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Nuggets from Cosmos, Creator, and Human Destiny December 5, 2024Dave Hunt

Albert Einstein, too, though he did not believe in a personal God (yet he said, “I want to know His thoughts . . . ”), admitted that the universe demanded an intelligent Creator who, as Spinoza showed, “reveals himself in the harmony of what exists.” That fact, Einstein believed, was the basis for science. He is famous for saying, “God does not play dice [with His universe].”

A ''40 million year old'' 100% European Gnat December 5, 2024TBC Staff

Finding well-preserved creatures in amber1 is a landfall for creation scientists, much like the numerous discoveries of soft dinosaur tissue in fossils.2 Another find has been reported by the University of Copenhagen: a fungus gnat has been found entombed in amber.3 Has this in any way supported evolutionary theory? The closest the scientists could get to addressing real evolution of this fly was to state, “The researchers believe that the ancient gnat is a kind of ‘missing link’ that connects its two rare and still living relatives in Japan and the United States.”3

In the past, a potpourri of remarkably preserved animals4,5 and plants6 have been found in amber, and the preserved organisms are virtually identical to those today. Evolutionists called this lack of evolutionary change “stasis.” This is typical of all kinds of creatures that appear in the sedimentary record of the global Flood and are still alive today. Stasis is what creationists would expect since creatures only reproduce “after their kind,” as Genesis clearly states.

Another example of stasis are mites, which are eight-legged arthropods belonging to the arachnids. They also show no evolution.

Did gall mites exist in ancient times in their present forms? If these tiny creatures evolved from some other arthropod, then fossils ought to show a continuum of transformation from that arthropod ancestor to today’s gall mites. But when scientists recently described some of the earliest gall mites from their amber-trapped and finely detailed fossils, they were surprised to find just the opposite—ancient gall mites look like modern ones.7

Fresh,8 young-looking creatures9 entombed in amber seem to be the norm, challenging evolution’s long ages.10 Flora and fauna entombed in amber do not document evolutionary change. There is only stasis and extinction.

The oldest known amber containing insects is — according to evolutionary dating — 146 million years old. But what is found are animal forms that remain unchanged. Secular biologists are constantly amazed that creatures displayed in such a clear sarcophagus can be identified down to genus or even species. For example, small oak tree flowers have been found dated at “90 million years old,” but they are still oak. The same is true for the oldest feather (100% feather — not a transition from a scale), the oldest mushroom, mosquito, biting black fly, and fig wasp. All that is seen in these organisms is no change (“stasis”) or the possibility of extinction.11

The pattern continues with this recent fungus gnat that was discovered “in a 40-million-year-old piece of amber.”3 The article by the University of Copenhagen stated,

For decades, the piece had been tucked away in the [Natural History Museum of Denmark’s] 70,000-piece amber collection. Recently, it was retrieved from the drawers and subjected to a thorough examination by a team of Polish entomologists. The insect specialists were able to identify the gnat as an extinct species [Robsonomyia henningseni] from a rare genus of predatory gnats. Today, living species of the genus are only found in Hokkaido, Japan and California.3

But R. henningseni is still a gnat of the order Diptera.

There are figures of another species of Robsonomyia, R. baltica, in amber that show the gnat’s amazing details, right down to wing venation.12 Such detail indicates that the amber formed rapidly to preserve the fly almost immediately. ICR’s Brian Thomas stated,

Indeed, the speed with which resin hardens, according to well-characterized chemical polymerization reactions, is why it has been used for centuries as furniture varnish. Amber hardens rapidly in the wild. In the form of sandarac, for example, it is used as incense in Arabia and as medicine by Africans. The same chemicals that comprise the majority of naturally occurring ambers can produce amber in laboratories as well. There is every scientific reason to consider ambers as having formed rapidly.13

Pelczynska et al. indeed discovered a rare genus of Robsonomyia, but it is still a gnat, and a well-preserved one at that. It was embedded in amber, not “40-million-years” ago, but during the Flood about 4,500 years ago.

References

1. Clarey, T. New Amber Discoveries Down Under. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org April 17, 2020.
2. Thomas, B. and S. Taylor. 2019. Proteomes of the Past: The Pursuit of Proteins in Paleontology. Expert Review of Proteomics. 16 (11-12): 881-895.
3. Fungus Gnat Entombed in a 40-Million-Year-Old Piece of Amber Is a Rare Gem. University of Copenhagen. Posted on phys.org August 30, 2024. Emphasis added.
4. Thomas, B. Scan of Amber-Trapped Spider Shows Recent Origin. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org May 27, 2011.
5. Thomas, B. Fossilized Gecko Fits Creation Model. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org September 8, 2008.
6. Sadowski, E and C. Hofmann. 2023. The Largest Amber-Preserved Flower Revisited. Nature. 13, article 17.
7. Thomas, B. Why Do Creatures in Ancient Amber Look So Modern? Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org September 7, 2012.
8. Thomas, B. Amber-Encased Blood Cells Look Fresh. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org April 17, 2017.
9. Thomas, B. Cache of Amber in India Looks Young. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org November 5, 2010.
10. Thomas, B. Ancient Amber Discovery Contradicts Geologic Timescale. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org October 19, 2009.
11. Sherwin, F. 2006. Amber: A Window to the Recent Past. Acts &Facts. 35 (7).
12. Pelczynska, A. et al. Eocene Amber Provides the First Fossil Record and Bridges Distributional Gap in the Rare Genus Robsonomyia (Diptera: Keroplatidae). Nature. 14, article 9252.
13. Thomas, B. Fantastic Australian Amber Supports Young World. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org July 7, 2010.

