Conversational Theology and Other Stuff

Too many Christians are caught up in Group-Think. There are so many assumptions made about the faith and about the Christian Life based on the modern structures in Christendom. That is, so many look to a pastor or to a denomination when it comes to how to interpret the Bible or how to live the Chrostian Life. There is also a surrendering of discipleship when it comes to hope before us. We must break free from this way of thinking. We shall all stand before God and give account for our service. The Lord knows we are limited creatures with limited intellects and failing minds, but that does not give us the right to forfeit our responsibilities before our Master to study in a manner to show ourselves approved. We do not have to forsake fellowship or corporate worship to do this, but we must forsake systems, catechisms, creeds, and confessions.

PODCAST CLASSIC Source: https://www.spreaker.com/user/michaelscotto/podcast-yeshua AUDIO ONLY - More and more people are using the Hebrew "Yeshua" instead of the English "Jesus." And that's perfectly fine. A problem arises, however, when they either try to put other believers into bondage to fear by exalting the Hebrew name or when they get puffed up because they use the Hebrew name. Hint: Paul and the Holy Spirit seemed to prefer the Greek.

To get a better glimpse of tremendous depth of God's grace (for all we ever get in this life is but a glimpse), we must see ourselves as creatures desperately in need of that grace. While the world (and Christendom) preach a message of self-love, the great saints of the faith in scripture teach us that the way to experience God is through lowliness of heart. It is in taking our place as beggars and sinners in need of a grace beyond our comprehension. If you want to experience more of God's grace, take your place among the ashes.

We take a quick look at the verse in Daniel wherein the Angel describes the Antichrist as one who will not regard the desire of women (Dan 11:37). We look at this description in its context and compare it with 2 Thessalonians. We take a look at the "queen of heaven" spoken of in scripture and offer a possibility in light of the description given us by the Angel in Daniel. Does this verse teach that the Antichrist will be a homosexual or is it something very different altogether? Tammuz, Semiramus, and other ancient gods and goddesses are briefly discussed and we follow them into Christendom to this day. More details: www.contextorconfusion.com

When the Bible speaks of doing things "forever," does God mean what we mean when we say "forever?" Well, no. What God means is that the person or group to whom He is speaking is bound to something as long as God sees fit. Those today who claim that they embrace ALL of scripture fr themselves fail to do many things God said were statutes FOREVER. There is a theological word for making distinctions in scripture based on God's instructions for one age that completely change (and may even be sin and a denial of Christ!) in another. That word is "dispensationalism." Even the most committed and hardcore Reformed Preterist isn't obeying the commands in the Law that God declared "forever." That makes him a dispensationalist whether he likes it or not! We need to apply this understanding across scripture. We don't live based on the Sermon on the Mount, we don't live like the believers in the Acts, and we shouldn't even be practicing the Lord's Supper in this current age.

First in a series of seven (7) studies covering the entirety of scripture. I am nobody's guru, these studies are for those who would like a starting point for self study. Our foundational verse is "Study to show THYSELF approved unto GOD, a WORKMAN who needs not be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVVIDING the Word of Truth" (2 Tim 2:15). There is only one theology for which we will each answer: our own. I try to give you an overview of all the Bible so you can start to find our place in it and rightly divide, cut straight, handle correctly, the word of truth for yourself. We will fly over From Genesis to the Revelation and land on occasion. But you have to know where you are when you land. Christendom loves to grab any verse from anywhere and apply it as we will. God demands we mark the things that differ, and note the time, place, audience, and hope in view of the overall Plan of God. My style is conversational. For related issues, please check out my blog https://www.contextorconfusion.com/ And my podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/brooklyns-dad-talks-about-everything The podcasts are also posted as videos here on my YouTube page. I was not yet familiar with the PowerPoint into Premier sizing at the start (and I had primitive editing software in 2020. It's get better by the third or fourth installment.

We continue our global look at scripture starting with the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Bible. The first book, Genesis, alone covers a large amount of time. In these 5 books we have the beginning of all things through the Law given through Moses for Israel. We will start to see the central place the nation of Israel plays in the Plan of God for Earth. As we progress, Israel will central to our understanding of almost everything we read from Genesis 12 on, including the 4 gospel accounts, the Book of Acts, and the epistles written in the Acts Age. The Revelation is wholly Jewish and is tied to the Pentateuch and the Prophets of Israel. We lay the groundwork here for our later studies. Again, we have to leave out a lot of details, but our goal is to get an overview of the Plan of God so we can find our place in it and rightly interpret different passages. My style is conversational. For related issues, please check out my blog https://www.contextorconfusion.com/ And my podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/brooklyns-dad-talks-about-everything

We look at Joshua and the entrance into the promised land through the establishment of the throne of David through the divided kingdom through the years in captivity and the return to the land. Once again, this is global look. We meander some, but we are laying the groundwork for the ministry of the Lord Jesus and the Apostles. Israel is central to the Plan of God. Israel is the main focus of God's dealings with man from the calling of Abraham in Genesis 12, all the way through the Book of Acts (as we shall see). It is important to see Israel's place if we want to rightly divide the Word of Truth and differentiate God's plans for the Earth and his plan for the "far above the heavens" (Ephesians). God has revealed some things "since" or "from" the foundation of the ages, and hid other truths from before the foundation of the ages.

