Larry Flynt, the colorful, controversial founder of Hustler magazine, has purchased secular music behemoth, The Zomba Group of Companies, in a stock trade valued at $2.8 billion, putting Christian music labels and artists, including Michael W. Smith and Jars of Clay, in the Hustler media empire.
Flynt agreed to purchase Zomba from Bertelsmann, which has shed units to keep up shareholder confidence. "I'm tickled to death to be here today," said Flynt, rolling into the press conference in his gold-plated wheelchair and handing out copies of Hustler magazine on his way to the podium. "Who would have thought one day I'd own not just the world's best magazine, but the world's best gospel music?"
Flynt has wanted to flex his muscle in the media realm and, in his words, "pull a Ted Turner" for years. He made a secret bid to buy Vivendi two years ago, but was rebuffed. Now, as owner of Zomba, he has growing clout, with secular artists Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears under his purview. But the acquisition of Provident Music Group, a unit of Zomba Group, outraged observers in the Christian music industry. Provident is one of the world's most successful Christian music companies and encompasses Benson Records, Brentwood Records, Cedarmont Kids, Essential Records and others. Artists include Jars of Clay, Third Day, and Michael W. Smith.
"To have Flynt signing off on recordings made by this generation's best Christian artists is a travesty," said singer Steve Camp, who now legally goes by "Keith Green II." Camp/Green II chained himself to a pole in downtown Nashville and threatened to remove one article of clothing every day until Flynt relinquishes control of Provident, or accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior. Others in the industry, particularly those heading up companies now owned by Zomba, were more muted.
"This could be a good thing," said one executive, who requested anonymity. "Jerry Falwell's been saying for years that Flynt will get saved someday, so maybe this is a step in that direction. He'll certainly be hearing more gospel music now."
At a news conference, Flynt joked about "cross promoting the products," running ads for Michael W. Smith in his flagship magazine, and including Hustler subscription information inside Christian CD's. "Or maybe I'll start a magazine for married Christian men," he said, chuckling. "Something with a little pizzazz."
Monday, March 19, 2007
Jesus Might Be Alive and Well in Houston
Jose de Jesus Drinks, Smokes and Claims to He's the Second Coming
By JIM AVILA
March 6, 2007— - A few weeks ago, in a tattoo parlor in the hip art deco district of Miami Beach, people were lining up to get "666" tattooed on their bodies, and then smiling through their pain. But these are not devil worshipers. They see themselves as devout followers of Jesus Christ. But the major difference that separates them from other Christians around the world is that the Jesus Christ they worship is alive and well -- and living in the suburbs of Houston.
These people belong to a new movement devoted to a man who calls himself the Second Coming of Jesus, and also claims the title of Antichrist, which to him is the next incarnation of Jesus on earth, not an evil being. To show their devotion, some followers ink themselves with "666." One follower said, "I just want to make sure it's visible, that everyone knows my life belongs to the man." Another said, "I want everyone to know I'm one of the antichrists."
They and others like them are fervently devoted, some say fanatically, to a 60-year-old Puerto Rican whose legal name, to his pleasure, is Jose de Jesus, or "Jose of Jesus." He counts followers in more than 30 countries; some say they total more than a million. But where does this man, who claims to be God, live? Not where you might expect: He resides with his wife in a suburban community just outside Houston.
The Birth of 'Jesus'
When asked to explain who he is, de Jesus responds: "Jesus Christ, man, the second manifestation, the Second Coming of Christ." He acknowledges that "it bothers a lot of people" that he calls himself Jesus.
De Jesus' beginning was anything but grand. Born in Puerto Rico, de Jesus grew up poor, living in government housing. He stole for a living to pay for his teenage heroin addiction and admits to eight felony charges that put him behind bars for nine months.
Like many, de Jesus says he was born again in prison. From there he moved to the United States, where he became involved in church youth groups, and eventually a minister in Boston. But it was a vision, de Jesus says, that turned him from man of God to being God.
"The same spirit that was in Jesus of Nazareth, and the same spirit is in me. He came to me. He [integrated] with my person in 1973." de Jesus says this happened when two angels came to him in a vision, and while he admits there's no real way for him to prove that he's Christ, he says his followers aren't asking for proof.
"So you tell the millions of followers I have that … this guy is a liar. You know what are they going to say? Is that I prefer his lies than what religion gave me. I prefer, see because when they believe in what I teach, they activate angels in their life."
