GDL said:

Agree. I meant they turn to hostility as if it wins the argument.

Click to expand...

Sadly, some people in general turn to hostility as if it wins the argument.

I vote NO. Even if disclosed, using chatbots "to make forum posts for you" erodes the larger purpose of a discussion forum, which is people expressing themselves to each other.

I dont think its ethical to destroy something useful (a discussion forum) for no good reason.

I think there comes a point when we should stay true to God's word. This means we will hurt an enormous group of people. Why? Because the truth but sometimes! Actually we should have done this decades ago. But sometimes I think churches are so busy with declining member rates that they do anything to keep their members in. Even if it means to abandon the true word of God. It's so sad... And I pray for congregations to return to the Truth!

SelfSim said:

It also shows us the how of: we are alone in determining our own (collective) destiny in this universe, when it comes to our shaping it though the adaptation of our technologies.

Click to expand...

I do not think we are alone. People in Heaven are working on this stuff for us. New technology often does not work very well. It is usually not a good idea to be the first to buy anything. I bought a video camera thinking I could edit the video on my computer. But it did not work. Intel had to build the Pentium processor to do that. Texas instrument made the fireboard, but their techies kept telling me the problem was with Intel.

God's love cannot be anything less than the greatest love.

I personally believe unconditional is the greatest. I could be wrong.

If we now have molecular-scale transistors is this not a continuation of Moore's law?

One approach to implementing qubits using molecular-scale transistors is to use the electronic properties of individual molecules to encode and manipulate quantum information. For example, a molecular transistor could be designed to switch between two different electronic states that correspond to the two possible states of a qubit (e.g., "up" and "down" spins for an electron). By carefully controlling the electronic properties of the molecule and the voltage applied to the transistor, researchers could manipulate the state of the qubit and perform quantum computations.

Lol! This will bring a smile to your face.

A wedding reception is a great occasion for people young and old to mingle—and things always get interesting on the dance floor.

This senior was ready to show who’s the boss of the dance floor, when the DJ started playing Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean.

The balding, eyeglass-wearing gent stole the show with his spot-on moves, including floor drops that floored everyone who gathered round.

Continued below.

Also why I am praying for vocations.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has updated the procedures for investigating allegations of sexual abuse or the cover up of abuse, specifying that the leaders of Vatican-recognized international Catholic lay associations and movements have the same responsibilities over their members that a bishop has over the priests of his diocese.

The updated version of “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (You are the light of the world), published March 25, also expanded the categories of victims covered by the regulations to include vulnerable adults.

The original text spoke of the crime of “sexual acts with a minor or a vulnerable person.” The updated text read, “a crime against the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue committed with a minor, or with a person who habitually has an imperfect use of reason, or with a vulnerable adult.”

“Anything that expands the categories of those who should be protected is to be welcomed,” Oblate Father Andrew Small, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, told Catholic News Service March 25.

Continued below.

We couldn’t have planned the schedule today any better. We are having Mass at the Church of the Annunciation where the Archangel Gabriel made the announcement to Mary. That also means that it is the Church of the Incarnation where God first became man.

This is a favorite day for everyone, even if we didn’t have that special feast day. We hit three Rosary sites today, the Transfiguration, Cana and the Annunciation Church.

Join us at these three sites and for an amazing dinner in Nazareth overlooking the old city and the church all lit up.

Video below.

Father Z see the op as a must read.

This is part of Verbum Catholic Bible Software. I encourage every Catholic to get this Catholic and Bible Study software. Visit Special offer from our Verbum partners. Use Promo Code STEVERAY10 for a 10% discount.


Continued below.

Nicole Neily, the founder of Parents Defending Education, told the committee her office worked with parents who became worried about speaking against their school boards following the memo.

House Republicans held a hearing Thursday featuring testimony from parents who said their decision to speak up at school board meetings resulted in a Department of Justice effort to intimidate and silence them.

The witnesses offered their testimony at the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government’s first hearing on “Free Speech: The Biden Administration’s Chilling of Parents’ Fundamental Rights.”

Much of the discussion surrounded the DOJ’s October 2021 memorandum that Attorney General Merrick Garland issued to address an alleged “spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence at school board meetings.”

The memo called for federal intervention and tasked the FBI with investigating parents to “facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats” against education officials.

Continued below.

The Stations of the Cross were very meaningful to the foundress of EWTN.

