Tom D said:

Today, students in USA and Australia are mostly educated (or dis-educated?) with progressive elements -- most of them can't read properly, can't spell and are poor at maths.

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Then

RDKirk said:

No, it reflects errors on both sides.

Parents did not call for teachers to teach "sight reading" instead of phonics, for instance. We could have had the most well-behaved children, but being taught sight reading, there would still be a downtrend in literacy.

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ok, fair play, the abandonment of phonics was moronic. But many parents (like my wife and myself), simply taught our kids to read ourselves. All our young ‘uns could read a newspaper when they entered first grade. We also read to them and stuffed the house with books. We considered raising them our primary responsibility, and it turned out quite well despite the sad level of public education.

For what it is worth, my (deceased) Presbyterian minister turned up one night in a very brief vision some time after I'd become Catholic and said "The Catholic Church is closest to the truth", with a distinct emphasis on the word "closest".

We had discussed Catholic / Protestant church differences when he was still alive. At the time he was becoming fed up with Protesant divisions.

Note that he did not say "has all the truth". He distinctly said "... closest ....

For what it is worth. Private revelation obviously.

Brother Del said:

If you insist on equating a love and reverence for God and His Holy Word as hatred for ones neighbor, by all means, carry on.

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Just looking at what is actually being done to the neighbors by the positions Del. Nothing personal. It's just how you happen to see it, but that doesn't mean it adds up

Brother Del said:

You seem to freely pick and choose whatever words suit your narrative at any given time, so I see no point in discussing this topic any further.

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My observations are pretty simple in this regards:

Love neighbors does not equate to promoting them to be burned alive forever for not believing like you.

I'd be embarrassed to try to pin my so called faith in that when faith supposedly works through love and love neighbors

Burning people alive forever is NOT done by faith

Brother Del said:

As I previously stated, God will do as He pleases.

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Fortunately God is quite a bit better than the sum of us

rjs330 said:

Jesus spoke out against all sin. He just didn't list them all. Did he need to?

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He could have said something about diddling kids, though. Might have been a thought.

Dan Perez said:

And all that you quote ANY verse is correct but not ALL is for us. !!

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Every Word of God is for everyone Dan, Matt. 4:4, Luke 4:4, Deut. 8:3

I'm sure if you spent decades thinking otherwise you wouldn't get it

You appear to be fixated on an aspect or 2 for some odd reason which usually happens when believers try to justify themselves for exercising certain activities stipulated in the scriptures

Better to start at saved by unmerited Divine Mercy and Grace and leave it at that

FAITH-IN-HIM said:

Why, then, do we now encourage individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria to change their gender if it brings them happiness?

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This get’s to the heart of the matter. The perception that there is an agenda for change. An agenda is not the same as an option.

FAITH-IN-HIM said:

Gender identity is clinically diagnosed as gender dysphoria.

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No it’s gender identity disorder. And it’s not the same as depression. But the way people are mistreated by their community can cause depression and suicidal behaviour.

Well done the community. Maybe it is the community with the problem acting in a way that causes suicidal behaviour.

Day 5... 11/22/25

O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother, penetrated with the most lively confidence in your all-powerful and never-failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal, we your loving and trustful children implore you to obtain for us the graces and favors we ask during this Novena, if they be beneficial to our immortal souls, and the souls for whom we pray.

(Privately form your petitions here.)

You know, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of your Son who hates iniquity. Obtain for us, then, a deep hatred of sin and that purity of heart, which will attach us to God alone so that our every thought word and deed may tend to his greater glory. Obtain for us also a spirit of prayer and self-denial, that we may recover by penance what we have lost by sin, and at length attain to that blessed abode where you are the Queen of angels and of men. Amen.

FAITH-IN-HIM said:

are people now being encouraged to examine these feelings more openly and be what they feel they should be.

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Also yes.

FAITH-IN-HIM said:

This increase raises questions: Is it because society has become more accepting,

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Yes.

Homily Sunday, November 23, 2025

Christ the King



2 Samuel 5:1-3

The tribes of Israel said to David: "The Lord said to you (David): 'You shall shepherd my people Israel; you shall be ruler over Israel.'"



It is marvelous when the Lord speaks to our hearts.



The tribes of Israel came to David and reminded him of what the Lord had said.



Then they anointed him king.



Colossians 1:12-20

"Giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light."



Thank you, Lord, for loving us; we praise you, Alleluia. Thank you for your love that passes into my heart to the hearts of my family, my friends, and humanity.



Luke 23:35-43 (White)

Jesus is the king who lives in the kingdom, the Heart of God, and he reigns at this moment.



The thief says of Jesus: "This man has done nothing criminal."



This short sentence is crucial: He who keeps himself away from evil is in God.



Jesus says to the thief: "Today you will be with me in Paradise." In the present tense: "You are with me in Paradise."



At this moment, we are with God in Paradise. It depends on us to know this and to remain in God's joy.



Biblical texts: NAB-RE

Normand Thomas.

Maria Billingsley said:

As Christians we should exercise compassionate understanding towards those who are marginalized, misunderstood, or struggling with the immense complexities of identity and life.

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Yeah, but here we are.

bob121 said:

Steve, keep strumming and keep looking up—those country-night skies are a cathedral without walls.

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That is a great song line my friend. Your a song writer lol. "those country-night skies are a cathedral without walls" paints a great picture.

bob121 said:

Every chord you chase and every star you catch is an echo of the same vastness: we can’t bottle God, but we can let art and night-air carry our wonder back to Him.

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Yes so true. Your inspiring me now lol. My mum and step dad use to live in the country not far from the Warrumbungle National Park
where the space observatory was. So this location was ideal for having a clear uninterupted view of the night sky.

