Kindness

This week has been such an amazing week, dear ones, and I’m so thankful for the ability to share it with you all. First, I just want to let you all know that the homeschooling update, and lessons I create, will be posted on Mondays now. Saturday will be a day without a post, unless something urgently needs to be mentioned. I’ll be putting together a list of all the homeschooling lessons that I’ve done, and hopefully that will be ready by Monday.

A while back Kayliegh was playing with some toys while her father and I looked at the isle of clothes one row over. There was another little girl there playing, and somehow they began to talk about faith. Kayliegh walked her through the meaning of the Trinity, and the Good Person test she had learned from watching LivingWaters material. After that, she shared the Gospel. My husband and I heard every word from between the clothing racks, hardly able to hold back the tears. As an encouragement, I sent this information to LivingWaters and was told they would let Ray know. Not long after Ray Comfort sent a note that he would be sending Kayliegh a small gift. Small gift? She couldn’t believe her ears. She jumped and told me how she hoped it was a book.

Well, it was three books, signed by Ray, a note to Kayliegh, a hat, and subway gift cards. What kind of kindness is this? I know that this group of individuals are incredibly busy, pumping out as much material to edify the body and reach the lost. And yet, for an 8-year-Old little girl they took time, effort, and money, to bless and encourage her. This is so far removed from the Prosperity Gospel I spent over a decade in. While big names authors buy multiple mansions, and make merchandise off of professing Christians, Ray Comfort and LivingWaters break the mold.

They will know us by our fruit. Not all of us can do what Ray does, but we can all be exceedingly kind. Encourage one another this weekend, love the body of Christ through service, prayer, and fellowship. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

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Friday Mega List: Recommendation, Review, and Suggestions – August 30th, 2019

Hello, dear ones, I hope this post finds you all doing well. Monday on AfterThought, Lord willing, I’ll be dropping an episode interviewing Zack Knotts regarding his new book Majesty Sunrise. During this episode Zack details his testimony, how he came out of the Word of Faith movement, how he came to know and love the beautiful Lindsey Davis, and why he chose to write a book of Biblically led poetry. He even reads one of his poems during the episode, which will be a blessing to listeners as it was very moving. Thursday I’ll be dropping my latest episode co-hosted by Becca.Berean where we discuss the history, and religious rituals of yoga. We get deep into the meaning of poses, and chants, with Becca sprinkling the episode with Scriptural truth.

Replacing recommendations this week, I need to offer a public apology. After a beloved brother in Christ sent me some information about Dr. Don Whitney’s connection to Catholic mystics and contemplative prayer advocates, I pulled my interview with him. If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, you can read about it here, here, and here. While I do believe that Dr. Whitney is genuine, I can’t promote someone so closely tied to dangerous practices. I hope you will all accept my sincere apology for not properly vetting the authors I bring on. In the future, I will be far more careful.

For reviews today I have a new trailer for you all from one of my favorite podcasts Cave to Cross Apologetics. This trailer is for their upcoming interview, which you can watch here. Also, I want to recommend Nancy Pearcey’s book Love Thy Body. This book is very helpful to understand the culture we live in today from the Biblical perspective. You can find it here. As this deals with issues of sexuality, it is not a book for young readers. I wouldn’t suggest this book for believers younger then 18. It’s not an inappropriate book, but it does deal with serious sin.

My suggestion today, friends, is that we join together in praying for Florida. Many brothers and sisters in Christ will face this hurricane, some have already evacuated. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

AfterThought Episode 13 – Interview with Dr. Jason Lisle: The Ultimate Proof of Creation

I had the absolute honor to speak to one of my favorite scientists, and hero’s in the faith, astrophysicists and apologist Dr. Jason Lisle regarding his book The Ultimate Proof of Creation. Dr. Lisle’s book is available on Amazon here. During our interview, Dr. Lisle also discussed his next book, an upcoming project on Flat Earthism, and answers a question for Kayleigh. I hope that this interview helps create an interest in apologetics and science.

