Ordination and baby update

The first main event to start off this new year was Don's ordination, January 17. I was thrilled that my parents were able to be there. His sister, Ashley and her family were able to be there, as well as some friends of ours. Also, in attendance was another pastor, Dr. Tottingham. Saturday Don was questioned by the men of the church and Sunday evening the ordination took place.
It is such a blessing to have a husband that is called to the ministry. I know it is going to be a difficult task for him, but also a joyous one. God has truly done a work in both our lives. Laying on of hands - Acts 13:3

Receiving the Certificate of Ordination

Please, continue to pray for us. There are still many things we will be needing and decisions that will need to be made. The next step is his trip to Scotland.
But our next event will be the birth of Kathy in March!!! I had my appointment Monday and had only gained 1 lb in 4 1/2 weeks. I was very happy with that since I had gained 9 lbs in 6 weeks at my last. I lost some of that weight anyways because Monday night I was sick with a stomach flu. Harry was sick the night before that and Don got sick the same time I did. We are all feeling better now. I am so thankful that I never have had morning sickness!!! Anyways, back to the appointment... All is still well. I have about 9 to 10 weeks left; I can hardly believe it!
Til next time!
~Tabitha

The New Year

Hello all. I have not been writing very much, though much has been happening! We have come into a new year and there are so many things that will be taking place in our life this year, it is hard to imagine it passing by slowly. Harry playing in the snow

Christmas was an interesting time. But we'll get to that in a bit. Our small little family, Don, Harry and I celebrated our Christmas on the Tuesday before. Wednesday was church and Thursday we'd be leaving town. We had a good time. It's so fun to watch a small child open gifts! We also opened the sealed envelope and revealed that we are having a girl!!! I told Don I'd be excited about a boy too. He just smiled and said I wouldn't have been as excited though. Well, he was right:)
We had decided to go to Scott and Ashley's in Sioux Falls, but at the last minute (Wednesday) decided against it and then for it! A big blizzard was supposed to hit. We were expecting a lot of snow! Thursday he calls me from work and tells me there wasn't as much snow as expected, so we would be going after all. He arrived home at 1 and I had everything ready to go. We left town about 1:30pm. The roads weren't too bad for a while. I'm glad we didn't have much further to go after it got dark at 5pm. It was a very fun 1 1/2 days. Harry enjoyed being with his cousins. We did get more snow and it took us much longer to get home on Saturday because of a detour. They had closed I-90 to the Minnesota border. We were in a hurry to get home since Don had to work at 2 and we just did make it! The snow on the way back from Sioux Falls
Now we are in a new year! I celebrated my 25th birthday and look forward to a small party this Saturday!! We started the new year with colds, but hopefully they won't last much longer.
So, what does this new year hold for us? Whatever the Lord wills! Here are a few plans for this year:
January 17th, Don will be ordained. End of March, Kathy will be born. April 19th-May 3rd, Don's survey trip to Scotland. August or September, begin deputation?
This along with birthdays, anniversaries and becoming an aunt again, twice this year! It's going to be a rather exciting year for us! We'll have many decisions to make and with God's help we will make the right ones. Keep us in your prayers!
I will try and keep in touch more!
~ Tabitha taken at Tim and Katie Pol's reception, Jan 3

Just thought I'd write a little

It has been a long time since I've written anything. I know Don has blogged a bit, but I haven't. So, I thought I'd just catch up on what's been going on around here.
I have been seeing a midwife and am very excited about this pregnancy. The ultrasound went very well. We had decided not to find out, but had a change of heart. We had the technician write down the sex of the baby and seal it in a envelope. We'll open it for Christmas and find out. If it's a boy, it'll be Patrick Denholm; if it's a girl, Katherine Naomi. I have felt more tired this time around, but it's to be expected with an active toddler! The due dates they have given me are March 21, 24 and 29; so I figure the baby will come anytime it's ready!
In October Don turned 27 and we celebrated 4 years of marriage. Hard to believe so much time has already passed. We had Harry stay over at the grandparents Wednesday and Thursday we went to the Mall of America and didn't arrive back til late afternoon. We had a great time, just the two of us.
Don applied for his passport a while back and received it a few weeks ago. He now has his flight all booked for going to Scotland in April. Things are beginning to come together and next fall may see us on the road.
The past few months have been filled with birthday parties, visits, a preaching conference and so much more.
Middle of December I will be giving up my paper route. Though the extra income was welcome and we enjoyed the walking, it would not be a good idea to be 'toddling' around in the snow with a big belly. Also, 40 minute walks 6 days a week and trying to keep up with Harry and other things has a tiring effect!
I'll try to keep a better update. I'm looking forward to tomorrow!!!Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
~ Tabitha
Out on the route

Playing with Carrighan while visiting Tim and Tab Plemmons.

