41Qatar​

Christians in Qatar are either workers from non-Muslim countries, or people from Muslim backgrounds – and the two rarely interact. There are many migrant workers in Qatar who are allowed to practise the Christian faith – as long as they stick to Qatar’s rules. There is an official religious complex outside the capital, Doha, where a select number of churches have been allowed to meet. Qatari citizens aren’t allowed to enter, and migrant Christians must not speak about Christianity to Muslims. If they do, they may be arrested or deported.
Qataris and migrants from Muslim families who have faith in Jesus can’t openly practise Christianity and can face discrimination, harassment and police monitoring. Changing one’s faith from Islam is not officially recognised, which can cause legal problems around marriage and property ownership.
Qatar is increasingly using advanced technology to monitor both citizens and immigrants. This has caused Christians in Qatar to become increasingly careful about their activities. There are few reports of Christians being physically harmed for their faith, because believers from Muslim backgrounds keep their faith secret.

Meet Nadia​

“The risks are very real not just for the individual but also the extended family who are shamed by association. It’s very challenging to find a church and other believers. There’s a lot of fear and mistrust. You could be talking to someone who’s not a believer but is just pretending.”
Nadia (name changed), Arabian Peninsula

What does Open Doors do to help?​

Open Doors supports the Body of Christ on the Arabian Peninsula by organising prayer, distributing Scripture resources, and training believers and pastors.

Please pray​

• Thank God that so many migrant Christians in Qatar can worship Him in freedom.
• Pray that native Qataris will be permitted to convert from Islam without repercussion.
• Pray for protection for nat

Who are the enemies of those of us who have put our hope, faith, and trust in Jesus Christ to be our Lord (Owner-Master) and Savior (deliverer from sin)? Well, our main enemy is Satan (the devil) and his demons. But we also have human opposition from others who disagree with us or who despise us because of who we are and what we do or what we speak. Some (or most) of our opposition may come from others who profess faith in Jesus Christ, who do not believe what we do, or it may come from the world at large.

We live in a day and age, at least here in the USA, we do, where the gospel of our salvation has been so altered and diluted that it barely resembles the gospel taught by Jesus Christ and by his New Testament apostles, taught in the correct biblical context. So many have now turned faith in Jesus Christ into lip service only, with no requirements for dying to sin and obeying God, in practice. Or if they teach biblical repentance (a change of mind and heart and behavior) and obedience, many are making these optional, not required.

So, if you are a genuine follower of Jesus Christ whose life is surrendered to the Lord, to doing his will and purpose for your life, you may be assailed (attacked, reviled, berated) for your testimony for Jesus Christ and for his gospel message. Some of you may even face death because of your faith, and because you express your faith openly. Or you may face death threats because of your stand on the truth of God’s Word, and because you will not bow to human pressure to believe the lies of the enemy of our souls.

And all this is an absolute reality in our day and time because so many people are opposed to Jesus Christ and to his gospel message, even among the many who give verbal confessions of faith in the Lord Jesus.

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

But this is not what is being taught as the gospel message here in the USA by the majority. Some people, like Max Lucado, for example, have diluted the gospel message to a mere acknowledgement of Jesus Christ and who he was/is, and to what he did on that cross (in part, but not in whole). And he promises you salvation from sin and eternal life with God guaranteed, regardless of how you live. He sees salvation as “insurance” to cover him and his many sins, with no requirements for death to sin and obeying God.

Max Lucado Insurance Letter:

Cancelled Insurance?

If you read Max Lucado’s insurance letter, please do so prayerfully and with much biblical insight into what he is really saying. For the way he words this may sound good, and it may sound right, but it is not biblical, even though he uses some Scriptures (mostly out of context) to try to prove his theology. Will Jesus forgive us our sins if we ask him? He will if we repent (a change in heart and mind, resulting in a change of behavior), if we die to sin, and if we now obey God and his commands, in practice, by his grace, in his power.

For by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

And we learn in 1 John 1-3 that if we claim that we have fellowship with God, but yet we walk in darkness (sin), we are liars. If we claim that we know God, but we do not obey his commandments, in practice, we are liars. For it is not the one who claims he is “in Christ” who is “in Christ,” but it is the one who has denied self, died with Christ to sin, and who is now walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in practice, and no longer in sin. We have the hope and the promise of eternal life with God in heaven.

