• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

Christians can 'love all people' and support 'Alligator Alcatraz,' Evangelical group says

Detention center in Florida has drawn protests over plans to house up to 5,000 illegal immigrants

The newly-opened Florida detention facility housing illegal immigrants known as “Alligator Alcatraz” has drawn both praise and protest.

President Donald Trump visited the detention center in the Florida Everglades on Tuesday, along with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials for a tour that officials hoped could spur other states to open similar facilities.

Built by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in just a matter of days, “Alligator Alcatraz” — named for its surrounding swamps teeming with alligators and pythons — received its first detainees this week, according to The Associated Press.

Continued below.
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Pray The Holy Spirit comforts & heals all those who are affected by the floods in Central Texas, USA, & pray for first responders who are helping

Pray The Holy Spirit comforts & heals all those who are affected by the floods in Central Texas, USA, & pray for first responders who are helping:

Christian girl kidnapped at gunpoint from her home, held captive for 2 years escapes

Member of Salvation Army church says she was repeatedly raped, beaten with an iron rod

LAHORE, Pakistan — A Christian girl who managed to escape the home of a Muslim man who kidnapped her said he forcibly converted her to Islam and repeatedly sexually assaulted her as his “wife.”

Muskan Liaqat was 14 years old when she was kidnapped at gunpoint from her home in Muridke, Sheikhupura District, by Muhammad Adnan and his father, Muhammad Arif, the night of May 24, 2023, as her family slept, she said.

“They took me to their home, where they tortured me and forcibly took my thumb impressions on some papers — I was later told that I had become a Muslim and Adnan was my husband,” Muskan told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

Continued below.

Christians join Jewish, Hindu plaintiffs in Texas lawsuit against Ten Commandments in schools

Austin pastor claims Senate Bill 10 is 'un-American and un-Baptist'

A newly-passed Texas law that requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms is facing a second interfaith legal challenge.

A lawsuit filed by a coalition of 16 families spanning Jewish, Christian, Unitarian Universalist, Hindu and nonreligious backgrounds argues that Senate Bill 10 violates the First Amendment’s guarantees of church-state separation and the free exercise of religion. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, with legal support from the ACLU of Texas, the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Wisconsin-based atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Signed into law last month, SB 10 requires schools to post the Ten Commandments, measuring at least 16-by-20 inches in a legible typeface, in a “conspicuous place” in every classroom.

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Alas for the Proud

Isaiah 28:1 & 3-4 Alas for the proud peoples of Ephraim, those fading flowers, drunk with prosperity. They will fall like ripe fruit and be trampled down. Hab. 3:12
Ephraim represents the British peoples, Genesis 48:17-19, with their faded empire, but still a proud and prosperous commonwealth of nations. Deuteronomy 33:17

Isaiah 28:2 & 5-6 The Lord has control of a powerful force, [Deuteronomy 32:22] it will beat down violently upon the earth, as a sweeping storm and a destroying tempest. On that Day, the Lord will be an adornment for the remnant of His people and will give a spirit of justice to those who judge and of valour to those who stand fast at the gate.
This passage is paralleled by Isaiah 30:25b-30...On the Day of massacre, when fortresses fall, the sun will shine seven times stronger, like seven days in one. On that Day, the Lord will protect and save His people. See: the Lord comes from afar, His anger blazing and His doom heavy, as His arm descends in devastating fire. He sieves out the nations for destruction. But for My people, there will be songs and gladness of heart as they march to the mountains of Israel.

