Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy (Hallowed be Your name).

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen.

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Scenes of an older, but still vibrant, Nelson Mandela raising his fist and shouting the popular revolutionary slogan, "Amandla" (meaning power to the people), while exiting the Victor Verster Prison two decades ago today are still vivid in many people’s minds.

By 11 February 1990, the famed political prisoner had spent almost a third of his life in prison, and the world watched as Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, along with his then-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, made his first step into freedom after almost 30 years. It was a triumphant return for Mandela and a moment that brought not only South Africa to a standstill but also generated international headlines. People around the world wanted to see the man, who, until then, had only been known by his name since no photographs of him appeared in newspapers or television for over 27 years.

Greetings and well wishes
Today, Madiba, as the elder statesman is now fondly known, is celebrating 20 years since his release. Hundreds of messages from all corners of the globe are finding their way to the former South African president, with FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter describing him as a symbol of Africa’s humanity.
We trust that the FIFA World Cup™ will contribute to the legacy that you wanted for your country.
FIFA President Joseph S Blatter

In a recorded video message, which you can view by clicking the link on the right, the FIFA President praised Mandela for his vigilance in the fight against apartheid and for helping to bring democracy to South Africa. “There is no greater symbol of Africa’s humanity than you and what you stand for. You gave more than your share to your country and your continent. You dedicated your life to the endorsement of human rights and democracy,” Blatter said.

Blatter also reaffirmed to Madiba his belief that South Africa will host a successful FIFA World Cup in June and July of this year. “In this same spirit, your young nation will deliver a great tournament with determination and dignity this year. I still remember you telling me about how inspirational the 2010 FIFA World Cup is for you and what 2010 means for you and your country. We trust that the FIFA World Cup will contribute to the legacy that you wanted for your country.”

The release of Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison, largely on the notorious Robben Island, helped pave the way for the first democratic elections in South Africa. And four years later, it was Mandela himself who traded the mat that he slept on during his years in prison for a seat at the South African presidential residence, becoming the first democratically elected president of South Africa in May of 1994.

A legend behind bars
Imprisoned in 1962, Mandela’s name became synonymous with the struggle for freedom in South Africa even though millions had never seen his picture. During the now infamous Rivonia trial, he and other revolutionary leaders including Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and Ahmed Kathrada were charged and found guilty of sabotage and other offences that carried the maximum sentence of death in apartheid-era South Africa. Only pressure from the international community spared them from the ropes.

Mandela, who was born in the rural village of Mvezo in what is now part of the Eastern Cape, was soon moved from a maximum security prison in Pretoria to Robben Island, a place that had been built to incarcerate enemies of the state. A small island in the Atlantic, Robben Island is only about 25 kilometres from Cape Town. It is here that many opponents of the apartheid regime were imprisoned as the struggle for emancipation continued in South Africa for decades.

With resistance in South Africa reaching its peak and international pressure mounting to free Mandela and other political prisoners, former South African president, FW de Klerk took the world by surprise when he revealed on 2 February, 1990, that Mandela would be released from prison. The announcement was greeted with celebrations in the streets of South Africa.

In his book, Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela wrote about the moment: “When I walked out of prison my mission was to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both. I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”

http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/president/news/newsid=1168413.html

My first best sermon was in chapel and at campus. I preached about True Love and the love of God. With time, I have come to understand and teach the dimensions of Love from a greater Godly perspective.

The bible says blessed is a man who finds a good wife. Riches can be inherited but a good wife comes from God. The one who sows righteousness in their life is the one who receives the gift of unfailing love ( Hosea 10:12).

Society today has taught millions and millions of youth to experiment on love and very few ever are left standing in their moral faith, integrity, character and uprightness.

We rejoice as we celebrate those who conquer the opposite sex and have many lusting after them. We reward them and call them our celebrities.

Since I saw the light of salvation in my life, I dedicated myself to become a role model and I have taught and practiced abstinence as i guide those who are following me.

I know friends who have married and are leading good families and its really wonderful.

My 14 year-old students partly altered my gospel and approach when I realized how difficult it is for young people globally to avoid premarital sex or even have a conviction to practice abstinence. That is why we must not victimize our young people who discover so early the many issues of life.

Success is always possible to any man and is something every person can get no matter their past way of life.

I have come to appreciate all people who are mentors and have embraced the diversity of nurturing other people to embrace good values and character in a perspective relevant on leading a good life of leadership and example. Not all people can be the same. That is why we always support use of condoms and being faithful to one faithful partner to avoid diseases like HIV/Aids.

My eyes have been running forth to and fro on the face of the earth like those of ancient biblical Zerubabel governor of Israel.I looked in the North, south, East and West for my Queen.

I searched among daughters of Bishops, priests, lay men, college girls, women of God and even celebrities but I have found another marvelous secret. God has deposited a seed of love in all people that can be nurtured to bear great fruit.

The world currently needs love more than anything else. We need to love people as much as we love ourselves. Love of one another, love of brethren, love of neighbors, love among family members and couples.

I was shocked of the pride, arrogance and demanding lifestyles of some daughters of Bishops and wonderful ladies.

Like the preacher son of king David, I have come to a point of greater level of understanding the things of life and have acquired wisdom beyond measure that no one can fathom its depth or height.

Today I want to celebrate the Queen that I have found among all women. She waited for God to send her the right man. She believed in me when she saw me.For God has prepared a partner for everyone living on earth today except for those who decide to become celibates by choice.

Therefore my friend, faint not in your heart. For everyman has a special person prepared and made for them by God. Only make sure you do not demand to be given what is not yours.

My Queen is equally great among women because she waited for the right man and found me. She did not follow the voice of the evil men but searched for one whom they can seek righteousness, reach out and search the heavens and receive the blessings of the true Most High God.

This year 2010 I have prepared a special banquet, a ring and a private wedding for my Queen. I want the world to know that I LOVE MY QUEEN. Long live the Queen. May she find favor with God and people. May she be a blessing among women.

I AM a role model by choice and example and also my queen is. God bless her and her family.

God also bless you my friend.

Robin

This article has been borrowed from an anonymous source: “Why are these people who seem to have more than their fair share of talent, success and personal fulfilment turning to gurus, lay cults and 2,000-year-old spirits?” The more you think about it, only one answer seems plausible: These rich and famous people have discovered that talent, success and personal fulfilment are not enough.


It is reminiscent of the ancient words of Ecclesiastes that God has put eternity in the heart of every man. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) The French philosopher Pascal said that there is a God-shaped vacuum inside every man. Because nature abhors a vacuum, if men do not fill the void with God, they will fill it with something else.

Our subject this morning is that “something else” that men and women turn to when they turn away from the God of the Bible. In particular, we are concerned with the various spiritual counterfeits which clutter up today’s religious marketplace. Already we have used the word “cult"—a word which may possibly offend some people. Here is a simple working definition: “A cult is any group, movement or teaching which deviates from biblical, orthodox, historical Christianity.”

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Five Kinds Of Cults
In his excellent book The Lure of the Cults (pp. 21-24), sociologist Ronald Enroth groups the cults into five broad categories:

1. Eastern Mystical Groups. These are groups based on Hindu or Buddhist teachings. The Hare Krishnas would fall in this category.

2. Aberrational Christian Groups. I would put the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Scientists in this category.

3. Self-Improvement Groups. Here Enroth lists est, Synanon, Scientology and Transcendental Meditation.

4. Syncretistic Groups. The prime example is Rev. Moon and the Unification Church. 5. Occult or Psychic Groups. Most of the New Age groups fit in this category, including Shirley Maclaine and her followers.

It is possible that someone may read this and have two negative reactions. First, some may think it unnecessary to even raise the subject. If that is your reaction, let me ask you to let your mind drift back over 22 years to November, 1978. Do you remember a news flash from a strange country in South America called Guyana? In one of the most bizarre stories of the twentieth century, 912 people died in a grisly murder-suicide. They were followers of Jim Jones, leader of the People’s Temple. How did it happen? Writing two months after the tragedy in the New York Times Book Review, Dr. James S. Gordon said, “The final horror of Jonestown is that one man counterfeiting Christianity … could attract, hold and annihilate so many who wanted so much and meant so well.” (The Lure of the Cults, p. 15) Mel White, an evangelical author, film-maker and professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, went to San Francisco to interview the families of those who died and the ex-members who left the cult before it moved to Guyana. This is what he discovered: “They came to Jones from our churches. He provided a warm and caring community to those in need who felt neglected by the churches of their past.” (Deceived, p. 27) It has been well said that cults are “the unpaid bills of the church.” People turn to the cults only after the traditional churches have failed them. Thus, there is every reason to raise this subject.

Second, some may think it unkind and even cruel to speak of counterfeit Christianity. Not long ago I visited a home and noticed a saying on the wall. It read, “Just as there are many paths to the top of a mountain, so there are many roads to God.” I’m sure that represents the viewpoint of many people. Unfortunately, it does not represent the viewpoint of Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) When Peter was preaching the gospel before the Sanhedrin, he said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Those are very exclusive statements. No other way, no other truth, no other life, no other name. If a man will not come to God by way of Jesus Christ, he will not come to God at all.

