Category: Christian bloggers

Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree?

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

In Mark 11: 12-25, on his way into the Temple, Our Lord Jesus Christ wished to pick some fruit from a fig tree. But there were only leaves on this tree… and Jesus cursed it, and the tree withered. It was dead when He and His disciples next saw it.

This incident has puzzled many Bible readers (including me) over the centuries; but in fact it was part of something much bigger.

After he cursed the tree, Jesus entered the Temple and cleaned house, overturning the tables of the money-changers and the merchants, smacking them with a makeshift whip, and condemning the Temple as a house of prayer transformed into a den of thieves. What ever happened to that meek and mild Jesus that we thought we knew?

This 10-minute sermon by Brandon Robbins explains the critical significance of this action by Our Lord. “Finally I get this!” my wife exclaimed, after she watched it.

Really, it’s rather brilliant–and at the same time, clear and understandable. I wondered why I hadn’t seen it myself.

Have They Potted Your Blog, Too?

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

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Has the sun set on the Day of the Blog?

In 2020 I averaged over 400 views a day. Now I’m lucky if I get 200. Why is that, do you suppose?

Some of you have blogs of your own, and I’d very much like to know if your viewership stats have gone over the falls. Is this happening simply because people aren’t into blogs anymore–or is it a more subtle means of censorship? “Just block enough of their views to discourage them, and then they’ll shut up.”

I think we very much need a social media community–especially for Christians and conservatives. I think we need each other. Don’t you?

Huff! Puff! Wheeze!

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

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I feel you, bro…

I am out of gas!

Physical therapy. Go to the store. Write the Newswithviews column you forgot to write yesterday. Quick–five blog posts, please! Oh! And you have to finish a chapter of that book you’re writing.

It calls to mind my old newspaper reporter days. Always on the hot seat. Deadline for this, deadline for that–and oops, another story just came in that you have to write and edit and set type and paste onto the front page. You’ve got 20 minutes.

Anyway, it’s done. And now I must spring up to clean the cat’s litter boxes (she has two–eat your hearts out, other cats). Because it’s almost suppertime.

See you in a bit. I like to post those critter videos after I eat.

‘The Folly of Men Trying to Control the Future’ (Mark Rushdoony)

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Mark Rushdoony on Charity & Welfare

Mark Rushdoony

Can we control the future?

Well, if the way we’re handling the present is any indication… No.

https://chalcedon.edu/blog/the-folly-of-men-trying-to-control-the-future

Whether it was China’s blow-up-in-your-face “one child only” policy, or the diseased sociology of the West, all over the world, recessions are looming. The old “boom & bust” cycles aren’t work anymore. Populations are aging, shrinking… and “Workers are getting hard to find.”

Mark Rushdoony’s essay can be easily summed up:

Trust not in the statists who have made this mess! They did it and we’re paying for it.

Only God can fix this. Why not put our trust  in Him?

Normal Service Has Been Resumed

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

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Once upon a time I used to start the morning with 100 views. Today I couldn’t get started at all. Computer went balky on me: took me half an hour just to get to my home page… where I found 14 views waiting for me.

Well, at least our heat is on this morning. Just have to work harder, that’s all.

‘I Thank My Readers’ (2014)

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Ten years ago I was drawing a lot of fire. I still am, only now I go for the Delete key a lot faster than I used to.

And I am grateful to all of you who stand with me. There are a lot of jerks out there who want our scalps.

I Thank My Readers

There are times when all you can do is belt out a chorus of Men of Harlech and stand your ground. We live in such a time.

May the LORD our God sustain us.

 

‘Christian Nationalism’ (Eh?)

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Martin Selbrede | heroinamerica

Martin’s essay goes deeper than mine.

Lately we’ve been hearing a lot about “Christian Nationalism.” See Martin Selbrede’s essay in Arise and Build.

https://chalcedon.edu/resources/articles/a-stone-cut-without-hands

I would like to present, for what it’s worth, my opinion.

*When He confounded the builders of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11: 1-9), God gave us nations to protect us from any global government set up in emulation of, or in outright opposition, to Him.

*God’s laws, as given in Scripture, are binding on all nations.

*All too often we get nationalism without God’s laws.

*I believe that Our Lord Jesus Christ will return, as promised, and give us the only rightful world government that is possible: His.

*Until He does, His Kingdom is among us, spiritually–as He said (Luke 17: 20-21). We are waiting for it, all the while trying to live according to God’s Word.

I’m a little uncomfortable with the concept of “Christian Nationalism.” Christianity, after all, is a universal standard, certainly not particular to any nation. This fallen world has many nations which are not Christian. “One nation, under God” is not an easy thing to find, anywhere on earth.

But that doesn’t mean we should stop looking for it.

 

Conking Out

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

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I’m not used to having arthritis and I was stiff and sore all morning. It struck me as an excellent idea to go back to bed, but we couldn’t skip the grocery shopping.

I’m still terribly tired; but the sun has come out, and the prospect of a nice cigar has latched hold of me, big-time. And I guess, being conscious, I can say with some faint trace of honesty, “Well, I’m on the job. Sort of.”

By the way, I’m always thankful when readers send me nooze tips. Very often it’s something that I missed: no research staff here. So I think I’ll sit outside for an hour, try to refresh myself, and hope the tips come pouring in. Honest, I can use the help.

‘A Few Simple Truths’ (2015)

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Woody Woodpecker? Well, why not? Maybe he can figure it out.

By Saturday I’m usually noozed out, can’t take anymore. But I persevere nevertheless. How often does one get to write “persevere”?

A Few Simple Truths

This was written before the reign of King COVID and surely needs to be updated. I invite readers to do so.

R.J. Rushdoony: Respectable “Christianity”

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Amazon.com: R. J. Rushdoony: books, biography, latest update

Seeing it clearly–R.J. Rushdoony

R.J. Rushdoony wrote, “Respectability is the mark of a dying church which will not risk unpopular stances, no matter how godly they are.”

What? Respectability is bad? Look and see:

https://chalcedon.edu/blog/respectable-christianity

He wrote this in 1994. It was true then, it was true in Christ’s own time, and it’s true now. There are always churches that go along to get along; and there are always saints who are mocked and criticized, or worse, for taking the Bible seriously. Our Lord Himself was crucified by the respectable religious establishment of His day.

“God does not exist to serve us, but we, Him.” And sometimes that means taking and holding an unpopular stance.

Thanks be to God, we have never quite run out of Christians who will do that.