Church Shepherds Must Protect the Flock

Guarding sheep from danger is clearly a significant aspect of the shepherding task. The same is true for church shepherds. They must continually guard the congregation from false teachers. Although the guarding ministry is a negative aspect of shepherding, it is indispensable to the flock’s survival.

Alexander Strauch, Biblical Eldership, pg.18

About the Book Offers

I’ve gotten a couple new people requesting books I offer to takers, and I thought I might update any and all readers as to why I’m giving away books.

I have had an apologetics ministry for over 40 years now, and at 68 years old I’m getting a bit worn out with researching and writing articles, and everything else that goes along with the ministry. So I’m really cutting back and mainly just being available to people who need help.

At one time I had almost 1000 volumes in my library but over the past few years I’ve been passing them on. I started by giving them to church libraries but I have discovered that the average church member rarely uses them, so I began giving a lot to friends and other ministries. 

THEN I decided to start offering them on my blog. This way those who are interested will be able to get books without having to come up with cash. I consider this to be really part of my ministry, and I hope some younger Christians may become interested in apologetics and take up the slack of us older guys who are now kicking back.

In 2016 I began keeping a record of how many books and other materials I’ve given out, so for those who may find it interesting, from 2016 to 2019 I’ve given away 445 books, 58 magazines and journals, 40 miscellaneous publications, 34 DVDs, 1 VHS, and 30 CDs I forgot to record cassette tapes until this year. This year I’ve already given away 63 books, 14 booklets, 3 articles, 2 CDs and 16 cassettes.

A lot of what I’m passing on is redundant to many other books, or, when it comes to counseling material, it’s because we are no longer involved in Christian counseling.

One thing to note: I cannot read without a highlighter. And if I come across an error during reading I will write a note about the problem. So most of my books with have at least some highlighting.

SO keep watching this blog for book offers.

Good Leadership

Good leaders always distinguishes themselves by their ability to skillfully confront troublesome issues and to be decisive. In fact, confronting problems is a major part of leadership responsibility. Fearful leaders who refuse to confront problems have demoralized many churches and organizations. Running away from problems creates worse problems.

Alexander Strauch, The New Testament Deacon, pg.18

Personal Bible Notes - Thessalonians and Timothy

(Refer to my 9/25/18 post about the margin notes in my Bible, and why I decided to share them on this blog.)

1 Thessalonians:

2:13: Paul’s message is from the Lord.

5:9: Regarding salvation vs damnation — not regarding rapture.

2 Thessalonians: 

1:8-9:  Hell is real.

2:9-10:  False signs & wonders—people don’t accept truth.

3:9:  Teachers have a right to getting support.

3:14-15: Church discipline.

1 Timothy:

1:3-4: Teach no other doctrine.

2:4-6: Only one mediator.

2:8: Men lead in prayer

2:12-14: No women teachers, not church leaders.

3:8: “hypocritical” — “double-tongued”

3:9:  Sound in doctrine.

4:1-3: Later times and false teachers.

4:4-5: All food is good.

4:6: Point out error!

4:16: Watch life & doctrine.

5:17-18: Paid elders.

5:20:  Publicly rebuke leaders.

6:3-5: False teachers do it especially for money.

2 Timothy:

2:17:  Paul names names!

2:23: Reject foolish arguments.

4:1-4: Teach sound doctrine even though people want fluff

4:14: Paul names his opponent.

Work vs. Family

No matter how much a man may be concerned with his work in the world, he cannot normally care about it as much as he cares for his family. This is because we have, in the life of the family, a bigger stake than most of us can ever have in our employment. We can change business associates…we can leave a poor job…but we cannot change sons. If we lose the struggle in our occupational interests, we can try again, but if we lose with our children our loss is terribly and frighteningly final.

Elton Trueblood. Quoted by Alexander Strauch, The New Testament Deacon, pg. 142

The Gospel Coalition Proves Its Apostasy

TGC now has an article by a homosexual Episcopalian “priest” which says that the rainbow flag of the narcissistic LGBT agenda has the same symbolism as the rainbow God showed Noah.  And of course he abuses Scripture to “prove” his point.  Read the article yourself and see just how wicked this is.

