Life: Does God Love Transgender People? by Anchored North

About

The interview might make some extremely uncomfortable however regardless of the topic in life, it needs to be addressed especially how God addresses it naturally and spiritually with his word and the Gospel. The gal on the left used to be transgender and has since learned what God wanted for her life and the interview is sharing that, especially what she says at the end (c.f. minute 23:33).

Anchored North Description

“A trans person/social entrepreneur and an ex-trans person/Christian came together to see if they could discuss the transgender experience and spirituality with authenticity, love, and truthfulness. Can they overcome the stigma and speak to one another with understanding?“

Life: From Growing Up Christian, to New Age, to $40,000 Business Monthly Revenue, to Jesus by Anchored North

About

Steven shares how he grew up in the church, attending a Christian school, doubting, pursuing new age beliefs including aliens, spirituality, universalism, and repenting to trust in Christ with his life and living through the ramifications.

Anchored North Description:

In high school, Steven Bancarz became obsessively curious about New Age spirituality. It wasn’t long before he was immersed in practicing meditation, lucid dreaming, and astral projection. His consciousness was awakening unlike ever before. To help others find enlightenment, he built a website called Spirit Science and Metaphysics. The platform was a huge success, and it earned him an average of $40,000 per month in ad revenue. Suddenly, he had the most profound spiritual encounter imaginable. In this beautiful and terrifying moment, he finally gained true knowledge about people, God, human emotions, and himself.

Church: Plant the Gospel

Video [7 minutes]

About

The video continues to age well, especially for pastors to learn or remember we are to “plant the gospel” in the areas we live. Planting the gospel makes disciples of Christ Jesus.

Education: Training to Live Our Identity in Christ -- Overcomer Movie [VIDEO]

About

Overcomer movie breaks through the old lack-luster, corny Christian films of the past and provides a better taste of quality movie production capturing Christian truths — especially the abiding truth of living in Christ. It is incredibly difficult to produce a movie, let alone a good movie, and more so a Christian movie, and Overcomer movie has done just that. Overcomer movie digs deep into historical Christianity and deep, inspirational truths from the Bible’s New Testament book of Ephesians. To see Ephesians 1 on the “big screen” and captured in the right contextual meaning is incredible.

Overcomer brings the audience into a undeniably real life scenarios involving all various aspects of this broken and sinful world:

1. Grand-parenting (raising grandchildren without their parents)

2. Parents

3. Families

4. Children

5. Teenagers/Adolescence/Young adults

6. Neighborhoods

7. Orphans (parentless, single parents)

8. Christian school (administration, teachers, coaches, parents, guardians, students, classes)

9. Sports (basketball, football, cross country running, coaching)

10. Small town

11. Anger

12. Hate

13. Confusion

14. Loneliness

15. Theft

16. Selfishness

17. Division

18. Disease

19. Disabilities

20. Weird people

21. Funny people

22. Mean people

23. Christian people

24. Life decisions

25. Life changes

26. Learning to understand

27. Learning to forgive

28. Church

29. Pastors

30. Hospital visitation

31. Hospitality

32. Bible

33. Faith in Christ

34. Child of God

The movie captures an incredible amount of width of issues as well as narrowing on the single, residing, and resounding answer of God and the gospel. Here are a few statements shared at the end of the film:

1. I was a mistake.

2. No place in this world.

3. Unwanted.

4. I felt unloved.

5. So many mixed messages from the world around me, I lived in confusion.

6. My parents did not want me

7. It doesn’t come from the culture around me …

8. The Creator gets to define his creation.

9. I still have good and bad days.

10. I still have struggles.

11. The one who loves me and died for me and overcame everything for me … Sin, suffering, and death … I walk with him everyday … I trust him everyday.

12. Since my identity is found in him, and I know exactly who I am.

If one interprets the movie or Christianity as a self-discovery help with tips and tricks, then they’ve missed God, Christianity, church history, and the Bible. This is turning from ourselves and the world to God — entrusting the entirety of our real life to him.

Mid movie, there’s a scene with the coach talking with the man in the hospital with critical health issues. The one on the hospital bed challenges the “Christian” school coach and his identity in Christ to reveal God is greater and more important than life itself.