Contact Your Congressman!

The following is a note I sent to Al Franken, who is one of my Senators here in Minnesota. I did NOT vote for him, but he is now one of my Senators, and I respect the office that he holds. However, I do not care for the positions he holds - especially on the Health Care Debate. Franken is an ardent supporter of the "public option." I am strongly opposed to this position, as are many other Americans. So, I decided it was time to let my Senator know just how opposed I am to the position he has taken on Health Care.

The note reads as follows:

"Dear Senator Franken,

Respectfully, I disagree with your stated position on the Health Care Reform debate. I believe the "public option" would play a major part in the downfall of our country - both in freedom and in the financial arena. Further, I don't believe that this debate has anything to do with the health and well-being of the American people. This has more to do with Political Power-Grabbing. Our government is already too powerful and far-reaching here at home as it is. I believe in the principles of liberty that men and women have fought for and died for for over 230 years!
I choose freedom, and liberty, and yes - the responsibility that comes with those choices. It is not my desire to be cared for "cradle to grave" by my government. I was taught to walk on my own two feet, and by the grace of God, make my OWN way in life. I choose liberty, in all areas of life. I don't believe that my hard work and the sweat of my brow should be used (and abused) for the benefit of others. Sir, I am a charitable man, but I want the right to choose to whom I will be charitable! I have been responsible, and have made my own choices, and have abided by the consequences, good and bad. Others can do the same. Especially if they are not handicapped with this "entitlement mentality" that is so prevalent today.
Anyway you look at it, your position is damaging. It is damaging to this country in that it will bankrupt our economy, and will move power from the American people and place it in the hands of Elitists in Washington. It is damaging to individuals who, instead of working and caring for themselves, are taught more and more to depend upon everyone else -government included.
I have written this in the spirit of liberty and freedom. Sir, if you share this spirit, please do not support "public option".

Signed,
Don Clough"

It's time to get involved, and make your voice be heard. If we don't stand up for freedoms, then we will loose them. Don't let the deaths of those who've defended this country and its freedom be in vain.

Baptist History and Heritage

Baptist History and Heritage

There is a tendency today to revise history, rather than relate. Whether this is so the historian can make a name for himself, or he has come to erroneous conclusions, or because of some other agenda is not always evident, though I tend to believe the latter scenario. Whatever the reason, such revision is falsehood, and should be unacceptable to all. We even see this revision taking place when it comes to the History and Heritage of our Baptist Churches.

Recently, I was researching Baptist History on the internet. I came across the website of the "Baptist History and Heritage Society." (www.baptisthistory.org) On the website they had an article entitle "Baptist Beginnings." This piqued my curiosity. I began to read through the article, and was quickly upset by what I read. Consider the following quote taken from the website I've mentioned on the history of Baptists:

"Our best historical evidence says that Baptists came into existence in England in the early seventeenth century. They apparently emerged out of the Puritan-Separatist movement in the Church of England. Some of these earnest people read the Bible in their own language, believed it, and sought to live by it. They formed separate congregations which accepted only believers into their membership, and they baptized converts upon their profession of faith. Their opponents nicknamed them "Baptists," and the name stuck."

1. First of all, I would question whether or not this argument has the "best historical evidence." The fact is, this idea that Baptists came out of the Reformation is a relatively new idea. The "best" historians of the previous centuries believed that Baptists had their roots in the first century. Hear what some of these historians from as late as the 19th century have to say.