And if he chooses some other name—be it the name of Confucius or Buddha or Mohammed or the name of some modern swami from India, he will never make it. On this point, we must stand with our Lord and say that there is a broad road which leads to Hell and a narrow road which leads to Heaven. And that broad road is filled with people who have bought into the false religions and isms of our day. If that is true, then it would be unkind and cruel not to speak the truth and call men and women to Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation.

Ancient Heresies, Modern Counterfeits
Some may wonder what all this has to do with the topic of spiritual gifts. Actually, it has everything to do with it, because ours is not the first generation to be faced with counterfeit Christianity. In fact, a glance at church history reveals that the early church faced a long series of spiritual counterfeits. Pick up a history book and you find names like the Greek philosophers, Docetics, the Gnostics, the Cerinthians, the Arians, the Nicolaitans, the Marcion-ites, the Nestorians, the Ebionites and the Sabellians. Those are just dusty names to us, but to the early Christians they were real flesh-and-blood heretics who tried to peddle a distorted version of Christianity.

That’s why there were so many church councils in the first few centuries. The church had to hammer out its faith on the anvil of doctrinal controversy. And that’s why you find so many warnings in the New Testament concerning false teachers in the church. Virtually every New Testament book contains one. Some of the major references are: Matthew 24:4-5, 24; Acts 20:29-30; Romans 16:17-19; I Corinthians 12:1-3; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Galatians 1:6-9; Philippians 3:1-2; Colossians 2:4, 8, 18, 20-23; II Thessalonians 2:1-3; I Timothy 1:3-7; 4:1-6; II Timothy 3:1-8; 4:3-4; II Peter 2:1-3; I John 2:18-19; II John 7-11; Jude 3-4, Revelation 2:6, 14-15, 20-24. Clearly, the early church took very seriously the threat posed by those who would add to or subtract from the original faith handed down from the apostles.

Spiritual Smoke Detectors
So it’s not surprising that there is a spiritual gift to help deal with the threat of counterfeit Christianity. That gift is mentioned in I Corinthians 12:10 as “the ability to distinguish between spirits.” In those days many people claiming to be prophets would speak in a church meeting with a message purporting to be from God. The person with the gift of discernment was able to distinguish between true and false prophets and between true and false teaching.

Obviously the gift of discernment is greatly needed today. If anything, we have more spiritual counterfeits nowadays. In the Spiritual Gifts Inventory, we define the gift this way: The special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ which enables them to distinguish between truth and error, good and evil, wisdom and foolishness on the basis of the Word of God. The crucial phrase is the last one—"on the basis of the Word of God.” This is not a gift of clairvoyance or of spiritual mind reading. It is the unique ability to tell truth from error by judging it according to the standard of the Word of God.

The person with this gift has three primary characteristics: 1. He (or she) has a deep interest in the teachings of the Bible. While this person may not be a Bible scholar, he will enjoy studying the Bible and getting a good handle on its major truths. 2. He (or she) has the intuitive ability to sense when a statement or teaching is out of harmony with biblical truth. This person is a good sermon-listener. He listens carefully, even intently, mentally comparing what the speaker says with what the Bible teaches. He can read a book and pick up an unbiblical notion the rest of us just skim over. 3. He (or she) has the courage to speak up when error is being promoted.

In short, the people with this gift are like spiritual smoke detectors in the church. They can sniff out the first whiffs of false doctrine while the rest of us are in the den eating popcorn and watching TV.

In his commentary on I John, John Stott says:

There is an urgent need for discernment among Christians. We are often too gullible, and exhibit a naive readiness to credit messages and teachings which purport to come from the spirit world. There is such a thing, however, as a misguided charity and tolerance towards false doctrine. (The Johannine Epistles, p. 153.)

When Ronald Enroth came to the end of the last chapter in The Lure of the Cults, he began the final paragraph with this sentence: “It must be reiterated that today as never before the Christian should pray for discernment.” (p. 122) Because that is true, we need gifted men and women with discernment to keep us on the right track.

With all of that as background, I would like to ask and answer three vitally important questions.

I. What Does The Bible Teach About Counterfeit Christianity?
As I have already mentioned, there are many, many passages warning us about those who would infiltrate the church and lead it astray. One of the clearest is II Peter 2:1-3. In many ways it summarizes the whole New Testament teaching on this subject.

The first thing Peter tells us about is the source of the false teachers. “But there were also false prophets among the people (He’s referring to the Old Testament nation of Israel.), just as there will be false teachers among you.” (2:1) The last two words are very important. Where will we find false teachers? “Among you.” That is, from within the ranks of the professing church. One has only to think of Joseph Smith and Charles Taze Russell and Mary Baker Eddy to see how true that statement is. It should not surprise us. Where else would Satan put his workers if not among the Lord’s people? Daniel Defoe, the author of Robinson Crusoe, said, “Whenever God erects a house of prayer, the Devil builds a chapel there.”

Second, Peter says something about the strategy the false teachers use. “They will be secretly introducing destructive heresies.” (2:1) They are the wolves in sheep’s clothing Jesus talked about. By definition, you can’t spot them very well. Like spies working behind enemy lines, they slip in unaware, they learn our language, they win our confidence, and then they do their dirty work.

Third, there is one pre-eminent sign by which they may be seen. “Even denying the Lord who bought them.” (2:1) Ultimately the issue is Jesus Christ. It always comes down to him. The false teachers deny Jesus Christ—both in the sense of denying the truth about him and also in the sense of denying his right to rule over them.

Fourth, Peter tells us about their unsettling success. “Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” (2:2) We wish this weren’t true, but it is. We like to think that once people have been exposed to the truth they will never be attracted to error. As a matter of fact, the cults are largely populated by people from churches just like ours. Read Shirley Maclaine’s book Out on a Limb. It’s scary because it sounds like a Campus Crusade testimony for reincarnation. She asked all the right questions and came up with all the wrong answers. We’re just kidding ourselves if we think it can’t happen to our children or our friends.

Fifth, Peter explains the scam the false teachers run. “In their greed these false teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.” (2:3) Did you get that? “Stories they have made up.” So why do people pay hundreds of dollars to receive messages from a channel named “Ramtha?” And why do people think they can learn to levitate by practicing Transcendental Meditation? And why do people buy into a fantasy tale like the Book of Mormon? They are all caught by the made-up stories of the false teachers.

Sixth, there is a final word about the sentence God has passed on every false teacher. “Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” (2:3) This is an answer to those who wonder why God lets the false teachers prosper. The answer is, they only prosper for a little while. Like the sword of Damocles, their condemnation hangs by a slender thread. Before all is said and done, the spiritual counterfeiters will wake up in Hell.

II. What Are The Marks Of Counterfeit Christianity?
Let me answer that question first generally, then specifically. In his book, The New Cults (pp. 17-21), Dr. Walter Martin lists ten characteristics by which you can spot a spiritual counterfeit. In repeating this list, I should say that not every group or individual will fit all ten. But all false teachers will fit on this list somewhere.

1. There is usually a strong, charismatic leader.

2. Their source of authority is not the Bible alone, but is something added to, or subtracted from, the Bible.

3. Cult members actively share their “faith.” They may make TV specials like Shirley Maclaine or they may send out missionaries like the Moonies or the Mormons or they may simply talk to everyone they meet about the “truth” they have discovered.

4. They claim to receive messages or special revelation—either directly from God or from the spirit world.

5. They have a rigid standard for membership. It is very difficult to leave many cults.

6. They claim a special truth not known to others. If they are related to Christianity, they may see their mission as “restoring the true faith.” If not, they claim to have tapped into the energy of the universe.

7. Cults members often leave one group and join another because the factors that attract them to one group will soon attract them to another one.

8. Their leaders are usually self-appointed laymen, not trained clergymen. Most of the “channels” are ordinary people who claim to have connections with the spirit world.

9. The doctrine of a cult group is usually in a state of flux and change. New revelations and visions cancel or modify old teaching.

10. Cults use a special vocabulary to distinguish their teaching from other groups. They also use orthodox terminology like “Jesus Christ” and “salvation” while changing the meaning in order to trap the unwary.

The Acid Test
Those ten characteristics are helpful, but they mostly touch outward areas. What is the central mark of counter-feit Christianity, the touchstone, the acid test? After you have looked at things from the outside, there is one thing you should look for on the inside—What does this group (or this person) believe about Jesus Christ? That is the final question. The heart of Christianity is a certain belief about Jesus Christ. On that point there can be no compromise. If a person is wrong about Jesus Christ, it matters not whether he is right in a dozen other places. If he’s wrong on the central point, he’s wrong all over.

That’s the basic point of I John 4:1-3, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (4:1) That verse makes two important points. 1. The command to test the spirits is given to every believer. Whether you have the gift of discernment or not, you are still commanded to exercise discernment in evaluating those who claim to possess spiritual insight. 2. There are many false prophets in the world. It’s almost as if they are sent out as missionaries from Hell. That means you should never be surprised when you turn on Donahue and hear somebody teaching that all religions are basically the same. Or when you happen to watch the Saturday morning cartoons and find out that shows like He-Man and Masters of the Universe are pushing New Age and occult ideas to our children. Don’t think that the only false prophets are the ones who come and knock on your door trying to sell you The Watchtower. Satan is much too smart for that.

The crucial test is found in verse 2. “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.” That’s the positive test. Verse 3 gives the other side: “But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.”

