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Of blasphemers and antichrists: Pro-abortion, gay affirming, pronoun using “Reverend” Haley Lerner

Posted on July 7, 2022July 7, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The issue in large scale perspective

Let’s start by being very clear with the basis: Women are not biblically qualified to preach or teach in authority over men in church. This means women are unqualified to be ordained or as layperson to serve in church as bishops, deacons, pastors (senior pastor, youth pastor, lead pastor, worship pastor, whatever you want to call the office), elders, and so on. Please read through this first part first. It’s the foundation.

But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. (1 Timothy 2:12).

Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. (1 Corinthians 14:34). In 1 Corinthians 14:35 we learn that it is improper for a woman to preach. The word ‘improper’ in the Greek means shameful, disgraceful. (Source)

This standard of men-only preaching does not exist because God thinks the lesser of women. It’s not because of misogyny. It’s not because the Bible is old and we’ve ‘evolved’ in gender roles by now. God is the same, there is no shadow of turning in Him and He has always held to the same standards. (James 1:17).

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theology

You cannot pet sin, it will always bite you

Posted on July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Then Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house which he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places where the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.” (2 Chronicles 8:11).

Ohhh, Solomon /smh/. But aren’t we all like Solomon? Dancing with a bit of sin over here, rationalizing that because we’re doing such and such correctly over there, this little bit over here will be OK. Petting a bit of sin, forgetting that it is a lion that will bite us in the end. Let’s go back a bit for context:

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curse, encouragement, Garden, garden of eden, gethsemane

Two Gardens: Eden and Gethsemane

Posted on July 5, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:8-9).

It’s July. It’s garden season. Everyone in this rural county in North Georgia has a garden, it seems. The tomatoes and yellow squash are coming in gangbusters. People around here are self-sufficient. They know how to fish for lunch, shoot dinner, maintain a garden, skin a deer, and BBQ a hog. They keep their tractors running and their farms afloat.

It’s pretty here, too. As a result from working the land, people cherish their land. They are good caretakers.

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theology

True Freedom

Posted on July 4, 2022July 4, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Freedom can be defined in different ways and has been, at different times in history. But as we celebrate our freedom today, 4th of July Independence Day here in the US, we celebrate the fact that on July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson, says History.com. We declared our separation from Great Britain, and from the oppressive taxes and micromanagement of the King’s governing of us. We wanted to be a free people.

For 246 years we have been enjoying the civic and political freedoms our Constitution has afforded us. But Christians know that the only true freedom is in Christ. Non-believers are slaves to their sin, there is no escaping the bondage to which they are joined. Believers are freed from our past sins, and freed from the power of sun as we progressively become sanctified, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus’ life, who died on the cross.

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25)

Christ freed us!

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1).

Slavery to sin is the worst slavery of all. But you do not have to be subject to its laws and its oppression. Repent, believe on the Son, and be free today!

joy, Kay Cude, poetry

Kay Cude: All Joy

Posted on July 3, 2022 by elizabethprata

Kay Cude poetry. Used with permission. Kay Cude is a Texas Poet. Right-click to open larger in new tab

baptism, encouragement, holy spirit

An encouraging day in Christ!

Posted on July 2, 2022 by elizabethprata

What a wonderful wonderful day. We are so blessed as Christians, BLESSED!

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

I sing praises to the Savior who hears prayer. I thank the Holy Spirit for moving in the two people at our campground ministry to be baptized in the river today. There is nothing greater than a regenerated heart, saved by grace.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

I praise and thank the Savior for drawing many to Him, some of whom are emerging from besetting sins to once again live a holy life in these last days.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

I praise Him for raising up good pastors who preach the word from the Living Water and edify their sheep.

What a refreshing, encouraging day. The Holy Spirit is moving in the world, maybe not widely, but deeply, soul by soul.

He is as ever, open for business.

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:21)

theology

Putting your thumb on mercury

Posted on July 1, 2022July 1, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

When I was a kid I liked to do science experiments. Once, my parents got me a microscope kit with slides containing amoebas and stuff. Another time I took a pill from one of the prescription bottles in the bathroom and put it in the sink with water to see if it would melt. I had no idea that the capsule contained the medicine powder inside. THAT would have been fun to break apart and see.

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theology

Lois and Eunice, Euodia and Syntyche

Posted on June 30, 2022June 30, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Depiction of Eunice and Timothy by Henry Lejeune.

Mamas. They are beloved in the south. I’m sure they are beloved elsewhere of course, but daughters here in the south call their mothers ‘mama’ and they set a great store by them.

Mamas here also seem to live a long time. 90, 100 years lifespan is common. These women are active into their 80s and 90s too. They can shoot a deer, process a pig, bake a pie, clean the house, and host the family reunion all in one day.

OK slight exaggeration but not much.

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theology

What is ‘The Millo’?

Posted on June 29, 2022June 29, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

“I’ll meet you at the place near the thing where we went that time.”

That is one of my all-time favorite movie lines. It comes from the 1987 Rom-Com movie “Broadcast News”, starring Holly Hunter and Albert Brooks. The line was spoken by Albert Brooks as character Aaron Altman, to Holly Hunter’s character Jane Craig. The two were colleagues at a broadcast news station, she was the producer and he was the reporter. They were close friends, who not only worked together but went out platonically (though Aaron wanted more. That was the ‘Rom’).

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theology

Michal: The Wrong Foundation for Marriage

Posted on June 28, 2022June 28, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Has any marriage in the Bible based on murder and trickery ever gone well? Has any marriage not based on a mutual love for God gone well? I think no. The hot flush of infatuation wanes and then all the spouse is left with is scorn and disdain. The roots of the marriage, if not based on God, will wither and die and all sorts of misbehavior will influx and overwhelm the once passionate heart.

Witness: Michal

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