The movie ends with 1 John 5:5:

“Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

This is a great movie revealing how we are to be trained to live our identity in Christ, a Christian, in this real world. Every person has a telos-centered heart. The question is, what is your telos? Or, who is your telos? Is it you? This world? Something you miss? Don’t have? Want? Or God himself?

Movie Trailer

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Education: Greater Movie About the True Story of Brandon Burlsworth [VIDEO]

About

Greater movie captures the true life story of Brandon Burlsworth, and the film provided a tremendous lens into his life, especially the foundational core and it’s effects — God. His epitaph’s last line reads, “Loss is great, but God is greater.” The film shows not just his work ethic and character but also the reason for it as well as its relationship to life, people, and family. The film just may make you laugh, cringe, and even cry, but the core principle stands true that no matter what happens in life, we trust God.

Product Description

Amazon: ”GREATER follows the true story of Brandon Burlsworth who is perhaps the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. Brandon dreamed of playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks but was told he wasn’t good enough to play Division I ball. Undeterred, Brandon took a risk and walked on in 1994. Written off by fellow teammates and coaches, Brandon displayed dogged determination in the face of staggering odds. The awkward kid who once was an embarrassment to his teammates and an annoyance to his coaches ended up becoming the most respected player in the history of the program, changing the lives of all he touched.”

Movie Trailer

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Education: Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson

About

Notes from the Title-A-Whirl is a great teaching and discussion resource from N.D. Wilson. After he authored the book, he created a dvd formatted edition “bookumentary” that includes 3-5 minute conversational and explanatory video of him working through each chapter of the book. For some, it might feel like a mind-twister but others can find a tremendous challenge to think and believe rightly about this life. He tackles all kind of subjects and life issues like Bible, religion, science, math, biology, philosophy, etc. as well as marriage/divorce, death, friendship, etc.

Related

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All Resources by N.D. Wilson

Education: Has Science Buried God? by John Lennox [VIDEO]

About

Eric Metaxas interviews (mainly at minute 6 on the video) John Lennox at the Colson Center in Washingon D.C. in summary form regarding the topic question, “Has Science Buried God?” The interview might just be best for a helpful introduction to Lennox and to discover more of what he has authored and argued, especially in debates with high profile atheist (20th-21st century version) professors and scientists. Dr. Lennox provides a lot of helpful statements and introductory level direction in how to think and find more answers. Many of the statements are also challenging modern day assumptions, decades old under-toe current, and now seemingly tsunami wave of people’s ‘anti-belief’ in God. Below the video are quotes/statements written out from the interview for reference also.

Metaxas allow 3 questions from the audience at the end, which starts about 1 hour 5 minutes that addresses: 1) Mathematical proofs; 2) Abortion; and 3) What would Lennox say before God in heaven upon death?

From Socrates in the City youtube video (1 hour 19 minutes) description:

“Host Eric Metaxas and Oxford professor John Lennox explore the question, "Has science buried God?" -- discussing the fine-tuned universe, evolution, logic, history, and more! "It's like we're an old Vaudeville team" says Metaxas, who eggs the legendary Lennox into retelling his equally legendary roast chicken anecdote. The interview was hosted by the Colson Center and took place in Washington D.C., in May 2019.“

Video

Dr. Lennox provides statements like:

1. “There are a myth in our culture: 1) Science is the only way to truth. 2) The position is logically incoherent … That statement (science is the only way to truth) cannot be true since it does not come from science.”

2. “Science can bury atheism.“

3. “It was the belief in God that drove science.”

4. “They got the wrong concept of God.”

5. “The more he understood of how it worked, the more he admired the genius of the God [of the Bible] who did it that way.”

6. “There’s a mind behind what’s up there … not mindless, unguided processes.“

7. “Our faith increases [in God when learning the world and science].“

8. “Kids can understand but professors cannot. The scientific explanation tells you how it works. The personal explanation works also … the two explanations do not compete but compliments.”

9. “[The why question] is an important question.”

10. “Something came from something, not nothing.”

11. “Science can bury atheism.“

12. “We have been miseducated by atheists that there’s science there and there’s faith here.”

13. “Atheism followed to its logical conclusion destroys rationality.”

