This 'n' That

Well, I took a lot more flak for my post about polytheism than I ever could have anticipated. I'm beginning to think that the teaching of the existence of multiple gods, lesser deities, is far more common than most of us would have thought. What a demonstration of how subtle and seductive are Satan's deceptions.

This is why we must be in the Word daily. We cannot grow in knowledge and discernment simply by attending church for 90 minutes on Sunday. Even to skim our way through our 'Bible in a Year' reading plan is not sufficient. Don't misunderstand—I'm not knocking reading plans, I follow one myself. But what Christians—every Christian—must be engaged in regularly is careful study of His Word. Dear ones, as the world grows darker, and as the visible church becomes dim along with it, you will find more and more that you must be equipped with knowledge of the truth—His truth. Husbands, lead your wives in this. Parents, teach your children. And as through prayer, diligence and study you grow and learn, you will find yourself immensely blessed not just by an increase of knowledge, but by an increasing desire to serve your Lord and by a continually growing love for your Savior.

With that, and as you struggle, like me, to accept the fact that it is already February, please enjoy your week in review (kind of):

• Who knew you needed an excuse not to play 'Highway to Hell' in church? Dr. James Duncan, the man who recently settled a harassment lawsuit with Perry Noble and Newspring church, examines a blog post written by one of Newspring's many loyal members.

• Dr. David James has been one of the leading critics of The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn. James just revealed that Cahn and his publisher, Charisma House, are threatening him with a lawsuit.

• Everybody's all upset about the pastor who wrote a rude message to her waitress on her Applebee's receipt: "I give God 10%, why should you get 18%?" What I find amusing is that this wasn't even a pastor. Sure, she calls herself a pastor, but according to God's Word, she's not.

• We hear a lot of talk about abortion, but assisted suicide is murder, too.

• Chicago has some of the country's strictest gun laws. It also has one of the highest homicide rates and is coming off of its bloodiest January in over 10 years. So, tell me again how those proposed new gun laws are going to make everything better?

• Adorable and funny, all in one dose!

• The Cripplegate shares four responses to the persecution that inevitably will come to America.

• 82 year-old Jim Nabors, who played Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show, has married his long-time gay partner. I'm not sure anybody is really surprised at the news that Nabors is homosexual, but how sad is it that this elderly man is so devastatingly lost and depraved?

• How much do you need to know to be saved?

• Ew. This is taking the whole 'crazy cat lady' thing way too far.

• Speaking of cats, it's a little unnerving to this cat lover that some people are getting all wigged out over how many rodents and birds cats kill.

• For those of you who are wondering what 'wigged out' means.

• Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Charles Spurgeon. With that in mind, you may enjoy these 32 things that you might not have known about the great preacher.

• Speaking of the death of Spurgeon, here are some sweet thoughts of his on Psalm 116:15, and how the death of each saint is precious to God.

• Donald Driver always will be a Packer. And us Packer fans will miss him.

• Because some of us remember the 90s all too well.

• It's been a long week. You deserve a second helping of adorable.

• Are we still desperately wicked in our hearts after we become Christians?

• Only Ahmadinejad would celebrate Holocaust Remembrance Day by calling for the destruction of Israel. Again.

• Gentlemen, pull the velvet out of your mouths!

• You know what sounds yummy? Pizza Church.

• And maybe after the service we could go grab a nice bowl of dirt.

• Yeah, you don't want to insult those vegetables, you know. Mean, angry little things, they are.

• Because it never gets old watching Benny Hinn wield a lightsaber.

• Why all the madness in the visible church? Because there is no fear of God!

• If I caught my kid dancing like this he'd be getting a stern talking to, for starters.

• To all the non-cat people (I'm looking at you, dog and bunny lovers), I'm sorry, but there were just so many adorable cats in the news this week. Check out this little guy who was born without any bones in his front legs. He doesn't seem to notice, though—God takes care of His creatures!

• Catch the archive of the G3 Conference while you can! With the exception of spiritual formation proponent Donald Whitney, this was a great lineup.

• Jesus, the propitiation of God's wrath.

• The infamous 'Paris Fashion Week' still can't compete with this year's 'Parish Fashion Week'. That's right, clergy on the catwalk!

• Raising our children without God?

• Did you ever wonder what happened to Oreo O's cereal? Or Jell-O pudding pops (those were amazingly yummy, weren't they)? What about the Carnation breakfast bar? Well, sadly, we'll never see those beloved snacks again.

• Michael Kruger is doing a series on ten basic facts about the New Testament canon that every Christian should memorize. The first? The New Testament books are the earliest Christian writings we possess.

• Ah, the vending machine. It's always so difficult to decide. M&Ms? A granola bar? Those peanut butter crackers that are really stale because nobody ever chooses them? How about birth control?

• An antidote to personal apostasy.

• A father in Canada is fighting for his right to be the final authority in his children's education. Why? Because the school board intends to introduce an explicit sex-ed program that will detail for his children, among other things, gay marriage. This father simply requested that he be notified ahead of time when such instruction would take place so that his children could opt out, and he was denied on the grounds that it is a "human rights issue." What? And parents, don't be naïve, this is coming to America.

• Israel is making deals with the Vatican.

• R.C. Sproul with the "quintessential nonsense statement."

• The Word of God must awaken sinners.

• A true knowledge of the true God: