The Danger Regarding the Flare-up in Nagorno-Karabakh

For many years I have followed and written about the tensions within the Caucasus and once again they're flaring up but many seem to sense there's something different this time – the potential is there for a greater regional war.

Ethical Dissonance: Western Evangelicalism and BJP India

https://www.mnnonline.org/news/dear-mr-pompeo-please-hold-india-accountable-for-its-oppression/

Confusion reigns as the compromised Western Church has no moral standing. Allying itself with political power, the Evangelical movement and its allies call upon the likes of Pompeo to use the power of the American Empire to curtail the anti-Christian policies of Modi's BJP.

New Calvinist Civil War: Protestia, Friel, and The Gospel Coalition

Protestia, the newest incarnation of JD Hall's Pulpit and Pen clickbait factory posted a broadside attacking The Gospel Coalition. The 'news' article used this critical 'tweet' from Justin Taylor as a platform to launch their attack:

Interestingly I went looking for the tweet but couldn't find it. It seems to have been removed.

A Historian of Worth

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/books/stephen-cohen-dead.html

Stephen Cohen was a solid historian who spent most of his career focused on the Soviet Union and Russia. His specialisation gave him a largely unparalleled perspective that proved both unique and critical in the 21^st century as the United States began to take a more aggressive posture vis-à-vis Russia.

The Twin Disasters of American Evangelicalism: Dominionism and Dispensationalism

https://www.mintpressnews.com/christian-nationalists-christian-zionists-secure-another-four-years-for-trump/270259/

The Mint Press News article wades into confusing waters as there is some truth in the assertions of racism at work in the narratives of Christian Nationalism but these realities are vigorously denied by most in that sector – as is the reality of American imperialism.

There is so much dishonesty at work, the revising and romanticisation of history and imposed metanarrative that it's very difficult to get through to the adherents of Christian Nationalism (a variant of Dominionism) that they have in fact departed from historical truth and certainly New Testament Christianity.

Trump+ 1338: The Coming Constitutional Crisis, Ginsburg and Evangelicals

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/opinion/2020-election-voting.html

It surprises me to say that to some extent I agree with former DNI Coats or rather I agree with his assessment. As a Christian I believe we ought to pray for the peace of the city. This does not mean we endorse the city, its agendas, policies, goals, or wars.

On the contrary in many cases we must speak against these things but we do so from a non-political standpoint. We speak as prophets bringing a message of doom and hope. We do not seek power as God will judge those on the outside. We have no interest in their Babel towers or their Babylons and ultimately we submit to the powers that be and do not resist them in terms of the sword or the coin.

My concerns are less about the integrity of the American democratic experiment and the ideals that it ostensibly stands for. Rather my concerns are purely pragmatic. At this point it time the election has been cast into doubt and it's hard to imagine a scenario in which there will not be chaos and considerable blood in the streets.

Inbox: Are American Soldiers Losers and Suckers?

Despite Trump's near panicked claims to the contrary, the witnesses that testify to have heard him say as much are credible. Trump's selfishness and self-absorption know no bounds. He cannot conceive of anyone believing in anything greater than one's self – let alone believing in it so strongly that they would be willing to sacrifice their lives for it. And thus to the bafflement and irritation of those serving under him, he as president of the United States impugned the memory of fallen soldiers buried on French soil.

Peace in the Middle East?

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Trump-announces-a-'peace-agreement'-between-Bahrain-and-Israel-51018.html

This Catholic news article seems to catch the right air of cynicism with regard to the recent Trumpite peace accords. Various Arab nations have been signing on to the pro-Israel axis so aggressively advocated by Trump and his Likud allies. An era of peace is about dawn on the Middle East or so we're told.

Real Christians Won't Listen to John MacArthur

https://www.christianpost.com/politics/john-macarthur-says-true-believers-will-vote-for-trump-cant-affirm-abortion-and-trans-activism.html

One is little surprised that Richard Land's rag 'The Christian Post' picked up this story. Land has long been one of the chief voices of Evangelical evil – a hater of Christ and a supporter of sin. Land hates Jesus Christ and has given himself over to deceiving the people of God, strengthening the hand of the evildoer and seducing the flock to do the same. Sadly, John MacArthur has fallen into this same trap.

Real Christians will vote for Donald Trump – so says John MacArthur. The issues of abortion and the larger spectrum of sodomite issues are enough that Christians have no choice – they'll vote for the Trump ticket.

Such declarations demonstrate MacArthur's continued slide into compromise. His worldliness and mammon worship continue to pull him into convoluted and corrupted thinking.

Failing to Discern the Real Nature of the BBC and Mainstream Media in the Anglo-American World

https://www.evangelical-times.org/59589/the-noble-liar-how-and-why-the-bbc-distorts-the-news-to-promote-a-liberal-agenda/

There is a lack of discernment on display in the Sharon James article. She laments the fall of the BBC and the abandonment of its Biblical values missing the fact that when the institution was created in 1927 the British Empire was still in full swing. The idea that something like the BBC –a mouthpiece for the British Establishment would in any way represent Christian values or that the ethics of honesty and objectivity wouldn't come into conflict with the Empire – which like all empires is built on lies was just absurd. It was bound to fail. It was from the beginning a lie and therefore prima facie unbiblical.

Calvinism, the Feminist Wars, and the Vocation Trap

https://julieroys.com/aimee-byrd-cyberbullying-the-battle-over-manhood-womanhood/

I must confess I was pretty disturbed hearing about some of the comments directed at Aimee Byrd. They were out of line and some of the men who made them are especially guilty as they are office holders in the Church.

Covid Statistics, the CDC, and Comorbidity

The CDC numbers regarding actual 'official' Covid deaths has been out for some time. At first it seems shocking. What? Of all the 180,000+ Covid deaths only 6% are directly attributable to Covid? Everyone else had an underlying or pre-existing condition? Does that mean this has all been an exaggeration?

That's how many people understand it and when Trump recently sent out a tweet echoing these statistics the Internet went wild. Numerous Right-wing oriented websites picked it up and what I saw were several variations of the following deductive process.

The Lithium Coup (Week 42): Bolivian Unrest Continues

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/bolivia-farmers-denounce-armed-pro-regime-civilians-attack-20200811-0002.html

More evidence has poured in since the November 2019 coup that forced Evo Morales from power – and forced him to flee for his life. Contrary to the assertions of Mike Pompeo and other American officials, the election was not fraudulent as the Organisation of American States (OAS) now admits.