The Lords Day of vengeance and wrath by a CME sunstrike is the next prophesied event. Psalms 11:4-6 and Habakkuk 3:4 describe accurately how the Lord will not be seen and this terrible judgement will be thought of as a natural event, so secular people can still choose whether they will honour God, or deny Him. Isaiah 66:15-16, Isaiah 6:10
All those faithful Christians who have stood firm in their trust in God’s protection and who called out to Him during that Day of worldwide devastation, Joel 3:32, Acts 2:21, will be saved and will be shown the way to the cleansed and regenerated holy Land. Psalms 107, Isaiah 35:1-10, Isaiah 66:18-21, Jeremiah 31:1-40, Ezekiel 34:11-16 & 36:8-38

Isaiah 28:7-8 These people also have lost their way and wander down strange paths, they are befuddled as with strong drink, they stumble in the Law. Both priests and prophets are incoherent, sickness and filth are everywhere. Isaiah 56:9-12

Today, all Israel, now the Christian peoples and Judah have gone astray, the rabbi’s and priests are incompetent and fail to teach all the truths as given to us in the Bible.

Isaiah 28:9-13 Who is there that can be taught, who makes sense of what they hear? People are like children, newly weaned, for the Word is precept upon precept, a little here, a little there. So now, with a foreign tongue, the Lord will address this people, a people that would not listen, a people to whom He once said: This is true rest, your place of repose. Therefore to them the Word has become meaningless, mere noise to them and they fall and are injured.
Ref: REB, NIV, KJV. Abridged.

People today have difficulty clearly discerning the Prophetic Word. One day, with a foreign tongue, that is: not in Hebrew, the Lord will speak to His people: all who acknowledge Him and keep the Commandments. All the true Christians, who will pay heed, not like those peoples who did not listen and obey their God, so long ago. Zephaniah 3:9 Note: this happens AFTER Zephaniah 3:8, the terrible Day of wrath.

But those who do not make an effort to study the prophesies and understand the truth of God’s plan for our future, will be taken unawares and may experience some disadvantage.

Tragedy at Rattlesnake Falls: Opus Dei Mourns the Drowning of Three of Its Members

‘They were the most normal people in the world. And yet, the way they died, was two of them tried to save the life of the other one. It was heroic. And yet for them that was normal.’

(L-R) Matt Schoenecker, Valentino Creus, and Matt Anthony tragically died during a hiking trip in California on June 18, 2025.
(L-R) Matt Schoenecker, Valentino Creus, and Matt Anthony tragically died during a hiking trip in California on June 18, 2025. (photo: Courtesy photo / Opus Dei )


The hikers could just barely hear Val Creus’ cries of distress over the roar of Rattlesnake Falls.

Moments before, the 59-year-old had jumped off a ledge near the scenic cascade in the northern California wilderness for a refreshing plunge.

Now, somewhere in the frigid water 20 feet below them, he was in trouble.

Matt Schoenecker didn’t hesitate. An avid biker and climber who also was a skilled high-platform diver, the 50-year-old leader of the outdoor excursion raced to the same ledge and dove in after Creus. Then another member of the group, Matt Anthony, 44, did the same.

Tragically, all three men — who were well-known members of the Opus Dei organization — lost their lives that afternoon.

The triple-drowning on June 18 made national news. But friends of the much-loved men are seeing more than just a worldly tragedy. Some are calling their deaths a life-changing event for them with a deeply religious dimension.

Continued below.

Ivan Panin and Numerical Implications: Genesis, Literal Vs Symbolic

So for this, the name came up and I decided to just ask opinions on what everyone thinks the findings of Ivan Panin (Biblical Numerologist / Biblical Numerical Patterns / Heptadic Code / Pi and Euler's Number) convey about the Genesis text.

I considered adding a reference here to review, but decided to let everyone do their own homework to encourage sharing what they found, if they find goodies.

No, I'm not intending to convert anyone to believing in a literal interpretation, but rather am just sharing the information and am curious as to other's perceptions on it.

Mostly I'm just curious how prolific this knowledge is and its impact and what people think about Genesis in light of its validation of the text as inspired and accurate.

What think ye...

Man Has Daughter Give Back Gospel Tract

Been a while posting anything with Evangelism, but I was out this month sharing Jesus at some pride events, and this one hit me hard... This young gal was very nice and took a Gospel tract but the dad stepped in and made her give it back. Any thoughts on how to reach the kids? I did have a sign as well. Praying she'll see the truth even though her dad is trying to stop it.

