Author Archives: mike@mikelilley.com

Why I don’t watch “The Chosen” TV Show

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I don’t watch much television these days, and don’t tend to keep up with what is new or popular on TV. One show, however, has caught my attention because of its notoriety, and its subject matter. The Chosen, which has been on air for a few years now, seeks to depict the life and ministry of Jesus Christ in the form of a television series. The series has been met with rave reviews, with thousands of professing Christians lending their support for the series, and a 90%+ rating on major review sites. I have only heard about it because of the success it seems to be having within the church, as more and more Christians talk about it. However, I find this new excitement over The Chosen concerning, and would warn Christians from watching the show for the following 3 reasons.

The Chosen Violates The 2nd Commandment 

Christians ought to make quick work of discerning whether or not to watch The Chosen by simply recognizing that it violates the 2nd Commandment. For reference, here is the 2nd Commandment given in Exodus 20:4-6:

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:4-6 ESV
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Bible Reading Plans for 2024

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This is the Daily Bible Reading Plan that is published in the ESV Study Bible by Crossway. Similar to many plans, it provides for reading the NT and Psalms twice a year while reading the OT in a year. The plan is broken up into 4 sections:

  • Gospels and Devotions
  • Chronicles and Prophets
  • Psalms and Wisdom Literature
  • Pentateuch and History of Israel

Every day of the year, the reader will read a chapter or so from 4 different sections of the bible. The list is numbered rather than dated to accommodate for a missed day or needing to take a break.

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What were the crusades?

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The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims started primarily to secure control of holy sites considered sacred by both groups. In all, eight major Crusade expeditions—varying in size, strength and degree of success—occurred between 1096 and 1291. The costly, violent and often ruthless conflicts enhanced the status of European Christians, making them major players in the fight for land in the Middle East.

By the end of the 11th century, Western Europe had emerged as a significant power in its own right, though it still lagged behind other Mediterranean civilizations, such as the Byzantine Empire (formerly the eastern half of the Roman Empire) and the Islamic Empire of the Middle East and North Africa.

However, Byzantium had lost considerable territory to the invading Seljuk Turks. After years of chaos and civil war, the general Alexius Comnenus seized the Byzantine throne in 1081 and consolidated control over the remaining empire as Emperor Alexius I.

In 1095, Alexius sent envoys to Pope Urban II asking for mercenary troops from the West to help confront the Turkish threat. Though relations between Christians in the East and those in the West had long been fractious, Alexius’s request came at a time when the situation was improving.

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Latin superstar Daddy Yankee tells fans he is leaving music to evangelize the world for Jesus

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The music superstar quoted scripture, asking the crowd, ‘What good will it be for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?’

Global Latin music star Daddy Yankee recently bid farewell to his music career and announced he will be dedicating his life to evangelizing the world “for Jesus.”

During the final show of his farewell tour in Puerto Rico on Sunday, the “Gasolina” and “Despacito” star said a tearful goodbye to his fans and claimed that he would be giving the rest of his life to Christ, as he has found committing to Christianity much more meaningful.

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Feast Day of St. Nicholas

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In 323 AD at the Council of Nicea, Saint Nicholas (the inspiration for Santa Claus) smacked the heretic Arius in the face to interrupt a speech denying the divinity of Christ.

“He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice,

He’s going to find out if you deny the divinity of Christ! Santa Claus is coming to town!”

“He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’re a heretic and he’ll punch you in your face”

Have a blessed St. Nicholas day beloved.

Very little is known about the life of Nicholas. He became Bishop of Myra on the southwest coast of Asia Minor. He may have been imprisoned for his faith in the persecution (303-311) that began under the Emperor Diocletian, and he may have attended the Council of Nicaea in 325. Nicholas is the traditional patron of seafarers and sailors. He is also known as a patron of children, based on his reputation as a bearer of gifts to children. The Dutch brought his name to New York. He is popularly known as Santa Claus. Nicholas is commemorated in the Anglican calendar of the church year on Dec. 6.

Italian city of Bologna braces for collapse of leaning Garisenda Tower

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The Italian city of Bologna is preparing for one of its iconic towers, built more than 900 years ago, to collapse due to excessive leaning. 

The Tower of Garisenda, twinned by the nearby Asinelli Tower, is one of Bologna’s hallmark sights, standing at just over 150 feet tall. But it has been leaning since at least the 14th century when the top 32 feet of the building were removed in an attempt to stabilize it.

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Mike Norvell named ACC Coach of the Year

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Florida State head coach Mike Norvell was voted the 2023 ACC Coach of the Year, it was announced Thursday.

Norvell has led the Seminoles to a perfect 12-0 record, including 8-0 in the ACC, and the top seed for Saturday’s ACC Championship Game. He produced the seventh unbeaten regular season in program history and only the fourth 12-0 mark in a season, joining the 1999 national championship team, the 2013 national championship team and the 2014 College Football Playoff semifinalists. Norvell is the sixth different ACC coach to lead his team to an undefeated record in conference play since 2000.

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FSU over Florida 24-15

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No. 5 Florida State Seminoles (12-0, 8-0 ACC) capped their regular season with a finale against rival Florida Gators. ( 5-7, 3-5 SEC) inside Ben Hill Griffen Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Roars could be heard throughout the city as 93,000 screaming fans cheered their teams on. The Seminoles would leave The Swamp with a 24-15 victory over the Gators.

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For the second week in a row, a starting quarterback for the Seminoles was injured. Quarterback Tate Rodemaker was attempting to convert a third and 14 and was struck by Jaydon Hill who was later ejected for targeting. Rodemaker would later return. 

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