https://www.icr.org/article/forty-million-year-old-gnat/

The Coming of the Son of Man December 4, 2024TBC Staff

When Jesus warned in Matthew:7:15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
See All... and told the people to “Beware of false prophets,” He did describe them – saying they will look remarkably like true prophets. They would be wearing “sheep’s clothing.” They would look “right,” sound “right,” and might even perform miracles, the better to deceive. It would be their fruit, i.e., their teachings, which would demonstrate whether they were true or false prophets. A favorite tactic of many pseudo-Christian cults is to reimagine the Bible as being a book about their leader and group. For example, Sun Myung Moon founded the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, more commonly known as the Unification Church, in Seoul, South Korea, in 1954. He used or rather misused the Bible and developed an “updated” book, The Divine Principle, which: inherits and builds upon the core truths which God revealed through the Jewish and Christian scriptures and encompasses the profound wisdom of the Orient.1

Moon claimed to be the Messiah and pointed to Matthew 24 as prophesying his coming: For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew:24:27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
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Moon came from the East, South Korea, and went to the West, America. What could be plainer? Moon is not the first nor is he the last to twist the Bible to make it appear to be about their group….They preach a different Jesus, a different God, and a different way of salvation. That is why the most important way to identify a false prophet cult group is to examine their teachings.  

A group that has recently come to our attention is Shincheonji Church of Jesus, founded in 1984 by Lee Man-hee. They claim to be: the 12 tribes (named after the 12 disciples) who make up the 144,000, along with “the great multitude in white” mentioned in Revelation chapter 7.2

The group is quite aggressive in evangelizing Christians and Christian churches. At the time of this writing, they have a “witnessing” campaign going on is the Orlando, FL area and college campuses in Australia.3 As an enticement they are also offering all-expense paid trips to South Korea to observe the graduating class of their university.

Unfortunately, many pastors are not only unaware of the group, but often don’t have the tools or the time to evaluate such groups. They come across with a “Christian-sounding” vocabulary but they use a different “dictionary.” Like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Shincheonji views the Book of Revelation as being all about their group. We see this in their name, “Shincheonji,” which translates as “new heaven and a new earth.”(Revelation:21:1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
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The interpretation given by Lee Man-hee is that the historical church is no longer relevant; it has been set aside and replaced by Shincheonji. How very original! A historical-grammatical contextual reading of the above passage reveals that back in Revelation 20, the thousand-year kingdom on earth ended, and Satan was loosed for a season, after which he and the anti-Christ were cast into the lake of fire and sulfur. The Great White Throne judgment had already taken place and all accounts have been settled. Chapter 21 teaches the earth and cosmos have by this time been dissolved (see also 1 Peter:3:10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
See All...) and the Apostle John wrote: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation:21:1-4 [1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
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Peter and John certainly describe a cosmos cleansed of the ravages of sin, a new heaven and a new earth in its place, God dwelling with man, and no “mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” But, we have to wonder how and why everything came to pass without our even noticing it? Looking around, NOBODY seems to have noticed it! So, we may not know “how” or even “when” all this overtook us, but we do know the “why.” It simply had to be that way to make everything now about Shincheonji, of course! Aha! Here’s a clue though – all this stuff did not occur literally.

[According to Shincheonji ] the “new heavens and new earth” are not to be understood literally (and neither are most of the events of Revelation) but this refers to the passing away of the traditional churches to be replaced by God’s kingdom of Shincheonji. The meaning of the Book of Revelation was hidden in parables so that no one in heaven or on earth has been able to understand the truth for 6,000 years until now when Revelation’s fulfillment is taking place. All of the events of Revelation have already had their physical fulfillment in South Korea in the past few decades, except for some of the events of chapters 18 to 20 which will soon be fulfilled.4

Shincheonji [also] denies the central biblical doctrine of the Trinity, and also denies Christ’s deity (and preexistence before His birth), His resurrected body (He was raised with a body that became a spirit as He ascended into the clouds), and His future glorious Second Coming. SCJ teaches that Jesus has already returned in 1966 in spirit when he started teaching his message in South Korea, the thousand-year Millennial Kingdom began in 1984, and the Great Tribulation that Jesus spoke of was the COVID-19 global pandemic.6

Hood – “the better to deceive you with, my dear.”