Human reading bible does not equal God speaking

In the three temptations of Christ in the desert, the devil quoted scripture and Jesus responded with scripture .

Since in this case of the devil quoting scripture did not upgrade him to "God" - the same applies to humans.

As the scripture says about itself, it is useful - However, reading it does not make them God.

Commandments of man or the commandments of God

This thread is to discuss the commandments of man versus the commandments of God. This thread is not meant to be a personal attack on anyone as there are Christians in all churches living up to the light they have and this discussion is about institutions, not individuals.

In Daniel it was prophesied that a government would change God's times and laws

Dan 7:25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

There is only one law that is both a time (every seventh day Sabbath Exo 20:10) and is a law (4th commandment Exo 20:8-11) and it was changed not by God.


Do we see this in history?

Yes, the Catholic church takes credit for this change

Question: Which is the Sabbath day?
Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.
—Rev. Peter Geiermann C.SS.R., The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50

Q. Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept?
A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; —she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.
—Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism; New York in 1857, page 174

The change happened a long time ago in the council of Laodicea in 364 AD

The Seven Ecumenical Councils — Philip Schaff
Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord's Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ.

This is very similar to the decree that went out to Daniel and his three friends that went against one of God's commandments - God told us to rest on the seventh day, this is a decree to work on God's holy Sabbath, the opposite of what God commanded.

Pope Leo ratified the Council of Laodicea at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD

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I know a national Sunday law has been in the works for a while and Trump has surrounded himself with people who want to tear down the separation of church and state and is it a coincidence the new pope choose to be called pope Leo- I do not think so, I believe prophecy is fulfilling before our eyes.

God's Ten Commandments was written personally by God and spoken by God the Creator of everything and He promised He would not alter the words of His covenant Exo 34:28 Psa 89:34 not a jot or tittle Mat 5:18 it is His own personal Testimony. Exo 31:18 Who could possibly claim they have more Authority than God Himself?

The pope claims to be the vicar of Christ on earth, but Jesus said:

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
And He is the only Mediator needed
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

He also said His kingdom is not of this world

John 18:38 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, My attendants would fight that I might not be betrayed to the Jews. But now My kingdom is not from here."

And there is much talk about the antichrist in the last days. The word antichrist also means in place of Christ.

Only God can forgive our sins because His blood is what paid the penalty of our sins but the Catholic church teaches they can forgive sins

The Roman Catholic church teaches they are above God's Word and above the Testimony of God by changing God's Law

Deny the authority of the Church and you have no adequate or reasonable explanation or justification for the substitution of Sunday for Saturday in the Third - Protestant Fourth - Commandment of God... The Church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact.'
—Catholic Record, September 1, 1923.

God tells us His Word is a light to our path

Psa 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

The Catholic church teaches tradition, not God's Word is what we are to follow

Tradition, not Scripture, is the rock on which the church of Jesus Christ is built.
—Adrien Nampon, Catholic Doctrine as Defined by the Council of Trent, p. 157

God said no one can modify His Word
Deu 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Pro 30:6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

The Catholic church teaches they can modify it

The Pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify, explain, or interpret even divine law". The pope can modify divine law, since his power is not of man, but of God, and he acts a vicegerent of God upon earth
—Lucius Ferraris, Prompta Bibliotheca, art. Papa, II, Vol. VI, p. 29.


In the end we will be in two groups, those who have the mark of the beast and those who are sealed by God. The Sabbath contains God's seal.

A seal, as illustrated in Scripture, authenticates authority and ownership. In the book of Esther, King Ahasuerus’s seal—comprising his name, title, and territory—validated his decrees, rendering them irrevocable (Esther 8:8-10).
Similarly, God’s seal in Scripture carries His divine authority. The fourth commandment, embedded in the Decalogue, uniquely contains all three elements of a legal seal:
1. Name: “The Lord your God” (Exodus 20:10).
2. Title: “Maker” or Creator (Exodus 20:11).
3. Territory: “Heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:11) .
This alignment identifies the Sabbath commandment as God’s seal, authenticating His law and sovereignty. Unlike other commandments, the Sabbath explicitly declares His creatorship, making it the “signature of the Omnipotent” .

