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What's up, everybody? We are back and excited to be here. We've got three or four episodes left in this season and then as always. Send in more ideas for next season, which you know I don't even know why we do seasons probably should just do continuing episodes because I get confused what season one.
I think we're on season five. Yes, but it gives us a break. No, I'm okay with breaks. I'll just say.
Episode 70 we're gonna take a break, but that probably is kind of stupid and they're mine. I'll just let you thank you. I was like hold the side. So as always got Anna right here to my right your left.
We got Ashley special guest today to my left your right. And our yeah, I like that. Thank you. We're doing today. The topic is these are the days of Elijah first Kings 18. So today it's gonna be a little different.
We're gonna walk through first Kings 18 and and that's with Elijah challenging the prophets of Baal. And we're going to apply it to today and I know we have a game to get to first but I just wanted to do a quick plug for our Point taken merch and here are our models are Vanna whites.
Here. They are. Come on over here. Why look at her guys?
Should be in a strip club. I.
Don't know Anna I've actually didn't think about that. Why'd you do something guys should sell them? Oh my goodness. Yeah, I do want to say hats are not included and neither are. Look at that physique not included either.
That's right. Thank you gentlemen. Great. Thank you. That was great. We used to use a what did we call him? What did we call the mannequin Seth? I mean that low. What did we call the mannequin? But he's over there and the camera doesn't pan that far over.
He should be sitting in the corner. Yeah, he needs to be but there's a light over there. So, all right, but look before we get into our topic. My understanding is I'm holding these Legos because we have a game to play.
It's like that game that you guys did with hunter that one season. So I'm going to give you a couple of statements. Well, I have like at least ten and If we all agree on them, then no one gets one of these taken.
But if two people agree and a person disagrees, then you get one of these pegs. Take all right. Can I tell you are you. Can I tell you something? I'm not explain that right. You explained it perfectly.
Okay, can I tell you something? Do you hate this game? I love this game. Can I tell you why I remember this game? I remember it's called hive mind. Yes.
Do you remember because water is wet?
Because I've had many people many not meaning small people many in a NY as in a plethora. Come up to me and say hey I watched I watched your podcast and the game that you played the game that you played the game that you played.
I was so On your side of this one or no you were way wrong here. I've had someone who currently lives in another state. Message me who used to be here in Memphis message me and goes I cannot believe your answers to that game.
I think this was when I was on maternity leave and I was like enraged at some of these answers that you guys get. I Commented on them. I'm like, no, this is so wrong. Oh, they Beat what was that a bear would totally beat a gorilla.
Yeah. And I was the only one who said that. Okay, I would have been on your side. I did. Thank you.
You typically are on my side. Um, well. See I haven't finished last week's episode. I'm sure there was some mockery of me as with every episode that I'm not on it's because I love you. Yeah, you must love me a lot.
You're like, I love you. I say I love you. You're like, I love you more, you know, you guys always do that.
Yeah, we do. Yeah. All right. I'm ready Anna. Tell us what we're doing here. Well, I already did. Yeah, I know. Money to pay attention. All right, let's go.
So the first one you should put cereal in the bowl first followed by milk. See I've already forgotten what to do. I'm not gonna lie. Okay. So if we all agree. So if you believe if you agree that cereal should be put in the bowl before milk raise your hand.
I thought it was supposed to close your eyes.
Right. Close your eyes. Okay. Okay. Gosh, so raise your hand if I agree with that. Yes, say it again.
Cereal should be put in the bowl before the milk. One two three.
Open your eyes. Okay, only philistines and communists put milk in where.
You never have the right ratio. It depends on the cereal because the cereal floats to the top.
Can I tell you something? I have eaten cereal a total of now. This might shock you a total of one time in the past five years and it was last month. I like cereal. I'll just never eat it.
What I'm gonna eat it it's Reese's Puff Reese's Puff Reese's Puff peanut butter chocolate flavor two three four Reese's Puff.
But the thing is it's the best cereal. That's not a by the way, it's not a Statement of opinion statement of fact, but imagine putting milk in first and then pouring the circular Halfway buoyant halfway soaking.
Yeah, you're gonna have too much milk. Yeah.
Tell you I have landed Cereal like after I finished eating cereal and then I want more then I poured it on top. But then I always like add more milk if I need it. So there's a mic over there.
You can grab before and disagree next question.
Cereal close your eyes. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Cereal is soup. What? Cereal is soup. One two three.
Wait a minute, absolutely not. I forgot. This is the one to wear if I don't go along with the masses. I lose the point. Yeah, that's right. Like I explained your logic. Sorry. Yeah your logic explain.
No, I'm gonna pull the Jesus and answer a question with the question What is soup?
Are you asking me? What's very clearly based on my contact with? It's an edible liquid.
Okay, okay, thank you for saying that. Here's what just happened. Everyone in the room just said. If they agree with your definition and cereal is soup. That's what just happened. Can everyone agree if we agreed with her definition of It's a liquid was edible.
Technically Cereal is green. But if you mean like putting it in the bowl with milk and that I don't mean grabbing cereal out of the box is soup. I mean putting it in the bowl with milk. Of course. It's a pastor.
Master manipulator, why do you keep saying that?
Oh my gosh, so.
There's a difference. So soup. Requires some form of cooking process. Now. I know you're about to say something like gazpacho or like cold soups or some soup requires.
I'm not gonna say words. I don't know what they mean what I will say. Super quiet. 100 of cereal.
It is a it is 100 of cereals. It is it is a meal. It is a whole meal in a bowl.
Here is a dollar if you can name a cereal that's not cooked.
Like if you're making no if you know, you do not have to cook. Cereal can be made with just like whole grains and just.
Milk, okay. Have you okay. We have someone that works at Kellogg's, you know, they have ovens there.
Yes, they do have ovens, but they also.
