Why AR-15s are the plastic straws of the gun world

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

“How many guns weren’t designed as “weapons of war”? Bolt-action rifles were once state-of-the-art weapons of war. So was the flintlock. Go back even further, and clubs were weapons of war, and many people are still killed with them today. Should we outlaw baseball bats?”

(Selwyn Duke – Renew America)  How did AR-15s become the plastic straws of the gun world? It’s simple: Demagogues need scapegoats. Yet just as banning plastic straws won’t make a dent in the ocean-polluting plastics problem, banning “assault rifles” (which aren’t) won’t save even one life. Continue reading →

Private Interpretation

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. John 16:13-14 (NASB) 

Even though it is discounted by many today, the Protestant Reformation was a wonderful work by God in that the Gospel was freed from the captivity of the apostate Roman Catholic Church. Over the centuries the Gospel had become obscured as the Bishop of Rome was declared perfect with authority over Scripture…. Continue reading →

‘Banned Books Week’ Protects Low Quality Trash

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

The problem is not just the library, but within classrooms, where teachers give students suggested reading lists. DeGroff paints a picture that will leave any concerned adult heartbroken but also angry. Current themes for younger children include many titles that promote gender confusion and homosexual parenting but also the distorted messages of other “social justice” agendas.

[Warning: graphic content]

(Linda Harvey – Mission” America)  You take your children to the library. What a wholesome place, brimming with sweet stories and mind-expanding ideas as kids discover the delights within the covers of a book. Oh, the love of reading! Nothing here but candy canes and lollipops. Continue reading →

In GQ Interview, Brad Pitt Admits Atheism Is Just an Act, Doesn’t Really Exist

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“Of course, Pitt is just affirming the Bible. Atheism is an act. Deep down, there are no atheists. There are only spiritualists and supernaturalists who reject truth as a means to place themselves as Lord and Savior of their own life.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Atheists claim that they don’t believe in God. But God, according to the Bible, doesn’t believe in atheists.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Continue reading →

Kim Kardashian Claims Blasphemous Husband Kanye West is ‘Born Again,’ Started ‘Sunday Service’ to ‘Heal Himself’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , , ,

Earlier this year, Kim Kardashian was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! show and was jokingly asked by its host Jimmy Kimmel, “Do you pray to Kayne or to God at this church?”  “There’s actually no praying; there’s no sermon; there’s no word; it’s just music and just a feeling,” Kardashian explained.

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is claiming that her husband Kanye West, who has come to be known for profane and bizarre behavior — and who released the blasphemous rap album “Yeezus” in 2013 — is “born again” and “saved by Christ.” The statements were made during an interview on The View this past Friday as Kardashian explained the origin of her husband’s controversial “Sunday Service” gatherings, which she claims is actually “a Christian church.” Continue reading →

Big Trump-Russia report is coming, but how much will remain secret?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

“The bottom line is: How much of Horowitz’s findings, and later Durham’s, will be made public? Americans need to know the lengths to which the nation’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies went in pursuit of the theory that Russia and the Trump campaign conspired to fix the presidential election. The Mueller investigation later concluded that no such conspiracy could be established.”

(Byron York – Washington Examiner)  On May 23 of this year, President Trump gave Attorney General William Barr “full and complete authority” to declassify information relating to the actions of the FBI and intelligence community in investigating the 2016 Trump campaign. Continue reading →

Idolatry

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” Genesis 35:1-3 (NASB) 

idolatry 1: the worship of a physical object as a god 2: immoderate attachment or devotion to something (from Webster’s Ninth Collegiate Dictionary) Continue reading →

The Ignorance Factor

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

“The uninformed and/or apathetic American picks up on this.  No longer are politicians who deny due process or advocate Constitutional violations even challenged.  Now they stand on debate stages smiling at press moderators who have no problem with their radicalism and even, in the case of late-term abortion, embrace it.”

(Bill O’Reilly)  Many Americans, including this one, are perplexed by some disturbing opinions being put forth in this country.

Let’s start with a recent Gallup Poll that says 43 percent of Americans, including 52 percent of democrats, believe it was a mistake to send U.S. troops to Afghanistan after the 9/11 terror attack. Continue reading →

Reminder: No Meaningful Evidence Corroborates Any of the Kavanaugh Accusations, Several of Which Fell Apart

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“Evidence matters.  Any politician parlaying these unproven or discredited claims into an impeachment demand is a shameless, dangerous demagogue.  There should be repercussions for such obscene recklessness.”

(Guy Benson – TownHall)  Now that we’re revisiting the Kavanaugh mess — bring it on, I wrote this morning — it seems worthwhile to revisit the known facts of each supposedly ‘credible’ accusation leveled against him.  This insight strikes me as exactly correct, in terms of assessing the tactics, motives, and goals of the smear brigade.  It’s a deeply cynical pattern: Continue reading →

Just Before Oilfield Attack, Saudi Prince Held Private Meeting with American Evangelicals

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , ,

UPDATE

Pulpit & Pen now has a list of the evangelicals who met with the Saudi Prince just prior to the oilfield attack.