14. “The Bible is putting the finger on what is really profound.“

15. “The universe is word based … not that the universe came from nothing and created itself.”

16. “And God said … The idea of God speaking is such a powerful one. The Bible has been talking about it for a millennia.”

17. “Nobody can get rid of the idea of creation. So reject God and end up with a self-creating universal and that’s a contradiction in terms … leads to nonsense.“

18. “It is a mistake to think that only Christians are a people of faith.”

19. “Every school in our country is a faith school.”

20. “They don’t realize that their atheism is a belief system [don’t you believe in your atheistic beliefs].

21. “We are people who believe in Christ, and provide why we believe what we believe.“

22. “[Put Christianity and truth in the public space] We need a lot of courage to do that, otherwise we all will be silenced.“

23. “Evolution only addresses when there is life and not how life came about.”

24. “Our culture is faced of a raw choice between God and nothing.”

Topics (mentioned or addressed):

1. Literature

2. Theology

3. Languages

4. Classics

5. God

6. Word

7. Universe

8. Life

9. Creation

10. History

11. Science

12. Evolution

13. Atheism (20th/21st century version)

14. Galileo

15. Kepler

16. Christopher Hitchens

17. Richard Dawkins

18. Stephen Hawking

19. Carl Sagan

20. Peter Singer

21. Reductionism

22. Ontological Reductionists

23. DNA

24. Fine-tuning

25. Chance, necessity, and laws of nature

26. Abiogenesis

27. Philosophy

28. Physics

29. Mathematics

30. The Bible

31. Biblical Revelation

32. John’s Gospel

33. Living Word, Jesus

34. Isaac Newton

35. C.S. Lewis

36. Logic

37. Rationale

38. Gravity

39. Energy

40. Education

41. Schools

42. What to say at death and before the Lord Jesus Christ?

Life: Atheist, Skeptic, and Cynic turned Christian - The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

About

Strobel provides great research and resources about Jesus and Christianity within this sermon in 2018. By providing and explaining the his background as well the background of Jesus, you are led as a ‘juror’ to make an informed decision. The point? Jesus. Trust him.

Telos

Even so, Lee’s sermon also helps explain “telos.”

At 33:10, Strobel captures that when God became his telos, his life changed. Prior to that point, his telos was godless. A genuine faith is not merely the believing and receiving, but believing and receiving the “who” and the “who” became his telos.

Sidenote

The term “atheist” throughout the Roman empire history during and after Jesus meant one who denied their “theists” (gods). So, Christians were known as atheists from the Roman perspective. Our current time and culture uses the term atheist in various ways, and how Lee is using the term is from his perspective in being “a”gainst all gods, especially the one of Christianity.

Life: The Inspirational Epicenter of Francine Rivers' Life and Authorship

What an incredibly helpful Christian and Christian author!

Listening to Francine Rivers as well as reading her books provides genuine and inspirational insight into how God works to bring people to trust him and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Francine retells her life story through this helpful Q and A, including growing up in a churchy household, rejecting anything religious while in college, going through abortion, college education, struggling marriage, and ultimately coming to learn of God and the gospel through relationships in their NorCal neighborhood and church community.

One can learn much through just this interview on when God affects the heart he then also aims and aligns their life. God then is the epicenter with ripple effects of others tasting of his goodness.

Per her recounting of the move back to Northern California from Southern California, I am thankful for God using a church community, two households, and one pesky eight year old boy wanting to help move in his new neighbors! God is good!

She mentions her first book after becoming a Christian, Redeeming Love, which is based on the Bible’s Old Testament book of Hosea — about God’s love for his spiritually adulteress people metaphored through sending a prophet (Hosea) to love a prostitute.

Life: Transforming Your Life by Renewing Your Mind by Dr. Brian Morley

About

Dr. Brian Morley, philosophy professor at The Master’s University, preaches through a common, human issue in dealing with pain and evil of whether God is real and even good. Listen to the below audio link from the Pine Mountain Bible Church website with the sermon entitled “Transforming Your Life by Renewing Your Mind” Dr. Morley shares of his personal struggles and realities throughout his life journey as well as his wife’s medical diagnosis of M.S. From the workplace and relationships to physical ailments, life can be incredibly difficult; but God has something for us to learn and change through it all.