Bake it or heat it up in order to eat it. You know, I'm right. It is food that is cooked.
Okay, it is a food that is cooked with a variety of other ingredients.
Even milk it. Okay. All right, it's fine. It's cool, but you don't cook that. Are we isn't the topic today about going on with the masses? It is a fitting game. Savory it has to be savory to be a soup.
No, no, is that a all-inclusive statement you saying normally because I am about the counter and before I'll let you have a moment.
Normally, oh Michelle get the mic give her the mic we have a whole you can't we have a comment.
You have to. Yeah, we have a hand in the audience that is being raised. From the art gallery soup is normally savory. However, there are some Exceptions. There are some soups that are sweet. Cereal is not a soup.
Okay, what soup is sweet? There are some Polish soups that are made with yogurt and fruit, yes, she is correct. Could you.
Gently explain to me How cereal is so far out of that category that it can't be in that category?
Aside from gazpacho, which was mentioned, which is a classy soup. That is assembled. Assembled in a similar manner to yeah cereal. Why did you put quotes? Was it Michelle's point. I think what she's trying to get even gazpacho it is still there's still a cooking process because it's usually cooked.
With some sort of acid like citric acid or like a tartar. Yes. It is a prepared now. Yeah, real in it in and of itself is not baked. If they have a if they have an oven at Kellogg's it may be tried. Now I might be wrong.
It's probably baked. However, it is not Assembled and cooked. Would you agree with me that cinnamon toast crunch is baked before. Probably however that I probably do.
You said cooked. I heard you say cook and you emphasize the word cook. Toasting is cooked in a pot on the stove I.
Actually, let's let's go with that definition a little bit because okay. So already seeded pre-assemble your cereal and put it in the fridge and use it as leftovers and tell me that it's gonna still be.
Edible, I'm not. No that wasn't no it is no longer cereal. It is now a casserole apart from apart from norms in your life. Can anyone give me a a definition of soup with that cereals not included?
We just did no.
You said that's not good. It is liquid. It is like Solid bit. You didn't say savory. She did and I'm adding that because a savory liquid.
Definition. It is a meal that you must eat in a bowl. That is cooked in some way in a pot.
All right. I'm googling the soup definition because I'm not I'm asking based on that division.
No, sarcasm the the ramen cup noodles. Do y 'all call that soup? I call. I would consider it a type of soup. Yes, so the bowl thing you didn't actually mean a bowl. Fine.
Traditional ramen. Ramen is served in a bowl.
Yes, ma 'am soup noun. A Liquid food prepared from meat fish or vegetable stock combined with various other ingredients and often containing solid pieces.
Wait a minute. Your punchline went along with cereal.
But what were they. You said you said vegetable meat. What was the fish or vegetable stock. So it's a broth.
Yeah chicken broth things like that. Okay. All right, if that's if that's the definition we're going to use. Then if that's the definition we're going to use our potatoes vegetables. Yes. Mmm. Are they?
Yeah. Yeah. I mean it has to throw out a lot of soups.
Okay, the second part, you know how they have like different definitions like one two, and three. Yes, ma 'am. The second one is something having the appearance of or consistency suggested of soup. I.
Will go in that definition then. I guess cereal is not a soup.
Okay, all right, let's move on to the next. I'm gonna play right and close my eyes. I'm reading the question, but I'll cover my eyes. I'll cover it to where I can't see all. Summer is better than winter.
Wait, we raise our hands if we agree. Yes. Okay. Summer is better than winter. Pastor I'm assuming is still struggling to vote. I'm ready. Okay, one, two, three. Yes.
I'll give you the I'll give you the block. Thank you. Calm down. No, because yeah, we would forget with our laser.
Cereal yeah. That's my favorite. And this is subjective, but for me summer is better because I hate I hate being cold.
I hope God calls you mission field. Okay. I have one. Just one thing Summer is always more expensive. The air condition. The cost of Summer is more expensive on gas. Points made. Expensive on gas because there's more travel somewhere is more expensive on your electric bill because of the air conditioning somewhere's more expensive all around.
No, but with the winter we just had the time change not too long ago. So it's gloomy. It gets dark earlier. You can't do as many things because it's cold and wet and depressing. The only fun part about winter is like Christmas with the lights and then after that like my birthday falls after Christmas.
You're just not trying hard enough.
You know, I actually see both those points so I actually struggle with it, okay.
I really do but that's why I prefer summer over what like I and I've always called my husband instead of increasing the heat. Because we went over that one of the last episodes when like I heated our apartment to like 80 degrees and it Was like $300 bill for a three bedroom.
You got in trouble. I didn't so I can't test the thermostat anymore. So he bought me an electric blanket. So I stay huddled in that thing.
There's good parts about both those. If you had said fall. Christmas is the only good part. Oh, yeah fall, which is clearly.
It's the superior season for sure. All right. Okay, so I'll I will I will go with that. Okay, go ahead and remove one. I did. No, you didn't. No, she did you were full of crap. We all started out with four.
See he's cheater.
The more she accused me to hire her voice like there's I did.
Okay, werewolves are more dangerous than vampires. Okay, you ready. Yeah, one two three.
Guys this is you saw her and y 'all. All right, I live in the forest and never come out unless there's a full moon. Oh I can fly Every night like come on, but they can have you seen Ben Helsing. I.
Don't like watch movies that are.
Popular werewolves have an easier time blending in with the general population and I'm just throwing stuff out there. They can blend in there. I mean, I guess it depends. What kind of vampire are we talking about here?
We talked about Stephanie Myers vampires. We're talking about actual like real traditional.
I'm sorry. I am gonna interrupt here. And this is the first time I've interrupted today. I'm gonna look this way. Okay, go ahead. Did you just say real vampires?
Not the gay vampires but the one not the sparkly ones that are being rewritten to just make things weird. The like vampires of Tradition the vampires that legends were made from.
