Loyal Defender

Uh-oh, the Greek Orthodox archbishop of America is a liberal (religionnews.com) (for information purposes – recently publicized by blogger/author Rod Dreher – sad that the archbishop is a liberal)

Pastoral Meanderings: Just as good. . .

Kari Lake: Worst of the Contemporary GOP | National Review

April 16

Beverly LaHaye, prominent Christian activist, dies at 94 | U.S. News (christianpost.com)

Died: Beverly LaHaye, Pastor’s Wife Who Led Religious Righ...... | News & Reporting | Christianity Today

Planning a Wedding? You Don't Have to Drain the Piggy Bank - The Stream

Scottie Scheffler dedicates second Masters win to God | Sports News (christianpost.com)

How A Small Evangelical Seminary In Mississippi Is Growing And Defying The Odds (religionunplugged.com)

Friday, March 01, 2024

Interesting Links from March 2024

How Jordan Peterson conflates Justification and Sanctification | Voice (christianpost.com)

The Coming Clash Between Republicans vs. Hardliners On IVF - The American Conservative

March 2

Marijuana and the Movies | Peter Tonguette | First Things

Rev. Martin Luther King was "not a Christian at all," claims old white hate pastor - LGBTQ Nation (overlook the biased spin in this report)

Presbyterian Church (USA) Considers Forcing LGBTQ Affirmation - Juicy Ecumenism

‘How Great Thou Art’ gets new ending on 75th anniversary of famed English translation (religionnews.com)

Church Leaders Accuse Nigerian Military Of Being Complicit In The Murder Of Christians (religionunplugged.com)

Lauren Boebert Just Realized She Lives in a Glass House (thedailybeast.com)

Report: Church Militant loses defamation suit (religionnews.com)

Pastoral Meanderings: Theology does not help the bottom line. . . (Valpo has promoted liberal theology for decades – no real loss here – Valpo is a lukewarm institution that may finally fall apart)

March 4

In New Interview, ‘The Chosen’ Director Dallas Jenkins Insists He Loves The Same Jesus as His Mormon ‘Brothers’ (substack.com)

March 5

Trump's Mar-a-Lago hosts Log Cabin Republican's gay wedding | U.S. News (christianpost.com)

Valley News - By the Way: Music drew me to the Episcopal Church (vnews.com)

Scenes from a celebration of the same-sex marriage law — at Mar-a-Lago - POLITICO (for information purposes)

Meet The Biden Official Making Six Figures To Travel The Globe Pushing Transgenderism | The Daily Wire

‘She Knew Jesus’: Laken Riley’s Grieving Mom Breaks Silence, Delivers Powerful Message Calling People to Christ – Faithwire

'The Chosen' director defends comments about Mormons and Jesus | Entertainment News (christianpost.com)

An alleged affair, security cameras and a K-9: How police determined North Dakota house fire was a murder cover-up - ABC News (go.com)

John MacArthur vs Christian Nationalism - Juicy Ecumenism

Who Knew? Study Finds God's Design for Family Structure is Best Fit for Children After All (substack.com)

Blaze News investigative writer Steve Baker says FBI wants him to self-surrender Friday in Dallas over his Jan. 6 reporting | Blaze Media (theblaze.com)

March 6

As France Makes Abortion a Constitutional Right, Evangelic...... | News & Reporting | Christianity Today

France enshrines abortion as 'guaranteed freedom' in constitution | World News (christianpost.com)

Laken Riley's mom gives Jesus 'glory' for sustaining her family | U.S. News (christianpost.com)

Three Reasons Why the Exclusivity of the Gospel Causes Offense - Rooted Thinking : Rooted Thinking

John Piper on Profanity, Crude Joking, and Using the Word “Dang” | Crossway Articles

Port: The school choice bill isn't about religion; it's about empowering parents (inforum.com) Annoying Fargo-based columnist/podcaster Rob Port is an atheist!

