How to Get a Miracle ( by Rick Warren)

"You can’t see but God can. All you have to do is hang on! You may be blind, but all you need to do is trust Jesus. He knows where he’s taking you. He loves you. He knows what you need better than you do. His way is always best."

~Rick Warren, How To Get a Miracle, rickwarren,org, July 5, 2014

So Rick here is saying that you do not need to "see", just hang on and take a ride,,, not knowing where God is taking you.  He says too that it's okay to be "blind" (and not "see,") because you can trust Jesus, but but then, Rick Warren also says in the same article, something quite opposite.  He says:

"The key to understanding what God is doing in your life is learning to see life from God’s point of view and having spiritual vision."

~Rick Warren, How To Get a Miracle, rickwarren,org, July 5, 2014

So... which is it? " To see, or not to see..." That is the question.

Rick is,here of course, talking to "Christians," suggesting that they are "blind" and that it is normal Christianity to trust God to know what is the best for us; that we should expect to blindly follow whereever he leads, trusting him.  But then he says that Christians should strive to attain, "spiritual vision" and learn to "see life from God's point of view.  

Which is it? 

 Rick is an expert at saying two opposing things at once, the point of which is, of course, to tickle ears of those who hear only what they want to hear. If you are listening to him speak and do not know  or notice the difference between what the scriptures say and what Rick says, then you are like putty in his hands, whether you decide to blindly follow Rick's interpretation of God's directives or seek wisdom from Rick on how to attain the spiritual vision that he suggested you needed to have in order to know what God is doing in your life.  

It contrast to everything Rick says, the bible teaches that  a Christian's faith, is a sort of "sight."  Faith, the scriptures tell is, is the evidence of things not seen. Furthermore, Christians are never told God does not want them to see.... or that they must somehow learn to attain the the position and vision God has ...seeing things from His perspective, if they want to know what GOd is doing in their lives.  They are simply told in the scripture what it is like to live their lives by faith in God an they are given a lot of information about who God is and what he is like so that they can know him.... and subsequently trust Him because of the revelation of who he is.  

 Offering some kind of special knowledge on how to Get a miracle, Rick has just roped in a bunch of people who have a need, but he never gives them Jesus as the solution.  Keeping people either blind and helplessly following his every directive, believing that Rick speaks for God as they walk blindly "by faith" or ever- learning from Rick about things like,  "How To Get a Miracle."  people run the grave risk of having eyes but never seeing and learning a lot, but never being able to come to the truth.  (See 2 Tim 3 verse 7)   In the Bible, people simply went to Jesus and miracles took place... but Rick  teaches that that getting a miracle is a rather difficult thing.

According to Rick, there are three conditions that must be met before a miracle can occur.  

 "Jesus uses this story to teach us three conditions for a miracle. When you need a miracle in your life," say's Rick, " ....you need to remember these three things."

 Rick, (who attributes these teachings to Jesus,) tells us that there are not only are there three conditions to be met.... but (wait, there is more!) these three things must also be remembered by the person.  

You better have a good memory.  If you are forgetful.... forget one of these three things... no miracle can ever happen for you.

Amazing.  People, presumably those who feel like that need a miracle from God are lead away from the giver of life, Jesus and told that they cannot have a miracle unless.... they do what Rick Warren says.  

Rick teaches:
1.  Miracles happen when somebody cares.
                                      (but you are not told how God already cares ... for you....Not once does he                                                 mention a verse like  John 3:16)
2.  Miracles happen when we get close to Jesus.
                                       (but you are not told to ask him anything.
                                        Jesus said, "Ask and it shall be given,"  but not Rick.
                                           He tell you that you must first meet certain conditions.)
3.  Miracles happen when we trust Jesus to lead us.
                                       (but you are not even introduced to who this Jesus is.....)


You can read Rick's article yourself.  See: Three Conditions for a Miracle, by Rick Warren , July 5th, 2014

Truth be told, if you need a miracle and lack the wisdom of how to get one, ask of God....  for God not only gives generously and impartially, but he makes it simple and  his burden is light.   and keep you working hard to earn the miracles you want to see in your life.

The true and biblical miracle of salvation by God's grace through faith, (Ephesians 2:8) is probably the greatest miracle of all, and it's a free gift from God, obtained not by works... but by simply asking God.

Rick on the Topic of the Bible and Science

"God sets up the laws of science; he made sure that his Word doesn’t contradict those laws."   Rick Warren

The Bible Is Always Ahead of Science (Devotional) by Rick Warren, Sept 21, 2014

It sure sounds 'biblical' to say such a thing... It sure would seem to refute refute all those "science" minded unbelievers who would otherwise think the bible was antithetical to (so-called) "science" that has answers for us about many  many things.  By saying such a thing, believers would have their faith boosted too... as they would likely agree with Pastor Rick, that the bible and the laws of science do not contradict and God set up those laws.  

Talk like this might make it look like Rick is defending the Christian faith.  It might also make him look like an authority on the Bible and science, but there's a problem here.  First of all, Rick is sloppy.  He does not give the author's name so one can validate the existence of the "very famous book" that he cites as being published in 1861,and attempted to disprove the Bible as true, titled,  Fifty-one Incontrovertible Proofs that the Bible is Scientifically Inaccurate.  Secondly, there are actually things in God's Word that do contradict the "laws of science."  These contradictions are commonly known as miracles and miracles are very much a part of biblical faith.