Regardless of what Max Lucado and others teach about our salvation, please make sure you are believing what Jesus and his apostles taught in the New Testament, when taught in the full and correct biblical context. For many liars exist who are teaching a false gospel and a false hope of salvation which does not guarantee you salvation from sin and eternal life with God. For if sin is what you still practice, and not obedience to God, you are not in relationship with Jesus Christ, and you will not inherit eternal life with God.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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Don’t Believe The Lies!
An Original Work / October 11, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

God bless Melania for her humanitarian efforts.

I am here to ask you for prayers for myself (as well as family and other friends) but one of my dear friends I’ve met through the internet passed away yesterday (Friday) afternoon. I received word by 9pm EST as she lived in Wales. She visited the US and spent four days with me here in July for a concert. I’m absolutely heartbroken and feel myself slipping into a deep depression. I just want to wake up from this nightmare!

Wow! History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes.

Could those allegations of Dominion Voting fraud be real next time?
And to think poor Rupert ended up paying Fox $787 MILLION for spreading Trump's lies about Dominion last time?
Will Fox spread news of any REPUBLICAN corrupting the Dominion Voting machines?
Yeah - that's going to happen!

Irony. What could possibly go wrong?

​

A model on President Trump’s desk showing a new monument across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial was photographed on Thursdayduring a meeting in the Oval Office with Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb.

The arch bared a resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which was built to commemorate French military victories and those killed in French military service.

According to the AFP news agency, the model was “virtually identical” to a design shared in the ‘Donald Trump for President’ Facebook page in September. The Facebook page suggested the monument could be built to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, which takes place in 2026.

FFRF urges Hernando County (Fla.) to remove Christian nationalist chaplain​

Hernando County is the first school district in Florida to appoint a chaplain under a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024. The district selected Martin, a self-identified member of the “Black Robe Regiment” — a Christian nationalist movement that seeks to mobilize pastors for political engagement. The movement’s founder, William Cook, spoke at the “Jericho March” in Washington, D.C., which occurred the night before the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.

Martin has publicly defended the Jan. 6 rioters, writing: “Truth be told the crime in the capitol that day was the ratification of the theft of the presidency of the United States, but they want you to watch the shiny coin.” He has also written a song, “The Ballad of J6ers,” portraying the insurrection as a “peaceful, patriotic protest.” In addition, Martin has argued that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, has asserted that non-Christians should not be allowed to pray in Congress, and has encouraged parents to pull their children out of public schools.

But that didn't stop him from applying for a job where he could minister to public school children.

Dear friends, I would like to ask for your prayers for Pey Ling, who has been a wonderful support to me during my father’s major kidney operation—helping me cover my work and even buying thoughtful gifts. Please pray that God blesses her abundantly with good health, joy, peace, and His favor in all she does. May He continue to use her to bless others as she has blessed us.

Good morning all,
I’ve been a Christian for nearly 40 years, but like to keep it simple and not get too bogged down with tradition etc…,
I’m seeking some Christian counsel regarding how we accept people in to our church family or should I say not accept?
My belief is welcome one and all, as Jesus would, let him do the working in their lives our job is to love and disciple…..
I am finding fellow church members judging new people, how they look, how they act, are they safe, where are they from? We shouldn’t ask them into groups but vet them so to speak before inviting them to bible studies, online groups, social groups! Who decides how much vetting is enough?
They seem to throw around the words wisdom & discernment to justify that they don’t want someone in our church…..my spirit is struggling with this…. Had anyone else had this with the discernment/wisdom thing?

Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones, a Democrat, is facing growing pressure to drop out of the election race after texts he once sent suggesting a former Virginia House speaker should receive "two bullets to the head” were made public.

Jones later called Coyner to explain his reasoning, a source familiar with the exchange told National Review, telling her that public policy only changes when policymakers feel pain themselves, such as that felt by parents when their children die from gun violence.

Coyner hung up, but Jones continued texting, saying he was just asking questions. Coyner chastised Jones for “hopping [sic] Jennifer Gilbert’s children would die.”

