Last Two Comics I read for 2022

Here are the last two comic books I read for 2022.  Why Comics for this blog? Because sometimes Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading.

Doug Moench, Byron Preiss, etc.  Elseworlds: Batman Volume One. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, April 26th 2016. 523 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

If you are a Batman fan, you might be interested in reading Batman in different time period both the historical past and far future.  And if this describes you then this volume would be something you might want to get since it collects various stories from DC Comic’s Elseworlds which presents various stories that takes place in alternative worlds.  I really think this is such a cool idea and allows writers and illustrators to exercise more creativity artistically and with story-telling.

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SEAL Team 6 Operator’s Eddie Penney Testimony

Sometimes I listen to the Shawn Ryan Show since the people he interview from the special operations community is very done (he lets the person talk) and who he invites on his show are amazing individuals.  Tonight I was listening to the latest one with Eddie Penney and as I listened more it turned out to be a riveting testimony of also him coming to Christ.

Eddie Penney was a former Marine infantryman, Navy SEAL, Seal Team six/DevGru operator and a member of Gold Squadron which probably lost the most amount of SEALs than any SEAL unit.

Here’s the video:

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Bible Contradiction? Did Paul see Jesus on the road to Damascus?

 

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Did Paul see Jesus on the road to Damascus?

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

Yes

“Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?” (1 Corinthians 9:1)

“and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.” (1 Corinthians 15:8)

No, he was blind and “saw no man.”

“Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.” ( Acts 9:8)

(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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Prayers of Bloggers and my Mom reading the Bible

 

I try not to talk about my personal life on my blog but I thought I post this as a thank you and also spiritual encouragement.

A little over a year ago when the United States was going through its chaotic departure from Afghanistan I wrote a post “A Son of A Refugee’s Gratitude for Christians in America’s Mid-West.”  Some of the regular readers here have even commented and said this was one of the best post on our blog.  I talked about my mom’s refugee story from the Vietnam war, the love of Christ shown to my mom’s family from a Mid-West church who sponsored them and also prayers for salvation that might seem to go unanswered but sometimes answered in ways we don’t expect, with the next generation, and prayers answered after we have gone home to be with the Lord. 

I appreciate some commented and also said they will pray for mom’s salvation.

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Psalm 2 is Messianic

Purpose: In this session we will see three points concerning this Psalm’s Messianic character that points to Jesus.

1. The Details within Psalm 2 Is Messianic
2. The Torah-Messiah structure in the Psalms suggests Psalm 2 is Messianic
3. The New Testament interprets Psalms 2 is Messianic

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Matthew 2:16, King Herod and Skeptic’s Argument from Silence

 

Matthew 2:16 states:

Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent men and killed all the boys who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity [a]who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.

The Skeptic Annotated Bible thinks there’s problems with this verse.  In their own words:

Herod kills all boys in and around Bethlehem that are two years old and under. Such a massacre would certainly have been noted by contemporary historians. Yet not even Josephus, who documented Herod’s life in detail, mentioned this event

Here’s my response:

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Review: 1 & 2 Kings: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching

David Schreiner. 1 & 2 Kings: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching.  Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, August 16th 2022. 320 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase:  Amazon

Is there a part of the Bible you wished you had a better grasp on?  The last few years I realized I need to give better study to 1-2 Kings and I imagine many Christians might feel the same way about this part of the Bible.  Fortunately there’s a resource that can help Christians go through 1-2 Kings and filled with insights and observation from the biblical text itself while also giving the occasional background information and original language observation.  This commentary not only has exegetical observations but also sections that are geared towards preaching and teaching.  This dual feature is the key characteristic of this Bible commentary series called “Kerux Commentaries” which is published by Kregel Publications.  The book actually has two authors, with the exegetical portions by Old Testament professor David Schreiner and the homiletical portion by a pastor name Lee Compson. 

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This Sunday at Church: Talk to a Youth about the Incarnation

This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Talk to a youth about the incarnation.

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Bible Contradiction? What must a congregation do if it sins through ignorance?

 

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: What must a congregation do if it sins through ignorance?

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

Kill a young bull.

