Index CCN The Church Communication Network
CCN The Church Communication Network
Sample Testimonials
Why The Concern with CCN?
Speakers, Topics and Partners Lead Like Jesus
Lead Like Jesus
Testimonials
Three Simulcasts
Other Speakers John Ortberg
John Ortberg
Ruth Haley Barton
The Shalem Institute Laurie Beth Jones
Who is Laurie Beth Jones?
Best Selling Author
Jesus CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom For Visionary Leadership.
Jesus in Blue Jeans: A Practical Guide to Everyday Spirituality
Review of Laurie Beth Jones’ Four [Pagan] Elements of Success CCN The Church Communication Network From their website… “Church Communication Network (CCN) was incorporated in December, 1998. CCN's pilot simulcast, a training seminar featuring Steve Farrar, was broadcast in September, 1999” . “Bill Dallas, President and CEO of CCN, developed the concept of a nationwide network of church downlinks.. Regular subscriber broadcasts were launched in March, 2000, to a fledgling network of 125 churches… In 2003, CCN broadcast over 30 programs to 1800 subscribers… CCN's growing network of subscriber churches learn together from the best Christian communicators. The original vision for Christian satellite training has become a virtual community of local churches across North America that are being equipped for ministry through CCN broadcasts”. [http://www.ccn.tv/about/history.htm]
Simulcast is a contraction of "simultaneous broadcast", and refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Virgin Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often simulcast on both BBC Radio 3 and BBC Television. [From Wikipedia] The number of subscribers is now up to 2500, but non-subscribers can receive CCN broadcasts on a pay-per-view basis. Interestingly… “CCN's training is interactive. Presenters are available to answer questions in real time during the Q&A segment of broadcasts”. Questions are submitted via email (or by fax or phone) during the broadcast. [http://www.ccn.tv/about/whyccn.htm]
The individual church or organization can sell tickets to CCN Satellite programs or may offer the simulcast as a free event. Sample Testimonials [http://www.ccn.tv/about/testimonials.htm] From Subscribers “CCN is the best educational investment I have made for any congregation in twenty-four years of full-time vocational ministry.”
Larry Morrison, Minister of Education, First Baptist Church, Enterprise , Alabama “You just can’t beat the value in what you will receive from CCN.”
Maurice Gillard, Pastor, Waterdown Alliance, Waterdown, Ontario “You promised good programs and you delivered and then some!”
Garth Greer, Youth Pastor Barrington Baptist Barrington, RI
From Speakers “CCN is an indispensable ministry tool! You can equip your leadership, train your congregation and reach the unchurched through creative, interactive satellite programs. Bring top-flight speakers with high-quality content directly to your church via CCN’s low-cost network.” Lee Strobel author, The Case for Christ “CCN has devoted itself to making high-level development available to every church at the click of a remote control. I know of no other resource that combines accessibility and value-added ministry so effectively.” John Ortberg author, Everybody’s Normal Until You Get to Know Them.
Why The Concern with CCN? Remember that there are now 2500 subscribers (the numbers are growing), each subscriber representing who knows how many hundreds of people who attend the events. . “The 2004 Lead Like Jesus Conference in Louisville, Kentucky was attended by close to four thousand people and watched by satellite by thousands more” [Ingrid Schlueter. Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy is Destroying the Church]. While I am sure there have to be quite a few simulcasts that are valuable, there is plenty of dross mixed in. Consider … Speakers, Topics and Partners Some of the speakers who have appeared on CCN are George Barna, Erwin McManus, Bill Hybels, Bruce Wilkinson, Max Lucado, T. D. Jakes, Mike Yaconelli, Brian McLaren, Leonard Sweet, Dr. James Dobson, Ken Blanchard, Peter Wagner (who spoke in June 2000 on the ‘New Apostolic Reformation’) and Rick Warren. [http://www.ccn.tv/about/allspeakers.htm] For about $1,495 per annum ($129 per month) listeners can tune into live events with topics that “focus on key areas of interest and need in today's churches” and include Church Growth and Development, Small Groups, Women’s Ministry, Ultimate Leadership, Marketplace Ministry etc. Some of CCN partners include Campus Crusade, Barna Research Group, Focus on The Family, Fuller Theological Seminary, Alpha, Christianity Today, World Vision, Willow Creek, Joni and Friends, Christian Research Institute and, surprisingly, Reasons to Believe. Lead Like Jesus Perhaps one of the best known programs broadcast (also called a celebration) by CCN is Lead Like Jesus, which was co-founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges in 1999. “After studying both the theory and practice of leadership for more than 35 years, I have found that Jesus is the greatest leadership model of all times.” Ken Blanchard [Co-founder, The Center for Faithwalk Leadership and Co-author, The One-Minute Manager]