Yeah, because the only thing that vampires like the legend vampires can do or like I want to suck your blood like. That's how I imagine. Think of Harry Potter. I don't remember which episode it is or like which.
Which movie are you counting serious black as a werewolf? No, it wasn't a werewolf. No, it's the other guy. It's Lupin was. Yes. Yes, and so which was. I think that is he was pretty vicious and scary-looking.
So that's why I said there.
They're more. The only thing that I will give vampires are more.
Rolling do not write about a vampire. I.
Mean she did. They were they were alluded to yes.
All right, whatever. What's the next one? Oh.
This one this one I put specifically for Ashley, oh, okay her eyes are open. I can't wait. I'm sorry. Yeah. Okay, books are better than movies. One two three all the way up just.
Wait a minute. What in the world is wrong? Books have far more.
Yes, and you can use your imagination. I.
Wanted a follow-up question, but as always I was silenced. I wanted to know did you mean a book in a movie about the same material and one's made. A book one's made.
Made into a movie like which is better. Okay. Okay, like Harry Potter books or Harry Potter movies.
Okay, so the question is if if there is a book and a movie the question is which one those two are better.
Yes, so like the books are better than movies.
Before I take my block back there are probably only four or five Movies slash books that I have both read the book and watched the movie. Okay, I and in those examples are Sherlock Holmes Hobbit Lord of the Rings.
I'm counting as one Hobbit Lord of the Rings. I didn't read Harry Potter man. We're not counting the Chosen as a movie about. There's only a handful and with Sherlock Holmes, they were both great, but the problem is Downey jr.
And What's his name? Dr. Strange. Oh. Those movies were fantastic. So I am a sick of my original Tolkien was better than Peter Jackson. Okay, listen, listen, though.
I'm I mean you can still have a movie that is fantastic and does follow the book. Well but the book is still I mean the the whole Essence of the book no matter what you do when you turn it into a movie.
You're not gonna have the the art at the original artists or the the writers. That's fair.
Original soul in that movie that I can give you I can give you oh. Yeah, Caspian was a horrible movie. Oh, that was a good book. Chronicles and Arnie of a second. Yeah, but I will say this I Will say this now the Hobbit was better as a book.
Let me tell you something. Fellowship Towers and Return of the King as movies were better. Oh.
If any was once when was to make an argument that Somebody stayed as true to the soul of the book. Peter Jackson did one time.
I watched a movie made after a video game and it was one of the way biggest waste of times I've ever seen. Well, of course, it's a I want to say it was Assassin's Creed. It was it was horrible. I did.
Let me let me come back and win this. I'm ready. You're gonna come back. I'm gonna just listen for one. Y 'all raise your hand.
Okay, um the person in the middle seat of an airline row automatically gets both armrests. You said it's a rerun. Did we do this one before. I don't remember this one. Okay, hold on. I haven't voted yet.
Okay, everyone got their answers. Hmm. Okay. All right. All right, great. See. But the thing is like we were talking about this one beforehand. Like everyone can get both armrests like on either side of the middle person like the person in the middle gets like the back of the armrest and the person next to him can get.
Let me be honest with you.
Probably be that person who wouldn't share just because I'd be like I just be like this. But I don't want them to be upset that I'm taking the armrest that belongs to me. I.
Will say as a person who travels a lot like a lot That is what you're paying for. So there's a reason why the the seats are different prices and you're the prices are what you are paying for. So if you're getting an aisle seat, you're paying for the aisle.
You're paying to be able to get out extra leg extra leg room. But you're paying to be able to get out easily if you're getting a window seat. You're paying for that window because you want something to look out at if you're in the middle seat.
You have to get both armrests because you don't have any either one of those benefits.
And so that's kind of where that rule comes from. If I've ever sat in a middle seat because it's always been the worst it's. Hate the middle seat so much. I would not. If I had a choice I would not pay for.
I don't want people touch. Touching me I would. I would not enjoy that. Okay last one and then we can get started. I'm ready. Okay, this is the Golden Girls question. Dorothy is the best Golden Girl. Yeah, I think so, okay.
One two three. Yes.
The mom Sophia Sophia Sophia. Because she's a grouchy old lady just like me.
Dorothy is just so quick-witted and she totally hates on Rose. Well, but let's be real though.
Dorothy gets it from her mother. Her mother is the OG quick-witted old lady, but Dorothy is better. He's great.
What's the score. We all have three. You had one.
Adding to. You are left to this, sir. No, there's three right here. Put something in here. Okay. I can't wait. He's gonna do a slow-mo replay. You're both right here.
It's a tie I didn't win. It was a tie. Good job guys.
Good job, everybody. See Anna is so incensed, but I grew up with you. So it really doesn't shock me all that much.
So, so you're not gonna be good sport. Who's who's the sore loser.
Okay, the reason I did that is because my mom growing up she would always play Candyland with us. To teach us, you know, like, you know, like morals and all that crap and whatever, but every time I morals.
You know like how to be good sport, you know. So she would sometimes win and then sometimes she would let me win so like she would miss a couple of spaces or whatever and then when I won I was like like your dad like.
And then I would always have to like, oh, you know good game good game, you know, whatever but when she would win I was. She always she always made me shake her hand afterwards, so I wanted to prove a point.
My mom watches mom. I'm good job, Lisa. Good job Linda you know that meme. Mom like has a hard time listening to me. So I'm like really not listening. You have a hard time accepting a tie anyway, you Cheated okay, and I hope that Lowell can find the footage to replay it and add something spectacular like.
It would make me so. That's awesome. I'm glad for you. Okay, it won't be that.
So, you know what we're doing now, are we ready? Yeah, we're ready. We can move on with the all right. You already get to work.
