Again I will periodically add links to articles at the top of this post until I begin another Summary. So check back periodically. When I add a new article I will adjust the date, to the latest post’s date. The current Summary will be fixed at the top of my posts, but you may find other specific posts further down. I will leave the prior Summary second from the top of my posts for a few more days, then let it fall back into my timeline of posts.
Within a Summary you will find various active links to full articles, usually in a color and underlined. These are the articles I used to email out to my readers. I don’t email them any more.
I will try to begin each one with a larger Blue Bold Header.
So here we go…….I’m closing this post, and getting ready for 2025.
Discernment
Here is a quote from the website Mike Ratliff references. It seems a good fit for the end of 2024. The link to Mike’s final post follows.
“But we still haven’t answered our question: what is discernment?
Discernment thus begins and ends with Christ. It is always about Christ, His person, His work.
Discernment abides in Christ. It feasts richly on His Word, for in the Scriptures alone do we find authoritative revelation of the person and work of Christ. All the Scriptures speak of Him, and in them we encounter God in human flesh, crucified for our sin and raised for our being declared righteous.
Discernment that is not centred upon Christ and His Gospel is thus utterly devoid of worth. It is fit for nothing but the dung heap.
Discernment thus rallies every believer with this cry: ‘Christ crucified for sinners and raised from the dead! To the Scriptures, which speak of Him! Contend for this faith once delivered! Shine forth this Good News – the power and wisdom of God to those who are called!’
If we were always about that business, if our every engagement were to further the cause of that Gospel? Truly, then would we be discerning discerners.”
From: What is the activity we call ‘discernment’ really all about?
Reformed Dogmatika
Accessible Reformed theology: Join us on the journey to Geneva
I found an interesting post by a woman on the Heidelblog site I follow. It lead me to another site that I intent to begin reading.
Her testimony is not unlike my own journey into the depths of the historical Reformed faith and my association with Pastor Ganger’s Church.
The new site is….
https://reformeddogmatika.com/
As well as the Church site. Which is part of the URCNA group.
A Very Difficult Letter
I’ve followed Dennis Prager’s reporting for years. This must have been very difficult for him to write. The letter is a long read with many references to events I’ve never even heard of. As a Christian ultimately I pray for God’s Grace that all the elect Jews in Israel and the World will come to see the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Old John Gill almost 300 years ago wrote these words about Luke 21:24…
until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled; that is, till the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in; until the Gospel is preached all over the world, and all God’s elect are gathered in out of all nations; and then the Jews will be converted, and return to their own land, and rebuild and inhabit Jerusalem; but till that time, it will be as it has been, and still is possessed by Gentiles.
I’m not saying this is necessarily that time but it is curious 🧐.
If you wish a good modern outline of the history of Israel I recommend my friend Bob Siegel’s book. …The Holocaust Against Israel Paperback – June 11, 2017
Or read the book from Robert Spencer that Dennis Prager recommended. Be sure to download and read the full 15 page letter.
A Word about Recyling
Seems another of our modern delusions. At least this is true.
Does recycling work? Sure! On aluminum, cardboard, and glass… but that’s about it. Everything else we’re “recycling,” especially plastics, isn’t actually being recycled in ways that are saving the planet. In fact, every time plastic is recycled, it becomes less and less usable.
Read the article better yet watch the video link.. here’s a sample.
“Recycling Is Garbage”
“. landfills actually are the better alternative and environmentally safer”
“If you think of the United States as a football field,” says Tierney, “all the garbage that we will generate in the next 1,000 years would fit inside a tiny fraction of the one-inch line.”
“Moreover, if we stopped recycling plastic, the savings we’d have would blow your mind. Stossel says that in his own town, $340 million would be saved a year if the recycling stopped.
Even Greenpeace admits recycling isn’t actually doing what people think it is, as Stossel points out in his video.”
Yes, Today is Friday the 13th.
I’m not putting any faith in that being significant.
I did read this post about Mike Gendron’s latest Newsletter.
Reposted in: https://sheeplywolves.com/proclaiming-the-biblical-gospel-message-to-roman-catholics-mike-gendron/
Or see the original here… https://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Condescension-and-Exaltation-of-Jesus.html?soid=1103609831924&aid=mbjsjGxXJtw
I like was Mike says, I’m not sure I agree with all he says, but his witness to Roman Catholics is useful.
Note error the RCC makes about Mary, (don’t watch the Netflix Movie Mary, by Joel Olsten, either) and the bizarre discussion of Purgatory. And if you read the linked article in the Pope note, you will see a great example of high priests reading their own ideas into scripture. Anyway, I pray you can have an avenue to share with your Catholic friends and relatives. Btw, they by far represent the majority of what is called the “church”, evangelical Protestants having a Biblical worldview are a mere 3 to 4% of the population. Maybe 8 to 10 million. Look for a separate post on that and the large number of cults or problematic/false sects out there.
