(Screenshot: Vimeo/American Family Studios)
Norman Geisler, noted apologist and theologian, dead at 86. Dr. Geisler spent some time at Dallas Theological Seminary just as we were finishing. We remember him as much younger, but still a towering intellectual and one who loved Jesus and wanted people to know Him
Christian Post

Prayer
“5 Things You Need to Know About Prayer; What we can learn about our prayer lives from the Desert Fathers. (Relevant, 2/14) The Desert Fathers had some issues, but we can learn from them on the importance of prayer

RIP
“Alister McGrath: Michael Green Taught Me the Importance of Evangelism; A tribute to the theologian who taught a generation how to evangelize through the local church.” (Christianity Today, 2/12)

Millennials and evangelism Pt 2
“No, Millennials Aren’t Killing Evangelism; But if you’re hesitant about sharing the gospel in the 21st century, here’s what you need to know about effectively reaching people for Christ. (Christianity Today, 2/13)

Food for Thot
“Why we let the little ones come to the service” (Christian Post voices, 2/9)

No food here
“Kid Staring At 47 Varieties Of Cereal Declares There’s Nothing To Eat” (The Babylon Bee, 2/15)

Tech Translation
“New Bible translation technology by Wycliffe spreading Gospel faster than ever before” (CP, 2/13)

Lost and Found, hide and seek edition
“Lost City in South Africa Discovered Hiding Beneath Thick Vegetation”  (Live Science, 2/6)

Lost and Found, oceans edition
“Famed WW2 Aircraft Carrier Torpedoed in 1942 Found Miles Deep in Pacific Ocean” (Gizmodo, 2/13)

News you can use
“The Absolute Best Way to Cook Bacon, According to Sooo Many Tests” (Food52, 2/8)

Pay no attention to Jesus
“Half of Millennial Christians Say It’s Wrong to Evangelize” (Christianity Today, 2/6)

Food for Thot
“What Has Happened to the Evangelical Christianity of Not Long Ago?” (Pathos, evangelical, 2/4)

Think kind thots
“A New Study Says There Are Actually Health Benefits to Thinking Kind Thoughts” (Relevant, 2/7)

We’re the government and we’re here to steal
“S. Carolina Police Agencies Defend Civil Forfeiture Laws as Extra Revenue Streams” (PJ Media, 2/6) We are obviously all for supporting police, but Civil Asset Forfeiture (and eminent domain) need serious reform. The response stems from this series from the Greenville News.

We usually don’t do party politics, but this crosses over
“Democrats’ Inexorable Abortion Logic Has Finally Caught Up With Them; From unrestricted late-term abortions to infanticide, Democrats are now facing the consequences of a position that never had a limiting principle.” (The Federalist, 2/1) And originally had a lot to do with eugenics

Lost and Found
“Major WWII shipwreck discovered: Japanese battleship sunk by US found” (FoxNews, 2/8)

Be Happy, go to church
“Pew: Sunday Regulars Are Happier and Healthier” (Christianity Today, 1/31)

Service in Liberia
“‘Worth Laying Down Your Life’: The Missionary Adventures of Rick Sacra” (The Gospel Coalition, 1/28)

Transitions
“Leith Anderson Retiring from National Association of Evangelicals; NAE president: “It’s important to speak biblically and thoughtfully when so many are shouting for attention.”” (CT, 02/01)

Legacy of Socialism
“Yes, Venezuela Is a Socialist Catastrophe” (NYT opinion columnist, 1/25) Apart from running out of other people’s money (Thatcher), it turns out the rulers end up with everyone’s money. And kill those who protest.

RIP
“Keeping Up Appearances star dead at 82: Fans pay tribute to Clive Swift who was best known for playing Hyacinth Bucket’s long-suffering husband Richard” (DailyMail.com, 1, Feb)

SBC focus
“JD Greear: Don’t Split Over Calvinism, Bicker About Theology ‘When People Are Lost, Going to Hell’” (CP Church & Ministries, 09/20/2018)

Christians like to fight
“Beth Moore sparks fiery debate after saying spending time reading Bible doesn’t equal spending time with God” (Christian Post, 01/04)  Some people would rather be fiery rather than listen. Of course, one can read the Bible and not be with God. His Word does not return empty, but the character and attitude of the reader does make a difference. Atheists can read the Bible and it won’t return empty, but they are not “spending time with God” the way Ms. Moore is defining it. See above