You can find AfterThought at Podbean, iTunes, and all other major carriers by following this link. That link will also connect you with all my social media accounts. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Live Footage of my Conversion

Becca.Berean and I are recording an important episode today on yoga, which has required a lot of research. Since I didn’t have a testimony to share with you all today, and since there has been so many new followers lately, I thought I’d share my own. Along with a funny little gif I made this morning.

You can read my testimony here, and listen to it here. Beloved, from my research into yoga, it’s even worse then I previously thought. It’s not just that the practice itself originated in Hindu religion, it’s that the entire thing is worship to their gods. The episode will dig deep into this dangerous topic, but I wanted to include a warning this morning as well. Please do not practice yoga, stretch or do Pilates instead. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Twisted Tuesday – Justice Socialized: Reparations

Last week, dear ones, we began a new series on the Social Justice movement. In the introduction, which you can read here, I listed some imperative definitions for this discussion. If you’ve not yet read it, I would suggest you start there first. Today we’re going to be talking about the roots of this movement as it pertains to the church. While the political end of this movement is concerning, it’s not my main concern. My deepening fear is that this movement has so well branded itself as one seeking to right wrongs that believers jump on the band wagon and sign the dotted line before reading the fine print. This is still a Twisted Tuesday, so we’re going to address this as we work through verses they use out of context. Today, it’s Isaiah 1:17.

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I’m actually surprised that this would be a verse used by the self labeled Social Justice Warriors, as they in no way intend on aiding orphans or widows. They just enjoy the word justice being involved in this text. In Isaiah 1:17 the noun translated as justice here, and translated as judgement in other translations, is mishpat. Mishpat is a masculine noun meaning to pronounce a verdict judicially. What we need to decide here is whether or not the meaning of injustice to God is the same as it is to the SJW’s. Likewise, is the means of justice the same? If these two are not the same, then this verse is not being used in proper context when quoted by those in the SJ movement.

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Throughout the next few weeks I’m going to show why these two points are not in agreement with Scripture, using the verses they take out of context. Today I offer you, as evidence that Gods idea of injustice and justice are not the same, the idea of reparations. Reparations, in and of itself, is not bad. If I take your hat, it’s appropriate for me to be forced to give you back your hat and make amends for the time and effort you spent searching for the hat. If that was what SJW’s were asking, they’d be inline with Scripture. Instead, they are asking individuals to pay other individuals for acts that may or may not have taken place within their ancestral lineage. Reparations are not only considered financially, but also emotionally. You must feel bad for having been born a different color then someone else.

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Not only does this unbiblically separate us from one another based on the amount of melanin in our skin, it also requires certain believers to pay for something they did not do. That is, in and of itself, injustice in Gods eyes, not justice (Duet. 24:16, Ezekiel 18:19-20). This shows, clearly, that the SJ movement is misusing Gods Word, calling what is good, evil, and what is evil, good. Unfortunately, the church often desires the adoration of the world, and jumps at opportunities to join worldly pursuits guised as morally good.

This is a dangerous movement taking over churches of both liberal and conservative persuasion. Once in, it breeds disunity between brothers in Christ by separating them into groups of with differing victim status. They use Critical Race Theory to do so, which we will be discussing next week. I ask that you would please pray for me, beloved, as I write about this topic. The reading material for this series is deeply troubling. I also ask, friends, that you would pray for the leadership in your churches so that they will stand firm against this infiltration. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

AfterThought Episode 12: Deadly Doctrines – Co-Hosted by Becca.Berean

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Today, dear ones, I dropped the 12th episode of AfterThought. This time, as promised, I’m joined by Becca the Meme Master Berean. We discussed growing up in the Word of Faith movement, her involvement in Bethel/Hillsong type churches and schools, and why their teaching is so dangerous. Becca graciously shares her desire to see those who are lost and hurting within this movement saved out of it.

