Movie review: Becoming Santa

Posted on December 20, 2013May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

The minute you mention “documentary,” people turn off. But a documentary oftentimes is no different than reality TV, which many say they love.

The movie I’m reviewing is called Becoming Santa, and it is a reality TV movie-length exploration of one man’s decision to “become Santa” for a Christmas season.

The film focuses mostly on Jack Sanderson, a 44-year-old LA native. When a 97-minute movie centers around one character, it’s important that the character be likable. Jack is. He is intelligent, witty, humble, self-effacing, and sweet. He is a delight to watch.

The story is simple. Jack finds himself alone one Christmas, his mom having died previously and then his dad having died recently. He’s by himself, in middle age, wondering where his Christmas spirit went. He decides to try jogging his spirits alive by posing as Santa for the holiday.

There is a lot more to becoming Santa than one may think. The settings differ and so do the logistics. There is Santa in a parade, Santa ringing the bell outside on the corner, Santa visiting children in hospital or orphanages, Santa on the Polar Express, and of course the Department Store Santa. Jack decides to purchase a Santa suit (which one? There’s lots!), dye his natural beard white, and attend a Santa School to learn what it’s all about.

The lady running the Santa school initially seems like a flake, but there is a method to her madness. It is here in these scenes where we discover just how much there is to being Santa. It is a heavy responsibility and much more than saying ho ho ho. For example, how does one respond to a child who tearfully asks Santa to get his divorced parents back together? Or to ensure his cancer-ridden sister is healed? How to comfort a child whose parent is serving overseas? Is it hard to be likable all day? And in one wry comment, Jack mentions the back-ache inducing heaviness of America’s children.

The film intersperses scenes of Jack becoming Santa with clips of the history of Santa (interesting! And weird! and a little offensive!), interviews the descendants of the very first Department store Santa, peeks behind the scenes at the NYC USPS, which actually reads every Dear Santa letter and actually does try to help. The film also shows the behind the scenes peeks at how Santa gets to and from different venues, and offers moving interviews with experienced Santas. The film doesn’t hide the sweet sadness of the after-Christmas let-down, and one Santa even openly discusses his post-season depression.

Along the way, Jack is funny and sweet as he learns the ropes. The Santa School teacher explained that Jack is a natural and has the potential to be one of the best Santas she has ever seen. Whether he will do another season is the question. All the other Santas said that if you do more than one, you have become Santa.

There is no profanity that I remember, no lewdness, nothing untoward which might offend. I’m not a Santa fan but this film was sweet. Ultimately, it was about one man trying to find meaning to the season and to his life, which, of course, is sad because devoid of Jesus, there is no meaning. It is a clean, charming, feel-good movie. I hope Jack finds the reason for the season someday, but in the meantime, it is a good film and I very much recommend it.

On Hulu, Netflix, and also on Snagfilms.com (free)

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

Should Phil Robertson have been graphic in describing the homosexual act?

Posted on December 20, 2013May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

How helpful or unhelpful were the remarks Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty made in the January 2014 edition of GQ about the graphic nature of the homosexual act?

In the wide-ranging interview several comments specifically have caused a firestorm. I wrote about my interpretation why there was such an explosion in a previous blog entry. Today I’ve been mulling over the graphic nature of Phil’s comments. I won’t repeat them here, but suffice to say, he used the correct names for the body parts in describing the homosexual act and summed it up by saying the act is “illogical.”

Many people are calling Phil’s anatomically correct portion of the interview an unhelpful part of the conversation, as did I. But I’ve been thinking, IS it unhelpful to be biologically straightforward in plainly describing homosexuality? It brought to mind the article published last August (2013) by Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman in the Grand Cayman Islands and a Council member with The Gospel Coalition, the website where the essay was published. It is called,

The Importance of Your Gag Reflex When Discussing Homosexuality and “Gay Marriage”

The “ick factor” is part of the issue and the liberals and homosexuals promoting its normalcy have been successful in covering that up and diverting our attention to the less ‘icky’ parts of the issue they want us to focus on.

In Anyabwile’s article above, he wrote of how he was invited to attend a high-level think tank discussion in Washington DC ten years ago to discuss “long-standing research consensus on family structure.” Of course the discussion soon edged over to homosexual marriage, and it is here that Pastor Anyabwile makes his observations. At the meeting, there were five diversionary tactics the advocate for gay marriage used, now cemented as homosexual marriage advocacy talking points in the years since:

Seize upon politeness. Turns out that being civil about indecency actually hurts the traditional cause.
Minimize conjugality. With most of the room nodding, he then began to divorce (no pun intended) marriage from its conjugal nature.
Remove the “yuck factor.” Our advocate friend was keenly aware that any conversation about “what goes on in bedrooms” was death to his cause. So, he privatized those realities and their implications for what we view as “normal” or “acceptable,” and focused on other things (rights, etc.). He pointed out that most people have a visceral reaction, a gag reflex, when they think about sex between two men or two women. That deep-in-the-stomach gagging was symptomatic of an even deeper moral opposition to sodomy and other homosexual practices. He told us that this gag reflex should not and could not be allowed to affect the debate.
Emphasize love and commitment. Then the winds picked up. If marriage wasn’t about the conjugal relationship, what was it about? “Love and commitment” we were told. “What’s wrong with two people finding love?”
Call for “rights” and “equality.” If marriage was merely about love, and such love ought to be protected via government-recognized rights, then “gay marriage” should receive those same protections and rights.

