Transgender fight could prove major test for Supreme Court

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“The case pending before the Supreme Court centers on Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman who alleges she was fired from her job as a funeral director and embalmer after she told her employer she would begin living and working openly as a woman.”

(Lydia Wheeler – The Hill)  The fight over civil rights protections for transgender people could prove to be a major test for the Supreme Court, particularly its conservative wing, as justices weigh whether to take up the issue this term. Continue reading →

Be anxious for nothing

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NASB) 

Where I work, we are having a great deal of turmoil with a lot of turnover with people departing including my boss. The person over all the technology departments has put one of my coworkers over our DBA group as a “team lead,” whatever that means.  She is quite a bit younger than me. She is competent as a DBA. I have been getting signals from her emails and phone calls over past several days and also from my fellow DBAs that she is really pushing the envelope hard to look like a competent manager and is asking for all sorts of reports and for us to do goal setting, etc. View article →

How the Body Works

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body — whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. – 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

In this chapter, the apostle begins to use an analogy that will help us understand how the church is designed to function. He places before us a human body, and draws lessons from it all through the rest of the chapter, as to its parallel with the functioning of the Body of Christ. It is more than a mere figure of speech to say that the church is the Body of Christ. God really takes that seriously. It is so much so his body by which he works today that he has given us a visual aid, to live in, and walk around in, and examine, and think through what is the meaning of the church as the Body of Christ. … View article →

Wave of state attorneys general take on Catholic Church sex abuse

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“This isn’t a U.S. problem, it’s an institutional problem proven by the wave of investigations spurred around the globe, from Germany to Chile, all the way to the Vatican.”

(Haley Britzky – Axios) The Attorney General of Virginia Mark Herring announced Wednesday that his office was launching an “ongoing investigation” into possible sexual abuse and coverups by the Catholic dioceses in the state, the Washington Post reports. Continue reading →

Oxford Students Vote to Ban Christian Group From College as it Would Threaten Their ‘Physical, Mental Safety’

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“The move is understood to be driven by LGBT students who say they wouldn’t feel so welcome at the college gave a platform to people who are openly homophobic.”

(The Telegraph)  Students at the University of Oxford have voted to ban a controversial Christian group from one of their colleges because it would threaten their “physical and mental safety”.

The JCR at Lady Margaret Hall voted overwhelmingly in favour of banning Christian Concern from hosting a residential summer camp on the premises because their values do not align with those of the college. Continue reading →

The military’s obsession with energy drinks is contributing to PTSD, study finds

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“High energy drink use, which was classified as consuming two or more drinks per day, was significantly associated with those survey respondents who reported mental health problems, anger-related behaviors and fatigue, the authors found.”

(J.D. Simpkins – Military Times)  Getting adequate sleep is increasingly rare among the active duty military population, as frequent deviations from the body’s natural circadian rhythms due to a demanding operational tempo pit personnel in an ongoing struggle against the ever-persistent sandman. Continue reading →

The Value of Prophecy

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. – 1 Corinthians 14:1-3

That ties this back to the love chapter. Love is to be the basic, biblical reason for exercising a spiritual gift. Love is the hunger to reach out for someone else’s benefit. That is to be the controlling theme throughout this whole chapter in the discussion of tongues and prophesying. Love is building up someone else. To that end, desire spiritual gifts, so that they may be a means of helping others and fulfilling love.   View article →

What does it mean to glorify God?

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“Do you long to give glory to God with your life?”

(Jordan Standridge – The Cripplegate)  You hear it said often, don’t you. You need to glorify God! But what does it mean exactly? How can someone glorify God?

Perhaps one of the best pictures of glorifying God in the Bible is found in Luke 9:9. Herod says, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” Continue reading →

Hillsong leader Brian Houston and his ‘friends’ named in parliamentary privilege speech

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It is now 49 years since the abuse started, 19 years since Brian Houston was aware of it, and three years after the royal commission delivered its damning report, yet nothing has happened.

