Ted Haggard Interview

I recently stumbled upon an interview Q IDEAS had with Ted & Gayle Haggard and just had to post it. Unfortunately I couldn't upload it, so here's the link:

http://www.qideas.org/video/people-of-a-second-chance.aspx#commentView
I think Ted Haggard handles things so humbly and his outlook is just right. I identify with so many things they're saying and think they've got "it"...the truth of the Gospel, the right message to preach that the world needs. Their message is important for the church to learn, a message that I think God is teaching to many in the church all over the world these days.

Some quotes:

"The Scriptures came alive so vibrantly in me as I went through this very, very dark tunnel. " - Ted

“The miracle of Jesus is that He connected with our humanity, the real us.” – Ted

“It’s a huge mistake in the church when we think that we’re all about our righteousness and that’s what connects us…because that’s not what connects us…it’s that we came into this thing as sinners…” - Gayle

“Before, as much as we tried to communicate everyone was welcome at our church and that we had compassion and mercy, what we didn’t know is what it felt like to be the people who needed it until now, and that’s what has changed us.” - Gayle

“Well, those who are saying I don’t deserve it are right, they are exactly right, that is the problem with believing the Gospel...is that people who don’t deserve anything get all kinds of wonderful things…so they’re right when they say I don’t deserve it, but I think that is the point of the Gospel.” - Ted

Short Video: The Prosperity Gospel

Here's a really well-done short video by The Global Conversation of the magazine Christianity Today:

The Prosperity Gospel from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.
http://vimeo.com/7196941

This clip so gracefully and pointedly shows the positive and the negative together in the Prosperity Gospel.

I appreciate it because I feel that there IS a negative AND a positive to this emphasis on the Gospel. When people trash "the prosperity gospel," I get very uneasy, but when people praise it, I feel uneasy too. I think the Prosperity Gospel is necessary and good...for a specific place and time....but I also agree that it's not for everywhere, everyone or for all-the-time.