Social distancing for coronavirus will save lives – look at these numbers

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“The scariest part of coronavirus is how fast it spreads to other people. This rate is affected by a multitude of factors but the most important ones are incubation period and contact rate. Coronavirus can have an incubation period of up to 14 days, meaning that you can have it and spread it to others while having no idea that you have it. That makes the “I feel fine, why can’t I go out?” argument null and void.”

(Liberty Vittert – Fox News)  As I hunker down for the long haul at home with my Newfoundland dog Henry, I can’t help but feel real frustration and, fine, outright anger, at the many individuals who are choosing to ignore the social distancing advisories. Continue reading →

Finding God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”  John 14:23-24

We have all heard evangelists quote from Revelation: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). Usually the evangelist applies this text as an appeal to the unconverted, saying: “Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart…. Continue reading →

Giant Faith-Healer Gathering Canceled Due to Coronavirus

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“So far we have, Bethel’s affiliated pastor, Shawn Bolz, declared a prophecy that God had ended the virus. Perhaps Bethel didn’t get the memo. Rodney Howard Browne promised to bind coronavirus from the United States (again, it’s growing), Jim Bakker claimed his venereal disease ointment also heals coronavirus, and Rick Wiles claimed Christians are immune altogether….” 

(Pulpit & Pen)  Well, this sounds like satire, but it’s not. The world’s largest gathering of notable faith healers are canceling the grand opening of a faith-healing center because of coronavirus. Continue reading →

Oregon Orders All Restaurants And Bars To Restrict Access, And Bans Groups Larger Than 25

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“The partial shutdown of bars and restaurants will hit businesses that employ tens of thousands of Oregonians, many of them low wage workers. Eating and drinking establishments provide roughly 160,000 jobs in the state, according to ballpark figures from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis. Those businesses spent some $285 million in wages every month.”

(Lauren Dake &  Dirk VanderHart – OPB)  Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Monday she is banning seated dining at the state’s bars and restaurants and prohibiting gatherings of more than 25 people, in the latest set of drastic actions meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Continue reading →

How to tell if it’s allergies or coronavirus

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“People get confused with the name of the virus. When you hear them say coronavirus, that’s speaking in a general sense, that’s called the family coronavirus,” she said. “There’s a lot of subsets underneath that family, including the common cold, which also can be caused by a coronavirus.”

{Matt London – Fox News) As spring arrives in the United States amid the coronavirus outbreak, some people may be having a difficult time discerning between the symptoms of seasonal allergies and the highly infectious COVID-19. Continue reading →

Coping with Anxiety

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25

In 1 Peter 5:6–7, the Apostle Peter wrote to the Christians spread across the Roman Empire who were suffering persecution from the unbelieving Jews and gentiles: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” In this passage, Peter shows in what way his readers were to face the anxiety they were feeling in this situation: they were to cast their anxiety upon God…. Continue reading →

Democrats Give Christians Advice on Not Worshiping ‘Lesser Gods’ by Being ‘Too Involved in Politics’

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“These political plants in Evangelical circles think they’re smart — and sadly, many fall for their rhetoric. They claim political neutrality, stating things like we “should critique both parties,” when, in reality, these people are just anti-conservative progressives.”

It’s beyond fascinating to watch the progressive left act like they have some kind of moral high ground by pretending to abstain from politics all the while, they are demonstrably shilling for the liberal agenda…. Continue reading →

Kris Vallotton fails to release purple bubbles, wants to send coronavirus to Mars

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“Vallotton: Lets just begin to speak against this virus, and lets use our faith to move this virus out of…lets say this..you..we can send it to Mars coz we don’t think there’s any Martians there, so why don’t we just altogether send this thing to Mars..wherever, wherever out of the universe..and lets just begin to believe God and lets fast, a forty day fast of negativity and fear and lets feast on chocolate…this is the fast I love, we will fast fear and we will eat chocolate.”

(Rick Becker – Famine In The Lad)  Two biblical signs of the last days are being fulfilled in our midst – the calamities in this world, and the proliferation of false prophets and false teachers. The former, being a threat to the latter – specifically the false prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation…. Continue reading →

Anxiety, Coronavirus, and the Promises of God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

Knowing very well that the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is on everyone’s mind, I thought I’d share a short devotion encouraging us to trust in God’s faithfulness and promises. In the face of danger, we need to be prudent and wise, but also need to be careful our heart is not held in bondage to fear. It’s not always an easy balance to maintain, but meditating on the promises of God brings inner peace in the face of external pressures.

