Archive for January, 2014

Grammy’s Sacrificed on Altar of Depravity

Posted: January 28, 2014 by David Fiorazo in David's Blog
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The Grammy’s seem to be following the lead of other entertainment industry awards shows that push the envelope of decency in a desperate attempt draw ratings. Sadly, the Grammy’s are no longer just about music – and if we care about soul pollution, we better start making better choices about what we allow in our homes.

Christian friends, if we don’t teach our children to believe in and follow Jesus Christ, the world will teach them not to. Hollywood makes no apology for its promotion of the perverse, and they no longer care about offending traditional Americans and mocking Christians.

Some have taken this point a step further, suggesting Hollywood is openly rebelling against God and Christianity. Before I sum up the lowlights from the 2014 Grammy’s, I’d like to share some friends’ comments:

  • “It reeked heavily of demonic influence… People don’t even realize what they are inviting into their homes.
  • “Completely irrelevant to life. Humans praising humans over something that has zero eternal value. Meh. They can have it. Give me Jesus.
  • “The depravity of the culture has taken over. Music is a backdrop where it used to be in front. Even the level of professional decorum is gone. The culture has succeeded in transfixing the masses into believing that the pit of darkness is hip.
  • “I don’t care about who wins what. It’s says in the Bible we are to give glory and honor to God. I see the Grammy’s and all other types of secular awards as giving glory and honor to men.
  • “Song of the Year nominees were about rape & comparing Heaven to sex. The event has become perverted. It’s no longer ignoring Biblical values…it’s voicing that they’re AGAINST Biblical values.
  • “Katy Perry is like a lot of people starved for attention and wanting to jump on the ‘Lets offend God and shock the Christians’ band wagon; she is dangerous because people (especially young people) see what she does and that can become a gateway into the occult.
  • “[The Grammy’s] were like the scene Moses saw when he came down off the Mountain.

You might argue that Hollywood awards shows are only giving America’s culture what it wants. I’d tend to agree. If you’re a believer, God has saved us in Christ, but too many believers have conformed to the world rather than be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We cannot protect our minds by filling them with trash.

The Bible teaches that friendship with the world is hatred toward God and, “Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

I’m not suggesting everything was bad, but I did watch Grammy performance clips, read some articles, and can hardly believe this stuff was broadcast on prime time. There is nothing new under the sun. It just seems shocking to those of us who still remember and understand how America began and the fact this once great nation was founded on Judeo-Christian morals and principles.

For obvious reasons, contemporary Christian artist, Natalie Grant (nominated for two Grammy’s) decided not to stay for the whole program. Here’s what she Tweeted that night:

We left the Grammy’s early. I’ve many thoughts, most of which are probably better left inside my head. But I’ll say this: I’ve never been more honored to sing about Jesus and for Jesus. And I’ve never been more sure of the path I’ve chosen.

After getting hammered by certain media and critics the next day, Grant further stated:

I’ve had many people throughout my career ask why I never tried to go in to mainstream music and last night was a beautiful reminder that I love singing about Jesus and FOR Jesus… And I can say that with all sincerity. My last thought: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus for it is the power of God who brings salvation to ALL who believe.” Romans 1:16

Do you really think more people will remember the Grammy winners – or the circus side shows?

The Grammy’s opened with Beyoncé and hubby Jay Z as she gyrated to her song “Drunk in Love” while some of the explicit lyrics had to be bleeped out. (Here is Good Fight Ministries expose on Beyoncé’s satanic influence)

As advertised in the days leading up to the program, the Grammy’s featured a “marriage” ceremony boasting 33 couples, gay and straight, while Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performed their gospel-tinged, gay-marriage affirming “Same Love.”

The festivities were introduced and “officiated” by Queen Latifa, who – get this – had been legally deputized to marry the couples by Los Angeles County. “This is not a song for some of us but for all of us,” she said at the outset. Wanting to be part of history, Madonna sang a version of “Open Your Heart” as cameras panned down the line of couples embracing and celebrating.