 (Rick has a few ideas of what constitutes a miracle, and what you must do if you want to get one and how they come from "unexpected sources" too. (Odd, isn't it?  One would think that the source of miracles would always be: God!) You can read some about Rick's teachings regarding miracles here and here.)

In the Bible, we are told that God simple speaks and creates all things from nothing.  This is, no doubt, often considered to be a rather "unscientific" way of looking at the origin of life, and of the origin of planet Earth as well.  The laws of nature, as we observe them, would tell you that it's pretty much impossible for something to come from nothing, which may account for the discussion about what came "first"... the chicken or the egg.

 Besides the parting of the sea, there is also the miracle of a burning bush.  Moses sees the bush burning, and it's on fire; but quite contrary to the laws of science, (in which something that is on fire burns up into smoke and becomes a heap of ash,) this bush is not consumed by the flames.  This is another miracle!

Also in the Bible, we read stories of dead people being raised from death to life.  There are various other feats of medical marvel too.  A man blind from birth is given his sight by a man named Jesus who simply makes some mud with his saliva and puts in the the blind man's eyes.   A young girl who dies at the age of twelve is raised again to life by Jesus too.  A man sick with palsy, is not only forgiven of sin,by Jesus, but cured of his palsy and able to pick up his mat and return to his home. Then too, there is the story of Jesus...  who suffered and died under Pontius Pilot.  Jesus, crucified upon a cross, was buried for three days and miraculously was then seen risen from the dead.  People raised to life after days of being dead, is not something you can exactly explain scientifically.

Then there is the matter of this so-called "famous" book Rick mentions. (Fifty-one Incontrovertible Proofs that the Bible is Scientifically Inaccurate,)  It would be easy to assume that Rick is right about the book.... but research shows that the book is really not so famous after all.  There  doesn't seem to be one copy of it around.  Unless you discover this famous book, you may never know for certain what "proofs" were discussed upon it's pages, or if all of them were even dispelled by discoveries of  humanity's "scientific laws."   One thing for certain, the bible, is full of wisdom and truth and perhaps the  most famous book of all.

Miracles do in fact contradict the laws of nature.  They are extraordinary, scientifically unexplainable and beautiful things that happen via the will and discretion of none other than Almighty God.

On Interpreting Scripture...

"You need faith and the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture. The Bible doesn’t make sense to non-believers. It is God’s love letter to believers. When an unbeliever reads the Word, he is reading someone else’s mail. The Bible is a spiritual book that must be understood by spiritual people."                                                                         -Rick Warren

 Biblical Interpretation: God Doesn't Leave You in the Dark by Rick Warren, www.rickwarren.org, October 4, 2014

Pardon me, but comparing the reading of the Bible by an unbeliever to the idea of reading other people's mail, is like saying, 'this book and what it contains is not for you, keep out."

While there are things hard to understand in the scriptures and indeed the natural man cannot understand the spiritual things therein without the help of the Holy Spirit, it is inaccurate to say that "the "bible doesn't make sense" to non believers.  Let's not forget that people have given their lives so that the contents of the Bible could be brought to an unbelieving world. And let's not trivialize the fact that the bible is a great work of literature too.

The bible contains the very laws that many civilizations past and present are based upon.  IT contains historical facts and figures too.  It's easy to read and learn from, and the words contained in this book of books are full of wisdom too.  While it would be wrong to read someone else mail... the bible, full of the testimony of God and the promises he has for mankind through faith in Jesus Christ...(See Acts 2:39) is for anyone with an ear to hear what the spirit of God is saying... but (spiritually wise, "pastor") Rick says that it is only for you... if you, (like him) are "spiritual."

"You need faith and the Holy Spirit to interpret scripture."

He does tell his readers they need "faith," in order to understand this spiritual book, but just "faith."  (And while we might assume he means faith in Jesus, he does not say, making it quite possible that religious "faith" in anything that can be dubbed "spiritual" just might do the trick.  

Rick, once again, is not clear on the issues.  He speaks quite vaguely... elusively even, but if you would like more clarity on the matter of biblical interpretation,  see this article offered on the web by Ron Rhodes and Richard Anthony that actually does clearly point to faith in Jesus Christ and sheds light from the true light of Jesus on the role of the Holy Spirit regarding the interpretation of scripture.  

Word-of-Faith Rick

Apparently, the Christian church is and has been wrong..... and Rick Warren (and Buddy Owens who helps him write devotionals for the Daily Hope)  offers both believer and unbelievers a 

"new way of thinking about life, God, yourself, hardship, your family and your world?"  

Yes, you can think in a NEW WAY about God,  yourself, hardship, your family, and your world.  All it takes is a redefining of words.... (and the good news is that  it can be completely wrong... if you like it that way. ) All that matters is that you are feeling special and happy about who you are!  The idea is you just say things and make them true because you said them.....

It's a little like having a Word of Faith doctrine in your pocket to use whenever it seems like a good thing to do.  If you do not like  confession. If you'd rather not talk about how you have lied... no problem.... just redefine it.  No longer does confessing mean admitting you had done something wrong and are ready and willing to admit your fault.  Nope.  Rick says,

"Stop confessing lies. Confess your faith!"

 Stop confessing lies.

 Instead confess your faith.

Weird huh?

