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Thoughts Nahum means “comforter”. There is comfort for God's people, to be sure. But for Nineveh, not so much. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria, and the book of Nahum was written about a hundred years after God sent Jonah to Nineveh to warn them that unless they repented, God's judgement would destroy them. You probably remember that Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh to give the warning, because Nineveh was so evil that Jonah didn't want them to repent. Jonah didn't think they deserved a chance. But God is love and does not want anyone to perish, so He is patient and pleads with the sinner to turn from their wicked ways. And after Jonah was swallowed by the great fish, *he* repented and did deliver the warning to Nineveh. And Nineveh repented and thus avoided God's judgement. But now, just a short hundred years later, they are a truly evil, foul and Godless city. They are a great and powerful city. According to one description I found, it was 60 miles across, with walls a hundred feet high.

Thoughts Mother To Son This chapter is a mother's advice to her son. The son is King Lemuel, and I'd like to tell you about him, but scholars don't know anything about him. There's a fair amount of conjecture, but no facts. One thing that seems true is that there was no king of Judah or Israel with this name. So instead of spending time on who he was, let's just talk a little about the content of this chapter. The Dangers of Sexual Immorality She warns her son about the dangers of sexual immorality. Good advice. And the advice would be just as good as if it were from a mother to a daughter or a father to either son or daughter. Both men and women invite all kinds of trouble if they are not sexually pure. I know that sounds very old fashioned, but look at the consequences on our culture today brought on by the sexual revolution that began in the 60s, not the least of which is more than 62 1/2 million abortions in America alone since 1973. STDs are rampant. About a quarter of the children in the US

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: malith d karunarathne on Unsplash Thoughts I really like these short little Psalms. Most of our remaining chapters in the Psalms are very short, with just a few exceptions. I'm sure you know that the Psalms were written as songs, and I can easily see these short ones as songs that became popular to be sung not only in the temple, but as the people went about their days. Don't you have some favorite songs or choruses from your church that you find yo

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Thoughts Pastor Bennett’s message today begins in chapter six of the Gospel of John. Support Please remember that this is a listener supported show. Your support of any amount is needed and very much appreciated. Find out how by clicking here. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission, and you will earn our gratitude.

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Aaron Burden on Unsplash Thoughts In these chapters, we read about Joash, and how he was saved from the evil Queen Athaliah, who killed every child of King Ahaziah, who was killed by Jehu. Every child but one. Jehosheba was the sister of King Ahaziah, and when she heard that Athaliah wanted to kill all of his children, she hid one-year-old Joash with the priests in the Temple for six years. That's quite a story in itself, but this next part is wh

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Benjamin Rascoe on Unsplash Thoughts Introduction to Deuteronomy The children of Israel are on the threshold of entering into the Promised Land. God has led them in the wilderness for 40 years, not because it took that long to walk from Egypt to this place, but because of their rebellion. God told them that generation would never enter the Promised Land. But now there is a new generation. All of the old generation was dead, and God was about t

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Angela Loria on Unsplash Thoughts You've heard of the Baseball Hall of Fame? Chapter 11 is often called the Hall of Faith, Why do you suppose the author of this book found it necessary to write this chapter? Of course, we know that the author wrote it because he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to do so, but beyond that I think the reason God gave this message for the Hebrews because they were used to relying on the ongoing sacrifices to make them ri

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Billy Clouse on Unsplash Thoughts Wow, so what's the deal with Ananias and Sapphira? You know how people always say that the God of the Old Testament is an angry, unforgiving God? And the New Testament is all about grace? So what's up with this story? The folks who only want to see the grace of God miss a very important characteristic of who He is. He is a God of holiness and righteousness. Here in Acts, we are looking at the first days of the Ne

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Harald Arlander on Unsplash Thoughts This book, although much shorter, is a bit like the book of Isaiah, and was written around the same time (735 and 700 B.C.). Isaiah spoke about “Judah and Jerusalem” and Micah’s prophecy was about “Samaria and Jerusalem”. Micah brings God’s warning about the coming judgment of Israel, and he mourns it.  The sins of Jerusalem are laid out: idolatry, covetousness, oppression, rejection of God’s Word, corrupt lea

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Romain HUNEAU on Unsplash Thoughts Chapter 29, verse 18 said, “Where there is no understanding of the Word of the Lord, the people do whatever they want to, but happy is he who keeps the law.” The NIV renders it this way: “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” The English Standard Version says, “18Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed i

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Inbetween Architects Unsplash Thoughts The Hebrew language had several different words that are often translated into English as "law".  I'm not going to give you all those different Hebrew words here today, but I'm going to read a partial list some of their meanings, and I'd like to see if you can pick out which of these words are the word used here in Psalm 119. Here they are: statute or decree, command, precept, judgement, direction (as in "Th

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Today, Pastor Bennett has a truly powerful message. As I was putting this episode together today, it spoke to me in a very deep way. I pray your heart will receive it, and be ministered to as I was. Our pastor speaks to us of the attention and care that Jesus has for us, from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John.  Support Please remember that this is a listener supported show. Your support of any amount is needed and very much appreciated. Find out how by clicking here.

