By Elizabeth Prata
I’m an educator. That means summers off (we don’t get paid), and time to refresh from the bustle of the school year. Also, time to enjoy whatever it is we like to enjoy. For me that is reading, being at home, and surfing the web. I like watching Youtube of thrifting videos, cat videos, design videos, and cop videos. I also like Korean dramas on Netflix. I did the free trial week of Hallmark Movies Now that’s part of Amazon Prime because I had found “Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries” with Jesse Metcalfe. I thought there were 5 MVM movies but there are only 4.
I love Signed, Sealed, Delivered on Hallmark Now Movies, too, and watched a few of those, but overall, I decided not to pay the extra. I already pay enough for streaming with Amazon, Hulu Netflix, and Pandora.
But now summer is ending. I have a few more days then I go back to work. The kids come August 4. August is usually hard, I go from 100% sedentary to 100% busy in one day flat, with treading miles on the concrete floors for 8 hours. I come home tired till I adjust.
I’ve enjoyed the luxury of time, time to write these blogs and record these podcasts. The ‘Potpourri’ blogs actually take a lot longer to put together than just researching and writing one. Here is what I found for you online these last 2 weeks that I think may be of interest:
Janet Mefferd is a true journalist, a true Christian journalist, writing on important topics related to Christian personalities or Christian church life. She has been a solid journalist for a long time. From her experience and perspective she sees a decline in Christian journalism, and outlines the why and how, here
The Scandal of Christian Muckraking
Tim Challies is known for a lot of things- book reviewer, pastor, blogger, videographer. He has developed a niche in his writing that he is also known for: sexual issues for men, including pornography. He wrote the book Sexual Detox for men. Afterward, he said he received so many emails asking about wives’ sexual issues, that his wife Aileen wrote a short treatment on that subject as well. It is downloadable, and it’s titled “False Messages: A Guide for the Godly Bride.” It’s free and you can freely distribute it. It seeks to guide you as a woman, to a biblical view of sexuality.
Speaking of Godly women, did you know that Susan J. Heck, her ministry titled “With the Master,” offers 250 lessons here? Susan is a solid teacher. FYI: https://www.youtube.com/@WiththeMaster
Seaking of videos, here is a link to a free documentary about the Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon called “Through the Eyes of Spurgeon“. It’s the official documentary. Free.
I do grumble sometimes. Mainly to myself. But sadly I also complain sometimes in public: about the weather, the workload, the aching bones, whatever. Both grumbling and complaining are sins. Here we have Marci Ferrell the Thankful Homemaker offering ways to be dealing with our grumbling and complaining. She gives a short written intro and then the podcast explains more. Recommended!
I have done some light genealogy over the years. I visited Ellis Island that 2 grandparents and 2 great-grandparents came through. I have read the Ellis Island ship manifests and found their names. It’s fascinating.
@itskellydiane on Twitter and Instagram gives some helpful tips if you are into genealogy. She writes- “I’ve been doing genealogy research for over seven years and I’m a member of the DAR who taught me a lot about historical research and documents. If this is helpful for anyone, here’s some things I’ve learned that have helped me over the years.”
Demons are a biblical subject but not one spoken of very frequently, at least among true Christians. The false Christians tell us that demons lurk around every corner and every sin is really just a demon that we can cast out. But is that true? Here, the Bible Thumping Wingnut Tim Hurd offers a clip from John MacArthur answering an audience question about demons. (short video). As always with JMac, the answer is full of wisdom.
By the way, in that clip, Dr MacArthur references an incident that occurred in his office. He has been preaching for 54 years. He said that only about three times has he actually been involved with an actual demon. Once was in 2000, 23 years ago now, which he mentions in this sermon. But he goes into deeper detail of another incident that he references in the BTWN clip of a demon possessed girl in his office back in early 1970s. He and a man named Jerry were trying to help this gal and they tried all sorts of things to ‘exorcise’ it or ‘bind it’ but only ONE THING helped. You can read or listen the longer and detailed account of that incident, here, embedded in this sermon on Luke 4
“Jesus’ Authority Over Demons” part 2
Lately a lot of the questions or comments I receive revolve more around marital issues than doctrinal issues. I know that everything at root is doctrinal, but more questions have been coming to me on the topic of relational issues. I find that interesting. Maybe a lot of people are having issues in that sphere now. So I include this from Challies, “If Satan Took Up Marriage Counseling“:
Here’s a budget friendly blog from Jessica Fisher on Good Cheap Eats about How to Stop Eating Out. I do not eat out. I have so many food intolerances that the only thing I’d be able to eat at a restaurant is the napkin. But I’ve noticed that food prices at the grocery store are 3X higher than this time last year, and they were high then too. Even if I didn’t have food intolerances I don’t think I’d feel good paying $12 for a cheese quesadilla or $5 for a cup of coffee. Those prices are now showing up in restaurant fare. Eating out is expensive. Here is a blog on How to Stop Eating Out.
Finally, here is a page from a blog called Atlas Obscura. It presents the enchanting Wisteria Vines of Japan. God created this world and He chose to make it beautiful. Enjoy –
the-end-time.org 
Dear Elizabeth, thank you so much for writing your blogs to challenge and uplift your readers. You are a blessing and will be a blessing to the kids that surround you this school year. Enjoy each day!
LikeLike
you’re welcome! And thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person