In fact, just saying "what God says" is "confession," and did you know, repentance is not having remorse for your sin?  At least it's not with the NEW way of thinking,  No, repentance is simply thinking what God thinks; you know, thinking just like him.

"When you say what God says (confession), you begin to think what God thinks (repentance)"

Believe who God Says You Are, by Rick Warren, Daily Hope with Rick Warren, May 21 2014

God is asking you to believe he is who he says he is, believe you are who he says you are, and then live like you believe those things."  -Rick Warren

Believe who God Says You Are, by Rick Warren, Daily Hope with Rick Warren, May 21 2014

How vague can you get?  This is no gospel.... just meaningless babble.


 It sounds remarkably like Rick and friends at Daily Hope, would next have you repeat the mantra of false teacher, Joel Olsteen....

" This is My Bible, I am what it says I am, I have what it says I have, I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess, My mind is alert My heart is receptive. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living, seed of the Word of God. I will never be the same…Never, never, never, I will never be the same in Jesus name!"  

And then, yes, listen to these messaged, redefine words to suit yourself, make up your own doctrine instead of watch them closely like the apostles did and you would "never... never, never..... be the same in Jesus' name" certainly not the same as those who confess and repent properly.



 

....and there were GIANTS

 "How do you defeat the giants that are keeping you from being the man God wants you to be?" 

                                                            ~Rick Warren, Daily Hope with Rick Warren, Steps to Defeating the Giants By Rick Warren — January 30, 2015 

How do you? You can read his article, here.

He is being metaphorical, right?  As one contemplates the "giants" that are keeping them from being the man or woman that God wants them to be, that would be your first thought.  Warren must have forgotten that David's giant in 1 Samuel 17 that Rick refers to in this devotional, was quite real.  A taunting, bloodthirsty "giant" wasn't metaphorical for David.

And what did David do? He killed Goliath.  With one small stone loaded into his slingshot, he hit the giant of a man squarely in the forehead and knocked him out dead cold and then he cut off his head. 

Rick  has some wrong ideas.  David's experience with Goliath was not about the giant keeping David "from being the man God wanted David to be."  David didn't have an identity crisis about who he was. He was a shepherd who tended sheep and protected them from danger.  David was a man with faith in God. 

Rick does point out that David had faith and God, and that you should too.  He even puts several bible verses in this devotional page, but unfortunately, they are all used to prove Rick's points.... not the other way around.  Also,Rick neglects to mention Jesus Christ and no mention of our biggest, most enormously giant  problem that plagues us all.... sin.  

Sin is quite a giant.... in fact it is so big and oppressive that it makes us all, even the best of men, "fall short of the glory of God."

Instead of using the story of David and Goliath to reveal who Jesus is and what he has done for us, encouraging readers to see Jesus in some way, Rick relates the story a completely different light.  He says that if you want to be "great" like David, if you want to be a person with a great faith, a great dream and a great lifework.... all you got to do is... do the very things that David did.  David did four things and you can do them to:

1.  Remember how God helped you in the past. 
2.  Use the tools that God has given you now.
3.  Ignore the dream busters
            and 
4. Expect God to help you, for His glory.
 Then you storm the battlefield shouting, and slay your giants.

Notice that with Rick, it's all about you.... your greatness your great faith, your great dreams and your great lifework... and about you slaying the "giants" that keep YOU from your potential.

And notice how that giants, (in fact, all things big,) are a bit of theme with Rick.

 At the implementation of Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan, Rick's "global mission" was to slay the five evil giants  that plague the world.  This would be accomplished by listening to Rick and doing the five things  that, Rick said, he believes that "Jesus wants us to do" ... (under the leadership and direction of none other than... Pastor Rick!) 

Referring to Jesus, Rick said, 

 "He wants us to go into all the world and Plant faith communities, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick, and Educate the next generation. These five things make up what I call the PEACE Plan."

That's odd.  The part about "going into all the world" sounds familiar; Jesus did say "go unto all the world and".... but what Jesus reportedly said to his disciples was, "Go unto all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."  (Matthew 28:19)  Rick takes a bit of liberty in using those same words that are familiar and changing the directive that follows in order to tell us the things that "Jesus" wants us to do today.  Apparently, Rick has been having personal conversations with Jesus, conversations that have lead Rick Warrren Jesus new directive into, what Rick calls, "the PEACE Plan!

The P.E.A.C.E. Plan would attack the 5 evil GIANTS of spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy. How is this done?  According to the plan, it's done by:

1.  Planting  faith communities. 

By "faith community" does he mean Christian church?  The word is broadly applicable. Churches have, all along been planting churches long without the help of Rick.

2.  Equipping  "servant leaders."  

Isn't this modern business term, a bit of an oxymoron? 

 Rick said of this "evil giant" to be tackled:

"Not only have these leaders not gone to seminary or Bible school, they haven’t even gone to high school or primary school. They have no training whatsoever -- and yet they lead the church. This must be remedied." ~ Rick Warren, Peace Plan Unveiling, Nov. 2003, Notes\

So we see how these  "egocentric," "self serving" and "corrupt" leaders were not really described as evil, just uneducated.  Their crime is that they "lead the church."  It's odd, isn't it, that Ricks description makes this "evil giant" looks a lot like Peter and John.... you know, "ordinary" "unschooled" men.  (See: Acts 4:13.)  Rick wanted to remedy this situation by training them to be "Purpose Driven."

and it's rather remarkable to note that the next three things has been done by Christian mean and women for years... without Rick's plan or leadership.  He, however complained that the church was nothing but a big mouth, (unless of course, you were Catholic Relief Services.)
3.  Assist the poor  
4.  Care for the sick
5.  Educate the next generation.