(Churchwatch Central)  In this latest report, we read that NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge has used parliamentary privilege to draw attention to the fact that there is “compelling evidence” to prosecute Brian Houston after matters raised at the Royal Commission investigating child sex abuse.

Satanist Middle School Girls Facing Charges After Plotting to Kill Students, Drink Their Blood

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The two girls were arrested and are now facing both felony and misdemeanor charges, including conspiracy to commit murder. Local television station WFLA reports that the arrest affidavit states that “[k]illing all of these students was in hopes that it would make them worse sinners, ensuring that after they committed suicide [they] would get to go to Hell so they could be with Satan.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  Two Florida middle school students, ages 11 and 12, are facing criminal charges after acknowledging to police that they had brought knives to school to murder over a dozen younger children and then kill themselves so that they could “be with Satan.” Continue reading →

The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:12-14 (NASB)

Our Lord Jesus Christ set before us the way of Righteousness. Yes, He lived a perfect life and died on a cruel cross to pay the penalty and price for the sins of those whom He came to save. However, He also taught us both in word and deed how the truly Righteous should live. Those whom God has saved are regenerated so that they can believe and repent and receive salvation by grace through faith. …  View article →

Is God More Tolerant Today?

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“Most people—past and present—think that God can be approached by anyone, in any way. They believe that God is always loving and embracing, never wrathful and judging.  But that isn’t true. God appears this way—and Hebrews highlights it for us—to demonstrate that God is a lethal threat to anyone who dares approach Him through the law.”

(Tim Barnett – Stand To Reason)  We are all prone to imagine a god that is more like our culture than who God truly is. If we’re not careful, the culture will shape our view of God. Continue reading →

What Does the Bible Say About Angels?

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“And when we come to die they will be there to receive our spirit and take us to Paradise…Never again, Christian people, imagine that when you come to die you will be going into some awful loneliness…the angels of God will be there to receive you.

(James Williams – Servants of Grace)  We continue our study of Great Doctrines of the Bible by Martyn Lloyd-Jones (MLJ) by examining chapter 10 entitled, “Good Angels.”

The term ‘angel’ means ‘messenger.’ There’s a mysterious element to angels that often leads to either overemphasizing or ignoring them altogether. Scripture often mentions angels, and while we can’t satisfy all our curiosity about them, there are certain truths we can know. MLJ begins with 10 general points: Continue reading →

UK scholars speak out against ‘transgender’ despotism

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Here in the US, this demented movement exploded with Obama’s full support during his presidency. As with militant homosexual activism, I have also warned that “transgenderism” would be used to further crush our freedoms. This has proven true, as people in places all across the nation are being forced, under penalty of law in some cases, to play along with the charade that a man is a “woman.”

(Gina Miller – RenewAmerica)   More than fifty scholars who work at universities in the UK, US, Australia and elsewhere, and are part of a group of over a hundred, have signed a letter that was published last week in the U.K. Guardian. They expressed their concern about the detrimental effects of political correctness and the “trans” lobby on their ability to research and report their findings regarding so-called “transgenderism.” Continue reading →

Those who will and will not inherit the Kingdom of God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NASB) 

There are only two religions in the entire world. There is genuine Christianity and then every other form of religiosity including humanism. The latter are all opposed to the truth and are part of the rebellion against the sovereignty of God. Genuine Christianity is made up of those who have been redeemed from the slave market of iniquity. This slave market preys on people and keeps them in bondage to the flesh. …   View article →

Witches Hex Kavanaugh, Trump; Americans Welcome Halloween

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“Not surprisingly, the black magic occult ritual aimed at Justice Kavanaugh was also a fundraiser. Organizers said money raised is going to charity, to an LGBTQ youth center, and to Planned Parenthood, America’s richest abortion provider, receiving $545 million in taxpayer funding each year.”

