Posted in Christianity, Church, God, Jesus, Reformed, Theology on April 30, 2016| 4 Comments »
Christians are like bees. Bees can be a blessing when they remain focus. They help pollinate flowers and plants. Strong healthy colonies of bees produces honey. But each working bee also possess a sting. Each of them can also be a bee sting. When Christians have strayed from the “bee-line” of the Gospel we are thrown into confusion of the moment and more prone to being a bee sting towards others.
Posted in Apologetics, Bible, Bible contradiction, bible difficulties, christian apologetics, Christianity, Theology on April 29, 2016| 10 Comments »
The picture for this post is just for fun.
But seriously our friend Wally Fry made a good point in the comment section: Why not make it easier for readers to find as an easy reference the posts we have written answering alleged Bible contradictions? I concur. With his advice I’ve gone back to my posts and filed them under the category of “Bible contradictions.”
For convenience I’m also posting them on here my provisional list of posts answering Bible contradictions. I know the list is small since I didn’t intend to make a series on contradictions. Also the posts took some time for me to consider the context and a close examination of the verse in question at the level of consulting the Greek even when the resolution finally didn’t need to invoke the original languages.
So here’s the few posts I have done thus far on our blog (remember it’s a provisional listing!):
And an “oldie:”
Posted in Book Review, Navy Seals, Osama Bin Laden on April 29, 2016| 7 Comments »
In light of the upcoming fifth year anniversary of the Bin Laden raid, I review this book for this weekend’s reading recommendation.
Chuck Pfarrer. SEAL Target Geronimo: The Inside Story of the Mission to Kill Osama bin Laden. New York, NY: Saint Martin’s Press, November 8th, 2011. 240 pp.
At first I wasn’t sure of whether or not I should read this book, having read other works surrounding the mission that killed Bin Laden especially the work No Easy Day. I was glad that I read it because this book definitely manage to contribute to the conversation of what happened that day. What makes this book unique is that this book was written by a former SEAL who interviewed the SEALs operators involved with the Bin Laden raid. From these interviews the author attempt to synthesize all the accounts from the SEALs (some of which the author admit were conflicting) in order to give a better narrative of what happened that day.
Posted in Christianity, Reformed, Theology, worry on April 28, 2016| 7 Comments »
A few days ago I wrote a post on how to get the most out of Matthew 6 in applying it to worrying. I found this message by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and thought it was quite relevant in light of the previous post.
Enjoy!
Posted in Apologetics, Bible, Bible contradiction, bible difficulties, bible interpretation, christian apologetics, Christianity, Reformed, Theology on April 27, 2016| 31 Comments »
This is a look at another alleged Bible contradiction from Luke 9 according to the Skeptic Annotated Bible.
Today’s question: Who is for or against Jesus?
He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.” Luke 11:23
for he who is not against you is for you.” Luke 9:50
I think when we examine the passage carefully this will be shown to be not a contradiction. Let’s take a closer look:
Posted in Christianity, Church, mark dever, ministry, Pastor, Pastoral Ministry, Reformation, Reformed, Theology, Together for the Gospel on April 26, 2016| 6 Comments »
A few days ago I listened to a sermon by Mark Dever for this year’s Together For the Gospel’s Conference in which Dever spoke on “Endurance Needed Strength for a Slow Reformation and the Dangerous Allure of Speed.” I thank Vincent for sharing them with us! I was blessed by the message and while it wasn’t expository preaching Mark Dever instead shared some important wisdom as to why pastors, church leaders (and by application, all of us) needs patience and aim for slow progress rather than believe the lie that many and quick is the goal.
It is a longer message but I listened to it while doing other things. I was blessed and perhaps you would too!
Posted in anxiety, biblical counseling, Christianity, Reformed, Theology, worry on April 25, 2016| 9 Comments »
In another forum online someone asked the following question:
What are some good scriptures that can help through depression anxiety and other issues? I have a lot of these issues and sometimes I find it hard to find the right things to calm me down.
Personally Matthew 6 have been very helpful for me in my own life. Specifically Matthew 6:25-34. Here’s my quick thoughts and expanded from the original comment. Perhaps it might be helpful for others on WordPress and Social Media as well.