“‘Now if the entire congregation of Israel does wrong unintentionally and the matter [a]escapes the notice of the assembly, and they commit any of the [b]things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and they become guilty; 14 when the sin [c]which they have [d]committed becomes known, then the assembly shall offer a [e]bull of the herd as a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting. 15 Then the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord. 16 Then the anointed priest is to bring some of the blood of the bull to the tent of meeting; 17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, in front of the veil. 18 He shall then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before the Lord [f]in the tent of meeting; and all the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering which is at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 19 And he shall remove all its fat from it and offer it up in smoke on the altar. 20 He shall also do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; he shall do the same with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven. 21 Then he is to bring the bull out to a place outside the camp and burn it just as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly.” (Leviticus 4:13-21)

Kill a young bull and a young goat.

“then it shall be, if it is done unintentionally, [a]without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one bull as a burnt offering, as a soothing aroma to the Lord, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat as a sin offering. 25 Then the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and they will be forgiven; for it was an unintentional wrong, and they have brought their offering, an offering by fire to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their unintentional wrong. 26 So all the congregation of the sons of Israel will be forgiven, as well as the stranger who resides among them, for guilt was attributed to all the people through an unintentional wrong.” (Numbers 15:24-26)

(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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Review of Two History Books: December 2022

I’m reviewing two history books…because Pastors also need a break!

 

George T. Peers. Recollections and Reminiscences of Old Appomattox County and its People.  Lynchburg, Virginia: Schroeder Publications, March 24th, 2015. 40 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Most people have heard of Appomattox in the context of the American Civil War since this is where the surrender of General Robert E. Lee was signed.  But what other information do we have about this town before and during the Civil War?  This is a first person account by George T. Peers, one of the town’s oldest citizen who have served the community as a sheriff duty and as a long time County clerk for over forty years.  He lived from 1830 to 1908, covering a relevant time period and while he wrote this when he was older I was surprised at how sharp his memory was with reference to names and dates given in this work.

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Presuppositional Apologetics Links: Third Week of December 2022

Here are the links related to Presuppositional apologetics gathered between December 15th-21st, 2022.

While it is not in this week’s round up I do want to share Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2022 since we are in the month of December.

1.) Cave to the Cross Episode: Redux – Bob Murphy Interview

2.) Bible Contradiction? How many of Senaah’s offspring returned from Babylon?

3.) Always Ready: Chap. 26 The Heart of the Matter Pt. 1

4.) Isaiah 9:6 is Messianic

5.) Some Evolutionary Censorship Tactics

6.) Not enough evidence, God!  Not enough evidence!

Missed the last round up?  Check out the re-blogged post from a friend

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Isaiah 9:6 is Messianic

Establish the need:  Have you heard an advertisement about something that sounds so good you have to wonder if it is true?

Purpose:  Today we will see three reasons for why we believe Isaiah 9:6 is a prediction of the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled so that you know your faith is genuine and it would motivate you to follow Him.

• We believe Isaiah 9:6 is about Jesus because of the context
• We believe Isaiah 9:6 is about Jesus because the Jews interpretation of it is Messianic
• We believe Isaiah 9:6 is about Jesus because of historical process of elimination

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Being on a Plane: A Vacation when I can read Christian books!

Back from my trip last week.  Hope that explains why I’m behind reading some of your blogs.

This past week I was talking to some people.  I realize many people can be uncomfortable on a plane.  Big part of that also is contingent upon who is next to them, and where are they sitting at and how much room there is when one is a plane passenger.

But generally speaking I do like being on a plane!  And there’s a sense I feel being on a plane feels like a vacation! Why?

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Free PDF and Review: The Birth of Christ

 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon. The Birth of Christ.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, September 22nd 2016. 28 pp.

5 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon

Are you looking for spiritually edifying reading on the birth of Christ that is also biblically faithful and accurate?   This work is from Charles Spurgeon, the famous Victorian era Baptist Preacher.  Based upon a sermon he delivered at his church at New Park Street Chapel on Christmas Eve 1854, it blew my mind that these words was from Spurgeon when he was twenty years old.  The message in based upon Isaiah 7:14-15 and the truth Spurgeon delivered is timeless, Christ-centered and Gospel driven.

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This Sunday at Church: Give a book on the Incarnation or the Birth of Christ

This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Give a book on the Incarnation or the Birth of Christ.

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