We drop in on Paul in Acts 17. We talk briefly about his witnessing pattern. We look at a recent podcast comment and reference the Catholic Church preparing to make a statement on apparitions... again. We note that many pagan beliefs are distortions of true doctrine and biblical history. Because of this, ironically, some professed Christians who attack certain pagan beliefs fail to see their own pagan beliefs and fail to distinguish biblical truth that may be present, although distorted (as Paul does in Acts 17).

We revisit the Sermon on the Mount again and the call to give to whomever asks of you. Oddly, I've been asking Red Letter Christians to help with my medical bills for years! But like many other red letters, they don't seem to feel compelled by those.

We also look at a chart created by Replacement Theology adherents to try and prove that the "church" is some sort of "New Israel." But the chart is great jumping off point to help us see that the gospels and and the Acts age are based on the earthly hope of the earthly people, Israel!

Something heard in the corridors of many a church (of almost any stripe) is "the Sermon on the Mount is my religion" or similar. Obviously, I think that's nonsense (just as the Red Letter Christians don't actually follow the Red Letters). But whatever position we take on any theological issue, it must be CONSISTENT.

If you think your church is an "Acts Church," do you follow the patterns of Acts 2, Acts 4, Acts 15, Acts 21, Acts 26, etc.? If not, why not?

If you believe the Sermon on the Mount and the "Lord's Prayer" are for you, do you (or your church) teach every jot and tittle of that address? Do you follow its directions? If not, why not? We must try, recognizing our limited intellects and corrupting flesh, to be as consistent as we can while being willing to change when study leads us to change.

When we think about the many warnings and judgments in scripture, we tend to think of unbelievers. Well, the only warning we have for them is that the wages of sin is death and if they are not reconciled to God through Christ (who is already reconciled to them through Christ), they will not see life (resurrection). We again must consider the differences in hopes and callings. New Jerusalem, etc.

Hus, Tyndale, Wycliffe, Luther, and countless thousands of others are rolling over in their graves seeing what the world calls "Evangelicals" and "Protestant" Christianity today swooning over right wing commentators and personalities entering into the Catholic Church. The doctrine of Christ's fully accomplished and completed work for which thousands have paid with their lives to defend has been cast aside for the Christian virtue signaling of embracing all things Catholic and Orthodox (as they still condemn you in their doctrines).

While that falling away is occurring, much of Evangelical Christianity has tossed aside any semblance of values or consistency to embrace Donald Trump. I've been mocked, scorned, and even banned on right wing sites for merely quoting (QUOTING, mind you) the doctrines of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches or statements by Donald Trump.

We could be seeing the end times apostacy (or apostasy, your choice) forming. Evil on the Left. Evil on the Right. And the work of Christ and his preeminence thrust aside as men seek power and glory and honor.

CORRECTION: I said Septuagint when I meant the Apocrypha.

Caitlin Clark is going to cash in on endorsements. More power to her! Love to see any semblance of capitalism left. But her WNBA contract, much to the chagrin of feminists, will not be anywhere near an NBA top pick salary. Love to see any semblance of capitalism left. Yet I don't see feminists filling WNBA arenas, paying NBA prices, or watching the WNBA in any significant numbers to make a difference. America is an empire in decline and one of the major reason is economic ignorance.

We wander around the call to Godliness in this age and apply it, not only to our lives, but to our doctrines as well. We also look at the political landscape and lament the dearth of Godliness in our leaders. Not only do we have leaders devoid of Godliness, we are led by many vile people. And, sadly, despite their vile attributes, they have managed to gain the undying loyalty of many professed believers.

The Amherst-Pelham Regional District recently ran into its own bullhorn when a trans middle school child was cruelly harassed by fellow students and then approached by staff members with Bible verses. The problem? The harassers and the proselytizers were from another superior group, blacks and Hispanics. What's a good Progressive to do? Can't punish anybody because "restorative justice" and "it's their culture." I'm gonna assume this is somehow my fault. Sorry!

We also tackle what I think is the responsibility of the Christian in the workplace.

We clarify and exalt the finished work of the Savior. Not only did the Lord die in our place, He went to the grave and did not decay! He then rose gloriously to show us what lies ahead for those resting in that perfect work. But that perfect work is under assault, and most often and most directly, by those claiming to be Christians. Along the way, I discuss briefly why I don't do "church calendars." Where do we find guidelines for the current age? 

