Trending Topics Archive

FEATURED

[Featuring links to articles, studies, research, and materials relating to topics that affect the Christian Worldview]

2021

Trending Topics, February 16, 2021

We Must Reclaim Friendship From the Bonds of Social Media.”True friendship is often much stronger than the blood bonds that bring together families. True friendship requires selfless love, a willingness to endure conflict, and the ability to say what needs to be said.”
iGeneration and iDentity. “The statistics are actually mind-boggling. Young people aged 8 to 12 spend an average of six hours a day on technology, and teenagers aged 13 to 18 spend an average of nine hours a day streaming videos, looking at pictures, listening to music, and playing games. That's more social time in a given day than is spent with parents, peers, or sports teams.” —This is the difference with the iGeneration: “social media has become the dominant force behind the younger generation's development of identity.”
Gender Neutrality Goes to Washington. “At some point in the past decade, the battle of the sexes seems to have given way to a war on the sexes.”
Activists Outline Their Plan to Push Black Lives Matter in Classroom. “Corporations, nonprofit institutions, the media, and countless individual Americans have expressed support of the Black Lives Matter movement, funneling millions of dollars into organizations that purport to carry out its cause. But although many Americans support the phrase “black lives matter,” the actual aims of organizations and activists committed to this cause often are far more radical than what Americans hear through the lens of the media. It’s deeply important that we know what the agenda truly is.”
Six Types of Churches That Have Died During the Pandemic. Article by Thom S. Rainer that has some interesting insights. Beware of the denominational terms and concepts he uses.
Why We Must Think Worldviewishly. Review: ‘The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog’ by James Sire.
Urban to rural: The next migration is now! “Today, we are witnessing a historic migration in the United States from metropolitan to rural areas that many view as an escape from rising crime rates, urban decay, or maybe something else.”

Trending Topics, February 9, 2021

The Fear of “Phobic.” “Beloved Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is no longer loved. In recent tweets, she expressed her view that men who identify as women are, in fact, men. Though this view is consistent with what virtually every person throughout all of human history has believed, she was branded transphobic. Checkmate, Rowling! In case you didn’t know, calling someone transphobic is supposed to be bad.”
Big Brother comes to America. A Reality Czar? See also: In Age of ‘Reality Czar,’ Preserving Religious Freedom More Important Than Ever.
Supreme Court Rules Against Calif., Doubles Down On Religious Rights Amid Pandemic. “A deeply divided Supreme Court doubled down on religious rights late Friday, ruling that California can no longer continue with a ban on indoor church services put in place to fight to the coronavirus pandemic. But the court said that the state, for now, can keep in place restrictions on singing and chanting inside.”
3 ethical issues in technology to watch for in 2021. “2020 was a year that not only challenged the fortitude of our families but also the fabric of our nation. Last year we saw many complex ethical issues arise from our use of technology in society and as individuals. From the debates over the proper use of social media in society to the adoption of invasive technologies like facial recognition that pushed the bounds of our concepts of personal privacy, many of the ethical challenges exposed in 2020 will flow into 2021 as our society debates how to respond to these developments and how to pursue the common good together as a very diverse community.”
The Number 666.
Power to the People 2.0. “The pandemic has given especially parents of young children an opportunity to seize power they already possessed but have never fully exercised. With teachers unions dictating when, or if, public schools will open again, parents are discovering the power of educating their children at home where they cannot only teach the real history of the country (as opposed to the revisionist version now taught in too many schools), but add a moral foundation that secular public schools no longer provide.”
With Work Stopped, 7 Things I Saw at Border Wall.
Prominent University Pushes “Retreat” to Purge Racism From “White Christian Folks.”
Bank of America handed over transaction details to feds, says report. “Bank of America searched through customer transactions to target people who may have been involved in the Capitol riot and handed information over to federal authorities, according to a new report.” See also: Security experts blast Bank of America for helping feds in Capitol riot probe.

Trending Topics, February 2, 2021

Be Reasonable For The Sake of The Gospel. “I’ve noticed a recent trend on social media. Every time a Christian tries to make a valid and good point about Christianity or religious liberty or issues like abortion, civic duty, or anything that could even remotely touch on even the slightest edge of politics, other Christians join in the conversation with unreasonable, wild, and ridiculous claims. Related: The False Gospel of Assuming the Worst of Others.
”Has the Pandemic Transformed the Office Forever? “What’s an office for? Is it a place for newbies to learn from experienced colleagues? A way for bosses to oversee shirkers? A platform for collaboration? A source of friends and social life? A respite from the family? A reason to leave the house? It turns out that work, which is what the office was supposed to be for, is possible to do from somewhere else.”
Why I Support the Unalienable Right to Life. This is from Ralph Norman, my U.S. representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district. “The Declaration of Independence states that “all…are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The first unalienable right inscribed by Thomas Jefferson is “life.”’
Christian Org Censored for Pointing Out Biology. "Dr. Levine is a transgender woman, that is, a man who believes he is a woman.“There are some immutable truths in this world that we can all agree on: A cloudless sky is blue, gravity keeps our feet on the ground, an XY chromosome pairing produces a male human… [record player screeches] Hold on a minute. YOU CAN’T SAY THAT! shout the leftist censors.”
5 Quotes to Remember the Youngest Victims of the Holocaust. "International Holocaust Day commemorates the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and honors the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism.”
Joe Biden’s Transgender Fictions. “In early discussions of transgenderism, many people pointedly quoted Thomas Jefferson’s line about government power and religion: “It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” Why, I was asked, are you bothered about whether someone born male later comes to identify as a woman when it does you no harm, financially or physically? At the time, this question gave me pause for thought; but that has long since ceased to be the case. (This piece is written by Carl Trueman and his book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution is on my books to purchase list.
Tour Of The Great Wall Nancy Pelosi Built [Benny On The Block 37]. video tour of the current wall in D.C.
The Media Earned Americans' Distrust. “Some of the questions in the survey are especially revealing. “Journalists and reporters are purposely trying to mislead people by saying things they know are false or gross exaggerations.” Fifty-six percent said yes. “Most news organizations are more concerned with supporting an ideology or political position than with informing the public.” Fifty-eight percent agreed. Frankly, it’s shocking that 100% of Americans don’t see through the media’s facade.”
The FAQs: What You Should Know About the Mexico City Policy.
Liberals Want a ‘Return to Civility.’ When Did They Practice It?

Trending Topics, January 26, 2021

Joe Biden Celebrates Roe vs. Wade Decision That Has Killed 62 Million Babies in Abortions. “Biden’s celebrating of abortion is not surprising given that he has promised to govern as the most pro-abortion president in history and his comments about codifying Roe prove that.” Albert Mohler has written an enlightening piece on Abortion and how it is a center-piece of the Democrats and the Left: Abortion – The Central Sacrament of the Political Left. (It is beyond my understanding how a Christian could support a candidate who represents a group and platform that supports the murdering of innocent life).
The Proverbs 31 Man. “Many fail to recognize, however, that behind the Proverbs 31 woman is a Proverbs 31 man. And if we read this poem in the context of the whole book, we know this man is no dolt. He fears the Lord and does not lean on his own understanding (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). He has absorbed his father’s and mother’s teaching, and made them glad (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20). He has rejected the paths of the fool, the scoffer, and the sluggard to walk in the way of wisdom (Proverbs 3:17; 9:4–6). In other words, he is not only a husband, but a husbandman, a cultivator of his wife’s character. What, then, can we learn from such a man?”
Now the supporters of cancel culture are being cancelled. “What we need to do is reiterate, loudly, this very simple point about freedom of speech: it is either enjoyed by everybody or it is enjoyed by nobody.”
1776 White House whitewash and cover-up. “"The 1776 Final Report." It is a 40-page treatise about America's founders' views and history compiled by a team of distinguished historians and scholars. They did so with the mission to demonstrate and counter the left's war on U.S. history and goal to reinterpret the founders' and framers' original intent and work in light of the progressive agenda and education.” See and download the report here: The 1776 Report. See also: No Wonder Biden Canceled It: 1776 Commission Report Takes Aim At Identity Politics, Socialism, And Slavery.
Orwell’s 1984 and Today. A great and informative piece transcribed. from a speech by Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College. “In Orwell’s 1984, there are telescreens everywhere, as well as hidden cameras and microphones. Nearly everything you do is watched and heard. It even emerges that the watchers have become expert at reading people’s faces. The organization that oversees all this is called the Thought Police.”
How To Stop Using Google Search On Your Computer And Phone.
'Play Like You Identify as a Girl.’ To our friends on the Left: Are you happy now? Happy that one of Joe Biden’s first acts as the uniter-in-chief was to sign an executive order that allows biological males to compete against and dominate our daughters in sports? You might not want to acknowledge it — and we can understand why — but when you voted for this guy because you didn’t like the abrasiveness of some of Donald Trump’s tweets, you voted against our daughters competing in sports solely against other women, and you voted against them having a fair shot at obtaining athletic scholarships. In addition, you voted against our daughters’ right to privacy in bathrooms, dorm rooms, locker rooms, and just about everywhere else.”
The Pinging.

Trending Topics, January 19, 2021

The sermon, “When Will It End?” (Sermon begins at 19.50) was preached Sunday (January 17) by Adam Faughn, minister at the Central Church of Christ in Paducah, KY. The lesson is on Abortion. Brother Faughn is to be commended for acknowledging the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade (1973) coming up on January 22nd. It is bothersome that many preachers avoid anything controversial or sinful from the pulpit. Tragically, the cultural norm to not say anything about sin or anything negative is taking its toll in our pulpits. Thank you brother Faughn for standing up and being willing to call attention to a biblical topic (not a political one as many think) and take a public stand with God and His Word on such a sensitive issue.
Not the America of MLK’s Dreams. “The people of America have taken great strides to eradicate all types of racism and we tend to reject it when we see it. Yet, white America stands accused of being racist -- not because of our actions or pronouncements, but because of the poverty that continues to plague many black communities.”
The Ethiopian’s Confession in Acts 8:37?
There Is No Apolitical Classroom.”Do you know what’s going on in your kid’s school? The three R’s – reading, writing, and arithmetic – have taken a back seat to a fourth R. Max Eden, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, explains what that fourth R is, and why it’s so destructive.” A 5-minute must see video.
Capitalism vs. Socialism.”Decades after capitalism seemed to have triumphed over socialism, politicians are once again arguing about the merits and drawbacks of these opposing economic systems. Why are we still having this debate? Andy Puzder, former CEO of the parent company of Hardee's and Carl's Jr., explains the misconceptions that keep the debate alive.” Another 5-minute “to the point” video.
Our Capital City is Under Military Occupation.
Why the Left Has to Suppress Free Speech. “Let us begin with this fact: The left always suppresses speech. Since Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917, there has been no example of the left in control and not crushing dissent.” See also: CNN Calls for Free Speech Only for the Left?
How Joe Biden Will Open The Floodgates To Transgendering Public Schools. See also: Biden To Nominate Transgender Doctor Rachel Levine As Assistant Health Secretary. The picture of her him says it all.

