Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
I interviewed Jim Bakker about his time in prison and eventual restoration.
Last week, I wrote about part 1 of my in-depth interview with Jim Bakker, where he shared fascinating stories about his early work in revival preaching and Christian television. Today I want to share with you part 2, in which Bakker shares new details about his downfall and time in prison as well as his eventual restoration. (Click here or scroll to the end of this article to listen to part 2 of our interview in its entirety.)
Bakker told me he never does these kinds of interviews because the leftist media repeatedly misrepresents him. But since we've been friends for so long, Bakker knew he could trust me with his personal stories. He tells me that his days in prison were some of the hardest moments of his life, and he remembers one wintry night in particular when his depression overwhelmed him.
"I thought I couldn't go on," Bakker says. "And all of the sudden, it was like hands—great hands—had picked me up, and I was floating in my bunk bed in that prison cell. And I said, 'God, what's happening?' ... He said, 'This is the prayers of the people.' And I know I would have never made it through prison without the prayers of the people."
Many of you may remember the scandal surrounding Bakker's arrest in 1988 for wire fraud. Later, news came out about an affair Bakker had with a church secretary. As a result, he lost Praise the Lord (PTL) Ministries and his resort, Heritage USA.
I remember when PTL and Heritage USA closed. I was heartbroken because not only had I benefited from those ministries, but I knew many others who had been as well.
"I never dealt with that—the pain of losing [those ministries] and what happened to me and what happened to it," Bakker told me during our interview. "I still don't know why [all that happened.] I do know it all worked together for good because I studied in the prison. I studied Revelation one word ... read more
In part 2 of this exclusive interview, Jim Bakker shares new details about his downfall and time in prison as well as eventual restoration. He says great hands picked him up in his cell. Listen to hear more about this time in his life and what the future holds for Bakker.
Strang Report podcastHot topics affecting your Christian faith. Challenge your beliefs each week with topics on U.S. and International politics, missions, Christian movements, persecution and global outreach. Join host Steve Strang, founding editor and publisher of Charisma magazine, as he discusses these topics and challenges you to know what Christians are experiencing nationally and globally. Listen now
President Donald Trump was presented with the Friends of Zion's highest award in an Oval-Office ceremony this week.
Last week, President Donald Trump made history by declaring Jerusalem Israel's capital. In fulfilling one of his campaign promises, the proclamation brought joy to many in the evangelical community.
I happened to be in Washington, D.C., the day it happened and caught up with popular speaker and writer Lance Wallnau to discuss the significance of this event. You can listen to it on my Strang Report Podcast. (Lance is always one of my most popular podcast guests.)
The evangelical community showed its appreciation when the founder of the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem, Dr. Mike Evans, presented President Trump with the Friends of Zion Award in a ceremony at the White House on Monday.
The Friends of Zion Award has been bestowed previously on world leaders like President George W. Bush, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Rosen Plevneliev, fourth president of Bulgaria. Dr. Evans—along with Shimon Peres, the ninth president of Israel and former chairman of the Friends of Zion Museum—presented these awards to honor their courageous support of the state of Israel and the Jewish people.
As you can see in the above photo, the event was attended by Vice President Pence, senior advisers Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump and faith leaders representing over 150 million Christians globally.
In a phone interview, Dr. Evans told me the award presentation had long been in the works.
"No president in history has ever built such an alliance for the state of Israel and the Jewish people, and no president has courageously stood up for the state of Israel on the global stage as you had, Mr. President," Dr. Evans declared at the ceremony. "President Trump's historic recognition of Jerusalem will secure his place in history as the first American president to take that step since the founding of the state of Israel in 1948."
Dr. Evans told the president he is "Cyrus," the Persian king raised up by God to let the Jews go back to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. It's a comparison Dr. Evans says ...
Significance of Trump Moving Embassy to Jerusalem With Lance WallnauPeople are celebrating the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, but Lance Wallnau shares we still need to pray nothing is asked in return for a quid pro quo. Hear more as Lance and Steve discuss the historic move and more.