March 7

Corps chose not to publicize environmental damage by DAPL protesters, official testifies • North Dakota Monitor

16 AGs demand YouTube drop 'misleading' abortion notice | Politics News (christianpost.com)

Department of Justice closes investigation into SBC Executive Committee's handling of abuse (religionnews.com)

May God Deliver Us From Our Obsession with Numbers And Popularity (religionunplugged.com)

Episcopal Chaplains Sought for ‘Identity-affirming Spiritual Care’ - Juicy Ecumenism

'60 Minutes' Wages Propaganda War On Moms For Liberty (thefederalist.com)

Abortion is constitutive of the nation? | WORLD (wng.org)

March 8

Charismatic elders declare Mike Bickle ‘unfit’ for ministry | Church & Ministries News (christianpost.com)

'In the name of the Mother, Daughter and Holy Spirit': Catholic women advocate change (religionnews.com) (for information purposes)

Christian Women Punished For Praying In Nicaraguan Prisons (religionunplugged.com)

March 9

Why John MacArthur Is Wrong About MLK | Christianity Today (for information purposes)

'The righteous shall live by faith': Planting a Lutheran church in Rome (lcms.org)

How Not to Be a Grumpy Old Woman | GCD (gcdiscipleship.com)

March 10

Pastoral Meanderings: The purpose of clothing. . .

How to Hold Onto Your Convictions Without Becoming Arrogant - The Stream

March 12

Five Timeless Observations from Francis Schaeffer that are Still True Today - Daily Citizen (focusonthefamily.com)

The ELCA's Queer Confirmation Curriculum - EXPOSING THE ELCA (for information purposes only)

God Uses Sinful People, But ... - The Stream

The Therapeutic Model Of Childrearing Is Destroying Kids' Lives (thefederalist.com)

An American’s Letter from the Hungarian Gulag - The American Conservative

March 13

Joe Rogan, Riley Gaines discuss Satan, Jesus' return and prophecy | Podcast News (christianpost.com)

An Insubstantial Book for a Weighty Problem (mereorthodoxy.com)

Pastoral Meanderings: A silent witness. . .

Port: Trump the flip-flopper (inforum.com)

March 14

3 reasons to ditch the Easter Bunny: Not a harmless tradition | Voice (christianpost.com)

INTERVIEW: Pivot Points (currentpub.com)

David 'Vichy' French Endorses Biden. Are We Seeing a Tragedy or a Farce? - The Stream

Detroit Pistons player says 'Jesus is coming back' | Sports News (christianpost.com)

Rob Reiner, Heidi Przybyla and smearing of Christian nationalism | Voice (christianpost.com)

March 15

American Bible Society to shutter $60 million Faith and Liberty Discovery Center (religionnews.com) (barely was aware this museum existed)

The Decline Of Valparaiso University A Tragedy For American Lutherans (religionunplugged.com)

Persecution Watchdog’s Warning: Canadian Bill Could ‘Send Christians to Jail’ for Quoting Bible – Faithwire

'An Outsider in Every Way': Jemar Tisby's Reformed and Racial Journey - Juicy Ecumenism (for information purposes)

March 17

Maryland church teacher who assaulted girls deported twice | U.S. News (christianpost.com)

West Point Changes Mission Statement, Removing Values 'Duty, Honor, Country' (westernjournal.com)

Why AI Can Never Replace The Need For Reading And Writing (thefederalist.com)

Youngkin sabotages his GOP future with same-sex marriage support | Voice (christianpost.com)

Over 600 religious freedom violations in Cuba in 2023: report | World News (christianpost.com)

March 19

5 Biblical Reasons Gaza Is Important (christianity.com)

North Dakota most supportive state of Christian nationalism, study finds - InForum | Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo news, weather and sports

Trump’s Jan. 6 ‘hostages’ remarks, explained (msnbc.com)

Trump’s ‘Bloodbath’ Rant Is Disgusting in Any Context (thedailybeast.com)

Tucker Carlson exhorts Texas audience to discern spiritual war | Politics News (christianpost.com)

Truthful Thinking Is Greater Than Positive Thinking – Daniel Seabaugh

This November, Vote for a Balanced Budget - The American Conservative

Can Irish culture bring a new springtime to the faith? (oursundayvisitor.com)

March 20

Hold Nigeria accountable for its failure to stop internal religious violence | The Hill

As Freedoms Shrink in Hong Kong, One Christian Media Editor Explains Why He Stays... | Christianity Today

Kanye West says he has ‘issues with Jesus': 'I'm God' | Entertainment News (christianpost.com) (for information purposes – sad)

The Titanic Was the Safest Ship of Its Time – Entrusted to the Dirt

Trump Claims 2024 Election Will Be Rigged, Putting GOP Turnout at Risk - WSJ

Digital degradation | WORLD (wng.org)

Medication abortion rates grew 10% over the last few years, report shows • North Dakota Monitor

March 21

Michael Ian Black: Trump Going Bankrupt (Again) Is an Opportunity to Reset America (thedailybeast.com)

‘How Dare You!’—Mark Driscoll Shares the Story Behind His Most Controversial Sermon (churchleaders.com)