The Catholic church claims the change in the Sabbath is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority essentially over God's authority since they changed God's commandments when He promised He would not Psa 89:34 Mat 5:18

Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.
—C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath, November 11, 1895.

Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

Compared to the antidote which is in the next verse

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Is this what we were warned about in Revelation? Where is the commandment to keep Sunday holy- where did God sanctify Sunday? He didn't, it is a man-made tradition leading people away from being faithful to God's commandments.

We are told whoever we obey is who we serve. Ron 6:16

Rome says this:

It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church.
—Priest Brady, in an address, reported in the Elizabeth, NJ ‘News’ on March 18, 1903.

God said:

Exo 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

It comes down to our test of loyalty and who we are going to obey. Shall we obey God the Creator of everyone and the only way we are saved, or follow what has been handed down to us over the centuries, the commandments of man.

Jesus answered this question, but will we listen to Him? Mat 15:3-14 Mark 7:7-13

Mar 7:7 AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.'

Mat 15:3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO CURSES FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH.'
Mat 15:5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"—
Mat 15:6 then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
Mat 15:7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
Mat 15:8 'THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.
Mat 15:9 AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.' "

Open Doors Highlights July- August 2025

1. Our brothers and sisters in Christ in Myanmar have been affected by an earthquake, they face this challenge on top of severe persecution- it is #13 on the Open Doors World Watchlist.

2. We learn of Yasin a Christian in an undisclosed Middle Eastern/ North African country. He risked losing his wife and daughter but they saw the change in him.

Yasin has been violently attacked by his brother several times but since, his wife and daughter have also come to Christ.

He has had to close his business and work as a sheperd .

He ofcourse wanted to leave his village but each time God convicted him to stay. He has seen two of his persecutors now attend church!

3. A celebration of Open Doors smuggling Bibles for 70 years- we hear of a modern Bible smuggler Daniel... who escaped being caught.. with humour!

Daniel always knew a trick, the airport scanner was too small for his box and customs always just waved him through... until there was an upgrade.

The officer demanded Daniel to put the box on the scanner, the books were now visible on the machine. The customs officer got a large knife to inspect but the knife almost hit Daniel, he goofed around pretending to be hurt, the guards laughed and liked him so much they waved him through.

The ways God works......

4. Khada from Afghanistan made the bold move under the Taliban government to share her faith with her family.. and they believed on Christ!

Although from a different culture and a different view and perspective on life, they experience the love and freedom of God we do!

5. Somayeh from Iran went to church to challenge everything she heard but God had other plans.

At the church service she felt the overwhelming presence of God and when she walked out, she felt like a bird released from a cage.

Her violent, abusive husband discovered her faith, tore up her Bible, but in the middle of the tears she heard God say "Your name is written in the book of life".

Ofcourse her abusive husband deliberately moved her and their daughter to a new location so she would have no contact with her family in Christ.

In the middle of crying to God and asking why this happened to her, she felt God say "I want to build a church here"

The church grew to more than 30 members but one day she recieved a message from the Iranian intelligence authorities saying "We will see you soon"

She fled the Country with her daughter but she is now able to attend a Persian speaking church.

END

In my opinion Somayeh's story especially shows us the value of fellowship- we can only imagine Somayeh treasuring the memories of her Iranian Church family, worshipping God under the Iranian night sky in those secret houses, the sounds of joy, laughter and worship, she even risked being caught to experience it- but some in the West refuse this safe experience (safe for us) and decide to follow a 'lone wolf' Christian walk which always ends in disaster.

Do you care for your persecuted Church family as your own family? If not you may need to read John and 1 John again...

What is the "pleasure" we can *take* in everything???

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)

What is this "pleasure" which we also can enjoy, no matter what we are going through?

And can we have this while being concerned only about our own selves??

