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mid-week apologetics booster (2-15-2024)

Good morning friends, Quote of the week: Evil is the absence good. We can have good without evil, but we cannot have evil without good. Dr. Frank Turek explains it by saying that if you take all the rust out of a car you have a better car, but if you take all the car out of the rust you have nothing. In the same way, evil is the privation of good. It is the mistake in something, and if gone, if you have something better. – Ryan Pauly Now, here are your weekly links:

Christians may think they are marrying another Christian. But many are merely nominal. And after getting married, nominal evangelical men test out as the most toxic men–worse than secular men. Nominals are men who, in a survey, might check the Baptist box because of their family and cultural background, but they don’t actually attend church very often, if at all.: https://twitter.com/NancyRPearcey/status/1755302553061892344
IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THIN MINTS: GIRL SCOUTS AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD – Intercessors for America: https://ifapray.org/blog/speak-now-girl-scouts/
: 1. The evidence for the resurrection of Christ is incredibly compelling, historically grounded, and well documented. 2. …¦ : https://twitter.com/darwintojesus/status/1755967872554144241
What is Hell, & is it Compatible with a Loving God? Dr. William Lane Craig | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3JgsS9MyGW/
Jesus wrestled us free from Satan’s grasp. We are born again, redeemed, free, and righteous in him! Greg Koukl | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3GqtJ0hsem/
Are you following Jesus? Not just his commandments, but his worldview? ¦ Greg Koukl | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C28JzjVKSt8/
5 Discouraging Trends in Global Christianity – Lifeway Research: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/02/05/5-discouraging-trends-in-global-christianity/
Scott Klusendorf discusses right to life, assisted reproduction, and end of life | WINTERY KNIGHT: https://winteryknight.com/2024/02/10/scott-klusendorf-discusses-right-to-life-assisted-reproduction-and-end-of-life-2/
There’s a new small group curriculum for churches available, and you’re probably going to hear a lot about it this year because it’s both very timely and being produced and promoted by some big Christian names. It’s called The After Party, and according to its creators, it’s designed to counter the “dangerous trend” of Evangelicals having their political identity formed by “partisan forces, not by true Biblical faith.” The curriculum was developed by David French (who’s a New York Times columnist), Russell Moore (the Editor-in-Chief of Christianity Today), and Curtis Chang. Natasha and Alisa did an episode on their concerns about the After Party last March when the curriculum was first announced. The reason they’re talking about it again today is that it’s now been released and it’s getting high profile promotion with churches and pastors nationwide. In fact, they’re making it available for free through the 2024 election. Tune in to today’s episode for some things you should be aware of before your church considers rolling this out.: https://blubrry.com/1470671/130794860/31-russell-moore-david-french-and-the-after-party-curriculum-why-the-church-should-be-concerned/
This One Verse Contains Six Keys to Overcoming Lust: https://livingwaters.com/this-one-verse-contains-six-keys-to-overcoming-lust/
The First Thousand Years: Christendom from Pentecost to the First Millennium – Christian Research Institute: https://www.equip.org/hank-unplugged-podcast-and-shorts/the-first-thousand-years-christendom-from-pentecost-to-the-first-millennium/
Are There Over 300 Messianic Prophecies? – THINKAPOLOGETICS.COM – When I was a new Christian, I read several Christian apologetic books that stated there are over 300 Messianic prophecies that are all fulfilled in Jesus. At the time I thought this was a convincing evidential apologetic for the truth claims of our faith. But as the years have gone by, I have realized this approach to Messianic prophecy is not as effective as one might think. Now please let me clarify I do think there is Messianic prophecy. Prophecy was one of the primary ways the apostles spread the faith in the first century. However, I think we need to tweak our approach. I have taught on this subject on several occasions. In my opinion, here are some helpful tips: https://chab123.wordpress.com/2024/02/11/are-there-over-300-messianic-prophecies-6/