Prominent Baptists, and Baptist Historians
Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) had this to say: “We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the reformation, we were reformers before Luther and Calvin were born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have always existed from the days of Christ, and our principles, sometimes veiled and forgotten, like a river which may travel under ground for a little season, have always had honest and holy adherents. Persecuted alike by Romanists and Protestants of almost every sect, yet there has never existed a Government holding Baptist principles which persecuted others; nor, I believe, any body of Baptists ever held it to be right to put the consciences of others under the control of man. We have ever been ready to suffer, as our martyrologies will prove, but we are not ready to accept any help from the State, to prostitute the purity of the Bride of Christ to any alliance with Government, and we will never make the Church, although the Queen, the despot over the consciences of men.”

J.R. Graves (1820-1893) said this in a foreword to a book he had written on Baptist History: "This little work is dedicated and it's dissemination throughout the denomination committed to every Baptist brother and sister and especially my brethren in the ministry and of the press in America, who love those principles for which our Baptist Fathers for 18 centuries suffered cruel mockings, bloody stripes, imprisonment, and martyrdoms . . ." (emphasis added)

D.B. Ray (1830-1922) said this in the preface of his book “Handbook of Baptist History:” "Baptists have, with one voice denied any connection with the Romish apostasy, and claimed their origin, as a church, from Jesus Christ and the apostles".

Charles B. Stovall, in his book “Baptist History and Succession” says: "It will be seen that the Baptists claim the high antiquity of the commencement of the Christian church. They can trace a succession of those who have believed the same doctrine and administered the same ordinances directly, up to the Apostolic Age."

M.M. Munger wrote in his book “Baptist Churches from Jerusalem to North America:” "The intention of this little work is to show that from the time of Christ, beginning while He was on earth, the church of Christ has not failed to exist down to this present year of 1926. We have chosen this line of history as being the most simple and direct; Jerusalem, Rome, Britain (now Wales), to the North American colonies. . .Baptist church perpetuity is a proven fact."
G.H. Orchard wrote a book on Baptist History entitled: “A Concise History of Baptists from the time of Christ their Founder to the 18th Century.”

Historians From Other Denominations
Stanislaus Hosius(1504-1579) (Roman Catholic, and President of the Council of Trent in 1524) made this statement: "Were it not that the Baptists have been grievously tormented and cut off with the knife during the past twelve hundred years, they would swarm in greater number than all the Reformers."
Note: By his admission alone, the would put the Baptists as far back as 324 A.D. and even further, since this in when the persecution was said to have started.

Johann Lorenz von Mosheim (1693-1755) (a prominent Lutheran historian) wrote: "Before the rise of Luther and Calvin, there lay secreted in almost all of the countries of Europe persons who adhered tenaciously to the principles of modern Dutch Baptists."

John Clark Ridpath (1840-1900) (a Methodist Historian) said: "I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist Church as far back as A.D. 100, although without doubt there were Baptists then, as all Christians were then Baptists."

The name Baptist has not always been used, but the doctrine that true Baptists teach today has always been around and will always be around.

What does the Bible Say?

1. The True New Testament Church Will Always Be Around

“I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:21)

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19,20)

The Bible doesn't teach that true New Testament Churches would fall away and have to be reformed. True New Testament Churches needed no reformation - they remained true to the word of God. Logically then, we still have them around today. We call them Baptist churches. Not all that are called Baptist churches are true New Testament churches. (Satan is, after all a counterfeiter.) But, the majority of those churches that still practice that faith once delivered unto the saints call themselves Baptists.

2. The True Doctrines of the Word of God Were Only Delivered Once

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:5)

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude v.3)

Closing
As Baptists, we have a tremendous heritage stemming from Christ and the apostles up to the present day. Baptists should cling tenaciously to their true history – not what modern revisers have thrust upon them!
- Don

A Purposeful Look at "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren - Part 2

The last post covered some information about the book "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. In that past, we covered 1) The Popularity of the Book, 2) The Purpose of the Book, and 3) The Problems with the Book. (If you have not read that posting, I recommend that you read it before continuing on.)


IT is the job of every Christian to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (I Thess 5:21) We need to be careful about what kind of spiritual information we are receiving. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (I John 4:1) Many do not test, or try the spiritual things that they hear, but believe anything and everything. For believers, this should not be the case. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" (Ephesians 4:14) Thus, we need to grow and mature to be able to discern what is true and false doctrinally speaking.



HAVING read the book "The Purpose Driven Life" (hereafter PDL) by Rick Warren, and tested it with the scriptures, I would have to conclude, upon solid Biblical evidence, that it is a false and even dangerous book.


