This is a pretty meandering conversation at the table...  How popular is Bridger's name?  There's snow in the forecast, but we'll believe it when we see it... Also--Luke is wearing a fur coat that (he thinks) makes him look like he's ready to overthrow a Roman dictator. 

At some point, we touch on how to get Artificial Intelligence to write our books for us.

Later:  There's a place called "Vender City" in Kokomo.  Have you ever heard of that? Is it a chain? Probably not.

If any of our rambling thoughts triggered some of YOUR rambling thoughts, send them to us here:  [email protected] 

Today the Pugs reflect on a Substack article by N. S. Lyons entitled, The Reality War. This insightful piece notes that we are living through a revival of the most pernicious of all heresies--Gnosticism. The bitter irony of our time is it is occurring in what many people have wrongly assumed is the triumph of materialism. Lyons begins with recounting the bloody Crusade the Medieval Church waged against the Cathars, then he explores three manifestations of Gnosticism in our time: "Scientific Gnosticism," "Luxury Gnosticism," and finally, and counter-intuitively, "Reactionary Gnosticism." The Pugs consider each and wonder how we can fight them in our time.

Article: https://theupheaval.substack.com/p/the-reality-war?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Catch our new documentary ‘A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age’ on Canon+: https://canonplus.com/tabs/discover/videos/34865?fbclid=IwY2xjawF-J-9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXqj6CIhUs6mTwkMc-AHhKiP1E4dPAtOm60rgu69RZ2LfhqYLJg2JHx4uQ_aem_LV-nOWc1vnhV6scW9cGZpA

When there are so many opportunities for improvement, how do you know where to start? What is the most efficient and effective way to go about making things better? As in all things, there are a variety of frameworks, many of which are helpful. There are different ways to approach this question. The framework I have for you here is my go-to to get clarity quickly and efficiently, and get to action. I like using the Effort & Impact Matrix. It's not original to me. But I've made it my own. As you work on your business, think about how you can compound your improvement efforts.

In this inaugural episode of Ezra Interviews, Dr. Michael Thiessen is joined by homemaker and author Tilly Dillehay to discuss her recent book "My Dear Hemlock," a re-imagination of C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters" for the modern woman.  

Episode Resources: Purchase My Dear Hemlock here: https://amzn.to/404MlM4;

The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;

UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Christ is King World Missions Conference - "Gospel Culture" | January 19-22, 2025 |  San Antonio, TX: https://christisking.church/lyw;
The Mission of God Conferences:
U.S. – Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 - 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/;
Faith & Medicine Conference | January 19-22, 2025 |  Atlanta, GA: https://faithandmedicine.org/;

REFORMCON '25 | "Out of the Ashes" | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/

Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book  “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;

Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;

For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.

Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
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Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.

Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). You can also email me with any questions or comments @ contact at PrayforChina dot us. You can also find easy links to everything we are involved in @ PrayGiveGo.us.

Summary:

First, I talk about how John Piper read my blog to thousands of young people at three missions conferences, how we became friends, and the book I gave him today. (3:40) Speaking of Borden of Yale, I discuss William Borden’s missionary call at a student mission’s conference in 1906 and his arrival in Cairo in January 1913 (15:05). Finally, I take a look at the mixed legacy of Jimmy Carter. (27:00)

My Burden for the Truly Unreached (The Blog Piper Read and Promoted)

https://chinacall.substack.com/p/my-burden-for-the-truly-unreached-fbc

The Millionaire Missionary in Cairo (New Year’s 1913): BordenofYale.com

https://chinacall.substack.com/p/new-years-day-in-cairo-1913

https://chinacall.substack.com/p/egypts-open-doors

https://chinacall.substack.com/p/borden-of-yale-loved-football

In the News: 

Carter’s Death and China Legacy

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/15/us-recognizes-communist-china-dec-15-1978-1060168

Carter Propaganda from China

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326169.shtml

Interview with President Carter re: China

https://www.cartercenter.org/news/features/p/china/president-carter-on-normalizing-relations-with-china.html

Pray for China:

Gansu is matched up with my home state of Oklahoma for prayer.