“The stated purpose of the conferences is to help people become leaders by following the leadership habits of Jesus Christ. The purpose is not one of evangelism, but rather teaching the traits of Jesus to help others achieve personal success…” Remember that “Jesus as a leadership role model is offensive to nobody. It is Jesus as Redeemer that is the stumbling block to a dying world. ” [Ingrid Schlueter. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy is Destroying the Church] The CCN site says.. “The first Lead Like Jesus Celebration Simulcast on November 20, 2003 , motivated and inspired participants to look into their lives and become more like Jesus in their leadership. The second Lead Like Jesus Celebration on April 29, 2004 , will build on this foundation and go even deeper into the model of servant leadership. For a follower of Jesus, servant leadership isn't just an option; it's a mandate. A leader is anyone who has influence over another - whether in a church, a workplace, a family, a group or a team. Each individual has different spheres of influence and the Lead Like Jesus Celebration is for everyone! Lead Like Jesus will equip you, your church, and your community to experience Jesus in a powerfully different way -- to grow to trust Him as the perfect leader for all time.” [http://www.ccn.tv/programming/event/evt_29apr04.htm]
Testimonials “Given the near complete absence of emphasis and concern over sound doctrine in evangelical churches today, is it any surprise that conferences like this are allowing a platform for New Spirituality proponents within the heart of once Bible preaching churches? During the famous Downgrade Controversy among believers in England in the 1870's, famous London preacher Charles H. Spurgeon took a courageous stand for sound doctrine in the face of false teaching that was coming into the Baptist churches of his day. Today, pastors like Max Lucado invite the false teachers into their churches to teach Christians how to “Lead Like Jesus”. We've come a long way, baby”. [Ingrid Schlueter. Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy is Destroying the Church].
Here is a no surprise testimonial from Rick Warren “Lead Like Jesus celebration - For a follower of Jesus, servant leadership isn't an option ... it's a mandate! Lead Like Jesus will inspire and equip you, your congregation, and your community to experience Jesus in a powerfully different way - as the perfect leader for all time. Lead Like Jesus celebration - April 29, 2004 - Live from Spartanburg, S.C. You can bring this event into your church via satellite. Hosted by Ken Blanchard and Bill Hybels with a special video message from Rick Warren. Also featured: Dan Cathy, Rosey Grier, and Laurie Beth Jones.” [http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/?ID=146]
(Rick Warren had this to say about the Lead Like Jesus book) “One of our world’s great problems is ego-centric, self-serving leadership – leaders who think people exist for their benefit, instead of vice versa. In stark contrast, Jesus’ modeled servant leadership, leading by example. He said, “I came to serve not to be served.” Now, two thousand years later, Jesus has over 2.1 billion followers, which makes Him the undisputed greatest leader of all time. No one else comes close! This is why you need to know how to lead like Jesus. He is the only flawless example. That’s why you should read this book!” [Rick Warren, Author, The Purpose Driven Life Named one of “America’s Twenty-five Best Leaders” (U.S. News and World Report) http://www.leadlikejesusnow.com/]
Three Simulcasts Past The second Lead Like Jesus simulcast on April 29, 2004 was hosted by Ken Blanchard and Bill Hybels with a special video message from Rick Warren. Other presenters included Laurie Beth Jones and Tamara Heim (President of Borders Group, Inc.). The November 18, 2004 Lead Like Jesus simulcast was hosted by Ken Blanchard and John Ortberg, [Teaching Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church; best-selling author, including The Life You’ve Always Wanted]. Laurie Beth Jones was again one of the presenters. Future The Lead Like Jesus site advertises the coming October 19th 2007 simulcast saying..[emphasis added] “If it were a movie, the Lead Like Jesus NOW: The Leadership Revolution! simulcast, October 19, 2007 in San Francisco, would boast an all star cast. In fact, the conference will feature a world-class line-up including co-hosts Ken Blanchard and Erwin Raphael McManus and featuring John and Nancy Ortberg, Laurie Beth Jones, Patrick Lencioni, Rosey Grier, Bill Pollard, Margie Blanchard, Phil Hodges, Ken Melrose and Phyllis Hendry.” [http://www.leadlikejesus.com/templates/System/default.asp?id=36749. Emphasis Added]
Besides the enormous problems with Ken Blanchard himself and, of course, the wolves like McManus, We also have.. Patrick Lencioni: There is no evidence that Lencioni is even a Christian. He is president of The Table Group… a “firm dedicated to helping organizations, and the people who work within them, become "healthier" and more effective. We provide consulting and speaking services, as well as a host of products and tools to leaders who want to improve teamwork, clarity and morale within their companies” He writes books and articles related to leadership and organizational life. His client list which includes companies like Bank of America and Amazon.com can now be expanded to include deluded Christians all over the nation. Bill Pollard was twice CEO of The ServiceMaster Corporation, is a board member of The Drucker Institute and has authored a book called Serving Two Masters?: Reflections on God and Profit. Endorsed by who else but Ken Blanchard and Bill Hybels.. (Quite a mutual admiration society they have here) The Amazon.com review says “William Pollard draws upon his spiritual and practical insights--and those of other business and thought leaders--to show readers that principles of faith and smart business practices are not mutually exclusive, but can unite to strengthen corporate culture and lead to extraordinary financial success.” Phyllis Hendry was one of the speakers at the 2006 International