In short, his plan for killing those giants (all five of them) was and still is a daunting task.  All he needed to do was to get the church behind his plan  and he would have it harnessed, working together, hand in hand with the rest of humanity, and together they could save the world.

Unfortunately, his plan was not to make disciples and baptize them.  He did mean that he wanted to plant churches.  Having noted publicly, that the church was the greatest distribution method for aid and material distribution, (since there was already a church to be found most everywhere on the planet.) What Rick wanted was to build "Faith communities," and make no mistake, a "faith communities" can refer to any religion on the planet.   Now that he is selling diet books, he pushes the notion that this great  distribution center called church is a great place for people get healthier... by doing the Daniel Plan.

In reality, (not metaphorically speaking here) there are big problems that plague the world.  The ultimate being our complete separation from God in our death.  But there is good news!  Jesus Christ, the one who died and rose again, an put and end to evil by dying on the cross.   Jesus Christ, God's promise made and kept, is God's plan of peace as he freely gives his love and offers salvation to a dying world. People can have more than purpose when the gospel is not hidden or obscured.  They can have a Savior with a promise, one who is with them always and gives them a real hope when facing "giants"of any kind.  By trusting in God and believing in the one whom he sent, Jesus Christ, we can not only be courageous when facing difficulty, but have peace, because of Jesus, and Jesus  has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

"You don't need to be a giant to slay one.  You just need to shoot straight.  Remember David.

Rick Warren tweet, Jan 21, 2011

No. 
Lets set the record straight.  David had faith and the Lord was on his side. The Lord gave David victory over Goliath, not his ability to shoot.   Also, you don't need to be  a person with a great faith, a great dream or even a great life work...to be GREAT, like David, all you have to do is believe in Jesus through the preaching of the Word.

As for your great lifework.. Your works won't save you no matter how great or good they are.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.    Ephesians 2" 8-10

As for those great dreams.... Don't let those big dreams make you forget the truth about your God.
Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.  Jeremiah 23:27
 
As for that great faith...  How big a "faith" do you need before it's great? 
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you   Luke 17: 5-6

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." ~ Jesus....                                                        John 15:5

Rick Warren Guest Speaks To the Dissolving Mars Hill Congregation.... (But Not In-Person.)

Anyone who knows anything about what has been taking place at Mars Hill Seattle, knows that there is much more than simply a "change of plans" going on.  People have been hurt, some deeply.  Others were confused, wondering what took place, how such a thing could have happened between friends, struggling with issues of faith and confidence in the leadership, feeling betrayed and abandoned, wondering how to move on.  

Well, never fear.... Rick is here.  

Who knew that someone outside of the immediate congregation would be tagged withe task of giving the last sermon and give closure to all that took place at Mark Driscolls's Mars Hill.

In his address, Warren reminded the crowd how believers have the promise of Romans 8:28.  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose," he told them,  Then went on to say that God's purpose is to make you like Christ, (even if he has to use a sledgehammer on you.)  He told them that if you are a believer, then you're going to have to go through everything that Jesus went through.

Now, I don;t know about you, but I know that Jesus was crucified and now I have Rick telling me that I have to go through that too?  Funny...I thought it was the other way around.  You know, he took my place and now it is of comfort to know that Jesus, God who became man, suffered, died in my place and therefore truely knows, understands all our suffering and pain.  For those who have seen the movie by Mel Gibson, that comment can be pretty intimidating to hear how we will all have to go through everything that Jesus went through.

Rick did offer a list of advice to the crowd that filled the room:

 "Let me suggest this: number one, refuse to be bitter about what's happened. If you hold onto bitterness you'll only hurting yourself. Bitterness prolongs the pain."

Without even quoting any good scripture on the matter of bitterness, Rick still makes a positive point about the danger of harboring bitterness in one's heart, but the interesting thing is that he didn't do it in person.  His address was not even simulcast  "live."  Nope.  Totally impersonal, his message was merely a video shown on a big screen to the gathered crowd,  a  pre-recorded video.   He continued: 


"Refuse to blame anybody. Stop the blame game." 



Again, this is not bad advice. These people were obviously ready to move in a new direction after the sinful actions of their leadership destroyed members of their congregation and left them without a place to call "church."  It was time for a new pasture.

 "Number three, refuse to gossip or judge. You've got to let it go."

 You can almost hear the echo in his choice of words. "You've go to let it go." 
"Let it go... let it go...."

Does he mean "forgive?" 

(Isn't it interesting how to gossip" or "to "judge" sometimes means never talking about anything that happens, and never labeling bad behavior as somehow wrong?  The bible tells us not to gossip and to judge rightly, when we do.... and it tells us too to speak the truth in love and test all things to see if they are of God.)

"Number four, show grace to your leaders. Why? Because every leader is flawed. … 

Everyone, (not just leaders) is "flawed"..... that is, everyone but Jesus.  
Jesus is not flawed.
 
 Number five, be grateful .… You need to be grateful for all of the ways that God used Mars Hill Church. Be grateful for all the ways God used Mark Driscoll."