Posted in Christianity, Church, encouragement, ministry, Reformed, Theology on April 24, 2016| 16 Comments »
Note: This Sunday I had a more unusual apologetics’ styled sermon that took up more time preparing than usual so I didn’t get to post earlier. Contrary to what appears on my blog, I don’t preach apologetics as a hobby horse. I am more of an expository and Gospel driven preacher on Sunday morning (or at least I work hard to try to be).
I try to write posts each Sunday to encourage God’s people concerning attending and serving God in the local church.
Tonight as I got home I was thinking about how the word labor appear so frequently in the Book of 1 Thessalonians from when I preached this five years ago:
Posted in Christianity, homosexual agenda, Jordan Brown, sin, Theology, Whole Foods on April 23, 2016| 11 Comments »
I don’t what it is but it seems there are some within the LGBTQ community that is obsessed with politicizing things with cakes and bakery.
Earlier this week a so-called Pastor name Jordan Brown who is a homosexual accused Whole Foods of writing an anti-gay slur on his cake. You can watch his original video here:
It’s turning out that things are not as simple as Jordan Brown claim, and I think its safe to say that his claims are problematic if not down right fraudulent.
Posted in 101st Airborne Division, biblical worldview, Christianity, Target, worldview on April 22, 2016| 10 Comments »
So Target now allow people to use whatever restrooms they self-identify themselves as.
Which leads me to this question:
Posted in Apologetic Links, christian apologetics, Christianity, Cornelius Van Til, Presuppositional Apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Theology, Van Til on April 22, 2016| 6 Comments »
Here are links related to the subject of Presuppositional apologetics gathered online between April 15th-21st, 2015.
1.) The charge of circular reasoning
2.) Review: Cornelius Van Til’s Christian Theistic Evidences (Second Edition)
3.) Worldviews and Evangelism Sermon Series
4.) The Problem with Agnosticism
5.) Can you use the Bible to prove the Bible?
6.) ‘What Has God Ever Done For Me?’ Asks Man Breathing Air
Miss our previous round up? Here’s a link to a friend’s reblog of the last round up!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Absurdity, Gender-Neutral Restrooms, Target on April 21, 2016| 32 Comments »
Social media has been trending heavily upon Target’s decision to have gender-neutral restrooms and fitting rooms. On April 19, Target released its stance for inclusivity, specifically for the likes of the transgender community. This is definitely a LGBT driven goal. Here is an excerpt from Corporate (Official Statement).
In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways. Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”
Folks, that is troubling. Target is being fed a spoonful of lies and is under the influence of this progressive psychosis. Target made a dangerous move by sacrificing safety, decency, and moral sanity for people who wish not to identify with their actual gender.
Sad to say, but Target is set-up to be a paradise for sexual predators. Sooner or later, you will probably hear many cases of perverted men who will waltz into the women’s restroom for immoral activity because they self-identified as a transgender or pretended to self-identify as a transgender in order to peep or take pictures of your daughter or wife urinating. In fact you don’t even need to be a transgender to use a restroom of your choice. Here is what Target states, “…guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.” It all boils down to subjective self-identification.
Magistrates have failed to uphold the law. As a result, husbands, fathers, and brothers will be placed in a tense situation where the responsibility and the right to protect their wife, daughter, and sister, trumps a wicked law that fosters a haven for sexual predators and have failed to protect and safeguard victims from predators.
The logic of progressive thinking is absurd. If one can self-identify as woman, when in reality one is a man, then it should be fair game for everyone else who wishes to self-identify as a Target employee, manager, etc., for the purpose of receiving discounts and perks. If one is ever placed in a unsettle position between safety of a loved one and a wicked law that protects men and women who suppress their God-given genders by masking themselves for the purpose of satisfying their lusts, then the immoral law that protects gender-neutral restrooms will be less and less relevant. It is morally absurd.
Target has failed and magistrates have failed. Where has our society gone? How can our daughters be denigrated at the expense of cross-dressing dudes that rebel against God’s created order? I am praying for you world.