Business Conference alongside Rich De Vos.. Co founder and former President of Amway Corporation and Ed Silvoso who authored Anointed for Business and God’s Ticker Tape: A Report on Divine Acquisitions in the Marketplace. Hendry. Phyllis served as the president of the non-profit National Science Center in Augusta, GA where she led in raising more than $30 million for this highly acclaimed interactive facility. She has more than 30 years of business and leadership experience including financial management, human resource management, public relations, and sales. [http://www.partnersworldwide.org/IBC/speakers.html] Kendrick B. Melrose is currently the Chairman and CEO of The Toro Company, where he started in 1970 as the director of marketing for the consumer products division. Ken graduated cum laude in 1962 from Princeton University with a double major in mathematics and electrical engineering and was a varsity track letterman for three years. He has received masters degrees from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and also from the University of Chicago, where he was a Ford Foundation fellow. Ken is the author of Making the Grass Greener on Your Side: A CEO’s Journey to Leading by Serving. (He was probably included because in an article entitled Developing your personal leadership plan. He said “When I became president of The Toro Company in 1981, the company's earnings were sinking along with morale…. All at once, it was my job to address questions of who we were, where we were going and what we could achieve”.
What all the above has to do with Jesus and His mission on earth is beyond me.. Chalk up four for Jesus in a leadership/business role model and zero for Him as Saviour and Messiah. Additionally two of the Lead Like Jesus simulcasts featured Laurie Beth Jones, who is also scheduled to speak at the next one on Oct 2007 along with John Ortberg... So who are John Ortberg and Laurie Beth Jones.. John Ortberg John Ortberg is Teaching Pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and a former Willow Creek pastor. On the Menlo Park site he is described as being “passionate about "spiritual formation," which is how people become more like Jesus.” John Ortberg spoke at the Ancient Wisdom Conference along with Dallas Willard, John Burke and Tony Jones. The speakers page said this.. John Ortberg “is passionate about spiritual formation, and how people can become more Christ-like through “spiritual practices.” John presents age-old wisdom about these practices in a witty, practical and deeply insightful manner”. [http://www.viavita.us/conference_spkrs.htm] By the way John Burke is founder/leader of Gateway Community Church in Austin, where he works tirelessly “to build the type of community and church that will pave a path forward for believers and seekers alike”. John is the author of No Perfect People Allowed: Creating A COME AS YOU ARE Culture in the Church. (His site says “Whether you are searching for the first time or you have lost count... you are welcome to join us as we seek God together”.)
He is the author of several books including The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Growth for Ordinary People and God Is Closer Than You Think: If God Is Always with Us, Why Is He So Hard to Find? He very often quotes other contemplatives favorably including Richard Foster, Dallas Willard [who Helped Launch the Renovare Spiritual Formation Study Bible], Soren Kierkegaard, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Meister Eckhart, Brother Lawrence and Tilden Edwards of the Shalem institute (Below). While at Willow Creek John Ortberg and Ruth Barton started a focus on "spiritual formation." Willow Creek continues the tradition.. “Based on a seminar created for Willow Creek by John Ortberg and Ruth Barton, Ordinary Day will be held five times this year. An Ordinary Day with Jesus is a retreat-like experience that introduces spiritual disciplines into everyday, “ordinary” living”. “participants looked at how God can intersect their work environments, learned about solitude, spent time in solitude, discovered spiritual pathways to connect with God, and talked about issues such as pace of life that can keep us from regularly connecting with God”. [http://www.willowcreek.org/news/3_17_04/ordinay.asp. Emphasis added]
Barton and Ortberg also co-authored a book, An Ordinary Day with Jesus. In which... “… the reader is instructed to practice lectio divina, described by the authors as a slow meditative practice dating back to ancient times. At the back of this book, a list of additional reading resources include contemplative promoters such as Tilden Edwards, Dallas Willard, and Richard Foster. Both Barton and Ortberg are promoters of the contemplative prayer movement, and both are featured speakers for the very contemplative National Pastor’s Convention, hosted by Youth Specialties. This annual pastor’s convention teaches yoga workshops and gives participants opportunity to walk through a labyrinth and attend contemplative prayer sessions." (Brian Flynn. Running Against the Wind, p. 197-198)
So who is Ruth Haley Barton? Ruth Barton.. the former associate director of spiritual formation at Willow Creek Community Church, is spiritual director, teacher and retreat leader trained through the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation (Bethesda, Maryland) and the Pathways Center for Spiritual Leadership (Nashville, Tennessee). She is the author of several books, of which Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's Transforming Presence carries a foreword by Dallas Willard and an endorsement by Tilden Edwards. After leaving Willow Creek she founded The Transforming Center, which “cares for the souls of pastors and Christian leaders”. “spiritual disciplines and guide you in establishing a rhythm of life that will sustain you in ministry”. [Emphasis added] http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/whatwedo.php
