What do you think they mean when they talk about the Rebbe “running the world”? They mean exactly what you’ll find in 8hazal, מי מושל בי. They mean no more, no less, then that Hashem fulfills his requests. There’s nothing new about that. You don’t like the way it’s expressed? I don’t either. So what.
Regarding finding favor, don’t most people describe their ancestors being proud? Is the song about Mamma Rochel also Avoda Zara? (I happen to find it weird, actually.)
At I said, anyone acquainted with Chasidishe literature, or its precursors, will know in what light these statements are said.