'Jesus Drank Wine Because He Didn't Have Dewar's'
His followers do seem happy. They greet him with mariachi bands at airports and often collapse in tears when they see him preach. But when he speaks to them, it is without theatrics. No holy rolling, no healing -- it's a pretty straightforward lesson in the fundamentals of what he believes. And it's an upbeat, no-fault, sin-free message. This self-proclaimed Jesus does not believe in sin, hell, the devil or damnation of any kind.
"Before the presence of God, there's no more sin," he says. And with no sin, de Jesus teaches his followers, there's no devil and no need for prayer, because after Jesus of Nazareth died and was resurrected, one can literally do no wrong in God's eyes.
De Jesus says things like murder and theft are crimes, but not sins, and that people are punished for these crimes on earth. "Heaven doesn't have anything to do with your behavior," he says.
And de Jesus practices what he preaches: He loves women and has been married twice. He smokes cigarettes and while enjoying a glass of scotch, he says, "Jesus drank wine because he didn't have Dewar's."
De Jesus doesn't mind that his ministry often gathers in the corner tavern. "Like my former, Jesus of Nazareth, he used to go to places like this and the religious people, they used to criticize him. … I'm just doing the same kind of thing."
But he does draw the line: no drugs, and he says no getting drunk.
"Jesus never got drunk and I never get drunk. I enjoy life. I enjoy everything that I do."
'The Super Raza'
De Jesus has come a long way from Puerto Rico, and those rough times. Today his believers give money freely. And where does all the money go? Joane de Jesus, the daughter of the man called Jesus, is the official accountant for the ministry. She says, "What you see as luxuries are gifts that members have given him. They're just very grateful, and they want to give him gifts."
There are no rules in de Jesus' church. Anything goes when you follow "Jesus of Suburbia." But he is serious about being the Second Coming of Christ. And along with his followers, he also has many detractors. Some who think he's the devil incarnate and others who think he's just a charlatan and a con man. One of the things that makes him so hated, so controversial, is that he preaches the Catholic Church is evil, and his followers burn pictures of the pope and hold protests outside churches.
And what about the children who grow up in his movement believing that Jesus is alive and well? He calls them the "super raza" or the super race, because they are being brought up pure and with no stain of false religion on them.
The de Jesus ministry is growing, with big followings in Venezuela, Columbia, even Cuba, and the man who believes he is the Second Coming of Christ is now turning his attention to America.
"Miami is the bridge for all nations," he said. "That's where Hispanics are, and then eventually I'm going to find a lot of beautiful English-speaking people who will want to believe in me and I'm going to have millions of them."
Friday, March 2, 2007
TED HAGGARD 'REDEFINES' HOMOSEXUALITY
After it was revealed that he was guilty of sexual involvement with a man for three years last November, Ex- Pastor Ted Haggard denies he is gay.
Running counter to public opinion and conventional understanding, Haggard believes he is fully heterosexual, a minister has told The Denver Post.
Knowledge of his deviant definition came from the Rev. Tim Ralph of Larkspur, CO who participated on the "Oversight Committee" for the three weeks of counseling the wayward reverend underwent.
Ralph said Haggard discovered that he is completely heterosexual. "It was the acting-out situations where things took place. It wasn't a constant thing."
It is not known whether Haggard ever acknowledged his perverse actions as "homosexual," but he did admit to having "sexually immoral" conduct with Mike Jones the male prostitute who exposed their extramarital affair. As a married man who engaged in sexual activity with another man, denying his homosexuality or bi-sexuality is classic "down low" behavior.
The 4-member investigation committee sought testimony from people who were close to Haggard and have determined that this incident was the only time he strayed in his marriage.
The tarnished preacher was advised to pursue secular work and to move to a place where he can heal. His ex-lover attended New Life Church last month reportedly just to see what it was like.
Meanwhile, Haggard and his wife, Gayle plan to relocate together and pursue master's degrees in psychology he shared in an email to the church recently.
Voice your opinion: Is it possible to have same sex intercourse, attraction, or emotional involvement and not be gay? Should Ted Haggard return to the pulpit?
Running counter to public opinion and conventional understanding, Haggard believes he is fully heterosexual, a minister has told The Denver Post.
Knowledge of his deviant definition came from the Rev. Tim Ralph of Larkspur, CO who participated on the "Oversight Committee" for the three weeks of counseling the wayward reverend underwent.
Ralph said Haggard discovered that he is completely heterosexual. "It was the acting-out situations where things took place. It wasn't a constant thing."
It is not known whether Haggard ever acknowledged his perverse actions as "homosexual," but he did admit to having "sexually immoral" conduct with Mike Jones the male prostitute who exposed their extramarital affair. As a married man who engaged in sexual activity with another man, denying his homosexuality or bi-sexuality is classic "down low" behavior.