Ryan Lewis said,

“[The weddings] will be in our minds the ultimate statement of equality, that all couples are entitled to the same thing.”

Katy Perry (aka Illuminati Priestess) presented her offering, a witchcraft ceremony, to the show while singing, “Dark Horse” ending with her being burned at the stake. Her act included a Knights Templar cross emblazoned across her chest, a beast with Moloch horns, dark-robed dancers with devil horns protruding from their heads, a pole dance with a broom, and lots of fire.

Keep in mind, this all took place during prime time.

We cannot expect unbelievers to act like Christians nor should we judge them – they need God – but we can warn, inform, and encourage fellow believers to stay strong and avoid the garbage.

Finally, because of the media’s marketing of same-sex marriage and the fact that activist groups often attack people that oppose their agenda, we often think homosexuality is the worst sin in the world. It may be the most rapidly accepted sin in American culture, but have we been just as vocal about our opposition to abortion, adultery, sexual promiscuity, lying, profanity, drunkenness, the occult, and Satan worship?

The human heart is wicked and beyond cure. We’re all in need of a Savior and for those of us thankful enough to be forgiven and saved from eternal separation from God, we need to pray for the lost souls in Hollywood. If they don’t turn to Jesus, their rewards end in this life.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.” — Galatians 6:7-8

David Fiorazo is the author of ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA

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The Daniel Plan and a Heaping Cup of New Age

Posted: January 25, 2014 by David Fiorazo in David's Blog
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Rick Warren’s book, The Daniel Plan, was inspired by the original 2011 health seminar held at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, at which three experts came together to teach the world how to be healthy. There is nothing wrong with taking care of our bodies while we work toward making disciples of Jesus Christ, but let’s look at this approach strictly from a Christian perspective. One doctor is Muslim, one Jewish, and one a proponent of New Age mysticism: What could go wrong?

Warren said in an interview the book is far more than a diet; “it is about living a healthier life based on biblical principles,” however, the yeast being added to this recipe includes the doctor’s beliefs and practices that fall under the category of false teachings or another gospel. This is not a concern about associating with unbelievers; Jesus obviously spent time with sinners. However, He did not give unbelievers a platform with which to promote their religion or teachings that do not line up with the Bible.

The Daniel Plan landed in the No. 1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list in the “Advice, How To and Miscellaneous” list, and churches all across America are eating it up. Romans 14:13 warns us to be careful not to put a stumbling block in our brother’s way. I agree with writer, Marsha West, that there’s nothing wrong with losing weight; wanting to feel better, look better, be stronger, and think sharper. West stated:

The problem lies with the witch’s brew cooked up by Rick Warren and his team of doctors. As I’ve demonstrated, doctors Amen, Hyman and Oz are steeped in Eastern mysticism and the occult. A large number of Christians trust Rick Warren and will purchase their books — and a lot of them will be influenced by a worldview that is incompatible with Christianity, namely New Age Spirituality. Again, more than 5,000 small groups will go through TDP. God help them!

The following is an excerpt from ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA…

In 2011, Warren and Saddleback hosted the kick-off for the 52-week health program called The Daniel Plan. The problem is not with doing these things, it is with how they are done as well as who implements them. The “experts” called in to head the program go way beyond promoting physical health and are absolute advocates and proponents of eastern-style meditation.

Dr. Daniel Amen teaches techniques such as a twelve-minute form of meditation, Kriya Kirtan which includes chants and mantras for various purposes such as health and wealth. The promoted benefit of Kriya Kirtan is connecting with your inner divinity. This is a form of kundalini yoga (see Amen’s book, The Brain in Love, p. 146). Those who have researched and understand New Age mysticism know that kundalini (or serpent power) is the spiritual “energy” behind meditation.