I pray that this episode will be a blessing to you all. Please join me in praying for Becca’s family as she lovingly shares truth with them. You can find this episode at my host site Podbean, iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. If you’re enjoying the podcast please like, comment, subscribe, and share to help get the word out. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Sunday Hymns from the Past – Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands: by Charles Spurgeon

This beautiful hymn was written by the Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon. I hope that it blesses you as much as it has blessed me.

Amidst us our Beloved stands,
and bids us view His pierced hands;
points to the wounded feet and side,
blest emblems of the Crucified.

What food luxurious loads the board,
when, at His table, sits the Lord!
The cup how rich, the bread how sweet,
when Jesus deigns the guests to meet!

If now, with eyes defiled and dim,
we see the signs, but see not Him;
O may His love the scales displace,
and bid us see Him face to face!

Our former transports we recount,
when with Him in the holy mount:
these cause our souls to thirst anew
His marred but lovely face to view.

Friday Mega List – Recommendations, Reviews, and Suggestions: August 23rd, 2019

Hello, dear ones, and welcome to this weeks Mega List! Let’s begin with an update of what’s coming on AfterThought next week. Lord willing, Monday I’ll be dropping an episode co-hosted by Instagrammer Becca.Berean whom I affectionately call the Meme Master. We discuss how she was saved out of the Word of Faith movement and what the dangers are within it. Her story gives God the glory, and edifies the listener. On Thursday, I’ll be dropping my interview with Dr. Jason Lisle where we discuss his book The Ultimate Proof for Creation. He gave his testimony, discussed Dr. Bahnsen, presuppositional apologetics, and briefly touches on multiple other topics such as, flat earthism, black holes, and his newest book that he’s currently working on.

On to recommendations! Our brother in the faith, SlimJim, has blessed us with three clips of teaching on trusting the Old Testaments accuracy. You can listen to them here. I’m going to be using his material, and lessons, to create homeschool lessons. Cultish, an Apologia podcast, recently dropped a three part series on Bethel and the New Age. You can list to part one here, part two here, and part three here.

For reviews, today, I want to discuss Costi Hinns book God, Greed, and the Prosperity Gospel. This book was published July, 2019 by Zondervan. Costi Hinn is Benny Hinns nephew, and in this book he details what his life was like within the Prosperity Gospel, why he left, how he was saved, and why it’s important that this movement is rebuked. I’m so thankful to Cost for writing this book, the honesty within shows humility, repentance, and love for those lost inside this movement. I had some audible credits, so I used them to purchase this and a few other books. Costi reads the audiobook Himself, which gives it a real personal touch! You can also find it in kindle, and paper back.

My suggestion to you for this weekend is to read a book, a physical book. I picked up a book the other day, I almost always read kindle or listen to audio, and it was so foreign to read a physical book. Even if it’s just a few chapters, remind yourself what it was life before books were digital. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Wednesday Testimony – Becca “the Meme Master” Berean

Today, dear ones, I’d like to share with you the testimony of a sister in Christ I met through Instagram. I’ve previously referenced her on last Friday’s Mega List. She shared her testimony with me, and graciously agreed to co-host an episode regarding Word of Faith. She’s going to be joining me again, and Lord willing you’ll be hearing a lot from her in the future. Today I’m going to be summarizing her testimony for you, as we talked over Instagram messenger which doesn’t translate so well into WordPress.

Becca was raised in charismatic churches, eventually progressing to NAR types in her teens. She believed in the power of her words, and thoughts, and even that the New Age movement had taken their practices from Christianity. In our episode, dropping next week, she gets into dream interpretations and more. She met, and married, a man who was involved in worship. During that time, she fell ill, and was at times unable to drive or leave her home. In response to her pain, a church member told her that she was not seeing healing because she was not coming to church. It was clear to her, at that point, that this person was not giving her a word from God.

