Doctrinal Danger & Lost Friendship

Since I used to endorse and share things from Tony Miano in years past, I believe it is right to share the following two videos.

I know I'm rather late saying anything about this on my blog, but I would encourage people who are familiar with Mike Reid or Tony to watch the interviews and strongly consider them.

I truly care about Tony Miano, his family, and the others in the church he is in (though we are no longer online friends).
I could not support his move to that church, and now, I see the red flags even more.

Sharing these is not about my personal hurt.
This is not about wanting to hurt others.
This is not about slander.
This is about researched information and testimony from different people.
My hope is that God will work in the hearts of people and that truth will prevail.
I care about people enough to share these things.

I have been removing posts related to Tony until such time as things turn around.
I cannot guarantee that I haven't missed some of them for those checking.
I hope that I will not lose friends, but I believe this is the right thing to do.

 Please hear what the doctrinal views and practices are of the church mentioned, and please consider the risks to people due to them.

Those Who Love Me & Those Who Don't

I don't put a lot of credit to my dreams.  

Sometimes my dreams do reveal things that are fears or insecurities that I have. 

I had a dream this morning where I learned that someone was rejecting me for my lack of eloquence and interesting conversation.  

What with brain fog making thinking unclear and never having had any confidence in the skill of conversation making, it is easy to see why this kind of dream would disturb me.

I have less going on in my life than when I was young, and so the quantity of topics I have to share about even online is quite limited.

I realized it was only a dream, and I can't really read the minds of those who choose to not respond to me.

It made me think about how people actually do show partiality and reject others, and so I looked up some verses related to various kinds of partiality as addressed in Scripture.

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
James 2:8-9 NASB

James was warning about not holding our faith with an attitude of personal favoritism - giving an example of how someone might ignore a poor person and show favor to the rich.

Opening his mouth, Peter said:
“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.
Acts 10:34-35 NASB

God saves people of all ethnicities and colors, and so the Gospel is to be proclaimed to everyone.

Unity in Christ also includes every believer without distinction.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 5:44-46 NASB

Even when people reject us and are mean to us, those of us who are Christians should remember that we don't deserve God's mercy and grace.  We must remember that we were once enemies though chosen of God.  God even gives rain and food to those who do not receive His truth and trust in Him.

We are to love our enemies and pray for them.

In many cases, it is often God that people are objecting to the most.

They reject us as we represent Him.

Do I love only my friends and not others?  

Do I love those who do not show love back to me?

Do I forgive people who hurt me?  

Do I love those that I have little in common with outside of their being fellow Christians?  

Do I show love to my enemies?  

Do I love those who say things that make me angry?  

Do I love the lost who are blind to the truth and spew out evil or rude things?  

Do I pray for them?

I'd have to say that I'm not always consistent on this, and I certainly don't always react right immediately.  

I still have a long ways to go in sanctification.

Do you struggle with this?

Christians, please pray for me, and let me know if you would like prayer in this area (or any other).

Adoption Deferred, American Puritans, & a Live-Streamed Hymn Sing on May 13, 2020

Hope Deferred 
I've been praying about a young girl's adoption for a long time now, and the article linked below filled in some of the gaps in my knowledge of the situation.
It is all of God's plan, but it has been difficult for the family.
COVID-19 Ruined OUR Adoption Plans - Peter LeDuc

The American Puritans
Nate Pickowicz has teamed up with Dustin Benge to write a new book about some of the New England Puritans.
I have not read this particular book, but I know that Nate is an excellent writer.
I've also seen Dustin Benge's presence on Twitter, and so I know he has good things to say as well.
The American Puritans (on Amazon)
The book is also available to order on the Reformation Heritage Books site HERE.

Hymn Sing 
Grace Bible Church of Bakersfield, California, has been having a time for singing hymns live-streaming online on Wedenesday nights for a few weeks.

I've been enjoying participating by singing at home, even though it starts at 10 PM where I live!
It begins at 7 PM Pacific time. 

If you are able to be online and to sing along, I highly recommend it!