My Protestant Oscar Predictions

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(Carl Trueman – First Things) “The red carpet will provide us with a parade of beautiful people. That’s one way of looking at it. Here’s another: It will provide us with an endless stream of people who have cheated on spouses, betrayed friends, broken marriage vows, wrecked homes, had abortions.”

I make a point of never watching the Oscars. If I want to waste four hours of my life being alternately patronized and reminded what an abject failure I am according to the criteria contemporary society holds dear, I can always read The New Yorker. But I am sufficiently aware of what goes on at the Oscars to venture a few predictions. Continue reading →

Teacher talks about safety after Florida school shooting, is told to get psych exam, go on leave

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(Todd Starnes – Fox News) By nearly every account Timothy Locke is one of the most beloved teachers in the Cherry Hill, N.J., school district.

Locke is a veteran of the Iraq war and for the past 17 years he’s flavored his classroom lessons at Cherry Hill East High School with real-life experiences.

But on Feb. 22, the veteran school teacher was summoned to the principal’s office where his bag was searched, he was placed on administrative leave and was ordered to undergo a physical and a psychiatric evaluation. View article →

Defilement

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. Mark 7:15 (NKJV) 

One very interesting character in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is a fellow named ‘Ignorance.’ ‘Christian’ and ‘Hopeful’ encounter him after they depart the company of the ‘Shepherds’ as they continue their journey to the Celestial City.  The path on which they traveled became crooked and it lay next to a country called ‘Conceit.’ ‘Ignorance’ came from there. Bunyan described him as ‘a very brisk lad.’ After ‘Christian’ learned  that ‘Ignorance’ claimed to be on the same journey as he and ‘Hopeful’ he also deduced that this fellow had not begun it at the Narrow Gate nor had he encountered Christ Crucified. View article →

Presbyterian Minister Writes New Book to Make the ‘Christian Argument for Abortion’

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(LifeNews) There seems to be a concerted effort among abortion activists to pervert Christian teachings by using religious arguments to justify killing unborn babies.

A new book by Presbyterian minister Rebecca Todd Peters pushes the notion that killing an unborn baby is not wrong.

In “Trust Women: A Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice” from Beacon Press, Todd Peters argues for abortion from a religious perspective. View article →

Christian College Thanks God for Victory in 5-Year Religious Rights Battle

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This news story from CBN News is posted for informational and research purposes and not as an endorsement of the source.

In a stunning turn of events, and some would add an answer to prayer, Wheaton College won a five-year battle against the contraceptive mandate implemented under the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act.

On Thursday, the judge ruled that “the government would violate federal civil rights laws if it forced Wheaton to provide services like the week-after pill in its healthcare plans against its religious beliefs.” View article →

‘Legal Doctrine Evolves’: Appeals Court Rules ‘Sexual Orientation’ Is ‘Subset of Sex Discrimination’

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(Christian News Network) The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that so-called “sexual orientation” does apply to Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, remarking that while the courts have not made the correlation in the past, “legal doctrine evolves.”

“We now conclude that sexual orientation discrimination is motivated, at least in part, by sex and is thus a subset of sex discrimination,” Chief Judge Robert Katzmann wrote on behalf of the 10-3 majority. “To the extent that our prior precedents held otherwise, they are overruled.” View article →

Our good works done in the Spirit do not earn our salvation, but prove its authenticity

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:5-6 (NKJV) 

This Christian walk is fraught with struggle against a deadly enemy. That enemy is the flesh. Our flesh is deceitful and has only one goal, which is, motivated by pride, to drive us to seek fulfillment through channels which will always result in the believer not walking in the Spirit, but according to it. It is very clever and can even conjure up false humility that is really pride in disguise. It can justify all sorts of things that appear to be humble and Christlike, but which are merely screens and bluffs designed to disguise a life of self-gratification. …  View article →

Why Aren’t Men Reading Women Writers?

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(Tim Challies) Why aren’t men reading women writers? Jen Pollock Michel recently asked the question and it’s rather a good one. Though she provided an early answer (which you can read here) she was clear that her foremost desire was to provoke discussion. Since I spend so much time thinking about Christian books, I thought I’d take a shot at an answer. This is certainly not the whole answer, but it may be a part of it.

I have often observed this about Christian publishing: Men write for men and women; women write for women. … Continue reading →

‘Doubting Evolution Is like Believing the Earth Is Flat’

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(Answers In Genesis) To misrepresent and discredit creationists by comparing their position to a belief in a flat earth is a straw-man fallacy. The fact that some people in history believed the earth to be flat highlights the fallibility of man’s reasoning. Throughout history, scientists’ confident assertions have later been disproven, such as the common medical practice of bloodletting or the futile quest of alchemists to turn common metals into gold.