[TBC: For the complete article and footnotes, see:] https://midwestoutreach.org/?p=14955

Nuggets from Cosmos, Creator, and Human Destiny December 3, 2024Dave Hunt

There were influential atheists as well, showing that these men did not merely pretend to believe in God because such a belief was popular in their day. Aggasiz, Cuvier, Fleming, Kelvin, and Linnaeus were what we now call “creationists.” Kelvin openly opposed Darwinism. Newton ended his most important book with these words: “This most beautiful system of sun, planets, and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being. . . . This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God.”

The Authority of Paul's Epistles December 3, 2024TBC Staff

Periodically I encounter resistance against the authority of the Apostle Paul’s epistles. This resistance comes primarily from educated people with college degrees—usually from Adventist schools. The context for this resistance is usually my quoting the clear passages on law in Paul’s writings. For example, the books of Galatians, Colossians, and Romans explain that in the New Covenant, the law is no longer our standard of righteousness and practice. In order to avoid the implication of these statements of Paul’s, people remind me that even Peter had problems with Paul’s writings and quote, “in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort.” They conclude that because I use Paul’s writings to explain that the law ended with the inauguration of the New Covenant, I am one who is misunderstanding Paul and distorting the gospel. Several have even said they think Paul did not clearly understand the teachings of Christ, and his writings on law, therefore, cannot be taken at face value and are less reliable than the rest of the Bible. 

What about these charges? Can the writings of Paul be trusted? First, let us look at what Peter said about Paul in context.

“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction (2 Peter:3:14-16 [14] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. [15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
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Note three things here. First, Peter calls Paul “beloved”. Peter, the one who “presided” at Pentecost in Acts 2, who oversaw the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 8, and who preached the gospel to Cornelius’ household and witnessed the first Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 11—this same Peter whom God appointed to “launch” the church would not have called Paul “beloved” if he were teaching another or a distorted gospel. Second, Peter says that Paul wrote “according to the wisdom given him.” Peter clearly believed and stated that Paul received his wisdom from God. Again, Peter would not have endorsed Paul’s revealed wisdom if Paul were “off” in his teachings. Third, Peter says that some who are “unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures”. Peter includes Paul’s writings and lists them with “the rest of the Scriptures.” Furthermore, Peter ends this passage by saying that those who distort Paul’s writings as they distort the rest of Scripture do so “to their own destruction.” 

Far from diminishing the authority of Paul’s writings, this passage from 2 Peter, therefore, clearly endorses them as part of Scripture!

It is my settled conclusion that no honest student of Scripture can in any way diminish the Scriptural authority of Paul’s teachings. To do so one must discredit Luke’s accounts of God’s apostolic appointment of Paul in the book of Acts. Deductively, if one considers the book of Acts to be in question, then one must also discard the book of Luke written by the same author. As you think about the evidence of Paul’s inspiration, remember also that Peter, the leader of the disciples’ group when Christ was on earth, endorsed Paul’s writings as written with the wisdom of God and saw his writings as part of Scripture. 

—Dale Ratzlaff(1936–2024, Former Adventist Pastor, Evangelical pastor and Founder, Life Assurance Ministries).

Rethinking Evangelism for a New Spiritualism December 2, 2024TBC Staff

Recent data suggests a significant rise in “spiritual but not religious” Americans. In 2018, Ross Douthat wrote about the rise of modern paganism. He noted some forms of modern paganism “offer ritual and observance, augury and prayer,”and other practices that “promise health and well-being and good fortune.” One such form is “explicit Neo-paganism, Wiccan and otherwise.” Bianca Bosker similarly wrote for The Atlantic in 2020 about the rise in witchcraft, and some have even heralded Wicca as the fastest-growing religion in the United States.

My conversations with others about the gospel corroborate this trend. They’ve led me to wonder, Where have all the atheists gone? These broader cultural changes suggest we need a new approach to apologetics. We’re no longer trying to argue with ardent atheists but to compel impressionable spiritualists.

Let me introduce you to three friends of mine who illustrate this. They’re people with whom I’m actively sharing the gospel. None of them is a Christian (yet). But I’ve had fruitful and interesting spiritual conversations with each.

Josh (names are changed throughout) used to be our neighbor, but he’s remained a friend. He has no particular religious background—though one of his parents is nominally Catholic….For a time in his 20s, Josh was a hardened atheist. His heroes included Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins, among other new atheists. But eventually, the apparent meaninglessness of his materialistic atheism became evident to him, and that approach to life grew thin. He became skeptical of scientific claims about the world and even shared with me that the Genesis story is one of his favorites in the Bible: “The whole thing with the snake, it just makes sense! I mean, who’s to say evolution is real anyway?”

At some point in the last few years, Josh began to believe in God. More recently—as a result of a turbulent international flight—he even began to believe it’s important to have a relationship with God, which he’s pursued through prayer and meditation. But as of yet, he doesn’t believe it’s necessary to submit to a particular religious tradition.