One of the organizations where Barton trained.. The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation is an “ecumenical Christian organization devoted to the support of contemplative spirituality." Shalem provides programs and support for spiritual directors, clergy, leaders of contemplative prayer groups and retreats, other lay leaders, and individuals--all who seek to deepen their relationships with God and bring the gifts of contemplative living and leadership to their ministries. [http://www.shalem.org/]
Regarding the founder of Shalem.. “Shalem's roots go back to 1973, when Tilden Edwards — an Episcopal priest and head of an ecumenical center located in Washington, DC—began meeting with a group of people who desired, as he did, to deepen their relationship with God through contemplative awareness”. [http://www.shalem.org/about]
Tilden whose books are sold by Fuller Theological Seminary [http://www.fullerseminarybookstore.com/search_results.php?id_author=7835], is quoted as saying "This mystical stream [contemplative prayer] is the Western bridge to Far Eastern spirituality." [Tilden Edwards, Spiritual Friend, p. 18].
The institute says that the name Shalem is “a Hebrew word related to Shalom, the familiar greeting of peace” and “Shalem speaks of wholeness: to be complete, full, sound. Scripture speaks of loving God with a "lev shalem," a whole heart (as in 1 Kings 8:61 and Isaiah 38:3)”. [http://www.shalem.org/about] While I have no knowledge of Hebrew there are wonderful tools available to anyone who wants to do a little digging into the use of Hebrew words. Strongs says that Shalem was an early name of Jerusalem and while it is not used very often in the Old Testament lets look at the two uses mentioned above… “Let your heart therefore be perfect [Shalem] with Jehovah our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments…” [I Kings 8:61] “and said, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect [Shalem] heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore”. [Isaiah 38:3 .. King Hezekiah’s words when he was told he was going to die ]
Even a cursory reading tells the reader that the word translated perfect here relates to obedience and keeping of the commandments not some esoteric interpretation. Two other uses of the word confirms this. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect [Shalem] with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father. [1 Kings 11:4 ]
The Bible also tells us of King Asa who “put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made”. But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect [Shalem] with Jehovah all his days. [1Kings 15:14]
Scripture does not tell us to “worship God with a lev shalem, or a whole heart”, but to be obedient and walk according to all His commandments... , "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." [1 John 5:3] Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. [1 Samuel 15:22-23]
The very founding principles of the institute are based on phony analysis of Scripture and it all goes downhill from there.. Defining Contemplation as a ‘gift’ opposed to mediation which is something we ‘do’.. they say.. “Stated simply, the classical tradition understands contemplation as a loving quality of presence in which one is open to things just as they are in the present moment. In Christianity and other traditions that understand God to be present everywhere, contemplation includes a reverence for the Divine Mystery, "finding God in all things," or "being open to God's presence, however it may appear." When referring to prayer or other spiritual practices, contemplation is classically distinguished from meditation…. Further, the reverence for mystery implies an openness to unknowing, a willingness to be led and guided by God without having to comprehend what is happening.” [emphasis added]
They quote “famous authors” on the nature and experience of contemplation, most of whom are the Catholic mystics such as Bernard of Clairvaux.. And John of the Cross… Who is Laurie Beth Jones? “My personal mission is to recognize, promote, and inspire divine connection in myself and others” [www.lauriebethjones.com/site-content/about-us/about-laurie-beth.html. Link is now obsolete] "The elements you find in the PEP Profile are universal. Every culture understands and respects the elements. Native Americans used pray to the elements, Hindus incorporate the elements into their healing rituals and the Chinese words 'feng shui' actually mean 'wind and water.' The Kabbalah [Jewish mysticism] states that the four letters which stood for Yahweh (YWEH) are actually a tetragrammaton meaning Earth, Water, Wind and Fire." [From Her Website]. "I have been challenged by the concept of meditation ... I decided recently to accept the invitation of a friend to experience the sheer silence of meditation—undirected prayer. ... I had before only sensed intellectually ... But by going deep into prayer I could almost feel it." [Laurie Beth Jones, Teach Your Team to Fish: Using Ancient Wisdom for Inspired Teamwork, p. 142]. "First, we must remember what unites us rather than what divides us, and cast aside doctrines and tribal beliefs—the we're-better-than-you-stuff. We don't need to lose our traditions but we do need to gain the understanding that Jesus did not come to set up a new religion, but to teach us about the individual connections we each have with God.”