Pastor Anyabwile was amazed at the confidence, winsomeness and brilliance of the liberal man in constructing and presenting his arguments. He said, “Here’s what I failed to do then and I’m convinced is necessary now: respond in this way,” [in part]

“Return the discussion to sexual behavior in all its yuckiest gag-inducing truth. Now to do this, we’re simply going to have accept the fact that we aren’t going to be liked. We’re going to be branded “mean” and “bigoted.” We should not in fact be mean and bigoted. We should speak the truth in love. But the consequence will be a nasty brand from the culture. I should say branded again because we’ve already been given those labels simply for being Christians. So, we don’t have much to lose and we just might re-gain some footing in this debate. What do I mean by returning the yuck factor? Consider how many times you’ve read the word “gay” or “homosexual” in this post without thinking about the actual behaviors those terms represent. “Gay” and “homosexual” are polite terms for an ugly practice.”

Anyabwile continued in the essay to describe the act in anatomical and plainly graphic terms, exactly as Phil Robertson did. Robertson spoke the truth in love, describing himself as a sinner in need of a Savior. He listed many sins, not just homosexuality. He said not to be deceived, homosexuals as well as any sinner will not inherit the kingdom. But Phil did describe homosexuality’s ‘ick factor’ and as Anyabwile advised 4 months ago,

Your moral sensibilities have been provoked–and rightly so. That reflex triggered by an accurate description of homosexual behavior will be the beginning of the recovery of moral sense and sensibility when it comes to the so-called “gay marriage” debate.

and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.”
(Genesis 19:5 NASB)So I go back and forth on Phil’s graphic comments. Phil squashed the romantic aspect of the conversation from the liberals and brought the graphic, icky reality of homosexuality smack into spotlight. Were the comments helpful? Ill-advised? Time will tell.

The bible calls these acts an “abomination”, “debased”, “error, “unrighteous”, “shameless”, “contrary to sound doctrine,” “unnatural desire,” and “ought not to be done.” People who engage in it will suffer eternal torment. God is clear about the ick factor of homosexual sin, (and all sin). (source & source)

Meanwhile, Pastor Anyabwile followed up his August ick factor essay with this yesterday-

Duck Dynasty and the Twisted Ironies of Our Current Sexual Politics
“I think Mr. Robertson spoke what a lot of people think and feel but are not accustomed to expressing–for good or ill. His visceral reaction is the reaction of most who stop to think about the actions in question…
1. It’s ironic that a “vulgar” rejection of certain sexual acts cannot co-exist with visual and verbal sexual vulgarity itself.
2. It’s ironic that “vile” remarks are rejected while the vile acts they describe are celebrated.
we seriously need to reflect on the terms of engagement in this debate.“

And for that reflection I redirect you once again to the link I’d posted at the top,

The Importance of Your Gag Reflex When Discussing Homosexuality and “Gay Marriage”

duck dynasty, GQ, homosexuality, phil robertson, reality tv

Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty, A&E, and GLAAD: see what Dunamis power does in a dying culture!

Posted on December 19, 2013May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Phil Robertson

A&E, the cable television station Arts and Entertainment, began producing a reality tv show two years ago called Duck Dynasty. The show centers on the real-life family of the Robertsons. Phil Robertson, the patriarch, is the former CEO of the company he began in 1973 with the famous Duck Commander duck call. The company grew and grew. Eventually, Phil Robertson handed the business to his third son Willie, who “used his business degree from University of Louisiana Monroe to take Duck Commander from a family business to a multi-million dollar empire.” (source).

Because of the shortened rotations of cable television, the Duck Dynasty show began two and a half years ago but is entering its fifth season this January. As each season concluded, the show grew in ratings. The family is overtly Christian, but they are entertaining, intelligent, and just strangely backwoods enough to the NY and Hollywood producers to have kept them on. The show portrays the family in their work and in play, hunting, during holidays and just sitting around goofing. The show always ends with the family around the dinner table, and Phil praying the blessing. There was a minor controversy back along when people wondered why the name of Jesus was rarely mentioned in prayer, and patriarch Phil revealed that he always prays in Jesus name, but the producers and editors always cut it out.

Subsequently, there was some push-back from the Robertsons (as they had gained leverage and negotiating power) and from Christian Americans who watch the show. After that, there were more mentions of Jesus, a show where Phil and his wife Kay renewed their vows and eldest son, a pastor, officiated in Jesus name, and the show grew even more popular.

Their popularity perplexed the brass. They could not figure out why or how this family held such an attraction to so many millions of viewers, especially in the 18-40 year old range (the sweet spot for advertisers). But grow in popularity it did, and as long as ratings held and the money flowed in, the producers let it slide.

Many Christians were happy to see a show which reflected their values: God, family, and country. It was a cultural anomaly, but one that was appreciated by those who enjoy clean entertainment and their own values reflected back at them through the usually evil vehicle of television programs, scripted or unscripted.

That was then.

Phil Robertson was interviewed in the January 2014 issue of GQ, which was released this week. The GQ intro to their story goes like this (and don’t you find it hilarious that camo wearing, plain-speaking, bearded Phil Robertson is in Gentleman’s Quarterly?)