Apostle John Eckhardt, author of Prayers That Rout Demons, believes a great move of God is about to happen. I interviewed him on my Strang Report podcast, and he says the move of God will be among Millennials, likening it to the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and 1970s that I wrote about last month in my print column in Charisma magazine.
Below you can click on the podcast and hear us discuss how—despite the doom and gloom we see in the news—God is at work and answering our prayers.
Young people are tired of "talking and theology," Eckhardt told me. "They are looking for an experience—what I call glory encounters." One of the ways is the combining of prophetic ministry and worship music. In fact, he says he's seeing the beginnings of this in the entire Chicago area—something you don't hear on the news.
I mentioned how Loren Cunningham had told me essentially the same thing. It was interesting that two respected leaders from different parts of the body of Christ were sensing the same thing in the spirit.
I reported in an earlier Strang Report that there's another element to bringing in this worldwide awakening, and that is getting God's Word into every one of the 7,092 known languages of the world. It's Loren's goal to have a spoken word translation by 2020 and a written language translation by 2033.
Gutenberg's 1439 invention of the printing press gave common people access to the Bible for the first time, which later helped spread the Reformation across Europe and the world. Cunningham believes that the Word of God becoming foundational in Europe during that time gave rise to Western civilization and the advancements we've seen in the world since then. Returning to the Word of God as our foundation will accomplish the same thing.
Eckhardt believes technology will be part of this great move of God. In the same way, Gutenberg's Bible meant millions had access to God's Word, and that sparked the Reformation. Today's technology, especially through social media, allows the truth to reach parts of the world where missionaries are not allowed. Eckhardt has been astounded to see the interest in his ministry from all over the world through what he does on Periscope, Instagram and Facebook.
Eckhardt said he's beginning to see it in Chicago, but even that is not widely reported except in places like charismanews.com. If you haven't downloaded our free mobile app for Charisma News, I encourage you to do so to keep up with what God is doing as we report the news from a spiritual perspective.
It also helps you know how to pray. Let's believe that what Eckhardt and Cunningham are seeing in the spirit will come to pass in our day.
The Next Spiritual Movement with John Eckhardt
A spiritual movement of prophetic worship is arising within the next generation. Be encouraged to know your prayers are being answered as you listen to Apostle John Eckhardt share what he is seeing in the prophetic bringing the youth into the churches to encounter God's glory.
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In early August, someone on Facebook asked Jim Garlow "the question" on how to vote. The person didn't like either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. When the San Diego pastor's Facebook reply was widely shared, Garlow decided to send it to a handful of friends, including me.
When my wife, Joy, saw it, she said it was a message we had to get out, so I asked Garlow to write something for our charismacaucus.com website. It was expected to pass a million shares today, thanks to many of you who sent it out on social media and via email to your friends.
That's because we knew many Christians wouldn't vote for Hillary's left wing pro-abortion and pro-gay agenda. But they had a bad opinion of Donald Trump, too. It looked like many Bible-believing Christians would sit out this election rather than vote for someone they didn't like.
What Garlow wrote hit a cord. As you can read below, he implores you to, if for no other reason, vote for Trump because the Republican platform is so much better than the Democratic. And, he says that for Trumps problems and the fact there are unknowns about how he would govern, it is better than what we know about Hillary's "knowns" of her platform as well as the the many scandals and Benghazi, etc.
In less than three weeks, the story has become the third most popular article we've ever published online. The second most popular is titled, "50 Reasons Why I Don't Drink," and was shared 1.1 million times, and Lee Grady's "10 Men Christian Women Should Never Marry" was shared more than two million times and is the most popular article ever on our site. If Garlow's article keeps the same pace, it will surpass that by the election.
Today we posted Garlow's article in Spanish. If you know someone who needs to read it in Spanish, please share it.
If You're On the Fence About Your Vote, This Pastor Clarifies How the Very Future of America Is At Stake
I have been asked "the question" so many times regarding Trump or Hillary. By way of background, I have followed every national convention—Republican and Democrat—from the time I was age 9, and have attended most of the GOP Conventions from 1984 to the present. I have watched the news virtually every day from the age of 8. I have never seen anything like what we are observing.