Romans 8:29 rings true.here....


It had been a bad situation.But had Mark been being used by God?  After all, Mark Driscoll is known for telling people in his own congregation that God hates them.  (The Christian has to wonder, who is this God that Mark represents?) 

 Is this the same God who is described as "Love".in the bible, the God who is patient, kind, long-suffering, and not self-seeking? Is this the she same God who "so loved" the world that he sent his son as a gift to give eternal life to those who would believe? (John 3:16) 

Is Mark right or wrong when he tells his congregation that God "hates them"?  Who is this God that makes Mark  boast that 'by God's grace" there is a pile of dead bodies behind the Mars Hill bus."  

Dead bodies?  By God's grace? It does not make sense in light of God and Scripture.

 Mark Driscoll is also known for his use of profanity and being vulgar in his position as "pastor." His actions had given him the reputation of "potty mouth" pastor.  He has published many controversial books, one on the topic of marriage and another with a rather vulgar interpretation of the character and  behavior of Jesus Christ , (see , Vintage Jesus. ) Now, through people who have seen through the veneer and have dared to speak out, the truth is known and Mark Driscoll has been exposed. 

Yes....  grace to cover over sin and make amends is always important, but where's Mark Driscoll now?   And now that he is gone, is Rick some sort of superior  "overseer" of the churches that will now emerge out of the fallen carcass previously known to the world as Seattle's Mars Hill?

Rick demonstrated  Mars Hill as a great giant of a tree... now fallen.  He showed the camera he was filming for a photo of what he said was a sycamore,   and told them, 

 "Even in God’s garden of grace, broken trees bear fruit."

It's perhaps a comforting statement, but it's certainly not a bible verse with which to live your life by.  It is a little quip of Rick's that he's tweeted and used other times in the last year, one that has gotten him some media mileage.  It's evidently important for him to promote this concept as well as show this picture and tell how it was given to him by a monk and also to mention to everyone that it is a sycamore tree. (Why a "sycamore?") Most of the sermon, or rather "video recorded message," was a  lot of regurgitation of Rick's previous dissertations, philosophies and personal experiences and of course he also could not do without at least one, ( actually much more than one,) mention  of the the word, "purpose." 

Calling himself a “purpose-driven eater”  Warren, as he has done before, compared God’s plan of working all things for good (Romans 8:28)  to the ingredients involved in making a cake, saying how import it was for them to work together:

“Eaten individually, every one of those items is pretty distasteful ... even if you eat sugar by itself, it’s just not that good, but if you stir it all in, all things work together.”

 Even the part about how God uses sledgehammers and jack hammers to make us be like Jesus, for example, came from chapter 29 of his Purpose Driven Life book!   He would have you think that we but mere jewels in the making at the hands of a sledgehammer wielding jeweler forcing us to conform.  Is this biblical teaching? (Answer: NO.)


His words and visual aid didn't quite mesh together.  His photo depicted a dead tree and he pointed out new trees rising up where the old tree had fallen.  It didn't show "fruit" on the fallen tree, or fruit on the new young trees either, yet he talked about fruit on trees. This is  not coherrent, but the concept of dead and up-rooted trees being actual "fruit producers" is incoherent too.  Even fallen tree branches only produce fruit if they had fruit in production in the first place.... they do not produce any fruit once they are uprooted and fall.  

But besides all that,Jesus said it is not just being a fruit producer that matters;  (Mathew 7:17.  Producing some fruit is easy for any fruit tree to do.  The fruit produced must actually be suitable for consumption.  Good trees bear good fruit, not bad.

Lastly, Rick gave one more directive. He said,

 "Number six, keep your eyes on Jesus."

And that's good advice straight from the book of Hebrews in the Bible.  To do that you have to make some time and learn about Jesus.... You will be able to do this by reading about him in the Bible.  There you will see who he is and what he dis and does and understand what it is that we as Christians,and what some, serving as pastors, are supposed to do and not do.  

Jesus, the good shepherd, is faithful and true and he will never leave us or forsake us... (and he probably will not ever need to make "pre-recorded videos" in some pretense of being in touch with us.)  God is not a shadow on the wall that moves and changes.  He is real and in our midst as believers.  As the Good Shepherd he will lead us and guide us and protect us from all the storms of life.  His is the one that pastors should be pointing people to instead of writing book after book and pitching sales, because only Jesus, (not mere men like Rick Warren or Mark Driscoll) and it is recorded in the Bible, has the words of eternal life.

Rick Warren the Avid Reader

"I read everything Peter Drucker writes.  His book, the Efffective Exectutive is a favorite I reread every year. "  

~Rick Warren, Building on Your  Strengths by Rick Warren, 

CMBC Article, 5/24/2004

 "... I have read through the complete set of Jonathan Edwards – it was about 22 volumes and 800 pages each – he clearly was an influence on me."

Rick Warren in Interview, 

Rick Warren Clarifies Doctrine, Purpose Driven Life with John Piper

 Christian Post article by Michelle A. Vu   May 28, 2011, 

 “I want to stay sharp, and that’s why I read everything Dr. Amen writes, and you should too!”

– Rick Warren, (back cover, Use Your Brain to Change Your Age, May 2012

"I read everything Chuck Colson writes.  He is one of the most brilliant thinkers and cultural analysts of our time...."  Rick Warren

Rick Warren's endorsement of Chuck Colson's book, The Good Life

"So I went out and bought every book I could find on Bible study methods. I think it was about 30 or 40 books at the time, and I read every one of them."