How in the world did a family of squirrel-eating, Bible-thumping, catchphrase-spouting duck hunters become the biggest TV stars in America? And what will they do now that they have 14 million fervent disciples?

In the interview, Robertson spoke about sin. He said, “Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong… Sin becomes fine. Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.” Robertson then paraphrased 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 from the Bible: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”

Phil went on to unhelpfully and crudely describe how and why homosexuality is illogical, naming body parts. He also correctly included homosexuality in the list of sins which also included terrorists and drunkards. Secular folks of course took issue with gays being included with terrorists, but remember, Christian, homosexuals are cultural terrorists. See below regarding GLAAD.

Immediately upon the magazine’s release and Phil’s comments were published, GLAAD erupted in an explosively vitriolic screed sent to A&E and released to the general public. According to GLAAD’s website their history began in 1985, “In response to the New York Post’s grossly defamatory and sensationalized HIV/AIDS coverage, GLAAD is formed with its original name “Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation” to put pressure on media organizations to end homophobic reporting.”

Make no mistake. GLAAD is a lobby dedicated to “changing culture by working directly with news media, entertainment media, cultural institutions and social media.” Keep that in mind.

GLAAD’s statement:

“Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil’s lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe,” GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz said. “He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans — and Americans — who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples. Phil’s decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors, who now need to re-examine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families.“

On the same day, A&E suspended Phil from the show.

There are many good people weighing in on this. Dr. Al Mohler warned against partnering with secular culture and media and the resultant risk of public life. Denny Burk said “I predicted privately some months ago that it would only be a matter of time before the media sniffed out the views of the Duck Dynasty guys about sexuality. … It means that A&E is yet another sector of popular culture in which Christian views about sexual norms are not allowed.” He predicted that this will be the end of the show.

Dr Russell Moore angled on the view that we all have a remote control and A&E’s suspension of Mr Robertson is ridiculous. He wrote about the issue from the free speech aspect. He rightly said, “And if you don’t like his religious views on sexuality (views held also by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and evangelicals as well as by many Orthodox Jews, Muslims, and the Dalai Lama), you’re free to say why you think he’s wrong.“

I want to examine the spiritual component. Dr Moore mentioned that all those other religious adherents hold the exact same view as Phil Robertson regarding the sinfulness of homosexuality. It wasn’t long before Twitter exploded with this constantly retweeted photo exposing the illogical double standard:

Did you ever wonder why all those other religions hold to the sinfulness of homosexuality, but that it’s only when Christians who declare it get slammed? Because it is spiritual warfare.

Satan owns all the other religions. He has them already. When a Christian declares a biblical truth to a sinful culture, there is dunamis power behind the words. It is only the words of a Christan that pierce like an arrow, splitting soul and spirit, bone and marrow.

Dunamis is a Greek word. According to BibleStudyTools.org, dunamis means in part

–strength power, ability
–moral power and excellence of soul
–power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
–inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth

Dunamis is used 121 times in the NASB and 83 of those mean power. It’s where we get our English word dynamite.

We always hear of how the word of God is powerful. It’s powerful to bring repentance in hearts, to change cultures, to wield a sword that holds back armies. This controversy about Duck Dynasty is an example of how dunamis works and why there is a double standard. When the Pope says homosexuality is a sin, there is cultural crickets and GLAAD snores, because the pope’s words have no dunamis power behind them. When Phil Robertson says homosexuality is a sin, dynamite explodes in the culture because it’s only his words that have the Spirit-piercing power carrying them along. God’s words carried by the Spirit are explosive.

A WWI soldier silhouetted against an exploding phosphorous bomb. source

Dunamis is not just any power, it is not just raw power, it is not brute power. Note the definition, “moral power and excellence of soul.” Note the definition, “inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth”. The words of the bible are true by virtue of its nature, which is God’s holy nature, and when a Christian puts the words forth, you have the power of God unleashed in a culture.

Look what happened when Paul spoke truth to the culture in Ephesus. It caused a riot. (Acts 19). Jesus speaking truth caused the Pharisees to plot to kill Him. (John 11). Stephen speaking truth caused his own death by stoning. (Acts 6).

Phil Robertson quoted the bible to support his stance, and this is dunamis power. The holy Word alone has the power of truth, because the Word is God-breathed. When Phil spoke those holy words to a sinful culture, coming out of Phil’s mouth was God’s truth, His thoughts, His very attribute of holiness. This always singes a culture and the culture reacts like the Wicked Witch of the West melting under the water. It’s the same effect as vinegar poured on baking soda.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12.In Acts 19 they rioted against Paul because they feared loss of wealth. In John 11 the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus because they feared loss of government autonomy. In Acts 6, the synagogues of Freedmen disputed with Stephen because they were jealous of his miracles. Greed, pride, power, and jealousy- they were busy protecting their spiritual battleground, the top of which were the aforementioned sins.

Stephen preached to the Council, “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.” (Acts 7:54, KJV)

What do you suppose cut them to the heart? It is the Spirit’s word, carried along in dunamis power! When Phil Robertson spoke biblical truth, the eruption we see is a visible manifestation of the invisible spiritual battle going on all around us. Christians, instead of tut-tutting about the double standard, instead rejoice that the power of God’s word is unleashed on sinful hearts. Rejoice that His word is living and active, and spearing souls. We don’t always see such a powerful explosion, but there is an explosion of some kind every time we speak holy truth from His word to satan’s face.