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash Thoughts No comments on the reading today, as I had to make a trip to the emergency room. Today's Bible Translation Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 16-17 NIRV, Ch.18-19 NCV, Ch. 20 ERV Support Please remember that this is a listener supported show. Your support of any amount is needed and very much appreciated. Find out how by clicking here. When you buy through links on this site, we may

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms. 304 pages, hardcover from Sentinel. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Matthew Waring on Unsplash Thoughts To our 21st century western culture minds, the concept of cities of refuge seems very foreign, but in the culture of Israel when these words were written, this was something that was needed. Each family group had an avenger who would carry out the Genesis 9:6 proclamation, which says, "Whoever shed’s man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God, God made man." Here in Numbers 35, a deta

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Possessed Photography on Unsplash Thoughts Really the main point being made in these three chapters can be summarized very succinctly. Jesus made the perfect sacrifice with His own blood, and that one-time sacrifice was good for all time. The reason the author of Hebrews elaborated so much is because the main audience of the book, the Jews, needed to be convinced from the point of view of one who, like them, at one time had been under the Mosaic law. Their entire lives they had been told that doing annual sacrifices was necessary. To trust in the once-for-all-time sacrifice of Jesus was a huge change for them. I’m so glad the old system is no longer in effect. Aren’t you? Today's Bible Translation Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 8 NLT, Ch. 9-10 ERV Support Please remember that this is a listener supported show. Your support of any amount is needed and very much appreciated. Find out how by clicking here. When you buy through links on this

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Hasan Almasi on Unsplash Thoughts By What Power In chapter 4, after Peter and John were arrested for talking about Jesus after the lame beggar was healed, and they were standing before the religious leaders, they were asked, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”, what does scripture say happened? It says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…” Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit! Do you remember how often Peter would put his foot in his mouth when He was with Jesus? Sure, he got a few things right, but he often said exactly the wrong things, didn’t he? And now that he is filled with the Holy Spirit, God speaks just the right words through him.  Earlier in this chapter, we are told that after he preached, the number of the men added to the church was now about five thousand. The day before it was three thousand. So the Holy Spirit’s filling has made him a powerful and convincing speaker, wouldn’t you say? Peter Is Transformed Wha

Thoughts Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash As you probably know, this book is grouped in with what are commonly called the books of the Minor Prophets. Did you notice any of what we commonly think of as prophecy in today’s reading? Not much. Just one sentence, and it wasn’t until chapter three, verse four: “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." It’s kind of a wonder to me why Jonah wasn’t included in the books of History, really. But nonetheless, here it is. We first heard of the man Jonah in 2 Kings 14:25, where we were told that he was from Gath-hepher in Galilee. He brought a message of mercy to Israel during the reign of king Jeroboam II (who practiced the worship of the golden calf).  In the book bearing his name, we read of Jonah’s human weakness in the sin of running from God’s calling and then anger at Nineveh’s repentance, and of God’s mercy in forgiving Nineveh when they did repent, and in apparently even pardoning Jonah for his attitude toward them.

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Marco Oriolesi on Unsplash Thoughts When a nation sins, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and much learning, it will last a long time.Proverbs 28:2 NLV John Adams famously said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Alexis de Toqueville is credited with saying, "In a democracy, people get the government they deserve." A big government is necessary when the people do not have their eyes on God. Why? Because without a standard, without a belief in an absolute morality, chaos eventually results.  There is an Arabic curse which says, "May God make your sheiks many." Adams also said, "Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide." Remember, every time the children of Israel turned away f

Thoughts Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Raychan on Unsplash Psalms chapter 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, and it's smack dab in the center. You know what is really amazing about it? The writer wrote something that could not have been accepted by the Jews! Why? Because it says, "Praise the Lord, all nations! Praise Him, all people!"You see, unless you were circumcised, you could not join in praising the Lord when this psalm was written. This chapter at the very heart of the Bible, revealed the heart of God. This was a peek at the Gospel message. Paul, in the book of Romans, chapter 15, even used this short chapter as a proof to the Jews that God's love was for the Gentiles as much as it was for the Jews. That is indeed Good News. But the message of Psalm 117 doesn't end there. It says, "For His loving-kindness toward us is great. And the truth of the Lord lasts forever." I like the way the KJV says it, "For his merciful kindness is great toward us…" We should praise Him because his merci

Thoughts Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Samantha Sophia on Unsplash King Rehoboam was a mixed bag. There were times where he followed the Lord, and times where he turned his back on God. And in chapter 11, verses 16 and 17, we read some very important words. Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time.2 Chronicles 11:16-17 NIV Chapter 12 tells us that Rehoboam reigned for 17 years, but those three years were his best, because he and the people sought the Lord and followed the examples of David and Solomon. Take Stock Beloved, when things are not going well with us, it's a really good idea to take a spiritual inventory. How is our relationship with God? Are we seeking the Lord? Is there unconfessed sin in our