Scientists today are not exempt. We often elevate people in white lab coats as if their conclusions were inerrant. But an extensive education and high IQ can’t overcome any human’s inherent limitations. Scientific findings today are often contested or disproven. … Continue reading →

Transgender boy wins girls’ state wrestling title for second time

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For the second year in a row, a transgender wrestler has won the Texas girls’ Class 6A 110-pound division.

Mack Beggs, an 18-year-old senior from Euless Trinity High School near Dallas, entered the tournament in Cypress outside Houston with an undefeated record. He beat Chelsea Sanchez — whom he beat for the title in 2017 — in the final match Saturday.

Video posted online showed a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd following Beggs’ win. View article →

Paying the cost of discipleship

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21 (NKJV) 

The message of salvation that is normally preached or taught in the vast majority of churches these days has been contaminated with Humanism. The focus is on becoming a Christian for some great benefit or reward from God. Tragically, masses of people respond to that false gospel as well. The genuine gospel that our Saviour preached during His earthly ministry may have mentioned the benefits of being saved, but He emphasized the cost of becoming His disciple in such a way that it caused many of His hearers to not follow Him anymore, which was His intent. … View article →

Christian authenticity is radical Christianity

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. – Mark 12:28-34 NKJV (Read 30-34 on the site)

The rabbis of Jesus’ day engaged in an ongoing debate to determine which commandments of the Law were “light” and which were “weighty” (Matthew 23:23). It reminds me of the debate in certain circles of the visible Church today in which some are concerned with how far they can push their “Christian Liberty.” This concept is no more biblical than that of the rabbis attempting to compartmentalize their religion. Does our Lord’s answer to the Pharisee in Mark 12, Matthew 22, and Luke 10 have any significance to the Christian? View article →

Idols in the Temple of God

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Mike Riccardi’s latest installment of a piece we recently posted entitled Idolatry, Demons, and Ecumenism is over at The Cripplegate. Discover how believers are considered “unequal” to unbelievers. Riccardi points out that all false religions are demonic; thus, all other religions, including Roman Catholicism, are incompatible with Christianity. He writes:

A long time ago, in a land far, far away, I began a series on whom the faithful Christian minister may legitimately partner with in ministry. First, I briefly surveyed the history of the ecumenical movement in order to vividly illustrate the terrible consequence of disobedience to Scripture on this matter. …

Continue reading →

Israel Has Only Had 2 School Attacks in 44 Years, Here’s How They Make Sure Their Kids Are Safe

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(The Western Journal) In the wake of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that claimed 17 lives last week, there has been a renewed debate surrounding gun control and children’s safety, leading some to make a comparison to the changes Israel made in response to a terror attack more than four decades ago.

In 1974, Palestinian terrorists took over the Netiv Meir Elementary School in what has been called the “Ma’alot Massacre,” which left 22 children dead and many others injured.

The attack forced Israel to come up with a solution in order to prevent such a situation from ever happening again. The nation requires its schools to have a security system, and that policy is still going strong after 40 years. View article →

Secretary Mattis Recommends Allowing Transgenders to Serve in Military—If They Are Deployable

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(Christian News Network) Defense Secretary James Mattis has recommended that transgenders be allowed to serve in the military as long as they are deployable, according to reports from several outlets.

Fox News states that Mattis made the recommendation to President Trump this week. It notes that Mattis recently rolled out a policy outlining that if a member of the military is not able to deploy with their unit for more than one year, with the exception of being wounded in combat, he or she will be released from the Armed Forces. View article →

The Cure to Fear

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria. Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered?(Isaiah 37:10-11) 

This communication came in the form of a letter to Hezekiah. Clearly, it was intended to keep his heart fearful and anxious. It was a threat for the future, saying that although the king of Assyria was leaving for the moment, he would return again to wreak a terrible vengeance on Judah. Had Hezekiah taken the Assyrian message in that way, he would have lived in constant fear. Continue reading on Ray Stedman Daily Devotions

The Trans Teen Industrial Complex

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(Rod Dreher – The American Conservative) “Know what you’re getting into when you seek psychiatric care for your child or teen. In this case, a referral for anxiety and depression “quickly turned into” a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Forewarned is forearmed.”