One text said, according to the publication “I mean do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil? And that they’re breeding little fascists? Yes.”

They gave the Nobel Peace prize to SOMEONE ELSE!?
But Trump's the very definition of it!

It goes to ... “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”

And they refused Trump? Can you imagine!?

All Trump has done is:-
* break the law and become America's first convicted felon President,
* defraud New York City of real estate taxes to the tune of nearly half a billion dollars,
* harass and assault women,
* hang out with Jeffrey Epstein and then repeatedly promise to release the Epstein files the moment he got into office,
* and then stubbornly, repeatedly refuse to release the Epstein files the moment he got into office,
* dog whistle to the "Proud boys, stand back and stand by",
* paint every immigrant as being either insane, a criminal, or a rapist,
* inflame racism across the USA with his constant harping on about immigrants - even using the phrase 'poisoning the blood of the nation',
* deny due democratic process in the 2020 election,
* shout this Big Lie so loud and wide and often across the land it incited an attempted insurrection on Jan 06,
* attack free speech and call any critical media article 'fake news',
* demand comedians get banned from their networks,
* reduce access to the Press Room for balanced objective media like Reuters,
* threaten NATO, threaten to let Putin do 'whatever the hxxx he wants',
* largely defund Ukraine trying to defend itself,
* embarrass America and what it stands for with that sulky tantrum with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office,
* completely misread Putin and think their 'bromance' would result in peace,
* but instead he gave the dictator and war-monger the red carpet treatment - which resulted in NOTHING,
* threaten 'vengeance' on political opponents,
* weaponize the DOJ with a tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist at the top & the same for sub-departments like the FBI,
* put an anti-vaxxer in charge of health,
* pull out of any climate agreements,
* lie about climate science and climate scientists - and spread conspiracy theories that result in climate scientists getting death threats,
* threaten to invade Greenland if necessary, absorb Canada, invade the Panama Canal, and generally act like an entitled bully on the world stage,
* whack illegal and vengeful tariffs on any nation he felt was 'unfair' (not understanding that buying cheap products was its own reward),
* appoint Hegseth as head of the military to fire any 'woke' Generals and Admirals who would not swear allegiance to their domestic political agenda,
* fire missiles on Venezuelan boats - whether they knew precisely who was in those boats or not,
* lie about Democrat cities being 'on fire' and 'looking like something from WW2.'
* illegally invade US cities with the National Guard!
* support Israel over the Palestinians for a disproportionately long time, enabling tens of thousands of deaths to occur under his watch,
* threatened to 'abolish' Palestine - as if Trump is the ultimate power in world affairs! He threatened to move ALL Palestinians out of Gaza into neighbouring countries, ignoring that Palestinian Muslims, Christians and Jews had lived peacefully together for 4 Centuries under the Ottoman Empire (1517 to 1917). (It just sounds so racist. Why not just say "They all look the same to me - so 'just' send them all over the place into neighbouring countries!")
* could only think of the Palestinian territory as one of his real estate cons, “the Riviera of the Middle East.” Forget all this international law stuff!
* Sulked as international will bent in sympathy to the Gazans, and said that the UK, France, Canada and Australia were all rewarding terrorists when we recognised Palestine as a state,
* Finally caved in to international will and developed a 20 point ceasefire plan as the images of ethnic cleansing and starving children finally caught his attention. *
* But the 20 point plan is not a durable, long term PEACE plan because it ignores the West Bank where illegal Israeli settlement-occupation and persecution is turning that area into the world's largest concentration camp - holding 3.4 MILLION Palestinians hostage in their own land!

Other than that - he's a great guy! He said he is!

Dominion Voting Systems, the election vendor that was falsely accused of rigging the 2020 election, is being sold and rebranded as Liberty Vote effective immediately.

Scott Leiendecker, the founder of a Missouri-based election technology company who previously served as the Republican director for the St. Louis City Board of Elections, purchased the company this week for an undisclosed sum, according to a press release.

“As of today, Dominion is gone. Liberty Vote assumes full ownership and operational control,” the press release reads.

The company’s new owner laid out four goals, many of which align with the Trump administration, that they argue will restore trust in US elections, the main being a heavy emphasis on using paper ballots.