Once you begin looking into this I highly recommend:
The work of Greg Bentley and Richard Bennett
Agenda Weekly Brief
Ok, it’s been over a month. Hopefully you’re enjoying a lack of emails from me.
I broke the rule with this one and sent to a few friends. Curtis Bowers is the guy who did the Agenda series, he’s been busy compiling his own news lists. I will post the link to my blog Summary like I’m doing for other “finds” that I want to share. Btw,I do post a few things to my blog separately and you can see them after the Summary Posts, or find in the topical index.
Anyway this Bowers Post has some interesting comments on the Biden Pardon, The Covid Investigation, Korea, and the Supreme Court transgender case, among many others.
Anyway, if you find something interesting, or you think something is fake news/wrong let me know, there is a lot here, I have not read all, or necessarily agree with all. Lot’s more items that I post in my own Summary.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Christmas Sermons
This is a site I found recently that has some good posts. I particularly like 👍 his pointing out good Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermons. Look on the site to find the first of these two. He posted earlier.
Do you ever worry about the state of Christianity in today’s world? Many denominations are leaving orthodox beliefs, traditional beliefs are scoffed at, our country seems to be falling apart. Where is God in all of this? In examining Mary’s song of praise, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows us how God is always faithful to His people, although the times may be dark. We are reminded of the promise made to Abram that he would be the father of many nations. Yet did Abram see this promise fulfilled in his life?
THE MAGNIFICAT 2 – MARTYN LLOYD-JONES – [COVENANT PART 4]
M’Cheyne 2 John Reading
This morning’s second reading from the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan deserves a wider reading audience. I listen to Max McLean read it in the KJV, while following along in my E-Sword version.
I have not been able to capture the actual highlighted text for you but here is a screenshot. 2 John…KJV
I find the teaching in verse 6 quite enlightening in defining love.
2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments….
John Gill wrote some 275 years ago about this passage.
2 John 1:6
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments,…. By observing them as a rule of conversation, in so doing love is shown to God; and such may expect the fresh discoveries of the love of God to, them; See Gill on 1Jn 5:3;
this is the commandment, that as ye have heard from the beginning,
ye should walk in it; that is, this is the will of God, that his people should walk in the truth of the Gospel, and abide by it, as they heard and received it at their first conversion, from the mouths of the apostles, or other faithful ministers of the word; a reason for which, is given in 2Jn 1:7.
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments,…. Keeping of the commandments of God is an evidence of love to God; this shows that love is not in word and tongue, in profession only, but in deed and in truth; and that such persons have a sense of the love of God upon their souls, under the influence of which they act; and such shall have, and may expect to have, greater manifestations of the love of God unto them:
and his commandments are not grievous; heavy, burdensome, and disagreeable; by which are meant, not so much the precepts of the moral law, which through the weakness of the flesh are hard to be kept, and cannot be perfectly fulfilled; though believers indeed, being freed from the rigorous exaction, curse, and condemnation of the law, delight in it after the inward man, and serve it cheerfully with their spirit; and still less the commands of the ceremonial law, which were now abolished, and were grievous to be borne; but rather those of faith in Christ, and love to the saints, 1Jn 3:23; or it may be the ordinances of the Gospel, baptism, and the Lord’s supper, with others, which though disagreeable to unregenerate persons, who do not care to be under the yoke of Christ, however easy and light it is, yet are not heavy and burdensome to regenerate ones; and especially when they have the love of God shed abroad in them, the presence of God with them, communion with Jesus Christ, and a supply of grace and strength from him; then are these ways ways of pleasantness, and paths of peace, and the tabernacles of the Lord are amiable and lovely.
There is no better place to start than to begin by reading the scriptures daily, I encourage you to find a plan and read through the Bible in 2025.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Belgic Confession
If you have the time take a look at my posts on Pastor Ganger’s Evening Sermons on the Belgic Confession. I think understanding these doctrines of our faith is a good resource during the Christmas Season. See Articles 20-22 and 23. You can find them at the Belgic Confession Category Tag.
I also highly recommend his Canons of Dort series.
Dr. S. Lewis Johnson has some good old sermons on our election.
https://sljinstitute.net/pentateuch/genesis/election-calling-and-perseverance/
https://sljinstitute.net/basic-bible-doctrine/divine-election/
https://sljinstitute.net/johannine-theology/the-election-of-a-covenant-people/
https://sljinstitute.net/johannine-theology/efficacious-grace-of-the-drawing-of-the-given/
And this one I commented on two years ago.