Y’all remember around 2003, the media started propagandizing for gay marriage? I don’t mean “reporting on the emerging movement in favor of gay marriage”; that would have been entirely understandable. I’m talking about openly advocating for it, and ignoring counterarguments. I can remember as far back as 2005 being told by fellow journalists that there is no argument against it other than the naked assertion of bigotry, and that we were under no more obligation to be fair and balanced in our coverage of the issue than we would be if we were covering the Civil Rights movement. (emphasis added) Continue reading →

Christian Joy Best for Charismatics and Not Cessationists, Says John Piper

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(Pulpit & Pen News) Although once a popular figure among all stripes of Calvinist believers, John Piper’s increasing social justice activism and increasing charismaticism have largely reduced his popularity to that of The New Calvinists and, oddly enough, evangelicalism at large.

Those who hold to the tenets of classical Reformed theology, however, have grown increasingly cautious of John Piper. His endorsement of figures like Rick Warren, his crecommendation of Beth Moore as a preacher even to men, and his bizarre introduction of “Christian Hedonism” have all been thoroughly criticized by serious Reformed theologians. Peter Masters of the London Metropolitan Tabernacle explains… Continue reading →

Armed Deputy at Florida School Waited Outside During School Massacre

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(PJ Media) Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel announced at a news conference Thursday that Scot Peterson, a school resource deputy who was on duty at the Parkland, Fla., school where 17 people were massacred last week, did not enter the building during the shooting and instead waited outside.

Israel said that Peterson, who was armed and in uniform, waited for about four minutes while the shooting was going on inside the school, taking up a position outside the school. He never entered the building. View article →

Great is the mystery of godliness

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 (NKJV) 

The best place for a Christian to be is at the Cross, before the Saviour, in complete agreement with God that without His saving Grace he or she would be on their way to Hell, and without His sustaining Grace he or she would lose all ability or desire for His godliness. In fact, Christians are in a great deal of trouble when they think otherwise. … View article →

Heroic Parkland Shooting Survivor Calls Out CNN for ‘Scripted’ Questions

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(NewsBusters) The Wednesday CNN town hall promoting gun bans and moderated by Jake Tapper was arguably a train wreck from the beginning. Between a student saying Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) reminded him of the shooter and shouts of ‘murderer’ at NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, it was out of control. But in the wee hours of Thursday morning, things got worse for the anti-gun network when the local Florida ABC affiliate WPLG-TV reported that CNN had been planting questions.

The whistleblower was Colton Haab, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who heroically shielded his fellow students from the bullets with sheets of Kevlar and was a member of the Junior ROTC program. “I expected to be able to ask my questions and give my opinion on my questions,” Haab told reporter Janine Stanwood. View article →

Mattis Moves to Clean Out Military, Remove Soldiers Who Just Can’t Cut It

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(Western Journal) A new Pentagon policy will remove service members who have not been deployable for over a year.

Defense Secretary James Mattis said that the deploy-or-leave policy is about fairly sharing the deployment burden within the forces, PJ Media reported.

The exceptions to this policy are pregnant or wounded warriors. According to the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness Robert Wilkie, “about 13 to 14 percent of the force is medically unable to deploy,” on any given day. View article →

Standing firm in God’s truth no matter the cost

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” 23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? – Mark 3:22-30 (NKJV) [Read verses 24-30 in the article]

Several years ago I got into a comment and email exchange with a fellow who insisted that God will not condemn anyone to an eternity in hell. He said that it is only a temporary place that will be emptied when all things are reconciled to God in eternity. It did no good to use clear scripture references to show him that he was ignoring a great deal God’s truth. One thing that struck me was his stance that Romans 5 was blasphemous in reference to the doctrine of Original Sin and condemnation for all men by it, but there is justification and life for ‘the many’ (Romans 5:12-17). Was this a case of ‘blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?’ View article →

CNN, HLN Enjoy Teen Activists Smearing ‘Blood Money’ NRA as ‘Child Murderers’

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(Tim Graham – NewsBusters) The liberal media’s current infatuation with teenage activists ripping into the National Rifle Association extends to letting them smear gun-rights activists with no correction. This presents a serious issue for tonight’s CNN “Students Demand Action” town hall meeting. Are the teenagers going to be able to say anything without a check on their facts or their civility?

There is nothing wrong with teenaged activists speaking out. But if we’re teaching these students how to engage in politics, then we should teach them they will be held accountable for their words, and they should expect to be criticized from an opposing point of view. … View article →

Fallen PTL preacher Jim Bakker is back with a new message about the Apocalypse

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Three decades after his PTL empire near Charlotte crumbled amid financial and sex scandals, Jim Bakker is back on TV with a different, darker message:

The Apocalypse is coming and you better get ready.

Ready to be judged by God, sure. But the main mission of “The Jim Bakker Show” – broadcast from a Christian compound deep in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri – appears to be to sell you fuel-less generators, doomsday guidebooks and freeze-dried food with a shelf-life of up to 30 years. View article →