Rick Warren, Preaching Magazine, 40 Days in the Word: An Interview with Rick Warren By Michael Duduit

" I thought, you know, these are men and women that I read all of the time and I respect, and I want to thank you for the columns and the articles that you write..."

"....As a writer, you never know who is reading your stuff and so I just wanted you to know I am reading you. I read a book a day and I read tons of magazines, tons of articles, and I just devour enormous quantities of material, and thank God for the Internet. I get The New York Times and I get The Wall Street Journal, and I get the local papers in L.A., but the rest I have to read online or in the magazines that I subscribe to."

                                 - Rick Warren,(spoken to Pew Forum Journalists, 8/26/2005)

                                      See also: CBS News Article ,The Rick Warren Movement, by Wendy Kaminer

"In January, I'm starting a Christian Leader's Library webcast. For much of my life I've read a book a day." 

- Rick Warren, December 1 2010, Facebook Post 

"I began collecting books at 14. I use to read a book a day. I read a book a day for many years. Today, I probably have 35,000 volumes in my library."

Rick  Warren The World Over, Part 2 Interview with  Raymond Arroryo

It would take a person 96 years to read that many books... if they read a book a day.

Just saying....g.

He's evidently been so busy reading everything but the Bible that he missed 2000 verses!....

"Okay. I mean I went to a Bible university, and I went to two seminaries, earned a Doctorate, how did I miss 2,000 verses in the Bible on the poor....Well, evidently, I just had on cultural blinders. "

~Rick Warren

Interview with Alison Rostankowski, 2006

http://www.theopedia.com/Rick_Warren

"It wasn’t like I was doing bad stuff, I mean, we were pastoring Saddleback church and which now has  82,000 names on the roll and, I was very busy, we baptized 15,000 new believers in the last 10 years, )so I wasn’t  just twiddling my thumbs… But God says, but, your not caring about the people I care about most. Your are not caring about the marginalized… the poor, the sick, the uneducated.   And I had to say, “God, I will use the rest of my life whatever affluence and influence you give me to help the church you know, recover this. And as I began to read scripture I found over 2000 verses )on the poor, and I had to say, how did I miss this? I mean , I went to a bible college and two seminaries…. I have got a doctorate.  How did I miss 2000 verses on the poor?? It was the cultural blinders that kept me from seeing who God cared about. "

-Rick Warren, OPEN LINE PROGRAM, Moody Radio,

 October 7, 2005 with  Wayne Shepherd

As a pastor, as a "learned" man, he told the world that he had no idea what the Bible said about caring for the poor.... 

Really?

He said several times publicly that he, a bible scholar,  had no idea...  had completely missed those "2000 verses" on the poor. 

How does that work?

He was a pastor, he held a Doctorate, went to "Bible university" and "two seminaries"  (not to mention spent time reading a book a day!  This is a travesty.  It disqualifies him from being thought of as someone who actually knows what the Bible says.

However, he still thinks that he knows everything.  After all, he has read everything under the sun.  He even figured out how to use those two thousand verses he claims to have "discovered" to support his PEACE Plan idea! 

Then, as now, Rick sees only what he wants to see in the scriptures.  He has the audacity to uses the bible to is own advantage.  He has his own ideas about what the Bible says and doesn't say.

Ever-learning, some people are 

never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:7

“The Bible says that as long as your heart is beating God has a plan and purpose for your life … to grow personally, to get to know God, to serve others, and make the world a better place.”  

- Rick Warren,

  Pastor Rick Warren Is Well Prepared For A Purpose Driven Retirement by Robert Laura, Forbes Magazine, 3/21/13

No mention of eternal life  or where in the bible we learn all of that.

"The Bible Says Love Requires Risk"  -Rick Warren

The Bible Says Love Requires Risk, By Rick Warren — May 21, 2014, rickwarren.org, Daily Hope

 Where in the Bible are we told this? 

"The Bible says in Proverbs 28:20, “A faithful man will have many blessings.” (HCSB) I want your life to have many blessings.   But in order for you to have that blessing, you’re going to have to learn faithfulness."

 -Rick Warren  

The Importance of Faith By Rick Warren —v  November 8, 2014 rick warren.org, 

Rick wants your life to have many blessings.....

 but in order for you to have that blessing....you have to learn faithfulness.

Is this what Proverbs 28:20 says?   Where?

On The Same Team?

"Sometimes Protestants think that Catholics worship Mary like she's another God.  That's not exactly Catholic doctrine. There's the understanding... and ... and people say, "Well what are the saints all about?" and  "Why are you praying to the saints?"  And when you understand what they mean by what they re saying, there's a whole lot more commonality; now, there's still real differences, no doubt about that!  But the most important thing is: If you love Jesus, we're on the same team!"

- Rick Warren, Catholic News Service Video, November 2014

So what , exactly, did Rick say and not say?  He said,

"Sometimes Protestants think that Catholics worship Mary like she's another God.  That's not exactly Catholic doctrine."
 

- Rick Warren

Sure, that's not "exactly" catholic doctrine....but note how Rick uses a qualifier to  help excuse his bad reasoning . The question is not, "Do Catholics worship Mary like she's "another" God?"  The question is, "Do Catholic worship Mary?   