The 4-member investigation committee sought testimony from people who were close to Haggard and have determined that this incident was the only time he strayed in his marriage.
The tarnished preacher was advised to pursue secular work and to move to a place where he can heal. His ex-lover attended New Life Church last month reportedly just to see what it was like.
Meanwhile, Haggard and his wife, Gayle plan to relocate together and pursue master's degrees in psychology he shared in an email to the church recently.
Voice your opinion: Is it possible to have same sex intercourse, attraction, or emotional involvement and not be gay? Should Ted Haggard return to the pulpit?
MINSTERS GIVE PORN STARS WHAT THEY NEED
A team of ministers from Michigan have boldly passed out Bibles where some ministers have only gone in their dreams. They are under hot and heavy judgment for their unique approach to fulfilling the Great Commission. Their mission field: the pornography industry.
Featured on ABC's Nightline, two so-called "porn pastors" set up camp at the world's largest adult industry convention in Las Vegas, NV.
With Martin Bashir on hand to document how they navigated in a "godless" environment, Craig Gross and JR Mahon walked around striking up conversations and giving out copies of the New Testament that said "Jesus loves porn stars," praying that at some point they will lose the taste for lust.
They manage not to get distracted by idol sights (gadgets, sexy women, a van next to their booth was used in sex scenes) and the sounds that worship to the God of sex.
Gross, a seminary educated pastor is an established provoker, who started XXXchurch.com to reach porn addicted Christians 5 years ago. Admittedly the name was intended to grab attention, but he's more than shock value in his cyber sanctuary; this seeking to convert souls.
"We've got to meet them where they're at. That's the great commission," explains Gross. "I think that God is using people that work with Triple X Church to carry about his message, to carry out his plan."
The fantasy pornography impels online, in magazines and movies handicaps the building of meaningful relationship Mahon believes strongly.
"It's not a real relationship between a man and a woman. Everything the porn industry shells out to the world is designed to tell you what sex should look like, and how it should smell, and who you do it with and how you do it and when you do it. The reality is -- it is not reality."
Despite the condemnation from their biggest critics, other Christians, porn pastors are steadfastly after the women who they say the 13 billion dollar industry disrespects.
Their unconventional evangelism method has won some souls. Gross informed ABC nightline: "One of the girls that we helped out of the porn industry last year, she had to have four surgeries on her body because of the pornography and the abuse. She actually went into prostitution at one of the places here in Nevada. And I thought, 'man, I can't believe that.' And she said, 'What are you talking about? It's so much easier to do prostitution than pornography.'"
She is now a Christian and has been delivered from porn and prostitution.
Gross will debate the pros and cons of the adult entertainment industry with porn king Ron Jeremy in a college campus tour from April 16-26. What is your take?
Featured on ABC's Nightline, two so-called "porn pastors" set up camp at the world's largest adult industry convention in Las Vegas, NV.
With Martin Bashir on hand to document how they navigated in a "godless" environment, Craig Gross and JR Mahon walked around striking up conversations and giving out copies of the New Testament that said "Jesus loves porn stars," praying that at some point they will lose the taste for lust.
They manage not to get distracted by idol sights (gadgets, sexy women, a van next to their booth was used in sex scenes) and the sounds that worship to the God of sex.
Gross, a seminary educated pastor is an established provoker, who started XXXchurch.com to reach porn addicted Christians 5 years ago. Admittedly the name was intended to grab attention, but he's more than shock value in his cyber sanctuary; this seeking to convert souls.
"We've got to meet them where they're at. That's the great commission," explains Gross. "I think that God is using people that work with Triple X Church to carry about his message, to carry out his plan."
The fantasy pornography impels online, in magazines and movies handicaps the building of meaningful relationship Mahon believes strongly.
"It's not a real relationship between a man and a woman. Everything the porn industry shells out to the world is designed to tell you what sex should look like, and how it should smell, and who you do it with and how you do it and when you do it. The reality is -- it is not reality."
Despite the condemnation from their biggest critics, other Christians, porn pastors are steadfastly after the women who they say the 13 billion dollar industry disrespects.
Their unconventional evangelism method has won some souls. Gross informed ABC nightline: "One of the girls that we helped out of the porn industry last year, she had to have four surgeries on her body because of the pornography and the abuse. She actually went into prostitution at one of the places here in Nevada. And I thought, 'man, I can't believe that.' And she said, 'What are you talking about? It's so much easier to do prostitution than pornography.'"
She is now a Christian and has been delivered from porn and prostitution.
Gross will debate the pros and cons of the adult entertainment industry with porn king Ron Jeremy in a college campus tour from April 16-26. What is your take?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)