First Kings 18. So Ashley was inspired By something she heard in Sunday school. For it for a lot of you Christians out there Sunday school is a Bible study you get to Before morning service probably should consider doing that and then you're right sleeping in like you can on Saturday.
Yeah, and sometimes I make breakfast. Yeah. Yeah, and I'm turning the first Kings in Revelation. Yeah, she makes excellent breakfast. So first Kings Ashley, why don't you give us? Succinctly the overall flavor of what you want to talk about.
Yeah, so When we were talking about first Kings 18 I was in the middle of doing another Bible study on the psychology of demons and angels. Really weird study was actually kind of interesting. But we were talking about the prophets of Baal and Moloch and all of these People there during this chapter and it led me on a study of like who these people are, you know what were some of the rites and Religious What's the word I'm looking for Practices, thank you practices that these people did and so I felt very convicted as I was reading some of this because it also was I was you know reading about the Israelites because they were there what their part was in in this and it started convicting me heavily in how much of a mirror image I got into what is going on today and which was also really interesting because the week leading up to you in the week following Us doing this Bible study in Sunday school the song.
These are the days of Elijah was coming going over and over. Yes It is a pump song, but it took on that song like took on a whole new meaning to me after reading You know going through doing this Bible study.
So that's kind of where a lot of this happened. And then of course Elena and Anna kind of drugged me up here after I was telling them about it. So.
Do you mind if I read a portion of it real quick, yeah, please so so guys I'm gonna read a portion for those of you not familiar. Let me slow down for a little bit. I'm writing a paper. So this is fresh in my mind, but In general in general there are only three stages of history where God allowed Supernatural miracle workers Moses and Joshua Elijah and Elisha Christ and the Apostles now, there are others that can interpret dreams or things like that but I'm talking about Physics defying going against the laws of nature type miracles and making axe heads float, right?
Parting seas. I mean that kind of stuff. It's really only three beards in history. It really is the law Moses and Joshua Elijah and Elisha Prophets Christ and the Apostles and I'm writing a paper on this right now.
At any rate we're in one of those times. So one of the very few times in Scripture where God allows Supernatural miracle workers and we have Elisha now. Sure was Elijah's Disciple but here we're at Elijah.
I said that right? I think I said sure I think Elijah. Excuse me and There are goodness hundreds of false prophets here and they're on Mount Carmel and They're having a challenge, so this is what Elijah says he says I am in verse I'm starting in 19 now therefore sin and gather all Israel to meet me in Mount Carmel and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table.
No. Well, Ashley's gonna get into this in a minute notice the false prophets are meeting at the king and queen of Israel's table. That's that's how far they have given over and then in verse 21 Elijah came near to all the people.
This is the people of Israel and said how long we go limping between two different opinions if Yahweh is God follow him. But at Baal follow him and the people didn't answer him a word. Yeah, I am I Was witnessing to a young man that goes to our MMA ministry here.
He might actually watch this our MMA minister our song soldiers God ministry, by the way. We're probably gonna have four or five fighters next year in 2024. I'm very excited about that and Someone he loves recently got saved actually converted regenerated their life has changed and he told me Um, I don't know what y 'all told him, but he's like totally different now.
He's like a different person. I would love to believe that stuff. Hmm and I said well. Look, man Try to disprove the Bible. If it comes up to be false, you don't have to worry about it. Yep, if it comes out to be true, then you have a decision to make.
I kind of like see Elijah saying Don't quit limping between two different opinions. If Yahweh's God, you don't have a choice. You will worship him. But if Baal is God follow him. Don't be lukewarm in the middle at any rate Ash tell us some of your initial thoughts about first Kings 18.
Okay, so.
First before I do I wanted to give a little bit more background on what is kind of cuz you know Give shoulder ground. Like foot ground all of it. So So I in doing my study on this I did a little bit of extra biblical study on this.
So I wanted to give a little bit of perspective and why when I was doing some of those studies. Why it shocked me so much. So we have 450 prophets of Baal and 450 or 400 prophets of Yeah, there's 850 people here.
So they are prophets of Baal and Asherah and then it's you know, there's all there's Moloch. There's all these other guys so one of the things the rites that you would do and the and the practices that these people do.
Is the whole sale slaughter of children, right they would sacrifice children to these bales now one thing that I think a lot of people don't know about Bale. Bale is not a proper name. Bale is not the name of a god.
Bale actually means Possessor or Lord. So one of the things that they would do is they would Worship the bale of a mountain or the bale of a city gate so one of the things that they would do is they would take their children and they would sacrifice them to the bale of the City or so and you know, it says in the Bible a lot where the prince of this city or the the bale of this city.
They considered these gods which Spoiler alert, you know, they're demons that are the lords or the possessors of this little area. They could be a possessor of a tree of mountain a city gate but what they would do is they would kill their children and then bury them either in the Foundations or underneath these trees at the foot of these mountains as an offering to these gods or these bales Asherah kind of similar things.
She was more of a goddess of fertility and so There were a lot of prostitution and other Sexually immoral acts that were done in her temples her temples were basically brothels then you have. Then you have other gods who their Practices had to do with mutilation.
So and you actually see it as we continue in chapter 18. You will see that part of their. As they're worshiping their God and sacrifice if they are Bible gets a little bit graphic on what they are doing to themselves.
Which is why there are laws in the law of God say Leviticus. Talk about not cutting yourselves and making Tattoo marks for the dead and all these. Exactly exactly.
Exactly, then you go.
Hold on I just lost my thought. No, I'm not. How they sacrifice children and cut themselves like like these guys are about right.
Oh, and then the other thing that I did find out. And this is the part that just made me sick to my stomach. So the people of Israel they're here they're on the mountain, you know. You have the prophets of Baal and Moloch and Asherah here you have the people of God and then it says that the the prophets of Yahweh they were in hiding because They were being hunted.