We finish off the Hebrew canon (Old Testament) with a look at the Books of Poetry and the Prophets. We discuss the prevalence of death throughout scripture and exalt God's remedy, resurrection as we prepare to enter the Greek scriptures and the gospels. Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Jonah Zechariah

We start the Greek canon of scripture looking at the four different gospels, their purpose, and the age. We then see the Acts as a continuation of the Kingdom message of the Lord's earthly ministry to Israel. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts

Big Picture view of the 21 epistles and how to rightly divide them. We apply the fundamentals of Bible Study in trying to understand the who, what, why, and when of these books. We note the differences among Paul's epistles (7-7) and the distinctive nature and audience for Peter's John's, James', and Jude's epistles.

We conclude our big picture look at scripture with a glance at the Revelation. If you're going to study this book, you're going to understand the overall Plan of God, starting in Genesis. This book is the culmination of God's Plan for the Earth and his creation. We also see the culmination of the Lord's Plan for Israel and the earthly kingdom.

Thinking about a few theories I've heard from believers in light of the government teasing people with talk of aliens. Will a rapture-type event be explained away as an alien abduction? Will they use the alien fear angle for some other reason? Are other religions waiting for Christians to be taken out of the way before they make a move? Will there even be a rapture? In addition to rapture and alternatives, we wander around things brewing in the stew that is the fall of Western Civilization. The Bible from 30,000 Feet Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXDja44ii5o2h3bgS-J74SirKshfRpEr_

We take a moment to consider the complexity of a life. When we have our Celebration of Life for a loved one, we often (because of time constraints) melt the individual down to a few outward factors. He loved to go fishing. He was a big Mel Tormé fan. You know, the stuff everybody could see. But we all live day by day, minute by minute and our lives covers decades of experiences. Loves won and loves lost. Successes and failures. We hold a spot in our families. I am a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a cousin, etc. We have friends, acquaintances, and coworkers. The Christian struggles daily with the flesh (the old nature). In all this complexity, there is one who knows us intimately. There is one who knows our fears, our pain, our loss, our sins, our victories, our strengths and weaknesses. God understands each us better than we understand ourselves and surely better than we understand each other.

Western societies today are being suffocated and rotted by millions who believe they are virtuous. They hold, what they believe, are foundational truths and virtues, yet far too often when those truths or virtues do not fit their unspoken motives, they abandon them without hesitation (but often with excuse). Recently, former Press Secretary (now TV news host) scoffed at the idea that any Democrat would support abortion in the ninth month or in the birth canal... until she was barraged by Democrats reminding her that abortion up to birth (and even beyond) is now the NEW virtuous truth. She immediately abandoned her "obvious" virtue and adopted the opposite. Plagiarism and genocidal hate are two of the worst crimes an academic can commit, yet when the guilty academic is on the right "team," all seemingly rock solid virtues are tossed like yesterday's newspaper. Academia is built in the shifting sands of man's selfish opinion as is almost all of what's left of western civilization. In the book Animal Farm, the pigs would amend "truths" to fit their changing value system, which was no value system at all. They merely wanted power and they used the rest of the animals to achieve it my changing "truth" and making them believe they always believed that way. This sad disease is not only evident in politics, it is evident all through theology. We again remind ourselves that no pastor, no denomination, no local church will stand with us before the Lord at the judgment of our service, Your theology is yours. "Study to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman who needs not be ashamed, rightly handling [cutting] the Word of truth.' God is also not interested in manmade virtues or polls. We must be careful of self-justification using the shifting values of mankind or for a desire to be thought well of or approved my our fellow man. We must establish a core set of values, based on God's words, and be determined not to move from them, come what may.

We draw on a line in the carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and discuss the vast implications. We focus again on God's plans for the Earth as we pull the camera back and look at the universal truth of all mankind: you're going to die. Death is the curse. Death is the last enemy. The only way death could be conquered is if God himself came to take that punishment and conquer it in resurrection. "He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Too often when the accounts of the Lord's birth are read from Matthew and Luke the centrality of Israel and God's prophetic promises to that people are overlooked. It's even worse than that, Not only are the promises to Israel overlooked, the tremendous truths connected to God's plan for the Earth and the Land and the Nation are explained away, spiritualized, or usurped. Christmas is wholly Jewish. Christmas is built on God's prophecies from the foundation of the ages. The Lord Jesus is the hope of the Gentiles, but when it comes to the plan for the Earth and the Kingdom, the blessings for Gentiles will come through a redeemed and cleansed and forgiven Israel. These truths are all over Matthew's and Luke's accounts. In the current age, we do not look for earthly blessings or an earthly kingdom (we look to God's plan for the "far above the heavens," Ephesians), but God's prophecies seen in the nativity accounts will come to pass. What Israel failed to see in 4 B.C., the Virgin of Israel (Jeremiah 31) will see in an age to come.