Kamala at the death camp | WORLD (wng.org)

Pastoral Meanderings: An old word. . . but a good one

March 22

Michael Brown suggests Martin Luther eternally condemned | Podcast News (christianpost.com)

William Lane Craig Says Abortion Doesn’t Harm Babies + Confers ‘A Great Good’ Upon Them (substack.com)

March 23

The Vice President Visits an Abortion Clinic — And the People Yawn? - The Stream

Prominent Woke Ex-Southern Baptist Pastor and TGC Contributor Rebukes John MacArthur for MLK Comments (substack.com)

West Point Diluted Its Mission By Removing 'Duty, Honor, Country' (thefederalist.com)

March 26

JourneyWise Network announces partnership with Museum of the Bible and its 'New Testament Experience' (religionnews.com)

My grandfather Paul Tillich, the unbelieving theologian | Aeon Essays

Does God Care How You Cook Your Goat? | Tim Challies

It’s You. Hi. You’re the Problem. It’s You. | JD Greear Ministries

Albert Mohler Says the Pope Is Ignoring ‘The Words of Jesus’ in Comments on Hell (churchleaders.com)

March 28

The ‘foolish’ message every Christian believes | Voice (christianpost.com)

The Utter Ridiculousness of ‘Trump Bibles’ (thedailybeast.com)

Canada Following China's Path? Bank Accounts Linked To Obedience Scores (prophecynewswatch.com)

Thousands baptized after watching Phil Robertson's story | Entertainment News (christianpost.com)

140+ Global Christian Leaders Call for Permanent Gaza Ceasefire, Halt of Arms Sales to Israel (salsalabs.org)

Bob Casey’s Abortion Evolution | National Review

The Story of Jesus Christ Is a True Myth | Christianity Today (in my opinion, not helpful to use the word “myth” here, about the truth of Christ’s saving work)

'Gender Identity' Law Spells The End Of Religious Liberty In MN (thefederalist.com)

March 29

Over 2,000 pages of Stenehjem emails released • North Dakota Monitor

Yes, ‘Christ is King’ — that is bad news for antisemites | Voice (christianpost.com)

Pastoral Meanderings: Put a cross on it. . .

What's So Good About Good Friday? - by Jeff - The Dissenter (substack.com)

Religious Left Officials Wrong on Israel - Juicy Ecumenism

Easter Is The World's Most Historically Verified Holiday (thefederalist.com)

11 Reasons Why Two Parents are Better Than One (aaronrenn.com)

Atonement (currentpub.com)

March 30

We Were There When They Crucified the Lord | Hans Boersma | First Things

Jesus Christ Superscar: Why the Wounds of Christ Deserve Our Prayerful Devotion - The Stream

Christ is risen | WORLD (wng.org)

Friday, February 02, 2024

Interesting Links from February 2024

Street evangelist returns to church after being shot in head | Church & Ministries News (christianpost.com)

Catholic U. fires professor who invited an 'abortion doula' | Education News (christianpost.com)

Does Alistair Begg have a point about gay weddings? | Voice (christianpost.com)

Disgraced Dem Senate Staffer Escapes Charges For Gay Sex Tape (thefederalist.com)

Washington D.C. Crime: Local Government Must Enforce Law, Punish Criminals | National Review

February 2

Farewell, after 20 years: Why we did what we did — GetReligion

Super Bowl LVIII Preview: Inside Sin City’s Christian Quarterback Dual (religionunplugged.com)

We Need More Repellently Attractional Churches - Stephen McAlpine

The Gospel Is About Going to Heaven When You Die (mereorthodoxy.com)

Why Male Athletes Should Not Compete with Females | National Review

‘Harvard of Christian Schools’ Fires Back After Fox News Column Claims It Has Become ‘Woke’ – Faithwire

Pastoral Meanderings: My moral fiber is sufficient. . .