Trending Topics, January 12, 2021

On Handling a Fool. “One very practical skill in leading a life of wisdom is to know what to do with those going in the opposite direction. How do you handle a fool?”
Big Tech's Free Speech Purge Begins. “The clear goal for the totalitarian Democrats and their Leftmedia cohorts is to consolidate power by creating the dubious notion that Trump and anyone who supported him, including the Republican Party and conservatives en masse, are dangerous pariahs who must be silenced. Nothing could be more anti-American or dangerous to our national discourse.”
The U.S. Congress’ New Gender Neutral Language [14 terms are a no-no]. “On the first day of 2021 new rules were outlined for gender neutral language in the U.S. Congress. A press release from the House Committee on Rules outlined details of the package that is meant to promote inclusion and diversity.” See also: House Dems. Delete Terms 'Mother' and 'Father,' Redefine 'Family Member' in Gender-Neutral Rules.
Discernment Danger. Brief and to the point!
“Patriots enlist and defend their country. They work hard, do their best, raise good families. They help their neighbors. They perform civic duties. They grit their teeth and pay their taxes. Then they show up and vote. They compete, they win or lose, but they do both with grace. These are some of the things patriots do. “Patriots do not storm their own Capitol over a lost election. They do not bum-rush members of Congress. They do not assault strangers. They do not push and shove police officers and trash federal buildings. These are things criminals do, and criminals of any political stripe deserve one thing: the rule of law.” Neil Patel, author of this response to the Capitol riot and co-founder of the Daily Caller (a conservative news outlet), is exactly right.” (denisonforum.org).
The Real Problem with 4-Letter Words.
I’m A Liberal And I’m Sick Of Leftist Media’s Double Standard On Rioting. “The riots in Washington are every bit as bad, if not worse, than most leftists say — that’s not the problem. While I would not use the word insurrection in the case of what took place on Jan. 6, where the media uses uprising for left-wing riots, these riots were as awful as we all think they are. The larger problem, however, is that the left-wing riots last year, were, if we add them all up, actually worse than the riots in Washington, except for the symbolism of the Capitol being stormed.” —The following statement by Andy Ngo posted on Twtter (1/9/2021), “Those condemning the Capitol Hill riot as an insurrection & terrorist attack were silent or encouraging of the uprisings last summer where BLM-Antifa extremists tried to burn down government buildings, claim territory & kill people.”
RICHARD NIXON was born on this date in 1913. His life was a series of ups and downs, victories and defeats. He served eight years as vice-president under Presidnt Dwight Eisenhower. Nixon then ran for President and was defeated by John F. Kennedy. Two years later he ran for governor of California and lost. His political career was considered finished, but he ran again for President and was elected as the 37th President of the United States, defeating Senator Hubert Humphrey. During Nixon’s campaign, he saw a sign held up by a young girl. It said: “BRING US TOGETHER.” Nixon liked the sign and it became the central theme of his successful campaign. Today Americans are more fragmented than ever before. Unfortunately, no one seems interested in “bringing us together.” Democrats are focused on revenge and retribution. While Trump is “down,” due to events in Washington, the Democrats want to humiliate and punish him. Speaker Pelosi threatens to impeach him even though his term in office will end in ten days. President-Elect Biden has engaged in inflammatory rhetoric that provokes pride in some and anger in others. All of this is simply deepening the divide that weakens our nation. It will be a long time before our country comes together again as the “United” States of America. This is a time for genuine statesmanship, but the prospects are dim. It is a sober moment in history that calls for prayer, reflection, patience, and meditation. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34). (Alan Highers, Facebook, January 9, 2021).

Trending Topics, January 5, 2021

Be Brave. “Free speech and intellectual freedom are the civil rights issues of our time. Are you ready to defend them? That’s the question that former US Ambassador Nikki Haley poses in this challenging video.”
Abortion Leading Global Cause of Death in 2020 with 42.7 Million Killed. “Abortion was once again the number-one cause of death globally in 2020, with a record 42.7 million unborn babies killed in the womb, according to data provided by Worldometer.”
Where Do You Plan to Go this Year and Beyond? “Much of what and where we are today is the result of planning — or lack of planning.”
5 Leadership Lessons I Learned from Ted Lasso. “While the church may not have a shortage of leaders, it’s increasingly apparent that we have a shortage of the right kind of leaders.”
“If misery loves company, you can take comfort in the fact you are not alone. We’ve all been disappointed in some of our people. We can understand why our elderly and most vulnerable members are hesitant to venture out. Still, it’s difficult to understand why healthy, younger people are hunkering down at home on Sunday, especially when they are willing to shop at the grocery store, eat at a restaurant, and attend their kid’s ball games. Yet, they are unwilling to attend church in person.” This was given by a retired minister as he began his response to a discouraged younger preacher in the context of what we are facing in our congregations because of Covid-19. Much to think about…
Bible Reading Plan. Even though we are five days into 2021, it is never too late to begin reading the Bible in its entirety. This plan organizes readings each day from the pentateuch and history of Israel, psalms and wisdom literature, chronicles and prophets and gospels and epistles.

Trending Topics, December 29, 2020

Identifying the Church of the New Testament. “Is it essential that we be able to identify the church of the New Testament — the one that God planned, and the one that Jesus purchased by the shedding of his blood? Is it important that one be able to identify that spiritual body? Can it be found in today’s world?” (https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/470-identifying-the-church-of-the-new-testament). Brother Wayne Jackson is the author of this transcribed lesson. He passed into eternity on December 2. He was a remarkable example of a soldier of the cross. What an example he has left for us through his wonderful family and his legacy of work in the brotherhood.
The Dangerous Love of Ease. “As Christians living in the West, one temptation we face (often being unaware that we face it) is the temptation to become comfortable, cozy, content, altogether uninterested in anything that might threaten the repose we’ve constructed for ourselves.” (Much to think and pray about in this article…and some tough application might need to be accomplished, SM).
What God Tells Us to Remember. “There used to be a saying on memes that went something like, “Don’t look back—you’re not going that way.” However, though we shouldn’t live in the past, we benefit from considering it at times.”
12 Game-Changing and Tweetable Proverbs.
4 Reasons to Set an Exercise Rhythm for 2021. “Someone who has goals but no plan will opt out far more quickly than the person who has a plan for exercise without goals. Actions produce much more results than aspirations.”
A New Year. “A new year brings brand new possibilities and opportunities.” John Vaughn shared the following on his FB page: As 2020 fades away I am reminded of a poem my Grandfather sometime quoted: “The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time for the clock may soon be still.” Note: Hebrews 9:27.

Trending Topics, December 22, 2020

“The way we’ve always done it.” This has been a problem in many organizations, and in the church when it comes to opinion matters.
An Open Letter to New Testament Christians Across the Globe. Brother Harrub certainly has much “food for thought” to take to heart in this letter. I have been keeping a running list of things we are divided over in our country and by implication in the church, and it is similar to his list. We have much to think about, pray about, and work out, as we shift our attention back to the cross of Jesus and the gospel that saves.
How to Use Your Past to Make the Most of Your Future. “Each December as I get ready to set my goals for the upcoming new year, I do this pivotal step first. I take the time to think backward and complete the past. By doing so, I am able to close that chapter and fully move forward into the next year. But how do you effectively think backward?”
The Future of Christian Marriage. University of Texas sociologist Mark Regnerus, writes: “The focus of twenty-somethings has become less about building mature relationships and fulfilling responsibilities and more about enjoying oneself, traveling, and trying on identities and relationships…We now get ourselves ready for marriage, rather than marry to get ourselves poised to accomplish common objectives—a home, a job, a family. Instead, marriage itself has become one of those objectives, an accomplishment signaling that [we] have ‘made it.”
How Christmas trees are made, explained by a tree farmer. “It takes 11 years to grow a tree, and they require repeated shearing.”
Health Experts Need To Get Out Of The Society Manipulation Business. “The fundamental issue is that although scientists can tell us what actions risk viral spread, they cannot decide for us how to balance the risks of the virus against the risks of our countermeasures, and just how much of life we should sacrifice to reduce the viral threat. There has too often been a tendency to speak in terms of risk elimination, rather than mitigation.”

Trending Topics, December 15, 2020

Vaccines and the Christian Worldview: Principles for Christian Thinking in the Context of COVID. “What should Christians think about vaccines and their use? What ethical and theological questions arise? Do the COVID-19 vaccines bring unique moral questions? What does the Christian worldview have to say about the entire set of questions?”
Gambling: A Plague We Can Do Without. “According to licensed mental health counselors Lin Sternlicht and Aaron Sternlicht, the numbers of people experiencing mental health and addiction issues are rising amid the stress of the coronavirus. Gambling is a significant part of the problem.”
Erasing The Cleveland Indians Erases American History. “In the latest episode of corporate wokeness fixing a problem that doesn’t actually exist, the Major League Baseball team the Cleveland Indians is changing its name after having used the moniker for 105 years.”
Cal Thomas weighs in on The Media’s Hunter Biden Failure. “The greatest power the media have is ignoring stories and depriving the public of information they have a right to receive so they can make informed decisions.”
The Book I Needed in 2020.
Feeling Guilty About Everything? Thank Critical Race Theory. “All aspects of American life are seen in terms of racial power dynamics, and because critical race theory scholars have been so persistent, critical race theory is now impacting all aspects of American life. The protests of 2020, the riots, the inclusion of racial dynamics in everything from schools to sports to corporate boards, are all the result of critical race theory. For an in-depth report, see: Critical Race Theory, the New Intolerance, and Its Grip on America by Jonathan Butcher and Mike Gonzalez.

Trending Topics, December 8, 2020

A Sensible and Compassionate Anti-COVID Strategy. A very informative article in Imprimis. “We’re at a place where our civilization is at risk, where the bonds that unite us are at risk of being torn. We shouldn’t be afraid. We should respond to the COVID virus rationally: protect the vulnerable, treat the people who get infected compassionately, develop a vaccine. And while doing these things we should bring back the civilization that we had so that the cure does not end up being worse than the disease.” See also: New Study Highlights Alleged Accounting Error Regarding Covid Deaths. “However, it is clear that this significant accounting error regarding Covid deaths, if true, is not productive. It has caused mass hysteria and misinformed public policy. Closing down communities to fight a virus that according to the data, has had no significant contribution to total deaths, reduces our overall capacity to build a healthy society.”
The Children of Pornhub. “The world has often been oblivious to child sexual abuse, from the Catholic Church to the Boy Scouts. Too late, we prosecute individuals like Jeffrey Epstein or R. Kelly. But we should also stand up to corporations that systematically exploit children. With Pornhub, we have Jeffrey Epstein times 1,000.” (Too often we live with our heads in the sand and think everything is fine when articles like this should remind us of how corrupt, vile, and ungodly people can be in making sin a profitable business while destroying countless lives and souls in the devil’s work. SM).
Survey Finds As American Psyche Reaches New Low, Frequent Churchgoers Fare Better Than The Rest. “American mental health ratings reached their lowest point in two decades this year. Only 34 percent of U.S. adults assess their emotional well-being as “excellent” compared to 43 percent who reported the same in 2019. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in August, 2 in 5 Americans reported suffering from symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, or stressor-related disorder stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. One in four young adults aged 18-24 reported seriously contemplating suicide within the 30 days of completing the survey, and 16 percent said the same between the ages of 25 and 44.”
Envy in the Digital Age. “The popular indignation of the Occupy Wall Street movement, then, is not easily characterized as a matter of Envy, as it has often carelessly been, since few of us can imagine, or would even want, $50 million/yr. salaries. No, the place to look for envy is among the ordinary relationships of friends, family, and coworkers, and envy is often the strongest when the least is at stake: the fleeting appearance of parental favoritism, the trifling compliment paid to a friend's fashion sense, the little inequity in end-of-year bonuses.”
Reasons why the 2020 presidential election is deeply puzzling. “Something very strange happened in America’s democracy in the early hours of Wednesday November 4 and the days that followed. It’s reasonable for a lot of Americans to want to find out exactly what.”
We Need More Cultural Icons Like Jimmy Stewart.

Trending Topics, December 1, 2020

The Death Of Truth. “Every time someone’s work or reputation is destroyed by so-called “cancel culture,” that is an example of censorship. Every time a celebrity is shouted down for sharing a less-than-trendy opinion, that is censorship. And every time a professor, scientist, journalist, or researcher faces pressure to suppress or distort their research to fit a certain narrative, that is censorship.”
Stay Safe? “These days, its all masks and hand sanitizer and distance as a verb. Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t leave your home. Your coffee is lava-hot. This knife is sharp and is known to cause injury. Don’t go there. Don’t sing here. Stay safe. When did the cult of personal safety begin to rule the day? Before the Pandemic? Before 9-11? After World War II? Before the invention of the key ring taser? When did courage and care for others give way to comfort and isolation?"
A Congregation Is Not an Audience. “…we all too often create ministry systems that prioritize professional ministers, not the whole body. But Ephesians 4 reminds us that we need the entire church to be engaged in mission, not just professional ministers.”
Making Better Decisions. “One of the most important qualities of a good leader is the ability to make good decisions…In this article, I want to offer a few guidelines to assist us in making better decisions. I pray my advice will provide some protection from the highly expensive consequences of making impulsive, reactionary, and emotional assessments that can paralyze a church, family, or nation for years to come.”
A Biblical Argument for Self-Defense. “I think Christians often wonder what it means to turn the other cheek. Jesus taught in Matthew 5, “You have heard that it was said ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’, but I say to you, ‘Do not resist the one who is evil, but if anyone slaps on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.’”
Karl Marx’s Shameful Life Repudiates His Evil Ideology.
Quote from The American Thinker blog: The frightening ease of government overreach. “The thing that bothers me is how quickly and easily our mayors and governors have used the pandemic as an excuse to flex their dictatorial muscles, and what frightens and angers me is how quickly and easily they've wiped their collective bottoms with the Constitution, with the requisite flush of our rights once their business is completed. Invasive forms required at the airport, COVID checkpoints at key crossing points in and out of New York City, police checkpoints, and mandatory quarantine periods are all part of the plan to "keep us safe." Neighbors and even children are being encouraged to spy on and report those who would dare oppose the Almighty. I've read enough about 1930s and early 1940s–era Germany to recognize what's going on. Will those who disobey be forced to wear a distinguishing mark of some kind on their clothing? What is disturbing to me is how quickly and easily so many people fall right into line and accept every new edict and imposition on their freedoms” (H.P. Smith, americanthinker.com).