One day she stumbled upon Justin Peter’s Clouds Without Water seminar. Particularly, she landed on the Hurt of Healing. At the end, brother Peters gives a Gospel presentation. She had never heard the Gospel presented in that way, she was convicted of her sin, repented, and was saved by the grace of God. That was two years ago. Her and her husband had been attending Hillsong colleges, which are not accredited. They’ve had to start over, walking away from the life they lived within the WoF movement. Why gain the whole world, and lose your soul? Becca and her husband have made a tremendous profit, to leave the worldly, and gain eternity.

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If you are reading this, and you love your sin, the secret sin, please know that the wages of sin is death. We will all stand before the thrice holy God of the universe, and answer for every thought and deed. If that does not cause you to tremble then you either do not understand God’s righteousness, or you do not understand your sinfulness. No man is righteous, none seeks after God, none does right, no not one. Every sin will be punished, either you will face that punishment for all eternity, or Jesus Christ Himself bore your sin and death. You see, my friends, we owe a debt we can not pay, so He paid a debt He didn’t owe. Jesus Christ, God the Son, entered His creation, lived a perfect sinless life, and died in the place of all those who repent and put their faith in Him. Work through your salvation with fear and trembling. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

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Twisted Tuesday – Justice Socialized: Introduction

While the title of this new series, beloved, is meant as a play-on-words the topic is very serious. The infiltration of Social Justice within doctrinally sound churches has been as shocking as it is sobering. While it’s long been preached from liberal pulpits, and many pragmatic teachers had adopted the language, it was those whose Biblical stands in the past had been uncompromising, which I was surprised to see using this language. Due to this, and the sinfully hate-filled push back on social media from those who call themselves Social Justice Warriors as well as professing Christians, I’m going to spend a few Twisted Tuesday’s talking about the subject. Unfortunately, this movement does indeed twist Scripture.

This is not surprising, as socialists throughout the 20th century often used Gods Word to justify themselves. Never in proper context, of course, but frequently mingled in with other quotes you’d hear varies Verses twisted in. I’ve discussed Social Justice in the past, warning about the dangers therein. However, it was brief, as I had assumed the movement would be utterly rejected by believers. Since then, it has been accepted by many hook, line, and sinker. It brought along all of its friends, as well, and now troubles the youth of our churches, who already face a myriad of evolutionary, and societal push back at school.

This is, per my usual series style, just an introduction. However, I wanted to, in the very least, give some definitions and an urgent warning. First, the latter. Beloved, do not ignore this. Address it. Even if it’s never been mentioned in your church, address it. Refute it, before it can even make headway. You might not, yet, hear it taught in the pulpit, in group meetings, or Sunday school, but those brothers and sisters your sitting next to are hearing it everywhere. They may not even realize what they’re hearing is Social Justice jargon. Perhaps some of their favorite preachers and teachers to listen to during the week are slipping, or down right diving, into this ditch. It might be subtle, but once the dam breaks rerouting the flood is very difficult. If you’ve not already done so, discuss this with your teens, and preteens, and youth groups.

What is Social Justice? The dictionary defines it in this way “justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.” Currently, this is viewed through the lenses of Critical Race Theory. The definition of CRT, or Critical Race Theory, is “the view that race, instead of being biologically grounded and natural, is socially constructed and that race, as a socially constructed concept, functions as a means to maintain the interests of the white population that constructed it.” Along side SJ, or Social Justice, and CRT, is the idea of reparations. This is defines as “the making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged.” When you put these three points together, you end up with groups, or sections, which brings us to the last definition I want to give, intersectionality. Webster’s defines this term like this “the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups“.

I know that’s a lot of information to take in, and that this is going to be a very difficult, and frustrating topic to address. Please, bare with me over the next few weeks as we flesh this out together. It’s imperative that we are all aware of this movement, which is no longer creeping its way into churches, but making a full on attack. It’s a dangerously divisive movement, which purposefully sets groups against one another. If the left and right leg won’t go in the same direction, the body goes nowhere. We must hold to unity with believers, regardless of race, sex, or class. We are one body, in Christ. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.