In spite of the unprecedented nature of this election cycle, I will attempt to respond to "the question." I am not demanding that anyone else share my view. But I was asked. Here is my best attempt to answer as I am able to see things at this time:
1. The Democratic and Republican party platforms are as different as night and day, in my opinion, as far apart as evil vs. good. The 51-page Democratic platform is the most leftist ever. (I don't care for the "right vs. left" nomenclature. I am far more concerned with "right vs. wrong.") The Democratic platform contains many points which are anti-biblical. (Time does not permit me here to identify what is meant by "anti-biblical," which is covered in my new book Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today's Tough Issues.) It is thoroughly socialistic (a socialist is a communist without a gun). The 54-page GOP platform is one of the strongest GOP platforms ever. A biblically alert person could be comfortable with almost all of it. Party platforms are a big issue to me. Although some "blow off" party platforms, I do not. Nor do many people up and down the ballot who are running for office. This is a serious and very important item. I have a hard copy of both platforms in front of me now. Most people have never checked out what the party platforms say. They should. If a person is not drawn to the "top-of-the-ballot" candidate, they ought to at least consider voting for the candidate attached to the best party platform.
2. Analogy #1: Both candidates are flawed. We all know that. But permit me an analogy: As a pastor, I would rather deal with a church attendee who is blatant and brash in his sinning than one who is devious, lying, cunning and deceptive. Both are problematic, but one is easier to deal with than the other. If I were a pastor bringing correction to a parishioner, I would prefer dealing with a "Trump-type" any day over a "Hillary-type." The chances of making progress with the "Trump-type" are many times greater than the "Hillary-type."
3. Analogy #2: When my (late) wife's remarkable and much loved oncologist said, "Don't take Carol to that alternative (non FDA approved) treatment." I asked, "Why not?" He said, "The unknown." I said, "Doctor, your 'known' is much worse than the alternative treatment's 'unknown.'" I took her to that alternative treatment. One year later that same oncologist went to the alternative treatment doctor to see how it was that Carol had improved so much. While this alternative treatment did not ultimately save her life, it likely stretched two to three years of life to six years of life—by the admission of another one of her brilliant young oncologists who later said, "Without any medical training or scientific fact, you have put together a protocol of treatment that has moved her into the top fraction of 1 percent of survival rates of all patients with Carol's particular cancer. Application of the analogy: Hillary's "known" is considerably worse—many times over—than Trump's "unknown."
4. Trump has lots of sins in his past (actually, we all do), and—in the present—says things he should not say. I make no attempt to defend any of the things he has said. There is no need to rehearse the wrong things he has said. We know what they are. He should not have thought or said them. But there is no need to rehash them here. So we won't. But let's turn to the other candidate. Although America has had some scandal-ridden candidates in its history, we have never seen any one major party candidate more constantly scandalous as Hillary (along with her husband). She seems to exceed all previous boundaries for wrongdoing. The scandals just don't stop. In the same way we did not take time to list all of Trump's misstatements, neither will we here rehash the seemingly continuous string of horrific scandals of the Clintons.
5. Trump is slowly being surrounded by increasingly good people. From time to time, I receive encouraging calls regarding this. Can these good people impact Trump? We will see. In contrast, I see no reason for any encouragement regarding the people who surround Hillary.
6. Trump is right on approximately 75 percent of the issues. I wish it was 100 percent. It is not. I am in hopes that those beginning to surround him can help him connect the dots on more issues. Hillary is wrong on 100 percent of the issues.
7. This next issue might be one of the most important, but I suspect few will understand its significance. Trump opposes globalism. Hillary thrives on it. Globalism is far more than "geographical" or "eliminating national borders and boundaries." It is spiritual and demonic at its core. Few—very few—understand this. This is quite likely one of the main reasons why Trump is hated. Do your homework on this one. Think "principalities and powers." Serious. Extremely serious.
8. Not voting is not a viable option, contrary to what the "purists" claim. It is not my intention to begin a war of the issue. I know that some radically disagree with this. My view? They have the right to be wrong.