So that’s why the double standard. There is spiritual power behind the words of God, and there is no power behind satan’s word. His agents speak nothing but empty philosophies to a deluded world. It is why we’re urged to hide God’s word in our heart, so that if a moment comes when we can speak bible verse to the culture, His sword of the spirit will carry them to stopped ears, hard hearts, dead souls.

Rejoice that He has given us opportunity to speak these truths. Do not be surprised at the reaction. If they rioted against Paul when he spoke truth, if they stoned Stephen, if they killed Messiah, they will do the same to us, either killing our reputation, or slaying our very flesh.

Hamburger Hill, Viet Nam war, 1969.

Satan wants to protect his unholy hill of homosexuality because it is the last stage before a culture dies. (Romans 1:27-32). When an unholy person who does not have the Spirit speaks truth, there is no reaction because there is no power. Did you ever wonder why the culture didn’t react negatively to Billy Graham’s pronouncements of homosexuality as a sin?

Rejoice, I say, rejoice when you see rage from the unholy ones aimed at Christians. It is because the power of the holy Word is active. Active!

It is well that Mr Robertson is set financially and his suspension isn’t one that will ruin him. It will be interesting to see which sin A&E will chose: money or homosexuality. It seems they are tending to homosexuality, but time will tell.

As for us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

In other words,

quote, ~Maggie Kuhn. photo source

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

High and lifted up

Posted on December 18, 2013May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

As I drove to school, the full moon was ahead of me. It hung there in the deep sapphire sky, glowing and bright.

“And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.” (Genesis 1:14-16)

I watched it, the silver globe, casting light down to the pastures just visible in the pre-dawn.

“And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,” (Genesis 1:17)

I had time to wonder on this light, the beauty of this silver satellite planet orbiting ours. I thanked our Creator for not only the precision of the moon and earth’s dance around each other, but that the moon is so pretty.

“The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.” (1 Corinthians 15:41).

The light from the moon was so bright, it illuminated even the blades of grass I passed in my silent, whispery cruise along the byway. I wondered, what will it look like when Jesus comes? He will be so bright! He will come in glory and appear in the air, the bright and eternal Light.

“And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.” Ezekiel 43:2)

As I drove to school, the moon’s light was high and lifted up but that light will be nothing compared to the pinnacle moment in all eternal history, when JESUS is high and lifted up. He will be crowned KING of Kings and LORD of Lords.

“Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up
and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.”
(Isaiah 52:13-15).

I long for the day when He is the brightness in all our souls, and He is high and lifted up.

The Son of Man Is Given Dominion

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)

Brethren, we are a part of that! We will be in attendance when we see our Lord crowned. We will part of the myriad crowd who will serve Him. (Daniel 7:10).

Our Lord came as a baby, lived a sinless life, taught and loved, and died for our sins. He rose again under the power of God, and will come again in power and glory to judge the living and the dead. He will take His rightful place on His throne, High and Lifted up. There will be no moon or sun to compete with His glory, for He IS THE LIGHT.

“The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” (Isaiah 60:19)

Merry Christmas. The Light has come.

faithless, jesus, judgment, prophecy

What is the clearest sign of the approaching return of Jesus Christ?

Posted on December 18, 2013May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

There is no doctrine I can mention which someone purporting to be a Christian doesn’t refute.

In the old days, lol, five years ago when I started this blog, some people would argue about the timing of the rapture, whether sprinkling or dunking is a proper method for baptism, or whether Methodist or Baptist was a more conservative denomination. These are examples of doctrines and opinions which are not foundational to Christianity. In other words, if one believes one or another, it doesn’t mean they are not a Christian.

An essential doctrine of Christianity is one which distinguishes a person from all pagan religions. It establishes them as a child of God. An example of an essential doctrine is that one must believe that one is a sinner, destined for hell, and that Jesus the Son of God lived a sinless life on earth, died as the atoning sacrifice for our sins and rose again and went to heaven, and will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. Ha ha, I just gave the Gospel.

One must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is God. One must believe that hell is real and sinners spend an eternity there, while repented sinners will go to be with Jesus in heaven. One must believe Jesus was both God and man. One must believe that salvation is by God’s grace through faith alone.

And so on.

Essential doctrines are the foundation of the faith structure. No builder says, “ah, we don’t need foundation forms, let’s just pour the concrete now.” All structures need a firm foundation, and so does faith. These are the foundational doctrines of which I speak.

Wiki commons

Five years later, the entire foundation has collapsed. Not of the Christian faith structure, because that is eternal, but belief in the foundational doctrines that many alleged Christians now challenge, or even set aside. There is no doctrine I can put forth as propositional (true or false, no in between) that some “Christian” doesn’t challenge as unnecessary. There isn’t one doctrine we can agree is untouchable in its necessity in the pantheon of things Jesus taught. Even the foundational ones.

Many other religions change their foundational doctrines at will, as needs change or cultures change. Mormons believed that polygamy was essential, until they didn’t. Islam has its additions/changes, and contradictions. Buddhist doctrines came in and went out, as they worked or didn’t work. Hinduism adds gods and now they are up to 330 million. Or 33 million. Who can keep track. Catholicism has added to the bible with its apocrypha (extra-biblical books written between the OT and NT times). Catholicism changes constantly because they depend on tradition, and as new traditions occur they were added into the pantheon of false beliefs. False religions change because they are doctrines of man. The doctrines of God don’t change.