Another form of meditation that Dr. Amen advocates is called “Tantra” or tantric sex which is the use of Hinduistic-type mysticism during sexual intercourse. Tantra is the name of the ancient Hindu sacred texts that contain certain rituals and secrets. Some deal with taking the energies brought forth in meditation through the chakras and combining them with love-making to enhance sexual experiences. Rick Warren clearly stated Dr. Amen’s resources would be available for those who attended the seminar and, of course, available on line. In almost all of Dr. Amen’s resources, he advocates eastern meditation.

Dr. Mark Hyman is a nominee to President Obama’s advisory group on prevention, health promotion, and public health. In his book The Ultramind Solution, Dr. Hyman emphasizes mystical meditation, say­ing it doesn’t matter what religion one has in order to benefit from it (p. 322). Dr. Hyman suggests that “Mindful meditation is a powerful, well-researched tool, developed by Buddhists” (p. 384). On Dr. Hyman’s website you can read the article, “How the Dalai Lama Can Help You Live to 120.” On the book’s front cover sits an endorsement by Dr. Mehmet Oz, the third Daniel Plan doctor.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, a highly renowned cardiovascular surgeon was catapulted into American living rooms thanks to Oprah Winfrey who featured him on her show for five years, making him a household name. That eventually led to him getting his own television show, currently one of the more popular shows on TV. Like it or not, Oprah has influenced perhaps millions to at least check out the New Age movement and calls Oz her favorite doctor. Influenced by the mysticism of Sufi Muslims, Oz was raised as a Muslim and wrote an article called “Mehmet Oz Finds His Teacher” in which he shares his spiritual awakening.

According to one of Oz’s mentors, mystic Emanuel Swedenborg, “heaven and hell are not merely places but spiritual states. We do not ‘go there’ when we die. We are already there.” Dr. Oz is also a propo­nent of transcendental meditation and Reiki meditation, and his wife is a Reiki Master. Reiki is a type of “energy healing” based on the New Age chakra system and puts those practicing it into contact with the realm of familiar spirits.

These three doctors worked with Warren to create a health plan that may already have been implemented by Purpose Driven Churches world­wide, and tragically, millions of people could possibly be introduced to their New Age influences. If he doesn’t support their teachings, he sure gave them a big platform with which to promote them.

There’s a reason Christians are warned to “test all spirits,” be discerning, and do not believe every one. (1 Thess. 5:21, 1 John 4:1) Are book sales a confirmation that the contents are biblical?

…“But wait,” one might argue, “look at the size and growth of our church buildings and marketing campaigns and fundraisers! Look at how hip and relevant we are! We even serve cappuccino and lattes! We host Yoga classes and support environmentalism. Our sermons are catchy, our services are attractive, the kids are having fun, and we’ve blended in with culture!” This is my point exactly about conforming to the world’s ways in order to draw people to church. Let’s stick to teaching the simple, eternal truth of the gospel.

The danger of compromise is always on Christians who, while giving others the benefit of the doubt, partner with other [individuals and] organizations that have fundamentally contrasting beliefs and doctrines.

For more:

Print Booklet Tract: Rick Warren’s Daniel Plan – The New Age/Eastern Meditation Doctors Behind the Saddleback Health

Rick Warren’s Daniel Plan Embraces New Age Spirituality

The Unfolding of a Global New Age Plan

“Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life” awash with doctrines of demons

The Daniel Plan and its New Age Ingredients

*To read complete excerpts from chapters 12 and 13 from ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA, please click this link:

Pastor Rick Warren and Emerging Mega Churches

Benghazi Burned, Obama Campaigned, the Media Moved On

Posted: January 16, 2014 by David Fiorazo in David's Blog
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How would the media have reported on Benghazi if we had a Republican president such as Chris Christie? I think we know the answer.

In this week’s scathing bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report on Benghazi, extensive evidence confirms what most of us already knew: the attack was preventable. The report concludes there was a “significant strategic warning” about the possibility of an attack in the months leading up to September 11, 2012.