Paper ballots, cool.

Liberty Vote also plans on ensuring the company is “100% American owned,” including all domestic staffing and software development, the release states.

Eh.

The Liberty Vote announcement also says its actions will be in “compliance with President Trump’s executive order,” signed earlier this year, on election integrity. Parts of that order have already been blocked by a federal judge, and leading election experts have said the order is likely unconstitutional.

Er. I hope it complies with the ultimate court decisions.

The new company says one of its other priorities will be to facilitate third-party auditing of their election systems. Right-wing “election integrity” activists have promoted outside audits, most famously in Arizona after 2020, as a way to hunt for supposed fraud.

Properly vetted competent auditing firms with appropriate access to sensitive election tech, I hope, not Cyber Ninjas or 'Right-wing “election integrity” activists'.

I’ve prayed and not gotten any type of sign or even a feeling on this. I don’t feel love from the church right now. Last Sunday I was told it was my Christian duty to vote Democrat, or I wasn’t honoring Christ (this was a sermon, not a private conversation). I’m a Republican, my cue to leave and never return to that church. I am not the bigot that the extreme left thinks I am. I love and am let down by people in the same breath. I vote Republican because I believe in Capitalism, not because I believe it honors Christ (nor do I think it dishonors him). Don’t get me wrong, I see the need for social safety nets. I am a 100% disabled veteran and if it wasn’t for my Comp & Pen I wouldn’t be able to feed my family, but there is a difference between social safety nets and handouts to everyone (this is Sloth). I have deployed to areas where Communism has destroyed society; it is not self-sustaining. Anyway, I think from a societal perspective the Republican party is better for the economy than the Democratic party. I don’t 100% agree with the Republican party on everything either. Things like Union labor is beneficial not just for maintaining fair wages, but also for protecting the integrity of the trade. Anyway, I digress, my point is I have opinions, and they are mine, and I’m allowed to have them. When politics are brought up Democrats label me as a bigot. I understand why, but I’m not. I see the countless social media posts by Right Wing Christians drunk on pride, beckoning for a war with the Democratic Party, and justifying their anger because they’re “defending their Christian values”, no love in their hearts. I have a daughter who is in the LGBTQ community. While I don’t understand and don’t agree with her lifestyle, I love her. I love her every day. I’m not enabling her lifestyle; I just love her unconditionally. Since when are sinners not allowed in the church? I have sexual sins. I’ve watched porn. I started dating my wife when she was married. She was abandoned and separated but her husband was still alive. I had relations with her prior to marriage. I got her pregnant while she was still married to her ex-husband, I’ve sodomized her, and she isn’t the only woman I’ve had pre-marital relations with. Because my wife was divorced, I didn’t even get married by a Clergyman, but then I was called by God. I repented. Her ex-husband had since passed away, so my wife and I renewed our vows in front of God, and we pray he honors this marriage. I just don’t understand. I love all people. Before God called to me, I found forgiveness in my heart for someone that murdered an ex-girlfriend of mine, and this was before the teachings of the gospel. I joined the Marine Corps to help people. I joined the fire department to help people. My politics have nothing to do with hate. Left extremists hate the right and think we’re all extremists who tote around our AR15s and long for a war with them and want to control the masses through oppression. Right extremists hate the left and think they’re all a violent bunch of radical rebels who want to destabilize the current economic system and take their rights away. And amid all this is the church. Everyone has taken a side. Isn’t there any churches that don’t meddle in politics and just help people find Christ? My wife and I were baptized Protestant so we can’t even receive the sacraments in the Catholic Church. Other denominations are very politically polarized right or left, which I’m not interested in. I don’t believe in predesignation nor do I think the Bible supports it, so there’s that. Other denominations condemn actions that aren’t even supported in the Bible and keep you chained to guilt and fear. Some denominations don’t even notice each other in the pews it’s like being a ghost; others are so cultish you’re not allowed to do anything outside of the church. Tell me, how are you going to help people find Christ without going out into the world. I am always prepared to go down to hell to get someone. I don’t care if it’s a drug house, a strip club, a rave, a casino; when my phone rings and someone needs help, I will go anywhere to get them; it’s in these moments that you sew the seeds of freedom. They may not be ready to love that day, but that seed will grow if someone is willing to put it there and nurture it. I have prayed for a church that loves all. That invites all sinners to come listen. That doesn’t require a membership, that doesn’t make me feel guilty about whatever doctrine they’ve added on to the Bible to make me feel trapped, that doesn’t view someone as hopeless because they see the world differently, that aren’t indifferent about their members or opposite, make you feel guilty or talk poorly of you if you have friends outside of the church. Don’t get me wrong, Jesus is my center, my rock, my everything, but the church is not Christ. Does this place exist on earth, or do I need to wait for the afterlife to find it? I’ve been praying that something leads me to the right church, but I feel more lost now than when I started looking at the beginning of the week. I guess if there’s room in your heart and time in your prayers tonight, I could use some help having my heart reach the heavens. Please lord lead me where I need to be, where you want me to be, this I pray.