If I can impart any practical points, it would be this for now: ladies, be on the alert from creeps. And parents, I would advise that you do not allow your children to go into restrooms or fitting rooms alone. We live in a perverted world. May the Gospel burn more brightly (Eph. 5:15-16). And may we not stay quiet in the midst of evil. What are your thoughts concerning Target? What are some wise strategies would you implement concerning this new change? It appears like this controversial change is limited to not only Target, but was a major talking point in North Carolina recently.
Folks, I believe society is losing their minds. This is a slippery slope that will engender greater evils? What is next? Fines and imprisonment for those who discriminate against this rule? Also be sure to watch this video experiment:
Instead of self-identifying what sinners wish to be, sinners need to identify themselves as rebels against their Creator and the Gospel. Men and women must turn to Christ for forgiveness. Christ was identified as a slave and sinner (even though He never sinned; cf. 2 Cor. 5:21) for the sake of His glory and love for His people. There is no one who knows reality and the implications of what evil can do more than God. He can sympathize with us. Come to Him. Repent and place faith in Christ alone.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9,
For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (NASB).
Posted in Christianity, Gospel, Presuppositional Apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Sye Ten Bruggencate, Theology on April 20, 2016| 15 Comments »
Sye Ten Bruggencate is an encouraging brother in the Lord who has taken Presuppositional apologetics to the streets and have taught it in a way most people can understand.
In a recent message he speaks about the importance of also giving the Gospel. Several brothers told me to watch this when I came back home from my missions trip.
Here’s the message:
Enjoy!
Posted in Apologetics, apologetics methodology, christian apologetics, Christianity, Cornelius Van Til, K. Scott Oliphant, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, Presuppositional Apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Theology, Van Til on April 19, 2016| 16 Comments »
Cornelius Van Til. Christian Theistic Evidences. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, February 29th, 2016. 288 pp.
There is a lot of misunderstanding today concerning the role of evidence in Cornelius Van Til’s apologetics which makes this book a valuable primary source for those who want to understand Van Til’s view. I think understanding Van Til’s position is important whether one agrees with him or not. This is especially relevant given the rising popularity of Presuppositional apologetics. This particular volume is the second edition of the book and it has helpful footnotes with commentaries from the editor K. Scott Oliphint who is currently the professor of Presuppositional apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary (this is where Van Til taught at when he was alive). In this review I shall look first at Oliphint’s contribution and then the rest of the book that was penned by Van Til.
Posted in Christianity, Green Beret, Missions, Reformed, Seminary, Theological Education, Theology on April 18, 2016| 11 Comments »
Lord willing this week I want to write several posts on training pastors and leaders for the churches overseas especially in areas that are considered frontiers missions field. For those interested you might also want to read my post from last year titled “Thoughts on Teaching Systematic Theology Overseas in A Missions Context.”
I appreciate blogger Dan Cartwright, a former Green Beret and career soldier. I’m using an illustration from his world that I think is helpful in describing the need and means of bringing theological education to local national pastors in the context of frontiers missions.
US Special Forces (Green Berets) must not be confused with Special Operation Forces. Here’s how Wikipedia describe the missions of US Special Forces (Green Beret):
The primary mission of the Army Special Forces is to train and lead unconventional warfare (UW) forces, or a clandestine guerrilla force in an occupied nation[citation needed]. The 10th Special Forces Group was the first deployed SF unit, intended to train and lead UW forces behind enemy lines in the event of a Warsaw Pact invasion of Western Europe[citation needed]. As the U.S. became involved in Southeast Asia, it was realized that specialists trained to lead guerrillas could also help defend against hostile guerrillas, so SF acquired the additional mission of Foreign Internal Defense (FID), working with Host Nation (HN) forces in a spectrum of counter-guerrilla activities from indirect support to combat command.[citation needed]
Special Forces personnel qualify both in advanced military skills and the regional languages and cultures of defined parts of the world. While they are best known for their unconventional warfare capabilities, they also undertake other missions that include direct action raids, peace operations, counter-proliferation, counter-drug advisory roles, and other strategic missions.[13]
(Source)
Note what I highlighted in bold from the quote above. I think the great examples of the Green Berets that has bearing for our discussion is their ability to train other forces and being skillful in how they go about it. I think in some sense this is analogous to how we in the West should bring theological education overseas in the context of frontiers mission fields or area that requires creative access.
The Domain for Truth 