The promises of God are like concrete pylons driven deep into the ocean floor…. Continue reading →

‘You’re Not Helpless, America’: U.S. Surgeon General Tells Americans How To Deal With Coronavirus

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“But we need your help. Social distancing and mitigation, they’re not to protect the 30-year-old or the 20-year-old from getting coronavirus. They’re to protect your nana, they’re to protect your granddaddy, they’re to protect the people who you love in your lives. And we need your help.”

(Joseph Curl – Daily Wire)  Dr. Jerome Adams is America’s doctor.

Adams is the U.S. Surgeon General — and, by all accounts, a very, very smart guy.

During a White House press conference on Saturday, the doctor delivered some useful and practical advice to Americans worried about the coronavirus (COVID-19). Continue reading →

Koinōnia

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NASB) 

Most of the churches I attended in my life had something called “fellowship” and some even had  space dedicated to it called “fellowship hall” or something similar. We had time after “church” that was called “fellowship time” that always seemed to be a relaxed time of visiting together and just being friendly with each other outside of normal “church stuff.” In the New Testament the word that is translated as “fellowship” as in Acts 2:42 (above) is κοινωνίᾳ (koinōnia), which Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest defined as, “joint participation in a common interest or activity.”… Continue reading →

Jesus, the Prostitutes, and Transgender Outreach

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , , , , ,

“Memorial’s pastor has consistently named homosexual behavior as sin – for which he deserves credit – but he has equally insisted that a homosexual orientation neither must be nor can be repented. Therefore the Q Collective’s message of affirming the transgender experience would seem to be generally in line with Memorial PCA’s views.” 

(Richard D. Phillips – Reformation 21)  The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a denomination founded to be faithful to Scripture, the Reformed faith, and the Great Commission, has been rocked yet again, this time by news of transgender-promoting theater performances hosted by Memorial Presbyterian Church of St. Louis…. Continue reading →

What ‘deplorables’ need to recall as Hillary Clinton contemplates a comeback

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“His sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton explains, was a way to “manage my anxieties.” That plays into the “Me Too” narrative and the notion that Hillary is a victim of sexism. Fox News revisited the Lewinsky liaison in a “Scandalous” documentary  and so did Kenneth Starr’s 2018 Contempt: A Memoir of the Clinton Investigation. In reality, there were  two Clinton investigations, and they break down like the movies in Pauline Kael’s  Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.”

(Frontpage Magazine –  Lloyd Billingsley)  “All the party has to do is call. Her bag is packed,” writes Michael Goodwin in “Democrats’ hunt for Trump slayer may lead to Hillary Clinton comeback,” and her platform writes itself…. Continue reading →

Former ERLC Scholar says Neo-Marxist ideas have foothold in 2 Baptist seminaries

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , , , , ,

“Walter Strickland teaches Critical Race Theory, and you look at black theology and some of the things he has said. Frankly, I am surprised he is still on the [Southeastern] faculty,” Mitchell remarked. “From Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, you have Curtis Woods [chairman of the 2019 SBC Resolutions Committee] and you have Jarvis Williams. Jarvis Williams is a New Testament professor. From all accounts Jarvis in his courses doesn’t really teach New Testament, he just teaches Critical Race Theory.”

(Capstone Report)  A former scholar with the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) warned Southern Baptists about the dangers of Neo-Marxist ideas like Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality during an event in Louisiana…. Continue reading →

A Tale Of Two Pandemics: Media Downplayed Swine Flu Outbreak Under Obama

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“Unprecedented? Really? Do CNN’s reporters and editors not know about the flu pandemic of 1918? Or even the swine flu pandemic of 2009?”

(Issues & Insights)  The potential impact of the coronavirus might still be unknown, but the media hype is already plain as day. Particularly when you compare how they are covering this pandemic with the last one, which happened to occur when Barack Obama was in the White House.

To get a sense of the differences in how the press treated these two outbreaks of brand new viruses, let’s look at how the New York Times and CNN – the bellwethers of mainstream journalism in print and on TV – covered each at similar points in the outbreak. Continue reading →

SBC President Approves of Female Prosperity Gospel LGBTQ Preacher on Blasphemous TBN Network

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , , , ,

“J.D. Greear is one of the foremost leading this movement as he — the president of the Southern Baptist Convention — cheers on the rebellion of women in pulpits around the globe. And his latest ovation goes to “ex-lesbian” (who says she’s still attracted to women) female preacher who affirms the heresies of Bethel Church, Jackie Hill Perry.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  The Southern Baptist Convention is so far down a trajectory that it’s nearly impossible to imagine any kind of turn-around at this point…. Continue reading →

Ravi Zacharias reveals he has rare form of cancer, asks for prayer

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See the full text of Zacharias’s update.