IN Part 1, we began covering some of the problems with PDL. As was said in Part 1, PDL quotes from several different versions of the Bible (whichever version is convenient to the point the author intends to make), and quotes doctrinal heretics without disclaiming their heresies. For Part 2, we will take a look at Rick Warren himself.

I. Warren is Ecumenical

A. His Books Appeal to All Denominations
From the back of the “Purpose Driven Life” about Warren, “He also founded the Purpose Driven Movement, a network of tens of thousands of churches from denominations in 160 countries.”

B. He Associates with known heretics

1. John Wimber, Founder of the Vineyard Churches
a. Taught people to seek after miracles
b. A self proclaimed faith healer
Note: He wasn’t real successful though. He admitted, “Not all diseases are equally responsive” to his healing ministry, though he claimed high success for healing headaches and back aches. Both he and his son died of cancer.
c. He Warned Against Testing Everything
(1) He Warned Against Worshipping the Book
(2) He Accused Some of Being “too heavily oriented to the written word.”
d. Wimber emphasized experience over doctrine
He said this during one of his seminars, “It’s evil when you hide behind doctrinal beliefs that curtail and control the work of the Spirit…The church today is committing evil in the name of sound doctrine.” (From “Defense” by David Cloud) He also said this at one of his meetings, “Don’t be alarmed by anything you see…And above all don’t try to rationally evaluate the things you will see…Subjecting the revival to doctrinal tests is the surest way to put out the fire!” He also said, “If my experience topples my theology, then I am giving more credence to my experience than to theology.”
2. Robert Schuller
Listen to this quote:
"And there's Rick Warren, a pastor who today is phenomenal. He came to our institute time after time." And in "Christianity Today," his wife was quoted as saying, "When we came to that institute, we were blown away." How God has blessed him. And today Rick Warren is blessing millions of people." - This was said by Robert Schuller.

Hear another quote from a website article entitled, “Hop Aboard the Handbasket to Hell” Speaking of PDL: “I disliked portions of it, I mostly dismissed my gripes as a response to the shallowness of it all--now I'm seeing more and more that it's not only milk, but much of it is spoiled milk. The more I learn about Rick Warren, the more I find the face of Robert Schuller, head heretic of the Crystal Cathedral (America's most glorious tribute to another gospel). Smith carefully documents how many of Warren's concepts came straight from Schuller, to the point that Schuller probably has grounds to accuse Warren of plagiarism, but he undoubtedly proudly sees Warren as a protege. As Tim Stafford wrote in Christianity Today in 2002: During his last year in seminary, he (Rick Warren) and Kay drove west to visit Robert Schuller's Institute for Church Growth. "We had a very stony ride out to the conference,” she says, because such nontraditional ministry scared her to death. Schuller, though, won them over. “He had a profound influence on Rick,” Kay says. “We were captivated by his positive appeal to nonbelievers. I never looked back.”
a. Robert Schuller Promotes Self Esteem Theology
“To Be Born Again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image…” (Self-Esteem: the New Reformation pg.68)
b. False Teachings
(1) on Sin
“Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem.” (Self-Esteem: the New Reformation pg.14)
(2) On Hell
“A Person is in Hell when he has lost his self-esteem.” (Self-Esteem: The New Reformation pg. 14,15)
(3) On the Crucifixion
“The Cross Sanctifies the Ego Trip. For the cross protected our Lord’s Perfect Self-Esteem from turning into sinful pride.” (Self-Esteem: the New Reformation pg. 75)
c. Warren Incorporates Much of Schuller’s Teachings in His Book
Note: The back of the book claims that Warren’s work has a “psychological acuity” and it indeed does.
Example: Chapter 20 "Restoring Broken Fellowship"
* HE Says Focus on Feelings, Not Facts
Warren makes the following statement: “Before attempting to solve any disagreement you must listen to people’s feelings. It means pay close attention! Focus on their feelings, not the facts (huh?). Begin with sympathy, not solutions.” (Pg 155)
* What Does the Bible Say?
1) "Tell Him His Fault" (Matthew 18:15-17)
Note: Nothing About Feelings Here!
2) Confess Your Faults (James 5:16; Matthew 5:23,24)
3) He Says, Emphasize Reconciliation Not Resolution
“It is unrealistic to expect everyone to agree about everything. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem.” (Pg 158)
To this we say, there can be no reconciliation with our resolution! If the problem is not resolved, that exists within a relationship of any character or classification, then the relationship cannot be truly reconciled; especially if that problem is of a sin nature.

