Tag Archives: persecution

Are We Truly in the End Times?
Part #2: Some Terminology & History

By | 20 Mar 2024

Now that we’ve explored the challenges involved with interpreting prophecy, now let’s define its terminology and explore some ancient history along the way. Because imprecise terminology is a prime tool of deceivers and propagandists, it’s crucial for us to clearly define our terms so we’ll all be on the same page whenever I mention them. I will also… Read More »

He Gets Us

By | 19 Feb 2024

As you’ve probably guessed, my title comes from two controversial ads broadcast during the 2024 Super Bowl. Since they were aired, there has been a flurry of negative commentary on them from those proclaiming themselves Christians on antisocial media. Many of those folks have gone so far as to label the ads as satanic. Curious about what all… Read More »

Is Bethel a Cult?

By | 6 Dec 2023

A tremendous amount of mud-slinging is currently going on in the Church these days. I’ve addressed that topic in multiple articles here on Miscellaneous Ramblings. In case you’ve missed any of them, here’s a brief list for your reading enjoyment and — I hope! — spiritual edification: Of Blind Men & Elephants Filled With The Troll-y Spirit The… Read More »

Fear

By | 1 Dec 2023

Ever since the Rebellion in Eden, God has spoken through His Word a single, consistent message to scads of people over several millennia: “Don’t be afraid!” This command is recorded hundreds of times in Scripture. Someone claims to have accurately counted 365 such verses. This means we literally have 1 for each day of the year. This seems… Read More »

Disappointments

By | 17 Aug 2023

Introduction Several years ago, our church’s guest speaker was a former pastoral staff member, a Calvinist-Baptist minister closely aligned with John MacArthur and John Piper doctrinally. His message centered on the illness, death, burial, and raising-from-the-dead of Lazarus in Bethany recorded in John 11. His sermon remarks opened with the statement “God will disappoint us” and then continued with… Read More »

The Saints Who Say “NIH!”

By | 22 May 2023

Introduction Despite the obvious Monty Pythonism in the title, we are not here to discuss very nice, not-too-tall shrubberies. “NIH” in the title of this article is the abbreviation for “Not Invented Here.” It’s a flavor of the groupthink form of cognitive bias. Those who suffer from groupthink in general display an inherent distrust of and/or hostility towards… Read More »

Where are We Going? And Why are We
in This Hand-basket? — The Spiritual Perspective

By | 27 Dec 2022

In my previous article in this series, I identified some historical trends which have brought us to this sorry moment in world history. In this final article, we’ll look at its spiritual underpinnings. The Final Quest As mentioned in my first article on humility, Rick Joyner’s book The Final Quest has had the single hugest impact upon my… Read More »

Where are We Going? And Why are We
in This Hand-basket? — The Historical Perspective

By | 27 Dec 2022

Some of you may have recognized the title of this article as a motto from a humorous bumper sticker. Truth be told, that is precisely where I got it! Why did I chose this title instead of something more pedestrian — or even more importantly — original? Because a broad spectrum of Americans — including Christ-followers — are… Read More »