The Key Issue Of This Decade
Notice the particular point—"Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.” It has to do with the Incarnation. Apparently there were some who were denying the true humanity of Jesus. They said, yes, he’s from God, but he wasn’t really a man. He was some kind of spirit being, but not a man like us. That’s a heresy. It’s outside the realm of orthodox faith. If you believe that, you’re not a Christian, no matter whether you call yourself one or not.

In our day the issue still revolves around Jesus and who he is. An editorial in the May 14, 1990, issue of Christianity Today says it may well be “the key theological issue of the new decade.” (p.14) There are many points about which we may disagree and still have fellowship together. But there is one point which must never be compromised: The eternal deity and true humanity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. If a man does not believe that, or if he dilutes that or changes that in some fashion, he is a false teacher.

Christian Science
Christian or Cult?*

The movement known as Christian Science is a religion "emphasizing divine healing as practiced by Jesus Christ." It is officially known as The Church of Christ, Scientist (CCS) (with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts), founded in 1879 by the much married Mary Baker Glover Patterson Eddy (1821-1910). It is one of the more sophisticated modern cults, attracting many intellectuals. Estimated membership was about 350,000 in the 1930s with approximately 2,500 branch churches, societies, and college organizations in more than 50 countries worldwide. Estimates suggest that membership has fallen to well under 100,000 at the present time. While the branches are democratic in government, they all conform to the rules laid down in Mary Baker Eddy's Manual of The Mother Church (1895); church affairs are now overseen by a self-perpetuating board of five people.

Under the leadership of Board of Directors Chairman Virginia Harris, the CCS has embarked on an aggressive, multi-faceted marketing program designed to mainstream itself and to attract new members. For example, the CCS is finding new ways to promote itself in light of our society's current interest in self-awareness, spirituality, mind/body connections, alternative medicine, and women's issues. The CCS's weekly magazine has been redesigned to include quotes from New-Age proponent Oprah Winfrey. Church representatives are also turning up at medical conferences and other places.

Mrs. Eddy was chronically sick growing up, with many ailments including paralysis, hysteria, seizures and convulsions. At 22, she married her first of three husbands, George Glover, who died within 6 months from yellow fever. Following Glover's death, she began to be involved in mesmerism (hypnosis) and the occult practices of spiritualism and clairvoyance (Ruth Tucker, Another Gospel, p. 152). Still ill, she married Daniel Patterson in 1853, a dentist and homeopathic practitioner. It was during this time she met mental healer Phineas P. Quimby (1802-1866), whose influence would shape her belief of Christian Science. Quimby believed that illness and disease could be cured through positive thoughts and healthy attitudes, by changing one's beliefs about the illness. She claimed that Quimby cured her; she suddenly improved, but later the symptoms returned (Another Gospel, p. 155).

After Quimby's death in 1866, Mrs. Eddy determined to carry on his work. She had developed a "psychic dependence" on Quimby, drawing on his spiritual presence, claiming even visitations by his apparition. Eddy "reached the scientific certainty that all causation rests with the Mind, and that every effect is a mental phenomena." Eddy took Quimby's teachings one step further, claiming that sickness, death, and even our physical bodies do not exist, but are only imagined. Based on this absurdity, Mary Baker Eddy formulated her unique interpretations of Scripture upon which Christian Science was founded (and recorded in Eddy's 1875 book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. [HJB] (In 2001, the ten millionth copy of Science and Health was sold). In essence, Christian Science is a revival of ancient Pantheism. [Eddy later published 16 other books, including Retrospection and Introspection (1891), which tells of her own experience of discovering, practicing, and teaching the "science" of Christian healing.] [The CCS recently announced plans to build (at a cost of $25 million) the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity. Scheduled to open in 2002 in Boston, the library will house over 500,000 unpublished documents and artifacts related to Mrs. Eddy. It will also allow the CCS to secure another 45 years of copyright protection for the writings under new U.S. copyright laws that take effect at the end of 2002.]

The event that Mrs. Eddy claimed as the inauguration of Christian Science occurred in February of 1866. She claimed to have had a near fatal fall on icy pavement, but was instantly healed when "the healing Truth dawned upon my senses," and the divine healing ministry was born (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 24; Science and Health, p. 107). Testimony from her attending physician as well as other correspondence from Mrs. Eddy at the time strongly dispute Mrs. Eddy's "official" version of those events (Anthony Hoekema, Christian Science, pp. 12-13).

Healing became a major distinctive of Christian Science. According to Eddy Baker, the central fact of the Bible is the superiority of spiritual over physical power. The spiritual superiority is evident in other ways than healing. Telepathy is practiced in Christian Science treatment, and may be considered a form of psychic healing. Christian Science claims to prove through the healing of disease and other difficulties that the understanding of God and his spiritual creation is as effective now as it was in Jesus' time. Its adherents, therefore, rely on "divine law" in times of sickness instead of resorting to medical and other material means. Christian Scientists do not use doctors, medicine, or immunizations. Christian Science Practitioners are used to " help people through the false reality of illness." Instead, proper prayer and training are employed to battle the "non-reality" of illness. (The right of Christian Science parents to withhold medical treatment from their children has many times been challenged in court.)

During the formative stages, the church saw many rivalries, scandals, and dissident movements. One of the dissidents was Emma Hopkins, who as an independent Christian Science leader, taught Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, who later founded the Unity School of Christianity (another "mind-science" cult). Because Mrs. Eddy wanted to spread Christian Science, especially to the upper class, she increased her control over all aspects of the movement and would not tolerate any disloyalty (Georgine Milmine, The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy, p. 234 ff).

Publications of the Christian Science Publishing Society include the Christian Science Quarterly, containing Bible lessons for daily study; The Christian Science Journal, a monthly magazine; Christian Science Sentinel, a weekly magazine; The Christian Science Monitor, a daily newspaper; and The Herald of Christian Science. In the 1980s, the group expanded into other media, producing both radio and television news programming. Their venture into cable-television operations was ended in 1992, when it was discovered "that the church had secretly transferred $46.5 million from endowments and pension funds to help cover huge losses on the 'Monitor Channel,' which had lost over $325 million" (Chicago Tribune, 1/27/93, p. 2). [Additionally, there were losses of $36 million and the resulting termination of World Monitor, a newspaper begun in 1988. The Christian Science Monitor is said to be losing $13 million annually (Martin Gardner, The Healing Revelations of Mary Baker Eddy, p. 218).]

Instead of preachers (the CCS has no ordained clergy), Christian Science's Sunday services consist mainly of prescribed readings from the Bible, followed by interpretive readings from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (which Eddy thought was divinely inspired -- "I should blush to write of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as I have, were it of human origin and I apart from God its author; but [since] I was only a scribe echoing the harmonies of heaven in Divine Metaphysics, I cannot be super-modest of the Christian Science Textbook."). Eddy's "Scientific Statement of Being" (read every week from every Christian Science pulpit) begins with, "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter," and ends with, "Therefore, man is not material; he is spiritual." Wednesday meetings include testimonies of healing from the congregation. Readers, both men and women, are elected from the membership to conduct the services. Practitioners, also both men and women, devote full time to the work of "spiritual healing."

Mrs. Eddy presented Christian Science as a scientific system of healing based upon spiritual laws God (allegedly) had revealed to her. She taught these laws must be followed -- without deviation -- if a believer wishes to practice Christian Science with consistent success. She taught Christian Science cannot be mixed with any other doctrine or spiritual healing system, and, thereby, it is incompatible with medicine. Eddy also believed in "Malicious Animal Magnetism" (MAM), which is negative mental energy or power, on the level of black magic. "Reading Rooms" are local Christian Science libraries where members go to read Eddy's works to aid their spiritual evolvement.

Christian Scientists call themselves Christians, but their beliefs deviate from Biblical Christianity on nearly every central Doctrine. Below are the highlights of what Christian Scientists believe concerning their source of authority, the Godhead, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Resurrection, sin and salvation, heaven and hell, man's destiny, and disease and death:

1. Source of Authority. Mary Baker Eddy claimed the Bible was her "only textbook" and "only authority." Yet she also said the Bible has thousands of errors -- 30,000 in the Old Testament and 300,000 in the New Testament. Christian Scientists believe that Mrs. Eddy's discovery of Divine Science is the "final revelation" from God. They claim Science and Health is divinely inspired (even though it has been proven to contain numerous plagiarisms and revisions). -- Science and Health is the "first book" which has been "uncontaminated by human hypothesis" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany, p. 115; Science and Health, pp. 99, 139, 456-457). [HJB] One is only supposed to read the Bible if they have Eddy's "key" in hand, so as to find out what a passage means. The implication is that God couldn't make Himself plain, but has to have Mary Baker Eddy interpret what He says. With this in mind, the world was, in effect, left to grope in darkness until Mrs. Eddy came on the scene.

