Review: The Return of Marco Polo’s World

A weekend reading review…because Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!  Well, this book might be a bit heavy, but next weekend I will schedule something of a lighter leisure reading!

Robert D. Kaplan. The Return of Marco Polo’s World.  New York, NY: Random House, March 6th 2018. 304 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Want to read a geopolitical book that looks at various dimensions and challenges in Eurasia from China, the Middle East, Iran and the steepe?  If so this book might be for you.  The author is a bestselling author on foreign policies and travel, a political risk consultant, former visiting professor at the Naval Academy (2006-2008) and journalist.   Readers don’t have to agree with everything he has to say and still walk away learning a lot and being challenged in a good way in thinking about international relations.

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Late February 2020 Presuppositional Apologetics’ Links

Here are Presuppositional Apologetics’ links gathered between February 22nd-29th, 2020.  Enjoy!

1.) Interacting with Ligonier’s “Christianity and Van Tillianism” (Part 5)

2.) Bible Contradiction? Did Jesus ask God to save him from crucifixion?

3.) Another Round of the Thomist Rumor Mill against Van Til: Keith A. Mathison’s “Christianity and Van Tillianism”

4.) Cave to the Cross’ Ep. 60 – Finding Truth – How Nietzsche Wins – Part 1

5.) Inerrancy and evidentialism

6.) If Something Can Come from Nothing Can Anything be Wrong?

7.)Partial Arts and Hate Bait

8.) How To Identify How A Worldview Dehumanizes People – Truth Finders

9.) Babylon Bee: The Science On Climate Change Is Settled,’ Says Man Who Does Not Believe The Settled Science On Gender, Unborn Babies, Economics

 

Missed the last round up?  Check out the re-blogged post from a friend  or that of another reblog  and a repost here.

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Pleasing Your Spouse Message

I think this is a very important sermon for those who married.

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Partial Arts and Hate Bait

Earlier during the month I wrote a post “Anti-Christian latest intolerance: Swiss Christian Chocolate Company.”   I had an interesting troll in the comments who claimed to be a Christian fighting against other Christians for “intolerance.”  I responded in a post here: Calling out a Drive-By Virtue-Signaling Troll.

Seems like the story with this troll has a more bizzare turn that I’m going to expose.

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Review: Jesus Rose for Me

For this week’s “Wee-kids” Wednesdays here’s a review of a Christian children’s book.

Jared Kennedy.  Jesus Rose for Me.  Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, March 2nd 2020. 24 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

Are you looking for a children’s book on the last week of Jesus?  This new book published by New Growth Press might be a book you want to get!  It is meant for children ages three to seven.  I read this aloud to my daughters and they loved it.

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Atonement: Study Outline

Purpose: In this lesson shall explore five points that would help us better understand the atonement that Christ made to save us from our sins so that we would worship Him and love Him more.

1. What is the meaning of atonement?
2. Christ saves us by his death
3. Christ died as our substitute
4. What motivated God to plan the Atonement?
5. Seven fruits of Christ’s Atonement

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Bible Contradiction? Did Jesus ask God to save him from crucifixion?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Did Jesus ask God to save him from crucifixion?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Yes

“Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40 And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”” (Matthew 26:36-42)

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might [a]pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:35-36)

“And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:41-42)

No

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.” (John 12:27)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

 

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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March 3, 2020 Orange County Christian Conservative Voter’s Guide

We have quite a stream of readers of our blog from Southern California and I thought it would be helpful to post this.

This is courtesy of Craig Huey of Election Forum (HT).

I have gotten less political over the years and while I do not believe salvation or the kingdom of God is achieved by political means nevertheless I believe Christians must be informed so that when they practice the privilege of voting in the United States they vote not against biblical principles but as much as possible consistent with it.  Over the years California legislature has become increasingly tyrannical against Christians values in the name of “tolerance” such as Assembly Bill 2943 which fortunately was shelved and was a huge answer prayer.

So here’s the voter’s guide for Orange County for March 3, 2020:

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Free Ebook: The Keys to Spiritual Growth by John MacArthur

Boy last week and weekend was quite busy.  Didn’t get to finish books as much I would like.  So today’s post on Monday is going to be not a book review but about an opportunity for a free Christian e-book!

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This Sunday at Church: Talk about what you read during the week

Within this series I will have a mini-series on reading.  This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Talk about what you read during the week.

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Presuppositional Apologetics’ Round Up: Third Week of February 2020

Here are the links related to Presuppositional apologetics gathered between February 15th-21st, 2020

1.) Doubt Requires God: Dealing with Doubt and Questions

2.) Bible Contradiction? What was the name of the tax collector who was called by Jesus?

3.) Cave to the Cross Ep. 59 – Finding Truth – Twilight Of The Gods – Part 2

4.) Interacting with Ligonier’s “Christianity and Van Tillianism” (Part 4)

5.) Presuppositional Apologetics; Jeff Durbin’s Discussion with Jason Lisle

6.) Review – A Matter of Days – Chapter 7 (part 2)

7.)“For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” ~Apostle Paul

8.) The Matrix Taught Us That Empiricism Traps Us In Our Own Head 

9.) Biblical Apologetics: How Shall We Respond to Unbelief?

 

Missed the last round up?  Check out the re-blogged post from a friend OR that of Another REBLOG HERE and a repost here

 

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Review: Killing the SS

A weekend reading review…because Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!

Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History.  New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, October 9th 2018.  307 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

It seems people are still fascinated with hunting down Nazis doesn’t it, with a much anticipated Amazon Prime TV show released called Hunters for February 2020 after World War Two has ended decades ago.  The Holocaust was one of the most horrifying evils done against humanity in history.  Yet in order for this to have happened for year that involved many, many Germans.  One such notorious groups was the German Waffen SS units.  With all the evil they done it seems that many escaped punishment.  Or did they?  This book tells the story of “Nazi hunters” after the war.  One of the co-author is a popular Conservative news show host: Bill O’ Reilly.

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Bible Contradiction? What was the name of the tax collector who was called by Jesus?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: What was the name of the tax collector who was called by Jesus?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Matthew

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9)

Levi

“As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He *said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.” (Mark 2:14)

“After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.”” (Luke 5:27)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

 

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Shepherd’s Conference 2020 Schedule

Every year there is a big Pastor’s conference where pastors and church leaders who believe in faithful expository preaching and the Biblical Gospel meet in Southern California call the Shepherd’s Conference.  It will be on March 4-6.

I have been blessed in the past by the fellowship, preaching and good food in this conference in the past.  I won’t be going to it this year.

Anyone on here that is going?

Here is the schedule:

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Presuppositional Apologetics; Jeff Durbin’s Discussion with Jason Lisle

Jason Lisle wrote probably one of the best introduction to Presuppositional Apologetics titled The Ultimate Proof of Creation.  We have reviewed that book here.  Also I have written a discussion guide for the book here.

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