Education: The New Atheism and Christianity by Albert Mohler Jr.

About

Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) chapel throughout the years contains immense amounts of helpful teaching about God, the Bible, Christianity, church, life, culture, and world issues. DTS specifically features the W. H. Griffith Thomas Memorial Lectureship during a week of chapels, normally 4 sessions for the faculty, students, and anyone tuning in online. The W. H. Griffith Thomas Memorial Lectureship tends to be a guest from outside the seminary invited in to address various topics they may have already addressed through their own life, writings, speaking, church, etc.

The Spring 2008 lectureship showcased Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr., the president of Southern Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Dr. Mohler addressed the ‘New Atheism’ and Christianity by revealing countless authors, history, timelines, issues, culture, and scripture. Dr. Mohler presents an well articulated and accurate viewpoint of ‘New Atheism’ as well as Christianity, addressing what’s wrong and what’s right to do about it.

DTS has the video resource of the lectureship for all 4 days online as well as posted on their Youtube channel below.

1. The New Atheism And the Endgame of Secularism

2. The New Atheism and The Assault on Theism

3. The New Atheism and The Defense of Theism

4. The New Atheism and The Future of Christianity

Life: The Center of the Gospel

About

Ever want to know to know about Jesus and why he died 2,000 years ago on this Friday? Drink this up ... incredible ... delicious ... beautiful ... humble ... deep ... simple ... profound. The gospel is God's good news to the world.

Be encouraged and stop living for yourself or something else in this life. The very central truth of the gospel is God, especially God in flesh -- Jesus. Look to him for your life, and no longer live fickle but found by him to live full of faith/trust in him and him alone.

Life: Why I Am a Christian and No Longer Atheist

David shares his life story from childhood to adulthood, which include a crazy and chaotic journey that including thinking ants ruled the world to serving jail time because he tried to kill his dad with a hammer. David highlights how he went from atheist to Christian, even after living for years with the sincere belief God does not exist and humanity is free to live however they want.

Some who have had similar questions about God and life may find his story helpful. Some who find similar examples like them may find this relatable. Some struggling with their own issues and baggage thinking they are the only one may find this the video testimony helpful as David shares various stories, thought process, issues, reasons, and people involved in his life. Some who think God does not exist and have a litany of arguments while giving up in finding the answer may find this helpful.

David films the video testimony within the context of New York, using the subway and the other background as a metaphor to his life journey. One may initially be concerned for his safety as he walks down stairs backwards and alongside the train without looking; however, he mastered the simple video and getting his point across to his audience. Later in the video, he shares his final conclusion in believing in God after rejecting him. He also shares a C.S. Lewis quote and Bible passage to describe ‘true freedom’ in this life.

“True freedom is not having this inclination or desire to turn away from our Creator.“

“I felt like I had been fighting.“

“I finally felt at rest.”

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” - C.S. Lewis

“I stand on the words of the one (Jesus) who rose from the dead as there’s no other place to stand.”

“The Apostle Paul tried to annihilate Christianity.”

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” — Paul in the Bible passage of 1 Timothy 1:12–17 NIV

Life: A Cautionary Story of a 'Christian' Living Contradictory

As described by and from Apologia Studios and Jeff Durbin:
”This is the story of Jeff Durbin. Ninja Turtle. Johnny Cage. Nightwolf. MTV Television-series' Star. Video Game Character. Martial Arts Master. Drunk. Addict. Idolater. This is the story in which God, the author, turns darkness to light and redeems everything. If this moved you, please, consider sharing it. For more, go to apologiaradio.com.”

Jeff describes throughout the video about his growing up years, Karate and Martial Arts, work and business ownership, accomplishments, marriage and family, and what led him to trust in Christ Jesus and his good news to the world.

Jeff opens up about his ‘teenage’ years as well as learning about God, church, the Bible, and a seemingly ‘Christian conversion experience’ to then live later on in a contradictory life vs. a genuinely changed, Christian life — humbled and broken before God and entrusting him with the entirety of one’s life.

God loves us, and he works in and on us to live for him — now and forever.