The Plague of Frogs!



Interesting times.

I've studied for decades, and read all of the Bible multiple times, continue reading the Bible daily, and now I'm praying in accordance with Mark 11:24, Jesus telling us to 'believe that you have already received it'. Yet though I will to do this, thoughts occur in my brain involuntarily such as,

1. "You're just engaging in wishful thinking."
2. "This probably isn't going to happen."
3. "Your experience and observations of the world are better explained by atheism."
4. "Your petitions haven't been granted because God wants you to be 'Eastern Orthodox', or Mohammedan, or some other religion."

Although I try repudiating these thoughts as demons whispering to me, by recalling Sacred Scripture, by engaging in logcal argument, by prayer for the demons to be banished from me, and continue asking God to give me more faith and unwavering faith, the thoughts continue, and it appears to me I genuinely believe them - that when I die everything will be over, life done - because I am discouraged, downhearted, depressed, sad, rather than excited about being healed soon, rather than be happy that God is bringing about a greater good every moment I'm not healed, rather than be content knowing no matter what happens God will make it right.

What do you think? Is there some way to stop doubting? to be finally convinced the Gospel is true?

Deadly Blast Rips Through Military Explosives Facility in Tennessee

A powerful explosion ripped through a military explosives facility in Tennessee on Friday morning, leaving multiple people dead and missing, officials said. Video from the scene showed damaged vehicles and charred debris scattered around the area.

The Hickman County Sheriff's Office said that there had been an explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems, a military explosives plant.

Accurate Energetic Systems specializes in the development, manufacture, handling and storage of products and explosives for military, aerospace and commercial demolition markets

Trump gets a Qatari jet and a golf course in Qatar; Qatar gets an air base in Idaho.

“Today we’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatar Emiri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho,” Hegseth told reporters. “It’s just another example of our partnership.”

Hegseth said that the facility would host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots.

I want to know if I made a big sin or not. While discussing with my father about the fate of the lost, I told (about all the lost people) or I made my father understand that (I told these words clearly) all the lost people that will be judged are evil people. Is this a sin? I became worried if I made a sin by putting the banner "evil people" on those that will be judged and punished after the last (and general) resurection.

Do you support the Democrats or the Republicans, and why?


Personally, I lean toward the Democrats. I like that they seem to genuinely care about the environment and are willing to take action on issues like climate change and clean energy. It’s frustrating to see how often Republicans downplay or ignore these problems.


I also appreciate that Democrats tend to focus more on helping working people, supporting affordable healthcare, fair wages, and education. They seem to care more about ordinary families than big corporations.


Another big reason for me is how the Republican Party continues to stand by Donald Trump. I think it’s wrong to support someone who has been involved in so many criminal cases and who encourages division and violence. It says a lot about their values as a party.


Anyway, that’s my opinion. What about you?

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 to Maria Corina Machado​

for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 goes to a brave and committed champion of peace – to a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.

Ms Machado has been a key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided – an opposition that found common ground in the demand for free elections and representative government. This is precisely what lies at the heart of democracy: our shared willingness to defend the principles of popular rule, even though we disagree. At a time when democracy is under threat, it is more important than ever to defend this common ground.