Jesus and My OCD | Christianity Today

February 4

Are you eagerly anticipating Christ's return? | Voice (christianpost.com)

A pastor's response to Alistair Begg's gay wedding advice | Voice (christianpost.com)

Is Trump trying to lose? | The Hill

7 signs that your sinful nature controls you | Voice (christianpost.com)

February 5

Compassion And Gay Weddings (slowtowrite.com)

Don't Forget About Nigerian Christians (slowtowrite.com)

What Do Mormons Believe About Marriage? (thegospelcoalition.org)

Hell Should Unsettle Christians: Embracing the Most Emotionally Difficult Doctrine | Desiring God

When big banks discriminate | WORLD (wng.org)

February 6

Why a Same-Sex Couple Could Never Practice Christian Marriage - The Stream

What Christianity Says About Making A ‘Bucket List’ (religionunplugged.com)

Real Aid in Dying Means Caring for the Dying, Not Helping Them to Die | Opinion (newsweek.com)

Kristi Noem’s Office Grovels After Losing Lawsuit to Trans Advocacy Group (thedailybeast.com)

February 7

The Prophetic Voice You May Not Have Heard (currentpub.com) (for information purposes)

Rosaria Butterfield Rebukes The Gospel Coalition for Supporting Preston Sprinkle's Heretical Teachings (substack.com)

Wheaton College Fires Back After Fox News Accuses Them of Being Woke, But Were They Right? (substack.com)

February 8

10 Bible Verses about Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage (truthforlife.org)

Fond Farewell to John Lomperis - Juicy Ecumenism

Classical College Brings On 'Exiled' Pastor Who Prayed At Trucker Convoy (thefederalist.com)

Trump Is Undermining Conservatives' Anheuser-Busch Boycott (thefederalist.com)

Soldotna church to host LGBTQ story time for kids, after library drag show cancelled - Alaska Watchman

Pastoral Meanderings: A parody of ecumenism. . .

February 9

Super Bowl QB Brock Purdy reads this Bible passage every day | Sports News (christianpost.com)

Worst Persecutors of the Church Named for 2023 - Juicy Ecumenism

Homosexual Son of Former SBC President Publishes Pro-Homosexual Children’s Book: “My Guncle and Me” (substack.com)

February 11

The Leftist Kidnapping Of Anne Of Green Gables (prophecynewswatch.com)

Worse Than Any Affliction: Why I Refuse to Grumble | Desiring God

February 12

Lesbian Methodist Bishop: Prioritize Reconciliation Over Redemption - Juicy Ecumenism

America's embrace of legalized gambling is a sporting proposition - Washington Times

Pastoral Meanderings: Christianity's gift -- the value of life. . .

February 13

Does Hell have various degrees of punishment? | Voice (christianpost.com)

Learning from Methodist Hymnals, Elitists and Common People - Part III - Juicy Ecumenism

Greek Church Leads Hateful, Twisted Campaign Against Gay Marriage (thedailybeast.com) (ignore the biased rhetoric in this report – legalizing same-sex marriage in Greece is a bad thing)

February 14

The age of glorifying Greta Thunberg is over - The Spectator World “Thunberg is a leader, and an icon — for the immature and the idiotic.”

Pastors Who Won't Call Out False Teachers by Name are Most Likely False Teachers (substack.com)

When Goodbye Is Forever | Tim Challies

Tucker Carlson Is Wrong About Moscow — And The United States (thefederalist.com)

"He Gets Us" Doesn't Get Jesus (slowtowrite.com)

February 16

Greece becomes first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex civil marriage (religionnews.com)

When ‘He Gets Us’ Presents a Jesus Who is Too Much Like Us - The Stream

Five Marks of a False Convert - by Jeff - The Dissenter (substack.com)

Lech Walesa & Transcendent Truth - Providence (providencemag.com)

February 17

He Gets Us Takes a Big "L" in the Superbowl (aaronrenn.com)

Is marijuana legal? Why feds are taking so long to change old rules. (usatoday.com) (for information purposes)

Not trans, but just gay or lesbian? | Voice (christianpost.com)

Think You're Immune to Adultery? - CCEF

February 19

Pastoral Meanderings: Is your home a holy place?

MS Society Stands By Decision to Kick 90-Year-Old Volunteer Out for Not Understanding ‘Preferred Pronouns’ – Faithwire

In The Bible, Lincoln Found The Antidote To Slavery And Despair (thefederalist.com)

New Report Reveals That Persecution Against Christians In Iran Continues To Grow (religionunplugged.com)

February 20

Even Believers Need to Be Warned: How Hell Motivates Holiness | Desiring God

PRAY: Ex-Muslim Couple in Uganda Reportedly Murdered After Converting to Christianity – Faithwire

Transgender Funeral At St. Patrick's Is An Attack On The Church (thefederalist.com)

Meathead, Meet John Q. Adams, 'Christian Nationalist' - The Stream

February 22

Pastors, don’t tie your reputation to a political leader | Voice (christianpost.com)