Sarah is a server at my favorite local coffee shop. She grew up in the Midwest and moved to Nashville to pursue music. She, too, is in her early 30s and in a long-term relationship. Sarah is also into astrology—big time. She’s so into it she reposted stories on her Instagram claiming astrology could’ve predicted the assassination attempt of Donald Trump.

Sarah is kind, gracious, and hospitable. She’s noncombative about her spiritual beliefs. She’s even expressed interest in coming to our church sometime. Yet she’s devout in her commitment to her spiritual worldview.

Tyler—again, early 30s—moved to Nashville from Portland a few years….He, like Josh, was a cynical atheist, disbelieving anything beyond the natural realm. During the pandemic, however, his life and his worldview totally changed. He stopped drinking and started reading and painting. He also made friends with a modern-day shaman who introduced him to spiritual realities mediated by psychedelics.

This started a spiritual journey that led Tyler into the pews of our small church—where he’s been most Sundays for the past eight or nine months. When asked what he appreciated about our church, he said (not in these exact words) the expository preaching; the simple, nonperformative music; and the rich, hospitable community. But Tyler still isn’t a Christian. When pressed with direct questions, he admits he doesn’t think it matters whether the whole thing is “real” or not. “The Jesus story,” he once told me and a group of friends, “if it really happened—amazing. If it didn’t really happen—still amazing. Doesn’t affect me at all.”

What do all these three have in common? None of them is a Christian, yet each has a worldview shaped significantly by the supernatural, the spiritual. They’re all “spiritual but not religious.”

The growth of this new (or new again) religious category presents a challenge for Christians called to share our faith and make disciples. Many of us were trained in evangelism and apologetics focused on atheism. We were given tools designed to engage with secular, naturalistic, scientifically minded atheists. But the backdrop against which many of us now share the faith is no longer a cold, dead atheism; it’s a teeming, magical supernaturalism. This calls for different questions, different approaches, and different arguments.

But I wonder, even as we develop those new tools, if our primary work isn’t to recommit to the oldest tools we have. We mustn’t forget that the greatest resources we have for evangelism and apologetics are those we’ve always had: prayer, the Word, and the local church.

There’s nothing so powerful in turning the heart of a lost person to Jesus as prayer. There’s no word so capable of piercing a sinner’s heart as God’s Word. And there’s no plausibility structure more compelling than the living and loving church. These three tools, themselves deeply supernatural, should give us every confidence as we explore the new frontier of evangelism and apologetics in our spiritualistic age.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/evangelism-new-spiritualism/

Nuggets from Cosmos, Creator, and Human Destiny—Theism, the Foundation of Science December 1, 2024Dave Hunt

Among these brilliant theist thinkers were the following: Louis Aggasiz, founder of glacial science; Sir Francis Bacon, who established the scientific method of inquiry based on experimentation and inductive reasoning; Sir Charles Bell, first to extensively map the brain and nervous system; Robert Boyle, founder of “Boyle’s Law” for gasses; Nicolas Copernicus, who set forth the first mathematically based system of planets orbiting the sun; Georges Cuvier, founder of comparative anatomy; John Dalton, father of modern atomic theory; René Descartes, mathematician, scientist, and philosopher, called the father of modern philosophy; Jean Henri Fabre, chief founder of modern entomology; Michael Faraday, one of the greatest scientists of the nineteenth century, who revolutionized physics with his work on electricity and magnetism; James Joule, discoverer of the first law of thermodynamics; William Thomson Kelvin, among the first to clearly state the second law of thermodynamics; Johannes Kepler, mathematician, astronomer, discoverer of the laws of planetary motion; James Clerk Maxwell, formulator of the electromagnetic theory of light; Gregor Mendel, father of genetics; Sir Isaac Newton, inventor of the reflecting telescope, discoverer of the Law of Gravity,) and generally regarded as the most original and influential thinker in the history of science; Blaise Pascal, major contributor to probability studies and hydrostatics; Louis Pasteur, formulator of the germ theory—and too many others to name.

Hymns That Glorify Our Savior December 1, 2024T. A. McMahon

A few years ago, I was in a major supermarket and I was shocked by what I heard coming from the store's sound system. “Shocked” doesn't describe my reaction unless you can find abundant joy in the term. What I was hearing were words like these: "I need Thee; O, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee! O bless me now, my Saviour, I come to Thee."

To my utter delight, that hymn was followed by other ones also glorifying Jesus. Wow! I wouldn't have been surprised to see the fruit and vegetables section "celebrating" His birth. After all, He's their Creator! I spent a good part of the morning that day listening to the hymns that I'm sure I heard dozens of times. But this time I couldn't help but focus on what the spiritual lyrics were teaching.

As you know, hymns, unless they are directly from the Scriptures, are not inspired (God-breathed). Nevertheless, they do teach biblical truth and comfort when they are indeed true to His Word. What the Lord put on my heart for this newsletter is to share with you some of my favorite hymns and I'm sure you'll be blessed by how they glorify our Savior.