In Adam We All Die (Audio)
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/in-adam-we-die-in-christ-we-are-made-alive--52452666 

How Are We Deceived? (Audio)
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/we-begin-again-how-are-we-deceived--52336521

We start our look at the great falling away that permeates Christendom. The vast majority of Christendom condemns the gospel of grace itself while most of the rest dilute it or mix it with manmade standards. Many of those who say Sola Scriptura with their lips, yield to tradition and academia. 

The title "Early Church Fathers" is one of Satan's most clever ruses. Christians will sacrifice studying the word of truth before God alone and defer to some doctrine because it is old or commonly held or is spewed from the mouth of men they revere above the apostle Paul himself.

We jump off from charlatan and Charismania teacher, John Avanzini's torturing of God's promises to Israel. This grave error in interpretation isn't limited to false prophets. Unfortunately the false teaching that every verse in the Bible is to all us is prevalent in many ministries today. And even those who recognize the misuse of the verses often fail themselves to understand the uniqueness of the current age and our focus on unsearchable riches in the far above the heavens (not on the earth; Ephesians 3)

We clarify the concepts of descriptive passages and prescriptive passages as we continue to seek to be consistent in our interpretation of scripture. I recommend a few video channels and a few ministry sites while reminding is us that we are all responsible for our won theology. We summarize our approach to scripture by asking three questions when we find a change in practice or command.

What changed?
Why did it change?
When did it change?

The Messed Up Church
Magical Mystery Church
Brother John Elving
Antichrist 45 - Bible Prophecy with Brother Paul

We continue reading verses in context such as Jeremiah 29:11 ("For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope") as well a few passages in the red letters that get ignored by supposed Red Letter Christians. We see the Lord telling his disciples to not go to Gentiles, to raise the dead, and to sell everything they have (among other things). We briefly look at the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25) in context. And as we have been doing, we call again on all of us to BE CONSISTENT!

We discuss the value of a seminary education (or the lack of value). We look at a couple of the most oft quoted verses in modern American Evangelicalism in their respective contexts (2 Chronicles 7:14 and Ezekiel 36:26). We carefully note how these passages can't possibly be referring to believers of the current age or the current gospel. Then we note that believers still have an old nature and we encourage all of us to "walk according to the calling to which we have been called" (Ephesians 4:1), and not the calling of other companies.

I will clarify in the next podcast, but I quipped "Southern Baptist" after I mentioned Dallas Theological Seminary. DTS was founded by the Chafer brothers (most notable Lewis Sperry Chafer) and is probably the premiere Classic (Acts 2) Dispensationalist Seminary in the USA. The Southern Baptist Convention surely has dispensational pastors, but they take no formal position on the matter.

If the Theology Don't Fit, You Might Be a Heretic! Be Consistent! More on saving ourselves from Charismania and other errors. Whatever theology you claim (hopefully it's yours and you didn't just adopt some system), make sure it remains consistent in your interpretations. It was a desire for a consistent theology that brought me to where I am (and still drives me as I seek more light).

If you think the "red letters" are for you, do you really keep the red letters? I mean ALL the red letters? Are you in an "Acts" church? Do you really practice what's laid out in the Book of Acts? I mean ALL the Book of Acts? If you claim all 21 epistles as the foundation of your faith, do you obey ALL 21 epistles?

Christendom has suffered, from its inception, the curse of religion and superstition. It seems as though so many professed Christians are dissatisfied with blessings in the far above the heavens that they fall for earthly promises and superstition. No matter the theological school one adopts, compromises and contradictions will rule the day if we fail to cut straight lines in scripture. There is a way out of the madness. We must turn to our Apostle, Paul, and seek to understand the message and hope he has revealed to us in the current age.
Sample of Audio Podcasts on the Parables:

The Key to the Parables is Israel
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-key-to-the-parables-and-the-bible-is-israel--41046329

Introduction to the Parables of the Kingdom (Matthew 13)
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/introduction-to-the-parables-of-the-kingdom-matthew-13--40514017

Noting the Judgments in the Parables
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/noting-the-judgments-for-believers-in-the-parables-and-elsewhere--40906111

Mock trailer for a documentary on the 80s 90s Greensboro (North Carolina) indie band, Nothing But Sky. Mockumentary. Just updated some of the picture and video sizing.