It doesn't say necessarily that they were there. It says that Elijah had called them. It doesn't necessarily say specifically that they were if they were there or not but It says that they stayed silent through all of this.
And there's a few things that I found out because I kind of was looking into that. There is actual ancient pottery and writings from this time where the Whatever you want to call it the lore the Religious belief at the time was more pantheistic and so the Israelites would try to shoehorn God into the beliefs of Baal Asherah And Moloch so there were actual writings talking about how Yahweh is the husband of Asherah or talking about Yahweh in a female form or talking about God as the brother of this specific Baal so it was one of those things where the people of Israel were trying to basically make their religion and the religion of the world coexist.
Right. So you if we fast forward here and we get back to the the point get back to the the topic here. We've got the people of God standing on Mount Carmel. They have Survived a three and a half year drought.
I believe it's three and a half. Is it three or three and a half? Is it one and a half? Yeah, okay. It's a it's a drought so We're sitting here in the middle of a drought. Are you gonna look it up? Yeah, you keep going.
Okay, we're sitting in the middle of a drought and the people of God have suffered and so God tells Elijah's like, all right, go to Ahab show yourself to him. We're gonna settle this. So get the prophets of Baal prophets of all of them and all the people of Israel and Elijah's sitting there looking at them as As once they all get gathering he's like how long are you guys going to limp along between two different opinions two different gods if God is God serve him if Baal or Moloch are the gods you serve them, right and they said nothing.
So here's here's where I really get sick to my stomach. How long you know This is what I think that the people of God now, how long are we going to sit silent? We're doing the same things now. We are killing babies right by the millions by the day.
We have young kids. We have people who you know, I've watched a lot of these interviews lately we've have young kids and young people who they are being pulled into ideologies that Demand that they mutilate themselves, right and we have people who celebrate death that they celebrate when somebody else who Thinks differently than them loses their life in my study with Like the psychology of demons and stuff that's one of the things that I think I can just boil everything down to is you know, what is considered because For a long time and it's lost its Strength, but you know anything that was considered, you know, not biblical or something that Christians didn't like we would say Oh, that's just demonic.
That's it. Okay, we can boil things down that are demonic to anything that celebrates Or encourages the defacement or the defilement of the image of God. That is what that is and that includes Abortion you are killing an image of God and you are defaced you are defacing it.
You're dehumanizing it. You're well to dehumanize something is to make it less than what it is. And that is an image of God to Deform yourself or mutilate yourself for an ideology. That is a defacement of the image of God to celebrate death to celebrate the death of any creature That has the image of God.
That's demonic. It is you cannot celebrate these things. It's wrong. And this is where the people of God they're standing silent where he's like Are you guys gonna continue to let this be? Okay, and we are still doing this now we think that.
You know, we have all these issues that it's uncomfortable to talk about them. It's really it's a hot it's a hot-button topic. You know, you're you're gonna start a fight with somebody if you're gonna talk about these things and so Christians We don't want to offend anybody.
And guys it's time to start offending because these are the days of Elijah, you know, we have. We all know if we're Christians who study we kind of know what's coming. I'm not. I'm not sitting here saying, you know.
Nobody take me out of context and say that I'm sitting here saying that world's ending tomorrow. It could end tomorrow could in 500 years from now, but it does say In Matthew 25 that in those days God will separate his people left and right like the sheep and the goat.
We are experiencing right now where the world is. Making you choose. The world's gonna make you choose and Christians are either looking for a moral equivalent equivalence an excuse to coexist or a justification for coexistence.
That's not an option anymore guys. I After reading some of this, you know, I felt a conviction because I mean even I'm somewhat guilty. I mean, I'm not I'm not I don't ever tell anybody that I have ever agreed with abortion or I've ever agreed.
Well, you know everybody's like well when they're 18, you know, it's everybody can choose. Yeah. You know, it's it's still wrong. So I think we're all guilty of that to an extent. But Moral equivalence.
Seeking coexistence seeking not to offend in order to. Either either you feel comfortable or the excuses. Well, I'm not don't don't want to offend them. So I don't run them off. That's not your call. God calls us to speak the truth.
God calls us to stand apart and be set apart. And there's no.
Ambiguity with those stand with those calls. Yeah jump in by the way, you were right. It was a three and a half year drought. Okay. Maybe maybe some of you aren't used to the term image of God. And especially because you're like well Josiah you said two weeks ago.
We're not all God's children a couple category things remember. One of the most beautiful parts of salvation at least in my book is that we are adopted in the gods family. I know the ladies covered that last week.
We're adopted in God's family. Well, if you're adopted in that by definition means you used to not be a part of the family, right? All human beings are not part of God's family. The call of salvation.
To become a part of that family goes out to all mankind. However, all human beings on this planet including those who are currently Defying the orders of the Almighty God are made in his image if I could just briefly.
Made in his image is not just the sense of we have a Spirit different than animals. So we our body mind soul. And God is triune. It's additionally that we are the only ones of his creatures that can know him intimately and love him deeply.
All human beings. Know that at least at least intuitively and let me explain God says we are to care for all creation. In fact, we were put on this planet For one reason to subdue the earth and to take care of it.
No one ever gets on to a bear for stealing food or hyenas for stealing food or the fact that almost all animal sex is rape or no one ever gets on the Animals because even unbelievers because they don't expect more than what they are.
But everyone including unbelievers get mad when humans do those things now if all we are is a more evolved Version of those mammals. That's a good point. Why? Should we ever be upset about that? In other words?
My point is not That the atheist cannot be moral ethical. That's not what I'm saying. There's no reason why you don't get mad at the hyena for doing that or the vulture or the buzzard. There are some animals who only live by stealing and by right cannibalism sometimes.
If we are simply more evolved version of that. Why do you get mad when? Why do you care that we are not taking care of the planet or other species? I mean if we truly believe in natural selection and the survival of the fittest.