What’s the best explanation for the origin of life for atheists? | WINTERY KNIGHT – The challenge for naturalists posed by the origin of life makes it well worth your time to learn and understand. I used to explain this argument to my entire IT department on white boards when I was a young man. It’s fascinating, and more convincing than personal testimonies or abstract philosophical arguments. Although I read books on the origin of life, I learned how to present the information as an argument by watching the interviews above over and over. People sometimes ask me how I was able to survive 22 years in IT with my theism intact. It turns out that there are no shortcuts to a theistic worldview. You have to support it with evidence. You have to be able to show your work about how you reached your conclusions. I’m a theist today because I never found a single atheist in any software development job who could even begin to challenge the evidence that I collected from listening to all those lectures and debates that I started from in my early 20s. It was as easy to defeat them as taking candy from a baby. If only Christian parents and Christian leaders understood the importance of scientific facts when they talk to young people about Christianity. We need to be less worried about hurting the feelings of young people by making them “feel dumb”. Christianity isn’t supposed to be easy.: https://winteryknight.com/2024/02/11/whats-the-best-explanation-for-the-origin-of-life-for-atheists/
Taylor Swift’s Dangerous Descent into Witchcraft Sorcery & Casting Spells – YouTube – Taylor Swift seemed like a sweet professing Christian pop country singer. So what happened to her? During her Eras tour as you’ll see in this video, Taylor is clearly dancing witches’ coven ceremonies during her Willow song, and she is posting about witchcraft, sorcery and casting spells. A witch school even welcomed Taylor into their tribe. Tragically though – even if Taylor genuinely doesn’t believe she’s a witch – she is glorifying witchcraft and is influencing audience members toward witchcraft. You’ll also see and hear about Taylor’s bizarre post about sorcery and the video of an airplane appearing as she sang about a plane during her Labyrinth song. : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm-gVYbvsE8
Are the Galapagos finch beaks evidence of Darwinian evolution? | WINTERY KNIGHT: https://winteryknight.com/2024/02/12/are-the-galapagos-finch-beaks-evidence-of-darwinian-evolution-5/
How did the apostle Peter die? | GotQuestions.org: https://www.gotquestions.org/apostle-Peter-die.html
3 Ways to Misunderstand the Trinity – Lifeway Voices: https://voices.lifeway.com/bible-theology/3-ways-to-misunderstand-the-trinity/
Contend for the Faith | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/contend-faith
“The Most Reluctant Convert in all of England”: Why Former Atheist C.S. Lewis Became a Christian | Reasons for Jesus: https://reasonsforjesus.com/the-most-reluctant-convert-in-all-of-england-why-former-atheist-c-s-lewis-became-a-christian/
Tacitus – Ancient Roman Historian – Reports on Jesus: https://crossexamined.org/tacitus-ancient-roman-historian-reports-on-jesus/
The Most Common Objection to God’s Existence on a College Campus – THINKAPOLOGETICS.COM: https://chab123.wordpress.com/2016/09/23/the-most-common-objection-to-gods-existence-on-a-college-campus/
5 Proofs For The Existence of God | finding truth matters: https://www.findingtruthmatters.org/articles/apologetics/5-proofs-for-the-existence-of-god/
Can There Be Any Meaning in a Universe without God?: https://www.str.org/w/can-there-be-any-meaning-in-a-universe-without-god-#.Woq9LajwaUk
An Atheist Feminist Converts to Christianity, Nicole Cliffe. – Bishop’s Encyclopedia of Religion, Society and Philosophy: https://jamesbishopblog.com/2017/06/06/an-atheist-feminist-converts-to-christianity-nicole-cliffe/
When sceptics convert: 3 former atheists walking the path of CS Lewis | Testimonies | Premier Christianity: https://www.premierchristianity.com/stories/when-sceptics-convert-3-former-atheists-walking-the-path-of-cs-lewis/224.article
Parents Are Still the First Line of Defense | Cold Case Christianity: https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/parents-are-still-the-first-line-of-defense/
Origin of Saint Valentine’s Day – American Minute with Bill Federer – AmericanMinute.com-William J. Federer – When Emperor Claudius demanded that Christians worship pagan idols and statues of deified Emperors, Saint Valentine refused. The name Valentine is derived from the word “valor,” which means, strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness and personal bravery. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to die. While awaiting execution, he preached to guards and other prisoners. His jailer, Asterius, asked Saint Valentine to pray for his blind daughter. When she miraculously regained her sight, the jailer converted and was baptized, along with his entire family. Right before his execution, Saint Valentine wrote a note to the jailer’s daughter, encouraging her in the faith, signing it, “from your Valentine.” Saint Valentine was beaten with clubs and stones, and when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on FEBRUARY 14, 269 A.D.: https://americanminute.com/blogs/todays-american-minute/origin-of-saint-valentines-day-american-minute-with-bill-federer
Lectures on science apologetics for a general audience | WINTERY KNIGHT: https://winteryknight.com/2024/02/14/lectures-on-science-apologetics-for-a-general-audience/

and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. Genesis 39:7-10 Blessings to you all