How Does Dismantling LBJ's Great Society Make America Great Again? (Ans. It doesn't.)

There isn't a person around us who has not benefited significantly from the programs instituted by Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960's and passed at great personal cost.

These programs: Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, Medicare, Medicaid, Headstart, Higher Education Act (Pell Grants, student loans), Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Immigration Act of 1965.

The Immigration Act eliminated quotas favoring Europeans.

Even the most conservative among you have been affected by these laws.

My grandfather died when I was 8 years old. He suffered a stroke and spent several weeks in a hospital for the destitute in East Meadow, NY. I'm sure that most states didn't even have a hospital like this for the poor. Seniors had no medical insurance at all.

Have your grandparents needed nursing home care? Thank LBJ. Did you need a student loan or Pell grant to advance your education? Thank LBJ. Did you or your parents come here from a country outside of Europe? Thank LBJ.

Before you join the Great Society wrecking crew, think about your life, your parents' lives, your grandparents' lives. Think about your friends' lives. Think about how these programs have improved our lives--or even saved them.

Thank you, LBJ. (Yes, you made mistakes in Vietnam but you changed our country for good.)

When his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad with exceeding joy...

Peace in Christ.

All that are in the “graves”….the graves of the man-based churches….shall hear His voice. We shall hear Him speaking to us from heaven in the Spirit of Truth.

Joh 5:28-30 KJV

(28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

They that will do good will come forth from them…from the “graves” of the man-based churches.

They will do good towards what they hear Him saying in the Spirit of Truth. The Son of God comes to give us an understanding so that we know Him who is true. He opens up the Scriptures to our understanding.

Others will not come forth from their “graves.” They will remain in them and will behave badly towards what they hear Him saying. They will speak evil words in their unbelief. They will not show love towards those brothers whom He sends out to speak His words of life and spirit….the words of an age-lasting life…to them.

(29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

As hears our responses towards His voice, He judges.

(30) I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

For by our words (in response to the hearing of His voice) shall we be judged in the Day of Judgment.

Mat 12:35-37 KJV
(35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
(36) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

(37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

For this is how the children of God are manifest….and the children of the devil: on how they will respond (doing righteousness or not….loving their brother or not).

1Jn 3:10 KJV
(10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

The children of the devil will “remain among the graves and lodge in the monuments.” They will savor the things of men….their man-based churches….and not the things of God. They will refuse to come out from among the graves....the man-based churches...and will do evil.

Isa 65:3-5 KJV
(3) A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
(4) Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

(5) Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

They will turn from the holy commandment that will be delivered to them to keep (to come out from among them and be separate) in their unbelief. They will refuse to listen. They will be the "evil and adulterous generation." They will continue to be attached to the harlot church that they are one body and one flesh with and will speak evil of any who will do His holy commandment to come out from among them.

2Co 6:17-18 KJV
(17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

(18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

They will not answer when He calls them. They will not hear when He speaks to them. Instead, they will do evil before His eyes and choose that wherein He does not delight. They will choose to remain in their man-based churches and speak evil of any who will leave them.

Isa 65:12-14 KJV
(12) Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
(13) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

(14) Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

See that you do not refuse Him that speaks from Heaven. Don't turn away from Him that speaks from Heaven in the voice of the Spirit of Truth (the chief messenger...the archangel).

Heb 12:24-25 KJV
(24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
(25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:


Jesus said unto His disciples…His learners… if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and “take up”…that is, TAKE AWAY or take up his cross (his stake)… and follow Him.

Don’t be staked down in your “church” but take it up/away and come after Him as He leads us out of the man-based churches. Don’t be fixed. Take up the stake that has fixed you there in the man-based churches and follow Him out of them.

Mat 16:24-25
(24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up/take away his cross, and follow me.

Don’t seek to save your “church” life…their thoughts and ways. We must lose our fixed church life in order to save it. We must take up the stake that has us pegged in their churches.

(25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

As Paul showed us: we must lose it all….our religious man-based things..in order to win Christ.

