Catholic League: Go Figure — Cuomo Bans Cat Declawing But Allows Abortion Up to Birth

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , ,

“He called it ‘a cruel and painful procedure,’ one that is positively ‘inhumane,’ yet there is no record of him ever speaking that way about abortions at any stage of pregnancy. Nor has he ever branded infanticide an ‘archaic practice,’  though that is exactly what he called cat declawing.”

(Michael W. Chapman – CNS News) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill into law on Monday that prohibits the declawing of cats because, as Cuomo said, it is “a cruel and painful procedure.” This is the same governor who signed a bill into law in January that allows abortion up to the moment of birth and even allows babies that survive an abortion to be left unattended to die on a table. Continue reading →

Judicial Watchdog Submits Congressional Ethics Complaint Against Rep. Omar for Potential Perjury, Fraud

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , ,

“Of particular importance are archived photographs taken during a widely reported trip by Ilhan Omar to London in 2015, posted to her own Instagram account under her nickname ‘hameey,’ in which she poses with her husband/presumed brother, Ahmed Elmi. These photographs from 2015 are documentary evidence that in fact she met up with Mr. Elmi after June 2011 and before the date she signed the divorce document in August 2017, thereby calling into question the veracity of her claim that she had not seen Mr. Elmi since June 2011.”

(Luke Rosiak – Daily Caller)  Conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch filed a complaint with the House of Representatives’ ethics office asking for an investigation into possible crimes committed by Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar. Continue reading →

Willow Creek’s Reconciliation Service Brings Closure to Some, But Alleged Victim Says ‘Hope Evaporated’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , ,

“Nancy Beach, a former teaching pastor and one of more than 10 women to speak out against Hybels, said in a blog post this morning that she was “stunned and devastated” by last night’s meeting. Beach said that in the past several weeks, she and other alleged victims and their advocates had met with the elders and had hope because of the elders’ seeming compassion and empathy.” 

(Julie Roys)  Many who attended the elder-led congregational meeting at Willow Creek Community Church last night seemed pleased with what they heard. At the beginning of the service, the congregation gave Willow Creek Acting Senior Pastor Steve Gillen a standing ovation. And at several points throughout the night, the congregation clapped in response to elder comments. Continue reading →

Does Prayer Change God’s Mind?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Does prayer make any difference? Does it really change anything? Someone once asked me that question, only in a slightly different manner: “Does prayer change God’s mind?” My answer brought storms of protest. I said simply, “No.” Now, if the person had asked me, “Does prayer change things?” I would have answered, “Of course!”

The Bible says there are certain things God has decreed from all eternity. Those things will inevitably come to pass. If you were to pray individually or if you and I were to join forces in prayer or if all the Christians of the world were to pray collectively, it “would not change what God, in His hidden counsel, has determined to do. If we decided to pray for Jesus not to return, He still would return…. Continue reading →

Homosexuals as PCA Elders?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

According to the Holy Scriptures, a Christian who publicly identifies as a homosexual does not meet the qualifications to be an elder in the church.  When he “comes out,” he must be “ruled out” as a qualified man to serve as an elder in the church.  He doesn’t make the cut.  He is not above reproach, no matter how many study committees say otherwise…I believe that the “Side B” status is untenable as we interpret the Scriptures, but just as clearly, where his identity is made public, it disqualifies a man from being an officer in the church.  A member who needs help? Yes!  But an officer? No!

(Larry Ball – The Aquila Report)  There have been a number of helpful articles on the Aquila Report recently in regard to a homosexual (gay) pastor in the PCA.  Some churches are leaving the PCA.  Even if a pastor believes his church should wait for a greater defining-moment to leave, many congregants are forcing the hands of their leadership to exit now…. Continue reading →

Comey Ran Intel Op Against Trump

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

Frighteningly, after Trump was elected, Comey “was essentially ‘running a covert operation against’ the president, starting with a private ‘defensive briefing’ he gave Trump just weeks before his inauguration. … They said Horowitz has examined high-level FBI text messages and other communications indicating Comey was actually conducting a ‘counterintelligence assessment’ of Trump during that January 2017 meeting in New York.”

(R. Cort Kirkwood – New American)  Former FBI Director James Comey lied when he repeatedly told President Trump the agency was not investigating him in connection with the now-discredited allegations that he “colluded” with the Russians to win the 2016 election. Continue reading →

Confused performance by Mueller raises questions about handling of investigation

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“Mueller’s performance raised questions that reached far beyond one appearance before one committee. It called into doubt the degree to which Mueller was in charge of the entire special counsel investigation.”

(Byron York – Washington Examiner)   It took just minutes for Robert Mueller’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee to turn into a painful exercise when it became clear the 74 year-old special counsel had difficulty handling the questions posed to him about his long, complex investigation into the Trump-Russia affair. Continue reading →

From Sorrow To Joy

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” 17Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. John 16:20  

The concern of the disciples is how long Jesus’ absence is going to last. Jesus had said, In a little while you will see me no more,and his disciples had immediately picked up on that phrase a little while. Their hearts clutched with fear, they said to themselves, How long does He mean? Continue reading →

John Piper Returns to Passion Conference in 2020, Joins Host of False Teachers

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

“So what’s the problem with the conference? For starters, it’s filled with false teachers — and Piper, who so many hold in such high regard as a solid Bible teacher, clearly approves of them. He is, in his own words, united with them. He isn’t there just to get on the stage to preach the gospel to their audience. He sees himself as one of them and clearly sees them all in full communion with him.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  John Piper used to be a reputable pastor. In Reformed circles, he was one that you could turn to for solid biblical advice and theological teaching…. Continue reading →

All That Is Mine Is Yours

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  John 16:12-15

Sometimes when you listen to Bible teachers today, you get the idea that there is to be a kind of Jesus-oriented Bible teaching with which we begin the Christian life but that as we mature we are to move on to Spirit-oriented truth, to recognize that the sign of maturity is to be concerned no longer with Jesus but with the Spirit…. Continue reading →

Mueller’s testimony will not give Democrats what they crave. Can they handle it?

