Prata Potpourri: Staying ‘Resolute’, Easter planning, Forming Friendships in Christ, the Nicest Show on TV, Busy-ness; More
By Elizabeth Prata
The Answers for Women conference at Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter concluded. I’ve seen the photos and videos of the fellowship among the leaders, and I was much encouraged. I see the crowd of hungry women who traveled far to attend in order to receive great teaching, and I’m encouraged.
I see the crowd and I wonder if Lori Alexander The Transformed Wife, who is against women ‘learning theology’ and against women ‘teaching theology’ and against women being out in the world, would see this many women being taught by other women and would say “They are all wrong and I am right” and “Ken Ham is wrong and I am right”. I muse on the deception of sin and the spiritual harm of pride.
Stay teachable, ladies.
Lori Alexander could have written this book…
Most false teachers like Lori quote scripture, but so did the devil – and to Jesus’ face no less. Sin is so deceptive. Lori could have written this book… Meanwhile I encourage you to go to Answers in Genesis TV when the video sessions are posted and view them. The topic was staying Resolute for Christ, and many sessions taught about discernment and false movements that destroy.
Virgil Walker wrote an essay titled Don’t Mistake Activity for Obedience: Why the Kingdom Isn’t Built on Busyness.
I remember years ago, a woman who was busy at church. She was busy-busy. She was on many committees, volunteered for everything, was there every time the doors opened (this was back when we had 2 Sunday services and Wednesday night prayer meeting). She was working full time and a married mom of two, but was so busy her second job seemed like it was church. She got tired, complaining, and burned out. She later separated from her husband, divorced for no biblical reason, resisted counseling, avoided church discipline, and was eventually excommunicated. Not that busy-ness necessarily leads to apostasy, but sometimes busy-ness covers for a lack of spiritual core that true repentance gives a person when they are saved. Read Virgil’s piece…
I listened to the first session of Susan Heck’s conference at Crossway Bible Church in Kansas. The topic was Forming Faithful Friendships in Christ. Her first session focused on what it means for US to be friends with Jesus, a great first session. Mrs. Heck laid a solid foundation. The sessions, all 4 plus a Q&A, are at the church’s website. It is listed on the Sermons page, which over time the Friendship sessions will get squashed down, so you may have to scroll a bit if you are reading this months from now.
Forming Faithful Friendships in Christ by Susan Heck.
Tim Challies wrote about “The most pleasant show on television”. If you’re wondering, it’s All Creatures Great and Small, the modern reboot. Usually when I see ‘modern reboot’ it means crassness, wokeness, sexual immorality, and other pollutions. Not this time. I saw the original show in the 1970s when it first came out and I think this reboot is even better. I agree with Challies, it’s just plain nice.
Challies concludes his essay saying, “I hope the show’s success helps the studios understand that if they keep out the raunch, hold back the politics, and simply tell good stories in a compelling way, they’ll have an audience eager to watch.”
Owen Strachan said the same thing a few months ago with his essay, The Enchanted Realism of “All Creatures Great and Small” : An Essay on Television’s Best Show.
A few short weeks ago I recommended the CBS show Elsbeth. But this week, I became very disappointed. I love the show and Carrie Preston’s skill at bringing the character to life. The episode ‘Tiny Town’ was so good! However, the latest episode featured lesbian kissing, a throuple, homosexual kissing. AND emphasis on ‘no judgment’. One person in a polyamory ‘marriage’ had been suspected of killing another in the threesome. The police captain said he could not get his head around the notion of a threesome in marriage. “I get all I need from my one love, Claudia. Maybe people would actually be happy if they focused on one person.” That was the comment he felt he needed to apologize for, since it was “insensitive” according to the show’s script.
Sad. I do JUDGE. Tekel: You, Elsbeth, have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
Christian friends, there may be little on TV we care to consume, but there ARE a few here and there that allow for safe viewing and a pleasurable media experience. I hope All Creatures stays the course.
Mrs. Sharon Lareau at Chapter 3 Ministries has a good essay about Worry Less About Which Bible Reading Plan to Use and More About Which Bible, and she explains the Bible translations. Occasionally I see people on Twitter/X discussing their choice of translation, or a chat about their decision to change translations. I started with the NKJV because that was the Bible a friend gave me. Then I used the ESV for years, until I changed to the NASB. I use NASB and Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) interchangeably. My pastor preaches from the ESV.
The translation does matter and we should make an informed decision about which translation we read and study from. Sharon makes a recommendation and then explains the basis for her choice.
Marci Ferrell / Thankful Homemaker has some good resources ahead of Easter. She writes,
Easter is almost here, and as Christian women, we want to make sure our celebration is focused on Jesus. In today’s video, I’m sharing simple, heartfelt, and practical ways to plan a Christ-centered Easter at home—without feeling overwhelmed.
Whether you have little ones, teens, or an all-adult household, I pray this episode encourages you to reflect on the beauty of the resurrection and gives you tools to point your family to Christ in meaningful ways.
💌 Download My Free Christ-Focused Easter Planning Guide
Includes meal prep timelines, Holy Week Scripture readings, discussion questions, and simple celebration ideas.
📺 Watch Marci’s Easter video on YouTube
It’s the weekend here as I write this. Green leaves are budding, birds are singing, and I have the next week off for Spring Break from school. Time to go outside and enjoy God’s green creation.