Just messing around with old material.
All songs (c) Sky's the Limit Music / GlaSco Publishing

#Mockumentary #Band

The second and final part of a very short series I recorded in 2007 about the basics of self Bible Study. We turn to the parables and look at what the Lord had to say about them. They're not nice little stories which make an obvious point. Quite the opposite, The Lord said they are meant to be deep and meant to lead the truth seeker to study. Lastly, we look at a "disharmony" of the gospels. That is, we shouldn't try to harmonize the four gospels to make then fit together, we need to take each on its and discover why the Holy Spirit left us four accounts of the Lord's earthly ministry.  

"Study to show yourself approved unto God..."
2 Timothy 2:15

The first part of a very short series I recorded in 2007 about the basics of self Bible Study. We emphasize the individual responsibility and nature or Bible study and encourage every believer to start to read, study, and compare scripture for himself or herself. Not every command in scripture is for every person. That might sound good and religious, but it's palpable and demonstrable nonsense. 

"Study to show yourself approved unto God..."
2 Timothy 2:15

As believers who see the rise of the globalists as at least a possible sign that the biblical end times are near, we cannot go on ignoring the biggest globalist on the block. The richest, most powerful, outwardly spiritual globalist player on the world scene, the Roman Catholic Church. As I engage Catholics disgruntled by the current Pope, I challenge them to read what their own church teaches them about the pope (spoiler: they are commanded to bow their minds and wills to the Pope in all matters of faith and morals). None of this is to win points or to just be smug, it's an attempt to get their eyes off the Pope, off the issues, off the outward glory and turn to Christ alone. It's a call to find rest in Christ alone.

My short testimony coming out of Catholicism:
https://bereanbeacon.org/do-you-read-the-scriptures-michael-f-scotto/

After I pay a short tribute to an old high school classmate who recently passed, we move on to several statements I heard in a recent message from the pulpit. Why don't we see a lot of miracles today? Why is Abraham so prominent in most of the Bible (while being conspicuously absent from Paul's last seven epistles)? Are all believers the children of Abraham?

We pithily, with a dash of sarcasm, comment on Stephen Strang's strange defense of Mike Bickle. Apart from covering up Mike's alleged pedophilia, Strang has called the "advocates" (read: victims of Bickle's grooming and sexual abuse of multiple girls - allegedly) the "tools of Satan." From the theological side, we apply the practice of "right division" (2 Tim 2:15) to the mania and suggest that a proper biblical understanding of the age we live in could help many avert these sorts of abuses of power. We put the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement in the spotlight.

Recorded not long after the death of Monkees guitarist and songwriter, Michael Nesmith. A tribute from Nothing But Sky and The Saving Graces guitarist, Craig Glasheen, accompanied by NBS bassist, Michael Scotto.

Nothing But Sky original pop/rock tracks available on Spotify and at Bandcamp in three different collections. Early live tracks, Studio tracks, and Michael and Craig's Christian side projects.

https://nothingbutsky.bandcamp.com/

After I mockingly used the idea of a $50/hour minimum wage to make a greater point in a recent podcast, some politician running for the US Senate seat from California proposes a $50/hour minimum wage. And not just for CA. She wants the whole nation to adopt the policy! Guarantee some of the same people who would tell me my example is ridiculous, would turn around and try and defend the economic suicidal policy once their party proposes it. Happens with a lot of issues. Jen Psaki told us we're crazy for suggesting some on the Left want killing babies in the birth canal to be legalized. After she was quickly corrected by her friends on the Left that many of them actually do support that idea (they have to, it's the necessary conclusion when you devalue life in the womb) she caves and now it's a "good" thing. Finally, we talk a little bit more about supposed modern day prophets and the corrupt clergy system.

We stop off in Kansas City to speak broadly about the scandals (plural) at The International House of Prayer (IHOP). Mike Bickle, Bob Harley, and others caught up in extramarital affairs and the sexual abuse of minors. We pull back the lens a bit and look at how these sorts of wicked acts can arise from pastor/prophet/charismatic systems. We are all capable of falling into sin, but for sin on this scale, arising from multiple leaders, in one of the largest religious movements in the USA must be examined, condemned, and removed. When you reject the Apostle Paul as the last Apostle sent to God's people, the one given the final revelation for this age, you open yourself up to all sorts of deception. We finish with another short trip to fantasy Minimum Wage Land.