2. Language. Christian Scientists have given Bible terms allegorical, metaphysical definitions that are completely different from normal usage. Everything is spiritualized to the point that the physical no longer exists. New meanings have also been assigned to many traditional theological doctrines. (For example: "Adam was not an actual person who was created by God and fell into sin. 'Adam' means error; a falsity; the belief in 'original sin,' sickness, and death; evil; the opposite of good.") [HJB]

3. Trinity. Christian Science clearly repudiates the Trinitarian Godhead: "The theory of three persons in one God (that is, a personal Trinity or Tri-unity) suggests polytheism, rather than the one ever-present I Am" (Science and Health, p. 256). Instead, "Life, Truth, and Love constitutes the triune Person called God ... God the Father-Mother; Christ the spiritual idea of sonship; divine Science or the Holy Comforter" (Science and Health, p. 331-332). Christian Science teaches that the Biblical concept of the Trinity suggests "heathen gods" (Science and Health, p. 152). God is thus viewed as an impersonal "Divine Principle," a conception of one's mind (Science and Health, pp. 361, 469). On page 465 in another of Mrs. Eddy's "authoritative" books, entitled Miscellaneous Writings, she wrote: "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite, mind, spirit, soul, principle, life, truth, love," but devoid of any personality. [HJB] [To the contrary, the Bible teaches that God is a triune, personal, transcendent Being who created "the world and all things in it" (Act 17:24). He is not a pantheistic all-in-all. He is holy and just, as well as love. God created and governs the universe, including man (Acts 17:24-27).]

4. Jesus Christ. Christian Science denies that the incarnation of Christ was the fullness of deity dwelling in human flesh, denies the perfection of the man Jesus, and attempts to explain away the historical death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (Science and Health, pp. 336, 29, 332, 53, 398, 313, 593; Miscellaneous Writings, p. 201) Christian Science believes that Mary's conception of Jesus was spiritual -- on pages 332 and 347 of Science and Health, the virgin birth of Christ is described and explained: "Jesus was the offspring of Mary's self-conscious communion with God. ... Mary's conception of him was spiritual." Christian Science believes that the names "Jesus" and "Christ" do not refer to the same person -- that Jesus is the human man and Christ is the "divine idea" (i.e., "dualism"). They teach that the spiritual (good) cannot dwell in material bodies because they are evil; thus Jesus could not have been both God and man. [To the contrary, the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is not the divine idea of God but was God uniquely manifested in the flesh, truly God and truly man, one divine Person with two indivisible natures, who is the only Savior and the only truth and Lord (John 1:1-3,14; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:6-7; John 14:6).] Christian Science believes that Jesus was not God and the only way to heaven, but only the "wayshower" (cf. Jn. 20:31; I Jn. 4:2,3).

Christian Science not only denies that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, it also denies that Jesus is one Person with two natures -- fully God and fully man. Christian Science presents Jesus Christ in terms of a Gnostic duality: "The spiritual Christ was infallible: Jesus as material manhood was not Christ'' (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 84). "Christ as the true spiritual ideal, is the ideal of God now and forever ..." (Science and Health, p. 361). "The Christ is incorporeal, spiritual ..." while, "The corporeal [physical] man Jesus was human only (Science and Health, p 332). Yet "matter is mortal error … matter is the unreal and temporal" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 21). So what Christian Science actually concludes is that the physical humanity of Jesus was an illusion, ''as it seemed to mortal view" (Science and Health, p. 315).

Concerning the blood atonement of Jesus Christ: "The material blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed upon 'the accursed tree,' than when it was flowing in his veins ..." (Science and Health, p. 25). Christian Science teaches that the death of Jesus Christ for sin was a "man-made" theory, and that Jesus was alive in the tomb, demonstrating the "power of Spirit to overrule mortal, material sense" (Science and Health, p. 44). Eddy states, "Christ was not crucified ... Jesus, being the man who possessed the Christ consciousness, was the one who went to the cross and who appeared to die." Thus, according to the theology of Christian Science, the Bible only appears to say that Jesus died on the cross and His body was laid in the tomb; it must instead be understood that Jesus actually never died, but was rather in the tomb denying death's reality!

5. Holy Spirit. Christian Science denies that the Holy Spirit is a personal being. It teaches that the Holy Spirit is Christian Science. -- "This Comforter I understand to be Divine Science" (Science and Health, p. 55). It is the unfolding of the thoughts and infinite mind of God (pp. 502-503). [cf. Jn. 16:13-14] Thus, God, the Holy Spirit, cannot indwell a person (Science and Health, p. 336).

6. The Resurrection. It is obvious that if Jesus never physically died on the cross to atone for sins that mankind cannot commit (Science and Health, pp. 45-46), then the resurrection must also have a unique meaning in Christian Science. Eddy explains, "When Jesus reproduced his body after its burial, he revealed the myth or material falsity of evil; its powerlessness to destroy good and the omnipotence of the Mind that knows this: he also showed forth the error of nothingness of supposed life in matter, and the great somethingness of the good we possess, which is of Spirit, and immortal" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 201). Jesus resurrection was thus the manifestation of the error of evil. He demonstrated that sin and death are illusions and that if one wishes to rid themselves of these illusions, they only need to deny their reality.

7. Sin. Christian Science denies the existence of all matter, including man's physical body. They say that man is "incapable of sin, sickness, and death." They claim sin, sickness, and death are the "effects of error," thereby denying the reality of sin. [HJB] Bottom line, to Christian Science, there is no sin (Science and Health, p. 447). This is a consistent deduction and fundamental principle of the Christian Science system -- namely, God is all and God is good, and since the real man has never departed from his original state of perfection, he is not in need of salvation. He is saved now and reposing in the bosom of the Father. He has always been saved -- that is, as God's idea of the expression of the mind, man is forever held in the divine consciousness. And since sin and evil have no reality, all ideas of sin and evil are illusions. They are the product of the mortal mind. Hence, it is a sense of sin which is sinful because of the illusory product of the mortal mind. They say that man's real problem is the belief of sin, and that "Christ came to destroy the belief of sin." [Eddy writes in Miscellaneous Writings in the question and answer section: "If there is no sin, why did Jesus come to save sinners?" She answers, "Jesus came to seek and to save such as believe in the reality of the unreal; to save them from this false belief; that they might lay hold of eternal Life ..." (p. 63). In other words, Jesus came to save mankind from the false belief that sin is real! Jesus saving work was to exemplify the fact that death is unreal, that sin is only an illusion or false belief, and that to deny its existence is the ultimate task of each person.]

8. Salvation. Since Christian Scientists do not believe that sin is real, they, therefore, see no need for salvation in Jesus Christ. Notwithstanding, Christian Scientists still teach a salvation based on works -- and contrary to even their own teachings, a salvation through victory over suffering and temptation. [HJB]

9. Hell. Christian Science denies the existence of hell and eternal punishment, and, therefore, there is no devil (Science and Health, p. 469). Hell is defined as "mortal belief; error; lust; remorse; hatred; revenge; sin; sickness; death." They believe that hell is a self-imposed "mental anguish," emanating from the guilt of one's imagined sin. [HJB]

10. Man's Destiny. Christian Science teaches that since God is all good and nothing that is real exists outside God, then sin, sickness, and death are mortal error or an illusion. Christ, as the Truth, therefore came to set man free from these false beliefs by His teachings and example (Science and Health, pp. 473, 475, 108). Christian Science denies the penal, substitutionary atonement of Christ, saying, ''The material blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed on 'the accursed tree,' than when it was flowing in his veins as he went daily about His Father's business" (Science and Health, p.25). "Jesus taught the way of Life by demonstration. There is but one way to heaven, harmony, and Christ in Divine Science shows us this way" (Science and Health, p. 242). ''Universal salvation rests on progression and probation … No final judgment awaits mortals …" (Science and Health, p. 291)

11. Disease and Death. Christian Scientists claim that since organic disease does not exist, "the cause of all so-called disease is mental" [i.e., 'the belief in sin is thereby the cause of it'], "a mistaken belief" (Science and Health, p. 377). They say that since our physical bodies do not exist, disease and death are only illusions (Science and Health, pp. 348,386). [To the contrary, the Bible teaches that sin, sickness, and evil are not an illusion, but a result of man’s willful choice to rebel against a Holy God, and death (both physical and the spiritual eternal separation from God) is the result of sin (Rom. 3:10, 23; 5:12-14; 1 John 1:8-10).] They believe they have restored Christ's principles of divine healing through their practices of mental healing; i.e., the healing performed by Christian Science involves helping a person to deny the reality of his illness, and thereby, any failure to heal is due to a person's inability to overcome his belief. Mary Baker Eddy claimed to have this power of healing (called Divine Science), though she never provided any tangible proof of it. [HJB] [Whereas the Christian Science approach to healing may help psychosomatic illnesses, it has been scientifically demonstrated that it is not effective with real illness. In fact, studies comparing the cumulative death rates of practicing Christian Scientists with control groups have shown significantly higher death rates among the Christian Scientists (Journal of American Medical Association, September 22/29, 1989, pp 1657-58; and Morbidity Weekly Report, August 23, 1991, pp. 579-582).]

12. The "Gospel" of Christian Science. Jesus, who possessed the Christ consciousness as do all men to a lesser extent, went to the cross, not to bring about forgiveness of sin, for sin is an illusion, but rather to demonstrate that death is an illusion. On the morning of the resurrection, the supposed physical body of Jesus was reproduced in its original illusionary form, for all matter is illusion, and thereby demonstrated to mankind that all could do the same by denying the reality of sin and death.

Jesus' "seeming" death on the cross was not intended to pay for our sins, but to prove the unreality of sin, disease, and death. The Bible is full of mistakes. Jesus' words were recorded by "dull disciples ... in a decaying language," and must be spiritually interpreted through Christian Science.