We also know Ambassador Christopher Stevens had requested additional security several times and for whatever reason was denied. In fact, on the day of the terrorist attack, his final journal entry reads, “Never ending security threats…”

According to the Washington Examiner:

“The CIA hired local Libyan militia members as security for the U.S. facilities in Benghazi but most of them failed to show up the evening of the attacks and declined CIA security officer’s attempts to have them mount a rescue mission once the attacks began.”

We may never know why the Obama cover-up committee thought they could fool the American people by sending then-Ambassador to the United Nations and current National Security Advisor Susan Rice on a PR mission to repeatedly lie about the motives (really, that darn video caused them to kill Americans on another 9-11 anniversary!) behind the attack in the following days while Obama traveled the country campaigning.

I submit to you they were stalling for precious time as the 2012 Presidential Election drew closer and had the truth come out sooner it could have affected the outcome. This is assuming the media would have done their jobs.

Fact: the State Department has now confirmed they knew it was a terrorist attack the day after it took place. The latest report finds that there were no military assets positioned in a place where they could have saved Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans.

As the Government Accountability Institute timeline reveals, President Obama failed to attend his daily intelligence briefing for the five consecutive days leading up to the attack of the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. The timeline catalogues Obama’s continuous campaigning even as terrorist forces vowed Libyan attacks and State Department officials were warned of security threats.

The Benghazi attack became a critical event during the final months of the 2012 presidential election, an event Republican Mitt Romney decided not to press Obama about during their debates. (Reminds me of John Mc Cain deciding to play nice and not talk about radical Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Obama’s 20-year association with Wright’s church.)

The Benghazi attack was not caused by a video as Susan Rice tried selling with a straight face but with the media’s help, the Obama administration downplayed evidence that it was in fact a premeditated terrorist attack we know could have and should have been prevented.

The Senate Intelligence Committee’s long-awaited final report on Benghazi faults the State Department for failing to provide adequate security despite numerous warnings.

I’m trying not to lose complete faith in a government that spent millions of dollars doing a bipartisan investigation of Benghazi; they held closed-door sessions, examined thousands of pages of documents, and have yet to hold anyone accountable despite damning evidence.

Finally, it is both sad and embarrassing that the day after we lost four great Americans in Benghazi and suffered the first assassination of a U.S. Ambassador since the Carter administration, the president flew straight to Las Vegas for another campaign event.

I know what you may be thinking: ‘What difference – at this point – does it make?’ It matters to the families of the victims; and it matters to American citizens who simply want and deserve truth from the government that serves us and from the media that reports on our behalf.

 

 

David Fiorazo is President of Wisconsin Media Check and author of ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA

Fast And Furious Guns Found; Government Accountability Lost

Posted: January 8, 2014 by David Fiorazo in David's Blog
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What did the media know and when did they know it?

Since 2010, guns linked to Obama’s Fast and Furious have turned up at crime scenes in Mexico and the United States and we’ve barely heard a peep in the news. The latest gun traced back to the operation was found after a shootout between authorities and Mexican drug cartel thugs in late December 2013.

Erik Holder was right. Though he refuses to take any responsibility for the tragic Fast and Furious operation,  he did admit we’re going to see even more deaths in Mexico for years to come as a result of the Obama administration’s operation.

How is this not a major story?

Holder’s DOJ is still under investigation, but since there has been so little coverage from the beginning, there is no pressure on the administration, which means Americans may never know the truth.

The Bureau of Alco­hol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said in a statement:

“ATF has accepted responsibility for the mistakes made in the Fast and Furious investigation and at the attorney general’s direction we have taken appropriate and decisive action to ensure that these errors will not be repeated. And we acknowledge that, regrettably, firearms related to the Fast and Furious investigation will likely continue to be recovered at future crime scenes.”

Let’s review the facts from the Fast and Furious scandal and you can decide whether the media should have reported this all along.

Eric Holder’s chief of staff, deputy attorney general, Gary Grindler, oversaw the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which led the failed “gun-walking” operation. He was another member of the Justice Department that resigned a year ago.