Laurie was a featured speaker at the 1998 and 2003 Business and Consciousness Conferences. The 2003 International Conference on Business and Consciousness was the 8th in a series of conferences that began in 1995 as The International Conference on Spirituality in Business. Among the people “who have shared their extraordinary vision and energy to help make these popular events so enriching over the years”… Other Speakers include... Neale Donald Walsch, author, Conversations with God and many other books Barbara Marx Hubbard, futurist, visionary, US vice-presidential nominee, author, Conscious Evolution. “Hubbard channeled a demonic retelling of the book of Revelation that turns the Last Judgment into a mockery where those who oppose world peace and tolerance are the goats, and those who embrace her occult spirituality are the sheep. She says that those who oppose this new spirituality are a cancer that must be cut out of humanity. (That would be you and me as blood-washed believers.)” [Ingrid Schlueter Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy is Destroying the Church] Matthew Fox, PhD, author, The Reinvention of Work, Passion for Creation, Work and Spirituality and 19 other books, President, University of Creation Spirituality. Gurucharan Khalsa, PhD, expert in the applied psychology of meditation and peak performance, trainer, Tony Robbins Life Mastery University. [Source] Khalsa is a Sikh who has authored a book called Breathwalk: Breathing Your Way to a Revitalized Body, Mind and Spirit with Yogi Bhajan. The back cover of the book says the following: “In this simple program that anyone can follow, two of the world's leading experts in meditation and kundalini yoga reveal the power and flexibilty of this technique for the first time. ... Gurucharan Singh Khalsa, Ph,D., .... has taught kundalini yoga with Yogi Bhajan for over thirty years.. Yogi Bhajan, Ph,D., is a Master of kundalini and tantric yoga. He is the spiritual leader of the Sikh religion in the Western Hemisphere.." [See Yoga and Christianity and Kundalini]
Best Selling Author
Laurie Beth Jones is the author of several books. Her books have been BusinessWeek and Wall Street Jounal bestsellers and have been translated into twelve foreign languages, with worldwide sales of one million copies. According to an Amazon.com editorial Laurie Beth Jones released Jesus CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership in 1995, the first book in a trilogy “that traces her own journey from well-pressed executive through a season of personal self- examination”. The second book was The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and for Life which is supposed to help readers identify their divine purpose in life and the third.. Jesus in Blue Jeans: A Practical Guide to Everyday Spirituality is supposed to help people with their everyday life. On one level I found the books trite, stale and even a trifle corny.. with nothing to recommend them over the thousands of self help book that roll off the presses every day. However on another level they were completely offensive. Sadly although ‘Jesus’ is in the title of the first and third book, I have no idea who she is talking about. Certainly it is not the Jesus of the Bible.. The Scriptural references are out of context and in many cases the meaning, and often the words, have been changed altogether.. As in the following write up…
Jesus CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom For Visionary Leadership. In a recent interview with Ann Devlin [http://www.annonline.com/interviews/970905/] Laurie, who claims to have a personal conversion when she was 17, says she wants to use her highest gift for the Glory of God... for the highest good. Talking about Jesus CEO, she stated that "We have seen and have heard that it is shifting the perception in the workplace And also internationally. Jesus CEO is in seven languages and we just received a fax that it is a best seller in the Manila Philippines. World wide study groups people in Australia, India, England Taiwan... We just got a note that in Canada a group called the Jesus CEO group consisting of 100 + business men and women who meet every week and discuss the principles in the book".
This book was endorsed by Ken Blanchard (no surprises here) who said… "A perfect book for leaders looking to model a kind and loving leadership style. Jones gives you many practical ideas on how to add love, inspiration and good will into your organization," [Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager. On Front Cover]
It has also been described as “a bold yet sensitive inspirational handbook for leadership success Following the example of Jesus--a "CEO" who took a disorganized "staff" of 12 and built a thriving enterprise--the book details a simple, fresh approach to motivating and managing others that is translatable to any business”. [http://www.eastbook.com/JesusCEO.html] “A handbook for leadership success?” The very purpose of the savior’s undertaking on earth has been redefined to provide no more than a role model for every day life and business, with not a hint of His real mission. In The words of Ingrid Schlueter.. “The purpose is not one of evangelism, but rather teaching the traits of Jesus to help others achieve personal success”
The Randy Gilbert site sells an interview with Jones saying Front And Back Covers of Jesus CEO "Jones presents Jesus not as a religious messiah but as an executive leader... a kind of how-to manual for succeeding as corporate offers-internally, externally, and for eternity." San Diego Union Tribune. [On Back Cover] “Laurie Beth Jones is President and founder of The Jones Group, an advertising, marketing, and business development firm whose mission is "to recognize, promote, and inspire divine excellence...." [On Back Cover] "Following the example of Jesus-a "CEO" who took a disorganized "staff" of twelve and built a thriving enterprise." [On Back Cover] And some examples of Jones’ pathetic theology ..