To put it another way: "Jesus was laid down as the result of apparent death, into a fictitious tomb, in an unreal body, to make an unnecessary atonement for sins that had never been a reality and had been committed in an imaginary body, and that He saves from non-existing evil those headed toward an imaginary hell, the false fancy of an erroneous Mortal Mind" (J.K. VanBaalen, The Chaos of Cults).

13. Conclusion. Christian Science offers some real enticements -- a "spiritually scientific" method for healing, victory over life's circumstances, and guaranteed salvation. All one has to do to receive these blessings is to study Eddy's writings and obey them to the letter. She was God's messenger to this age and her writings are considered infallible. Just obey her teaching, and learn to think as she thought, and you will be victorious.

The physical dangers of Christian Science are obvious. Since they are taught that learning about their bodies is spiritually harmful, Christian Scientists are ill equipped to understand the symptoms of illness. They often suffer needlessly from treatable ailments and neglect life-threatening conditions that could be cured if treated in their early stages. The Charismatic Movement

At the risk of painting the Charismatic Movement with too broad a brush, I believe the Charismatic Movement is at the forefront of a new basis of faith, with its emphasis on private revelations, prophecies, and visions.

"Charismatic" is derived from the New Testament Greek term charisma, translated "gift." Charismatic theology holds to a belief in a spiritual experience subsequent to salvation commonly known as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This experience is usually accompanied by speaking in other tongues, or glossolalia, a term derived from the New Testament Greek word that is translated "tongue."

I am not saying God does not demonstrate his power in this age or that the Holy Spirit does not work AT ALL in the church today. Nor am I saying that ALL revelations, prophecies, visions or speaking in tongues is of the devil. What I am saying is that some signs, miracles, healings, etc. are not of God and some speaking in tongues is not "necessarily" spirit led.

The Charismatic Movement claims that visible and audible signs and wonders are the unifying force of true Christians. One of the aims of the Charismatic Movement is to unite various Protestant movements with Catholics under the banner of signs and wonders. The movement unites with some Charismatic Catholics who continue to practice idol worship.

Any movement (including Charismatic) that uses signs and wonders as proof of some level of spirituality is operating in deception. There is indeed a fine line and the problem I see is that the Charismatic movement (in general) has crossed that line and expects us to accept that they are ALL of God. That is a "dangerous deception" as Christians need to be more discerning about the movement and seek out the true move of God and not get caught up in the emotional flood of signs and wonders.

The Charismatic (neo-Pentecostal) movement has it's roots in the Pentecostal movement which began around 1900 at Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas when Agnes Ozman experienced speaking in tongues and believed she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Was her experience checked against the total context of Scripture? No, the Bible was made to fit her experience and Pentecostalism was born.

Pentecostalism did not start because the church discovered long-neglected truth in the Bible, it started because Agnes Ozman had an experience. Decrying accommodation to modernity (referred to as modernism), they took a firm grip on the Bible as infallible authority. In many cases they found in the Bible doctrines rarely practiced, such as "entire sanctification," "Baptism of the Spirit," and "speaking in tongues."

Until 1960, these experiences were contained in denominations such as Assemblies of God, Foursquare, and United Pentecostal. But in 1960 Pentecostalism spilled over denominational lines when Dennis Bennett, rector at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Van Nuys California experienced what he believes was the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues. In appropriating these experiences, Charismatics sought to restore authenticity and power to strayed Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian traditions.

What makes the Charismatic movement especially worthy of concern is that Charismatics hold a great deal in common with other Christian bodies. All are followers of Christ, have access to the Holy Spirit; come together with others to worship, study, and serve. They truly love Jesus, the Scriptures and are sincere. They believe in the authority of the Word of God, the deity of Jesus Christ, His sacrificial death, His physical resurrection, salvation by faith and not works, the need to live a life of obedience, and to proclaim their faith. They really believe in their approach, but many of them are like the Jews of whom Paul said,

"For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge." [Romans 10:2]

I am concerned that the Charismatic movement tends to foster a sort of "easy believism." Some who are involved in the movement focus more on signs and wonders than they do on the Word of God. As a result, they are tossed to and fro by whatever popular doctrine is preached that week with no real foundation in the whole Word of God.

I have no doubt there are some in the movement who are indeed anointed by God, as there are in most denominations and churches. This message is not directed at them, but rather I challenge those who are seeking truth to look into the pages of the Bible and see if what they are hearing from the pulpits is in accord with the Word of God.

While it is a grave sin to ascribe the supernatural of God to the devil, it is equally a grave sin to ascribe the devil's signs and miracles to the Spirit of God. In Matthew 7 Jesus identifies a group of people who prophesy in His name, cast out devils, and do many wonderful works,

"...I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (verse 23b).
Deceptive Signs & Wonders

The gifts of the Spirit are sorely needed in the Church today, but we must be careful not to pervert them like the Corinthian church did. Some signs and wonders are deceptive and I suggest that we not put our trust or hope in them.

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." [2 Thes. 2:9-10]

There have been many examples throughout history and in our present culture of those deceivers operating in counterfeit miracles and signs & wonders. One doesn't have to look much farther than some of the TV evangelists to find it or in the present craze with visitations of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Paul's message to the Corinthians [1 Cor. 13] attempted to correct the problems in that Church because they were so busy fracturing the fellowship over the temporary issues and forgetting what was eternal. The Corinthian church had allowed the entire world system in which they existed to infiltrate their assembly.

For example, they were emphasizing human philosophies - dominated by materialism, antagonism, competition, selfishness and, hatred (chaps. 1-4), they were into hero worship (chap. 3), they were involved in terrible, gross, sexual immorality (chaps. 5-6), they were suing each other in court - resented each other, argued with each other, and shut each other out from their private groups (chap. 6), they had misevaluated their home and marriage relationships - deprived each other in marriage, divorced each other (chap. 7), they were confused about pagan feasts, idolatry, and things offered to idols - withheld food from the poor at the love feast, burned the Lord's Table into a drunken orgy (chaps. 8-10), they had relinquished and perverted the proper place of women within the church meeting (chap. 11), they had misunderstood the whole dimension of spiritual gifts and fought each other for prominence in the use of their spiritual gifts (chap. 12), and they had lost hold of the greatest thing - love (chap. 13).

The corrupt spirit of Corinth had permeated the church. The Christians had become carnal, worldly, indulgent, selfish, contentious, vengeful, proud, and compromising. Almost everything that was characteristic of the society had been picked up by the church. They even perverted their own spiritual behavior into pagan-like religion - twisting spiritual gifts away from the Spirit and operating them in the flesh.

All these things were evidence of the absence of the one thing needed: love. Love is not a feeling or an emotion. It is a spirit of self-sacrifice. It is a willingness to met another's need - even if it means sacrificing something we need or possess.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. [1 Corinthians 13:8-12]

For many Evangelicals, Christianity has become "signs and wonders," or "falling under the power," or laughing uncontrollably. Others offer a Christianity designed to appeal to the worldly minded and to be inoffensive to sinners: church services and Christian TV that out-glitz Hollywood; or the excitement of 50,000 men cheering Jesus in a packed football stadium. For others it's the quest for self-esteem and a "positive self-image," probing the unconscious for past abuses suffered that excuse present unbelief and carnality; or quietly carrying on a conversation with an imaginary "visualized Jesus."

There is an overwhelming presumption by the supporters of these phenomena that it must be of God because of what they perceive to be the "blessings" people are experiencing. Since the Scriptures warn us that Satan appears as an angel of light and his ministers as deceptive ministers of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14-15), short-term "positive" results prove nothing. The only true basis for discerning whether or not God is behind these alleged revivals is the test He commands:

"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn." [Isa. 8:20]
The Challenge to All Believers

My challenge to you is to test your own beliefs.

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. [Acts 17:11]

I would suggest one way to discern whether something is a gift from God or not, is what do we do with it? At Pentecost the gift of tongues was used to communicate to those of foreign tongues (Acts 2:8) and I believe God empowers us with His gifts to likewise communicate His truth to those who are unhearing. His gifts are not meant to puff me up, but rather to use in the edification of others. I would question anyone's true motives if after receiving the Holy Spirit their life is not changed and they are not sharing that life changing experience with others.


Finally, from the OurChurch.Com's position. Generally speaking, we believe the issue of tongues is a non-essential issue. I can find no place in scripture that says a person cannot be saved if they claim to speak in tongues. Also, I cannot find on place in scripture that says tongues are a requirement for salvation. That is the one position that we take issue with. We welcome those who speak in tongues as brothers and sisters in Christ unless they profess a person must speak in tongues to be saved. That would violate the essential principle of the Christian faith that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, not by anything we do.

The bottom line, though, is I want to strongly caution against calling any Christian movement a cult. Just because you disagree with someone's interpretation of scripture doesn't mean they are a cult. We should be careful not use such an inflammatory, accusatory term loosely.

I'm not saying we should not point out beliefs and practices which we believe don't line up with scripture. But we have to be careful about how we do it so we don't end up condemning an entire group of fellow Christians and creating disunity within the body.

Today True Love is still rare....Unlike any other times in history, many people are searching for love and we wish all our friends a lovely valentines day. A few of us are lucky to have discovered the secret of the gift of love hidden inside every person.