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Religion News services reported, “Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Tuesday (Sept. 10) with a delegation of American evangelical Christians in the Red Sea city of Jiddah as the kingdom works to forge closer ties with an influential electoral base in the U.S. that could be crucial to the 2020 elections.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Just days before Saudi Arabia suffered a major terrorist attack that is currently being blamed upon Iran, the Saudi Crown Prince privately flew in powerful American evangelicals, and then rushed them again out of the country before the attacks occurred. Continue reading →

Christian Artists Can’t Be Forced to Make Gay Wedding Invites, Arizona Supreme Court Rules

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , ,

“These women of deep religious faith gladly serve everyone, including those in the LGBT community; their faith simply prevents them from expressing certain messages for anyone. So this case is not about whether businesses can decline to serve an entire class of people. It is about whether artists can freely choose which messages their own art conveys.”

(Tyler O’Neil – PJ Media)  On Monday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the City of Phoenix could not use a criminal law to force a Christian arts studio to make wedding invitations for a gay wedding. Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, owners of Brush & Nib Studio, faced up to six months of jail time, $2,500 in fines, and three years of probation for each day the city would find them in violation of the law. Continue reading →

Do Not Love the World

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (NASB) 

One of the markers of genuineness in a Christian is separation from the World. This isn’t a physical removal from planet Earth or a disintegration of the body of a Christian…. Continue reading →

The Fading Light Of Pop-Christianity

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

Screenshot from a Hillsong music event dance number that included near-nude women covered by bath towels.

“The Hillsong brand of Christianity is one marked with pursuing earthly treasures, entertainment, celebrity, and sensationalism.  I like to call it “pop-Christianity”. Drawing from all the entertainment and commercial successes of the 21st century, pop-Christianity appeals to the temporal at the expense of the eternal.”

(Chris Saenz – Post Christian Era)  Many Christians were shocked in August when longtime Hillsong songwriter, Marty Sampson announced that he was “losing his faith”.

In a Twitter post (that has since been removed), Marty claims that he is “not in anymore” and wants “genuine truth. Not the “I Just Believe It” kind of truth”. His list of reasons that Christianity is “not for me”, according to Sampson, read like a laundry list of teenage rebellions to Christianity during youth group: Continue reading →

NYC Repeals Prohibition Against Reparative Therapy Because It’s Unconstitutional

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

Obviously I didn’t want to repeal this. I don’t want to be someone who is giving in to these right-wing groups. But the Supreme Court has become conservative; the Second Circuit, which oversees New York, has become more conservative.

(Pulpit & Pen)  “The law is a gross intrusion into the fundamental rights of counselors and clients. Every person should have access to the counselor of his or her choice. No government has the authority to prohibit a form of counseling simply because it does not like the religious or moral beliefs of a particular counselor or client.” Continue reading →

A Response to ‘From Celibate Gay Poster Child to Future Gay Husband’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

The title of his article, “From Celibate Gay Poster Child to Future Gay Husband,” affords a key and primary clue as to why this happened.  It happened because he never renounced identifying himself with a sinful propensity or proclivity.  He failed to see his sinful bent was condemned by God, the Father; atoned for by God, the Son; and he was washed and sanctified by God, the Holy Spirit.

(Helen Louise Herndon – The Aquila Report)  The above titled article appeared in The Aquila Report and originated on the author’s blog entitled, “Queer Liturgy.” As a gay man, he claims he always upheld the traditional view of marriage and sexuality…. Continue reading →

Jesuit Priest Gets Slammed On Twitter After Endorsing LGBT Lifestyle

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , , ,

“Perhaps the best thing now is that you should stand down/resign from the priesthood, since in advocating this you show utter contempt for it, for holiness and the supernatural origins of the order of marriage, whilst parading sin as a good.”

(Frank Camp – Daily Wire)  On Thursday, Jesuit priest and editor at large of America Magazine James Martin sent out a tweet about homosexuals not feeling welcome in the Catholic church: Continue reading →

Why It Is Vital That We Become Mature In Christ

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

11 And He gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some shepherds and teachers 12 for the equipping of the saints to the work of ministry to the building up of the Body of Christ 13 until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the fuller knowledge of the Son of God, to complete maturity, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ 14 that we should not longer be infants tossed by waves and carried around by every wind of doctrine by the cunning of men with craftiness leading to the scheming of deception. Ephesians 4:11-14 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

In 1887, Robert Shindler, a fellow pastor and close friend of Charles Spurgeon, wrote in Spurgeon’s publication, The Sword and the Trowel: “It is all too plainly apparent men are willing to forego the old for the sake of the new. But commonly it is found in theology that that which is true is not new, and that which is new is not true.”… Continue reading →

Not Peace, But A Sword

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34 (NASB) 

The character and the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ is not well understood by the majority of people on planet Earth. In fact, many professing “Christians” have an image of Him in their understanding that is based upon fleshly reasoning. This “other” Jesus is not Biblical for the most part. They have given their Jesus a whole new set of values and traits that conflict sharply with the Jesus presented in the Gospels in His own words. Continue reading →

A timely call for a ‘charismatic code of ethics’

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

Rule Number 1: All charismatics leaders, I am challenging you to sign on to the charismatic code of ethics. Rule number 1 being no claims to miraculous healings will be made public by any charismatic leaders until the healings have been verified by independent third party medical doctors.

