Beacon2Light

$8.99 Kindle version $9.29 paperback CBD The Rage Against God by Peter Hitchens is a book by the brother of leading atheist Christopher Hitchens . In it, he describes his religious upbringing and his turn from the Christian faith to atheism. Instead of the doctrines and dogmas of Christianity, Hitchens latches onto some secular idols. From there he traces his journey from having those idols fail him while finding his way, grudgingly, back to the Christian fold. With new-found eyes, Hitchens details his attitudes and behaviors while an atheist. He spares no judgment of his former self. His self-criticism is as sharp as was his tongue against anyone who espoused Christian faith. One of the saddest parts of the book is where he gives his assessment of Christopher ever becoming a Christian. He recalls opportunities to debate his brother and people wanting them to go after each other viciously. However, a few days before, a decision and subsequent time together changed the tone of ...

Economically, relationally and physically these are tough days for many people.  To many, it would seem a bad year to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Perhaps some would have liked to have forgotten it and held out hope for better next year.  Yet, we are to give thanks in everything and at all times.  So what is thanksgiving?  It's A Time to Reflect It's A Time to Reject and It's A Time to Renew It's a Time to Reflect It's a time to reflect on the people , past   and present who have enriched our lives (Phil. 1:3; 1 Th. 3:9-10).  Each of us could easily think of individuals who have blessed us.  Some have gone on to their eternal destinies while others are still with us.  In either case, it is not a time to be sad or depressed for who is missing but to be grateful for the time that we had with them and the blessing they brought us (or for those who are still with us -- that they still bring us today).   It's a time to...

I saw this on a fellow blogger's site, http://www.challies.com, and thought I would share it with you.  Enjoy and remember the reason for the season. Hopefully, you have a much deeper and more meaningful view of God.  To Him be the glory.   Anti-Santy Ranty from 10ofthose.com on Vimeo .

Read  2 Chronicles 18 Two kings go together to war.  A man of God is requested to discern God's will.  One king, Jehoshaphat, desires that advice and counsel while the other, Ahab, doesn't.  Lying prophets come to tell Ahab, the king of Israel, what he wants to hear.  At Jehoshaphat's request another prophet, this one who serves the Lord, is brought; a prophet who forecasts the king of Israel's demise.  Ahab disguises himself while Jehoshaphat goes in royal attire.  Jehoshaphat is spared while Ahab is struck by a "random" bowshot (33).  Before they left for the battle, the prophet had said to King Ahab, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”  And on that day of conflict, indeed, Ahab had died.  So, what of our lives?  Do things happen by random chance or is it God's sovereignty?  Is what occurs seemingly random but in reality it is God who is ...

"On this furlough we first became impressed with the way God had been raising up intercessors for us.  Frequently, one or more came up at the close of a meeting, saying they have prayed for us every day for years; some even from the time we had left for China.  One day – not now – we shall know the ‘why’ of many victories and perhaps too the ‘why’ of many failures because someone had failed to ‘hold the ropes’” -- Rosalind Goforth (missionary to China)

Especially in light of the terrible shooting rampage in Aurora, Colorado, questions about God and evil naturally arise. In response to the awful tragedy, Chris Sigfrids of WaterBrook Multnomah made this chapter available for your viewing at no charge, hoping that it would help you in a time like this to think biblically about God's goodness in the face of evil and suffering. He also hoped it would affirm your faith in the midst of tragedy and provide some measure of comfort. This chapter of Randy Alcorn's If God is Good asks: What Are Some Possible Responses to the Problem of Evil and Suffering? If God is Good by Randy Alcorn (Chapter 4) Chris Sigfrids didn't ask me to post this part, I'm doing it on my own. If the above is helpful to you and you wish to read a little more of Randy's thoughts yet you don't want or can't plunk down money for a full book or you would like a Reader's Digest version, check this out: If God Is Good: Why Do We Hurt...

(1 Kings 17-2 Kings 13) So many times we who are in Christian ministry want to be on top.  We feel insignificant in contrast to those who lead mega-churches or parachurch ministries with multiple staff members and millions of dollars in funding.  Yet, when we look at the prophets in the days of Ahab and Jehoshaphat, two stand out in the midst of hundreds, if not thousands (see 1 Kgs. 18:4; 19:11-18).  They were Elijah and Elisha.   We like what we hear of those two and we are inspired to do similarly great things for God as pastors or ministry leaders today.  However, that doesn’t mean that the “sons of the prophets” weren’t also great in God’s eyes.  In His sovereignty, God chose Elijah and Elisha to confront kings and to do great miracles in God’s name and through His power.  Even so, He was equally at work through the countless nameless prophets of those same Scriptures.   Don’t judge on the outer appearance but commit to ...