Trending Topics, November 24, 2020

Americans Should Be Free to Decide How to Celebrate Thanksgiving.
A Letter to My Family and Friends about Prayer.
The War on Thanksgiving. “Will Americans still be celebrating Thanksgiving 100 years from now?”
American Sports Are Letting Down America. “Nearly 30 years ago, in a 1993 Nike commercial, professional basketball legend Charles Barkley fired the first shot at the “role model” concept popularized by Columbia University sociologist Robert K. Merton in the aftermath of the 1960s counterculture movement. “I am not a role model,” Barkley proclaimed in the half-minute spot. “I’m not paid to be a role model. I’m paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”
Why Gratitude Is More Important Than Ever. “This year is certainly a year for the books. It’s been one that has been filled with uncertainty and fear. And yet, it’s up to us whether or not that is how we remember it. “
Socialism Failed Miserably For The American Pilgrims, Just Like It Does Everywhere.

Trending Topics, November 17, 2020

Beyond Words. “How does one go about describing God, explaining God, or even fathoming his nature and works?”
Why You Need a Heavenly Perspective. “Look around you. Think about your life and situation. And remember—This is not Heaven!”
The incoming.
Dreading Thanksgiving Conversations? Keep These 3 Points in Mind for a Civil Discussion.
'My Country 'Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty.’ William Federer has compiled a lengthy list of quotes from our past in America supporting the meaning in the song.
(If you have been reading Trending Topics for very long, you have probably noticed references from denominational sources that use the term “pastor” to refer to the minister or preacher in the local congregation. As a discerning reader, you know that the general meaning behind such use in articles from sources outside the brotherhood is referring to the preacher and not an elder. A preacher can serve as an elder if qualified and if the congregation supports that arrangement, but in general, the preacher is not a “pastor” in the biblical sense). See: May I Speak to the Pastor?

Trending Topics, November 10, 2020

Why Vets’ Service Is Worthy of Reflection on Veterans Day—and the Rest of the Year. “The unique qualities that make America exceptional in the world begin here, with those dedicated to serving, defending, and bettering our nation. Thank you, veterans, and happy Veterans Day to all!”
Who Calls The Presidential Election? It’s Not The Media, It’s The Constitution. “We must ask a basic and essential civics question: “Who officially declares who our next president is?”
America Won’t Trust Elections Until The Voter Fraud Is Investigated. “Right now, trust in the democratic process can only be restored if President Trump continues to fight against the fraud in open court until it reaches its conclusion—whatever that conclusion ends up being. If he fails at that, then there’s not much reason to put stock in elections that many of us believe to be fake. In that scenario, America will eventually find other ways of governing herself.”
Brands Are Virtue-Signaling Progressive Values to Kids. “It’s not enough that kids are learning about social justice issues in school or via TikTok. Increasingly, brands have jumped on the woke train to virtue signal to kids what they should think about controversial ideas, normalizing them for the sake of advancing a collective progressive ideology that values identity politics over individualism.”
“We Have Re-Studied The Issue.” “Re-studied the matter? Indeed, I hope so . . . not just the matter of what is pleasing to God in worship, but what the Scriptures teach on a whole host of subjects. One just might discover that the Bible does not teach what one has always been told or what one has always believed or what one has always thought or how one has always “felt” about any number of matters.”
Defining Liberty. (5-minute video). “The Framers wrote the Constitution to protect the liberty of American citizens. But what exactly did “liberty” mean to them? More importantly, what should it mean to you? Eugene Volokh, professor of constitutional law at UCLA, explores this important issue.”

Trending Topics, November 3, 2020

These 12 Graphs Show Mask Mandates Do Nothing To Stop COVID. “Masks have become a political tool and a talisman.”
Dear John Piper: No, Arrogance Is Not As Deadly As Murder.
What Life Is Like Without Police. “With the political Left calling for defunding police to the point of making them ineffective, we examine places where the police have been neutered: Brazil and South Africa.”
How COVID Could Push Us Further Toward Euthanasia. “Last week, the Dutch government took yet another step down the very-slippery slope of euthanasia when the national health minister proposed that doctors should be permitted to euthanize “terminally ill” children under the age of thirteen. In a letter to the Parliament, he wrote, “In a small number of cases, palliative care isn’t sufficient . . . Because of that, some children suffer unnecessarily without any hope of improvement.”
‘Born This Way’ Is Old Science. “During the confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii expressed outrage and shock that the nominee used the term “sexual preference” instead of “sexual orientation.” “Sexual preference,” announced Senator Hirono, “is an offensive and outdated term…used by anti-LGBTQ activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice—it is not.”
The Hate-America “1619 Project” Fed to Kids. “The 1619 Project, being adopted by schools nationwide, claims that the country’s entire history is based on slavery. It’s so wrong even leftist professors are tearing it apart.”

Trending Topics, October 27, 2020

Boys Cannot Be Girls: How Words of God Become Hate Speech. “After the creation of man and woman, God declared that his creation was very good. Our creation design teaches us that God has made us male and female to reflect his glory. This foundational creation reality is transcultural and atemporal. The dignity of the human body is underlined by the glory of the incarnation. Christ, the eternal Word, became man, born of a woman. Scripture will not allow the false split between sex and so-called gender.”
Here's Why I Don't Drink Beverage Alcohol. A straight-forward piece by Kevin L. Moore that is full of wisdom on the subject.
Meet the Climate Scientists That Social Media Censors Don’t Want You to Know About. “Twitter, Facebook, and Google should not be the arbiters of truth on complex scientific and societal issues.”
Amy Coney Barrett Is a Triumph for the Constitution. "Justice Barrett was confirmed by a shamefully partisan 52-48 vote Monday night — a glaring contrast with the 96-3 display of bipartisan comity that confirmed Ginsburg in 1993. It’s also worth noting that Barrett was given her constitutional oath by Justice Clarence Thomas, who, after being subjected to Democrats’ attempted character assassination in 1991, was likewise confirmed 52-48.” See confirmation speech here. See also: Judging Amy: The Left’s Proclivity for Believing and Empowering Women Is Limited to Its Own.
Big Tech Is Turning The United States Into A Giant Company Town. “You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. Saint Peter don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go, I owe my soul to the company store.”
Are We Approaching the Real-Life World of Orwell's 1984? “Now, 36 years after 1984's forecast, 2020 offers itself as an eerie time portal — a way back to the future of Orwell's prophetic world of freedom lost.”
Longing for Another Place... “Do you ever feel that longing and ache for what is not here but will be?”

Trending Topics, October 20, 2020

Tennessee State Rep. John DeBerry: Progressives Use ‘Despicable Language’ Against Him and His Faith. It’s important “to protect the life of the unborn and to stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. Because of their place of residency, they reside in the wombs of their mothers. This ought to be the safest place on Earth for a child. But, because of their place of residency, they are not given constitutional rights.”
The Absurdity of Pride. “Pride might help us feel strong and attractive in our own eyes, at least for a moment. But in reality, it is a gross violation of our created design.”
Christian Worldview and the Voting Booth. “Let each of us prayerfully consider the various issues, policies and platforms and vote in a way that we believe will best reflect His will. Remember, elections have consequences.”
Unmarried Birth Rates and Fatherless Households: A National Crisis.
If We Let Big Tech Strangle The Press, Say Goodbye To Your Freedoms. “Both citizens and lawmakers justifiably fear the enormous influence wielded by entities like Facebook, Google, and Twitter; the rise of an unchecked tech-tyranny where one side of the political aisle has its views promoted while the other side has its views punished. Nearly two centuries ago, the author of one of the most penetrating insights on American life shared similar fears of what would happen should a free press remain free in name only.”
3 Things You Should Think About Before You Vote. “What if the candidate is a wonderful person with terrible policy ideas? Which is more important to vote for: policy or personality? What is the first and most important task of government?”
Becoming an Old Soul Christian. A good read for the young and old…“As you age, it seems like everything is passing you by. The world isn’t made for you any longer. Which is why you can become more susceptible to anger as you age. You feel left out, forgotten. Everything keeps changing at a rapid pace, but you are slowing down.”
Joe Biden Wants You to Know He Supports the Entire LGBTQ Revolution . . . Including Transgender Children. Read part I of the transcript by Albert Mohler that gives some background to the issue of same-sex marriage and transgenderism as it pertains to a previous President and Vice-President.

Trending Topics, October 13, 2020

What Is Keeping You From Your Church? “If you do not draw a line in the sand right now and determine when you will return to worship, you may never return. You will find other things to fill your Sunday mornings and commitment to your church will wax and wane.”
Why I’m Leaving California. “This is the most beautiful state in the country. The climate is incredible. The scenery is amazing. The people are generally warm, and there’s an enormous amount to do. And we’re leaving.” See this powerful video about the failure of Maxine Waters and her district in CA: Mansion Maxine.
How to Prepare for the Next Cultural Revolution. “Christians have been caught off guard. The current revolution sweeping society today was largely unexpected by most believers. That’s understandable in one sense. No one is a prophet. Who knows what new philosophy will capture the culture’s attention?”
Parents, Waste Time With Your Kids. “Parents, waste some time with your kids, because time wasted with your kids is an investment you will never regret. Not every moment you spend with your children needs to be carefully planned or rehearsed. Go fishing. Play a video game. Go for a walk or take a bike ride.”
*Abortion is not politics.
*Laziness is not politics.
*Fraud is not politics.
*Disobeying the law is not politics.
*Lying is not politics.
*Marriage between a man and a woman is not politics.
*Obeying God is not politics.
*Bearing false witness (lying about someone) is not politics. Every one of these things is addressed in the Word of God. Man made them political! We must never be silent about them. Silence is consent. And when it is our turn, they will come for us! I am afraid we have used our Christianity as a “cloak” to keep from addressing the difficult issues of our time because we have allowed others to put them in the “politics” compartment” (Facebook, Sheila K. Butt, Oct 11).
Compelling Quotes From “Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now.” “The social media algorithms that keep feeding you commentary you respond to are feeding someone else a completely different commentary. Thus, even when “trying to read a different viewpoint,” many read their side’s interpretation of the other viewpoint. The divide between people is being widened and crystalized in part because people have less opportunity to understand one another.”

