OUT OF SCIENTOLOGY AND INTO...?

In the last week or two, there has been some interesting news that caught my attention and perhaps yours as well. On Thursday, April 17^th, the Church of Scientology made the news with the announcement of television star Jason Beghe declaring publicly his leaving the church. He has been featured in numerous TV dramas such as "Criminal Minds," "Numb3rs" and "CSI." [1a]

In 2005, he appeared in promotional spots for the Church of Scientology. But now, Beghe has escaped the church after taking courses since 1994. He’s made a video that’s up on Google Video. He had this to say: "Scientology is destructive and a rip-off." [1b] And I have this to say: “No duh!!” If you are a true student of the Bible, that should also be your answer! Of course the cults are destructive and rip offs! Let alone far from the truth! I was glad to see that finally someone opened their eyes and saw this, and all the other false religions, for what they truly are,….FALSE! The question is: where will Jason and the others that have come out of this organization go to? While I commend Jason in his "coming out", I am left to wonder if he, or any of the others, will come to find that which they are seeking? Let us hope and pray that God will send someone to reach out and minister to their lives with the real truth and thereby reaching the ultimate goal, to be with our creator forever praising and worshiping Him!

Jason Beghe was an OT 5, similar in level to Tom Cruise and John Travolta, to name some of the other more famous proponents of Scientology. OT stands for Operating Thetan. A Thetan is their word for a person, who, according to their beliefs “is an immortal spiritual being who possesses a mind and a body”. Prime among Scientology's beliefs is "that man is a spiritual being whose existence spans more than one life and who is endowed with abilities well beyond those which he normally considers he possesses." Scientology believes man to be basically good, that his experiences have led him into evil, that he errs because he seeks to solve his problems by considering only his own point of view, and that man can improve to the degree he preserves his spiritual integrity and remains honest and decent. According to the Church, the ultimate goal is: "a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights." [2] Now, that sounds familiar. This type of belief is not at all unique among the many false religions and cults that have come into existence. It shouldn’t be a surprise since Scientology is like a smorgasbord of rehashed lies and human thinking. Scientology borrows on the theories of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and William Sargant; and is influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and even Gnosticism.[3]

The Church of Scientology is not to be confused with The Church of Christ Scientist. This other so called “church” was founded by a woman named Mary Baxter Eddy following a personal healing in 1866, which she claimed happened after reading the Bible. In contrast, the founder of Scientology was a former speculative fiction author named L. Ron Hubbard. In 1952 he developed Scientology teachings as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics.[4] Interestingly enough, Scientology began as a business and entered into the religious category simply by renaming and reorganizing itself. Here is evidence that just about anything can become a “church”, regardless of its message!
I truly hope that the light of the Gospel finds its way into the lives of these and others that are seeking the Truth! It is very sad to realize that today, even the true church of Christ finds itself with a battle from within, struggling with these very same ideologies and beliefs that have now infiltrated the very same institution that at one time led the charge against such lies and deceptions!

While it is partially true that us “thetans” are immortal, we have not received that immortality yet. This will become a reality when we as believers in Christ will all be “changed, - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.” [1 Cor. 15: 51-54]

Regretfully, L. Ron Hubbard and his Church of Scientology, will be of any use to anyone when the Day of the Lord comes! You see, L. Ron Hubbard did not choose to build his foundation on solid ground, but rather in sinking sand!


4/26/2008
James

PS - [1 Thes. 4:15-18]
(15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.


Footnotes:

1a & 1b – Fox News [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351287,00.html]
2, 3, & 4 – Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia

A HOLY VISIT??

This past week America was filled with excitement because Pope Benedict XVI came for a six day visit. America seemed in need of a “holy” visit, was the mindset of many. Faithful Catholics made their pilgrimage to New York in order to catch a glimpse of the Pope. Many of those that made the trip and attended Sunday’s Mass at Yankee Stadium were young Catholics from all over the country.

A group of 65 high school students from Northridge Prep School in the Chicago suburbs could not find lodging upon arriving in New York, so they ended up sleeping on the floor of a parish hall in Manhattan. One of the young boys stated that “sleeping on the hard concrete floor” wasn’t that bad, and that he wasn’t complaining. It was a sacrifice he was willing to endure.

Another youth, a 16 year old young lady from Queens New York, was also there with her school group. She, on the other hand, is sort of walking the fence between liberal and conservative. She agrees with the church teaching against abortion, but cannot accept its stand against homosexuality. It’s not hard to see why, since her sister happens to be a lesbian. Her parents are upset over this and she feels caught in the middle. Nevertheless, she tries to live out her faith by volunteering at nursing homes, making paperclip angels for residents and giving them someone to talk to. Some of her classmates believe in the totality of Catholic teaching. But she said most are like her: trying to square their faith with their life experiences. "We are asked basically to follow Jesus and do what he did, and I understand that," she said "But it's hard nowadays. We try to do the best we can."

