Christmas in July #5

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And to close out July, one more Christmas song.  And a light show to go with it.  This is one of my 9-year-old's most favorite songs.  And when we play it, we play it LOUD!  (Good job, Roderique family!)

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Anyone else? (Thank you, Nate...)

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[If you don't want to read this really long post, hang in there because I'll eventually publish it as a series of smaller posts.] Oh my goodness, does anybody else feel this song, too? NF - Oh Lord "What are y'all doing down there?  I don't know, Lord." I don't know, Lord. What a mess. God help us. God help me. "Sometimes I look up to the sky and wonder, 'Do you see us down here, O Lord?'" I totally love Nate (NF) for saying the real, raw, hard things that many of us think and feel but don't often admit out loud, the things we're afraid to say because they don't sound very "good Christiany," the kinds of things Job cried out honestly but that his religiously-high-and-mighty friends scolded and shamed him for.   How about these lines from his song "Paralyzed" : "When did I become so numb?  When did I lose myself?... When did I become so cold?  When did I become ashamed?  Where's the person that I kn...
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Be Wary Of The Christian Post

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(Written 6/15/18)  Occasionally, I check in with the Christian Post to see what's going on in the world that specifically relates to Christians.  And generally, I've never really had any red flags go up about this website ... until now. A recent article by Stoyan Zaimov, with a title that starts "Christian Lesbian rock star ..." goes on to share this woman's story about being assaulted by a male priest when she was young.   However, I don't think the reason for this article is to talk about the abuse she suffered and her courage in speaking up.  I think this is a deliberate attempt to affirm Christian homosexuality.  The very fact that they put "Christian" and "lesbian" in the title makes it sound like it's indeed possible to be a Christian and a practicing homosexual who sees no need to change. And it seems to me that this article paints her in a heroic light, as though she is in the right and should be applauded and e...
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The Early Church and God's Gender

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I said in the last post that there was one article on a Christian News website that bothered me enough to remove the link to that website.  But then I re-added the link, and decided to simply write about the bothersome article here. The article is entitled "What The Early Church Thought About God's Gender."   In this article, the author is trying to make a case for God/Jesus being feminine, more feminine than the Word really portrays them.   I have no problem with saying that God/Jesus has a feminine side - a gentle, loving, nurturing side, like all people do to some degree.  Or with saying that since God created man and woman in His image then it must mean that feminine and masculine characteristics come from Him and are evident in His nature.  It's just that men got the more masculine traits and women got the more feminine, and that men and women together in marriage give us a more complete picture of the total nature of God. That's all fine.  But w...
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Sermons by Tony Evans (repost)

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(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...
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Where There Is Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth!

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(I'm not sure if I'm right about this; it's just what I think is a possibility right now.)             “And throw the worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”   ( Matthew 25:30 )                         “The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”   ( Matthew 13:49-50 )             I used to wonder about the “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”   Where is this place and who gets thrown there?   It sounds like an awful place to be, and I always assumed that it happened in hell.               But what I couldn’t figure o...
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Sorry ... But I'm Not Buying That Crap!

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            A famous actress  recently said that monogamy is hard.   And she said that monogamy being hard for everyone is proof that it’s not natural.   And, therefore, the obviously conclusion is that because it’s not natural, we shouldn’t have to abide by such an unnatural restriction.               How sad!   And how tragic that young people will look up to her and her advice and use it as an excuse to live any way they want.               What she’s saying is that how easy something is or how fun it is or how much we desire to do it determines how “natural” it is.   And since we can’t fight what’s "natural," we should just go with it and do it.   We should let our desires be our guide for right and wrong.        ...
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Too Funny - Alyssa Milano's Sex-Strike

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So there's an article out about Alyssa Milano calling for a sex-strike until anti-abortion laws get changed.  She is saying that women shouldn't have sex until they get more abortions rights. Ha-ha-ha!  Yes, please do that!  Please!   It's a win-win-win for everyone else but the women striking.  First off, it's exactly what we need to have lower abortion rates.  It will also help stop the spread of diseases.  It will prevent the rabid feminists from passing their views on to any children they might have decided to keep if they had gotten pregnant.  And the men these women are withholding sex from might just go out and find a decent, respectful woman who won't use sex to control and manipulate the men into giving them what they want.   A win for the unborn, for the next generation, for the sexual health of our country, and for the men who the feminists are trying to control! So ... yes, Alyssa ... please get as many feminists ...
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Feminism Nonsense (repost)

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(Oh, how we love nonsense in our country!) We women are fighting so hard to be like men, to downplay femininity, to be perceived as more masculine, to overtake any "men's realm" we find.   Because it’s “cool” and “progressive” and “strong.” But do we not realize that we are not “leveling the playing field” so much as we are destroying ourselves , the things that make women special? Women can be strong, too.   And they don’t have to be like men to do it.   Trust me, I know.  I've had four children, one by c-section and three by natural, drug-free homebirth (with over 15 hours of labor for each one).  And then I work in the home every day, all day long.  No pay.  No vacation time.  No weekends off.  No bonuses.  No overtime pay. But I do it because my family and I value my position, my role.  Even if the world doesn't. W e women can be strong and capable and accomplished in our...
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Do We Have An Effect On "God's Will"?

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(Part of the "Predestination vs. Free-Will" series) At some point, most Christians struggle with the idea of “God’s Will.”   What is it?   Can we know it?   And what do we mean when we say “God’s Will”?   Are we talking about what He wants for/from us (the path He wants us to take)?   Or are we saying that He has pre-determined and set-in-stone plans, things that will happen regardless of what we do?   Do we have to find His Will or do we have to do His Will?   Do we have an effect on His Will or does His Will always happen, regardless of us?   Can we miss out on His Will for our lives?     
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