Venezuela has evolved from a relatively democratic and prosperous country to a brutal, authoritarian state that is now suffering a humanitarian and economic crisis. Most Venezuelans live in deep poverty, even as the few at the top enrich themselves. The violent machinery of the state is directed against the country’s own citizens. Nearly 8 million people have left the country. The opposition has been systematically suppressed by means of election rigging, legal prosecution and imprisonment.

Ahead of the election of 2024, Ms Machado was the opposition’s presidential candidate, but the regime blocked her candidacy. She then backed the representative of a different party, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, in the election. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers mobilised across political divides. They were trained as election observers to ensure a transparent and fair election. Despite the risk of harassment, arrest and torture, citizens across the country held watch over the polling stations. They made sure the final tallies were documented before the regime could destroy ballots and lie about the outcome.

The efforts of the collective opposition, both before and during the election, were innovative and brave, peaceful and democratic. The opposition received international support when its leaders publicised the vote counts that had been collected from the country’s election districts, showing that the opposition had won by a clear margin. But the regime refused to accept the election result, and clung to power.

--

White House says Nobel Committee places 'politics over peace'​

The White House on Friday criticised the Nobel Prize committee's decision to award the peace prize to a Venezuelan opposition leader instead of U.S. President Donald Trump.

"President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will," White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a post on X.

"The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace."

Last week, I commented on the Apostle Paul’s command to Christian husbands “to love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (Eph. 5:25) in my column, "Doug Wilson's view on Christian marriage is blasphemous."

Numerous readers have requested that I expand commentary on the meaning of that comprehensive apostolic instruction.

God considered the institution of marriage to be so sacred and special that He used it as an analogy to describe His relationship with His Chosen People (Israel) and Christ’s relationship with His Bride (the Church).

As the Apostle Paul noted, Jesus died for the Church, giving Himself as a sacrifice that He might redeem humankind. What higher sacrifice can one make than to give his life for another? Husbands are to give themselves in service to their wives, including, if necessary, the sacrifice of their lives.

The husband is to “so love his wife even as himself” (Eph. 5:33). The Apostle Paul amplified these instructions using the word agape, which is morally the highest form of love, in that it is “an in spite of kind of love” that endures all and forgives all. Just as Jesus loved each of us while we were still sinners in rebellion against Him (For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life,” Rom. 5:10).

In fact, agape love is identified as a fruit of the Holy Spirit in one’s life (Galatians 5:22). It is not “natural” to fallen man to love with agape love. Only the redeemed who have the Holy Spirit abiding in them as a consequence of the new birth have the capacity for the agape love with which Christian husbands are commanded to love their wives.

Continued below.

LITTLETON, Colo. — The former CEO of Intel exhorted an audience of Christians earlier this week to harness the burgeoning potential of AI technology, which he hopes can become "a force for good in this era."

"I believe deeply that technology is neutral," said Pat Gelsinger, who led Intel from 2021 to 2024 and now serves as executive chair and head of technology at Gloo, a technology platform that connects various organizations within the faith ecosystem.

“It's neither good nor bad," Gelsinger said of AI during his keynote address to hundreds at "AI for Humanity: Navigating Ethics and Morality for a Flourishing Future," which The Christian Post and Gloo hosted Tuesday at Colorado Christian University.

"It's how we shape it, how we use it, how we form it," he said. "And we, as the Christian community, we as believers, will we be shaping technology as a force for good? Are we going to show up to be bending the arc of technology for good?"

'We must be engaged'

Continued below.

Former Intel CEO urges Christians to harness AI: 'Another Gutenberg moment'

Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger exhorted an audience of Christians earlier this week to engage actively with burgeoning AI technology, which he hopes can become a force for good in this era

www.christianpost.com

The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. What is it all about?

Bible References to read: Leviticus 23:34-36; Numbers 29:35; Deuteronomy 16:13; John 7:37-38


In the Bible, God spoke about keeping several celebrations, called "Moedim" or "appointed times," where His people could meet with Him and celebrate fellowship with Him. Many might say, "Well, this was under the Law, we are not under the law anymore." so, why should we celebrate these? Well, each and every festival is a "shadow that points to Messiah Yeshua/Jesus but from a Hebraic perspective. Whether or not a person chooses to celebrate is a personal decision, but I would like to tell you what this festival is about, even if it is for the sake of knowing.