Yes some want to change these doctrines, water them down, or delete them entirely.

“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” (Matthew 24:10).

–Is hell eternal? Nah, love wins, said Rob Bell.
–Does God punish sin? God is love and His mercy and He will forgive all. We’re all one, says Neale Donald Walsch.
–Is the revelation from God complete? No, more is coming in, say Sarah Young and Beth Moore.
–How important is it for people to understand they’re sinners? Not that important, says Joel Osteen.
–Is Jesus God? Probably not but He taught great things. Thomas Jefferson certainly thought he was a good teacher, but nothing more.
–Is Jesus the only way to heaven? Not if you’ve lived a sincere life, says Billy Graham.

You see how many doctrines that are fundamental to our belief structure are being set aside and/or challenged. This is apostasy.

“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)

Apostasy is a judgment upon those who are not Christians and it is a chastening upon those who are. Apostasy is a testing and an opportunity for true Christians to exalt Christ. The more apostasy around us, the more we are tested.

Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. Judas Iscariot,
one of the Twelve Apostles, became an apostate. Public domain

“And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.” (Luke 8:13).

The collapse has been rapid and stunning. I’ve watched through the lens of the bible and by writing on this blog nearly every day, and I’ve seen a swerve away from these precious doctrines. It pains me to see friends carried away by wolves. These folks are prey and it hurts to see them hurt. It is agonizing to see a church fall. It is very hard to see the celebrity pastors, and unknown pastors too, take so many down with them, particularly their families.

But it is prophesied and what is more, it is a judgment from God. When you’re persecuted for standing on truth amid a bevy of goats swirling around as your church weakens like the Swiss cheese photo above, count it all joy. Jesus said to rejoice in sufferings, and apostasy and what comes with it does make us suffer. Some are even harassed and dismissed because of it. But rejoice. I know that is hard. John MacArthur spoke to that in his sermon on the 1 Peter 4:17 verse titled The Fiery Trial, Part 2:

Paul Gorbould, Creative Commons

“Sometimes this is quite challenging, to be honest with you. When I have been battered around a little bit and say to myself, “Well, I should expect it, after all if I desire to live a godly life and preach the truth of God and if I want to hold the standard of holiness very high and if I want to hold the standard of doctrinal purity and biblical truth very high, I can expect to get this, so I must be ready for it.” I can usually handle that. It’s moving to that second one where I rejoice over it that challenges me…where I say, “Thank You, Lord, this is really wonderful, I’m loving every minute of this.” I find that sometimes a bit much. But I by the grace of God if I have the time to meditate on it and to lay it before the Lord, I find that the Spirit of God fills my heart with joy and it’s usually the joy twofold, the joy of participation in the sense that no matter what I might suffer it is small compared to what Jesus Christ suffered and yet I am a partaker of His suffering. And the second element that hits me hard is that whatever suffering I may incur in this life shall be more than rewarded in the eternal joy which shall be mine forever in the presence of the Lord. Rejoice in it.”

Here is a short answer by Jacob Prasch to the question, ‘what is the clearest sign of the coming of Jesus Christ?’ I understand that Mr Prasch is a polarizing figure and I make no claim to endorse or not endorse his ministry. I just liked what he said here. And despite his brashness in speaking this answer, I agreed with it completely. Every word.

Hear hear

Here is Dr Thomas Ice in a recent essay titled Drowning in Apostasy. I also liked his answer.

“The following is a list of the seven major passages that deal with the last days for the church: 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-4; James 5:1-8; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 3:3-6; Jude 1-25. Every one of these passages emphasizes over and over again that the great characteristic of the final time of the church will be that of apostasy. The New Testament pictures the condition within the professing church at the end of the age by a system of denials.

Denial of GOD — Luke 17:26; 2 Timothy 3:4-5
Denial of CHRIST — 1 John 2:18; 4:3; 2 Peter 2:6
Denial of CHRIST’S RETURN — 2 Peter 3:3-4
Denial of THE FAITH — 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Jude 3
Denial of SOUND DOCTRINE — 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Denial of THE SEPARATED LIFE — 2 Timothy 3:1-7
Denial of CHRISTIAN LIBERTY — 1 Timothy 4:3-4
Denial of MORALS — 2 Timothy 3:1-8,13; Jude 18
Denial of AUTHORITY — 2 Timothy 3:4 [2]”

“As can be observed from the above characterizations, apostasy occurs in two basic areas: 1) doctrinal defection from the Bible, and 2) immoral or ungodly behavior. The clear course of the last days for the church consists of constant warnings to the believer, especially to pastors and leaders, to be on guard within the flock against doctrinal defection, commonly known as apostasy. Such a characteristic provides for the believer today a clear sign that we are in the last days of the church age.“

Forsaken Fotos, Creative Commons

Judgment began in the house of God. It continues. It is most evident in the form of apostasy. The faithless who in fact worship demons fall away, and as they fall, they tumble the walls of the church with them, exposing the goats and shearing the sheep.