“O How I Love Jesus” (1 John:4:19We love him, because he first loved us.
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There is a Name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in my ear,
The sweetest Name on earth.

Refrain: Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me!

It tells me of a Savior’s love,
Who died to set me free;
It tells me of His precious blood,
The sinner’s perfect plea.

It tells me of a Father’s smile
Beaming upon His child;
It cheers me through this little while,
Through desert, waste, and wild.

It tells me what my Father hath
In store for every day,
And though I tread a darksome path,
Yields sunshine all the way.

It tells of One whose loving heart
Can feel my deepest woe;
Who in each sorrow bears a part
That none can bear below.

It bids my trembling heart rejoice;
It dries each rising tear;
It tells me, in a “still small voice,”
To trust and never fear.

Jesus, the Name I love so well,
The Name I love to hear:
No saint on earth its worth can tell,
No heart conceive how dear.

This Name shall shed its fragrance still
Along this thorny road,
Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill
That leads me up to God.

And there with all the blood-bought throng,
From sin and sorrow free,
I’ll sing the new eternal song
Of Jesus’ love for me.

“The Solid Rock” (Matthew:7:24-27 [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. [26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
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My hope is built on nothing less 

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; 

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 

but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand; 

All other ground is sinking sand. 

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face, 

I rest on His unchanging grace. 

In every high and stormy gate, 

My anchor holds within the vale. 

On Christ the solid Rock I stand; 

All other ground is sinking sand. 

All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood 

Support me in the whelming flood; 

When all around my soul gives way 

He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand; 

All other ground is sinking sand. 

All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, 

O may I then in Him be found; 

Dressed in His righteousness alone, 

Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand; 

All other ground is sinking sand. 

All other ground is sinking sand.

“Nothing but the Blood” (1 John:1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
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What can wash away my sin? 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

What can make me whole again? 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

O precious is the flow 

That makes me white as snow; 

No other fount I know; 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see: 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

For my cleansing this my plea: 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow 

That makes me white as snow; 

No other fount I know; 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone: 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

Naught of good that I have done: 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow 

That makes me white as snow; 

No other fount I know; 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace: 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my righteousness:

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow 

That makes me white as snow; 

No other fount I know; 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

“Blessed Assurance” (Isaiah:43:11I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
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Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! 

O, what a foretaste of glory divine! 

Heir of salvation, purchase of God, 

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song, 

Praising my Savior all the day long. 

This is my story, this is my song, 

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect communion, perfect delight, 

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight. 

Angels descending bring from above 

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story, this is my song, 

Praising my Savior all the day long. 

This is my story, this is my song, 

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest, 

I and my Savior am happy and blessed; 

Watching and waiting, looking above, 

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song, 

Praising my Savior all the day long. 

This is my story, this is my song, 

Praising my Savior all the day long.

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” (John:15:13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
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What a friend we have in Jesus, 

All our sins and griefs to bear! 

What a privilege to carry 

Everything to God in prayer! 

O what peace we often forfeit, 

O what needless pain we bear, 

All because we do not carry 

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? 

Is there trouble anywhere? 

We should never be discouraged; 

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful 

who will all our sorrows share? 

Jesus knows our every weakness; 

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden, 

Cumbered with a load of care? 

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer! 

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield thee; 

Thou wilt find a solace there.

“Were You There?”  (John:19:6When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
See All...)

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. 

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? 

Were you there when he rose up from the dead?

Were you there when he rose up from the dead?

Sometimes I feel like shouting 'Glory, glory, glory!'

Were you there when he rose up from the dead?

“Rock of Ages” (Acts:4:12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
See All...)

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 

let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood, 

from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure; 

save from wrath and make me pure. 

Not the labors of my hands 

can fulfill thy law's demands;
could my zeal no respite know, 

could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone; 

thou must save, and thou alone. 

Nothing in my hand I bring, 

simply to the cross I cling; 

naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace; 

foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die. 

While I draw this fleeting breath, 

when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown, 

see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 

let me hide myself in thee.

“He Died for Me” (Acts:4:12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
See All...)

He died for me, the Son of God, 

He left His home in glory
To bear the sin of all the world—

Oh, sweet and tender story!

He died for me! He died for me! 

He lives in light and glory!
Oh, let me tell to all the world 

The glad and blessèd story.

They crowned Him with a crown of thorns, 

For me He meekly wore it;
They laid on Him the heavy cross, 

For me, for me, He bore it.

He died for me! He died for me! 

He lives in light and glory!
Oh, let me tell to all the world 

The glad and blessèd story. 

His love for me can never die, 

In Heaven He standeth pleading;
He shows His side and wounded hands, 

Forever interceding. 

He died for me! He died for me! 

He lives in light and glory!
Oh, let me tell to all the world 

The glad and blessèd story.

Thou blessèd Jesus, Savior mine, 

My life, my all I owe Thee;
I long to love Thee more and more, 

I would that all might know Thee.

He died for me! He died for me! 

He lives in light and glory!
Oh, let me tell to all the world 

The glad and blessèd story.