Erasing Jesus from Israel - Juicy Ecumenism

Kansas City Parade Shooting: Christians Love The Chiefs, But Hate The Violence (religionunplugged.com)

By the Way | What Happened to My Father’s Evangelicalism? - Good Faith Media

The Insurgency News Blast | Protestia | Substack

Crime skyrockets in the nation’s capital | WORLD (wng.org)

Prayers for Children and Grandchildren - Lutherans For Life

February 23

Will your Judgment Day end badly? | Voice (christianpost.com)

What Does the Second Anniversary of the Invasion of Ukraine Mean? (currentpub.com)

Matthew Slater, a Super Bowl champ with his eye on higher things, retires from football (religionnews.com)

The Presidents and Faith - The Stream

WWTD: What Would Taylor Do? 'Swifties' and Faith - The Stream

On Religion: Most Catholics Have Stopped Worrying About Saving Souls (religionunplugged.com)

Pastoral Meanderings: Curious. . .

February 24

Canadian Politicians Introduce Bill Removing Christianity, Bible as ‘Hate Speech’ Defense (substack.com)

Pastoral Meanderings: A schizophrenic church. . .

February 27

Pray.com removed from App Store in China | World News (christianpost.com)

Transgender Basketball Player Injures 3 Female Players, Team Forfeits Game (prophecynewswatch.com)

John MacArthur defends Michael Cassidy for toppling satanic altar | U.S. News (christianpost.com)

Putin Critic Alexei Navalny Found Christianity Before His Death (religionunplugged.com)

When your preconceived notions collide with Christ | Voice (christianpost.com)

February 28

Slaves of white people, slaves of Christ | Voice (christianpost.com)

Jimmy Lai and the Plight of Hong Kong Christians - Juicy Ecumenism

If GOPers Are Pro-Life, They'll Stop Dems' IVF Bill Condemning The Unborn (thefederalist.com)

Climate Cultists Will Do Anything To Save Earth, Except Stay Home (thefederalist.com)

Considering History: National Parks Help Us Grapple with Our Hardest Histories | The Saturday Evening Post

Monday, January 01, 2024

X Marks the Spot

(Posted on my personal Facebook page on 12-30-23.)

It is customary at the end of the year that certain publications, bloggers, writers, pundits and other influencers announce their choices for books worth reading. Even former United States President Barack Obama did this.

For any interested, through Goodreads, here is a link to books I read or at least skimmed through in 2023. Similar links are available for other years. I appreciate that Goodreads allows one to track these in a systematic way. I like the Goodreads web site and app. And it’s good to do some reading of good books and to even learn something from bad books. Of course, one can’t and shouldn’t read everything (check Ecclesiastes 12:12 and the whole chapter) but one can try to make good decisions in what to read.

I posted reviews of many of these books here on my private Facebook page. Some of the latest ones haven’t been publicly reviewed yet.

A change that I plan for 2024 is to start doing this on X (formerly known as Twitter). Since I started doing these book reviews online in June 2021, there have been a lot of them – 378 pages worth of reviews as well as some commentaries. Many of these older writings I now look to share on X.

I’ve never been satisfied that Facebook is the best fit for book reviews, at least of the type I do, but I did it anyway. Facebook can be good for photo sharing and family and friend updates. There have been more ads on Facebook than there used to be. Also, there has long been a fake account under my name, and Facebook has done nothing about it despite numerous reports by me and by others. I don’t like that Facebook management has failed to address that. Having said that, I still plan to maintain my Facebook account and may cross post future book reviews on both Facebook and X.

He is far from perfect and can be a little flaky sometimes, it seems, but since Elon Musk bought X, it has been better in fostering free speech and in not suppressing significant viewpoints and discussions, which is a good thing. In my view, X remains by far the major leader in the social media category that it is in, exceeding competitors like Threads, Gab, Post News, Mastodon, Truth Social, Poa.st, and others. I plan to purchase an X Premium account to allow me the freedom to publish long form messages.

I will also note again that I do share links (and occasional comments) on the blog/web site, loyaldefender.info. I intentionally try to keep that as bare bones and simple as possible. There is a word search bar on the top left of the web sites. Also, one may comment on the web pages at loyaldefender.info, though few so far have taken advantage of doing so. I don’t delete comments except in rare cases. Feel free to check out loyaldefender.info if you haven’t already.

For any interested, the link to my account at X is https://twitter.com/davidmarkbecker. As noted, I plan to start very actively using it beginning in 2024. The theme Bible verse in my X profile is “The one who boasts must boast in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 10:17.”

Happy soon New Year!