How can I avoid slandering others?How do I handle when other people slander me?Chelsea and I look at some good verses from the Bible to help us answer these questionsHow do I avoid slandering others?Think before you speak (Jas 1:19; Pro 13:3; 21:23; 29:11)Let your motive for speaking be to edify (Eph 4:29,22-32)How do I handle when other people slander me?Diffuse it with a pleasant response (Pro 15:1a; Rom 12:17-21; 1Pe 2:12)Focus on living right (1Co 4:12-13)Truth God and be patient with the results (Pro 20:22; Psa 109:2-4)*** Castle Rock Women’s Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or
Student Loan Forgiveness is not Biblical Forgiveness
After four months I finally did it! A new episode of Truthspresso Express!While driving to work on Thursday morning I outline some thoughts on President Biden’s announcement of a program to “forgive” some student loan debts.When we clear away the politics and emotions, we see the problems with schemes like this. Particularly, the ideology of so-called student loan “forgiveness” is:FantasyTheftMoral hazardI also address an article I read that tries to claim student loan “forgiveness” is a Christian idea. The article raises Deuteronomy 15, which I argue cannot possibly qualify.Sources consulted:Matt Bernico, “I Paid Off My Loans. As a Christian, I Still Hope Biden Forgives Yours,” Sojourners, May 4, 2022.
How Slander Affects You and Others
Can slander be a tool in our belt? A weapon in our arsenal?The Bible has a lot to say about slander. Neither the one slandered nor the slanderer is the better for it.Chelsea and I show from the Bible how slander leaves wreckage in every wake.How slander affects the slanderer:It destroys your reputation (Pro 23:7; 29:20; 22:1)Its gains are temporary (Pro 12:19; Joh 8:44; 1Pe 3:10; Pro 21:28; 10:6)How slander affects the one slandered:It can make enemies (Pro 15:1b; 26:28)Its wounds can be lifelong (Pro 11:9; 25:18)Sources Cited:Lewina O. Lee et al, Bruce S. McEwen, ed., “Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity in 2 epidemiologic cohorts of men and women,” PNAS, August 26, 2019.*** Castle Rock Women’s Health is a
Six Reasons People Slander
What is slander? Why do people want to slander other people?Chelsea and I look at some Bible verses and stories to find at least six reasons people slander others:To enrich themselves (Proverbs 21:6; 20:17; Haman)To satisfy envy (Joseph’s brothers)To cover up wrongdoing or shift blame (Potiphar’s wife)To conceal hateful motives or weakness (Proverbs 10:18)To damage or destroy opponents (Psalm 31:13; 1 Samuel 24:9; the Ammonites against David)To fight against truth (Psalm 31:18; 52:3; 64:3-4; Jeremiah 9:4-5)Sources Cited:Legal Dictionary, s.v. “slander (n.),” accessed August 14, 2022.*** Castle Rock Women’s Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***
Happiness vs. Joy
In our currently English dictionaries happiness and joy are almost synonyms. Chelsea and I try to be a dictionary for these words as we contrast the two words. We read verses from the Bible to learn what Biblical joy means and how it doesn’t always go with happiness.Our definitions of the words:Happiness: a state of feeling good based on present conditionsJoy: a state of hope based on future promisesSources Consulted:Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “happiness,” accessed August 7, 2022.Scriptures Referenced:Acts 5:41Acts 13:50-52Romans 14:172 Corinthians 7:4Galatians 5:221 Thessalonians 2:19-20Hebrews 10:34Hebrews 12:2Psalm 30:5Nehemiah 8:10James 1:2*** Castle Rock Women’s Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider
Some Encouraging Names of Jesus (part 2)
Chelsea and I continue to take a break from current news to talk about some names of Jesus and how they encourage us and make us dig deep.Names we talked about include the following:The Righteous Judge (2 Timothy 4:8)The Word of God (John 1:1,3,14; 1 John 1:1; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 19:13)Our Protector (2 Thessalonians 3:3; Psalm 18:2)The Son of Man (Luke 19:10; Matthew 12:8; 18:11; Daniel 7:13-14,27; Mark 14:62-64)Our Hope (1 Timothy 1:1; Romans 8:24)The Son of God (Matthew 14:33; 4:3; 8:29; 16:16; 27:40; Romans 1:4)This episode was fun, lighthearted, and uplifting. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.The quiz mentioned in this episode:Names of Jesus Bible QuizAlso in this episode series:Some Encouraging Names of Jesus (part