It is tradition for Catholics around the world to participate in the Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent. However, for EWTN foundress Mother Angelica, it was a daily devotion.

EWTN chaplain Father Joseph Mary Wolfe collected Mother Angelica’s spiritual guidance that she shared with him into a book titled Mother Angelica’s The Way of the Cross, published by EWTN Publishing.

In an interview with EWTN News Nightly, Father Wolfe discussed the inspiration behind the book, which features actual pictures of the stations then-Rita Rizzo (Mother Angelica’s given name) prayed in front of in her hometown of Canton, Ohio, before entering the monastery.

It was during a visit to St. Anthony’s Church, the church where Rizzo prayed the Stations of the Cross as a teenager in Canton, that Father Wolfe thought it “would be wonderful if we could take these actual stations that she prayed before and make them available to people.”

Continued below.

Each to his own as far as I'm concerned. If someone wants to have a tonsure style haircut, then that's up to them.

I suppose it reminds me of my old Presbyterian pastor way back (whom I often quote). He nearly always wore his clerical garb, black shirt, black shirt and clerical collar, no matter how hot the day (and it gets hot in Brisbane for several months of the year). To get some relief from the heat, he might have gone as far as undoing the top button of his shirt!

I remember someone asked him once why he did so. He replied "so people know what I stand for".

There was a Brethren Church down the road. I didn't see them much, but when I did they were always conservatively dressed, the men wore hats and the women had their heads covered.

A small number of ladies in our parish wear a mantilla.

The outward signs of devotion don't appeal much to me I'm afraid, although I've almost got a Roman tonsure from natural causes as outlined in my previous post! I find it far more difficult to reform my inward attitude.

I will gladly pray for alfie and you.

SavedByGrace3 said:

Paul's concern about word immaturity are justified.
Hebrews 5:10-14 KJV 10. Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Click to expand...

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us remain steadfast in the faith. Heb 4:14

For He who promised is faithful. Let us consider how to ignite the spark to greater love and to righteous deeds, not giving up assembling together, as some [who are unskilful in the word of righteousness] are in the habit of doing; (Heb 10:23-25)

SavedByGrace3 said:

14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Interesting parallel.

Click to expand...

When He comes and knocks, blessed are they that welcome Him. (Luke 12:36-38)
I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Rev 3:20

LoricaLady said:

India​

Pray for Indrakla and her family in Uttar Pradesh, India. They have suffered assaults and threats since Indrakla and five others were arrested at her son’s birthday party on false accusations of forced conversion.

Libya​

Evangelistic work in Libya is strictly opposed. Pray that the word of God will spread through this nation and revive a thirsty land.

Libya​

The death sentence for apostasy is based on a law rescinded by the current Parliament based in Tobruk, yet courts can choose which laws apply in their jurisdiction. Pray that apostasy will be decriminalised across Libya.

Libya​

Pray for a believer with a Muslim background who was recently sentenced to death for apostasy by an appeals court in western Libya. He has refused to deny Christ.

Libya​

Ask God to sustain believers in war-torn Libya, who cannot practise their faith openly. Pray that they will know His peace that transcends all understanding.

Uganda​

Pray for Shadia Namuzungu from Kibuku district, Uganda, who was attacked two days after she put her faith in Christ. She had been healed of a chronic stomach problem. Her crops and home were also damaged.

Uganda​

On Mother’s Day, let’s remember mothers worldwide who have chosen Christ over a comfortable life for their children. Ask God to remind them he keeps ‘his covenant of love to a thousand generations’ (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Click to expand...

More of His comfort to Christians..in India, Libya & Uganda..
- in the midst of persecution.

Michie said:

We cannot prevent and counter the culture of hatred and, instead promote a culture of love and friendship, without a sound education for future generations in all the spaces where they are formed: in the family, at school, in places of worship, and on social media.

A world where justice, peace, fraternity and prosperity reign pleases the Almighty and brings joy, calling, therefore, our sincere and shared engagement.

Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, may you enjoy the Almighty’s abundant blessings during Ramadan and celebrate ‘Id al-Fitr in the joy resulting from fidelity and love for the Almighty and all persons you live with or meet.

Click to expand...

Suggestions to take to prayer:
Concerning Ecumenism among our "separated brothers and sisters in Christ":

Mat 10:34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
Mat 10:36 and a man's foes will be those of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Mat 10:38 and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

Click to expand...

Concerning syncretism among religions of the world:

Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love,
Eph 4:3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call,
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Click to expand...