9. Voting for a third party candidate is—regardless of what is said—a complete "throw-away." No third party candidate will be elected, or even come remotely close to being elected. And yes, that matters to me. And for the record, the Libertarian ticket—Johnson and Weld—is nearly as bad on many issues as Hillary. When I listen to them, I am stunned people of their ability have ever made it to elective office.
10. Trump has moved pro-life. Hillary is pro-baby killing, and prides herself on that, and honors the organization—Planned Parenthood—that actually traffics human parts from dead babies whom they have killed. This is below anything we have seen since Nazi Germany. The gall of Hillary! The Clintons have evaded justice for decades and likely will continue to. But they will someday stand before the Great White Throne. They will have to give account of their support of the ripping babies to shreds in the womb. For the record, those who vote for those who support the genocide of pre-borns will also have to give an account.
11. Trump wants to defend the nation (which is the purpose of government). Hillary has a horrific track record as Secretary of State, and due to hundreds of millions of dollars given to her and her husband's foundation, she is beholden to those who want us dead.
12. Hillary claims "everything is fine" in America. This defies every single fact, but facts have never been an interest of Hillary's. Trump understands that it is 11:59 p.m. on the "cultural clock." America is near the end—morally, economically, militarily and, sadly, spiritually. There are very clear identifiable indicators—measurable ones—that America is no longer the world's leading power. That day is over. Hillary will hasten the final destruction. Trump could either slow that down—or possibly, with God's help—reverse it. Maybe.
13. Trump will address the massive government spending. Hillary will expand it above the existing unsustainable debt the U.S. currently is carrying (almost $20 trillion plus unfunded liabilities to Social Security, etc).
14. Trump will expose—and I pray, bring down—"the systemic evil" (crony, deceitful, misuse of capitalism) that reigns among many high-dollar lobbyists. Hillary thrives because of them.
15. Trump will stop the massive overreach of government. Hillary will extend it.
16. Freedoms come in "threes." Political freedom, economic freedom and religious liberty coexist together. Take one away and the other two will eventually disappear. One cannot exist without the other two. The genius of America is that it had all three, until recently. Trump fully grasps the loss of religious liberty. I have heard him speak on it in person on several occasions. He knows that economic and political freedoms are evaporating. He will reverse that. Hillary will decimate all three.
17. Every rational person knows the Supreme Court appointments are paramount. Trump has listed 11 superb potential nominees. Hillary's appointments would snuff out the tiny vestige of the three freedoms that are left (mentioned in the statement above).
18. I make no excuse for wrongdoing or wrongful, hurtful words from either candidate. Candidly, I want King Jesus. He rules in my heart. And yours too, I suspect. And I want Him to rule here—now. But that day is not fully manifested—yet. In the meantime, we prayerfully, carefully navigate this challenging election season, with great concern that above all, we honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in every arena of our lives, including the voting booth. That is my hope. I believe it is yours as well.
Dr. Jim Garlowis pastor of Skyline Church in the San Diego, CA area. His latest book is Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today's Tough Issues. Pastors and Christian leaders may get Dr. Garlow's newest book—Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today's Tough Issues (which outlines the scriptural issues regarding 30 political & social issues)—at a reduced rate by calling 619-660-5000 Ex 5445 or contactingWellVersed@SkylineChurch.org. Also see WellVersedBook.com, which features videos and study questions for each of the 31 chapters for use in small group discussions and an audio version of the book.
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The season of Lent began earlier this week when Catholics and other liturgical churches observed Ash Wednesday. A smudge of ash applied to their heads signifies humility and repentance.
That is not my tradition. But I felt it was a good way to communicate to others that I am a Christian.
Easter is the most sacred and blessed time of the Christian calendar when we celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. Every year we like to do something special. And this year, on our website, we are putting a video every day about lent from my friend and mentor, Jamie Buckingham.
He shot the videos in Israel. And we are showing one a day for the 50 days leading up to Easter. Here are links to the four videos we have already run on Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday. You can subscribe at our YouTube channel by clicking here.
Today (Friday) is 44 days before Easter, and Jamie Buckingham's video is called Two Kings—Herod and Jesus—contrasting the cruelty of Herod and his sons with the gentleness of Jesus.
