(Just for fun, slipped in between the spiritual warfare posts, and a week earlier than normal.) You know those songs that you always have to play as loud as possible, and even louder if you could? I've got some of those. [To name only five, there's Numb from U2 and Chlorine, Downstairs, Choker , and Jumpsuit from Twenty One Pilots, my newest musical addiction.] And the only place I can play them as loud as I want is when I'm driving alone in the car. That's MY time. An introvert's dream vacation. I can play my music as loud as I want and sing along... and there's no one to interrupt or complain. Which reminds me: You parents know what we're supposed to do when kids complain about our music, right? Yeah, that's right: TURN IT UP EVEN LOUDER! The ironic part is that they used to complain about me singing "Ice, Ice, Baby" which I know every word of, but now my 3rd son knows every word and sings along too... ... an...
It's so sad to hear about all the celebrities who have recently committed suicide (or about anyone who has committed suicide, for that matter). My heart breaks for them, for the pain they went through, and for the ones who love them, for the pain they are now going through. It is truly a tragedy. To anyone who is hurting really badly, who is struggling with overwhelming anxiety or depression, who is considering taking their own lives ... I dedicate this post. Please, take some time to look through some of the links here. This is a round-up of some on-line resources or posts about dealing with anxiety or depression, particularly as a Christian. But first: Quick tips for help: If you are desperate for some immediate help and don't want to look through the links I have below, try some of these (or if it's really bad and you're afraid you might hurt yourself, call 911 or go to the emergency room): 1. Put on a worship song right now. Or sing a...
It's so sad to hear about all the celebrities who have recently committed suicide (or about anyone who has committed suicide, for that matter). My heart breaks for them, for the pain they went through, and for the ones who love them, for the pain they are now going through. It is truly a tragedy. To anyone who is hurting really badly, who is struggling with overwhelming anxiety or depression, who is considering taking their own lives ... I dedicate this post. Please, take some time to look through some of the links here. This is a round-up of some on-line resources or posts about dealing with anxiety or depression, particularly as a Christian. But first: Quick tips for help: If you are desperate for some immediate help and don't want to look through the links I have below, try some of these (or if it's really bad and you think you might hurt yourself, call 911 or go to the emergency room): 1. Put on a worship song right now. Or sin...
Before I get to the list of my "sword of the Spirit" verses, here's a list I shared with my struggling family member of some of my favorite songs to get through the hard times, the ones that encourage me and make me cry in a good way, in a needed way. (Sometimes anxiety is a sign that we need a good, long cry.) When you have no energy left to even pray, let the worship songs from other people be your prayers: From The City Harmonic: "Oh, What Love" , "Fell Apart" , "Honestly" , "Praise the Lord" , "Love, Heal Me," "My God," and "Here and There." ( Their music is what kept me from giving up completely when I was at my lowest. Let their words be your prayers, your heart's cry, when you have no words of your own left.) From Tenth Avenue North: "Worn" , "Hold My Heart" , "By Your Side" , and "Healing Begins" . From Jeremy Riddle: ...
[I intended to do a post like this later in a Spiritual Warfare series, but since it's relevant right now to someone I know ... and since it's been so long since I've added to this series... I'll publish it now. Previous posts in this series are "My Story" ... "Be strong in the Lord" ... Spiritual Warfare sermons by Tony Evans ... "Stay on the Path" ... "Underestimating ourselves/overestimating Satan" ... "Overestimating ourselves/underestimating Satan" ... #1 Satan's Schemes (unbelief, sin, fear) ... #2 (fear, psychics, prayer) ... #3 (vulnerable in good times) ... Spiritual Warfare: Resources ... #4 (vulnerable in bad times )... #5 (innocence, naivete) ... #6 (half-truths) ... #7 (bad theology) ... #8 (deserts) ... #9 (bitterness, unforgiveness) ... and (for fun) "Scariest Halloween decoration ever?" I'll break this post up into several parts over the next several weeks. Much of these posts wil...
Everyone should watch this 26-minute video: Plandemic Part 1 by Dr. Mikovits . (FYI: I watched this video yesterday on a different YouTube link. It had something like a million views. And it's already been removed today. Big surprise! This is why I watched it right away and wrote up a short summary of my thoughts on it. Because I figured it would be silenced! So watch it soon, before this is removed too.) A friend found it yesterday and shared it with me. While it’s scary stuff, it didn’t shock me because it coincides with what I’ve already thought about this whole virus situation, among other things: ... That there’s something fishy about it and it’s not natural … ... That there are unhealthy and dangerous connections between Bill Gates and Dr. Fauci and government health agencies (CDC, FDA, WHO, etc.), among others … ... That there are shady coronavirus reporting practices in the hospitals, such as financial incentives for doctors ...
Some of my thoughts and research on Calvinism (Why I believe it's not Scriptural!): Why is Calvinism So Dangerous? If Calvinism is true, then God is a liar! What's The Best Way To Make People Agree With Your Calvinist Views? Letter To Our Elders Regarding Calvinism Growing In Our Church Acts 13:48: Not As "Predestination" As It Sounds Sovereignty and Free-Will Working Together Anti-Calvinism Memes and Links Why Is It So Hard For Calvinists To Get Free From Calvinism? Can You Lose Your Salvation? Problems in John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion Are We Only Here For God's Glory? What About God's Love? So Job was a dimwit, huh? "Defend Your Calvinism" Challenge More Anti-Calvinism Memes. Just for fun! Some of John Calvin's Contradicting Nonsense! How to tell if a Church, Pastor, or Website is Calvinist (extended version) and the (simplified version) You know what happens when you assume things! A look at John Calvin...
(I recently fixed the broken links as well as I could, had to switch some out for others) Tony Evans is my all-time favorite pastor. He always gives messages that convict, challenge, and comfort. Here are some sermons that I have listened to or am going to listen to. For more, simply go to his website by clicking here . There are so many great ones to choose from. You can't go wrong with any video of his. I found him to be the most biblically-accurate preacher (especially as I researched Calvinism and found out how wrong it is), who is also great at helping us practically apply God's truths to life. Reversing Anxiety Consequences Keeping the faith when life gets hard Trusting God in a storm How to have strength in your struggles How to overcome your worry How to Get Your Prayers Answered Trusting The God You Believe In God knows what He is doing How the enemy tries to distract you from God's plan Grab your sword The Secret to Powerful Prayer Spiritual W...
“God is all-wise and all-powerful, so He always does whatever He wants. And everything that happens is because He wanted it to happen and made it happen. Since God is in control, He controls everything. And we have no influence on Him and no ability to exercise our own free-will.” I think this is how many of us view God’s sovereignty. We think that because He is all-powerful, He always uses His power and controls every detail. And this view of “sovereignty” is used to support the idea of predestination, that God decides who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. And so i f you end up in hell, it’s because He wanted you there . . . because He always does what He wants. We don’t have any real free-will because He is all-powerful. If we sin, it’s because God made us sin, because He wanted us to sin, for His purposes. And this view is also used to support the idea that He controls every detail on earth. If there is ...