The EmergentWatch blog was started in response to aberrant material that were found in various church bookstores, particularly Calvary Chapel’s Chapel Store online bookstores. Chapel store Inc. is controlled by Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa’s Brian Brodersen. YELP confirms: “The Chapel Store is an outreach ministry of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa…”
One of EmergentWatch’s first bookstore surveys was of CC Downey [CCD], where over 1,700 items by aberrant authors was discovered. A video was done, entitled “Calvary Chapel Downey – Who’s Minding the Store?” – which showed screen captured documentation – webpages from the CC Downey store. The list is here:
The video got quite a response, but was shortly removed from You Tube for an alleged “copyright violation” filed by Chapel Store inc. However, CCD subsequently pulled down their online bookstore, and we hoped and prayed the bad materials would be removed. See https://emergentwatch.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/calvary-chapel-downey-whos-minding-the-store/ See also: https://emergentwatch.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/chapel-store-inc-has-our-video-removed-claiming-copyright-infringement/
The online store was down for quite some time, and I had checked occasionally to see if it was back online. I happened to check it recently and found it to be back up online @ http://www.chapelstoredowney.com/CustomModule.asp?pageid=201
From the brief survey that was done recently, it appears that the majority of the aberrant materials are no longer there. However CCD’s Chapel store is selling music by the aberrant Bethel Music, Bethel Redding’s Jesus Culture and Hillsong.
As the above image shows, their bookstore page @ http://www.chapelstoredowney.com/Product.asp?sku=0793573095060 is marketing Bethel Redding’s Jesus Culture, and declares: “Jesus Culture’s own Kim Walker-Smith and Chris Quilala carry their signature call to intimate worship and bold praise.” and: “Jesus Culture is a community of worship leaders and musicians who’s heart is to see a generation impacted by encounters with the presence of God… is focused on equipping a generation to transform society by bringing people into an encounter…”
Some of the aberrant materials still sold by CCD’s Chapel Store include books by:
Francis Chan [4 items]; Jim Cymbala [7 items]; Steven Furtick [1 item]; Louie Giglio [4 items]; Timothy Keller [12 items]; Beth Moore [6 items]; Priscilla Shier [7 items]; Ann Spangler [6 items]; Andy Stanley [5 items]; Lysa Terkeurst [10 items]; and Gary Thomas [14 items]
The Chapel Store of CCCM’s online store link says: “We are in process of rebuilding our online store”. However, their Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/CCCMChapelStore] shows that they are now (Oct. 2018) selling materials by:
Tim Keller, Priscilla Shirer, Francis Chan, Emergent Chip Ingram, and Gary Thomas, Jim Cymbala, Max Lucado, Ann Spangler, Craig Groeschel, Lysa Terkeurst, John Piper, Stormie Omartian
Of particular concern are materials by Ann Spangler and Gary Thomas. Spangler is an advocate of ‘Spiritual Formation’ [see https://www.annspangler.com/spiritual-formation/ ] and dangerous ‘contemplative prayer’. In her books Spangler uses citations by Dallas Willard, Thomas Merton, Eugene Peterson and other contemplatives.
Spangler is also the editor of the Catholic Women’s Devotional Bible, which states that it’s contemplative “Meditations are drawn from a rich variety of authors, including: Esther de Waal Catherine of Siena, Julian of Norwich, Mother Teresa and Teresa of Lisieux” [see: https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Womens-Devotional-Thomas-Nelson/dp/0310900573]
Author Gary Thomas has been popularized as ‘an expert’ on marriage. However his roots are deep into contemplative mysticism. In his book, ‘Sacred Pathways’, he tells his readers to “Choose a word (Jesus or Father, for example) as a focus for contemplative prayer. Repeat the word silently in your mind for a set amount of time, until your heart seems to be repeating the word by itself.” [pg. 185]
Thomas’ book Sacred Pathways is listed at #23 on Lighthouse Trails Top 50 “Christian” Contemplative Books – a NOT Recommended reading list [See https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=9707
See the EmergentWatch video on Christian Bookstores
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EMERGENT WATCH 
Yes, I have noticed that too. Once something is exposed, that’s when ‘suddenly’ a fire is lit under them and things get swept clean! But only on the surface… they keep doing the same thing but just hide it better.
I can’t thank you enough for your ministry. My heart has been broken having experienced “Ichabod” as our dear brother Roger Oakland has written about. I gave my life to the Lord Sept. 1, 1991 after hearing the Gospel from Greg Laurie couple times. Then a few months later, moved to Costa Mesa to be close to Calvary. I fervently studied the word as a Berean under Pastor Chuck, and subscribed to Dave Hunt’s newsletters & books. I was grieved when Brian fired Paul Smith from the board, than rightfully, my friend Rob Yardley resigned over the nonsense and direction Brian was going. Than, the final blow, three days after Chuck passed, Brian fired Chuck’s personal assistant and confidant Pastor Terry Reynolds, discarded Calvary Chapel Distinctives, comprising with Emergent leaders like Rick Warren, than last New Year’s eve. Pastor Carl Westerlund Dean of SOM came to me after the am service, and said that they fired him, he was devastated. His wife Barbara suffers from multiple sclerosis. Starting this year I’m now attending Agape Chapel with Pastor Terry Reynolds (Agapechapeloc.org) and am truly thankful and blessed. Agape, your bro Steve