Steele’s stunning pre-FISA confession: Informant needed to air Trump dirt before election

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

“For the first time, we have written proof the U.S. government knew well before the FBI secured the FISA warrant that Steele had a political motive and Election Day deadline to make his dossier public.”

(John Solomon – The Hill) If ever there were an admission that taints the FBI’s secret warrant to surveil Donald Trump’s campaign, it sat buried for more than 2 1/2 years in the files of a high-ranking State Department official.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kathleen Kavalec’s written account of her Oct. 11, 2016, meeting with FBI informant Christopher Steele shows the Hillary Clinton campaign-funded British intelligence operative admitted that his research was political and facing an Election Day deadline. Continue reading →

John 1:1 and the Holy Trinity

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God , and God was the Word. John 1:1 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

Carefully examine the four Greek examples I placed at the top of this post. The first one is from the Textus Receptus, which is the Greek behind the KJV. The next two are from the middle of the 19th century with Tichendorf’s New Testament predating Wescott and Hort’s by about 9 years or so. The last example is of the Nestle-Aland 28th Edition, which is what I use here. I pray that you noticed that there is no differences in the text other than the NA28 used a capital eplison at the beginning of the verse and the rest did not. Continue reading →

Of Course We Should Continue Criticizing the Work of Rachel Held Evans

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

Worse yet, she accuses the authors of the Bible of being blasphemous liars, allegedly speaking for God in literally hundreds of passages when it was “really” what they wanted.  She quoted this with her approval:  God never told the Israelites to kill the Canaanites. The Israelites believed that God told them to kill the Canaanites.

(Get a load of the tweets at the end)

(Eternity Matters)  The Bible didn’t shy away from criticizing Judas after he died, so why would we ignore Rachel Held Evans’ false teachings?  And given that her death will lead many to read her works, it is as important as ever to respond to her falsehoods. Continue reading →

Jerry Falwell Jr. denies report of Michael Cohen’s help sought in alleged ‘racy photo’ matter

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , ,

Reuters had reported that it obtained a taped conversation between Cohen and comedian Tom Arnold, in which Cohen reportedly says Falwell asked him to intervene in a situation where someone possessed the type of photos that would typically be kept “between husband and wife.”

(Joseph A. Wulfsohn – Fox News)  Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. has denied asking former Trump attorney Michael Cohen to intervene in a case where someone reportedly claimed to possess racy “personal” photos that were potentially embarrassing to Falwell and his wife, as a news outlet reported Tuesday. Continue reading →

Is Marxism All That Bad?

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

“The preferred term these days is Neo-Marxism, and while even this term is not used in political circles, it now defines a more humane variant of its atheistic forebear. Actually this version of Marxism, sometimes called “cultural Marxism,” is even more radical than the old Marxism. It has to go beyond the anti-capitalist liberation of the worker because the free market eventually took care of the worker’s economic needs. Neo-Marxism brings a full-orbed Marxist cosmology—a complete worldview seeking to liberate from any creational norms not just the worker’s economic situation but the worker’s psyche and his or her sexual fantasies.” 

(Peter Jones – truthxchange)  I have long vowed not to employ simplistic theological and spiritual categories in debates over politics, since there are genuine Christians in each political party. But as some politicians lunge to wild extremes, Christians need to pause long enough to understand the larger picture. Ultimately, politics starts with worldview. Do we need to be “woke” and if so, to what? Is the new vision valid and valuable? Continue reading →

Love of the world

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

One of the markers of Christian genuineness 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 →

Trump’s Advisor, Paula White, Pronounces Herself an Apostle and Appoints Son as Replacement

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

“So today, I am officially installing Pastor Brad and Pastor Rachel as the senior pastors of over City of Destiny. Everybody stand up on your feet, because this is God’s plan. I am moving to what I call oversight pastor, but let me explain that. That is apostolic, but I just haven’t embraced the title, though. … But as apostolic overseer of City of Destiny, today officially, it’s all been done legally, officially, we are City of Destiny. Welcome to your new beginning.”

(JD Hall – Pulpit & Pen)  Paula White Cain, the thrice-married minister and former mistress of Benny Hinn, has pronounced herself to be an Apostle of Christ and installed her son as the new pastor of her church. While her son is the new lead pastor, White will serve as an “oversight pastor.” Continue reading →

A High School Girl’s Life After Transgender Students Join Her Sport

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Selina Soule shares what it’s like being forced to compete against biological boys.

“It’s not like we’re saying that we don’t like transgender people. It’s just an equality issue where these girls are trying their absolute hardest to try and get those good things on their college resumes, and then it just gets completely taken away from them because there’s a biological male racing against them.”