I use to lay on my back and watch shooting stars going off everywhere across my field of vision. You could actually see the distant spiral of the milky way. This alone was something that had Gods fingerprints all over it and stayed with me.

Now putting the chords to that is not so simple lol. But we can capture some of it and your words above did just that for me or any one I reckon. But also the music has to flow with the vision or experience as well.

bob121 said:

Press on—your next note might be the one that helps someone else hear the “something beyond.”

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Yes I think this is the key (pardon the pun). Sharing helps because sharing ideas and inspirations makes it real and alive and it can then grow into something.

Apple Sky said:

What you on about, he was showing the truth.

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There you go using that word again

Apple Sky said:

So what if he did ?

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He wasn't being honest. Never a good way to start when meeting new people for the first time.

Vambram said:

Uncovered docs show top teachers union guiding gender transitions, bashing conservatives: 'Insane asylum'

Defending Education obtained documents showing one of the nation's top teachers unions training members on far-left gender identity postures while criticizing conservatives.

www.foxnews.com

The progressive left wing liberals really do want to indoctrinate your children against what parents believe.

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Let the invisible hand of the free market of ideas play itself out.

@childeye 2 I can see you still do not understand.
I'm not going to say it's because you don't want to understand, though that's more than likely the case, since you are reading my posts, but ignoring them, and refusing to respond to them or answer the questions posed to you.

However, for some reason, you and @Clare73 obviously have something against free will.
I don't know what it is, but I'm guessing you had this argument before, and you don't want to admit you are wrong.
Whatever the case, it's not possible for either of you to refute the proof in this thread.

Let me talk with Clare first, since, as they say, 'Ladies first".
Clare, my dear, all words are from humans, so the complaint that free will is a human notion, doesn't have any merit.
To make that argument, would be to argue that "unreasonable", "foolish", "stupid", "twisted", and the word you used "unregeneerte"... which isn't spelled correctly, but "unregenerate" are human notions, and are not found in the Bible.

That argument is not only false, but foolish, as it lacks proper knowledge and understanding.
All these words, like free will, are English words equivalent to the Hebrew and Greek words use before English.

Some Hebrew and Greek words are direct, but yet more can be understood by digging deeper.
For example, the words at 2 Peter 3:16... ἀμαθής (amathés), which some translate as "unlearned", "ignorant", comes from the Greek a (as a negative particle) and manthano, according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.

Did you know that? Can you read that?
This is why we have the help of Hebrew and Greek Lexicons.
Think of that for a moment.

Without a Lexicon, would you know this:

We wouldn't.
Would you argue that "unrighteous", or "unrighteousness" is a human notion, and not a Biblical word?
That would be ridiculous, wouldn't it.

In the same way, it is ridiculous to argue that "free will" is a human notion, and not found in the Bible.
It is indeed found in the Bible.
Are you saying the Hebrew and Greek words in these Lexicons and their information is wrong?
If so, you are under obligation to provide references which demonstrate these Lexical works erroneous.
If you are unable to provide these references, the evidence proves your arguments are erroneous and they lack understanding of the subject, and a willingness to accept the evidence before you.

​

@childeye 2 there's not much to say to you, since I know you read my posts, so I'll just say you chose to have a conversation with yourself rather than with me, by talking about "will" rather than the subject of the OP, which is "free will".
That's off topic, and I am not taking this thread off topic.
If at any time you want to get back to the topic, and actually discuss it with me, feel free to respond to the posts that actually discuss one's "free will".
That would be these...
Posts #172, #184, and #209, if you like.
These make clear that both you and I understand that we aren't discussing "the will".

I think I have covered everything here.

rjs330 said:

Thats it? The ACA? All that you wrote regarding how terrible and racist the republicans are had to do with the. ACA? The rest of your life is way better and its all due to the ACA? It seemed like you were talking about a lot of things beside the ACA.

By the way, I am glad you are okay. My friend wasnt helped by the ACA.

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I was speaking of more and I had 3 paragraphs typed out to reply to this, but I don't think it matters. I'm sorry things didn't work out for your friend.

prodromos said:

On behalf of all Australians, I would like to apologise for this video produced by one of my fellow Aussies. Though the production standards are excellent, his whole premise is nonsense. He also suffers from a strong anti-Catholic bias which kind of set the stage for his other biases. Nothing of value here.

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What you on about, he was showing the truth.

prodromos said:

Unfortunately, some people aren't willing to even entertain the slightest possibility that "they" might be the problem. I read some of his posts in other threads and his attitude left a lot to be desired. He said he came here for fellowship, but it is evident to me at least, that in reality he came here to teach.

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So what if he did ?

Angeleyes7715 said:

I'm apostolic but I can't find a counselor that shares my faith. I really need counseling.
I feel like no one gets it.

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Start by praying that God bring someone into your life who can lead you to or through what you need to be resolved. If they can't, they may know the one who can.

This happened to me actually, in 2013 or so.. The start of answered prayer started 3 days later .

Apple Sky said:

This is another believer in the truth down the pan, all because of peoples attitudes.

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Unfortunately, some people aren't willing to even entertain the slightest possibility that "they" might be the problem. I read some of his posts in other threads and his attitude left a lot to be desired. He said he came here for fellowship, but it is evident to me at least, that in reality he came here to teach.

prodromos said:

Reread your post. Given your attacks on other people's typos, I would think you would carefully check what you've written before you hit "Post reply"

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David Lamb said:

So why do you post so many videos from You Tube, etc?

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Because it's an easier way of getting the message across to unbelievers.

Apple Sky said:

What do you mean 'Money' ?

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Reread your post. Given your attacks on other people's typos, I would think you would carefully check what you've written before you hit "Post reply"