What is the definition of syncretism?
I wanted to post links to a series I finished on MINI SERIES ON SYNCRETISM PART 1-4.
I first encountered this term during my initial read of the Bible. It was in the NIV footnotes of my study Bible. It was used to in an explanation of the practice of blending Paganism teachings with the true religion of the Bible. God hates it. Israel was punished for it. Mixing any un-biblical doctrines with the doctrines found in the Bible is forbidden by God.
I can’t say it’s the best articulation of the area I’ve seen but it is a relevant and timely over view of it’s application in these areas.
UNDERSTANDING THE RELIGION OF THELEMA – [MINI SERIES ON SYNCRETISM PART 1]
THE DEVIL AND KARL MARX – DR PAUL KENGOR [SYNCRETISM PART 2]
THE DEVIL AND THE NATIONS – MARTYN LLOYD-JONES – [SYNCRETISM PART 3]
CHRISTIANITY + MARXISM = TOTAL ABSURDITY [SYNCRETISM PART 4]
The blogger doesn’t not link his series very well. Part 4 is a summary.
The Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermon quoted is from 1960 and gives good perspective.
A bit of reading on Judgment
I recently finished my reading of Toxic Empathy. I think the author does a reasonable job of presenting both sides of the issues she addresses. So often we only see the side the left or media spin.
I’m turning to understand more about Biblical Judgment. Reading Todd Friel’s book: Judge Not
I will let you know how it goes. His chapter where he speaks about Rules of Engagement is useful, but I have not gotten very far.
Rules of Engagement There is more to discernment than simply pointing out the error in a sermon or book. Discernment begins with asking the question, “Do I need to publicly warn people about this perceived error?” The answer to that question is not always yes. There are times we do and times we don’t need to speak up.
Btw, speaking on Judgment you might read my earlier post. From that observation I came to the idea that today people use the word Justice, since people seem to want their grievances addressed, where as we no longer use the word Judgment, since very few want their sins to be judged?
As for another side of this Mike Ratliff makes a point about our attitude and motives in judging.
I pray that all of you who think it is your duty to attack the very ones who are doing the work of discernment in order to warn the Body of Christ as they are commanded to do by God, to examine your motives and look at your methods. Are you using deceit? Are you slandering others? Are you using logical fallacies in an attempt to make them sell your suppositions? I urge you to stop it and abstain from the passions of the flesh. You are being used by our enemy to divide and discourage the brethren. Stop it! If you cannot “expose” what you are attempting to expose without resorting to these techniques then you are not being a worker of righteousness. Examine your motives!
If you want more of my wandering path to day read these.
I suggest taking the time to read the comments sections.
https://mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/missional-church-or-new-monasticism/
Original article link is here….
https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/missional-church-or-new-monasticism
Rainbow Trout 
I might add that yesterday’s Evening reading from Spurgeon gives a good complement to my 2 John post above.
It is in vain that we possess the Scriptures unless we bind them around us like a girdle, surrounding our entire nature, keeping each part of our character in order, and giving compactness to our whole man. If in heaven Jesus unbinds not the girdle, much less may we upon earth. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.
Full text. Spurgeon….11/6..
Evening
“Girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” — Rev 1:13
“One like unto the Son of Man” appeared to John in Patmos, and the beloved disciple marked that he wore a girdle of gold. A girdle, for Jesus never was ungirt while upon earth, but stood always ready for service, and now before the eternal throne he stays not is holy ministry, but as a priest is girt about with “the curious girdle of the ephod.” Well it is for us that he has not ceased to fulfil his offices of love for us, since this is one of our choicest safeguards that he ever liveth to make intercession for us. Jesus is never an idler; his garments are never loose as though his offices were ended; he diligently carries on the cause of his people. A golden girdle, to manifest the superiority of his service, the royalty of his person, the dignity of his state, the glory of his reward. No longer does he cry out of the dust, but he pleads with authority, a King as well as a Priest. Safe enough is our cause in the hands of our enthroned Melchizedek.
Our Lord presents all his people with an example. We must never unbind our girdles. This is not the time for lying down at ease, it is the season of service and warfare. We need to bind the girdle of truth more and more tightly around our loins. It is a golden girdle, and so will be our richest ornament, and we greatly need it, for a heart that is not well braced up with the truth as it is in Jesus, and with the fidelity which is wrought of the Spirit, will be easily entangled with the things of this life, and tripped up by the snares of temptation. It is in vain that we possess the Scriptures unless we bind them around us like a girdle, surrounding our entire nature, keeping each part of our character in order, and giving compactness to our whole man. If in heaven Jesus unbinds not the girdle, much less may we upon earth. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.
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