We are in the months of the High Holy Days. The Hebrew month of "Elul" goes from August to September. It is considered a "Time of Repentance and soul-searching. A time to "Turn back to God" (Teshuvah) and realize where we have gone astray, where we have wandered off the straight and narrow path, and get back on the "right path."

The first of the High Holy Days (Fall Feasts) is "Yom Teruah" or "Rosh HaShannah." It is the time for Shofar blowing, announcing a new calendar year from the time of creation up to the present. The next sacred day, 10 days later, is "Yom Kippur." A day of fasting and soul searching. According to tradition, it is the day that God's books of judgment are closed, and our fates are sealed. We know, however, that God's grace and mercy extend 24 -7, 365 days a year. The last of the High Holy Days is now. The Feast of Tabernacles, or "Sukkot. This year, it started on Oct 7th, and continues for 8 days and ends on Oct 14. The "8th" day is special, as Yeshua was there on the 8th day and said,

"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" John 7:38

This is a time for joy and happiness; we are commanded to rejoice during these 8 days. We have reason to rejoice since you are alive and well, you have food on the table, and you have Spiritual food, which is the Word of God. Above all, we have salvation. Eternal life with God.

The festival time is also known as "Zeman HaSimchateinu" (Time of rejoicing) and also "Hag HaSif" (Harvest Festival) when the last crops are harvested, like the grapes, pomegranates, olives, dates, etc. It is believed that the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving, thinking of Sukkot. It lasted 3 days, and they celebrated a bountiful harvest with the help of the Wampanoag Native American Tribe.

It is also customary to wave the "LuLav," which consists of an "Etrog" (similar to a lemon), a "Palm frond" (branch of the palm tree)
"Hadas" or "Myrtle branches with leaves, and "Aravah," which are "willow branches with leaves."

These are symbolic as they represent the "heart" (the etrog or lemon), the "eyes" (myrtle leaves, since they are shaped like eyes) "the mouth" (Aravah, or willow leaves, since they are shaped like a mouth), and "our backbone" (the palm frond, or the young shoot) since it is straight.

The message here is that our faith must be strong and straight like our backbone, and that our eyes and insight, vision, always are concentrated on God and his Word, and that from our mouths will only proceed wholesome and positive words and blessings.

There is the libation service, when the priests brought forth water from the Pool of Siloam and poured it out on the altar at the Temple, while blood from an animal sacrifice was also poured out on the altar. The blood and the water would come together and mix.

This reminds us of the death of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus when the Roman soldier pierced the side of Yeshua with the spear and out came "blood and water," proving that he was indeed dead. Yet we all know that he rose from the dead on the third day. This is celebrated today by pouring out grape juice with water from two separate containers, and they mix.

Remember that we ourselves are "living tabernacles," our bodies encase our spirit and soul. Our "tabernacles" are wearing down and someday will return to the ground, yet will be resurrected someday in the near future, as incorruptible bodies. We await that blessed day.

Sukkot also celebrates the coming of Yeshua to dwell among mankind for 30-some years. God as man on Earth. God came to "Tabernacle" among men. The first time He came in fire and smoke on Mt. Sinai, then He came to dwell in the Mishkan (The Tabernacle in the desert) and was with the Children of Israel for 40 years. Then He moved to the Temple. Then He came to Earth as a baby in Bethlehem, "Beit-Lechem" (The House of Bread). It is only fitting that the "Bread of Life" be born in the "House of Bread." Then He came back to Earth after the resurrection as the Holy Spirit on Shavuot or Pentecost. And He is STILL HERE WITH US.

If you want to find out more about Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles, you can go to the "Hebrew 4 Christians.com" website and look for "Holidays" and then scroll down to "Fall Holidays" and find "Sukkot" or "Feast of Tabernacles"

This is also the time when we start reading the Bible from the beginning again, from Genesis 1:1. The Bible is a never-ending study of God's wisdom for all of us.

Please keep me in prayer as it is time to return to the USA (to Miami, FL) for 3 weeks to spend time with family. I will write again in the first week of November.

Shalom

Ben Avraham