Trending Topics, October 6, 2020

Don’t Let Your Bible Keep You From the Bible. “The true spiritual riches are found in engaging God’s Word directly, not going through another’s explanation of God’s Word.”
The Dangers of Our Mourning of Celebrities. “Have you ever wondered why people mourn the loss of individuals of stature, such as celebrities and political leaders, who are complete and total strangers, with profound sadness and frustration?”
Sliding toward Pedophilia: How the Sexual Revolution Progresses. “What happened with sexual promiscuity, adultery, homosexuality, and currently, with transgenderism is happening with the sexualization of kids. We’ve already told them to determine their sexual identities. At the same time, the only grounding left for sexual morality is the flimsy notion of “consent.” Is it that much of a leap, really, from where we are to kids self-determining sexual behavior, even if with adults?”
“There is so much tension in America today that it is virtually impossible for people to communicate. Part of the cause is the Covid virus. Life is not normal. Businesses are closing. People are hurting. Individuals cannot go to church or out to eat or in many cases even to the grocery store. It is little wonder that nerves are on edge and tempers are flaring. Even Disney has laid off 28,000 workers. People are divided into groups. Blacks, whites, liberals, conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, rioters, law enforcement, gays, straight, seldom any more just Americans, or neighbors, or friends. There is a tendency to listen if one speaks from “my group,” but not if the words come from “a different group.” The test is no longer whether the speech is logical or factual or reasonable, but rather who said it, which “side” does it help, which group does it come from. Politics has divided America. The news media no longer just reports the news, the media itself becomes the news. The “virus” is Trump’s fault. The media cannot bring itself to commend Trump even if he does something right, such as improve the economy, create jobs, or improve foreign trade. Why not commend him if he does something right and criticize him when he does something wrong? Why not report the news instead of slanting the news to fit a certain perspective? How much longer can America stand if we continue to be so fragmented? The fall of great nations often was because of internal decay, not external force. If our country continues to divide, to embrace immorality, to foment hatred, and to destroy our foundations, we will pay the price. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)” (Alan Highers, Facebook, Sept 30, 2020).
4 Reasons Why Leaders Should Be Readers. “Harry Truman once said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”
Why ‘The Social Dilemma’ Matters. “A feast of information and a famine of wisdom—this is one of the biggest challenges facing us today. We are fed information non-stop through devices designed to keep us “checking in” online, while our mental muscles of deeper concentration—the effort it takes to pursue intellectual growth and cultivate a heart of wisdom—grow weaker.”
Things I Did My Kids Never Will. “You’ve probably had this experience with one of your children—the experience of trying to explain something that was a part of your childhood, but is completely foreign to theirs. Though we aren’t that far removed from the years when we were young, the pace of technological change has been unparalleled.”

Trending Topics, September 29, 2020

The Left Hates Amy Coney Barrett Because She Disproves All Their Lies About Women. “Newest Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is almost the polar opposite of the “Sex and the City” chimera of female empowerment: a serious Christian who eschews hookup culture and has seven kids. Half of her resume consists of behavior the leftists who control feminism constantly attack as anti-woman: big-time motherhood and big-time religion.” See also: Why the Left Is Attacking Amy Coney Barrett (It’s not Just Because Trump Nominated Her). “History was made on Saturday as the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, used his unilateral authority in that office to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett as the newest Justice of the United States Supreme Court. If her nomination is confirmed by the Senate, she would serve as the 115th American to serve on the US Supreme Court, the nation's highest court. Now, as we're looking at this, of course, anytime a president nominates an individual to the Supreme Court, it's big news, and it's especially big news in recent years…This is indeed a game changer. It is so, because of the judge, Amy Coney Barrett is. It is so because of the context of the nomination made by President Trump, a nomination for which I am incredibly thankful. Also have to consider the effect of having someone like a Justice Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court for what we don't see, of how the court deliberates, what we don't see in the Supreme Court comforts the conversation among the justices, the official conversation about the adjudication of cases. That's one of those places where someone like Amy Coney Barrett can make an incredible difference. But stay tuned, this is going to be a huge fight. The Senate Republican leadership has indicated that judiciary hearings will begin October the 12th. That's just a matter of about two weeks away, so get ready” (Albert Mohler, The Briefing).
Porn—Even in the Name of ‘Art’—Perpetuates Abuse. “It’s urgent we see how porn—even “soft porn” or “artistically transgressive” sexual imagery supposedly intended to raise awareness about child sexualization—can be weaponized to destroy children.” See also: Defending the Indefensible: With “Cuties,” Yet Another Boundary Falls. Also: Condemning ‘Cuties’ Should Be Noncontroversial.
Netflix’s ‘Social Dilemma’ Exposes The Dark Side Of Big Tech, But Omits Silicon Valley Bias. “Aptly named “The Social Dilemma,” the documentary poetically presents a plethora of perilous problems facing the addicted population over Americans’ compulsory use of social networking as a sort of virtual supplement to daily life in the 21st century digital era.” See also: ‘The Social Dilemma’ and the Bigger Dilemma.
The State of Theology. “What do Americans think about Jesus Christ, the Bible, truth, and ethics? Ligonier Ministries’ State of Theology survey provides insights. Every two years, we take the theological temperature of the United States to help Christians better understand today’s culture and equip the church with better insights for discipleship.”
Four Key Attitudes of Leaders Whose Churches Will Thrive in the Future. “In many ways, we are indeed living in difficult and heartbreaking times. We cannot deny the reality of sickness, death, depression, and economic collapse COVID has brought to our world. But, in other ways, this season is a time of incredible opportunity. Many organizations are paralyzed with fear and think the best strategy is hoping life resumes its normalcy.”
China’s Sadistic ‘One-Child Policy’ Inflicted Billions With Unspeakable Suffering. “…the “one-child” policy was launched in China in 1980, limiting each Chinese family to one child. It was, and remains, the most restrictive population policy in human history.”
The Media’s Biblical Illiteracy Is Not Our Biggest Problem. “We need to be, both individually and congregationally, immersed in the Bible.”

Trending Topics, September 22, 2020

The Dangers of Idle Mind. “An idle mind has been a huge problem for many in 2020. The quarantine has meant for many extra time on their hands sitting around the house.”
Fast and Furious: The Battle for the Supreme Court is Shaping Up Right Now by Albert Mohler. See also: What Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote when she was thirteen years old: The privilege of declaring and defending biblical truth by Jim Denison. Also: RBG’S Dying Wish.
Why Has the Supreme Court Become So Politicized? See also: 7 Things to Know About Upcoming Supreme Court Process, Picks.
The Left’s Moral Compass Isn’t Broken. “All of my life, I have said that the left’s moral compass is broken. And all of my life, I was wrong.”
New California Law Could Increase Risk of Child Sexual Abuse. “Any law that lessens protections for vulnerable children is a bad idea. There’s a word for adults who pursue sex with children: pedophiles,” James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in a statement. “Any proposed legislation that gives incentive or cover for such depravity should be condemned, not passed into law.”
Now We Can’t Even Watch Football.
5 Reasons Why Ministers Are Leaving. “What can you do for your minister?”

Trending Topics, September 8, 2020

“Our society is not drifting leftward—it is being driven leftward. Our responsibility is to think clearly, carefully, and critically about how our culture is being influenced, and what this means for Christians seeking to live faithfully in a secular age” (R. Albert Mohler Jr., The Gathering Storm: Secularism, Culture, and the Church, 144).

California Legislature Passes Bill Reducing Penalties for Oral, Anal Sex with Willing Children.
Is Forgiveness The New “F” Word?
Planes, Trains and Asinine Sermons. Preaching has largely fallen upon hard times. Our identity as God’s people should be evident through our lessons, preaching, and teaching programs. How to be saved and the uniqueness of our plea and identity are often absent in a worship service. People go away thinking we are just like the Lutherans or Baptists down the street when they hear a lesson that could be easily preached in their pulpit or anywhere with no distinctiveness. Food for thought (SM)!
39 Photos Capture America’s Summer of Riots, Arson, and Looting.
Here Are 31 Times the Media Justified or Explained Away Rioting and Looting After George Floyd’s Death.
Should Parents Spank Their Children?
The presidential election is more about beliefs and ideologies than personalities (candidates). The Next President Will Cement Or Erase Conservative Control Of The Courts. “The next president will likely solidify a lasting majority on the courts of appeals, either cementing President Trump’s judicial legacy or largely undoing it.”
Half of U.S. Christians say casual sex between consenting adults is sometimes or always acceptable. “Many Christian traditions disapprove of premarital sex. And even though Christians in the United States hold less permissive views than religiously unaffiliated Americans about dating and sex, most say it’s acceptable in at least some circumstances for consenting adults to have sex outside of marriage, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.”
As Sports Media Cheers On Athlete Boycotts, Fans Will Walk Away. Opinion: Professional sports is a sad spectacle today. Overpaid, out of touch athletes who have become political hacks are loosing their fan base at an alarming rate. Traditionally, Americans attended sporting events as entertainment and to “let down” and relax for a couple of hours and enjoy the competition between players and teams. This is largely lost now with players boycotting, kneeling, disrespecting America and acting like spoiled brats. They deserve to loose their income and wealth if they can’t do what they were hired to do (SM).
Nancy Pelosi’s recent hair salon debacle is another illustration of the hypocrisy of many elites in our society. Nancy Pelosi’s Hair Appointment Hypocrisy Exemplifies Her Poor Political Instincts Hypocrisy of the left. FNC’s Carlson: Pelosi Hair Salon Incident a ‘Metaphor for How Liberals See Our Country’. Kevin McCarthy on Salon Scandal: ‘Every Single House Democrat’ Must ‘Answer for Pelosi’s Privilege’
Police Go Where the Crime Is. A short video by Heather Mac Donald
Should We Defund the Police? “Wow! You have to wonder how many Americans hold the same (very-incorrect) assumptions. Watch what happened when Will Witt and Brandon Tatum changed minds with some basic facts.”

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Trending Topics, September 1, 2020

Fight for America—Voters Must Do This to Stop Socialism and Anarchy. “The radical left’s ideas could destroy America for generations. The only bulwark that can stop them is an informed and energized citizenry.”
The Abomination of Lying Lips. “Our culture, both online and offline, is inundated in satanic deceitfulness, dishonesty, lies, slander, and gossip. We who are Christians are not to engage in the abominable practices of those in this godless and dark culture.”
Dear Athletes: Keep Your Politics Out Of Sports. America's sports are ruined by politics.
BE QUIET: CULTIVATING A GENTLE SPIRIT IN A WORLD THAT LOVES NOISE.
5 Reasons Why Violent Radicals Feel Empowered. Portland’s Endless Riots Are Destroying Lives and Businesses. Portland Businesses Pulling out amid Nightly Riots: City No Longer Clean or Safe. “Daimler Chrysler, AirB&B, Banana Republic, Microsoft (who he said is permanently closing their retail store), Saucebox and Google, “who leased 90,000 square feet in the Macy’s building (and) has stopped construction of their improvements. The list goes on and on.”
Opposing Netflix’s Outrageous Exploitation. “One of the most harmful and perverse aspects of contemporary American culture is the sexualization of our children, especially our young girls.”

Trending Topics, August 25, 2020

Worry about repeating yourself when there's no need to repeat yourself anymore. “I used to worry about repeating myself. But not these days. If the message needs to get through, it’s worth saying again and again until it lands. And, as they say, repetition is the key to learning. Repetition is the key to learning. Repetition is the key…”
Lessons In Becoming a Better Listener. “It is one thing to hear, but another thing to listen.”
Exegeting the Congregation in Preaching. “When you are done studying the Bible, you are only halfway done. You must now study the congregation.”
A Back-to-School Guide for Conservatives.
Will Your Life Count When You’re Gone? A Plea for Spiritual Fathers.
Search Engines Are Not Value Neutral. “The running joke I’ve heard is, “If it’s on the internet, it must be true!” While people often make this quip, sometimes jokes become reality and we lend too much credence to what we find on the internet through search engines…In the end, we must ensure that we use the search engine and the search engine doesn’t use us.”
A two minute promotional video for The Gathering Storm: SECULARISM, CULTURE, AND THE CHURCH by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. You need to read this book!

Trending Topics (August 18, 2020)

The Collapse of the Traditional American Family. “The Joint Economic Committee of Congress has just produced an important new study titled “The Demise of the Happy Two-Parent Home.” The report exhaustively presents data showing the shocking collapse of marriage and traditional family in America and then explores possible explanations for why it has happened.” See full study here: The Demise of the Happy Two-Parent Home.
Our Parents Should Have Told Us: Manners for Social Media in Polarized Times. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be…”
3 THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT HOSPITALITY AS COVID CONTINUES. “Is hospitality different right now? Sure. Is it perhaps more difficult? Indeed it is. But perhaps there is an opportunity here not to be less hospitable, but more, as we remember the core of what we are really doing in welcoming someone else in.”
Time Alone for God: The Ageless Habits of Jesus Christ.
Why Teaching Americans To Love Their Country Is A Powerful Antidote To Racism. “The only effective solution to bridging America’s seemingly insurmountable partisan divide is as simple as it is controversial: We need a renewed American nationalism.”
The State of Free Speech on College Campuses Is Dreadful. “What is it to engage in civil discourse — an activity protected by the Bill of Rights — that is contrary to the established doctrines? A heartless, malicious exercise intended to strip away the dignity of the oppressed through the guise of “truth-seeking” and “thought-experimenting.” What matters to these activists, reared by the forces of Marxist social theory, isn’t liberty or freedom — it’s power.”
What is a Leader? “Leading a group means a leader must have an idea where to take the people—a vision for the future.”
The following quotes are from Dr. Jack Cottrell, Author and former Professor (Facebook, Aug 15 & 16).