A report at the time from House Oversight Committee chairman Darryl Issa recommended disciplinary action against Grindler and 13 other officials; Grindler was accused of “passing the buck” and failing to take charge of the department.

In June 2012, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was voted in con­tempt of Congress by 259 members of the House of Representatives for stonewalling the investigation into the Operation Fast and Furious scandal.

In all of American history, no sitting Cabinet member had been held in contempt of Congress. President Obama even stepped in and used his “executive privilege” to protect Eric Holder. If Holder did nothing wrong, why did he need protection and why not cooperate with the investigation? What are they hiding?

In this case, American guns were used in the deaths of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, Immigra­tion and Customs Enforcement Agent Jaime Zapata, and at least 210 Mexican citizens so far. The gun used in Terry’s death was purchased in Arizona, and the gun used in Zapata’s death was purchased in Texas. Both were “Fast and Furious” guns.

From 2009 to 2011, Obama administration ATF ran Operation Fast and Furious (a.k.a. Project Gunrunner), a program to track U.S.-purchased firearms headed to Mexican drug cartels in order to get to cartel heads.

Critics believe the real purpose of the operation was to undermine the Second Amendment by vilifying gun owners and sellers so the govern­ment could enforce stricter gun laws in America. Either way, it went terribly wrong.

One problem with the plan was that our DOJ didn’t even notify Mexican authorities that thousands of semi-automatic firearms were being sold to people in Arizona thought to have links to Mexican drug cartels. ATF agents were ordered not to intercept the smugglers, but rather to let the guns ‘walk’ across the U.S.-Mexican border and into the hands of Mexican drug-trafficking organizations.

Fast and Furious was botched when over 1,400 guns, including AK-47’s, were lost. The operation was halted in December 2010 after two weapons the department lost track of were found at the murder scene of Brian Terry. His family filed a lawsuit charging that the top federal prosecutor in Phoenix lied to them about the guns found at the crime scene in an attempt to hide the weapons’ connection to the ATF’s operation.

Rather than report the facts, the media made this a political issue, and Holder has even accused Republicans of racism.

Rep. Issa and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) requested the Justice Department release thousands of documents related to the inner workings of Fast and Furious. The Justice Department then delivered less than ten percent of the 80,000 documents. Issa also released a report suggesting top DOJ officials had extensive knowledge of and involvement in Fast and Furious than previously acknowledged.

In February 2011, the Justice Department sent a letter to Congress denying the operation even existed! Ten months later, the Department retracted the letter. Then, Eric Holder insisted he did not even know about the program until early 2011.

After months of inves­tigation, the Justice Department finally acknowledged the allegations were true. Why did it take nearly nine months for the Department to acknowledge Holder’s earlier denials were false? Did they need ‘cover-up’ time knowing the media would give them a pass?

In other words; people died, Holder lied, and the media glossed over the corruption. Why did senior Justice Department officials who knew about and received briefings on the operation fail to stop it?

By the way, Gary Grindler isn’t the only personnel change in the DOJ. Former ATF Director Kenneth Melson began talking to inves­tigators and pointed to a cover up. Melson was moved to a new position with the ATF. At least four more ATF officials were also reassigned or promoted by the Obama administration to other positions in Washington D.C. This is how the Left rolls.

Naturally, Holder has not only received continued support from President Obama, but White House spokesman Jay Carney said at the time, “He absolutely stands by the Attorney General, thinks he is doing an excellent job.”

ATF is not down in Mexico trying to track down the lost weapons. In a recent article, John Hayward said,

“The tracking system for the Fast and Furious guns involves waiting for them to turn up at crime scenes and stepping gingerly around the chalk outlines to retrieve them.”

With so little accountability, is the Obama administration simply above the law?

Tragically, the DOJ has yet to publicly hold anyone accountable for this disastrous operation, and the bottom line is Americans are no longer getting the truth from a free press once established to keep government in check.