Food for Thot
“6 Reasons Why the ‘Nones’ Are Walking Away From Church”  (Pathos: New Wineskins, 01/02)

Compassionate Helping
“Is there a way out? History tends to repeat itself when it comes to helping the poor and oppressed in countries like Ethiopia” (World, 01/05)

Oops
“Cops say a would-be kidnapper chased a woman — into a karate studio. That was a bad move” (CNN, 01/05) “…and was dealt with accordingly”

Everything new is old
“Arminian Temptress Convinces Calvinist To Shave His Beard” (Babylon Bee, 01/04)

Acts now
“Francis Chan: Stop Treating the Book of Acts Like Hyperbole; The former megachurch pastor asks today’s churches to measure their practices against the New Testament standard” (Christianity Today, 9/20)

Hospitality
“Gay Rights, Hate Speech, and Hospitality; Longings of a Former Lesbian” (Desiring God, 9/18)

That’s good
“The U.S. Divorce Rate Is Falling Rapidly Thanks to Millennials” (Relevant, 9/25)

Should work out well
“In the name of love?:  Christian university lifts ban on same-sex romantic relationships in a bid to better disciple homosexual students” (World, 9/26)
“Azusa Pacific’s Compromise on Sexuality Is Significant, but Nothing New” (Christian Post, 9/27)
“Progressive Christian College Welcomes Incoming Class Of Future Atheists” (Babylon Bee, 9/26) This one is sarcasm

Lost and Found
“Archaeological Discovery: Evidence of Hebrew Exodus From Egypt Found Near Jordan River” (CP World, 9/25) You mean the Jews were there a long time ago?

Can’t be the same without Tom
“Modern Magnum; Lighthearted Magnum P.I. reboot avoids sexism, showcases diversity” (World, 9/25)

RIP
“Marty Balin, who co-founded Jefferson Airplane, dies at 76″ (FoxNews, 9/28)

The Apostle Paul gets a free trip to Rome. A Cruise of the Mediterranean with a few adventures along the way. This Sunday, 8/26 at 11:00 am after praise and worship.

Web Stuff

When the author’s intent doesn’t  fit your dogma…
“John Piper Changed ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness.’ Experts Weigh In” (Christianity Today, 8/10)

And a eugenics spouting population alarmist is better than Mary
“Mary, Mother of Jesus, Not Named Among Top 10 Women Who Changed the World: BBC Poll” (Christian Post, 8/10)

Sad state of affairs
“Willow Creek Elders and Pastor Heather Larson Resign over Bill Hybels ” (CT News, 8/8)

Religious Freedom Watch
“China Shutting Down Churches, Seizing Bibles in ‘Ambitious New Effort’ to Eradicate Religion” (Christian Headlines, 8/7) Communism socialism – not about liberty – Party is supreme

A good few verses

Ephesians 6:1–4

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. ⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Have a great day

Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting (in Dallas this week)
“Women Are the Talk of 2018’s Southern Baptist Annual Meeting” (Christianity Today, 6/12)
“SBC President Asks Southern Baptists: Do You Believe in a Supernatural God?” (Christian Post, 6/12)
“J. D. Greear Elected Youngest Southern Baptist President in Decades” (CT, 6/13)
“6 Things JD Greear Plans to Focus On As Newly-Elected SBC President” (Relevant, 6/14)
“ERLC: New initiatives on women, abuse” (Baptist Press, 6/14)

What King
“Sculpted head of mystery biblical king found in Israel” (Houston Chronical/AP, 6/4)

Missions
“How Female Missionaries and Evangelists Paved the Way for #MeToo” (CT, 06/2018) We remember sitting in a room in Liberia, W. Africa reading about the first missionaries to venture to W. Africa. They were almost all women.

Can’t see Spirit (and if you did you would die), & He doesn’t live in houses made with hands
“What Does God Look Like? Almighty Viewed Differently Based on Demographics, Politics, Researchers Find” (CP, 6/12) Well except for Jesus and He looks like a Jew and lived like us

Karl was not nice
“A spectre haunting Europe: Karl Marx”  (Standpoint (UK),  06/2018) And his ideas are toxic

News you can use
“Don’t Touch! A Scientist’s Advice For Spotting Poison Ivy Before It Ruins Your Summer” (NPR, 6/8)