By Ashlee Vance
Friday, January 22, 2010


The New York Times

Back at the dawn of the Web, the most popular account password was "12345."

Today, it's one digit longer but hardly safer: "123456."

Despite all the reports of Internet security breaches over the years, including the recent attacks on Google's e-mail service, many people have reacted to the break-ins with a shrug.

According to a new analysis, one out of five Web users still decides to leave the digital equivalent of a key under the doormat: they choose a simple, easily guessed password like "abc123," "iloveyou" or even "password" to protect their data.

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"I guess it's just a genetic flaw in humans," said Amichai Shulman, the chief technology officer at Imperva, which makes software for blocking hackers. "We've been following the same patterns since the 1990s."

Mr. Shulman and his company examined a list of 32 million passwords that an unknown hacker stole last month from RockYou, a company that makes software for users of social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. The list was briefly posted on the Web, and hackers and security researchers downloaded it. (RockYou, which had already been widely criticized for lax privacy practices, has advised its customers to change their passwords, as the hacker gained information about their e-mail accounts as well.)

The trove provided an unusually detailed window into computer users' password habits. Typically, only government agencies like the F.B.I. or the National Security Agency have had access to such a large password list.

"This was the mother lode," said Matt Weir, a doctoral candidate in the e-crimes and investigation technology lab at Florida State University, where researchers are also examining the data.

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Imperva found that nearly 1 percent of the 32 million people it studied had used "123456" as a password. The second-most-popular password was "12345." Others in the top 20 included "qwerty," "abc123" and "princess."

More disturbing, said Mr. Shulman, was that about 20 percent of people on the RockYou list picked from the same, relatively small pool of 5,000 passwords.

That suggests that hackers could easily break into many accounts just by trying the most common passwords. Because of the prevalence of fast computers and speedy networks, hackers can fire off thousands of password guesses per minute.

"We tend to think of password guessing as a very time-consuming attack in which I take each account and try a large number of name-and-password combinations," Mr. Shulman said. "The reality is that you can be very effective by choosing a small number of common passwords."

Some Web sites try to thwart the attackers by freezing an account for a certain period of time if too many incorrect passwords are typed. But experts say that the hackers simply learn to trick the system, by making guesses at an acceptable rate, for instance.

To improve security, some Web sites are forcing users to mix letters, numbers and even symbols in their passwords. Others, like Twitter, prevent people from picking common passwords.

Still, researchers say, social networking and entertainment Web sites often try to make life simpler for their users and are reluctant to put too many controls in place.

Even commercial sites like eBay must weigh the consequences of freezing accounts, since a hacker could, say, try to win an auction by freezing the accounts of other bidders.

Overusing simple passwords is not a new phenomenon. A similar survey examined computer passwords used in the mid-1990s and found that the most popular ones at that time were "12345," "abc123" and "password."

Why do so many people continue to choose easy-to-guess passwords, despite so many warnings about the risks?

Security experts suggest that we are simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of things we have to remember in this digital age.

"Nowadays, we have to keep probably 10 times as many passwords in our head as we did 10 years ago," said Jeff Moss, who founded a popular hacking conference and is now on the Homeland Security Advisory Council. "Voice mail passwords, A.T.M. PINs and Internet passwords — it's so hard to keep track of."

In the idealized world championed by security specialists, people would have different passwords for every Web site they visit and store them in their head or, if absolutely necessary, on a piece of paper.

But bowing to the reality of our overcrowded brains, the experts suggest that everyone choose at least two different passwords — a complex one for Web sites were security is vital, such as banks and e-mail, and a simpler one for places where the stakes are lower, such as social networking and entertainment sites.

Mr. Moss relies on passwords at least 12 characters long, figuring that those make him a more difficult target than the millions of people who choose five- and six-character passwords.

"It's like the joke where the hikers run into a bear in the forest, and the hiker that survives is the one who outruns his buddy," Mr. Moss said. "You just want to run that bit faster."

MENTORING

The term "mentor" goes back to the name of a person in Greek mythology who provided instruction and counsel for a man known as Telemachus. Webster New Twentieth Century Dictionary defines "mentor" as "the friend and counselor of Odysseus and Telemachus, a wise and faithful counselor." Mentorship can be seen as involving the aspect of being a role model in order to develop character and integrity in a person. The man called Mentor in Greek mythology provided such a role model for those who looked up to him that he was requested to do it for Telemachus who later ruled Greece.
But, mentorship is not a Greek concept. People all over the world have practiced it and used it as a medium of education and character development, leading to exceptional achievements. Notably, every major personality in the world has had a mentor. In Western philosophy, it is known that Socrates mentored Plato. Plato mentored Aristotle and Aristotle in turn mentored the great conquering ruler, Alexander the Great.
In Uganda, each succeeding Kabaka was greatly influenced by his predecessor, and this was the case with the Nabongo system among the Abaluyia and the Oloiboni among the Maasai.
Looking at the traditional society, a father mentored his sons by the fireside through evening narratives and wise sayings. Initiation rites then solidified most of what was learned as the boy grew into adulthood. Young girls picked up domestic skills, home keeping, mothering, sanitation and character tips from their mothers. The home, rather than the school, was the centre of learning and the focus of spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical development. All this happened under strict mentorship. Blacksmiths, medicine men, hunters, warriors, religious and political leaders naturally transferred their skills and professions to their children by observation. In fact, those who became leaders virtually inherited their parents' thrones. It was all mentorship.
In the ancient universities, too, a student learned at the house of the professor. In the royal courts, the knight passed on the warrior's skills to the novices by apprenticeship and artists spent most of the time with students in their studios. In short, this has been the trend throughout history, including the church. Jonathan Edwards, the great pastor, teacher and author, and his wife, Sarah, usually had one or more Christians living at their house. Such Christians learned by observation issues related to marriage, spiritual disciplines, and the rigours of pastoral ministry.
It is a pity that today the school has taken over from the home in mentorship and emphasizes group development rather than individual character, knowledge rather than wisdom, certificates rather than the approval of an overseer, passing exams rather than mastery of skill and creativity, etc. On most campuses, including those of theological schools and seminaries, there is little interaction between the teacher and the student, especially outside the classroom. The student interacts more with books than the professor. In other words, the pursuit of grades has replaced mentorship.
Thankfully, many churches are beginning to wake up to the reality of the problem and are instituting internship programs. Yet these programs cannot replace a one-on-one mentorship as seen in the examples of biblical leadership development.
IS MENTORSHIP BIBLICAL?
There are obvious cases of men of God mentoring others in the Bible. Moses is known to have closely mentored his Aide, Joshua the son of Nun. Before Moses died, he gave Joshua strict and clear guidelines on how he had to lead God's people, chief being that the book of the Law should never depart from Joshua's mouth. He was to meditate on it day and night and in that way he would be successful. Similarly, Naomi mentored Ruth and helped her cope with her youthful challenges. Naomi was such a good mentor that it was hard for Ruth to part from her when given a chance to leave. Nathan mentored King David, just as Samuel had King Saul. David gave instruction to his son Solomon before he died.
The prophetic office was not without mentorship. Elijah closely mentored Elisha before he was taken up to heaven. Some kind of mentorship must have taken place, too, between Elisha and Gehazi. From a parental dimension, Elizabeth mentored Mary, the mother of our Lord, for several months as an older relative. Barnabas taught Paul and stood with him in the ministry. Paul knew Barnabas as a "son of encouragement." It is no wonder that Paul himself mentored Timothy and urged those who saw and heard him to follow him as he followed Christ. In the book of Acts we read of Priscilla and Aquilla who mentored Paul for a while but also Apollos the evangelist.
Yet, New Testament mentorship is incomplete without looking at Jesus Christ who spent three years mentoring the twelve disciples who spread the faith far and wide after Christ's ascension into heaven. He charged them to go into the whole world and make disciples, teaching them to obey all He had taught them. In short, mentorship is a dominant issue in the Bible. It must not be neglected by the church in Africa.
MENTORSHIP IN THE CHURCH IN AFRICA
If mentorship is both biblical and the commonest way God has used to prepare His servants for His work, it is also the most effective tool in undoing the mistakes that have dominated the church and her ministries in Africa. Here are some practical ways leaders in the Church in Africa could carry out effective mentorship.
To begin with, how does mentorship help in dealing with the common mistakes associated with leadership?
There are three mistakes the church in Africa has tended to make.
1. There is the tendency to teach a leadership structure that is dependent on the leader rather than Christ. Biblical mentorship does not take place without the centrality of Christ in the growth of the church. Although it is the mentor who is to be followed, he is to be followed under the Pauline injunction, "Follow me as I follow Christ." The church needs to dethrone the paternalistic concept, which tends to popularize the African "man of God" rather than God Himself!
2. The second mistake is that of pursuing human opinion and experience in the making of the African church leader rather than drawing principles from the Word of God. Notice that even Moses directed Joshua to the Word of God which was not to depart from his mouth. The prophets mentored by making reference to what the Lord had said. The kings of Israel who pleased God kept referring their successors to "the Law of the Lord." Though experience has room the character of the African church leader, if such experience is rooted mainly in personal exploits and achievements instead of the Word, they will be misled!
A third mistake is creating spiritual empires without successors. In this setting, people who look up to such leaders or try to draw close to them are discouraged or reminded that they cannot measure up. The "mystery of the new anointing" seems to exclude many from mentorship opportunities; power manifestations are viewed as reserved for a select few. Such leaders have no clear accountability even in ordinary matters such as financial spending and personal integrity. Good biblical mentors would undo this.
So what should we do differently? First, as a shepherd, the African pastor needs to create time for the flock. Many a pastor is too engrossed in traveling to raise money for projects or is busy doing a part-time job that members can hardly access him. Mentorship requires availability and visits to the homes. The problem is worse where there is a big congregation but with only one or two pastors.

