Posted in theology

Outlook for 2021: A Time of Judges?

Posted on 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:

Continue reading “Outlook for 2021: A Time of Judges?” →
Posted in theology

2020 in Review

Posted on 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.

Continue reading “2020 in Review” →
Posted in theology

Being a light amid the darkness

Posted on 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.

Continue reading “Being a light amid the darkness” →
Posted in prophecy, Uncategorized

Advent- Thirty Days of Jesus: Postlude 2, Like the Sun

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Christmas means baby Jesus. Everybody loves the baby. The swaddling clothes (so cute!) the manger (awww, really?), the Wise Man (distinguished solemnity). It is a tremendous story. It is THE story of all of history. God Himself came in flesh, incarnated solely to grow, live a perfect life, and die. Continue reading “Advent- Thirty Days of Jesus: Postlude 2, Like the Sun” →

Posted in theology

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

Posted on 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?

Continue reading “What is discernment and how does it work? Like a pot of boiling water…” →
Posted in prophecy, Uncategorized

Advent: Thirty Days of Jesus: Postlude 1, He is coming again

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

thirty days of jesus postlude 1
Further Reading:

GTY blog/sermon link: Christmas Future

Spurgeon: Watching for Christ’s Coming

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thirty Days of Jesus Series-

Introduction/Background
Day 1: The Virgin shall conceive
Day 2: A shoot from Jesse
Day 3: God sent His Son in the fullness of time
Day 4:  Marry her, she will bear a Son
Day 5: The Babe has arrived!
Day 6: The Glory of Jesus
Day 7: Magi seek the Child
Day 8: The Magi offer gifts & worship
Day 9: The Child Grew
Day 10: The boy Jesus at the Temple
Day 11: He was Obedient!
Day 12: The Son!
Day 13: God is pleased with His Son
Day 14: Propitiation
Day 15: The gift of eternal life
Day 16: Two Kingdoms
Day 17: Jesus’ Preeminence
Day 18: Jesus is highest king
Day 19: Jesus emptied Himself
Day 20: Jesus as Teacher
Day 21: Jesus as Shepherd
Day 22, Jesus as Intercessor
Day 23: Jesus as Compassionate Healer
Day 24: Jesus as Omniscient
Day 25: Jesus’ Authority
Day 26: Jesus’ Sinlessness
Day 27: He rises!
Day 28: Resurrection is of central importance
Day 29: Ascension
Day 30: He sat down

Posted in theology

About the Ravi Zacharias situation… (Updated)

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata**

Update below

Source Wikipedia

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.

Continue reading “About the Ravi Zacharias situation… (Updated)” →
Posted in prophecy, Uncategorized

Advent: Thirty Days of Jesus- Day 29, Ascension

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

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’s 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 29, Ascension” →

Posted in theology

The Babe

Posted on 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.

Continue reading “The Babe” →