So my point is it's because we all know. There is something unique about human beings. We all know that and it's more than just a more advanced version of there is something different. There's no There's no party of tigers right now meeting together trying to figure out how to make life better for rabbits.
Okay. We all know that intuitively there's something different about human beings and what that is is that they have the image of their creator ingrained in them and when they act Not in accordance with the purpose that creator has made.
We see the results of it and we have to run from it and create some equivalence right to follow after so when when Ashley says Image bearers of God all human beings are image bearers of God because they are made by him.
Exactly.
Exactly, and so that's kind of Demons they they really only have they have a few goals. But really all of it from what I'm seeing is they are wanting To be well, you know, I this gets into this whole other Bible study this whole other Bible study, but that that's what I've boiled down to.
Whatever is demonic is something that craves or demands that Defacement of the image of God in whatever manner whether it be by death mutilation or anything or any type of devaluing of that thing.
Well, and it almost makes me think of like an unknowing Sacrifice or like a naive sacrifice in a way because we all sacrifice parts of ourselves. But it's like when you mutilate yourself or you know, something like that like in the scripture like you had said.
That was a part of like a ritual that they had with these types of gods and it's like now when people do it. Whether it's abortion or like we'll just go with a mutilization. Mutilization for just the topic and it's like that people don't understand like exactly what they're doing in that regard.
And it's just it's really sad and especially like, you know with these. The reason why I think so many people have an issue with like the kids Transitioning and all that stuff like making these permanent changes to their bodies.
It's like because you can't. You're not supposed to be able to vape. You're not supposed to be able to drink. You're not supposed to be able to do these things, but you can choose to cut off parts of your body.
Mm-hmm and change them. It's like it makes no it makes no logical and it goes against exactly what God had designed. Right, and it's like God designed you with the purpose and you were talking about like the image bearers of God and talking about abortion.
It reminded me of when I was pregnant with our son and I went for you know, like the first ultrasound. They look like a little nugget and you can see like a little flutter in there and that's the heartbeat and stuff and you can Hear it beat and then the next time you go in she usually like around 11 12 weeks.
So like three months pregnant you go in for an ultrasound and they look like a baby. Mm-hmm, and I remember telling the ultrasound tech and I've probably said this on here before so forgive me. But I remember telling the ultrasound tech.
I don't understand how people can look at that and just. Not think like at all that it's a baby like that. I think that they have to convince try to convince themselves that it's not because he he was jumping around.
He had everything and she said he has everything that he needs. He just needs to get bigger at 12 weeks old and he probably had that, you know a few weeks ago and it's just I don't know it's it blows my mind that people can look a Fact in the face and just like oh, that's not what that is.
Well, and it's like, you know.
What you're that story it makes me think of you know in the Garden of Eden, it's it's the power of language. So, what is it? That's a really say exactly. So if you think about you know, this was again makes me sick to my stomach.
You know what the latest word that they use for an unborn baby what clump of cells? That's well, they've used clump of cells. They just feed us no fetus fetuses because fetus is Latin for baby or offspring.
So, you know what it is now.
Hold on not a leech. Nope. What is it? The zygote? Well, that's like the scientific term if you want to be technical, but it's like it's a scientific term a baby. But if that's but that's the whole point.
It's the power of language. Do we have zygote showers? Yeah.
If we just use that argumentation, I think everyone would leave abortion.
You're pregnant with a baby. You were expecting a baby. It's always a baby. It's just different stages of development of that, baby, right. And. But you know getting that back to the but no.
That's a good segue back into the topic. Yeah, it's the power of language of it's the same thing. It's D Humanizing right the image of God which that is what it's all about. Human what a human is is the image of God and anything that dehumanizes something or removes that image or defaces that image is In my opinion based off this study demonic.
So I Think so to wrap this into a bow. Not to turn into a pastor and say one more thing, but.
It's in our genes, oh. You do it but you do it like purposefully you do it. As a nod to pastor Jeff. So, I think that.
God has a message to three different people groups basically in chapter 18. You know, of course there's a message that's for Everybody who is not already a child of God and that is I am God I am God and there is no other and Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.
So Elijah, you know He was a prophet that you know, he said repent for the kingdom of God is hand and then you have another one. That is John the Baptist. Well, we're going into where Jesus is coming back and you going to the song These are the days of Elijah Declaring the word of the Lord.
These are the days of your servant Moses Righteousness being restored and though these are days of great trials of famine and darkness and sword Still we are the voices in the desert crying declare ye the way of the Lord.
So there's three people so there is it's a great song guys. It is a it is definitely a blood pumper but so You know, Elijah said he's like he says in his prayer to God before he sacrifices Josiah, would you read?
Yeah. Verse let's start in verse 36.
And go. Yeah, go to 37 like 36 and 37 at the time of the offering of the I'm sorry at the time the offering of ablation Elijah the prophet came near and said Oh Yahweh God of Abraham Isaac and Israel remember that's Jacob's original.
I mean change name. Let it be known to you this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and I have done all These things at your word. Answer me Yahweh. Answer me that this people may know you Oh Yahweh our God.
And that you have turned their hearts back.
Okay, so that's one group of people. The second group of people is are the people who are already God's children who are remaining silent.
This his children that are too scared to stand up. Exactly guys it's time.
We are right now being separated sheep from goats. How long are you gonna limp between these two opinions? If God is God if God is God serve him and if he's not serve these other gods, but you need to pick one says That God does not like lukewarm people if you are seeking For some sort of moral equivalence if you are seeking for some sort of way to coexist and either tolerate sin or even tolerate.
Whether it be just tolerate it like they can do it and I'm gonna stay over here and just do my thing. You know, I have on my notes that Matthew 25 Jesus gives several parables about this the parable of the ten virgins five Prepared their lamps and five did not and they all fell asleep.