(Christian Daily Reporter)  When two high school athletes who were born male but identify as female took first and second place at Connecticut’s girls indoor track championship this year, it wasn’t just a local news story.

To some, it was a story of triumph and courage. The winner, a junior from Bloomfield High School, set a girls state indoor record of 6.95 seconds in the 55-meter dash, and went on to win the New England titles in both the 55-meter dash and the 300-meter dash. Continue reading →

The Fright of James Comey

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“Comey has never adequately explained his role in inserting FBI informants into a presidential campaign, and the degree to which his decision might have been taken in conjunction with other intelligence agencies or with the knowledge of the then-attorney general or President Obama. The New York Times of all publications is apparently investigating the use of FBI informants to sandbag the Trump campaign—during Comey’s directorship. To my knowledge, no previous FBI director—perhaps not even J. Edgar Hoover—had unilaterally placed FBI informants into a presidential campaign during the general election.”

(Victor Davis Hanson – American Greatness)  In a recent op-ed, fired FBI Director James Comey was back again preaching to the nation about the dangers of Donald Trump and his capacity to corrupt any top-ranking federal official of lower character than Comey’s own. Continue reading →

The Person Who Denies Sin

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 

The word confess does not mean to ask for forgiveness. Christ’s work for us upon the cross has already done all that is necessary to forgive us. What God wants us to do is to look at the sin before us and call it what He calls it. That means to agree with God about it, and that is what the word confess means: Fess comes from a root which means to say, and con means with. To say with God what He says about something is confessing sin….. Continue reading →

Oliver Thomas @USATODAY Says the American Church Got it Wrong on Gay People—And He’s Right

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

“After all, the entire op-ed piece engages in a good deal of ethical finger-wagging. Thomas is chiding (quite severely) the church for its moral failures.  To make such a claim, you better have some moral code to back it up.”

(Michael J. Kruger – Cannon Fodder)  By now, many readers will have seen (or even read) the rather brazen op-ed piece in USA Today by retired mainline pastor, Oliver Thomas. In short, the article argues that the American church has been wrong about gay people because they’ve been wrong about something else. The church has been wrong about the Bible.

Turns out the Bible is not true after all. Continue reading →

The Spirit Bill Johnson wants you to follow

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

“Bethel Redding children’s pastor Seth Dahl claimed that in a vision Christ came to him Jesus picked him up, began to weep, and asked his forgiveness for what another pastor did by hurting him. A false vision then is the Truth – not the Bible. No passage in the Bible shows Christ asking us to forgive Him, He is perfect and sinless, he is God.”

(Let Us Reason)  If one is driving on the wrong side of the road they will get a fine. If the driver continues driving like this his license is taken away. Spiritually speaking, Bill Johnson’s answer is “I’m not on the wrong side of the Road you are.”

His is perfect example calling what is dark as being light. Continue reading →

Bolton Announces U.S. Military Movement to Combat Iranian Aggression

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Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Photo credit Flickr

“Two weeks ago, the Trump administration officially labeled the Iranian Revolutionary  Guard a terrorist organization.” 

(Katie Pavlich – Townhall)  White House National Security Advisor John Bolton announced in a statement late Sunday night the United States is moving military assets to combat aggression by Iran.

“In response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings, the United States is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the U.S. Central Command region to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force,” Bolton said. Continue reading →

Gospel Coalition Editor, Southern Baptist Official, Calls For Impeachment of Trump

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“Regarding Carter’s accusation of “attempting to obstruct justice,” attempting to obstruct justice is not a crime (and therefore cannot qualify as a high crime or misdemeanor), and neither did Mueller’s now-closed investigation accuse Trump of obstruction of justice. This has, by and large, been a liberal MSM-driven conspiracy theory that has been widely debunked.”

(JD Hall – Pulpit & Pen)  A prominent official with two power evangelical organizations is calling for the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump.

These two organizations, The Gospel Coalition and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) share a good deal of the same board members and contributors…. Continue reading →

The Providence of God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

The entire life of Joseph is summarized in Genesis 50:20: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” The teenager we met at the beginning of the story is now over a hundred years old. His life has come full circle, and he is addressing his duplicitous brothers. Their actions, in selling him into slavery, had nothing but evil intent written all over it. Their malevolence can in no way be lessened by the knowledge that things did not turn out as they might have done. Truth is, God overruled their evil actions to accomplish a purpose that neither they nor Joseph could have fathomed. God brought good out of evil. In the words of the Westminster Confession, God in His providence “upholds, directs, disposes and governs all creatures, actions and things” to bring about a sovereignly pre-determined plan (5.1). Continue reading →