Andy Stanley Not Qualified to be a Pastor.

Agglomeration

This will be my last “Agglomeration” (or “Good, Bad and Ugly”) for at least quite a while, but maybe even forever.  I will instead maybe post whole articles from the places I now link to. I’m trying to cut down my time on the computer and have dropped many of the sites I have been following for a long time from which I’ve gotten a lot of my news.

That being said, I will still always be available for responding to questions or requests for help in regards to false teachers and teachings.

With that said, here we go with today’s installment!

The Good - For Education and/or Edification

Errors in Understanding Biblical Texts.

Grounds for Divorce: Why I Now Believe There Are More Than Two. I’ve always said that adultery (any form including porn habits), abandonment, and abuse are valid reasons for divorce. The abuse can take many forms, as the article notes.

Why Supporting Black Lives Matter Is Anti-Christian And Anti-Life

The Enneagram Part 2. Part 1 was linked to on May 12th.

This one is for education: the pagans are really bizarre.

HMMMM

Interesting quotation from the book True Stories of the Amish, as told to O.A. Garrett:

The Amish culture does not encourage physical affection amongst its members. This added to the distant feelings Dan had towards his father. Never did he see his parents kiss each other or anyone else, nor did any family member express verbally any feelings of love. The only emotions the Amish show in public are sadness and misery because the Amish believe that the more sadness and misery one has on earth, the more happiness one will have in heaven.(pg.13)

Chick-fil-A’s  CEO Dan Cathy has twisted Christianity to submit to the racist Black Lives Matter agenda as he says Christians should repent of sins we never committed and even shine the shoes of blacks to show our “shame” for racism. Here’s a wee bit more on the topic.  Chick-fil-A has been making donations to LEFTIST organizations and now this. I will never again eat at Chick-fil-A.  When you profess that your organization is Christian and stands for Christian values and yet donate to LEFTIST causes and succumb BLM racism against “whites” then you are “false advertising.”

More Wolves and False Teachings

Jen Hatmaker — she should be a hat maker instead of playing at being a Christian.

What is with Roman Catholics — aren’t they supposed to represent Christ!?!?

And the Pope wants Catholics to be supportive of Black Live Matter, which is a socialist, racist, anarchist movement. The papacy has always been filled with men who want to take over the world for socialism.  And bishops are funding radical groups!!!

Louie Giglio shows again why he is not qualified to be a pastor.

Some good information exposing false teacher Michael Brown.

Another perfect example as to why Carl Lentz is unqualified to be a pastor.

Joel Osteen marches with Black Lives Matter and Antifa thugs. Totally unqualified for any Christian leadership. He panders to the false narrative.

Oh the irony of an arrogant, narcissistic Beth Moore, a Scripture twisting false teacher. Just what was she thinking here?

Bethel continues to prove that they are not Christian as they pander to race-bating Black Lives Matter. Prayers in “tongues” are narcissistic prayers to self. The whole fake spirituality of charismania was on show.

One Man, One Woman Only

By ending Adam’s alone-state by making one woman—not more than one woman, not another man, not children, and not a community of people—God is declaring the human ideal is that a single man bond with a single woman.

Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible: Genesis: God, Creation, and Destruction, pg.40

Marriage is a Prescription

As this verse [Genesis 2:18] is followed by the creation of woman, with whom Adam is to bone (i.e., marry—see verse 24), it is clear God wants men to marry. Marriage is a prescription, a moral and social value, more than it is a male instinct. The dramatic decrease in marriage rates at this time attests to this (with regard to women as well), as does the fact that more people in the West and other developed societies are living by themselves than at any time in recorded history. So, while more and more men and women choose not to marry, loneliness has become a major social pathology. In the words of the National Institutes of Health, “Loneliness is a painful universal phenomenon.”

Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible: Genesis: God, Creation, and Destruction, pg.39