2/25 Update
I found this post by Mike Ratliff spot on: Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart.
If you want to read the definitive History of Protestantism check out: J. A. Wylie’s book. You can find PDF copies here and other sites:
Also for the 20th Century Pastors….Two of my favorite are Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones and Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, both passed on to the Lord many years ago, but their messages, though not as popular as the new evangelicals, are rock solid in Biblical Truth.
I found this on well spoken, not a subject very correct to discuss today. If you read Wylie you will better understand.
When you lose your salvation based on a technicality by Jordan Standridge
2/23 Update
Check out the reblog I posted today of one of Mike Ratliff’s.
Also his post on Effectual Calling and Conversion this post is so accurate. About 20 years ago I had it first explained to me while listening to some of Dr. S. Lewis Johnson’s sermons. Here are two examples.
Election, Calling and Perseverance Genesis 11:10 – 12:5
Efficacious Grace of the Drawing of the Given John 6:43-45
He uses the term effectual drawing in that one.
And this post by a Debbielynne I am reminded how easy it is to make a god in our own image.
Gen 1:27 So man created god in our own image, in the image of man created we him; male and female or not or other, etc. created he them.
“And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 32:4)
We no longer make actual molten calves from gold, but I am sure some one in the virtually reality world will come up with some, if they have not already. BTW: Creating your own image of God is one of the two ways to justify your own behavior and sin. The 2nd is to just change the Word God said in the Bible so it doesn’t say what it says. Of course one can always just deny his existence. But nobody can really do that.
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Here is the link.
2/21 Updates
Mike R. Has a good post on properly interpreting scripture with examples.
Greg Koukl said it this way back in 2013. Never Read a Bible Verse
2/9 Updates
Good encouragement on doctrine matters. My Quest For Discernment Led Me To Want Sound Doctrine
I’d been involved in nondenominational churches with varying degrees of Charismatic influences. Those churches held an unspoken attitude that doctrine should be minimized in favor of personal experiences of Jesus and avoiding conflict with our brothers and sisters in Christ. On occasion, someone would actually say that doctrine divides Christians and therefore we should ignore it as much as possible. (I don’t know how we got away with claiming that we followed the Bible.) Of course, the distancing from doctrine was subtle, so I really don’t believe our pastors knew that the churches discouraged doctrine to the extent that they did.
And Mike Ratliff has a continuing string of good posts.
This one got me started yesterday on a journey into Psalm singing and particularly Psalm 130 which I share separately here.
February, where I live, started dry and cold. Temperature down to 26-27 in the early morning. My wife and I have been rewatching our library on Biblical Creation and Intelligent Design (a term sometimes helpful for those who God has not yet called). These are still very good and I recommend you try to watch them. Many can be found on the websites or through Amazon.
Is Genesis History – Btw, they are working on a new film. We’re Filming the Sequel to “Is Genesis History?”
More than Meets the Eye: DVD Science and the Sovereignty of God
Richard A Swenson, MD A great summary of the many “facts” of creation.
The are a great number of videos, audios and article on these 3 sites also.
Creation Training Initiative We have watched many of these, they are short and Mike has interesting guests.
Discover Institute – Intelligent Design There are some new short free videos on there site, if you are into Aliens 👽 or Multi-verse Theory here is one.
Answers in Genesis also has good information.
Ok, for a few good articles on Faith subjects check out these two. Both make good but controversial Biblical points to start our February readings.
Love not this world – Mike Ratliff
The Mailbag: Counter Arguments to Egalitarianism – Michelle Lesley
Rainbow Trout 