Short video pointing folks to available music at BandCamp, Spotify, and other music services (42 tracks!). Continued invitation to join us for the Brooklyn's Dad Talks About EVERTHING podcast on Rumble or Bitchute. Music: https://nothingbutsky.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XEiO4DdQiPKtED0skYl44 Videos (Podcast and Music): https://rumble.com/brooklynsdad

Whenever I hear the word "equity" bandied about, my mind races in two directions. The first is the idea that elites have such low opinions of certain groups of people that they are convinced they cannot compete without their help. The second is another form of racism, that is, the assumption that people of European (oe even Asian) descent are inherently evil. Their language may try to couch it, but it is clear enough in word and deed. I saw overt racist policies in my time in college admissions. I also saw the racist elites openly lie, shift blame, and attempt to shut up those who believe in at least the idea of a colorblind society. I was an eyewitness to this open racism in the 1990s. And certain applicants weren't just given a slight advantage, it was very large and bigoted advantage on the assumption that they couldn't succeed without rigging the playing field.

We briefly discuss more more Catholics who want to tell us that Catholicism means never having to listen to the Pope. We wander into Jeremiah 10 and the misuse and out-of-context application of Israel's prophets to today's Christmas trees. We lament YouTube's decision to give me a strike for misinformation about the CV vaxx... because I posted a movie clip from 2014.

We run amok! Colleges backing Jew-Haters, expensive Happy Meals, open borders, Russia winning the war we were told they already lost, etc. we briefly revisit the minimum wage reality as we ponder more contradictions and hypocrisy from the usual suspects. We cap it off with a visit to Columbia University which is quick to crack down on dangerous terrorists who want to keep porn out of Kindergarten libraries, while assuring genocidal maniacs that their Jew-Hate is protected. The world is upside down and headed straight down the drain. America is in steep decline and there doesn't seem a way to reverse the financial, cultural, and societal collapse coming.

Rick Wiles of TruNews has said that America is (ironically) like Nazi Germany in that you're not allowed to criticize Israel just like you were not allowed to criticize Hitler (ironically). He also likes to use the old "Christ Killers!" trope. We look at Israel today with a big lens filtered through scripture. When we rightly divide the Word of Truth, we start to see God's plan for the earth. Israel is not at the center of God's plan today, but they soon will be again. So, no Israel today is no longer "God's people," BUT a believing Israel will be "God's people" when God turns back to the earthly plan. In a practical way, if you side with those who want to wipe Israel off the map, you have adopted the "eat me last" plan. But, then again, these people just hate Jews, so there's that. Thoughts on Modern Israel: https://youtu.be/AaZr_tvACR8 https://www.spreaker.com/episode/56687727 (audio) The Church Is Not Israel and Israel Is Not the Church, Day Trip To Romans 9 https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44092809 (audio) https://youtu.be/1QJqxTsRloY The Key to the Parables, and the Bible, is Israel https://youtu.be/HDYT-KsywNA https://www.spreaker.com/episode/41046329 (audio)

Plumbing the depths of old files and came across the original demo for "Sola Scriptura." I think it was 1996, but could have been 1995. Anyway, for those behind on your Reformation Latin, "Sola Scriptura" means "the scriptures alone" and Sola Fide means "faith alone." "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" Love is strongest when it is built on the firm foundation of the scriptures and requires only faith apart from any required service to ourselves. Love by scriptural standards. Love which seeks to serve and not to be served. Love which asks for no proof, and trusts with no fear. Fragile, of course, as we all carry the old carnal nature, but scripture feeds the new nature. The line concerning "you focus on" is a reference to a certain ministry with name Focus in it 😉 That leads to the "Maslow, Freud, and Rogers" line, etc. Hastily cobbled together video. It's late. 🥱 Fab guitar work from the Craig (Nothing But Sky) as usual, with drums and percussion by the incomparable Evan Olson. Vocals and mildly competent bass work from yours truly. Recorded at Shannon Hills Studios in the Loft, Greensboro, North Carolina. 4-track cassette DEMO, so all caveats with pleas for mercy. December 1, 2023, will be 30 years engagement anniversary for April and meself. May 7, 2024, will be 30 years manacled together.

Failed musician, Michael Scotto, looks at a couple of current shticks (gimmicks) used in the production of far too many contemporary Christian songs. He then blabbers on with his useless opinion of the CCM scene as a whole and takes cheap shots at successful musicians. Those who can't do, criticize. I think that's right. MercyMe Tasha Layton Riley Clemmons Micah Tyler NeedtoBreathe Lauren Daigle Jordan Feliz (Because of 11 seconds of "Loved By You," this video is blocked in some territories. No problem with any other clips)

We send a little love to the Roman Empire and British Empire as we call on all the universities and companies who do "land acknowledgments" to DECOLONIZE and give back the land! We take another look at the Israel-Palestinian conflict from a global view. Apologists for atrocities fail to listen to those they seek to support. The call of the terrorists isn't just to decolonize Palestine, it's to decolonize everywhere, and that means killing Jews AND Christian EVERYWHERE. Short-sighted thinking abound because it is clouded by self-righteousness, virtue signaling, and hate. The tolerant and loving forces in the West are seething and teeming with hate. And in their hatred, they strike blows on their own heads.