By Elizabeth Prata
As summer wanes, the beachgoers drift away, routines gear back up…and now we have a Prata Potpourri of links for you!
Do you like to imagine the reunions occurring in heaven? I do. Of course we are excited to meet Jesus in person. We also like to think of our joy when meeting departed loved ones. Mothers who have lost babies. Parents with grown children once again. MacArthur and Sproul. I love to think of John MacArthur’s meeting with his hero Apostle Paul. Imagine, we will meet and be with all the Bible people! I want to meet Dorcas, Lydia, the Woman at the Well…
Meanwhile here I am on earth repeating this verse from Galatians 6:9 more and more as I get older,
“Let us not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.”
Friends, trust that if you are serving Jesus, you ARE doing good. Refresh yourself with His word when you do become weary, and think on the goodness and greatness of our blessed future in heaven!
On to some encouraging and helpful links-
ACBC counselor Susan Heck with a good article about “How to Speak the Truth in Love”. I know I have a hard time finding both the courage to do it and the balance between being firm on truth and gentle on love. Here’s Susan: How to Speak the Truth in Love
Phil Johnson is a strong defender of the faith, an excellent writer, a pastor of his GraceLife class where he regularly preaches, and has buckets of discernment. Here is Phil on the doctrine of cessationism in an article titled Did Tongues Cease or Not?
by Phil Johnson, “Time to face honestly the reality that contemporary charismata aren’t anything like the original Pentecostal miracles. Let’s not be too quick to write off cessationism.”
False teachings and false teachers are as common as sand on the beach nowadays. How can you be safe from falling into error or drawn into thinking wrongly? Here is Sharon Lareau at CHapter 3 Ministries with a Discernment Pocket Guide. She writes:
Going to church, a Bible study, or a Christian conference? About to start a Christian book, listen to a Christian podcast, or read a Christian blog post? Whatever Christian content you are about to take in, don’t forget your Bible, discernment, and this guide. They can help you to avoid or escape the snare of false teachings.
Technology, eh? It’s everywhere. It existed in the Israelite days of the Exodus too. Here is Tony Reinke with an essay about that and how we can learn from the warnings given to the wandering Hebrews back then. He wrote in Tech in the Promised Land,
In this we behold the generosity of the Creator’s covenantal love and the spring of human innovation, his created order, a globe stuffed with elements he invented, created, and distributed throughout the earth at his pre-determined scale, depth, and location — a sort of bait to lure discovery and invention from us, to behold God’s ancient generosity to us in the new, shiny things we make today.
The Gospel Coalition produced its own AI statement, and takes use of AI to task. They also outlined their expectations for contributors. It’s their “Line in the Sand“, saying-
“But it’s not writing. Even when it’s created at the behest of a human’s creative prompt and detailed parameters, and even when it’s just assisting a human who has real writing chops, AI-fashioned content doesn’t deserve to be called writing.”
If you prefer to listen rather than read, here are a few worthy podcasts for you.
The Women’s Hope podcast just finished a 2 part series on Esther’s Steadfast Courage Amid Fear. Dr. Shelbi Cullen and Kimberly Cummings have produced a series of episodes inspired by Shelbi’s new book, “Steadfast in Every Season: Seeing God’s Faithfulness in the Lives of Women of the Bible.”
In this episode, Kim and Shelbi look at the story of Esther and her example of courageous trust in the Lord’s providence.
You can listen at their website, Spotify, Apple, or the other usual locations.
Amy Spreeman and Michelle Lesley at A Word Fitly Spoken offer some insights about Aging with Grace for Godly Women. It’s a 3-part series. We are all getting up there, aren’t we. One day I was 24, had limitless energy, and was starting a teaching career. Now I’m worn out, looking a retirement, and living at the pointy end of the spear with the verse ‘life is a vapor’ ringing in my ears. If you are young and reading this, someday you will be where I am and you will be acknowledging life’s rapid progression. The ladies wrote:
Tonight, in part 1, we’re going to take a look at what Scripture says about aging. What does Scripture tell us to think about aging and to do as we age? Grab your Bible and let’s study these passages together.
In the entertainment arenas we have World Magazine with a list of coming attractions this fall in TV and movies. This past summer I started a loyalty program at the movie theater. I’d wanted to see The Sheep Detectives. I joined so I could get points and a reduced matinee ticket. Since I wasn’t working during the summer I thought a matinee would be a fun thing to do on some hot summer days. Well, that was the only movie I went to! I thought I’d be going every Tuesday. But there simply aren’t movies I am interested in. So many entertainments are too gruesome for me. Maybe some of these upcoming productions will tickle your fancy- World: Coming Soon. One of the listings caught my eye- an updated version of Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence.
I saw on Amazon Prime video that they offer the 1961 TV show Hazel. Shirley Booth was so terrific in this show, where she works as a maid/housekeeper for the Baxters. Hazel is optimistic, irrepressible, spunky, and ever watchable. Black and white in the early seasons, and totally family friendly. Sad to say that often the term ‘family friendly’ also means boring or childish, but this show is not either of those. If you’re looking for a good show to watch, I’d try Hazel.
At Apartment Therapy we learn “They removed the brick fireplace- and they don’t regret it” Dun dun dun! LOL, I love design and decor. I also love ‘before and afters’- take a gander at how this couple re-designed their space before and after.
the-end-time.org 