Cottrell answers some misconceptions many have in regard to whether a candidate lives “up to the moral standards of Scripture. My basic reply to these folks is this: you are confusing the kingdom of Christ with the kingdoms of this world. Jesus says, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). These are in different categories. Scripture tells us what government is supposed to DO, not what the governors are supposed to BE. Which candidate comes closest to using the power of government as Romans 13 and 1 Timothy 2:1-4 describe it? That is the ONLY standard that should guide how we vote. The issue is not the moral character of the governors (compare the Caesars, for example), but the view of government's job for which they stand. Think Biblically, folks!!
The issue is NOT what kind of man he is; the issue is WHAT KIND OF AMERICA DO I WANT. As an analogy, the president and lawmakers are like the paper a present is wrapped in. Many of you are determined to throw away a priceless present because you don't like the paper in which it is wrapped. Imagine what kind of America we would have if left-wing candidates (whatever their personal morals) win.
The purpose of government as described in the NT is simple: God has given government (Rom. 13:1-2) the authority (1) to PROTECT the rights of its citizens and to PUNISH those who violate these rights (Rom. 13:3ff.; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-15). That sums it up. Today many make the horrible mistake of assuming that government's job is to PROVIDE its citizens with everything they have a right to possess and own. This is one reason our country is in such a mess now.

Trending Topics (August 11, 2020)

Five Types of Church Members Who Will Not Return after the Quarantine. “It is one of the most common questions we get from church leaders: When will all the church members return to in-persons services?”
Compassing Christ’s Course Through the Chaos.
Be Wary of Judging Past Heroes. In regard to past figures and heroes: “Understand who they were in the context of their times and value their contributions, while also learning from their failures.”
Raising Children in a Success Obsessed World. A much needed perspective in our world today.
Profanity Is Worse Than You Think. “One way we use profanity is what I call “the profanity of belittlement.” Here’s what I mean: when we belittle others, we’re profaning the image of God. Profanity certainly can include well-known four-letter words, but it can also involve fixating on what is ugly, crude, or vulgar.”
There are academics in prestigious schools arguing that “objective truth” is a social construct.” What about standards and authority? What about THE STANDARD: John 17:17. Brooklyn College Education Prof. Claims Math Is ‘White Supremacist Patriarchy.’

Trending Topics (August 4, 2020)

Burning Bibles. See also: Portland Anarchists Burn Boxes Full of Bibles, But the Liberal Media is Silent. “Why are the young people, most of whom are white, burning the Bible in Portland? For the same reason fascists and communists burn books—to cleanse society of any thought that is contrary to theirs.”
An Anchor In The Storm. “As our world seems to spin out of control, as many call evil good and good evil, and in an age where some political leaders seem to even welcome anarchy, we need not fear. God has not moved.”
How To Respond to Social Media Enemies. “In your online Christian life you will encounter enemies, haters, cursers and abusers and you are to respond by loving them, doing good to them, blessing them, and praying for them.”
Netflix’s “The Baby-Sitters Club” sells transgenderism to its preteen/teen audience.
Strike Three: Major League Baseball’s Sordid Romance with Race-Baiting Politics. “To the multi-millionaire professional athletes who insist on injecting racial politics into sporting events, I ask you this: Where else on earth can you get a better deal than right here in America? Cuba? Venezuela? Mexico? Bangladesh? Africa? Maybe you’d be happier in China, an unapologetic racist nation that, despite denials, uses slave labor to manufacture your fancy athletic shoes, has discriminated against Africans for decades, and throws its Muslim citizens into concentration camps. So, please, spare me your “principles.”
What TikTok Hides Beneath Its Addicting Little Videos Should Scare You.
July Breaks Gun Sales Record. “"This staggering increase in demand appears to be attributable to a few factors," Killoy said. "Number one, concerns about personal protection and home defense stemming from continuing COVID-19 pandemic; protests, demonstrations, and civil unrest in many cities throughout the United States and, lastly, the call by some for the reduction in funding and authority of various law enforcement organizations." See also: Police in major U.S. city warn public: Prepare to be robbed, obey criminals.
Supreme Court Supports Democrat Efforts To Make Christians Second-Class Citizens. “All four gospels record that the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus cast lots for his clothing. This was not the last time government agents were more interested in gambling than God. The latest instance is in Nevada, where the state government has granted casinos special privileges denied to churches. Casinos are allowed to operate at half-capacity, while churches are restricted to a hard cap of 50 people, no matter their capacity.”

Trending Topics (July 28, 2020)

How to Pray When You’re Feeling Anxious or Depressed. “Prayer is hard at the best of times, but it’s hardest during anxious or depressed times. During such seasons, most of us find it hard to concentrate, we feel God is far away, and we despair of God hearing or helping us. All of this makes prayer so difficult and discouraging.”
Uncle Tom Movie (30 second teaser). (Everyone needs to watch this full movie: SM). What frightens the American left: Larry Elder’s new documentary ‘Uncle Tom.’
The Importance of Listening. “We are poor listeners to one another. Maybe, this is why we are shouting so loudly and violently at one another.”
Frontline Doctors surviving video clip from Monday. Clip here for clip. Here is a statement from Ralph Norman (my Congressman - 5th District of South Carolina): “In case you missed my post yesterday, I was at a press conference in Washington hosted by the Tea Party Patriots to help encourage schools to try to re-open for in-person learning this fall, if they can safely do so and follow proper protocols. The organizers brought in at least a dozen physicians, each of whom have been on the front lines of this pandemic. Each with their own opinions, obviously. After I made a few remarks about schools, one of the first doctors to speak was named Stella Immanuel. If you’re trying to find her remarks on social media, good luck. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter have been working overtime to remove any trace of her comments. Why? Well, she referenced the use of the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine as one of the medications that she prescribes in her medical practice to treat COVID patients. Communications consultants would have advised her to say something like, “Here’s what I’m doing in my practice.” Or, “This is the treatment protocol in my clinic.” I don’t know if she got caught up in the moment, but that’s not what came out. Instead, the language she used indicated that she believes this medication (in conjunction with some others) represents a “cure,” therefore making masks unnecessary. Now let’s pause right here for a minute. Obviously, I was not privy to her planned remarks beforehand. I could not disagree more with her on the use of masks when social distancing is not possible, and I’m certainly no expert in medications. After all, I was just there to talk about schools!But she has a right to her opinion!!! The problem is the knee-jerk reaction by social media censors was to eliminate her statement. To erase her voice because they deemed it inappropriate. If they want to “flag” videos of her remarks or put up disclaimers, then fine. Let adults decide for themselves whether what she said is worth hearing.But don’t “cancel” her! Don’t silence her just because what she said was objectionable! That’s un-American!I don’t care what your political ideology is – every one of us should be alarmed over this type of censorship."
Clay Christensen on Religious Freedom. Mr. Christensen (April 6, 1952 – January 23, 2020, Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School), in under two minutes, in this short video clip, he emphasizes how religion is critical to the functioning of democracy.
Pursue Integrity Relentlessly. “Ethical integrity is one of the indispensable attributes of Christlike character. As vital as it is to be sound in doctrine and faithful in teaching the truth of Scripture, it is by no means less crucial for Christians to be upright in heart and consistent in our obedience to the moral and ethical principles of God’s law.
Four Months of Unprecedented Government Malfeasance by Heather Mac Donald.
How To Disprove The 6 Most Outrageous Myths Of The 1619 Project.
Giants’ Sam Coonrod Explains Not Kneeling for Moment of Unity: ‘I’m a Christian.’ Notice the anti-Christian bias by the authors in both of these articles. One MLB player refused to kneel before the anthem and his reasoning was very stupid.

Trending Topics (July 21, 2020)

Mother Knows Best: Why I Fight for School Choice. “Are government schools really giving children the education they deserve? If you think the answer is “yes,” you haven't asked a parent with a child stuck in a bad school. Cecilia Iglesias, President of the Parent Union, knows first-hand that our education system is in deep trouble.”
How To End White Privilege. “Brandon Tatum doesn’t forgive you for your white privilege. How can he forgive you for something that doesn’t even exist? So, where did the notion of white privilege come from? Who does it benefit? And who does it hurt? The answers might surprise you.”
Massachusetts Town Legalizes Polygamy Using Same Arguments For Gay Marriage. “Every argument supporting gay marriage—‘Love is love,’ ‘we deserve equal protection under the law,’ and ‘we’re not harming anybody’—also supports group marriage.” See also: Legalizing Polyamory.
Reagan Warns America Not to Forget Our History. “This clip from Reagan's farewell address is so relevant to our time. Every American should hear these words.”
Smithsonian Pushes Racist Material Claiming ‘White Culture’ Is ‘Nuclear Family,’ ‘Self-Reliance,’ Being ‘Polite.’ “The National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) is promoting material about “whiteness” and “white culture” on its website in an effort to “discuss race, equity, and inclusion.” See an update: African American Museum site removes ‘whiteness’ chart after criticism from Trump Jr. and conservative media.
“Sometimes we earn it. Sometimes, it’s handed to us even when we don’t deserve it. And sometimes, we’re deprived of it, through no fault of our own. Everything works better when we have the benefit of the doubt, and offering it doesn’t cost very much at all. And it’s rare enough that we should work overtime not to waste it” (Seth Godin).
Search Engines Are Not Value Neutral. “The assumption might be that the search engine is value neutral: you plug in search terms and your desired query pops up with your results. But we should recognize that few things in life are truly value neutral. Software programmers have made decisions on how search engines work, and they have made value judgments about how the search engine should function. There are several different ways their value judgments appear in the seemingly innocuous use of a search engine.”

Trending Topics (July 14, 2020)

Masking the real COVID problem. “It’s like the plague is closing in all around me, and I’m not talking about the coronavirus. I’m talking about power-hungry politicians and their ridiculous regulations.
4 Reasons to Model Good Character in the Workplace. “For better or worse, you’re going to replicate yourself in your organization. The only question is whether you’ll do it intentionally.”
A Social Media Jekyll & Hyde Effect. Referring to social media, the author writes: “I do think that it is fairly reasonable to conclude that at the very least these platforms lower people's inhibitions. I think it is because of how impersonal these platforms are and also because of the perceived anonymity. If you are not having to look into the eyes of another human being when you say something, and if you are under the impression that no one will ever know you are the one who said it, there can be a strong temptation to sin with your words.”
Envy Always Wins. “Envy is a sin that makes me feel resentment or anger or sadness because another person has something or another person is something that I want for myself. Envy makes me aware that another person has some advantage, some good thing, that I want for myself. And there’s more: Envy makes me want that other person not to have it. This means that there are at least three evil components to envy: the deep discontent that comes when I see that another person has what I want; the desire to have it for myself; and the desire for it to be taken from him.”
4 Ways Not to Be a Jerk Online. “The pull of our screens—and the interactions they mediate—is often more spiritually taxing than we realize or care to admit. I have yet to hear someone return from a digital fast and say, “Wow, that was terrible.” Usually it’s more like, “Wow, I feel human again.”
Everyday words and phrases that have racist connotations. “Nonsensical” comes to mind when reading this one brought to you by the “Communist News Network.”
Books for A Summer Afternoon: The 2020 Summer Reading List.

