer, and eventually found herself involved in the upper levels of his organization.Faced with increasing media scrutiny based upon allegations by former members, Jones in 1977 moved his followers — including Deborah — to Guyana. Jones promised them a tropical paradise, free from the supposed wickedness of the outside world.
But when she arrived, Layton saw that something was seriously wrong. The settlement of the ‘Peoples Temple Agricultural Project’ — informally known as Jonestown — was surrounded by armed guards. Food was scarce and members were forced to work long hours and follow rigid codes of behavior. She also noticed that Jones became increasingly delusional and dictatorial.
By May 1978, Deborah Layton was ready to make her escape. Four weeks later she submitted a 37-point affidavit about the compound in Guyana, which helped convince United States Congressman Leo Ryan to make his journey there to investigate claims that people were being held there against their will.
Six months later tragedy struck.
On November 17, 1978, Leo Ryan, a Congressman from the San Francisco area investigating claims of abuse within the Peoples Temple, visited Jonestown. During this visit, a number of Temple members expressed a desire to leave with the Congressman, and, on the afternoon of November 18, these members accompanied Ryan to the local airstrip at Port Kaituma. There, they were intercepted by Temple security guards who opened fire on the group, killing Congressman Ryan, three journalists, and one of the Temple defectors. A few seconds of gunfire from the incident were captured on video by Bob Brown, one of the journalists killed in the attack.
On the evening of November 18, in Jonestown, Jones ordered his congregation to drink a concoction of cyanide-laced, grape-flavored Flavor Aid.
– Source: Peoples Temple, Wikipedia. Cited on Sunday, May 24, 2015 – 10:37 AM CET
A total of 918 people, including 276 children, died in the organized mass murder/suicide — the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a deliberate act until the events of September 11, 2001.
It was a tragedy Layton had predicted with eerie accuracy.
Seductive Poison, reads like a thriller, but it is a true story — presented with scrupulous honesty and thoughtfulness. It is generally considered the most important personal testimony to emerge from the Jonestown tragedy.
In his review of the book, Dr. Philip Zimbardo said
Deborah Layton takes us behind the scenes in her chillingly brilliant memoir of her adolescent descent into his hell and her ascent years later as the woman courageous enough to expose this evil to the world. Her privileged status as a trusted inner circle member – responsible for depositing millions of dollars in foreign banks – gives her story an untold perspective on this charismatic leader and the transformations of human nature that took place among so many followers under his domination. Layton’s is a remarkable narrative that reads like a novel, but sadly is all too true.
This mesmerizing, well-written story shows how people from any background — regardless of race, culture, class, or education — can fall prey to the seductive poison of cult leaders and their cults.
--Apologetics Index; Nobody Joins A Cult