Various pages "... He said "I Am" What if Jesus did not instantly know who he was? Or what his gifts were? What if it dawned on him only gradually, as it dawns on each of us? ".. I believe Jesus had to go into the wilderness to find out who he was- that a wilderness experience was as much a part of his shaping and destiny as it is of yours and mine. Page 3. It is no coincidence that only after the wilderness experience did Jesus begin to use the words "I am" when describing himself..." Page 5. “The words I AM therefore reflect all the creative power in the Universe” Page 5. “List in detail each of your own 'I ams.” Page 6. His “I Am” Statements Are What He Became. Question Whom do you tell yourself that you are on a daily basis? Page 8. ".. and beautiful words do you feed your mind every day? His “I Am” Statements Are What He Became. Page 9 No Laurie.. The I AM statements were understandable by any first century Jew. When Jesus said of Himself, "I AM," He was asserting to be eternal in words echoing those of YHWH (John 8:58; cf. Ex. 3:14). Jesus' claim to be God in this instance was so clear and unmistakable that those who considered His assertion false, in fact blasphemous, tried to stone Him to death immediately (John 8:59; cf. Lev. 24:13-16). He was stating who He was , not who He became.
”Jesus was not exactly what the people had in mind for a leader. Nathanael, a potential apostle, said, “Examine the Scriptures yourself and see. Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”” Page 103. Actually the account is only half true.. Nathanael said nothing about ‘examining the Scriptures’ , only “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” [John 1:46]
Chapter ‘Jesus had Internal Anchors’ The Omega leader has a backbone like a rod of steel when it comes to doing the right thing. You may have to searching for it, but once you hit the harmonic "C" - the note that matches perfectly with your soul- you, God, and destiny will be one harmonious sound. And others will stop, perk up their ears, and begin to gather around. Jesus had internal anchors. Page 20 Chapter ‘He Was Constantly in a State of Celebration’ "Perhaps Jesus loved celebrations so much because he was born at a party. I believe any event that has a heavenly light show, and a host of angels singing and giving directions is a celebration of major proportions. It must have made an impact on him.... The night before he was arrested he gathered his staff together to sing songs and dine...." The birth of Jesus was a celebration of a kind that has completely escaped Laurie Beth Jones.. as it has escaped millions of people that routinely celebrate Christmas. It was no party. The Heavenly host was celebrating that God and sinner were now on their way to being reconciled.. that man’s salvation had come.. a momentous event. And as far as Jesus gathering his staff together to sing songs and dine The night before he was arrested… What Bible did that come from?
"He came from a very happy place and he knew he was returning to a very happy place. When he said, "wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them," perhaps he saw a party coming on. Indeed, his invitations read "I go to prepare a place [setting] for you." I think he is telling us to lighten up. Page 30-31. The word translated ‘place’ is the Greek topos … a spot (generally in space, but limited by occupancy). “The figure here is taken from one who is on a journey, who goes before his companions to provide a place to lodge in, and to make the necessary preparations for their entertainment. It evidently means that he, by the work he was yet to perform in heaven, would secure their admission there, and obtain for them the blessings of eternal life. That work would consist mainly in his intercession”. (Barnes). No party place setting here Laurie.
A ten-year-old once asked me if I knew what Jesus' first words were after he came out of the tomb. "No," I replied. "What were they?" He spread his arms, jumped forward with a grin, and said, "Ta-dah!" Page 32 Theology from a ten year old.. Figures. While I can very well see a youngster saying and doing something like this (It may even make me smile) to include it in a chapter that says Jesus was always celebrating is subtly presenting the reader with the idea that it could very well have been possible. This is extremely devious and extremely clever.
Chapter ‘He Was Willing to Do an End Run’ As quarterback, Jesus knew his game plan could not be to take the truth up the middle. Perhaps he would have preferred to have his message delivered through the Levites and Pharisees. They already had their distribution mechanisms in place. That was blocked, however so Jesus did an end run. He hired fishermen. Leaders often must use innovative means to deliver a message or accomplish a goal. Page 118. The above statement contains so many flaws that I would have to write an epistle to deal with them one at a time. Constraints of time and space prohibit this (To say nothing of the pain of dealing with this asinine material) So overlooking the ridiculous quarterback analogy.. No, Jesus would not have preferred to have his message delivered through the Pharisees. This statement shows a shocking lack of understanding of the character of Jesus as God. If He had wanted His message delivered through the Pharisees .. it would have been.. He was God and could do what He wanted.. So why was the message given to the fishermen and tax collectors… let us turn to an explanation by Paul but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: [1Corinthians 1:27-28] Why? The next verse gives us the reason… that no flesh should glory before God. [1Co 1:29] Besides which the Pharisees added their own customs and opinions to God's law, developing their own system of righteousness and then expected adherence to it. Their loyalty was to their own system and they engaged in outward rituals without involving their hearts.