Trending Topics (July 7, 2020)

Black Lives Matter: Affirm the Sentence, Not the Movement. R. Albert Mohler Jr., is blessed with an incredible intellect as well as having a way to boil down an issue and examine it in light of the Christian Worldview. Please take time to read his assessment of the BLM organization and movement. Erroneous statements have been made by people (Christians included) who have allowed their emotions to guide them rather than facts and reason, and have unintentionally misled others in this topic. Mohler digs into the background and underlying manifesto of this movement and brings to light the inconsistency of it and its opposition to the Christian Worldview. See related: Black Lives Matter’s Silence on a Champion of Racial Equality.
In Full: President Trump’s Historic, Anti-Marxist Speech At Mount Rushmore. “Our Founders launched not only a revolution in government, but a revolution in the pursuit of justice, equality, liberty, and prosperity. No nation has done more to advance the human condition than the United States of America. And no people have done more to promote human progress than the citizens of our great nation.” A must-read with a lot of historical points that evidently many Americans have not been exposed to before since authentic American History has been scrubbed by the Leftists in our public educational systems.
Pray for the Church. Some much needed thoughts.
The NFL’s politically correct troubles continue. Watch the short video that calls the NFL out for a terrible plan for the new season. Whitlock Rips the NFL, Roger Goodell In Tucker Carlson Appearance. “I see a lack of leadership. A failure of men. This goes against every value that exemplifies America. The NFL has built itself on unity and there is no way you can do any research on the Black Lives Matter Movement and not see it’s a Marxist movement.”
White Fragility is anti-Gospel by Jack Wilkie. Brother Wilkie says: “Specifically, I want to address the “White Fragility” theory presented by Robin DiAngelo. First, because it has become the go-to resource in our national discussion, racing up the bestseller charts and even selling out on Amazon and being handed out and suggested by many within Christendom. Second, because it is representative of much of the ideology of Critical Race Theory, the prevailing viewpoint in our national discussions. Learning DiAngelo’s work helps one see much of the ideology being shared on television and in print today.”
The Rip van Winkle Church of 2030. A review of the New York Times article by Ross Douthat “opines that the pandemic has accelerated the pace of cultural, social, economic and institutional change in the West. What we thought 2030 would be, is what 2020 has become…We’ve skipped ahead ten years to 2030. And 2030 is a different story to 2020. More to the point, it’s a couple of chapters further on than 2020, and most of us, including the churches, are struggling trying to fill in the narrative from the missing chapters.”
What About the Violent-Genocidal God of the Old Testament? “Do questions like this pose a legitimate challenge to the believer’s faith?”
Why I Love America. A short video highlighting 3 reasons America is the greatest country in the world.

Trending Topics (June 30, 2020)

Listen Quickly, Think Slowly. “Slow thinking is a habit of highly effective people, “Seek first to understand, and then to be understood.” Unfortunately, too many of us seek first to be heard, and then, maybe later, to understand what others have to say.”
The Peculiar Idol of Personal Opinion. “Social media has filled in the gap between fool and expert, and it is filling the world with foolishness disguised as expertise. How clearly we see it in these days. Yet that doesn’t seem to stop us from creating a shiny, clanging idol of our own opinions.”
Twisting Supreme Court precedent. “While calling the outcome disappointing, March for Life President Jeanne Mancini said the decision should not discourage lawmakers from trying to regulate abortion providers: “This is really terrible for women but I don’t think this impacts other pro-life laws. I do not think this is the moment to back down.”
Small Decisions Matter: Discernment for Everyday Life. “The apostle Paul warned us, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15–16). When we look carefully, two paths always come into view. We want to be skillful enough to see the wise path of life and then take it.”
How Leftists’ Critical Race Theory Poisons Our Discussion of Racism. “Critical race theory is a theoretical framework, rooted in Marxism, that posits individuals as oppressed or oppressor based on their skin color…Critical race theory does not seek equality or justice. Instead, it categorizes people. One’s gender, race, or sexual orientation posits you as the oppressed or an oppressor—a status from which you are freed only when all existing societal structures, which are inherently racist, are overthrown..
Silence Is Violence . . . Unless You’re a Leftist. “Silence is Violence” is one of the most preposterous slogans of the Left’s latest cultural offensive. The basic idea is that it’s not enough simply not to be a racist; no, in order to truly combat racism, everyone must “speak out” by parroting the leftist propaganda that America is irredeemably racist, that systemic racism is an ongoing problem, and that all white people must repent of the original sin of whiteness. Failure to do so makes you “violent.”
On the matter of the Benson Auditorium. "In recent weeks, there has been a petition that has circulated online, insisting that the name of Harding’s second president, Dr. George S. Benson, be removed from the auditorium that bears his name. The petition asserts that “George S. Benson was a vocal racist and supporter of segregation.”
Everybody else. Short and to the point by Seth Godin.

Trending Topics (June 23, 2020)

Why Mobs Are Tearing Down America’s Monuments. This is a 14 minute video by Tucker Carlson that you need to watch if you want to be informed about the revolution/insurrection that is taking place around the country (the transcribed text is here). The monuments and memorials coming down are not about George Floyd. Carlson cites Shaun King (see: Left-Wing Shaun King: Tear Down ‘White Supremacy’ Statues of Jesus) of the Black Lives Matter’s Organization and how he stated: “All murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends should also come down. They are a gross form white supremacy. Created as tools of oppression. Racist propaganda. They should all come down.” NOTE: They will be coming for churches, Christian schools, etc.
Erasing Historical Statues a Monumental Mistake. “…destroying national heritage by placing absolute value judgements on historical figures in an attempt to discredit their significance is a dangerously inaccurate way of assessing the past.” South Africa Shows That Societies That Erase Their History Doom Their Future. “When the mob’s rage extends beyond Confederate statues, and the statues of slave-owning Founders, to the statues of abolitionists and monuments to black Civil War soldiers, the issue is no longer racial justice but basic civility, the rules we must respect if our society is to survive, if our experiment in multi-racial democracy is to endure.” See: Black Lives Matter Attempts to Topple Andrew Jackson Statue near White House.
Rioters Tear Down Monuments In Envy At People Who Do What They Can’t: Build.
“If perpetuating a white, patriarchal culture in any capacity is enough to merit monument takedown, nearly all statues are subject to removal, not just those of Confederate generals.”
3 Elements of Effective Decision-Making. “Decision making may be the toughest part of leadership. You are responsible for crucial choices that affect the livelihood of the business and your employees. Often, each dilemma is packed with conflicting information. Sound familiar?”
More than 1,500 buildings, many black-owned businesses, damaged in Twin Cities area as violence continues. This is no surprise. I wonder if those who felt as though the looting, burning, stealing, and assault on others was justified have changed their minds since the week of the beginning of the riots across America? There have been at least 17 deaths (other sources have cited as many as 25) associated with rioting across America. How could any part of the Christian Worldview justify this kind of behavior? See also: Who Will Bear Ultimate Cost of Rioting?
Marxism, Postmodernism, and Critical Race Theory. (This is a longer read and gives informative background information into many of the issues facing America, SM). “Many protesting against prevalent injustices in American society are at the same time unclear about how the problems they are protesting can be solved. I don’t fault the protestors for this. It is as if they can sense there is just something evil “in the air” that simply has to go. So, they are appealing to the highest powers that they can think of (police, mayors, county councilmen, senators, governors, presidents, lobbyists) to do something radical—anything—to fix it, and quickly. What burdens my soul is that they seem to lack shepherds who can name that “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:3) who sows seeds of injustice beyond what any human law can prevent.”
ACU News. THE SAD NEWS OUT OF ABILENE, TEXAS the last few days is that Abilene Christian University, long associated with the churches of Christ, has now set up a Baptist Studies Center in their Graduate School of Theology to train and help in the placement of Baptist preachers. Such developments have been in the making for some time, and unfortunately ACU is not the only school among us affected by such an attitude. The history of formerly faithful schools is not a positive one, and it is only a matter of time until apostasy occurs with nearly all of them. Just one editorial comment: "ACU -- Gone With the Wind.” (Hugh Fulford, Facebook, June 17).
Tend Your Own Garden. “So today, I prayed for my neighbors and I prayed for my world. I know that today I won’t change the whole world, but I know that today I can love my kids and lead them toward Jesus. Today, I can love my wife well. And, today, that is a win.”

Trending Topics (June 16, 2020)

Old Wisdom for New Technology. “Social media creates a constant cultural narrative and debate that we often feel we must weigh in on ourselves…Before posting consider this old wisdom for new technology.” Sara J. Jones posted this needed observation on June 4 on Facebook: “I miss the old FB days when everyone’s posts were mostly about their family life and what they were doing and most everyone was pleasant to each other. FB these days seems to have become a place where people, even Christians, post their opinions and agendas and then take turns bashing each other for having them. FB used to be a fun and encouraging social thing where we kept up with friends and family. Not so much anymore. It has made me sad to see people, Christians in particular, being so judgmental and unkind to each other in FB threads that I’ve seen over the last few years and particularly the last few months. Have we forgotten that it’s by our love that we are to be known?”
Sermon by Melvin Otey at the Dalraida Church of Christ in Montgomery, AL on June 14th.
The Monument-Destroying Mobs Don’t Hate The Confederacy, They Hate America. “The mobs defacing and pulling down monuments across America have no limiting principle because their target is America itself.”
Ben Carson Reflects on the Death of George Floyd.
Seattle Occupiers’ Dangerous and Unconstitutional Demands.
The Monotony of the Wilderness: Are You Just Marking Time? “Writer Annie Dillard has said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” What you do this day matters whether it seems quite ordinary or not.”
Supreme Court: Employment Law Protects Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. “In the case of Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that employers who fire someone for being gay or transgender violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
A post on Facebook (June 12) by Sheila K. Butt: Talking to God this morning, I asked Him with a breaking heart, "How did our Country get here?"

But I already knew:
1) Silencing God from every public arena.
2) Destroying the traditional family.
3) Killing our unborn children.
4) Not having to work for food, shelter, basic needs.
5) Rampant materialism. Success tied to having the most, best "stuff."
6) "Dumbing down" our children from everything that made our Nation strong. (Would most young people even know what the Constitution says or how a Republic works?)
7) Video games, (many violent), "smart phones" by the age of 8-10 full of ungodly photos and information, and constant noise from a leftist, agenda driven media.
8) The "bullies" winning the day in most every arena of life.
9) No accountability or demand for the "rule of law" applied justly and fairly to everyone.
10) Loss of respect for authority of any kind.
We can't blame God for this. It's on us!
We have had our eyes closed, either by choice, distraction or intimidation.
The question now is, are we going to the logical end on this path of destruction or will we take a stand?

I don't see any easy way ahead. However, I know what God told the Israelites,
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

The same God is still on the throne. Christians in our Nation right now must unapologetically "stand in the gap," seek His face, pray fervently and not give up on teaching the truth at every opportunity, (which means getting off of our comfortable pews and teaching classes for our young people and getting out of our comfortable buildings into the world. There is no "retirement" from teaching God's Word).

Being a faithful Christian has been too "easy" for us and because of that, the next generation may be persecuted for saying that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!
Time is short . . . ⏳

Trending Topics (June 9, 2020)

The Left’s Normalization Of Collective Guilt Is Ripping America Apart. “All decent Americans stand against racism. But if we’re to live as brothers, we must stop indicting all those who share a skin tone for the sins of others.” See also: White Leftists Are Bringing Racism Under New Management. "As a response to old versions of racism, a new brand is taking over American culture. But the new racism is not better than the old racism. Two wrongs don’t make a right.” See: Black Lives Matter Has Become America’s Own ‘Cultural Revolution.’ “Today, we are watching similarly cultish scenes of white citizens singling themselves out by race and confessing their sins of “privilege,” taking oaths of allegiance, on their knees, to the new movement…The new “woke” culture demands prostration and self-effacement.”
The Myth of Systemic Police Racism by Heather Mac Donald.
Cops Are the Good Guys. A five-minute video by former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke. See also: Let’s Look At The Actual Facts About The Alleged Racism of Police.
One. We must careful not to disrupt the unity that exists in this blood-purchased body among brothers and sisters in Christ.
Be Courageous And Stand Firm, America—We Do Not Kneel. “Americans didn't kneel to British tyranny, Nazi fascism, or Soviet communism. We won't kneel for a collective guilt movement that's gone off the rails.” See also: Black Georgia State Trooper to Protesters: I Only Kneel for God. And this one: Outrage at Democrats Wearing Kente Cloth During Moment of Silence: ‘So Woke It Actually Feels Racist’
Are you ready for this? Minneapolis city council vows to dismantle the police department. ”Do you understand that the word, dismantle, or police-free also makes some people nervous, for instance?" Reporter Alisyn Camerota asked. "What if in the middle of [the] night, my home is broken into? Who do I call?” "I mean, I hear that loud and clear from a lot of my neighbors," Bender said. "And I know -- and myself, too, and I know that that comes from a place of privilege. Because for those of us for whom the system is working, I think we need to step back and imagine what it would feel like to already live in that reality where calling the police may mean more harm is done."
Charlotte, N.C.’s government (Mayor and City Council) is on a path to tie the hands of the police department, aligning themselves with the wishes of the left from around the country. Analysis | Defunding CMPD and reactions from city council. City Councilman, Braxton Winston, at large: “People who have been working on police reform and abolition will immediately recognize that tonight’s action does not do enough to end the systemic failures of policing in America and Charlotte. They would be correct to call this out. Those that are veterans to this work will also recognize that policing in America and in Charlotte is a carefully curated system embedded in racism, classism, sexism, homophobia and reduces human nature to a binary – legal versus illegal – when human needs exist on a spectrum…“This step alone is not good enough. Tomorrow morning starts the real work of reform.” “This is what democracy looks like.’
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that." The Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community ©1967, page 62 [reading from Beacon Press paperback edition].

