The End of My "Gaybernation"

 "Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time."  --Amos 5:13

 For years, I have interpreted that Scripture to mean that I am to just keep silent and not make any religious rebukes during obvious times of evil, such as Pride Month (June), and the Christmas season (which I define as follows: Staring with the coming of Santa Claus at Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, until Christmas afternoon, when most festivities are wrapping up).  The idea of withholding religious "rebukes", I admit, came from Darwin Fish, in his wording that on some occasions, "public rebuke is not wise", while citing Amos 5:13.  I may be totally wrong on his interpretation, and I am willing to be corrected (Proverbs 6:23). 

However, now that it's July 1, I feel somewhat free to go back to proclaiming Truth, which, yes, includes exposing heresy.  Here's a list of heretics I've discovered lately:

Wesley Huff (ecumenical towards Christians and Muslims)
New Creation Mission Ministries (cites several false teachers)
Josh Farrell (Calvinist)
The Lord's Giant (markets the Word for profit, against 2 Corinthians 2:17, hold on to this one, this will be a trend)

In fact, let me list the rest I wrote down as going against 2 Corinthians 2:17, just to simplify things:
 

Roughcutmen.org
Vlad Savchuk (maybe Lana as well)
Faith and Dating Explained
Goded
Traci Coston
The Heart Posture Collective
James Bell (possibly, he has a paid Substack option)

Bryce Crawford (maybe, he has videos behind a paywall)

Jeepin for Jesus (maybe, because he has merch and donate links)
Colin Elliot, aka R3alism (in addition to refute the notion that God sends people to Hell, Matthew 25:42 is an explicit example)

The Bible tells us to "prove all things" (I Thessalonians 5:21), and as I've said before, once I look at one religious content creator, the algorithm thinks I'm interested, and sends me even more religious content creators.   Are they all heretics?  To be honest, it's hard to tell.  They all seem to be in the Truth.

Hmm...Jesus says in John 15:19, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own".  Anyone who is loved by the world, by definition, is of the world.  What about true believers?  Jesus says they're hated (Matthew 10:22, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:17, as well as John 15:19, etc.).  Would a worldly algorithm send me true believers, who are hated by the world?  Something to consider.

Anyway, I'm back.  I have some ideas on what I want to write on next (the world's reaction to American daily life during the World Cup is very telling).  Stay tuned.

I Feel So Blessed.

 “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36, KJV)

I don't have a lot of time to describe the whirlwind week that happened to me.  Let's just say that things turned out well.  Joy has returned to me.  

So, let me say the same thing that I said when things were super unpleasant last week, because it applies both to the unpleasant and pleasant times: 

 "...blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21b)

Progress on some Examinations (I Thessalonians 5:21)

The Brother OZ YouTube channel:

I've skimmed through a few videos, and so far, I have yet to find any citations of actual Scripture, so that's concerning.  It's mainly logical reasoning to defend the existence of God.

The Watchwell Podcast (Parker Brown):

Calls Charlie Kirk a "brother in Christ",  has a Patreon link that he advertised three years ago (is this against 2 Corinthians 2:17?).  OK, he's also selling "Sola" hoodie shirts, so yeah, I believe 2 Corinthians 2:17 applies.

William Lane Craig:

He appears to be more of a philosopher that uses the "wisdom of this world", derided by Paul in I Corinthians, to prove the existence of God. 

 Millicent Cedra:

A recent one I came across on Facebook.  She (I Timothy 2:12) also has donation links (against 2 Corinthians 2:17), same old, same old.

Again, these are just a few of an abundance of religious content creators that I can't make too much sense of.  They appear Christian, but are they really Christian?  I don't know.

 

On I Corinthians 7 and Singleness

"I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I." --I Corinthians 7:8 (KJV)

"I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.  Art thou bound unto a wife?  seek not to be loosed.  Art thou loosed from a wife?  seek not a wife.  But and if thou marry, thou has not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned.  Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you." -- I Corinthians 7:26-28 (KJV)

I just want to give a quick reminder to all those out there who are single and struggling with the notion of marriage, that it's OK to be single.  While I Corinthians 7 does advise churches to let Christian couples heated in the loins towards one another marry (v. 9) and for the couples to give "due benevolence" to one another (in the non-platonic matter) (v. 1-5), Paul also advises, with faithful (v. 25) judgment endorsed by the Holy Spirit (v. 40), for those who are single to stay single to make life easier for themselves, and to serve the Lord better (v. 32-35).  Paul is not saying that married people are unrighteous, but rather that married people have split priorities between the Lord and each other, albeit not a sinful arrangement.

There is a saying I have, and while I don't claim any divine endorsement as Paul did, I hope you examine this saying (I Thessalonians 5:21) to weigh its merit:

While one is better than two, two is better than twenty.

Meaning, while one focus (God) is better than two (God and your spouse), two focuses (God and your spouse) are better than twenty (or maybe more, depending on one's relationship with the world).

Now, for many, this is an obvious teaching.  However, I post it anyway, in part, also for myself. 

 

 

Tony Evans: An Obvious Fraud

 This turns out to be another quick exposure of a false teacher. Why? These points:

1. He, like so many, markets the Word of God on his website (2 Corinthians 2:17). It's painfully obvious.

2. He is well honored, per his list of "Honors" which points to Luke 6:26:

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26, KJV)

3. On the "Know Jesus Christ" page of his website, Mr. Evans points to the same old "sinners prayer" path to salvation, which ignores the true meaning of believing in Christ, which is to take God at His Word, as illustrated by Abraham:

“And [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6, KJV)

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3, KJV)

That's pretty much all I know for now.  Yes, there is the controversy concerning Mr. Evans resigning from church leadership due to undisclosed sin, but I don't know whether or not said sin was privately disclosed.

Themes of Thought

 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8, KJV)

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2, KJV)

A Quick Word About Retirement

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." -- Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

I don't have a lot of time (or energy for that matter) to do many long-form posts, so lately I've been doing quick posts.  This one is a reminder for everyone.  A retirement portfolio, if it is for yourself, is ungodly, because you are saving up treasure for yourself.  It's like that parable of the rich man who built bigger barns to store up the crops of a huge harvest, and then decided to take it easy and live off of the crops.  See Luke 12:16-21.  

That's all I have for now.