"If you believe you have a just cause, an important message, or a key contribution to make, you will be just as innovative as a college freshman desperate to see his girlfriend six hundred miles away. You will get there any-way you can. Jesus was willing to do an end run." Page 120. Jesus was not willing to do an end run.. He did not adapt to suit the circumstance, He came to earth with a plan already in place. What is it about omniscience that people do not understand?
From end of the book "Affirmations for Leaders": * I proudly say I AM. *I shape my own destiny. What I believe, I become. What I believe, I can do.
And her theology has not improved at at all in the years between the first and last book of the trilogy.. Jesus in Blue Jeans: A Practical Guide to Everyday Spirituality On page 43 Jones gives the example of tennis players who are trained to be on the balls of their feet, "when a shot comes flying over the net...." Then proceeds to quote one of the Psalms, in order to make the point.. "King David wrote, "I lift my eyes to you...like the eyes of a servant girl is fixed on the hand of her mistress." -Psalm 123:1-2 . He wanted to be ready for God's instructions." While one can be pretty certain that King David did wait for the Lord's instructions, it cannot be proved by this verse. This psalm is entitled simply “Song of Degrees.” And is upward glance of waiting faith to Yahweh under tyrannical oppression. The second half of verse two says "So our eyes look unto Jehovah our God, Until he have mercy upon us".
Which is repeated in verses 3 and 4 Have mercy upon us, O Jehovah, have mercy upon us; For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scoffing of those that are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud. .. Psalm 123:3 David was looking for mercy, not instructions..
In the chapter called He Went The Whole Way Jones says "Follow the whole way that God has laid out for you; Deuteronomy 5:33. In the book of Jeremiah the people are also exhorted to "Follow right to the end the way that I mark out for you." Jeremiah 7:23. Evidently God's people had a reputation for making great starts but not completing the course". [Emphasis in original] While it is certainly true that both the ancient Israelis [like many modern day Christians] did not complete the course, verse 23 in Jeremiah does not say "Follow right to the end the way that I mark out for you.". The verse means ‘walk according to everything God has commanded’… The CEV makes this perfectly clear .. Instead, I told them, "If you listen to me and do what I tell you, I will be your God, you will be my people, and all will go well for you." [CEV Emphasis added. Jeremiah 7:23]
As does the NIV but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. [NIV Emphasis added. Jeremiah 7:23].
Likewise for Deuteronomy 5:33 Jesus did shape the invisible- with his faith. And he told us that was our gift and responsibility, as well. "If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it". John 14:14. So often we emphasize the "Pray to get things" aspect of the power that it is diminished to the level of having our basic needs or desires met. But prayer and faith are actually the shaping power of the future. [Page 122. Emphasis in original]
Again on page 44 Jones tells us that "When we are admonished in Psalm 46:10 to "Be still, and know that I am God," we are being told to hold ourselves in readiness. King David wrote: "Yahweh, at dawn, I hold myself in readiness for you" Psalm 5:3”. Barnes explains Psalm 46:10 well… The word used here râphâh - means properly to cast down; to let fall; to let hang down; then, to be relaxed, slackened, especially the hands: It is also employed in the sense of not making an effort; not putting forth exertion; and then would express the idea of leaving matters with God, or of being without anxiety about the issue. …The mind was to be calm, in view of the fact that God had interposed, and had shown that he was able to defend his people when surrounded by dangers. [Barnes]
Psalm 5:3 “O Jehovah, in the morning shalt thou hear my voice; In the morning will I order my prayer unto thee, and will keep watch” is David’s first work as he begins the day. There is absolutely nothing here about David ‘holding himself in readiness’..