Warren also associates with…
3. Bill Hybels, and many other false teachers
II. Warren Promotes False Doctrines
A. On Unity
1. Advocates Unity in the so called Universal Invisible Church sense
Note: He Says, “You are responsible to protect the unity…in your church family and among all believers.” And how are we to do this, Mr. Warren?
2. Focus on What we Have in Common, Not Our Differences
“God’s wants unity, not uniformity. We must stay focused on what matters most – learning to love each other as Christ has loved us and fulfilling God’s five purposes (?) for each of us and his church.”
“Conflict is usually a sign that focus has shifted to less important issues, things the Bible calls ‘disputable matters.’”
Well, Mr. Warren, what things are disputable, or indifferent?
“When we focus on personalities, preferences, interpretations, styles, or methods, division always happens.”
Note: Now, I would agree with 3 out of five of those: personalities, preferences, and styles. But do not tell me that method and interpretation are not important! "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
3. What Does the Bible Say?
a. Scriptural Unity is a Unity of Doctrine (Eph 4:3-6)
b. Scriptural Unity is Within a Local Body/Church (Eph 4:4)
Note: Our responsibility is unity of the local church not all believers.
B. On the Ordinances
1. Baptism
a. In His Book Warren Says baptism is the following
(1) Symbolizes participating in the fellowship of God’s eternal family.
(2) Is a visible reminder of an inward commitment
(3) Should be immediately after conversion
b. On His Church Website, Warren says baptism:
(1) Illustrates Christ’s Burial and Resurrection
(2) Illustrates One’s New Life as a Christian
Note: It’s interesting to notice the doctrinal positions that Warren holds when it comes to his books and when it comes to his church. I’ll point this out a little later. But do you notice a difference already?
c. What Does the Bible Say?
(1) Baptism Is a Local Church Ordinance (Matthew 28:18-20)
(2) Baptism is Required for Church Membership (Acts 2:41,47)
Note: Warren’s congregation holds baptisms monthly at the beach. May we emphasize that this is a public beach. The baptisms are said to be held near lifeguard tower number 12. They encourage women to wear shorts and a T-shirt, and men to wear swimming trunks when they get baptized. Thus all holiness is removed from the sacred ordinance of baptism.
2. The Lord’s Supper
Warren puts forth the question, again from his church website,
a. Who Should Take the Lords Supper? His Answer:
“Only those who are already believers in Jesus Christ.”
b. What Does the Bible Say?
(1) The Lord’s Supper is a Church Ordinance
(2) Consider the following:
i. Jesus Instituted the Ordinance With His Church (Matthew 26:26-28)
ii. Paul’s Directions for Partaking of the Lord’s Supper are Given to the Church at
Corinth (I Cor 11)
Note: Warren’s church allows members to hold communion services in separate little groups if they desire it.
iii. The First Lord's Supper Was Given to the First Church Members
The apostles were the first members of the first local New Testament church. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (I Cor 12:28) These apostles were chosen during Christ's earthly ministry. "And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." (Luke 6:13) These men were the only ones present with Christ for the institution of the Lord's Supper. Judas, who was lost, was sent out before the supper. Thus the Supper was CLOSED to non-believers and non-church members alike.
III. Warren is Two-Faced
As an Example: Is Warren a Fundamentalist?
A. Is he against it? Listen to this:
From The Philadelphia Enquirer: "Warren predicts that fundamentalism, of all varieties, will be 'one of the big enemies of the 21st century.'" Warren: "Muslim fundamentalism, Christian fundamentalism, Jewish fundamentalism, secular fundamentalism - they're all motivated by fear. Fear of each other.”
B. Is he for it? Listen to this from his church website:
“Saddleback Church is unapologetically fundamentalist."
He’s whatever he needs to be at the moment!

Conclusion: You look at an apple with a worm hole, or a bunch of brown spots, and say, “That’s a bad apple.” You don’t bite into it! In the same way, we’ve examined the life of a man who has set himself forward to be a spiritual guide for everyone else. We’ve seen the "worm-holes" and "brown spots." He’s a “bad apple” - a false teacher. Don’t “bite” into his theology. Reject it. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17) God bless you all!