But then when the bridegroom came through five five were ready. Five were ready and the other five were not able to go into the wedding feast. And then if Jesus follows it up with the parable the servant with the servants with the talents, you know you have one that was given five one one that was given I was one was given ten one was given five and one was given two and you know one the ones that had more they went and they invested it and brought back to the master the the interest on the their investments whereas the one with two went and buried it and hid it and The master said you are a wicked servant.
Depart from me and go into the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, right? That should scare every single Christian who does not stand up and speak when evil is in front of them.
What would you say to the Christian who is? Insecure and It's afraid to be so bold. So.
That is that is a hard thing and that's kind of something that I've had to develop in myself recently. It's gonna be tough and that's actually one of my next. Points in there is what is to be done and it's gonna be tough and it's gonna cost us.
We are coming to a time, you know, I'm sitting here and looking at you two guys. You know, there's gonna be a time where it may cost me. You know, I'm speaking for myself. It's gonna cost me. I mean sometimes it already has cost me sometimes I mean every Christian who has Obeyed that call is probably can point to at least one instance where it's cost them something.
We already have Christians all over the world that it's costing them everything. Elijah so pastor Josiah if you could go to verse 30.
And then Elijah said to all the people come near to me and all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of Yahweh that had been thrown down. Elijah took 12 stones according to a number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob to whom the word of the Lord came saying Israel shall be your name.
And with the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh. He made a trench around the altar as great as would contain to say as of seed. And he put the wood in order and cut the bulls and pieces and laid on the wood.
He said fill four jars of water and poured on the burnt offering of the wood. And he said do it a second time. And they did a second time. He said do it a third time and they did a third time. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench with.
Water. Okay. Now if we go later in that chapter I think it's interesting that Elijah Rebuilds the temple of God. So there was already I'm sorry an altar. There was already an altar there. That was an altar to Yahweh that was destroyed.
So Elijah rebuilt had rebuilt that no one had rebuilt.
Elijah rebuilds it with 12 stones and it specifically says it represented the 12 tribes of Israel. And then you know, he puts the bowl on there and he tells them to go and get four jars and Fill them with water and do it a second time and do it a third time.
So 12 jars and. Then it's so it's it says that in that trench it was the water was filling that trench. They're in the middle there. They're at the tail end of a three and a half year drought. They don't know they're at the tail end.
We've read the end of a chapter. Sorry, I read the book guys. So They're at the they're in the middle of this three and a half year drought. Water is probably the moat. Well, no, it's not probably it is absolutely the most precious thing that they have.
There are 12 stones then. Not just the bowl itself. I mean even livestock is gonna be.
Not right. It's not just you it's your food sources and your workhorses and all that that needs the water.
It's gonna cost you something. It's gonna cost you a lot. But you're gonna have to do it because We have a faithful God. Yes, God comes down and It says that he it doesn't say that God came down. He burned everything up.
It says that the fire came down Consumed it and took it to heaven. There are a lot of things that We need. There's a lot of things that we've been denied sometimes throughout our lives or we feel that we've been denied.
There's a lot of things that we feel that God is not providing. But he is a faithful God. I will say that I would. You have to look yourself in the mirror and practice sometimes but I can't sit and just sit in compliance with something that It goes against my nature denying God as an image bearer of God.
Denying God and staying silent goes against our nature. That's why we feel conviction. Go for it.
To the question of what do you ask someone who's afraid I? Would I would just point them right here. First off if they're afraid. To stand up and do what's right. I would probably tell them to join the club.
We're all afraid in some instance. The question is are you gonna let the fear be stronger than your convictions what you need to do and. In other words, do you have any non-negotiables? Yeah, like we talked about and you have to have You this is why thinking is so important.
You have to have those non-negotiables. Already set in place before the day comes. Like there are some things you have to already have those in your mind of this is a non-negotiable. No matter what and those three words no matter what are pretty powerful words.
Yeah, because often people use them and they do not mean them right, but I would say this. And I didn't notice till I actually just read this. Eliza tells all the people to come here and it says he built the altar.
Mm-hmm. See everyone's just watching. Everyone's just watching he built Zelda. But in his leadership. When what do you do when you're afraid if you start to obey? Others will follow see there's always a remnant no matter how dark it is.
There's always a remnant even in this even in this and he starts obeying and watch this in his leadership is stepping out. Then when he said get some water. It says some of them went and got water some in other words.
Those Mm-hmm who saw him lead first had the courage then to go do what they hadn't done in.
It takes someone it takes someone starting some.
Momentum, right. And and we'll. Spoiler alert. For later, I guess the point is if you stand up and be brave eventually. Others will follow. Right? I've seen it many times. Eventually others will follow.
God blesses obedience. Eventually others will follow.
Yeah, it does take boldness and God is a God who keeps his promises so the other thing that I would tell somebody is You know, one of the things that I've had to you know, I'm doing a whole thing where I'm praying and You know studying my Bible every morning with a purpose like there's it it's not do not just check it off the list.
There is has to be a purpose. So one of the things that I have read. You know Paul said You know, he said follow me for I follow Christ, but he said a lot of things. But he also said, you know towards the end of his ministry said I have run the race.
I have kept the faith. You probably what's the rest of it. I thought that there you go. Right. What one of the things that Josiah and I was always were we were always taught was, you know. Every day look for an opportunity to die.
It's so encouraging but it is it is it is actually it's when you break. When you actually explain it, you know, that's of course, you know, my dad is like a shock value person so he's gonna say like why are you teaching your kids that no look for something to sacrifice yourself to because.
While some of these people did not choose to sacrifice their children. They just watched you're going to sacrifice yourself to something. You're going to because even God He didn't burn up the offering but he took it up with him to heaven.