The Four Elements of Success: Editorial Review from Amazon “Based upon the elements of Earth, Water, Wind and Fire, the Path Elements Profile helps determine both individual and team behavioral tendencies that affect everything from career choice to daily "to do" lists. We choose to act on what we value, and each element type values very different things: Fire personality types love and thrive on challenge Water personality types thrive on harmony and calm Wind personality types love chaos and change Earth personality types love order and structure”
Review of Laurie Beth Jones’ Four [Pagan] Elements of Success By Bob DeWaay Modern evangelicalism has a voracious appetite for self-discovery. Various approaches to discovering one’s temperament have played a prominent role in this. In the 70’s and 80’s the ancient Greek terminology of Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, and Melancholy, were used to describe temperaments in a series of popular Christian books. When I was in seminary, Gary Smalley was brought in to present his version of temperaments: Otter, Lion, Golden Retriever, and Beaver. Recently, Rick Warren introduced his S.H.A.P.E. program for self-discovery which uses the Myers Briggs indicator for the “P” part of the program. If these approaches are not enough to satisfy our urges for self-discovery, there are always D.E.S.A, DiSC, and even Charlie Brown characters. Now, Laurie Beth Jones enters the market promoting yet another version of temperament study: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. Using these ancient pagan categories, she has developed her Path Elements Profile (PEP) and sells the program to businesses. She claims, “Insights surrounding PEP have helped save marriages, unite families, discern career directions, and select everything from jobs to spouses.” (from her book The Four Elements of Success). Starting from the assumption that the pagan idea of the four elements (shared by ancient Chinese philosophy, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Astrology) can accurately describe one’s temperament, she promises, “Understanding and utilizing this personality profile tool will revolutionize your understanding of who you are and help you clarify why you do the things you do.” What is the outcome if this type of self-discovery? – “With your new knowledge of the four elements, you will also have keen insights into the needs and values of others and thus be more persuasive when it comes to getting your own needs met.” Jones claims to have invented this system, not because the others were not valid, but that they were too hard to remember. She says, “Recognizing the importance of self-image, I decided to use the four elements of earth, water, wind, and fire to help people in their self-identity process.” It seems that there is an insatiable hunger for more self-identity that fuels the sales of ever multiplying temperament theories and indicators. This is not surprising in the world since the worldly minded, because of the sin nature, are obsessed with SELF. But didn’t Jesus tell His disciples to deny self? Jones does provide a Biblical basis for her approach: “Jesus referred to Himself as ‘living water.’ In the Scriptures the Holy Spirit is described as being ‘wind’ or ‘fire.’ Adam literally means ‘made from clay.’” So there you have it, water, wind, fire and earth are all found in the Bible, used to describe God and man. Of course there is the problem of authorial intent. Actually Jesus offered to give “living water” and did not technically call Himself that. But laying that aside, this type of interpretation is nothing more than random association. Jones’ claim is that there are four personality types or temperaments, and that these can be accurately described by four “elements.” That Adam means “earth” because God gave him that name (because of where he came from) has no relationship to a modern personality theory. Likewise, that fire is used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit has no relationship to distinctive human personalities or temperaments. If we take her use of Scripture to be valid, then any theory whatsoever could be “proved” by merely finding a word in the Bible that matches a word that describes our own man-made theory. But, to further gain credibility, she adduces other religions: Native American religion, Chinese feng shui, and Hinduism are cited as evidence that the four elements (by the way, these are not really “elements” other than in pagan superstition) are significant. Jones even cites ideas from the mystical Kabbalah: “The Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism, reveals that the four symbols representing the Hebrew YHWH, or Yahweh, actually are a tetragrammaton that stands for the four elements of earth, water, air, and fire.” No the Kabbalah does not “reveal” the meaning of God’s name because it does not contain God’s revelation, it contains false religious ideas of men. Finally she cites occultist Carl Jung as the modern source of temperament theory (which he is). Jones admits that some Christian friends told her that her ideas sounded New Age, and that others pointed out that these elements are related to astrological signs. She simply says that for the purpose of her book the elements have nothing to do with astrology. She offers this disclaimer: “I remain firmly rooted in my Christian faith and tradition, and I believe that the elements are fascinating reflections of the different characteristics of God, the Creator, yet have no separate divine power in and of themselves.” The rest of the book consists of processes to discover one’s element (or more accurately combination of elements) and then gain tools to use these to become successful. It includes personal “meditations” for the benefit of readers who have now discovered their element. For example: “I am Earth. I give soil and substance to support those around me. I support and protect all living things. . . I am sure. I am steady. I am Firm.” It is not shocking that the world loves this material. But clearly it is not Christian. Yet TBN recently (July 6th, 2006) interviewed Jones and told the audience about her other book Jesus CEO and how to get her books. There is nothing wrong with businesses doing studies on people’s differences and personalities if they think it will help their business. But why is the church importing this material, especially a version of it that has such pagan roots? Her theory and others like it have no relationship to the gospel or sanctification. At the best they are a huge side-track for churches that adopt them because they engage people in studying self rather than denying self and serving Christ. At the worst they are pagan and opposed to the gospel. Since Jones herself admits the pagan roots of her system, it is not hard to discern that her process is not Biblical. We do not need to discover self; we need to serve God and others by His grace. Peter wrote: “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God” (1Peter 1:22). For those who have been born of God, obedience to the truth changes lives. God has revealed the means of grace whereby Christians grow in sanctification. Pagan element theories have no power to conform us to the image of Christ. Paul said, “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?” (Galatians 4:9) Paul gives further reason to not waste our time studying “self” in hopes of achieving success: “He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh” (2Corinthians 5:15, 16a). Jones’ elements theory is not compatible with serving the resurrected Christ in newness of life. | 
Index To Section 10A 
