Posted on 03/24/2007 11:51:46 AM PDT by blackbeardsghost
You're asking me for information I can't possibly have any knowledge of - and I'm dumbfounded that you would believe I would know that information. I'm not a member of their ministries or in any capacity fincially to have such information.
If you're that interested in what they do with their money, why don't you just write directly to the ministry and ask them. But .. then you probably wouldn't believe what they tell you. I really feel you have already made up your mind. They're on TV - asking for money - and you've already decided that's a bad thing.
I've been in the same church for over 25 years. I can tell you that running a church or running any ministry is similar to running a business. You have all kinds of details to attend to .. just normal stuff like meeting with your staff and giving them instruction (like any boss), and all the things I would consider normal actions by anyone running an organization with a fairly large paid and volunteer staff.
Then .. in order to preach, you must allow yourself time to study the Word .. because you cannot teach it if you don't know what it says. You must pray and seek God's guidance in what you are to teach. After you get that information, you must prepare your sermon or lesson. Writing that takes a considerable amount of time. And .. it's during this time that you are searching out the scriptures and writing down the references. It may not be the same as plowing a field .. but it's still work nonetheless.
I've never preached a sermon, but I've taught a lot of Sunday School classes and the preparation is exhausting .. that is if you seriously want to teach the Word of God.
People seem to have this idea that ministries just sit around the pool and drink lemonade - then get dressed up and just show up at some hall or TV station to preach.
That is a million miles from reality.
And .. like I said in another post .. if you're planning on buying a $20 mil jet .. you have already sown the seed of your other airplane - probably to another ministry.
So my argument is .. until people have the faith to believe GOD actually wants them to prosper .. there's nothing to discuss. But .. in John III in the New Testament, he said, "2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Imagine that .. ABOVE ALL THINGS .. GOD wants us to prosper!! And if you remember your English lessons .. the word "mayest" indicates God is giving us PERMISSION to prosper. To me, I translated this scripture to mean that God gave me permission to prosper .. if that was what I wanted to do. It always seemed to me to be my choice. If I wanted to develop my faith to believe for finances, I had permission to do that.
However, what I'm talking about has nothing whatsoever to do with the name it and claim it stuff. I do not believe in that philosophy.
If we believe GOD inspired the words "... above all I wish that thou mayest prosper", then we must believe that GOD wants us to prosper because His word just said He did - and He wants us to be in health - even as we learn more and more about the Bible. We cannot help those in need .. if we are the ones in need of help. If you're poor .. can you feed a starving person ..?? I don't think so. So in your piety .. you can offer a starving person the Word of God - and will that fill their tummy ..?? I don't think so!
I've done a lot of outreach programs through my church. We always FEED THE PEOPLE FOOD and the Word of God.
Another thing Gloria Copeland said that changed my way of thinking: "God's not looking for ability, He's looking for availability". Are we available for God to use for HIS purpose ..?? I believe if we are available, God will reward us - because the Bible says: "GOD is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him". I also believe that those rewards come in a variety of ways .. usually a way that is meaningful to you. If your car broke down - maybe you'd find a really good replacement car - or a repairman who really did a good job repairing your car - but God wouldn't give you a baby carriage - if you didn't have a baby who needed one. My car did breakdown, but because of my faith, I was able to purchase a brand new car.
One of my favorite scriptures says: "God can do exceedingly, abundantly, over and above anything we can ask or think; infinitely beyond our highest hopes or dreams".
I defy anybody to prove to me the Copelands DO NOT SEEK HIM. You can't! Because there's no way for you to know that. So .. if the Copelands are seeking God .. who are we to say that GOD cannot reward them ..?? GOD made the promise to reward those who seek Him.
Over and out!
No, friend, they're rich because they took other people's money. It's quite simple, really.
My mother used to watch the Lester Sumrall affiliate in the area where I grew up. He had all the usual suspects on there. Copeland, Baker, Robertson, Hinn. They've got themselves a good little business goin' on.
Anyone know anything about Lester? He always seemed like a decent fellow. I never trusted the others, but he seemed like a straight shooter.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Jo 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jo 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Well .. in the first place I'm not your "friend".
Secondly, this is your opinion and you're stuck with it.
And .. they didn't "take" other people's money. When an offering is GIVEN by the other person - it's that person's CHOICE to give the offering - nobody's twisting people's arms to "take" the money.
You people just have a bias and you're envious and jealous of their wealth. The only way you can justify that is to claim they're crooks.
You are so correct. If I remember correctly, when they got married, he was living out of his car! Now .. surely he has come a long way from that "small beginning".
I've heard Gloria preach about their early years .. and it's really quite amusing. Like she said, "I'm just like you .. I just got up one more time.
This jealousy and envy I see in the church is really bothering me. I have received so many monetary blessings from God .. money and things that were never spoken by me to others .. but God knew what my needs were.
Standing on the Word and having faith that believes God meant every word he said to us .. that takes study and work .. and a lot of people are not willing to pay that price and then they jealous and envious of those who were willing and have reaped the reward.
Check your FReepmail!
ping!!
A little boy in my Sunday school class years ago said "I put 50 cents in the collection plate so now God owes me $1.50."
I think that is quite obvious.
Wel .. I have had great teaching from my Pastor, so I know what to watch and what not to watch.
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