It's still a sacrifice that he took and it was taken with him. So It's gonna cost you something and it's going to.
I was like I have one one thing go ahead and do that. We've got we've got a few more minutes. So go ahead and ask your question. Well, it wasn't a question. It was kind of to answer part like give another answer to that question is be an independent thinker.
Yes, do not be a thinker. Well, you're not thinking if you're just going along with the masses that we see right as we see here in this game that we did. But be an independent thinker don't because I've seen so many people within the church.
Well, why do you believe that? Mm-hmm. I was just what my pastor said. Christians do this stuff too. That's what I'm saying. It's like it's like but you don't have like your own Thought process on how you got to that opinion like take abortion for example since that's when we've been referencing this conversation.
And I've and I think I've told this story on a previous podcast. So again a pardon me for that, but if you haven't heard it, you know. Take it for what it is. When I was like in my early 20s, like late teens early 20s I knew abortion was wrong, but I'm like, well, I would never do that.
But if someone else did that. That's their decision. It's their body. Yeah, like it's their life. It makes you sick to your stomach and so I Used to say that and it wasn't until I was married. Like I got married at 21 and it was early on in our marriage and my husband and I were talking about it.
I think it was like during one of the elections abortion was like a really hot topic, you know. Like it always is and he said have you ever seen the film silent scream? And I said no and he's like we're gonna watch it.
He said I had to watch it in high school, which was very shocking because he went to a public school. But he said I had to watch it in high school. Let's watch it and you can find it on YouTube. It's very graphic.
So just like yeah prepare yourself for that. But it showed a first term I think it was a first term like right. Starting at the second term second term usually starts around like 12 weeks. So that's like three months and so it showed on a sonogram the baby being aborted with a vacuum and they like they say how gentle this procedure is and I like you can see the woman shaking on the table and the baby being dismembered and in the womb and I'm like that is not Gentle, this is violent.
It's you know, like we I've talked to women who have had abortions in the past and Their experiences are always so traumatic and it's just like all and What the media and what other people will tell you is like, oh, no, it's safe procedure and like oh, you know this and that.
It's so great. And like, you know, it's it's it's a clump of cells. It's not a baby. So then you know you have the conversation. Well, when is it a baby and all this stuff? It's like they will the devil and His people will lie to you.
So all of that to say is Once I learned what abortion was I had to be completely against it, right? Because I'm like this is killing of an innocent life like this baby did nothing to be here this like you said it's an image bearer of God and you are murdering it out of convenience or like people say like oh that point or that 1 of like rape and incest and blah blah blah, it's like Even in that regard that baby still has a purpose, right?
That would be another topic for another day. But that all being said is do your research for certain things like whatever you are Faced with do your research. Do I agree disagree? Okay. This is why this is why I agree with that.
Yeah, and I don't think that some Christians you can trust your gut too because like I said Demonic Rights, you're gonna know it's wrong. Like the mutilate. Exactly it's like if it makes you if there there is a whole conviction element to this that You can ask is like is this a defacement of the image of God in any way?
Is this celebrating the end of a life or is this celebrating the the deformity or the mutilation of a life or like what what is this? What is the purpose of this. And I think that if you're a Christian, you know.
I actually have one last thing. Yeah. It reminds me of that scripture and it talks about Satan like he'd what he's crouching like a like a lion and he's coming to Kill steal and destroy. It's exactly what he's doing.
Right destroying everything everything that God had in a certain purpose in a certain manner in a certain Cycle of things whatever it is a certain order Satan is going to destroy that.
So, I think that the whole message in this is just finally that that voice in the desert saying The kingdom of God is at hand prepare the way the Lord repent for the kingdom of God is at hand and that is the that is what all of these groups of people have to hear and I think that that's the point of Second Kings 18 and I think I see a mirror image of what's going on right now in our world.
We're doing the same thing. The we are making the same mistakes as the people of Israel and Lord help us the indictment the the cost of that sin on the people of God because God only chastens those whom he loves and that type of just wholesale stomach-churning Horrific acts of worship of false gods.
I Don't want that those consequences for any of us in 2nd Chronicles 7 14 It does say if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray Seek my face and turn from their evil ways then I will hear so.
It does it does take some guts. It does take some gumption to turn from those things. It's not easy. But I also serve a true God and I will Definitely be you know, I hope that my brothers and sisters in Christ who do hear this Or hear any of the podcasts that come out of here are encouraged by that and Join in the voices of the people saying prepare the way of the Lord but We do serve a true God and we can say do your worst for our God will do his.
Thank you for that, thank you for coming on. Ashley. No problem. Let me close my security blanket here.
You did great sweaty. You did a great job.
All right, very good guys. I hope you're encouraged by that. As I know I am as always like share subscribe. Do all that thing. Talk to us about how we tied on the game. And I was a good game today and there was a good fair match today and that every time someone doesn't win.
They don't have to be upset about it. And I think one.
We tied we tied so I beat you. Oh, I do want to put this out there. I Want to put this out there?
I absolutely think that there is no argument that Pastor Josiah is the funniest pastor and everybody needs to vote false. I am going I am I am I am lobbying right now for my pastor. He is absolutely the funniest pastor and that's because he and I have the same sense of humor.
Okay, so it's it's just subjective. That's what it's subject, but it's also fact. You are subjective, but it's facts though.
Some people when you're when you're when you are superior, you know, we try to get into it. Okay.
I'm just saying it's subjective. It's fact humor subjective. Oh my goodness gracious. You're the most bitter person. Oh my goodness. Not really. You're just saying that because I called you manipulative.
Oh, you're just trying to hurt me.
I Guys you saw your first folks like share subscribe do all that stuff. Let us know what you love what you hate all that stuff, but until next time Deuces do it again. She didn't say it. So not in sync until next time.
Oh Do you hear that? That was a heart? We didn't get it on video.