(Churchwatch Central)  In his latest YouTube broadcast, Ps. Chris Rosebrough is calling for the establishment of a ‘Charismatic Code of Ethics’. Many ex-charismatics will appreciate Ps. Rosebrough’s call for this ‘code’ because of the spiritual damage they experienced before the Lord drew them out to greener pastures and still waters. The first ‘code of ethics’ call is on the ‘claims of the miraculous’. Ps. Rosebrough states: Continue reading →

Can You Be A Christian Without Going To Church?

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

“One reads the scenes in heaven and it’s never, never about being an isolationist! Those scenes around the throne are always with the masses of people redeemed by the blood of Christ, who share the joys of His presence together forever (e.g. Rev 5:11–14; 7:9–17).”

(Phil Newton – Founders Ministries) I’ve heard it many times. “Well, you don’t have to attend church to be a Christian.” “Attending church doesn’t make you a Christian!” “I don’t need the church; I worship God in my own way. Continue reading →

The George Soros Funded Transformation of Evangelical Churches

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , , , , ,

“The Welcome. group includes a range of tools for the immigration activist. There are coloring exercises for children, meal conversation plans for the immigration community organizers and a Bible Study called The Ruth and Naomi Project: Welcoming the Stranger in Our Midst. These resources intend to remake evangelical theology.”

(Capstone Report)  Welcome. is a women’s group promoting evangelical involvement in immigration. Its website is welcomeimmigrants.org. That website’s Internet Registry information shows World Relief as its administrative contact, and an email contact address with the National Immigration Forum. The National Immigration Forum is a group funded by George Soros. Continue reading →

Former LifeWay Executive Joins Host of False Prophets For ‘Worship’ and ‘Prayer’

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“Now that Stetzer has left LifeWay, he holds the Billy Graham Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College, serves as Dean of the School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership at Wheaton College, and serves as Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center.” 

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  If you ever wondered why LifeWay stores — a bookstore owned and managed by the Southern Baptist Convention — is littered with heretical books written by false teachers, it’s that those who have been in charge over the years had no concern for the poison they fed the sheep and were hell-bent on making a profit, at all costs. Continue reading →

The Life Of Jesus In Mortal Bodies

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.  2 Corinthians 4:11

What we want, of course, is to be like Him. But the power of God is the miracle of others seeing in us, in the midst of our pressures and trials, the character and the life of Jesus. I have always been amused and challenged by the verse in Colossians 1, where Paul prays that his friends in Colosse may be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might (Colossians 1:11a). What are they going to use all this power for?… Continue reading →

The Myth of Sexual Orientation

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“The problem is that so many have bought the myth that they are intrinsically homosexuals … and they have no hope of changing.”  Dr. R.C. Sproul

“Why would a child of God who has been justified by the blood and righteousness of Christ alone, adopted into God’s family, and freed from slavery to sin by the powerful regenerating work of God in their life fight to apply such an abominable label, homosexual, to themselves? Our Lord bled and died not only to forgive people of the sin of homosexuality but also to liberate them from its enslaving power.”

(Patrick Hines – The Aquila Report) In an excellent lecture on homosexuality still available from Ligonier Ministries from long ago, the late Dr. R. C. Sproul said:

First of all, to deal with the homosexual is one of the most difficult problems we have to deal with. It would be so much easier for all concerned to just ignore the problem and say to people and to the world and to the homosexual, “Look, it’s ok. It’s alright. You’re just left-handed. It’s fine.”… Continue reading →

Christians, Shake Your Heads: Vague Self-Help Book Spends 15 Straight Months Atop Bestseller List

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“Hollis isn’t on the bestseller list because her book shares any great insight, wisdom, or truth. It’s because Hollis’s advice is wisdom to the world. It’s the best the world can offer. Here’s some therapy. Here’s a pill. Here’s some pretendy-God-talk. Feel better about yourself.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Even the BuzzFeed knows this book isn’t Christian.

An “amalgam of stories, tough-love advice from a woman who has been there, and vaguely biblical encouragement,” Girl, Wash Your Face was the 2nd most popular book of 2018 on Amazon. It has now topped the ECPA Christian Bestsellers list for 15 months straight. Continue reading →