The Lord’s return must be very close. As apostasy rises we rejoice that the Lord has a plan. He plans to return after He allows faithlessness to run its course. He will establish His holy hill, and the government will be upon His shoulders. No one will disbelieve again. No one will fall away again. No one will be persecuted for speaking the truth again. Hold on, dear brethren. Let the Lord find you standing when He returns.

by Aeterium

middle east, rare, snow

Snow in Middle East: Move over Jerusalem, Cairo, Amman, Damascus and Alkan Saudi Arabia, Viet Nam got snow too

Posted on December 16, 2013May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

I had reported to you about the massive snowstorm in the Middle East last week. It affected Egypt and Israel and nearby environs As I noted int he title, and photos are included below in the “Picture Postcards” news link. The false photo of the Sphinx notwithstanding, there were legitimate scenes of snow on palm trees in Cairo, where reportedly it hadn’t snowed in over 100 years. In Jerusalem, snow was heavy and many motorists were stranded, and power went out for large sections of the nation. Snow in Cairo is rare, extremely so.

I had also reported a snowstorm in Australia. It’s their summer in Oz, and snow, even in the mountains, is rare. This snowstorm was very rare because the snow was very heavy, and accumulated.

Here is a video of a three-mile traffic jam in Viet Nam, where snow is also, shall we say, rare. How rare? According to WikiAnswers, But only on top of their highest mountain (10318ft Fansipan Peak), and only on a few days each year. Furthermore, accumulations are typically not very heavy.“

Yahoo reported,

Snow falls in Viet Nam
“Snow has fallen in Northern Vietnam for the first time in many years. The snow caused a five-hour traffic jam as people drove into the mountainous provinces of Lao Cai and Ha Giang to see the wintry flurries. The weather system responsible for the snow has also brought some unusual weather to other parts of the region. This is normally the dry season, but torrential rain has been lashing Laos, Vietnam and southeast China.“

This article says “Tourtists flock to see rare snow“
“Officials of the Nui Xe Forest Management Station in the town’s Hoang Lien National Park say the snowfall has led to constant traffic congestion on the road from Lao Cai City to Sa Pa, as thousands of tourists flock to the town to admire the rare sight. While it has been known for long that it snows in Sa Pa, this is not a common occurrence.“

(Photo: VNS/VOV)

Sa Pa is 4921 feet above sea level.

(Photo: VNS/VOV)

They have received 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) The record low for Sa Pa is 28 degrees F but the average low is 46F.

Post by Du Lịch Tây Bắc.

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

Sunday Martyr Moment: "Into the kiln!" and the end of Emperor Valerian

Posted on December 15, 2013 by elizabethprata

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. According to this summary from Christian Book Summaries,

Writing in the mid-1500s, John Foxe was living in the midst of intense religious persecution at the hands of the dominant Roman Catholic Church. In graphic detail, he offers accounts of Christians being martyred for their belief in Jesus Christ, describing how God gave them extraordinary courage and stamina to endure unthinkable torture.

From the same link, the book’s purpose was fourfold:

Showcase the courage of true believers who have willingly taken a stand for Jesus Christ throughout the ages, even if it meant death,
Demonstrate the grace of God in the lives of those martyred for their faith,
Expose the ruthlessness of religious and political leaders as they sought to suppress those with differing beliefs,
Celebrate the courage of those who risked their lives to translate the Bible into the common language of the people.

Text from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

We left off with the martyrdom of Cyprian. Here we conclude the eighth persecution under Emperor Valerian:

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

At Utica, a most terrible tragedy was exhibited: three hundred Christians were, by the orders of the proconsul, placed round a burning limekiln. A pan of coals and incense being prepared, they were commanded either to sacrifice to Jupiter, or to be thrown into the kiln. Unanimously refusing, they bravely jumped into the pit, and were immediately suffocated.

Fructuosus, bishop of Tarragon, in Spain, and his two deacons, Augurius and Eulogius, were burnt for being Christians.

Alexander, Malchus, and Priscus, three Christians of Palestine, with a woman of the same place, voluntarily accused themselves of being Christians; on which account they were sentenced to be devoured by tigers, which sentence was executed accordingly.

Maxima, Donatilla, and Secunda, three virgins of Tuburga, had gall and vinegar given them to drink, were then severely scourged, tormented on a gibbet, rubbed with lime, scorched on a gridiron, worried by wild beasts, and at length beheaded.

It is here proper to take notice of the singular but miserable fate of the emperor Valerian, who had so long and so terribly persecuted the Christians. This tyrant, by a stratagem, was taken prisoner by Sapor, emperor of Persia, who carried him into his own country, and there treated him with the most unexampled indignity, making him kneel down as the meanest slave, and treading upon him as a footstool when he mounted his horse. After having kept him for the space of seven years in this abject state of slavery, he caused his eyes to be put out, though he was then eighty-three years of age. This not satiating his desire of revenge, he soon after ordered his body to be flayed alive, and rubbed with salt, under which torments he expired; and thus fell one of the most tyrannical emperors of Rome, and one of the greatest persecutors of the Christians.

A.D. 260, Gallienus, the son of Valerian, succeeded him, and during his reign (a few martyrs excepted) the Church enjoyed peace for some years.