Concerning false teachers in the Church:

Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality.
Rev 2:15 So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Rev 2:16 Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it.'

Click to expand...

Video Talk

Matthew 10:24-33 ESV


If we are true followers of Jesus Christ, then we are his disciples. And if we are not following him with our lives, but if we are still walking in sin, then we don’t even know him. We are not in fellowship with him. So we can’t be in Christ and not ever follow the Lord in obedience. This is not saying we will never sin again or that we couldn’t fall away and need to be brought back to repentance, but if we never died with Christ to sin, and if we never walked in obedience to his commands, then we did/do not know him.

So, if we are in Christ by God-given faith in Jesus Christ then we are his disciples. And if we are his disciples then we are his followers. And if we are truly following him in obedience to his ways, and if we are sharing the gospel of our salvation (the whole counsel of God), then just as Jesus’ enemies accused him of being of Satan, our enemies will accuse us of wrongdoing, too. But we are not to fear them or what they might do to us or say to us or about us, even when they treat us like Jesus Christ was treated.

For all that is now hidden, although it is not hidden from God, is going to be revealed one day. So whatever the Lord tells us to say, we are to say. And he tells us these things through his written Word and through the witness of the Holy Spirit living within us. But we must test the spirits to see if they are of God, for a lot of people are claiming to be speaking from the Holy Spirit who are speaking words of blasphemy against our Lord. So make certain you are hearing of the Spirit of God and not from other spirits.

So, just know that if Jesus Christ is truly your Lord and Master, and if you are following him in obedience to his commands, in truth and in righteousness, that his enemies will be your enemies. And they may be others professing faith in Jesus Christ, too, but who are still walking in sin and by the flesh and not in holiness and in righteousness, by the Spirit. And so they may resent your walk of faith or find it offensive to them because they are still walking in sin. So have no fear of them. Keep obeying Jesus!

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; Jn 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Jn 17:14; Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13]

Login to view embedded media Caution: This link may contain ads

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

Login to view embedded media

RileyG said:

How diverse is Christianity in India?

Click to expand...

Very, because you have the ancient church in Kerala established by the Apostle Thomas who was martyred there in 53 AD, which contains some endogenous members of purely Jewish descent who survived a shipwreck (as there was a Jewish community in Kerala, the Kochin Jews, until the 20th century when nearly all emigrated to Israel, although their main Paradesi Synagogue in Kerala is preserved, but seldom has a minyan), and other members descended from those who converted from classical-era Hinduism or Judaism, and then you have churches that it set up missions to establish, such as the recently restarted Western Rite church in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and then there are the Catholic Indians converted from indigenous faiths by the French and Portuguese, and the Protestant Indians, who belong mostly to the Church of South India, the Church of North India and the Church of Pakistan, which resulted from merging most of the missionary denominations who flourished during the British Raj, although these Uniting Churches have a somewhat Indian-incultured Anglican feeling to them and inherited membership in the Anglican Communion.

I was surprised and disappointed that the Church of England priest in his epic series Around the World in 80 Faiths during his sixth episode did not bother to visit at least one of the ancient St. Thomas Christian churches in Kerala. After all, he had time to visit some extremely obscure Hindu sects including one sect of fire-walkers, the Nath, who I have found next to no information about online, so it could literally be a sect as small as 30-40 guys who walk on burning coals, which is not a supernatural feat but a magic trick.

GDL said:

I don't recall you defining what you mean by "general principle" even when I brought out a definition from an English dictionary that says a principle can be a comprehensive and fundamental law.

Click to expand...

The definition in the dictionary you probably used is broader, depending on the context:
- a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption
- a rule or code of conduct
- the laws or facts of nature underlying the working of an artificial device
- a primary source : ORIGIN
- an underlying faculty or endowment
- an ingredient (such as a chemical) that exhibits or imparts a characteristic quality
- a divine principle : GOD

I see principles as underlying, fundamental truths or ideas. We can build values, laws or commandments upon them. But these are subjective and temporary (changing with the society).

GDL said:

I see no reason to change the Biblical language of Law to principle.

Click to expand...

Systems of laws and commandments in the biblical, legal or political sense are not principles, they should be based upon good principles, however.

For example, the Mosaic Law contained some commandments based upon general moral principles that continue to be valid, though the Mosaic Law as a system does not apply to our current society, because it was meant specifically only for the ancient Israel till Christ will come.