“Joy to the World” (Psalm 16)

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! 

Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room, 

And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing, 

And heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! 

Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, 

Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, 

Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow 

Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found, 

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, 

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness, 

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love, 

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

TBC

• Question: Can I use prayer beads?
• Question: Should I "pray on" the armor of God?
• Question: "Needing to be a Berean" is unscriptural.
• Letters
• TBC Notes
• Quotable
• NewsWatch
• Dave Hunt Classic/TBC Extra

Question: Can I use prayer beads? ›

Question: Can I use prayer beads? December 1, 2024TBC Staff

Question: I struggle as a Christian to pray. I was looking at the idea of prayer beads. I know how Catholicism uses them and the other pagan religions—meditation, mantras, repetitive prayer, and mysticism. That's not my aim. I simply think they could be an aid to me. Am I way off here, or is it possible to use them this way?

Response: It is very difficult to see prayer beads as an aid when it clearly is one more thing between us and God. And in your letter, you point out that it is common to many pagan religions. That's not surprising, for the adversary wants to keep us as distant from God as possible.

It is encouraging to remember that when the Lord died on the cross, the "veil of the temple" was ripped from top to bottom (Matt:27:51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
See All...) as the Lord opened the way to "enter freely."

With this in mind, Hebrews:4:14-16 [14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
See All... shows just how open the way to the very throne of God is: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Some may "feel" they have liberty to use prayer beads, but they will find their “aid” to be one more barrier between them and the Lord.

For Catholics or other users, their rosary is actually maintaining the "social distance" from the Lord. It is part of a false gospel. 

‹ Hymns That Glorify Our Savior up Question: Should I "pray on" the armor of God? ›

Question: Should I "pray on" the armor of God? December 1, 2024TBC Staff

Question: In Ephesians:6:11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
See All..., Paul says to “put on” the armor of God. A few nights ago [someone] said she "prays on" the armor of God. This reminded me of when I was a teenager and our church youth group taught us to put on the armor of God by "praying on" the armor of God (for example, you put on the helmet of salvation by praying on the helmet of salvation, and so forth). I know in verse 18 Paul talks about praying in the spirit but is verse 18 telling us to “pray on” the armor of God? Is that even biblical? I did a little online research and could not find anything related to my question other than an overwhelming support for "praying on" the armor of God (with a few prayers even already spelled out). Something just seemed a bit off to me about this, but I want to be a Berean because the Word of God is so important to me.

Response: To begin, the Scriptures tell us to "put on the whole armor of God," not to "pray on" the whole armor. If the inspired Word of God tells us to "put on" the "whole armor," it must be there to "put on." In fact, each element is explained by Paul.

When Paul wrote his epistle to the Ephesians, he had the example of a fully equipped Roman soldier before him, which he clearly used in a metaphorical manner to illustrate the spiritual warfare we face every day.

As you pointed out, there are quite a few who teach believers to “pray on” the armor of God every day. While prayer must always be a priority, we need to be aware that “praying on” the armor of God may become a rote prayer or methodology. We have seen one positive confession advocate who has done so, and in a recent column admitted their inability to stop the negative thoughts clouding their thinking.

Ephesians:6:10-20 [10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; [19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
See All... is a battle call. Praying for our understanding and putting on the armor. We still need to put it on. Satan, our opposition, is real. He and his forces want to damage our faith, to bring confusion and discouragement. But our Lord has already won the victory.

Further, God calls us to pray at all times (Ephesians:6:18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
See All...). And prayer is the key to winning the spiritual battle. But this prayer is not reciting a methodology, but an active life of prayer. Ephesians:6:18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
See All... tells us to be “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Again, we are not simply to “pray on” the armor but to “put on the whole armor of God.” Then and only then do we walk out the door to enter the battle, which is simply life in a corrupt world. Ephesians:6:17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
See All... tells us to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” That requires action on our part, and Paul certainly urged us to be faithfully in the Word.

‹ Question: Can I use prayer beads? up Question: "Needing to be a Berean" is unscriptural. ›

Question: "Needing to be a Berean" is unscriptural. December 1, 2024TBC Staff

Question: You keep expressing the idea that "people need to be Bereans." This is misleading and unscriptural. Nowhere in the Bible does it say, "You must be a Berean." In fact, the term "Bereans" is not even found in the King James or New King James versions or the Geneva Bible (which predates the KJV Bible). Berea only occurs 3 times in the King James and New King James versions and the Geneva Bible: Acts:17:10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
See All..., 13 and Acts:20:4And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
See All.... While I agree it's true that born again Christians need to diligently search and study the Bible daily, asserting that people "need to be Bereans" goes against Paul's warning about preaching any other gospel as stated in Galatians:1:8-9 [8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
See All....

Response: To begin, your statement that there is no place in the Bible where it says "You must be a Berean" is true. But on its own, the statement becomes a false premise without "rightly dividing the Word of truth." This opens the way for all sorts of unbiblical arguments. In an exchange with a JW, for example, does their similar ploy bring us to the point of saying, "Yes, the word Trinity is not in the Bible. Guess you win..."? I don't think so.