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

Just as I honor the Christian martyrs for exalting Jesus with their lives, it gives me no pleasure to see the fate of those who persecuted them. I am gripped with a heavy despair for all those who die while in their sins, forever destined to a hell of fire and torment. The torments they inflicted upon the martyrs were but a moment of trouble compared to an eternity in glory. (2 Corinthians 4:17). The torments that will be inflicted upon the tormentors will be a forever punishment for dishonoring the Holy Lord by rejecting His Gospel. (2 Thess. 1:9).

I wish that they had repented. I wish that they had been affected with the truth of the Gospel and the commitment of the martyrs to the name of Jesus Christ. Yet their stubbornness and their suppression of the truth went deep, and many, many tormenters themselves rejected the truth that was being proclaimed in front of them with lives and lips. They themselves unknowingly sealed their own fate even as they were inflicting those passing torments onto the martyrs.

The Lord is holy and just. Believe on His name and be saved.

missing the mark, sin

All have sinned

Posted on December 15, 2013May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

We’re all familiar with one of the most familiar New Testament verses, Romans 3:23.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

According to Strong’s Concordance, the word sinned in the verse means “eternal loss due to missing God’s mark. is regularly used in ancient times of an archer missing the target.”

I think we all have seen an archer miss the target. From the cartoons to the Olympics, arrows that go wayward are part of the sport. It’s funny, we think that what we do piles up and can somehow reach God. Our deeds can’t. We cannot get there on our own. (John 15:5).

Anyway, when I read about the archery term of missing the mark, I thought of the early rocket failures. Here is a clip from the movie The Right Stuff, a compilation of NASA clips interwoven with the actors portraying the aeronautical engineers, showing a shortened history of the most famous rocket failures.

Without Jesus, we always miss the mark.

With Jesus we will reach it. He is the sinless One!

[Stills from the 1902 classic Georges Melies silent film “A Trip To The Moon“. Ten minute running time]

contemporary music, praise band

Does it really matter what kind of worship music is played in church services?

Posted on December 14, 2013May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

“But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.” (2 Kings 3:15)

To answer the question I’d posed in the title right away, yes, it matters. Here is why, from the bible.


Bibleatlas.org

In the scene above in 2 Kings 3, after Ahab King of Israel died, Ahab’s son Jehoram took over. At that time, Moab decided to cease their tribute to Israel. Mesha, King of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he was bound “to deliver to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.” (2 Kings 3:4). This was a heavy burden so one day Mesha King of Moab decided to stop paying it. This could not stand, so Jehoram of Israel formed a coalition with two kings, Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and the King of Edom. The three kings set off south toward the Dead Sea to circle around and attack Moab.

The area at the bottom of the Dead Sea is arid and desolate. The advancing army ran out of water. No spring was found in the area either. (2 Kings 3:9). It is a serious matter for three armies on the march to run out of water, and they were only halfway there. They were about to circle north, march through Edom and set upon Moab. They had to be refreshed. What to do?

King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked if there was a prophet among them to which they could go and inquire of the LORD. (2 Kings 3:11). There was, Elisha.

As the kings approached Elisha and posed their petition, Elisha called for a musician. That was the verse I opened with. You can see from the context, that the situation is dire, they Kings needed to commune with the LORD and receive direction. Elisha was the prophetic intermediary at the time, and the scene was one of entering into prayer and supplication to the LORD. It was a worshipful situation.

So why was Elisha’s immediate response to call for a musician? Was he going to party? Did he want to ‘rock the house’? Did he feel like performing a jig? Was he not taking the situation seriously? As a matter of fact, Elisha was taking it extremely seriously, that was why he called for a musician.

“But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.” (2 Kings 3:15)

Pulpit Commentary says of this verse,
“But now bring me a minstrel. A player on the harp seems to be intended. Music was cultivated in the schools of the prophets (1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1-3), and was employed to soothe and quiet the soul, to help it to forget things earthly and external, and bring it into that ecstatic condition in which it was most open to the reception of Divine influences.”

Ah! Music was the precursor to prayer and petition and thanks and praise! Music was used as a vehicle to alter a physical, emotional, and biological state; and to prepare the heart and mind for close communion with God.

“David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. ” (1 Chronicles 25:1).

They prophesied with Lyre.

King David composing the Psalms.
From Folio 30V of The Vespasian Psalter, English c750
Public domain image

“After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.” (1 Samuel 10:5)

They prophesied with instruments.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says, “bring me a minstrel—The effect of music in soothing the mind is much regarded in the East; and it appears that the ancient prophets, before entering their work, commonly resorted to it, as a preparative, by praise and prayer, to their receiving the prophetic afflatus.“

We are not prophets today, seeking a direct revelation from the Lord (I hope) but when we enter the church sanctuary, we are there to inquire of the Lord via preaching of the Word, there to praise Him, and to offer our thanks to Him. It is an important moment in our worship. Even though we are not prophets as Elisha was, we are still humans, with the same variety of emotions we experience at any given moment, and the same proclivities which prevent us from a proper attitude of receptivity. Music is acknowledged as a method for altering our mental state and bringing us into receptivity. The kind of music therefore played brings us into which kind of receptivity- Divine or demonic.

As Dr John MacArthur explained in his Q&A “Contemporary Worship, Civil War in the Church“
“I think you have to be very careful with music, musical form that is inseparably linked to the base expressions of the culture. I just don’t think you go there and bring honor to the Lord with that. You say, “Well the words sanctify the music.” I don’t think so. The music is the power in the expression, that’s why it’s musical. And I think you have to be very careful using that which is associated with sex and drugs and the baser things as a vehicle to convey the lofty sacred holy serious realities about God and the glory of Christ.”