(David Fiorazo)  Last weekend, organizers in New York hosted an event for actual witches to put a hex on Supreme Court Justice, Brett Kavanaugh; the latest in the Halloween movie series made a killing at theaters, and Americans will spend $9 billion this year on the controversial holiday. Continue reading →

French priest takes his own life in church after abuse claims

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“Father Fumery was the second French priest in a month to take his own life.”

A French priest has taken his own life in his church after being accused of sexual misconduct, officials say.

Pierre-Yves Fumery hanged himself in his presbytery in the central town of Gien, Catholic authorities said.

Last week he was questioned by police, but not charged, following allegations of sexual assault involving a child under 15, news agency AFP said. Continue reading →

Netflix Series ‘Big Mouth’ Promotes Abortion to Teens

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“Common Sense Media rates Big Mouth as appropriate for ages 16 and up, although plenty of parents on the website said no teenager should watch the show. The series contains cartoon nudity and f-words, among other content concerns.”  

(Michael Foust – Christian Headlines)  The raunchy animated Netflix series Big Mouth always has pushed the envelope, but in its newest season it crosses into new territory by promoting abortion in an episode appropriately titled, “Planned Parenthood.” Continue reading →

Some Parents Outraged After Drag Queen ‘Jessica L’Whor’ Speaks At School Career Day

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L’Whor said she hoped parents would see her visit as educational, rather than inappropriate.

(Dillon Thomas – CBS News)  A school district has apologized to parents, after hosting a drag queen as part of a career day. A spokesperson for Adams 12 Five Star schools said Rocky Top Middle School staff should have notified parents a drag queen would be speaking to their children, before allowing the speech to happen.

Students at Rocky Top range from 6th to 8th grade. The drag queen, identified as a woman who goes by “Jessica L’Whor,” is a relative of one student. The district confirmed she was invited to attend career day. Continue reading →

But love your enemies

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36 (NASB) 

Probably the command from our Lord that is the most difficult for us to obey is found in Luke 6:35 (above). That is, it is hard or difficult if we are full of pride and are self-focused. However, as the master vinedresser prunes us as we abide in the True Vine and the refiner burns away the fleshly dross from us in the refiner’s fire, we will be humbled as we surrender to the potter, as the clay should. This humbling is what is required for Christlikeness to become manifest in and through us. Why? … View article →

These viral videos are using satire to destroy abortion activists’ strongest arguments

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The videos have triggered massive reactions right across the spectrum—especially because Klassen has a knack for at poking the pro-choice activist arguments in a way that drives them crazy.

(Jonathon Van Maren – LifeSiteNews)  It is rare that a new pro-life organization emerges that does something utterly unique, but that is precisely what Laura Klassen and Choice42 have done. In the past several months, they have released a series of viral videos that have taken the Internet by storm, with Klassen and her now signature pink wig playfully poking fun at popular pro-choice arguments—and racking up millions of views and copycat videos in a wide range of different languages. Continue reading →

Restoring True Heresy – Again

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To be fair, some heretics are probably not even aware that they are peddling recycled heresy because they are usually as ignorant of Church history as they are of Christian doctrine. So when they burst on the scene and breathlessly announce (for the gazillionth time) that at some point in the past “all of the church was corrupted and apostatized,” and they are “restoring true Christianity after centuries of spiritual darkness,” it may be that they just don’t know how many cults have already recovered true Christianity.

(Joy Venoit – Midwest Christian Outreach)  When books or articles feature questions such as, “When Did Jesus Become the Christ?” or “When Did Jesus Become the Son of God?” it usually indicates that we are about to be introduced to a heretical view about the identity of Jesus. … Continue reading →

I ‘Tell Him He’s a Good Boy’: Man’s Wife Identifies as Male and Role-Plays as a ‘Human Pup’

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“The episode shows McGinn visiting the operator of the LA Pony and Critter Club, where people can find “safe space” to role play as animals. McGinn wears a mask and a tail, walks around on all fours, barks, and plays with a ball.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  A video recently published to YouTube features a California man and his wife who consider themselves “human pup” and “handler,” as the woman, who identifies as a man, likes to role-play as a dog. Continue reading →