From the beginning of the ministry we have stated (written in 1993), "That is our heart cry and calling here at The Berean Call: that we would see people developing personal discernment and, like the Bereans in Acts:17:11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
See All..., searching the Scriptures daily 'to see if these things be so.' Ultimately, each must arrive at his own position, for each is accountable to God for what he believes, not for what someone else proclaimed or taught." 

That's what we have written to folks who ask, "What does it mean to be a Berean?" That includes letters, emails, phone calls, or answering the question in newsletter Q&As. It is certainly not "misleading and unscriptural.”

Consequently, to "be a Berean" simply means that we are understanding and following the biblical example of those in Acts 17, whom Luke spoke of as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. 

You say, "...asserting that people ‘need to be Bereans’ (i.e., following their example) goes against Paul's warning about preaching any other gospel as stated in Galatians:1:8-9 [8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
See All...." We'd appreciate you giving an example of someone claiming to follow the example of the Bereans and yet "preaching another gospel….” If we find one, we better correct him!

Quite to the contrary, Paul in Romans:10:17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
See All... tells us, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." And in Acts:17:12Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
See All..., we read, "Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few." 

The example of the Bereans going to the Scriptures confirmed the gospel which Paul had preached to them. It wasn't preaching another gospel.

‹ Question: Should I "pray on" the armor of God? up Letters ›

Letters December 1, 2024Various

*Our purpose in this section is to simply show what kind of feedback we receive. We may respond to some of them in private whether or not we agree with their views. 

Dear TBC,

I love Dave Hunt as a good preacher of the faith who tells it like it is, and I am a pastor. God called me to the ministry at an old school Christian Center. I took over from when my grandpa was a minister, and now I’m a minister of the Word of God at the old school Christian Center service… [We] do street work meetings 24/7. God has called me to the ministry…to expose false prophets. We can’t cover up false teachers no more. Pastor ML (email)

Dear TBC,

My pastor of our church fellowship does expository preaching by going through the Books of the Bible, verse by verse. We are currently in the Book of Acts. I love the Word of God and certain passages really reach out to my soul. I loved how Paul in Athens engages with the people there and their reactions. Acts 17 is a great lesson for all times, especially today. DK (email)

Dear TBC,

Luke:1:28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
See All...: “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” The angel was greeting Mary and didn’t say that she was “full of grace” or that she was blessed above women. Verse 48 says, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden….” Mary herself said she was of low estate and a handmaiden. The Roman Catholic Church has elevated Mary above God Himself. It is blasphemous. As a born again Bible believer, I honor Mary, I love Mary, but I don’t pray to her, no statues of her, no rosaries or scapulars. She is not appearing all over the world. We know that Satan himself appears as an angel of light. I pray that the Catholic people would turn to the Holy Scriptures for the truth. Amen. LF (email)

Dear TBC,

I don’t let Hollywood, Sports, Political, or Spiritual stars determine what I believe. I go to what the Bible says in Scripture—not what these “leaders” are trying to convince us of. Jesus (when referring to Himself) said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me” (John:14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
See All...). We do not get there (eternal salvation) through a Catholic priest, a Protestant pastor, or a Muslim imam. Please, people; listen to what is being exposed in this YouTube video [At Home in Rome, see—www.bit.ly/HomeInRome]. There is no such Biblical truth as “Unity Through Community” as these false teachers like Rick Warren, Dallas Jenkins, or Jonathan Roumie are trying to tell you in their false teaching. Anon. (email)

Dear TBC,

Amen and Amen for your honesty about Rome! The reprint of Dave Hunt’s “GOD’s Nonnegotiable Gospel” in the June newsletter is of course timeless in its truth (see—www.bit.ly/40ZVtE2). Personally, as one dear soul saved out of Rome in the early 1980s, the statement that hearing the true gospel away from Catholicism is SO true. When I heard/read Ephesians:2:8-9 [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
See All... for the first time in a Bible church, my only thought was “where has this been in my then 30-plus years of living?” I certainly never heard it at Mass nor in 11 years of Catholic school. The answer of course is that these verses had always been available and Praise the LORD for His salvation! Thank you again for being Bereans and for sharing the truth about Rome. KS (email)

‹ Question: "Needing to be a Berean" is unscriptural. up TBC Notes ›

TBC Notes December 1, 2024T. A. McMahon

HAS THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION CHANGED YOUR HOPE?

In last month's newsletter I asked the question to all who voted, "Did the election results change their hope?" My purpose was to get the reader to think about what he or she was placing his hope in. Sadly, many have put their hope in results that have no eternal value. Neither presidential candidate could go beyond the temporal issues of life. If that's the case regarding our hope as believers, Paul said in 1 Corinthians:15:19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
See All..., "If in this [temporal] life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."  No. We have God's promise, to those who put their trust in Him, that we are going to be with Him forever. Titus:1:2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
See All... tells us, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” As believers in Jesus, we believe His Word—certainly His promise. Again, "Has the outcome of the election changed your hope?"