Second, mentorship requires that a leader not only teaches or preaches but shows those under such instruction a practical example of the message. If it is a lesson on evangelism, it is not enough to preach a challenge on reaching the lost. Take our individuals, and do outreach with them to make a big impact in their lives.
Third, integrity in how one manages his/her home, speech, attitude and general character is crucial. Not even Billy Graham or Bishop Tutu can exempt himself from a life of accountability. People are not good at taking orders but they are very good at imitating. When there is a good role model, there is a natural admiration. Leaders who simply tell people what to do and seldom step out to do such things with the people will not get far.

I have personally found the easiest skills to teach my two daughters are those I take time to carry out with them. I myself have learned the most by looking at the lives and practical ways of doing things as I have observed in my mentors such as Peter Bocchino, the founder of Legacy of Truth and Dr. Norman Geisler who combines his great learning with a sincere Christian witness and example.
Fourth, the African mentor cannot go far without a firm foundation in spiritual disciplines. This means a deliberate effort to establish a strong relationship with God, including intimacy with God's Word, Scripture memorization, the disciplines of prayer and fasting, worshipping God in spirit and in truth, fellowship with His people, strong family relations which glorify God, giving to the needs of others generously without always expecting to be given.

Lastly, the African leader must remember that a good mentor does not always look for mistakes. He is not supposed to only criticize but also commend where credit is due. He must not use people towards his personal end or interest and then damp them. He must never use people to climb the ranks and then turn into a dictator. He is to be a leader, remembering the paradoxes of Jesus that in order to be first, you have to be last: to gain, you must lose: to be great, you have to be a servant.

Q. Why do people join cults anyway? How can people be so foolish as to believe such ridiculous teachings?
A. There are many reasons why someone may abandon the Christian faith and turn to cultic movements. No one really audaciously chooses to belong to a cult, the cult must prove persuasive enough for loyalty.

One of the reasons is the cult's readiness to provide a strong authority structure culminating in the leader as the ultimate teacher and role model. One may find such authority appealing because of the breakdown in social institutions such as the family or local congregation. Many follow such leaders because they seem able to answer most of their deep-seated questions. If parents, teachers, or Christian leaders do not find it crucial to respond to the questions young people are asking on the origin, meaning and destiny of life, the cults will readily offer their distorted and misleading responses.

Second, there is often a strong sense of community provided by many cults. With increasing loneliness, crime and apathy partly aggravated by the media, the cults seem to have a ready solution: "You will never be alone or mistreated among us." If meaningful relationships at home and in the church are not provided, young people in particular will find great comfort and a deeper sense of belonging in the attractive cult fellowship.

Third many cults tend to provide an experience-based rather than doctrine-based interpretation of Christianity, especially through music, dance, meditation exercises, dream interpretation, visions, fore-telling, romance, and other social persuasions. Experience of such feelings in the cult is often a reason for the massive exodus from the so-called "cold churches" which emphasize solid doctrine and reason rather than feeling as a ground for faith.

Fourth, there is the promise of prosperity and success for membership in many cults. Poverty, ill health, failure in examinations, etc. are often associated with lack of faith or even failure to live by the doctrines of the cult. Many job seekers, students, and needy in general will embrace the cultic beliefs with the hope of a more lucrative future. We must show such victims that the Bible teaches no such thing.

Q. My brother-in-law has recently joined a cult. The whole family is upset and arguing with him. How should one respond to a family member or friend who converts to a cult?
A. Before setting out to help someone we love who has become involved in a cult, there are certain preliminaries we must observe:

1. We need to spend quality time with the Bible, especially focusing on what the Word of God teaches on issues such as the Trinity, sin, atonement, the resurrection, judgment, heaven and hell. We ourselves need truth!

2. We need to study the history, beliefs, activities and influence of the cults so that meaningful discussion is possible with victims or even leaders of the cults. Christians must resist the laziness that has characterized the church in the area of study and preparation to face critics. Information can be obtained from specialized organizations.

3. We must be prepared to do just as much listening as talking to such victims. If we dominate the discussions or get involved in disrespectful and argumentative dialogue, we will automatically lose the person to the cult. An Indian proverb says, 'There is no point cutting off someone's nose and then giving him a rose to smell."

4. In our discussions, we ought to critique the heresy and not the person we are trying to help.

5. Always begin to help a cult victim back to the truth by establishing an honest and friendly relationship with him or her. This will move them to open up.

6. Always lead the victim to the Scriptures, not people's opinions. We can only stand on our authority, the Scriptures.

7. Do not give up on them! Pray daily for them to see the light. It may take years but don't give up hope.

Q. Why should I interfere with someone else's religious freedom? Isn't my brother free to believe as he wants?

A. To lead someone away from error to the truth is not interference with such a person's freedom. True freedom must be governed by God's truth and anyone who knows the truth will be "free indeed" (Jn. 8:31-32). [See also the first article on reasons why the church should not ignore the cults but reach out to them with the Gospel.]

While the Bible clearly warns us against false doctrines (Gal. 1:6-9, 1 Tim. 4:1-5, Col. 2, 1 Jn. 4), there is also a biblical mandate to speak in defense of the truth of our faith (Jude 3, 1 Pet. 3:15, 2 Tim. 4:2-5, etc.). We must keep away at any cost from heresy in our congregations: identify and confront anyone who is known to propagate it, armed with the truth of God's Word. If we allow false teachers in our fellowship, they will affect the church the same way a little yeast affects dough.

Someone defined fellowship as "fellows on the same ship." Fellowship requires a common identity, at least in core beliefs. The famous saying seems appropriate here. "In essentials, unity, in non-essentials, diversity; in all things, charity [i.e. love]." To allow anyone who believes and propagates heresy in doctrine within our fellowship is to lead that fellowship into a potential cult. This should be resisted and avoided at all costs.

http://www.reubenkigame.com

The daily mail of UK reveals some of the destruction caused by Haiti earthquake that has been described as unimaginable.

But for the people of Haiti, the effects wrought by Tuesday's catastrophic earthquake are all too real.

It is now two days since the disaster ripped their island apart - but few are able to comprehend the sheer scale of the crisis.

Much of the capital Port-au-Prince lies waste. In public squares and makeshift hospitals, in playing fields and parks, stunned survivors squat motionless on blankets or stagger around with glazed eyes.

Rescue workers make desperate - and frequently futile attempts to prise away masonry to free trapped victims. But in many cases, they are simply opening up impromptu tombs.

The children are the most pitiful. Cradled in their parents arms with bandages swathed away their bloodied heads, few have the energy to even cry.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1243201/Haiti-earthquake-pictures-The-unimaginable-horror-torn-country-apart.html#ixzz0ceJRGdb5

Global charities and well wishers like Global Impact have gone there to assist and more and more others are joining them.
See http://www.charity.org/form/Haiti_Earthquake_Relief_Fund

We pray for the people of Haiti and all those who are assisting them with a genuine heart that Our Great God may remember them.

The whole world celebrates Christmas day as the day that God's only son Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born of a virgin woman called Mary. How many virgins are there today that could have given birth to a savior? Oh don't even ask.

More than 2000 years ago, Jesus came with good news that God the Father loves us (all people) and since then until today, we still recognize and worship Him. Millions and millions of the sick have been healed in his name.

Historians tell us Jesus was born 4Bc and that December 25th is not the exact date of birth but just a day to remember our Lord. Evolution has failed to prove that we are still evolving and that we came from somewhere.

Today the present Israel Known as a holy nation is still at war with its neighbors and the Jews are yet to accept their savior but as we pray for them many are getting saved.

We are moving into an era when many Jews will see the light of Christ and Judaism will accept Christianity to form the love of God that also Muslims and others will draw near God. Praise be to God who makes all things end beautiful.

Though most of us want to be like apostle Paul or prophet Elijah whose God answers by fire or John the baptist the greatest of all prophets and the two prophets who comes just before the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and Judgment.

We love and hate good role models in the bible like Job the righteous one who suffered terribly, Abraham the father of faith , Jacob who became Israel, King David, King Jehoshaphat, Elisha, Joshua, Moses the prophet who spoke to God face to face and even the disciples of Jesus.

We always preach how these great saints excelled in this and failed in that but God's ultimate success avenue is only one... FOLLOW JESUS AND LIVE. We know of women like Deborah, Abigail and queen Esther who did great works and are role models.

We curse those who delay to get married and wonder that a man like Noar of the flood got married at the age of 500 years instead of fifteen but that is what made him righteous. But we say those are old days. Times have changed.

The man called Enoch walked with God for 300 years and was no more for he did not die. Men who are destined to die because of satanic lies want everyone to die like them. That is why they keep checking on your behavior.