For all these faithful masses that have sacrificed time and effort into coming together to be a part of a historic event such as this, it cannot all be in vain, can it? I mean, watching the news on TV and seeing these people being interviewed, many of them with only a couple of hours of sleep, was inspiring. They must at least deserve or have earned some “feathers” on their “angel wings”. The sincerity and the genuine joy they were experiencing is something to be commended! Surely the Holy Father would put in a “good word” before God and made sure that these faithful servants would be guaranteed a free pass into the kingdom, and perhaps reserved seats for them in the “Celestial Hall” of Heaven. I guess doing “the best we can” should be a good enough reason for God to say; “OK, you guys did the best you could and so I have no choice but to let you into heaven”. I regret to say that that is not the case.

No one can guarantee our entrance into heaven, but God’s Son, Jesus Christ himself! Pope Benedict XVI cannot do or say anything to get anyone into heaven. He cannot even get himself in if he doesn’t put his trust in Christ for his own salvation! But wait, you say, isn’t the Pope the holiest man around? Shouldn’t he be able to get himself in? Look at all the wonderful things he stands for, the hope that he gives to many, his effort of building “bridges of friendship” among the many religions and ethnic groups. It is a message of peace and hope! He wants everyone to get along! Stop the fighting, stop the hunger, stop the inhumanities and stop the atrocities! Isn’t that what we all want? Isn’t that what being religious is all about?

Probably, if you simply want to be religious, the answer is yes. The question should be whether religion is the vehicle to heaven and eternal life. And that answer is a resounding NO!! It amazes me that many of our so called Christian leaders are echoing the same words as Pope Benedict XVI. Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, is heading an initiative called The P.E.A.C.E. Plan. PEACE stands for Promote reconciliation, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick, Educate the next generation. I don’t see anything about leading people to Christ because they need salvation because we have all “fallen short of the glory of God”. Pastor Warren’s plan is to “involve every Christian and every church in every nation in the task of serving people in the areas of the greatest global needs” (emphasis mine). The “greatest global need”....isn’t that salvation??!! The greatest “sickness” that plagues our planet is SIN! Apparently Pastor Warren, and others that share the same vision, don’t think so.

I have an initiative plan for Pastor Warren, the Pope and all the other religious leaders! It’s called G.P.S.! It simply means Go Preach Salvation! Letting others know that JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY and that He, and only He, can come into our hearts and rule! That is the Holy visit that America needs! A permanent visit from the Most High!

May God have mercy on us all!!


4/24/2008
James

A TIME FOR.....

These past few weeks, or maybe I should say months, have been very stressful and hectic for sure!
The most significant being the illness and death of my youngest sister, Nina. She was admitted into the hospital around the second week of February with no feeling in her legs. On the same day she was admitted, she went into cardiac arrest and into a comma from which she never recovered. She was diagnosed with a very rare syndrome called Guillian Barre Syndrome. This syndrome is usually triggered by some type of respiratory infection or stomach flu. Most people do recover, but there is that less than 5% chance that can be fatal. My sister fell in that unfortunate category! She passed away on March 22, 2008, during one of the most important celebrations of the Christian faith, Easter! After all the sorrow and mourning that took place, I am finally able to take time to do some reflection on all that has happened.

I am reminded of what King Solomon penned in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verses 1-8.

1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born,
And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

In this world of ours, we are constantly faced with inevitable things and events. Some are pleasant in nature, some are very unpleasant. The spectrum of emotions can easily go from one end to the other. When we really think about it, there really is a season or an appointed time for everything! We can easily see this in the four seasons of the year; spring, summer, fall and winter. In each of the seasons there is a particular time to do certain things, especially in agriculture. Although, there are certain events that have a specific time frame or timetable, death is not one of them. Death can come at an unexpected time, but still, there is an appointed time for it, even though we might not be aware of it, God is totally aware of it. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." For us as human beings, we have no control over when and how we are born, nor when or how we will die. If anything, I have come to understand that one of the certainties of life, is death.

Death has a way of bringing fear into our lives, and very well so. It is one of the many things which we cannot control. And because of the unknown, we fear it and have a tendency to avoid conversations or topics that deal with it. Can you blame us? After all, it is a normal reaction. We were made to be eternal beings, but because of sin, the immortal became mortal. There is a hope, one that Paul mentions with great joy to the church of Corinth, after having gone over in detail, the importance and reality of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:57-58;

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I especially like verse 57 myself! I do not know what God has in store for anyone of us or how He can turn mourning into laughter, but I do know that His promises are true and that "all things work toward good for those that trust in Christ Jesus"! Emphasis on the ALL!!

Yes, it wasn't a time that I or any family member enjoys going through, "but thanks be to God" that He has defeated death and as His children, there is no need to fear any longer! But even in death, some good can still be found. We just don't know exactly how and when. But rest assured, it will be coming!

May He be glorified in ALL things and through ALL!!

James
4/15/2008

WHO'S YOUR SUSIE?? - Inspirational Story # 5

WET PANTS

Come with me to a third grade classroom.....

There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, “Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat.”

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap.

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!”

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. “You've done enough, you klutz!”

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, “You did that on purpose, didn't you?” Susie whispers back, “I wet my pants once too.”

~~ source unknown ~~

May God help us to see the opportunities all around us!
JL

PS - Who's your Susie?? : )