Trending Topics (June 2, 2020)

The death of George Floyd and the riots, looting, violence, death, and destruction that has followed has saddened and shocked our nation.

- “Nobody Justifies George Floyd’s Death: Here’s something I know, and I’m gonna repeat this. Folks, there is not a single person in this country, regardless of race or political affiliation, who did not think that the nine minutes of video of a policeman’s knee on the neck of George Floyd was absolutely horrifying. There’s not a single person I know who wasn’t profoundly angry and affected by this” (Rush Limbaugh, June 1, 2020).
- As you pray for our nation, keep the following passages in mind:
  - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [a]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:26-27).
  - And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings (Acts 17:26).
  - You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).

The Post-Christian Age and the Gospel of Truth. A short piece by R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Turning the Other Cheek. “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” is a popular verse in movies, books, and songs concerned with revenge. That, however, misreads the law’s intent. This law was not designed as a means to seek private vengeance or vigilante justice fueled with hatred.
The Legacy of Simon the Cyrenian.
Why Did the ‘Liberal Leaning’ Media Turn Even Further to the Left? An Important Article from the Former President of CBS News. Good background information that will help to see why we are where we are today. More related material here.
Our leaders have dithered and lied about the riots as the nation goes up in flames. An opinion piece by Tucker Carlson. A longer read but worth the time given the many overviews of the current situation in our nation.
Let us be careful about what we say on social media that involves statements of judgement against our brothers and sisters in Christ: “Posting on social media about a terribly unjust recent event doesn’t make you an activist. Not posting about it doesn’t make you a racist or a coward. EDIT: To clarify, for some people, social media reflects a large portion of their real life/attitudes/feelings/etc. For others, it’s really only a place to share happy pics of kids and food. So whether you post, or chose not to, go out and love like Jesus does” (John Jones, Facebook).
The Devil's Best Tool: A short video devotional by Chad Landman.

Trending Topics (May 26, 2020)

Sell Yourself Short: The Rare Joy of Christian Humility.
The Nightmare That Colleges Face This Fall. “University presidents are scrambling for answers on everything from on-campus housing to revenue-generating sports.”
Why We Don’t See Church as ‘Essential.’ “Even as we respect government guidelines and think prudently about reopening our churches, it’s worth considering how the casually applied term “non-essential” diminishes the stature of the church’s place in the world.”
The Coming Pastoral Crash. “The impact of the world response to COVID-19 will be felt for many years to come. It will be felt in every career field and in every home. This post does not diminish the hard work and adjustments being done by first responders, law enforcement, health care workers, and the educational structures. But from my perspective, those who serve in ministry are, in my thinking, in particular danger for several reasons.”
Anderson Cooper and the New Normal. “Why Surrogacy Is Oppression.”
FBN’s Payne: ‘Joe Biden Demeans Black Voters with His Simplistic Campaign Slogan.’
Coronavirus Could Kill Consumer Christianity.
How Social Media Worsens Theological Divides. “…the age of instant communication has transformed the way that we express our disagreements—and not always in a good way.”
"Have you read all the books in your library”? From the Stacks 5-minute video.

Trending Topics (May 19, 2020)

Dennis Prager Shreds the Coronavirus Lockdown. Under three minutes viewing time…
Covid-19: What Are You Learning From That? Jerri Barber shares some interesting observations about the “Covid-19 interruption.”
A Christian Marriage: What Is Not and Should Be Unique?
How to Avoid Confusion with Clear Communication by Michael Hyatt.
Will Americans Submit to a Second Lockdown?
Barber Loses License for Violating Gretchen Whitmer’s Lockdown, Abortion Clinics Can Still Kill Babies.
Perspective. “God did not design the world as a place of pain and misery, though He can use suffering for good.”

Trending Topics (May 12, 2020)

Trending Topics (May 5, 2020)

3 Ways to Keep Social Media from Stealing Your Joy. “Here’s a happy goal to pray for: that more Christians would be recognizable on social media by the wisdom that James describes: “peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).
Our Dress Rehearsal for a Police State.
HOW ECCLESIASTES WILL HELP US EMERGE FROM QUARANTINE.
The End of ‘Believe All Women.’ Also, read or listen to Albert Mohler: PART I Life—And Politics—Goes on: Joe Biden Picks Up Endorsements from Key Democratic Women as Heat Turns Up on Sexual Assault Allegation.
10 Keys to Solving Marriage Conflict in Quarantine.
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE POST-CORONAVIRUS WORLD AND CHURCH by Hugh Fulford.

Trending Topics (April 28, 2020)

Harvard Law School Calls for Ban on Homeschooling; Homeschooled Harvard Graduate On Why This is Wrong. See also: Homeschooling in the Crosshairs—Harvard Magazine Says Homeschooling Families Are a Threat to Democracy.
The Left’s Long War on Parents Over Schooling Their Kids.
Nothing Novel About Communist China’s Coronavirus Lies.
The Generation That Faced Hunger, Polio, and War Would Be Ashamed.
College Campuses Must Reopen in the Fall. Here’s How We Do It. See also: The Coming Storm for Christian Higher Education. Albert Mohler: “The coronavirus just collapsed a decade of institutional strategy and planning to a matter of weeks. The stress test tremors we all saw coming has become an earthquake.” See his article: Higher Education and the COVID-19 Crisis: The Determination of Southern Seminary and Boyce College In the Present Hour.
Can We Disinfect the Media? Bleaching Out the Truth on Trump and COVID-19.
It’s Not Often in Life You Get a Do-Over (So Take the Do-Over!). “Life is like a basement.”

Trending Topics (April 21, 2020)

Infographic: How Do You Read the Bible?
Do We Really Want to Go Back to Normal? “Here’s a question that keeps coming up in conversation and online: when will things go back to normal?”
Trophies Are for Winning by Cobi Jones. Former Olympian and LA Galaxy soccer star Cobi Jones shares his thoughts.
Justice Clarence Thomas: Roe v. Wade Ruling Allowing Abortion on Demand Was an “Incorrect Decision.” “Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has once again gone on record stating that the Roe v. Wade ruling from 1973 that allowed virtually unlimited abortions should be overturned.”
Tim Keller: 6 Principles for How to Argue When You Disagree. “On the one hand, we must realize that if we are going to maintain a healthy movement over time, we have to engage in direct discussion about any doctrinal errors we perceive. On the other hand, we must engage in such a way that we show great respect for the other party and aim to persuade them, not just punish them.”
The Best Book Organizing Method Is to Not Organize Them. Not sure I agree but it does have some merits:)

Trending Topics (April 14, 2020)

The No. 1 Mistake Leaders Make in Crisis. Much wisdom is found in this post that also applies to leadership in the church. “During a crisis, leaders tend to hyperfocus on managing the threat and neglect long-range thinking. That’s a mistake because vision is critical both for evaluating short-term decisions and for creating a better future.”
The Handshake: a Eulogy. “Coronavirus may have killed the handshake forever.”
Memphis lawmaker says he was ousted because he refused to be ‘brainless idiot’ for Democratic Party. Longtime Memphis lawmaker DeBerry removed from Democratic ballot by state party. Sheila Butt has stated: “I respect and admire John DeBerry greatly! He was my colleague and dear friend for 8 years in the Tennessee General Assembly where he served honorably for 26 years. Today the TN Democratic Party "de-bonefied" him as a Democrat because he voted his Christian conscience and not in "lock-step" with their baby-killing agenda. I have had and do have many good friends who are Democrats, however, the current Democratic Party has no room for anyone who dares vote "pro-life" or does not dutifully follow their left-wing agenda! This is a travesty” (Facebook post, April 8). See also: Democrat Party Kicks Out 26-Year State Legislator Because He’s Pro-Life on Abortion.
10 Concise Pieces of Evidence for the Resurrection.
How the Virus Transformed the Way Americans Spend Their Money.
Routines When Everything is Not Routine. "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15–16 (ESV).

Trending Topics (April 7, 2020)

How Capitalism Is Helping US Defeat COVID-19. “In times of crisis, Americans don’t look just to the government to save the day.”
The News Media Needs to Be Saved, Especially From Itself. “The media, especially newspapers, are in trouble.”
What Everyone’s Getting Wrong About the Toilet Paper Shortage. Probably more than you wanted to know about this subject:)
How To Love Your Neighbor During The Pandemic. A short 2-minute video.
10 Church Members God Especially Calls Me To Love. This is amazingly relatable to most preachers who have served any length of time anywhere.
Reading in Exile: Books by C.S. Lewis. Russell Moore talks in this video “about the writings of C.S. Lewis, where you might begin reading his work, and share some thoughts about why his books were significant.” See also: What a Great Time to Read! “ Instead of passively streaming more hours of movies and shows, actively read more during this season.”
Bonus: 9 Ways to Work Efficiently from Home. “I don’t know if these claims are true. But what if this strange period of time—slowing us down, focusing us in—gave way to greater productivity, innovation, or even spiritual revival?”

Trending Topics (March 31, 2020)

An Opportunity For Review. “One of the fringe benefits of the Covid-19 lock down for the church will be when we come back together and are able to start meeting again. We now have the ability to ask some important questions.”
Locked Down Alone. “Across the globe, people everywhere are staying at home with their families and trying to find a new normal behind closed doors (while trying not to drive each other crazy)!”
What Christians can learn about ethics from COVID-19. Do We Sacrifice The Economy To Save Human Lives Or Do We Sacrifice Human Lives To Save The Economy? “The dilemma as presented can be stated in this way: Is it more important to preserve life or preserve economic vibrancy? Do we sacrifice the economy to save human lives or do we sacrifice human lives to save the economy?”
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell makes some powerful suggestions that align with the Christian Worldview…Video.
Should You Disinfect Your Phone? Here’s How. “The CDC now recommends that you clean and disinfect “frequently touched surfaces” daily, including phones, desks, and keyboards.”
What Will the New Normal Look Like? “So how do these lockdowns end, and under what circumstances do we once again confidently emerge into society, gather in crowds, and reduce all this social distancing?”
This last one is from Dale Jenkins shared on his Facebook page: One of our Shepherds at Spring Meadows Church of Christ sent this today as the devotional of the day (our elders are taking turns sending out encouraging devotionals every day right now). This one, from Scott Ford is one YOU ALL ought to read and jump on for tomorrow!

A long time ago in a land faraway I played baseball in college. My primary pitch was a two-seam fastball, and my secondary pitch was a split-finger fastball. In the Fall of 1986 I began to struggle throwing strikes, getting batters out and to quote that great philosopher Merle Haggard, I began to wonder, “Are the good times really over for good?”

The time I’m remembering now was a game against Tennessee State. I had just walked the first three batters of the inning. From the mound I hear, “Time, Blue”, and out of the dugout Coach began his slow but steady stroll to the mound. I remember thinking: this is it, not only is he going to take me out of the game, he’s probably going to pull my scholarship and tell me to move out of the dorm by the end of the week. When he got to the mound he looked off into centerfield and said, “Ford, you gotta quit throwing your secondary pitch so much. Trust your two-seamer and quit fooling around with that other mess.” He took a deep breath, looked me in the eye, smiled and slowly made his way back to the dugout.

Looking at social media I wonder how much time we spend focusing on our secondary pitch?

Are people more likely to know your political preference than your favorite passage from the Bible?

Are they more likely to know your favorite team than the favorite work of your church?

Do they know your favorite movie but nothing about a message that resonated from Sunday’s sermon?

Out of curiosity, look at the last 30 days of your social media posts. What would the world say is your primary pitch?

1 Cor 15:3-4 - 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

Here’s a challenge.