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

““I never believed a special counsel was legally or factually warranted. But if we assume for argument’s sake that a special counsel was necessary, then the single central issue he was needed to resolve was: Is there a prosecutable obstruction case against the president?”

(Andrew McCarthy – Fox News)  Prepare to be disappointed.

That should be Democrats’ mindset heading into Robert Mueller’s appearance this week before two House committees. The greater the anticipation of the testimony, the more the letdown is apt to be. Continue reading →

Christian, do you unintentionally delve in religious superstition and magic?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

“Many people think that they, like the witchdoctor, can control or manipulate the spiritual realm by performing certain rituals, saying certain words or wearing certain charms.  This is the essence of religion.”

(Pastor Fish)  A number of years ago I spent a couple of days with a hiking club in the rural Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

On the first night of the back-breaking, blister-producing trip, a few of us sat around the fire and a sangoma joined us – one of SA’s few white witchdoctors. Continue reading →

‘Alarming’ rise in STIs strongly linked to gay sex

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , ,

NYC Pride Parade

“The increases in syphilis infections that we see across Europe, as well as other countries around the world, are a result of several factors such as people having sex without condoms and multiple sexual partners, combined with a reduced fear of acquiring HIV.”

(The Christian Institute)  The number of people in the UK with sexually transmitted diseases has risen rapidly in the last 10 years.

Cases of gonorrhea tripled between 2007 and 2017, while syphilis cases more than doubled over the same period of time.

The UK has the second highest rate of syphilis among men in Europe, and experts believe the rise is connected to homosexual sex. Continue reading →

Please, Women, Stop Reading Ann Voskamp

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

“This is part of the larger problem, particularly with these charismatic women Bible study teachers that are running rampant within evangelicalism. These women, such as Voskamp, Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, etc., tend to write and speak in ways that are emotionally captivating to women and draw them into the experience. While so much of it seems to be benign on the surface, at a deeper level, it’s very dangerous and borderline blasphemous.” 

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  People who are familiar with author Ann Voskamp know that she is a quasi-charismatic, melodramatic writer, who writes in a tedious, semi-poetic style of that you either love or hate…. Continue reading →

The Spirit, The World, And You

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. John 16:8-11

Most of us read this as though the Holy Spirit is going to come into the world and work directly upon the hearts of unbelievers and convict them of sin, righteousness, and judgment. But if you read it in that way, you have not read this verse correctly…. Continue reading →

The Return of An Obama Presidency?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“Michelle Obama’s memoir became “the best-selling book of 2018”, according to Penguin Random House…which called it a first-week sales record, and which, despite all kinds of problems, is still the country’s largest brick-and-mortar bookseller; Amazon, the online bookstore turned e-commerce giant; and NPD BookScan, which tracks roughly 80 percent to 85 percent of print trade book sales in the country.”

(Judi McLoud – Canada Free Press)  Desperado Democrats would have us believe that Michelle Obama is not only the “Forever First Lady” but also “The most admired woman in the world”.

But are those diamonds or rhinestones flashing from Michelle’s tarnished crown?

Continue reading →

Klein v. Oregon: Religious Liberty & Freedom of Speech vs. Gay Rights

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , , , ,

“The first basis for relief from the reach of the anti-discrimination laws is the claim that such laws violate the freedom of speech of the providers. At first blush, it may seem a stretch to regard baking a cake or arranging flowers as “speech.” However, federal Constitutional cases have long recognized that protecting speech is not limited to “the spoken or written word.” Engaging in conduct that expresses a point of view or idea is speech, and that expressive conduct is protected by the First Amendment.”  

(John A. Sparks – The Aquila Report)  Among recent actions by the U.S. Supreme Court, a four-sentence order may set the stage for the court to eventually address the collision between free speech and religious freedom on one hand and gay rights on the other…. Continue reading →

Willow Creek Elders Release Statement Supporting the ‘Women’; Yet One Woman Says Hybels’ Sins Were ‘Far Worse’ Than Anyone’s Said Publicly

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

Dyer said she hopes the elders will provide more detail on Tuesday night about what led them to their conclusions. “I believe that detail, rather than causing unnecessary obscurity and harm, would help illuminate truth and give needed closure to people in the congregation, to the global church, and to the women and their advocates.”

(Julie Roys)  The elders at suburban Chicago Willow Creek Community Church today released a “last statement” about the scandal involving church founder Bill Hybels, charging Hybels with “unchecked sin and intimidating behavior,” and addressing “specific harms” against Hybels’ accusers and their advocates. Continue reading →

Who is God?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Moses said to the Lord, “Please show me your glory” (Ex. 33:18). In effect, he asked, “Who are you, God?” God responded with these words: “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy” (v. 19). He promised to reveal Himself.

But no man can see God and live. That is too much for any man—sinful man in particular. God told him to stand on the rock and said, “While my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by…. Continue reading →

National conference teaches librarians how to sneak drag queens past parents

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , ,

Drag queen “Annie Christ”

In one breakout session about LGBT-themed children’s literature, librarians took time to brainstorm suggestions for “Non-Trad Families” books they could promote. This included titles such as “My Brother’s Husband,” “Lumberjanes,” and “Pregnant Butch.” 

(Doug Mainwaring – LifeSiteNews)  The American Library Association’s recent national conference provided librarians from across the country with strategies for advancing gender identity ideology in schools and finding ways to bring “Drag Queen Story Times” into public libraries despite the objections of local communities. Continue reading →