Php 3:7-10 KJV
(7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

We must be steadfast in our faith of the Word of Truth as the devil will seek whom he may devour. His “children” who remain in the man-based churches will speak evil of us…but we are not to return evil for their evil.

1Pe 5:8-11 KJV
(8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The same afflictions will be accomplished in our brothers that are in the world. They …our brothers…will hear His voice in belief and will leave their man-based churches and will go out into the world. They will also be persecuted by those they will leave behind in the man-based churches…no matter where they live in this world.

(9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

But the God of all grace…who has called us unto His age-lasting (“eternal”) glory by Christ Jesus will make us complete in Him….AFTER we have “suffered a while” by the persecutions of the people who will remain in their man-based churches and will not believe in the Word of Truth when they will hear it.

(10) But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
(11) To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Those brothers that are in the world who will suffer the “same afflictions” …the same persecutions by the man-based churches that will leave behind…are the same group addressed in James who said “to the 12 tribe which are scattered abroad.” They are "scattered abroad" because they will all have left their man-based churches and will have gone out into the world to be separate from them.

Jas 1:1-4 KJV
(1) James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Count it all joy when you fall into many temptations…for the people of the man-based churches that you will leave behind will persecute you. You will be tempted to return evil for their evil….but count it as joy for the trying of your faith works patience. We suffer with Christ when this happens. Count it all joy.

(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

(4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

If we suffer with Him (in the persecutions by the man-based churches), we shall be glorified together with Him. The sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Rom 8:17-18 KJV
(17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

(18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

If we partake of Christ's sufferings (by enduring the persecutions we shall receive by the man-based churches,) we shall be glad with "exceeding joy" when His glory shall be revealed. His life shall be revealed in our mortal flesh...His glory shall be revealed. Don't think it is "strange" concerning that fiery trial of our faith as though some strange thing is happening to you as this is part of the process to receive His glory in this mortal body in this earth. We share in His suffering when it happens.

1Pe 4:12-14 KJV
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Why American Catholics need to get weird again

Catholics don't fit neatly on either side. Following Christ always looks weird to a world obsessed with power and picking sides.

“Did you know the Pope ate dinner there last year?” my friend said.

I was out with a few friends when we walked past a restaurant where Pope Leo went last summer (perks of living in Chicago!).

She laughed and added, “We should go in and press some rosaries against the walls!”

I noticed another friend who isn’t Catholic giving us a look. “You Catholics are so weird,” she said with an affectionate laugh.

We laughed too.

“It’s true,” I said. “We can’t deny it.” We Catholics are odd ducks in all kinds of ways, from our love for saints’ relics to our Saturday evening Mass “counting” for Sunday.

But in today’s America, it’s all too easy to forget that we aren’t supposed to fit in.

We used to be a lot weirder, and it’s time to reclaim that as a badge of honor.

Trying too hard to fit in​


Continued below.

Let it be

Let it be
The arrival of the
New year
I hope we have a good year
Ahead of us
AIso I hope to accomplish my
Poetry writing
Also I hope
I will be no more sick
I am planning to stay
Healthy
In the new year
I have no idea if I
Will be able to do that
I am questioning that
AIso I am living now in
The future
I still don't know nothing
About my future
God please tell me about my future
Because I am dying to know
About my future
I hope not to make
Any mistakes in my
Future
That I had done in my
Past
I am afraid of
Making mistakes again

No person can come to Christ by their own freewill !

Jn 6:44

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

No man can come here means no man has the ability to come to Christ. That cancels out the myth that man has a freewill,

It also means that no man has the ability to believe on Christ for Salvation. Because Christ equates believing on Him with coming to Him. Jn 6:64-65

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.


What about those Jesus says to them Jn 5:40

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Thats answered in Jn 6:44 they simply will not come because they cannot come unless the Power of God draws them and makes them willing

Ps 110:3

3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

If and when one comes to believe on Christ willingly, the credit goes to Gods Power !

