theology

Cast into hell

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Revelation 20:12-15

“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Hell is not a pleasant Bible concept to ponder. So most of the time, Christians don’t. But it’s the end-all of the journey for millions and billions of people. Forever. So we must.

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theology

Kay Cude: The Beast from the Earth

Posted on January 3, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Kay Cude is a Texas Poet. Used with permission

theology

The ordinary pastors

Posted on January 2, 2021January 2, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sproul has passed on, Piper’s retired, JMac is aging, and Steve Lawson isn’t far behind. Voddie is getting there, and Washer had a heart attack. I frequently hear, “Where is the upcoming crop of pastors? Where are the next faithful men of God? What will we doooo?”

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theology

Outlook for 2021: A Time of Judges?

Posted on January 1, 2021January 1, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Does it bother anyone that the literal name of this new year is “2020 won”?

LOL I didn’t make that line up, I saw it on Twitter. It’s true, though, isn’t it? I feel like I’ve gone through 2020 with Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta. Beaten up from pillar to post, knocked down only to get up and be knocked down again, emerging from the year battered and bloody and barely standing. I guess the ‘difficult times’ finally came to America. (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

2020 felt like the Time of Judges. If you are skeptical, look at this summary of the Book of Judges and see if it doesn’t fit:

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theology

2020 in Review

Posted on December 31, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The year 2020 is over today. And here I thought 1968 was bad. I didn’t know nuthin’. I was so much older then. I’m younger than that now.

I think it’s good to ‘take stock’ and look back over the highs and lows, goals met and goals abandoned. People here and people gone. The stream of life is ever moving, an increasingly rapidly rushing brook that widens and bounds faster as it hurtles downhill to its source. It’s helpful to see where I’ve been and then resolutely turn my head to look forward. I’m not one to dwell.

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theology

Being a light amid the darkness

Posted on December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

As the virus called COVID-19 and government responses to it continue to tramp around the world and encroach on normal lives, there have been effects. Terrible effects. In many cases the effects of the various local and global governments’ response have been worse than the virus itself.

Suicide and food scarcity are two of the worst effects of the lockdowns but they are silent and hidden.

food insecurity is on the rise. Prata photo

On December 7, the US Global Leadership Coalition issued a white paper warning of “a looming food crisis.” In it, they list some devastating facts.

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theology

What is discernment and how does it work? Like a pot of boiling water…

Posted on December 28, 2020December 28, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Two days ago I published an update to the Ravi Zacharias situation here on this blog. I’d posted about the man other times, first in 2016, later that year here, and again in 2019. With the news that the Ravi Zacharias International Ministry (RZIM) had engaged a private investigative company to look into certain allegations against the now-departed Ravi, and that the Ministry announced this week allegations seemed to have merit, I published those facts Saturday.

No one likes it when a tower falls. Ravi was globally well known, a Christian celebrity if you will. His many decades of apologist speeches all over the world had affected many. Of course we would all prefer that any man of faith stay above reproach, but sadly, many do not. The Bible is replete with these sad facts, and it addresses them forthrightly.

WHAT IS DISCERNMENT?

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theology

About the Ravi Zacharias situation… (Updated)

Posted on December 26, 2020January 3, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata**

Update below

In 2016 I wrote an essay looking into Ravi Zacharias and his ministry for discernment purposes. I titled it, “On Discerning Ravi Zacharias: It’s time to say what needs to be said“. I phrased it that way because even though the Bible calls us all to be Bereans (Acts 17:11) and search for truth and confirmation, and that doing so is ‘noble’, looking into the doctrine or integrity of a popular and globally known Bible teacher/apologist/evangelist is often called divisive. As if the more famous people like Billy Graham or Beth Moore or Ravi get a pass.

They don’t.

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theology

The Babe

Posted on December 25, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7).

Think of Jesus, divesting Himself of His majesty agreeing to become flesh. To incarnate. He lowered himself from His throne as King of all the universe, to be born as helpless babe, in poverty, in obscurity. He didn’t come as a boy, able to run away from danger or to feed and manage for himself. He didn’t come as a man, able to protect himself from dangers all around. He came as a newborn baby. Totally helpless. Total reliance on others.

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advent, theology

Advent- Thirty Days of Jesus: Day 27, He Rises

Posted on December 24, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Christmas advent. We are coming toward the end of our look at the life of Jesus through scripture. The first section of His life was seen through verses focused on prophecy, arrival, and early life.

The next section of verses looked at Him as the Son, second person of the Trinity.

We proceeded into looking at Jesus as the Son and His preeminence, His works, and His ministry. Under ministry & works, I chose verses showing His attributes and aspects of being servant, teacher, shepherd, intercessor, and compassionate healer; and His attributes of omniscience, having all authority and power, and sinlessness. Continue reading “Advent- Thirty Days of Jesus: Day 27, He Rises” →