For the next 24 hours let’s show the world what’s of first importance to us as Christians.

What do I mean?

Don’t post anything that’s your secondary pitch (politics, sports, movies, trips, etc)

Instead:

Post your favorite verse and why it means something to you.

Share a link to a sermon that made an impact on you.

Highlight a ministry of your church.

Share why your church is special to you.

Share a link to a song that inspires you.

Post the GOOD NEWS of Romans 8:1.

Let’s spend a day where we’re not, “fooling around with that other mess.”

If you get a chance, listen to The Heart of Worship by Matt Redman today.
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus

Let’s spend the day letting the world see our primary pitch.

Trending Topics (March 24, 2020)

How a “You do You” Culture Has Made Us Vulnerable to the Coronavirus. ““You do you” embodies our culture’s commitment to personal fulfillment, self-actualization, and the dismissal of any truth claims outside of the self. It means we get to create our own realities, our own right and wrong, and, perhaps most importantly, our own meaning.”
Is Your Child Getting Enough Vitamin N? “If you're a parent, is your child getting enough Vitamin N? It may be the most important thing you can give them. But what exactly does Vitamin N do?” A 5-minute video by John Rosemond. This short presentation “hits the nail on the head” when it comes to overindulging children. A must watch!
A Closer Look at the Elements of the Lord’s Supper. “The biblical elements of the Lord’s Supper are generally understood to be “unleavened bread,” representing the crucified body of Jesus, and “the fruit of the vine,” symbolizing his shed blood (Matt. 26:17, 28-29; Mark 14:12, 25; Luke 22:18). To properly observe this sacred memorial, is it necessary to know what the bread is made of and what exactly is the fruit of the vine?”
What Hasn’t Changed During a Global Pandemic. “There is no doubt that a lot has changed in the last few weeks. The invisible virus has brought visible change…”
Are We Disobeying Hebrews 10:25 by Cancelling Services Because of Covid-19?
No Meat or Potatoes, But the Candy Aisle Is Full. “What we need most is meat-and-potatoes Christianity. We need sustenance that will get us through the trial. We need churches that remind us of the fundamental truths we so easily ignore.”
The End of Pro-Life Democrats. “With the elimination of Congressman Dan Lipinski, the Democratic Party is now almost entirely pro-abortion.”
God Be with Us till We Meet Again. “How should Christians think through the orders coming from government and the instructions from health authorities regarding gathered assemblies? Churches have been told to not meet together. How long will this go on? What does this mean theologically for Christians?”
How the Virus Got Out. John Hopkins COVID-19 Status Page. Via Chad Landman blog.

Trending Topics (March 17, 2020)

The Humbling of Civilization: Praying for the Mercy of God by Albert Mohler. "An unforeseen global crisis forces the entire world to learn a new vocabulary, set of habits, set of rules, and a new set of expectations—all of this by a tiny, invisible coronavirus known as COVID-19.”
8 Things the Coronavirus Should Teach Us. “How are we, as Christians, to respond to such a crisis? Answer: with faith not fear. We are to look into the eye of the storm and ask, “Lord, what are you wanting me to learn through this? How are you seeking to change me?” Here are eight things we’d all do well to learn, or relearn, from this coronavirus scare.
He Has 17,700 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer and Nowhere to Sell... and also see the updated story…Men who hoarded over 17,000 hand sanitizer bottles donate stockpile amid price-gouging probe.
Five ways to lead your kids to ditch the church. “A recent study by LifeWay revealed that the dropout rate for young adults leaving the church in the US currently stands at about 70%. That is in line with where the figure has, apparently, been for a while. The church does not have a brilliant retention rate.”
Should Churches Submit to Government Demands to Shut Down Services? "In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, various governing authorities have called for the cessation of public gatherings, including church gatherings.”
The Intolerance of Tolerance by Greg Koukl. “What does it mean to be tolerant? The dictionary defines tolerance as respect for opinions, beliefs, and practices that differ from your own. But in our polarized cultural climate, it has come to mean something else entirely. Greg Koukl, president of Stand to Reason and author of Tactics, sorts it all out.”

Trending Topics (March 10, 2020)

Coronavirus Q & A. Dr. Stephen Beeson, Cynthiana KY, shares information
Nashville Tornado Victims Shout ‘Amen!’ and Applaud Donald Trump Speech. “President Donald Trump met with victims and families on Friday in Tennessee after a series of tornadoes hit Nashville and surrounding towns.”
The Culture of Death Reclaims Ground in Germany: A Renewed Threat to Human Life by Albert Mohler. “The culture of death continues to advance across western civilization—most recently in the nation of Germany, where the country’s highest court overturned a legislative ban on euthanasia.”
Cheating: The Real American Pastime. “Fallout from Major League Baseball’s latest cheating scandal is littering the nation’s landscape like a sudden explosion from a corked bat, and many of us are expressing shock. We shouldn’t be surprised, of course, because America’s real pastime is cheating.”
Socialism on the March in America: How Should Christians Respond? “Christians in the United States should not underestimate the potential consequences of the present, national fascination with socialism.”
The Shame of Chuck Schumer. “Just when you may have thought that the low quality of political rhetoric in Washington could not get any worse, along comes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to prove otherwise.”

Trending Topics (March 3, 2020)

Death toll rises to 22 across four counties after tornadoes hit Nashville, Middle Tennessee. “Last night was a reminder about how fragile life is,” Nashville Mayor John Cooper said at a Tuesday morning news conference.” Photos: Tornado slams Nashville overnight, causing widespread damage. (Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by last night’s tornados and storms in Nashville and Middle Tennessee).
Why Are so Many Young People Unhappy? A short video by Dennis Prager you can watch in under 6 minutes. Very insightful.
Husbands, 8 Admonitions to Love Your Wife. “When God says, “Husbands, love your wives,” he speaks of the woman as a complex being. He calls every man to love his whole wife just as every man loves his whole self (Eph. 5:29). This means that a husband must do all he can to understand his wife’s world. What follows are eight admonitions to love our wives with respect to their various facets.”
Four Lies That Keep Us from Prayer. “Consider…four lies that hide behind our prayerlessness, and how the Lord Jesus exposes each of them.
Tremper Longman on the Use & Abuse of Commentaries. Some interesting observations.
10 Marital "Nevers" for Couples. “For an outsider looking in, it appears that after 17 years together, Matt Chandler and his wife, Lauren, must have it all figured out—no issues, perfect contentment and constant agreement on everything. Well, not exactly.”
How our culture gives a free pass to socialism’s hideous downsides. “Pundits have recently argued that younger voters are less inclined to be bothered when they hear the word “socialism,” since they have no firsthand memory of the Cold War.”

Trending Topics (February 25, 2020)

Climate Change and the Bible: Top Four Biblical Reasons Not to Panic About Climate Change.
Just a Misunderstanding. A post by Neil Richey. “Have you ever been misunderstood? Perhaps it was a misunderstanding that led to you being falsely accused. Such happened to one of the great Old Testament prophets—Jeremiah.”
California Teachers Union Wants Kids to Pursue Gender Transition Without Parental Consent. “Even in California, you have to be 18 to get a tattoo, 16 to drive a car, 21 to buy a gun, alcohol, or pot. But if you want to change your gender? Well, then, you just have to be 12. And your public school will be more than happy to help.”
Saving Babies’ Lives More Important Than Winning Sports Titles, Tim Tebow Says. “Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow says he prefers to be remembered for saving babies from abortion than for winning college football’s Bowl Championship Series.”
Ministry Tools. Chad Landman shared his expertise through many tech recommendations at the Freed-Hardeman University Lectures earlier this month. I highly recommend Chad and the many good works he is involved in.
Overwhelmed is a choice by Seth Godin.

Trending Topics (February 18, 2020)

Tucker: The Terrifying Evolution of the Left (Youtube). You need to watch this 10 minute video. Keep in mind that everyone has a worldview and Tucker Carlson gives a lot of food for thought.
3 Ways Busyness Hurts People and Churches. “When we say “no” to busyness, we are saying “yes” to what is most important.”
10 Ways Porn Culture Will Target Your Kids in 2020 (Be Prepared, Not Scared!). (Here are TEN things to look out for this year as you raise kids in a hypersexualized porn culture AND what you can do about it!”
Biologists in WSJ: Only Two Sexes, Male and Female, There is No Sex ‘Spectrum.’ “In a powerful commentary in the Feb. 3 edition of The Wall Street Journal, biologists Colin Wright and Emma Hilton explain that, scientifically, there are only two sexes, male and female, and there is no sex "spectrum."
People See, People Do: Leaders Affect Organizational Culture (Whether They Like it Or Not). A post by Michael Hyatt.
Why You Need to Purge and Prune. “Purging is pruning. It’s cutting back, removing that which should be eliminated.”

Trending Topics (February 11, 2020)

The age of celebrity is dead. “The internet has killed the Hollywood star. Fame has been disrupted.”
Caffeine has been a boon for civilization, Michael Pollan says. But it has come at a cost. Interesting study for those of us who love coffee.
Why Impeachment Failed. “Trump’s opponents have a habit of covering up their own shortcomings with false accusations against their political opponents. That tendency doomed impeachment — and is undermining the democratic process.”
The Era of Limbaugh. “No media figure since Buckley has had a more lasting influence on American conservatism than Limbaugh, whose cumulative weekly audience is more than 20 million people.”
Global Warming's 50 Years of Fraud. “Humans can’t control the temperature of the sun, tilt of the sun, solar activity, distance the Earth is from the sun, daily rotation of the Earth, annual orbit of the Earth, high tides, low tides, the Jetstream, El Nino, or La Nina but we are told that if we give politicians and bureaucrats trillions of dollars they can control the sea level, temperature and sea levels forever. Does that make sense?”
Half of US Churches Now Enlist Armed Security. “Since 2000, 19 fatal shootings have taken place at Christian churches, while gunmen have also taken lives at other religious sites like Jewish synagogues, a Sikh temple and an Amish school.”

Be Discerning

Discernment: “To separate (a thing) mentally from another or others; recognize as separate or different.

[Featuring links to articles, studies, research, and materials relating to topics in our world from a Christian Worldview]
Discernment: “To separate (a thing) mentally from another or others; recognize as separate or different.”[i] As a Christian, we are to differentiate between good and evil. We are to “test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Randy Alcorn has observed: “Unfortunately, increasingly few people these days are well grounded in God’s Word. Not many have both the biblical knowledge and the discernment to filter out the bad while embracing the good.”[ii]

We have biblical examples to teach us to be responsible hearers. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Among the many noble traits from the Bereans; notice two.

The first is that they were open to learning. This is the gateway to growth in our knowledge and lives. Received: “a deliberate & eager reception: a welcoming or an appropriating reception. Eagerness: “forward mind; eagerness: rushing forward- almost like stretching the mind forward: i.e., anxious to learn.

“Being open to learning must be coupled with the second observation of the Bereans: They examined or tested everything they heard with the Scriptures. Searched/examined: to sift up & down, make careful & exact research as in legal processes. The Bereans were scholarly, being very thorough in understanding and studying the Scriptures. Their example has major implications for us in processing the information that we are exposed to every day. The Bereans were not going to take Paul’s word for it, even though he was an inspired apostle. We must check the standard, God’s Word, and allow it to be the final voice on the matter.

“Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments” (Psalm 119:66, ESV). The idea here is “the use of taste buds to distinguish and enjoy flavor.”[iii] This can be further developed in Hebrews 5:12-14: “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14). The meaning here is “of the ability to make moral decisions.”[iv] Knowing and utilizing the Scriptures in our daily lives gives us the objective standard needed to distinguish between right and wrong.

“The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning” (Proverbs 14:6, NIV). “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes” (Psalm 119:125). These Scriptures highlight the need for discernment when we listen and when we read.

The “Trending Topics” page of this blog will contain links to articles, studies, research, news items, culture issues, and commentary on subjects relating to topics in our world from a Christian Worldview that can help us in understanding the times in which we live.

The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors quoted in the articles, studies, links, Advertisements and blogs provided herein do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of stevemillerworldview.com. Remember to be like the Bereans and examine “the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Steve Miller

[i] Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 409.
[ii] http://www.epm.org/blog/2017/Feb/20/shack-movie-book-discernment.
[iii] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
[iv] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 29.

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Be Discerning