The Nation Whose God is The Lord

“Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:8-12 NASB1995)

Who is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance? We are all who believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, who take God and his word seriously to obey what he says, who by faith in him have died with him to sin and who are now living to him and to his righteousness in walks of obedience to God, and in holy living, by the grace of God, in the power of God, as persuaded by God.

We are physical people who live in physical nations on this earth. But the nation whose God is the Lord is not a physical nation of people but a spiritual nation of all who by faith in Jesus Christ (Jew and Gentile) are walking in his ways and in his truth and righteousness, according to his will and purpose for our lives. We are God’s holy nation, his chosen people, the people belonging to God who desire to serve the God that we love with our lives.

We are those who walk in the fear of the Lord, believing him and his word, and in his promises, and his warnings, too, which we take seriously. We are those who love, honor, value, respect, reverence, and worship him, in spirit and in truth. And to love God is to obey God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. And to worship him is to give our lives to him as living sacrifices to God, holy and pleasing to God, because we love him (Romans 12:1-2).

[Genesis 17:7-9; Genesis 18:19; John 8:18-19,38-47; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:4-8,25-28; Romans 11:1-36; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:6; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16; Hebrews 8:6-13;1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:22; Jude 1:5; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9]

And who are “the nations”? This may speak of literal individual physical nations of people on this earth. It is also used to describe the ungodly of this world, in some cases. But the point here is that God is completely superior and in charge over all people of all nations on this earth, and that there is not anything that any of them can do but what God allows it, and he has the power to stop them from doing what they have planned at any moment.

The plans of humans will never supersede God. God is fully sovereign over all he made. And it is not God’s will that any of us should sin against God, but God does allow Satan to exist, and he allows sin and evil to exist, and he sometimes allows evil people to do evil things to other people, for to remove all evil from this earth would mean removing all human life, because we are all born with sin natures, and we are all capable of sinning against God.

But, despite whatever humans may do, or attempt to do, the counsel of the Lord stands forever, and he has the power to nullify the counsel of the nations and to frustrate the plans of the peoples so that they will not succeed in their evil plots. Yet the Lord will use evil people as his divine instruments of judgment against those who profess his name but who deliberately do evil to others and not the good that God has for them to do.

For the Scriptures teach that to know God, to be born of God, and to be in fellowship with God, we must not be those who deliberately and habitually sin against God and who do not obey God and his commandments, in practice. For Jesus gave his life up for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now serve him in walks of obedience to his commands and in holy living.

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).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; 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 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

For Our Nation

Professionally recorded in Nashville, TN
Via Gerry Peters, music producer and arranger
An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love


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.

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The Nation Whose God is The Lord
An Original Work / July 4, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Asking For Prayer/s in Coming Back To Christ

I’ve been at a crossroads recently to the point where I broke down in tears which I haven’t felt in a long time. I want to serve the Lord but I’m afraid I’ll leave him again I am a wandering soul searching for love, companionship, peace, joy and a sense of purpose. I’ve tried what the world has to offer and it is all vanity like King Solomon said. I miss Jesus and love him. I want to be a part of heaven and the new earth someday.

Keep me in your prayers so that I keep on the straight and narrow path.

God bless.

Psalm 23: "A verse-by-verse understanding" (Part 3)

PSALM 23: "A verse-by-verse understanding for us all" (Part 3)

verse 3


'HE RESTORETH MY SOUL; HE LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE" KJV

'"HE RESTORES MY INNER PERSON. HE GUIDES ME IN RIGHT PATHS FOR THE SAKE OF HIS OWN NAME (Complete Jewish Study Bible)


What is David saying here, being always guided by the Holy Spirit, as ALL scripture is? As we consume the Word of God, being our "Green pastures and still waters," the words of scripture enter our hearts and minds through our eyes and ears, either by reading or listening. When we let the message of scripture into our hearts, there should be a transformation. Yet that is up to each person. Some may read the Bible only as an interesting novel, or fiction, not believing it is true.