T. A. McMahon

President

‹ Letters up Quotable ›

Quotable December 1, 2024Various

“Be Still, My Soul”

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
 

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
 

Be still, my soul; when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the veil of tears,
then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
from His own fullness all He takes away.
 

Be still, my soul; the hour is hast'ning on

when we shall be forever with the Lord,

when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,

all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

—Catharina von Schlegel (1752); translated by Jane Borthwick (1855)

‹ TBC Notes up NewsWatch ›

NewsWatch December 1, 2024Various

How to Freeze a Turtle

CreationMoments.com, 8/27/24, “How to Freeze a Turtle” [Excerpts]: After mid-June, painted turtles begin to lay their eggs. Each nest holds from seven to nine eggs. Some females will make two nests. The eggs are buried, safely out of sight of predators, and the mother turtle returns to her normal habitat. The young hatch in ten or eleven weeks. However, they remain buried in the ground, and therefore safe from predators, all winter. The problem is that turtles freeze solid at the temperatures found at nest depth in the winter. When living cells freeze, the long, sharp ice crystals that form in them puncture the cell membrane, killing the cell.

As the baby turtles freeze, even the heart and brain eventually freeze. There is no breathing and no heartbeat. Only a tiny bit of electrical activity in the frozen brain reveals that life remains in the body. Why don’t ice crystals rupture the cells? The young turtle’s liver makes special proteins that are circulated to every cell in the body. These proteins ensure the formation of very small ice crystals that cannot become large enough to puncture delicate cell walls.

Only God could have invented such a unique method of protecting tiny painted turtles. Even scientists marvel at this.

https://bit.ly/3O0RXkQ

Columbia students ‘take out’ Jewish professor 

TheCollegeFix.com, 8/27/24, “Imam tells Columbia students to ‘take out’ Jewish professor” [Excerpts]: An imam told Columbia University students to “take out” a Jewish professor during an event last week hosted by a pro-Palestinian group, according to a video on X.

A few days later, the Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said Instagram “permanently” banned it from the platform. It is not clear if the two incidents are related.

Shai Davidai, a Jewish professor at the Columbia Business School, posted the video. He wrote on X that Students for Justice in Palestine is a “pro-terror organization” and should be permanently banned from campus.

Davidai said the comments targeting him occurred during a public webinar titled “Islamic Political Activism” on Aug. 20 with Imam Tom Facchine. He posted a screenshot of a poster advertising the event on the Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine’s Instagram page.

According to the professor’s post, Facchine mentioned Davidai by name during the event and told students to “create a situation” to get him “in trouble.” Davidai is Israeli and calls himself a Zionist on his X profile.

“How do we create a situation in which [his professorship is] in jeopardy?” Facchine said in the video.

https://bit.ly/4fEmD7g

The Endless Pursuit

InTruthSheDelights.com, 5/28/24, “The Endless Pursuit of God’s Presence in the Hyper-charismatic Movement” [Excerpts]: If you know anything about the hyper-charismatic movement, then you know one of the things it stands out for, is its fervent pursuit of God’s presence…. Yet, beneath the surface of this passionate quest lies a subtle danger. The danger of it becomes an all-consuming obsession that leads believers into a relentless cycle of seeking more and more spiritual highs and emotional experiences.

An experience-driven faith can indeed lead believers into a labyrinth of pitfalls. The first of which is the creation of a dependency on emotional highs for spiritual validation. Having a relationship with God becomes synonymous with the intensity of emotional fervor or the frequency of spiritual encounters.

However, when believers come to equate God’s presence solely with intense emotional or supernatural experiences, they inadvertently set themselves up for a shallow and unsustainable faith.

This experience is profoundly wearisome and stands in stark contrast to the rest that Christ promises. In Matthew:11:28-30 [28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
See All..., Jesus extends the following invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Here, Jesus offers a different kind of relationship. A relationship characterized by rest rather than striving and exhaustion.

https://bit.ly/40DPKDM

‹ Quotable up Dave Hunt Classic/TBC Extra ›

Nuggets from Cosmos, Creator, and Human Destiny November 29, 2024Dave Hunt

Yes, other cultures made valuable contributions such as the Arabic-Hindu number system and some advances in mathematics and engineering such as those used in building pyramids not only in Egypt but in South America, the South Sea Islands, and elsewhere. But these non-Christians “. . . did not discover the laws of . . . gravity . . . thermodynamics . . . chemistry . . . heredity . . . biogenesis, etc. If you take any introductory undergraduate textbook in physics, chemistry, biology, genetics, physiology, paleontology, etc., it is not hard to point to the knowledge that is indebted to the work of these [European scientists who were staunch Christians]. But you would find very little that is indebted to Greek, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist philosophers. . . . Instead of measuring energy in joules, why don’t we measure it in platos or al-Asharis?”