Rend Collective Experiment,
a ‘worship’ band from N. Ireland.

As we press our position that the type of worship music matters, we are far from old fuddy-duddies who are out of touch with the ‘new’ styles. Music is linked to base expressions, our baser instincts, and can bring about an interior attitude that either reflects holiness or accepts carnality.

Let’s look at the comment Pulpit Commentary again. If music was used throughout the Old Testament in prophetic and worship situations in order to bring it into that ecstatic condition in which it was most open to the reception of Divine influences, then does one not believe that satan also brings us into that ecstatic condition in which it was most open to the reception of demonic influences? Music has the power to prepare us to receive Him, it also has the power to prepare us to receive the beast, also. That’s what Dr MacArthur was referring to when he mentioned the base expressions.

Satan is a liar and a beast. He seeks to thwart every move of God in every arena possible. Corporate worship is a high target for him to disrupt. We have seen even in the last five short years, the decline of preaching, the collapse of biblical discernment among the sheep, the rise of false teachers and doctrines and the worldwide desire for tickled ears. Of course satan will use music in order to confuse the heart and make it receptive to his demon-influence. Do we think that we are appropriately prepared for respectful worship after this?

“Passion 2013: We Rocked the Dome“

Is that the job of preparatory worship music, to ‘rock it out’? Is this what Elisha did as he prepared his heart to go before the LORD? Hardly.

still from video of Elevation Church, Charlotte, NC
Code Orange Christmas dance

The war on music is not one of tastes. There is terrific modern music which uplifts Jesus as much as music from past centuries. The issue isn’t which instruments should be allowed on the stage, either. Drums, piano, guitars, trumpets, as long as the music the instruments are playing uplifts Jesus … AND adequately creates an atmosphere where the hearts of people can be soothed and prepared for communion with Him. I’m not saying music has to be quiet, as long as the worship team, choir, or praise band has mindfully prepared it to play for the people to create an atmosphere of reverence.

Be aware of music’s influence. Just as it lifts your spirits in the car when your favorite song comes on, so it lifts or depresses your spirits at church. Music opens you to the Divine or the demonic. Music pleases or displeases the Lord.

Music prepares the listener for receiving satan, or receiving God. He hates the former (Amos 5:21-23) and loves the latter. (2 Chronicles 5:13)

Which do you listen to? Which does your child listen to? Which does your church play? Yes, it matters what kind of worship music is played in church services.

And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.

cairo, snow, weather

Snow in Cairo for 1st time in 100 years, Huge storm in Jerusalem, snow in summer Down Under (updated)

Posted on December 14, 2013 by elizabethprata

The Lord is sending some strange weather to us these days. There’s snow in the desert, and snow in summer. While supposed weather experts are still clinging to the global warming myth, for the first time in over 100 years, it snowed in Egypt.

“A powerful winter storm left Jerusalem covered in snow on Friday, forcing police to block access to and from the city as a cold snap drove some Israelis to seek treatment from emergency medics. Rare snow also fell in Cairo’s suburbs and the port city of Alexandria while a blanket of white covered St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai. Some media reports say it was Cairo’s first recorded snow in 112 years.” (source)

This article from the Washington Post explains,

“A powerful, slow-moving storm is producing historic snows in the Middle East – from Jerusalem to parts of Cairo. From all accounts, snow in Cairo is exceptionally rare – although historical records are difficult to attain. … The Weather Channel notes even rain isn’t all that common in Cairo, which averages less than an inch a year. The storm has generated crippling amounts of snow in Jerusalem, stranding commuters, cutting power in areas, and closing schools and businesses. A foot to a foot and half of snow has fallen across the city. Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat said the city was facing “a battle against a rare storm, the likes of which we have never seen.”

Two Palestinian women play with snow outside Al-Aqsa Mosque. source
in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Vehicles are seen stranded in the snow in Jerusalem
on December 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD GHARABLI Source

On the other side of the earth, another unusual snow occurred as well. Unlike the Cairo snow, where the location of it was unusual, in Australia, it was the timing that was the issue. It is summer Down Under, but it snowed anyway! Australia News reports,

“Snow falling. In Australia. In summer. That is all“
Thredbo resort in new South Wales is now in the very unusual position of desperately needing its snow to melt. Thredbo has a huge mountain bike event this weekend but the course is currently snow-covered. Hopefully, forecast warmer temperatures will take care of things. … This is just the beginning. The really cold air and the really heavy snow is due later in the day, but snow is already falling today across the high country of New South Wales and Victoria. And yes, it’s December 5. The fifth day of summer. Your calendar is not wrong. Today’s system is a little stronger than your typical out-of-season wintry blast, and snow accumulations could reach as much as 20 cm by tonight.

Praise the Lord from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all deeps,

fire and hail, snow and mist,

stormy wind fulfilling his word!

Psalm 148:7-8

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Updated: Egypt closes Mediterranean and Red Sea ports
Updated: Four fatalities and Jerusalem still sealed off, but Israel’s worst storm in decades over

Worst storm in decades batters Jerusalem

Huge storm hits Jerusalem: ‘likes of which never seen’