A Purposeful Look at "The Purpose Driven Life" By Rick Warren - Part 1

Many, if not all who are reading this post, have heard of the book "The Purpose Driven Life" written by Rick Warren. It can be found in Christian bookstores, in public libraries and even such places as Barnes and Noble, or B.Dalton etc… Due to its wide acceptance and popularity, it seemed fit to me, being led of the Holy Spirit, to take some time and read the book and study it side by side with the word of God. Let me say that Warren’s book falls short of the teachings and principles of the Bible. I Thess 5:21 says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” Having proved this book, I would have to say that I have found it lacking in genuine Scriptural truth. "The Purpose Driven Life" (hereafter PDL) is a book that no Bible-believing Christian should resort to. Consider the following:

I. The Popularity of “The Purpose Driven Life”
To see how popular the book is, we need look no further than the outside of this book.
A. The Front of the Book
1. "#1 New York Times Bestseller"
2. "20 Million Sold Worldwide"
B. The Back of the Book
1. Widely Accepted
Here are some of the quotes from the back of the book:
a. 1st Quote
“Movie stars and political leaders aren’t the only ones who’ve turned this book for spiritual guidance. Millions of people – from NBA players to corporate executives to high school students to prison inmates – meet regularly (millions meet regularly) to discuss The Purpose Drive Life… [Listen to this] The world is on the verge of a spiritual awakening, as people seek fulfillment they don’t get from fast track jobs and can’t buy with gold cards.” – TIME
b. 2nd Quote:
“The bestselling book in the world for 2003 and 2004, and the bestselling non-fiction hardback in history.” – Publishers Weekly
* 2 Questions:
i. Have Movies Stars Suddenly Drawn Closer to God?
ii. If Millions of People Have Found the Purpose for Their Life Following the Path that This Book Lays Out, then Why Have We Not Seen a Change in the Spiritual Environment of Our Nation? If 20 Million + people get serious about serving God, things would change for our nation!
Note: It is not my intention to condemn a person for being successful, or writing a successful book. But if all the claims of Warren’s book were true, and his direction was accurate, and all of these people who’ve bought into his theories are truly seeking God’s purpose for their life then this world would be a different place, and it is not.
C. What The Bible Says
1. Gain does not equal godliness.
"Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." (I Timothy 6:5)
2. And Popularity does not equal spirituality.
"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6:26)
3. The World Hates the Light of God’s Word
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)
D. Why Is The Book So Popular
1. Consider this Quote:
“Readers delving into this phenomenally successful best seller find advice steeped in the Bible but written in a psychological acuity that speaks to believers and non-believers alike.” – The Arizona Republic
2. In other words, it is worldly, that is why the world can receive it.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:19)

II. The Purpose of the Purpose Driven Life
* To Know God’s Purpose For Your Life
A. Purpose Statement: This book “will enable you to discover the answer to life’s most important question: What on earth am I here for? By the end of the journey you will know God’s purpose for your life.” Pg 9
B. To guide through a “40 day spiritual journey” in which the above purpose statement is said to be achieved. “The next 40 days will transform your life.” Pg 10
Note: Warren makes a bogus, and almost conceited claim about his book: “Before you were born, God planned this moment in your life. It is no accident that you are holding this book. God longs for you to discover the life he created you to live…” (PDL Dedication)

THINK!!! Now if this is true, then God also ordained that I would read this book and warn you of its errors!