(Disrn)  World-renowned Christian apologist and bestselling author Ravi Zacharias revealed on Thursday evening that he has been diagnosed with “a very rare cancer called Sarcoma” and has asked for prayer for relief from “horrific” pain.

Zacharias said that as he was recovering from a recent back surgery he has been experiencing terrible pain at night which has kept him from sleeping…. Continue reading →

A Harrowing Look at Child Sex Trafficking Boosted by Porn Sites

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“The porn company claims it was visited 42 billion times last year, receiving 115 million visits daily while facilitating 1,200 searches per second. With such a large viewership, there is no doubt that other boys and girls are also at risk.”

(Hannah Harrison – CNS News)  For years, there has been a lack of awareness of the true horrors within the sex industry.

For the first time in a long time, people are beginning to see that everything isn’t exactly as it seems…. Continue reading →

Antichrists

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 1 Timothy 4:1 (NASB) 

According to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in John 15 the mark of Christian authenticity is abiding or remaining in Him. This is not simply a continual profession of faith, but a remaining faithful to Christ in our orthodox Christian faith. According to Paul, this falling away is a two-fold action of departing from the faith and giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. The Apostle John called the Christian leaders who do this antichrists. Continue reading →

Satan’s Strategy: Sin That Seems Virtuous

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“Sadly, sin corrupts our minds so that we make ingenious defenses for sinful conduct (e.g. Eph. 2:3; 4:17, 18; Titus 1:15; 2 Tim. 3:8; Col. 1:21; Rom. 8:6-7). Indeed, we are chillingly adept at putting a virtuous face on sin. Satan encourages this activity; he excites the remnants of sin in us to think about sin itself in an unbiblical (and sinful!) manner.” 

(Robert Spinney – Reformation 21) Scripture reports that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Understand that Satan’s deception extends beyond disguising his person; he also disguises his activities. Especially when Satan tempts Christians, he presents sins as things that are not so bad, and sometimes even good. Continue reading →

A Call to Separation

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“God is light (1 John 1:5) and His saints are “the children of light.” (Luke 16:8) But the children of the Wicked One are darkness” (Eph. 5:8) What communion, then, can there be between members of families so dissimilar? “Christ” and “Belial”—what concord can there be between one to whom Christ is everything, and one who despises and rejects Him?”

By A.W. Pink

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  2 Corinthians 6:14

This passage gives utterance to a Divine exhortation for those belonging to Christ to hold aloof from all intimate associations with the Ungodly. It expressly forbids them entering into alliances with the unconverted. It definitely prohibits the children of God walking arm-in-arm with worldlings. It is an admonition applying to every phase and department of our lives—religious, domestic social, commercial. And never, perhaps, was there a time when it more needed pressing on Christians than now. The days in which we are living are marked by the spirit of compromise. On every side we behold unholy mixtures, ungodly alliances, unequal yokes. Many professing Christians appear to be trying how near to the world they may walk and yet go to Heaven. Continue reading →

Bethelite couples vain declaration over Coronavirus

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“We want to release the kingdom of God and presence and power to all those in our Facebook communities. And so today I want to release miracles for people who have the Coronavirus…”

(Rick Becker – Famine In The Land) Kevin and Theresa Dedmon are products of the Bethel cult. The couple believed their declarations had an effect on the Carr fire, and their delusion continues as they declared healing over people infected with the Coronavirus. Sitting with the couple are at least three people wearing glasses – one would think they would begin declaring healing over those sitting a few feet from them. If the Coronavirus cannot live in the presence of God, we must ask the question, which presence is the bespectacled Bill Johnson hosting? Continue reading →

The Beatitudes, the Essence of a Genuine Disciple

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-13 (NASB)  Read verses 9-13 on the site.

Back in the mid-1980’s, about 18 months after God saved me, I heard a wonderful lesson at a men’s retreat on Matthew 5:1-12. My Bible knowledge at that time was spotty. I had heard of The Beatitudes, but really hadn’t studied them…. Continue reading →