Rick's point is misleading and Catholic's will tell you, they do not worship Mary, but they, instead  "venerate" her.....( and by the way, you are supposed to overlook that venerate is a synonym for "worship" ) Hopefully, Catholics believe in the trinity of Father Son and Holy Spirit..... not something else....and hopefully they do not believe Mary is ANOTHER God.

Regarding Mary, Catholics sing about Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the  "holy queen enthroned above" (They do this even though there is nothing in the Bible that tells us she is "enthroned" above as a "queen,") Catholics are also taught directly by Vatican publications like this one about the Rosary, that she intercedes for mankind to God...  and this is done despite the Christian doctrine preserved and derrived from the scriptures that says that there is one mediator between God and men, (1 Timothy 2:5)  and that Jesus is the only Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12)  Additionally, Eternal Word Television Network, (EWTN) an educational arm of the Vatican uses for teaching their  faithful Roman Catholic laity via television, teaches that Mary is "Co Redemptrix,"  It is interesting to note that Christians worship Jesus as God and as the reddemer of mankind..... and if this is the case, what do Roman Catholics do with a "Co Redemptrix?"  It's anybody's guess.

Rick says,
"..... and people say, "Well what are the saints all about?" and  "Why are you praying to the saints?"  And when you understand what they mean by what they're saying, there's a whole lot more commonality; now there's still real differences, no doubt about that! "

Saints are those who believe in God's Word..... dead or alive, they are saints.  Christians do not pray to one another... they pray to God.... not in a saints name, but in Jesus' name, because that is what Jesus told them to do.

Real differences? Why... yes.  No doubt, there are real differences....
Like veneration of the Mother of Jesus..... by kneeling before statues of her.and asking for her to intercede for us for salvation now and at the hour of our death....( instead of to Jesus) ... and praying because of beads as well as statues of "saints".that are claimed to help finding lost articles or sell houses,and this instead of simply praying to God... in Jesus' name. 


"...now there's still real differences, no doubt about that!"

 - Rick Warren

Differences?  Yes.  

Rick would like you to believe that there are more things in common between various denominations than there are differences.  One thinghe says is that catholics and protestants have in common is they both  "believe the Bible."  But what do catholics beliee about the bible?  What is the official stand on the authority of scripture?  

Roman Catholicism puts their own tradition above the authority of what it says at face value, and this is a difference.... and a problem, because the scripture, while given to all that from it we might obtain God's promises, is of no private interpretation.  It belongs not to sinful man, but to God..  

" If you love Jesus, we're on the same team!" - Rick Warren

That's odd. Maybe Rick has no idea that not everyone who claims to love Jesus is on the "same team."  There are those who call Jesus "Lord"... and those who call Jesus "Lord." However, apparently, based upon what we are told in the scripture, not all who claim to call Jesus "Lord" are, (as Rick says,) on Jesus' "team."

See Matthew 7:21:

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, 

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; 

but he that doeth the will of 

my Father which is in heaven" - Jesus

See Luke 6:45-46

 

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, 

and do not the things which I say?” -Jesus

SeevMatthew 7:22-24 

 

..... Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

Rome-N-Rick

EWTN , the Global Catholic Network, is Rick Warren's favorite "Christian channel," and the "Chaplain of Divine Mercy" they program on their channel is his "favorite show" one that he likes to relax to along with his wife Kay, after a stressful day. It renews and restores him.... helps him to worship, relax, reflect and meditate.  (What would he do without his T.V.?)

"I’m an avid fan of EWTN. I make no bones about it. I probably watch it more than any Christian channel. Well, you know what? Because you have more, more, uh, shows that relate to history. And if you don’t understand the roots of our faith, that God had been working for 2,000 years, regardless of what brand of believer you are, God has been working for 2,000 years in His church. And if you don’t have those roots you’re like the cut flower syndrome. Or you’re a tumbleweed. One of my favorite shows, which you repeat often is the Chaplain of Divine Mercy. Which I love. And when I’ve had a very stressful day, I’ll come home, I’ve got it taped and Kay and I will both, we’ll listen. We’ll put it on and just sit back, relax and worship. And in the time of reflection, meditation and quietness I find myself renewed and restored. So thank you for continuing to play the Chaplain of Divine Mercy. " ~Rick Warren 

Interview with Raymond Arroyo of EWTN on his program World Over, April 2014

How many Christians, at thte leading of Rick will now meditate with their Televisions tuned in ...just like Rick?

It's odd to have a "pastor" of supposed Protestant persuasion, Rick Warren, repeatedly endorsing Roman Catholicism before a watchful world.  You'd expect a Roman Catholic "priest" to do this, but not a Protestant pastor.  Protestants, while they share some of the same Christian convictions of faith with Roman Catholics, do differ on some key issues.  And really, differences, some differences are expected.. they are OK.   Yet, time and Time Magazine again, we hear the world reknown Rick Warren applauding the Roman Catholic church and pointing his listening audience in that direction.  It is almost as if he is on a mission, maybe, to reunite those separated brethren with Rome. 

Currently, Rick is giving the Roman Church more than lip service.  He has traveled to Italy, and is sharing the limelight surrounding the 2014 Vatican conference on Marriage with representatives of various faiths. 

In attendance are Mormons, (Yes, even though Mormonism is known not for monogamy but for polygamy)  Jews, Anglicans, Muslims, Pentecostals, Southern Baptists and even Hindus who have gathered together to affirm the long held understanding they all apparently share and can agree upon...  that marriage is between one man and one woman.  