People want you to drink all forms of corrupting liquor and cigar. They tell you to have sex, dance senseless, cheat on your spouse, lie at every place but still pretend to be good. But as soon as you behave like them they call you 'spoiled brat'.


Let us follow the example our great Lord Jesus who chose to be born as a man, live a simple life even though he was God, accepting to suffer in order to have compassion on all people. That whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.

The bible says it is He who created all things. His kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting. We are not the first ones to worship him. Neither shall we be the last.

We have a great promise that even if we suffer on earth, our great God is on our side and at his own time will provide for our needs.

We need to pray to God and ask according to our needs. That by faith even after 25 years of waiting, we can still receive an answer from God.

All Christians around the world know that Jesus is real and he lives to intercede for all. He came not for those who are righteous but to those who are lost.

Jesus was and is the true manifestation of the invisible God. The fullness of Gods love revealed in man.

He is a role model. He does everything that we should. He prays. He heals the sick. He asks the Heavenly Father whatever He needs. He overcomes the devil and casts him out of people. He cares for the hungry. He fears God and worships in truth and spirit.

Jesus teaches the true word of God, He assists the needy. He loves children, lonely, poor, sick and the widows. He turns the other cheek when assaulted. He keeps the Law. We should follow His example in every way as is often noted in the Scriptures.

That is not to say that following Jesus moral example will make us His children. That is a false and misleading dream. For even if we did keep the Law perfectly God would still owe us nothing. We are supposed to keep the Law.

It is not as though we can march into the courthouse and demand a reward because we didn't speed. It is the same with God's Law. Even if it is kept it cannot save. The keeping of the Law is its own reward. It is the best and most fulfilling way to live.

But after Jesus came, the law has become of no use to get into heaven or please God. Our faith in Christ overpowers all things creating room to believe in Jesus as our only ultimate savior and Lord in God the Father.

We are saved by following Jesus' spiritual example. He lived by faith. He placed His life in His Father's hand. He trusted in and waited for the resurrection. We have been baptized into this hope and life. When Jesus says: "Follow Me." He means it. He is the best and greatest role model for all men.

He humbled himself and endured suffering. He offered loud cries and prayers to God. He overcame all temptations of the devil and has obtained the key of life and death.

Hebrews 5:7-10 says during the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Hebrews5:8, Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9, and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10, and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

If you have never been told, know today that those who believe in Jesus will never be judged. John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ACCEPT JESUS TODAY.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 8:1-4 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,b God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.

And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

After his mission on earth Jesus ascended into heaven and is coming back to take those who follow in his good steps to eternal glory in Gods presence.

Finally let us follow the example of Christ and of the saints of God like Daniel among others who succeeded. They did what is right and pleased God.

Role Model University.

http://rolemodeluniversity.com/

According to www.forbes.com nearly all the 500 top richest persons in the world come from the developed countries. People in the developing world therefore need to work very hard to catch up.

We only decided to pick the first 100 as listed below:

Name Citizenship Age Net Worth ($bil) Residence
1 William( Bill) Gates III USA 53 40.0 United States
2 Warren Buffett United States 78 37.0 United States
3 Carlos Slim Helu & family Mexico 69 35.0 Mexico
4 Lawrence Ellison United States 64 22.5 United States
5 Ingvar Kamprad & family Sweden 83 22.0 Switzerland
6 Karl Albrecht Germany 89 21.5 Germany
7 Mukesh Ambani India 51 19.5 India
8 Lakshmi Mittal India 58 19.3 United Kingdom
9 Theo Albrecht Germany 87 18.8 Germany
10 Amancio Ortega Spain 73 18.3 Spain
11 Jim Walton United States 61 17.8 United States
12 Alice Walton United States 59 17.6 United States
12 Christy Walton & family United States 54 17.6 United States
12 S Robson Walton United States 65 17.6 United States
15 Bernard Arnault France 60 16.5 France
16 Li Ka-shing Hong Kong 80 16.2 Hong Kong
17 Michael Bloomberg United States 67 16.0 United States
18 Stefan Persson Sweden 61 14.5 Sweden
19 Charles Koch United States 73 14.0 United States
19 David Koch United States 68 14.0 United States
21 Liliane Bettencourt France 86 13.4 France
22 Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud Saudi Arabia 54 13.3 Saudi Arabia
23 Michael Otto & family Germany 65 13.2 Germany
24 David Thomson & family Canada 51 13.0 Canada
25 Michael Dell United States 44 12.3 United States
26 Donald Bren United States 76 12.0 United States
26 Sergey Brin United States 35 12.0 United States
26 Larry Page United States 36 12.0 United States
29 Steven Ballmer United States 53 11.0 United States
29 Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor & family United Kingdom 57 11.0 United Kingdom
29 George Soros United States 78 11.0 United States
32 Paul Allen United States 56 10.5 United States
32 Kwok family Hong Kong NA 10.5 Hong Kong
34 Anil Ambani India 49 10.1 India
35 Abigail Johnson United States 47 10.0 United States
35 Susanne Klatten Germany 46 10.0 Germany
35 Ronald Perelman United States 66 10.0 United States
35 Hans Rausing Sweden 83 10.0 United Kingdom
39 Birgit Rausing & family Sweden 85 9.9 Switzerland
40 Michele Ferrero & family Italy 82 9.5 Monaco
40 Mikhail Prokhorov Russia 43 9.5 Russia
40 Jack Taylor & family United States 86 9.5 United States
43 Mohammed Al Amoudi Saudi Arabia 63 9.0 Saudi Arabia
43 Anne Cox Chambers United States 89 9.0 United States
43 Carl Icahn United States 73 9.0 United States
43 George Kaiser United States 66 9.0 United States
43 Lee Shau Kee Hong Kong 81 9.0 Hong Kong
43 Forrest Mars Jr United States 77 9.0 United States
43 Jacqueline Mars United States 69 9.0 United States
43 John Mars United States 72 9.0 United States
51 Roman Abramovich Russia 42 8.5 Russia
52 Ernesto Bertarelli Switzerland 43 8.2 Switzerland
52 Philip Knight United States 71 8.2 United States
54 Nasser Al-Kharafi & family Kuwait 65 8.1 Kuwait
55 James Simons United States 70 8.0 United States
55 Alain & Gerard Wertheimer France NA 8.0 NA
57 Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair & family United Arab Emirates 55 7.8 United Arab Emirates
57 Vagit Alekperov Russia 58 7.8 Russia
59 Sunil Mittal & family India 51 7.7 India
60 Francois Pinault & family France 72 7.6 France
61 Eike Batista Brazil 52 7.5 Brazil
62 Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber Saudi Arabia 50 7.0 Saudi Arabia
62 Maan Al-Sanea Saudi Arabia 54 7.0 Saudi Arabia
62 Edward Johnson III United States 78 7.0 United States
62 Ananda Krishnan Malaysia 70 7.0 Malaysia
62 Robert Kuok Malaysia 85 7.0 Hong Kong
62 Joseph Safra Brazil 70 7.0 Brazil
68 Jeffrey Bezos United States 45 6.8 United States
69 August von Finck Germany 79 6.7 Switzerland
70 Silvio Berlusconi & family Italy 72 6.5 Italy
71 Leonardo Del Vecchio Italy 73 6.3 Italy
71 Curt Engelhorn Germany 82 6.3 Switzerland
71 Mikhail Fridman Russia 44 6.3 Russia
74 Sulaiman Al Rajhi Saudi Arabia 89 6.2 Saudi Arabia
75 James Goodnight United States 66 6.1 United States
76 Iris Fontbona & family Chile NA 6.0 Chile
76 Petr Kellner Czech Republic 44 6.0 Czech Republic
76 John Kluge United States 94 6.0 United States
76 John Paulson United States 53 6.0 United States
76 Tadashi Yanai & family Japan 60 6.0 Japan
81 Dan Duncan United States 76 5.9 United States
81 Eliodoro Matte & family Chile 63 5.9 Chile
83 Alberto Bailleres & family Mexico 76 5.7 Mexico
83 Azim Premji India 63 5.7 India
83 Hansjorg Wyss Switzerland 74 5.7 United States
86 Shashi & Ravi Ruia India 65 5.6 India
87 Steven Cohen United States 53 5.5 United States
87 Ng Teng Fong & family Singapore 80 5.5 Singapore
87 Patrick Soon-Shiong United States 57 5.5 United States
90 Serge Dassault & family France 83 5.4 France
90 Erivan Haub & family Germany 76 5.4 Germany
92 Jorge Paulo Lemann Brazil 69 5.3 Brazil
93 Eli Broad United States 75 5.2 United States
93 Kunio Busujima & family Japan 83 5.2 Japan
93 Karl-Heinz Kipp Germany 85 5.2 Switzerland
93 Vladimir Lisin Russia 52 5.2 Russia
93 Reinhold Wurth Germany 73 5.2 Germany
98 Philip Anschutz United States 69 5.0 United States
98 Kirk Kerkorian United States 91 5.0 United States
98 Nicky Oppenheimer & family South Africa 63 5.0 South Africa
98 David & Simon Reuben United Kingdom NA 5.0 United Kingdom
98 Kushal Pal Singh India 77 5.0 India
98 Galen Weston & family Canada 68 5.0 Canada
104 Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahayan United Arab Emirates