The Person Who Rationalizes Sin

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.1 John 2:1-2

There is never any need to sin, but if we find ourselves doing so, we have a perfect defense available to us—a defense that the Father will gladly receive, one that He already assures us will be welcomed. We have an Advocate with the Father who will rush to our defense immediately, but His defense is of no avail to us if we are still defending ourselves…. Continue reading →

Rachel Held Evans, Author, Blogger Has Died

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , ,

“The death of someone who lived the life of an apostate is sobering, never joyful to anyone who knows the truth of judgment for those outside the Lord. Though there are many who teach falsely in the world, some who anger me, some who puzzle me, there are some, like Rachel, that the Lord inexplicably put on my heart as if she was a close family member wandering from the fold. I cried real tears when I wrote my Open Letter to her 6 years ago, I cried real tears in Mid-April when I learned she was in dire medical condition, and I cried sorrowful grief-ridden tears over her death when I learned of it this morning.”

(Elizabeth Prata)  Columnist, author, mother of two, Evans had been in a medically induced coma since April 19, 2019. According to updates provided by her husband of 16 years, Dan, during treatment for an infection Rachel began exhibiting unexpected symptoms. Doctors found that her brain was experiencing constant seizures. Continue reading →

We All Need The Gospel, Especially The Falsely Assured

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

“People who you believe are saved need the Gospel too. We all do. People you know who say they are saved but you haven’t seen any fruit, perhaps aren’t, and they might need the Gospel as well. People you know who seem saved, who talk the talk and even walk the walk, if they begin drifting, do not be afraid to share the Gospel and evangelize them. They, too, need Jesus, the Anchor, the Light, the One who saves.”

(Elizabeth Prata)  Isaiah 5:20– -“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

It sure seems like lots of people are acting like this today, doesn’t it? And I’m speaking of Christians! Continue reading →

Controlling God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. Genesis 11:7

What is behind God’s actions here? Is He jealous of man? Is God threatened after all by this tower of mud and slime that these men have built? Does it mean that He is afraid that men will master all things and that He cannot any longer control them so that the very foundations of the universe will be threatened by these inventive ones? No. That is the way people want to read this. Forever we have been telling ourselves that we can do anything we want, if we want it badly enough! Therefore, we don’t need God; God is optional in human life. Continue reading →

White House rips Mueller in letter to DOJ, says team ‘failed in their duty to act as prosecutors’

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“Flood took issue with the analysis that Mueller intentionally didn’t issue a conclusion on obstruction, but rather decided to provide information about his investigation so Congress could decide whether to take action, like impeachment.”

(Judson Berger & Gregg Re – Fox News)  The White House tore into Robert Mueller and his investigators in a recent letter to Attorney General Bill Barr that argued the special counsel’s team included “political statements” in their Russia report and “failed” to act as traditional prosecutors — while stating President Trump reserves his right to invoke executive privilege on matters related to the report. Continue reading →

When People Grow Slowly

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“Life for believers in the church is like living among a herd of half-sculpted sculptures. Some of us have a square for a head. Others, rectangles as legs. We are missing things. But God is working….”

(Eric Davis – The Cripplegate)  Bamboo grows fast. Some bamboo-ologists say it grows roughly four inches per day in the right conditions. The fastest growing bamboo reportedly bursted up 35 inches in a day. That’s a growth you can watch. Oak trees are not like that. They grow about twelve inches per year. So, you can see an oak’s growth, but you can’t see it growing, unlike bamboo. Continue reading →

End to Aids in sight as huge study finds drugs stop HIV transmission

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“The Partner study has given us the confidence to say, without doubt, that people living with HIV who are on effective treatment cannot pass the virus on to their sexual partners. This has incredible impact on the lives of people living with HIV and is a powerful message to address HIV-related stigma.”

(The Guardian)  An end to the Aids epidemic could be in sight after a landmark study found men whose HIV infection was fully suppressed by antiretroviral drugs had no chance of infecting their partner. Continue reading →

TD Jakes launches divinity school, draws criticism from some in academia

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

“I have ONE question … who is their accreditation with? I looked and did not see one!! ***All right, y’all can enroll in this school if you want to, invest all that money in a degree for it not to count for anything, other than you went to Jakes Divinity School! Lastly, as a person who graduated from two accredited theological schools, Candler School of Theology (Emory University) and Chicago Theological Seminary, I have serious concerns about their curriculum,”

(Leonardo Blair – Christian Post) Megachurch pastor and televangelist T.D. Jakes announced the launch of Jakes Divinity School, a new venture that will begin enrolling students in January 2020. But some in academia are already criticizing the online program. Continue reading →