See which Chinese province your state is praying for @ PrayforChina.us!

Josephine Wentzel lived every parent’s nightmare when her daughter, Krystal Mitchell, was murdered in 2016. She joins Joseph Backholm to tell her story of tracking down her daughter’s killer after realizing that law enforcement was not actively pursuing the man. Josephine’s story is one of grief, justice, and a God who is still good. As her daughter told her shortly before her death, “Our faith should be like if we died, met Jesus, and came back to earth.” A faith of obedience and eternal purpose.

We have (by 'we' I mean 'ME') technical issues still. Bad sound quality and flaky microphones but we perservered. I'll be working to get these issued solved by next week...

Some Lines To Listen For

Originally aired on March 19, 2018. 

First, we interviewed Jonathan Bock, President of Grace Hill Media and co-author of The Way Back (number one on Amazon in March). In The Way Back, media and marketing experts Phil Cooke and Jonathan Bock take a hard look at Christians today and reveal that we, as a salesforce, have lost our faith in our product. Where’s the passion, the excitement, and the commitment that two thousand years ago made such improbable and staggering growth possible?

We were also joined by Pastor Doug Wilson to discuss why the church should be enraging the culture! You should join Pastor Wilson this April 13th and 14th at the Grace Agenda conference in Moscow, Idaho. It is free, so you have no excuses. 

In CrossPolitic news, we cover a college student who was kicked out of class for arguing that there are only two genders, and a Rocklin High School teacher who is on paid administrative leave for her views about the national school walk out. Our theme is why logic doesn't work with public education.

Here you have it. 7 things that your customer is unwilling to pay for. Which means, you are paying for it. These are all things eating away at your margins. Getting rid of them adds directly to your bottom line - either by flowing directly into profit, or by giving you the opportunity to improve your pricing structures, thereby winning more business.

So, get to it. Get rid of waste, or it will be getting rid of you. 

Welcome to this New Year's mashup edition of China Compass and the Prison Pulpit!

Nearly every week, I mention the Appendix to my little book, Unbeaten, which details my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. This appendix, entitled Remember My Chains, is the written version of a message I’ve given all over the world about how to pray for the persecuted church.

You can get my book and the sermon, Remember My Chains, at Unbeaten.vip, or read it for free on Substack where it was just posted yesterday: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains

The following notes follow the basic flow of today's podcast...

Borden of Yale: The Millionaire Missionary

BordenofYale.com

William Borden’s plea for more missionaries to serve in China:

Beginning in September, he managed to visit at least thirty colleges and seminaries before sailing for Egypt in December. Spending one to three days in each place gave opportunities for private conversations as well as meetings. On many occasions, with the background of his experience at sea he would ask, “Are you steering or drifting?”

...

Often Borden would meet one to whom it seemed too high, with another question: 

“Are you willing to be made willing?” 

“If ten men are carrying a log…nine of them on the little end and one at the heavy end, and you want to help, which end will you lift on?”

....

In proportion to the population at the time, there were five hundred times as many ministers of the gospel in the United States as there were ordained missionaries in China.

Wang Yi on the need for more evangelistic, church planting pastors in China:

"Our churches are becoming crowded with middle class professionals. The gospel needs to enter the city more deeply. It must enter the drains, enter in with the petitioners and the marginalized peoples. 

If your church still has no pastors; if there are no pastors in your city, your community, or even your street; if your company has a GM but there is no pastor there; if the university you work for has a Party committee secretary but there is no pastor, then I must ask: do you know the average ratio of prostitutes to pastors in China? Do you know the ratio of thieves to pastors, of corrupt officials to pastors?"

Wang Yi’s New Year’s (Twenty Year) Resolutions...

Read the full letter: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/wang-yi-family-newsletter-11-27-2018

A Couple of New Year’s Stories from Northwest China:

7 or 8 years ago tonight, my team and I got chased all over a Chinese village on New Year’s Eve…

19 years ago tonight my father and I almost got ourselves killed in China, in more ways than one…

Recommended Resource:

Borden of Yale: The Millionaire Missionary BordenofYale.com