The conference, with its reportedly 30 religious "leaders"  has no religious title.  The gathering is not to talk about "God" or issues of Christian "faith."  They gather at "Humanum."  in the name of..... yes,  humanity.... to examine "the changing roles of marriage and family."

Rick Warren, for his part at the conference, reportedly told the crowd, "We want all marriages and families to  be healthy and strong."  He also commented on what it was like to be in the presence of the Pope.  He said, "Up Close you can feel the humility and compassion that others see from afar."

According to Juan Martinez, vice provost of Fuller Theological Seminary, Rick was a likely candidate for being invited because " he has influence in certain segments of the Christian world"..."as he speaks, people will listen.  He said that as Rick's perspectives are made public, they tend to become representative of a significant number of evangelicals."....(In other words,there are segments of Christianity that can be easily  influenced by what is publicized as coming from Rick's lips.) 


Now we wonder why the other leaders got their invites as well.

It's an amazing comment from a representative of Fuller Seminary.  And what is Rick saying to the world?

Rick told a reporter how he was really hoping to see Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the Vatican while he is there for the marriage conference. (Isn't it interesting that those in Roman Catholicism who take vows of celibacy, seemingly know all about "marriage"....so they hold this conference? ) 

In reference to Pope Benedict, Rick Warren told reporters,
: “His books really influenced me, particularly his series on the life of Christ.”...... “He’s got a brilliant mind.”"

Rick Warren, OC Register article November 16, 2014

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/rick-warren-we-must-celebrate-marriage/#ixzz3JRQexU5h

Rick Warren, said to be so incredibly influential when he speaks, (at least according to Juan Martinez,) is pointing it out to others that he, being so well-read, knows a brilliant mind, (Pope Benedict,) when he sees one.  His words are then officially publicized for me and you, and if we do as expected, we will be influenced into reading and thinking just like influential Pastor Rick!

Benedict could very well be a very nice person.  He might even be a very "brilliant mind" but when it comes to faith issues, one must certainly ask Rick Warren, how's Benedict's (Ratsinger's) doctrine?  It this the person, with the brilliant mind, who knoews all about the life of Jesus, the one that we should all be be learning from and listening to?

Make no  mistake, in the heart of Pope Benedicts Roman Catholicism, you can count on rosary prayers, prayers for the dead,  and a belief in purgatory.  There's also the practice of indulgences, and the belief in the assumption of Mary into heaven,where she intercedes for those who are here on earth.  Yes, no doubt, as Pope, Benedict is contemplating and meditating on Marian mysteries and practicing lectio divina, while rejecting as heretics those who dare believe sola fide, (that salvation comes by faith in Christ alone,) unless of course, like so many religious leaders  of varying faiths, they submit, like Rick,  to the brilliance of the man and the  supremacy,  of the office hat he once held.... that has now gone to Pope Francis. 


 Rick Warren would do well to point his listeners, people of all "faiths"  to Jesus, instead he points them elsewhere... and when he is  being interviewed on on EWTN... he points people ..... to the pope.

"And—as—as—our new Pope he was very, very symbolic in, you know, in his first Mass with people with AIDS. Ah, his—his kissing of—of—this deformed man, his loving the children, this authenticity, this humility, the caring for the poor; this is what the whole world expects Christians to do. And when we—when they go, “Oh, that’s what a Christian does.” In fact, there was a headline here in Orange County—and I loved the headline—I saved it. It said, “If you love Pope Francis, you’ll love Jesus.” 

~Rick Warren

Rick Warren, 4/14/2014 EWTN Interview with Raymond Arroryo

Did you catch that?..."Our" new Pope?
The pope is Rick's pope too.

"Yeah, right. Well—and the main thing is love always reaches people. It—authenticity, humility—Pope Francis is the perfect example of this. He is, uh, he is doing everything right. You see, people will listen to what we say, if they like what they see." 

 ~Rick Warren

Rick Warren, 4/14/2014 EWTN Interview with Raymond Arroryo

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 

 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? 

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 (John 20:24-29 ESV)

rything Peter Drucker writes. His book “The Effective Executive" is a favourite I reread every year. Long before words like “empowerment” became popular, Peter was telling us that the secret of achieving results is to focus on your strengths, and the strengths of those you work with, rather than focusing on weaknesses. In fact, Peter says, making strengths productive is the unique purpose of organization. - See more at: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/rick_warren_new_age.html#RW-DruckerI read everything Peter Drucker Writes

“I read everything Peter Drucker writes. His book “The Effective Executive" is a favourite I reread every year. Long before words like “empowerment” became popular, Peter was telling us that the secret of achieving results is to focus on your strengths, and the strengths of those you work with, rather than focusing on weaknesses. In fact, Peter says, making strengths productive is the unique purpose of organization. - See more at: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/rick_warren_new_age.html#RW-Drucker

“I read everything Peter Drucker writes. His book “The Effective Executive" is a favourite I reread every year. Long before words like “empowerment” became popular, Peter was telling us that the secret of achieving results is to focus on your strengths, and the strengths of those you work with, rather than focusing on weaknesses. In fact, Peter says, making strengths productive is the unique purpose of organization. - See more at: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/rick_warren_new_age.html#RW-Drucker