For those who DO read and believe, then, our "inner person" gets transformed. We understand where we stand before a "Sinless and Holy God." We are all "guilty as charged" sinners. Yet the Word of God offers hope through Yeshua/Jesus. He becomes our Mediator and Redeemer. We understand what is right and wrong, what is sin and what is Holiness. Our inner person, the "real YOU," becomes transformed little by little. Actually, it is an "ongoing" process, which is complete once we leave our earthly bodies at death.

The pages of scripture and the words of God written down are our "right paths." These lead us into "right-living," which is another way of saying "righteousness." We have been "righteously saved" by grace to walk in "righteous works." The commandments of God teach us what is "right living," and by reading scripture, we can see the fate of those who chose to rebel against God, those who took "another path," and those who were faithful to God, walking on the "paths of righteousness."

So, the shepherd has taken his sheep to feed in green pastures and to drink cool, quiet waters. Now, the food is being digested and the nutrients are being distributed in the bodies of the sheep. Allow the WORD of God to penetrate your inner being, receive HIS "spiritual nutrition" which has been authored by "His Own Name"

Confessional with a real window in the room.

I went to confession at a different parish recently and when I went into the confessional, there was a real window in the room - the first time I've ever seen this. I liked it, actually. It was a beautiful sunny day and the light just beamed into the window beside me. I don't think this kind of thing is very common, is it?
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Workers visit Sudanese refugees. Mother kept from Church. Evangelist ambushed, assaulted and hospitalized.

  • Jul. 03, 2025 | Central African Republic​

    Front-Line Workers Visit Sudanese Refugees

    [8] prayers in [3] nations have been posted for Christian refugees.
    Some of the Christian women at the Birao refugee camp.
    Front-line workers were able to minister to displaced Christians seeking refuge. Millions of Sudanese have fled the civil war in their country that began April 2023. Some escaped to neighboring nations, including the Central African Republic (CAR), which borders Sudan's Darfur region. Though Sudan has a predominantly Muslim population, a small percentage of Christians also live there. Some have found refuge in Birao, a town in the far north of the CAR near its border with Sudan, Chad and South Sudan. Front-line workers visited with about 100 of the estimated 300 Christians living in a camp of around 20,000 refugees. Read More.
  • Jul. 03, 2025 | Laos​

    Christian Mother Kept from Church

    [5] prayers in [2] nations have been posted for Lomg.
    Lomg at home with her youngest child, In.
    A Christian woman's husband has attempted to divorce her for her faith and has forcibly prevented her from attending church. Lomg, a 33-year-old mother of four children in Laos, has been under constant pressure from her husband since she began to follow Jesus Christ. In April 2025, he tried to initiate divorce, saying, "I hate her because she believes [in] God." When the divorce was not granted, Lomg's husband escalated his efforts to make her recant her faith by taking her and her children out to their remote fields and leaving them there to work and sleep. Read More.
  • Jul. 03, 2025 | Pakistan​

    Female Evangelist Ambushed, Assaulted and Hospitalized

    [7] prayers in [2] nations have been posted for Naila.
    Pakistani Christians, like these in Jaranwala in 2023, face increasingly violent Muslim attacks.
    A Christian woman was attacked and hospitalized after sharing the gospel. On Tuesday, April 29, Naila visited a family in one of the hardest-to-reach cities in her region to share the gospel. She said soon after she started to share, an older woman in the family suddenly became angry. She yelled at Naila and then began to beat her. Naila ran from the house, but men were waiting for her and hit her with some kind of sharp tool. Naila again tried to escape, running down the street and crying for help before she collapsed, waking in a hospital with serious injuries. Naila currently cannot walk and suffers from external and emotional wounds, and she is unable to care for her young child. Read More.

Quiet high schooler paints portraits of entire class to reconnect before graduating...

2:35

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According to many of her senior classmates here at Waunakee High School in Wisconsin, 18-year-old Molly Schafer was a loner. But before graduation, she leaned on her artistic skills to reconnect and learned an important lesson in the process. Steve Hartman has the story "On the Road."

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