III. The Problems With the Purpose Driven Life
A. All the Bible Versions
Warren claims to have quoted nearly 1,000 verses. (Appendix 3: Why Use So Many Translations? Pg 325)
1. What Versions?
a. The AMP – The Amplified Bible
b. CEV – Contemporary English Version
c. GWT – God’s Word Translation
d. KJV – King James Version
- Quoted only 16 times.
Note: Using the true word of God would have destroyed his theories.
e. LB – The Living Bible
f. MSG – The Message
g. NAB – The New American Bible
h. NASB – The New American Standard Bible
i. NCV – The New Century Version
j. NIV – New International Version
- Quoted Over 100 times.
k. NJB – New Jerusalem Bible
l. NLT – The New Living Translation
m. NRSV – The New Revised Standard Version
n. Ph – New Testament in Modern English
o. TEV – Today’s English Version
-Quoted At Least 76 times.
2. WhyDoes He Use All These Translations?
Happily, for us, Warren has an appendix which he has called, “Why Use So Many Translations?” Well, that saves us from having to guess.
a. He Claims that No One Version is Adequate
“First, no matter how wonderful a translation is, it has limitations.” Appendix 3: Why Use So Many Translations? Pg 325
Note: The KJV is adequate! God’s Word in English. Warren quotes from the KJV only 16 times, but over a hundred times from the NIV. He claims to use “nearly a thousand quotes from scripture.” (Appendix 3: Who Use So Many Translations? Pg 325)
b. He Says that Familiar Translations Become Rote, Paraphrases Are Necessary
“Second…we often miss the full impact of Bible verses, not because of poor translating, but simply because they have become so familiar. Therefore I have deliberately used paraphrases in order to help you see God’s truth in new, fresh ways.”
* So, he is saying that this Bible has lost its power.
Note: He claims that his paraphrases, or those of others, will enlighten more than the very words of God.
3. The References He Uses Are Obscure
*Many of the verses given in the book from different versions are so changed and twisted to be almost unrecognizable.
a. Example: Romans 8:6: "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
From "The Message": “Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life.”
b. Example: Matt 16:25: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
From "The Message": “Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.”
c. Example: Col 1:16: "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
From "The Message": “Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.”
Note: This destroys the testimony of the Deity of Christ. It removes the fact that He created all things in heaven and in earth FOR Himself.
d. Example: I Tim 3:15: "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
From "God’s Word Translation": “God’s family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
Note: Obviously, this verse is meant to lend more credibility to the teaching of the universal church by equating the body, or church, with the family of God.
e. Warren Picks and Chooses
In order to make a point, Warren seems to pick whatever translation best suits his purpose. In other words, he wants to make the Bible (which is a somewhat nebulous term nowadays – which Bible?) say what he wants it to say. That is shady dealing. Many “Christian” authors do this.
H. All the Quotes
Warren quotes many well-known religious leaders in his book. Many of whom are out and out heretics when you compare what they believed to the Bible. But Warren does not warn the reader of their false teachings, but simply quotes them as if they were the models for Christian living.
1. James Dobson
a. Mixes Christian Principles with Psychology (With more emphasis on psychology)
b. Compromises with the World
- Focus on the Family Radio ministry –Little Bible is used
2. Martin Luther
a. Admittedly, He Did Profess to Believe in Salvation by Faith in Christ
b. But, He believed in infant baptism
c. Believed in the Priesthood
d. Implemented a form of the Catholic Mass – Transubstantiation
e. Persecuted True Believers
“The Lutherans bitterly persecuted and tormented the Anabaptists and other non-Lutherans in many places. Tens of thousands of humble Bible believers were put to death by these Protestants for the simple reason that they refused to accept their false state church and their unscriptural infant baptism and other errors.”
(from “Way of Life Encyclopedia:” ‘Lutheran’ by David Clough Page 357)
3. C.S. Lewis (From “Defense” by David Cloud Page 440)
a. Believed in Purgatory
b. Confessed Sins to a Priest
c. Believed That there is Salvation in Pagan Religions
d. Rejected the Doctrine of bodily resurrection of Christ
e. Denied the Substitutionary atonement of Christ
f. He believed in theistic evolution
g. Denied that hell is eternal, and fiery
4. Mother Theresa
a. A Staunch Catholic
b. Was a Universalist
5. And Many More...
6. What Does the Bible Say?
a. A Good Man of God Warns The Sheep To Stay Away From Heretics, He Doesn’t Promote Them!
"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." (Acts 20:29)
b. A Good Church Member Avoids Those Who Promote False Teachings
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." (Romans 16:17)
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

Conclusion: Having many more things to write, I conclude this edition of a Purposeful Look at PDL by urging every believer to go to the scriptures, and to the house of God - the Local, New Testament Church to find out what the word of God says. You don't need a New York Times Best Seller to tell you what God wants from your life. Listen to the preaching of the Word of God (KJV 1611) from a faithful man of God in a New Testament Baptist Church. Then be like the Bereans, and go home and study the Bible for yourself. Until next time...