Jamie had an enormous impact on me personally and on our organization. He was one of the first national leaders to take an interest in our fledgling church magazine. He taught me networking skills that I use today.
Jaime went to his heavenly reward in 1992. While he was a major author in his lifetime, few in the new generation know Jamie to be the enormous talent and spiritual giant that he actually was. The videos shot on location in Israel give insight into who he was as a man and as a spiritual leader.
Interestingly, I made my first trip to Israel with Jamie and we went onto climb Mount Sinai (in the Sinai peninsula). In the late 1970s, it was controlled by Israel after the Six-day War but was later returned to Egypt. It proved to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and it was very memorable. Jaime taught us about different points of the Sinai desert where the children of Israel wandered for 40 years and were commemorated in Scripture. He did that for our group of 12 men and later went back with the film crew and filmed the Lenten videos that we are highlighting this season.
Jamie's oldest son, Bruce Buckingham, has been a close friend over the years and is the curator of jamiebuckinghamministries.com. There is a wealth of information about Jamie on the website along with many of his writings that no longer remain in print.
Please share these Lenten videos with your social media followers not only as a means of encouragement but also to to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in a very winsome and special kind of way. After you have seen the videos, please share your comments with us.
Steve Strangis the founder of Charisma and CEO of Charisma Media. Follow him onTwitter and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to the Strang Report podcast, and here to sign up for the Strang Report newsletter.
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Thanksgiving only became a national holiday in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the proclamation reprinted below. Until then, various states had Thanksgiving on different days.
In 1861, Lincoln ordered government departments closed for a local day of Thanksgiving. On Sept. 28, 1863, Sarah Josepha Hale, a 74-year-old magazine editor, wrote to Lincoln urging him to have the "day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival." She explained, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving ... become permanently an American custom and institution."
George Washington was the first president to proclaim a day of Thanksgiving, issuing his request on Oct. 3, 1789, exactly 74 years before Lincoln's.
The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise." As we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, let's reflect on these words from one of America's greatest presidents at the height of the Civil War.
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.
Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
Steve Strangis the founder of Charisma and CEO of Charisma Media. Follow him onTwitter or Facebook.
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During my visit, Jim showed me around his impressive Morningside complex, and I recorded our conversation as we walked and drove around. At the time, I couldn't take notes and I wasn't sure what we would discuss. Interestingly, Jim filmed our little tour because he thought it might be interesting. He later broadcast some of it on his television show.
I remember at one point in our conversation while we were standing in the hallway of Lori's (Jim's wife) House—a home on the Morningside grounds that provides a place of ministry, love, rest, learning, fellowship and caring with its main goal of saving babies and caring for their mothers—Jim became very contemplative, and I realized I was recording something very special. He was pitching me on writing a story about the "behind-the-scenes" people who have made Christian television what it is.
He then began talking about his staff at PTL, and one conversation morphed into the next in an interesting stream of consciousness. He also talked about Lori's House, his feelings on abortion, what he believes about the end times, and how he studied the Book of Revelation and Daniel while he was in prison. He also spoke about the purpose of his life.
Of course, Jim knew I was recording the message, but it wasn't an official interview. I don't think he was trying to impress me—this was genuine. I felt it gave a little insight into his heart and ministry.
I decided to include it on my podcast for today's Strang Report (Friday, Nov. 13). I've included it here, feeling that those who read the newsletter would enjoy listening to this podcast.
The podcast is also called The Strang Report. I issue two each week. Only rarely are they on the same topic as the print e-newsletter. The listenership of my podcast is growing weekly. If you haven't signed up or downloaded them from iTunes, today is a good day to do it.
When you listen to this informal interview I think you'll agree with me that Jim is a changed man. He is just sharing his heart. See if you don't agree.
Please leave your comments below and share this with your friends—especially if you are supporter of Jim Bakker and his ministry.
Steve Strangis the founder of Charisma and CEO of Charisma Media. Follow him onTwitter or Facebook.
NEW - Life in the Spirit is your Spirit-filled teaching guide. Encounter the Holy Spirit, hear God speak to you, and enjoy timeless teachings on love, mercy and forgiveness.LEARN MORE!
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