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Is the Bible inerrant?

My church really endorses NIV which is contrary to their guest speakers. It is non-denominational.
Could the guest speakers have been trying to sell other versions of the Bible? If some people at your church might have bought one, that is fine activity, but you do not need to let it prevent you from just using the best one for you.

NIV Bible - New International Version - they have a fine looking website there, with a blog that looks especially helpful for articles about application to life.

What is the New International Version (NIV)? | GotQuestions.org - and here is Got Questions? website on the NIV.

This is an easy summary of different translation styles:

  • Formal Translation: A very word-for-word translation that often uses formal, more archaic language (example: the King James Version or NASB);
  • Dynamic Translation: A thought-for-thought translation (example: NIV or NLT);
  • Paraphrase Translation: An idea-for-idea translation that involves much more interpretation from the translator (example: The Message);
from here.

NIV is a Dynamic translation, so it is formed in English to blend easy readability with what the original languages said. Here is the NIV websites' own answer about which original texts were used "The translators of the NIV have used the Old Testament and New Testament texts that are widely accepted among modern scholars as giving the committee the best possible access to what God inspired in the original documents.

For the Old Testament the Masoretic Text, the standard Hebrew text as published in the latest edition of Biblia Hebraica, has been used throughout. The NIV translators have sometimes used variants of the Hebrew Masoretic tradition or other ancient versions, where these seemed to provide a superior text than the Masoretic tradition. These are all noted in the NIV translator footnotes that appear at the bottom of the page of the text that they reference.

For the New Testament, the translators have used the accepted Greek New Testament text as printed in the Nestle-Aland and United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testaments. Here also the translators have occasionally accepted a variant printed in these editions. Footnotes usually indicate the options in each case."
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Marjorie Taylor Greene announces resignation after Trump spat

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said Friday night she would resign from Congress in early January. The announcement followed a public breakdown in her relationship with President Donald Trump over issues including the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files.

In a statement posted to X, Greene said her final day as representative of Georgia’s 14th District will be Jan. 5, 2026, citing Trump’s alleged recent attacks on her as a key reason for her decision.

Trump had called Greene a “traitor” and a “lunatic” after she supported a bill requiring the Department of Justice to disclose its Epstein investigation records, The Christian Post reported earlier this week.

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Trump sees it as a distraction away from what he considers more important matters ... maybe ... but people want to know about it regardless. No doubt it will dominate the news cycle .... people just need to stay on top of the other things going on as well. Focus on all the issues.
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An alternate future

I've often mentioned my (old) Presbyterian pastor whom I learnt a lot from, although he discouraged me. The night my father died he turned up in my room.

I was an atheist at the time, but he predicted I'd become Christian, and as part of that "... You will meet a pastor. You'll think he's great, but all he'll do is to discourage you even more!" (than he had himself).

I met the pastor circa 1982/83. When I was going to leave his church in 1991 (I was getting married and moving away) he admitted he had discouraged me, but as I said I still hold him in high respect. Incidentally h was not an admirer of some of the "last days" stuff which comes out of various (mainly Protestant) personalities in the USA in the main, saying "... it's a bit weird..."

But he had some thoughts on the issue. For one thing he was very firm on the business about no man knows the day or the hour of Christ's return. It could be tomorrow, and it could be 10,000 years down the track. We haven't been told.

However I find that if he thought something would happen it did sooner or later. Several of his predictions have come to pass since he died in 1992, including my becoming Catholic (1997); there would be a lot of priestly pedophile cases after I became Catholic (media from around 2002); my sister would get leukemia and not live very long which happened (2005 aged 45); his own eldest son would have a major health breakdown which was a stroke (1996 or 97); there would be a pandemic (Covid 2020); there would be a second Gulf War as the "... Americans will have had enough of Saddam Hussein and they will get rid of him. But I think they will lose a FEW men the next time (2003); I'd make a silly mistake at work and "they" would use that to get rid of me (1995); etc. These were all predicted and they all happened.

He wasn't an admirer of Zionism, commenting that ".... they've served their purpose ..." (it's up to the Jews to recognise Christ, not the other way round). But he also conjectured "I think He (God) is going to drive us off the planet... I think we'll learn to teleport..."

He died in 1992, and (from Wikipedia) "the first successful The first successful experimental quantum teleportation of a photon's polarization was achieved by two independent research groups in 1997", five years later.

It's a long cry from that event to teleporting material objects, and even more so living creatures which have a spirit.

But I think we'll get around that obstacle eventually, although there will most likely be a considerable hiatus between the first inanimate teleportation and the first biological teleportation.

We've moved a long way in space travel since World War II. Robert Goddard's rockets might have gone a couple of hundred feet into the air in the 1920's. The V2's were flying about 250 kms in 1944; and NASA landed men on the moon a mere 25 years later. And of course we now have AI and robotics both of which would be absolutely necessary for a civilisation in space. It's obvious God is letting us do these things, which implies they form part of His plan.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer might have put it, Man has "Come of Age".

Now suppose his prediction happens, that God does indeed drive us off the planet - what price Jerusalem or for that matter Rome in a civilisation which might be spread through a fair section of the Milky Way? I'm Catholic and I accept the Petrine Chair - Christ was setting up an office and giving the church authority when He declared Peter the Rock.

But I know of no Biblical mandate for Rome to be the "eternal city".

The way politics is going we could well be heading for nuclear wars, and those cities could easily be destroyed.

So I'm not over impressed with hardline pronunciations about either Jerusalem or Rome for that matter. In the end they're just cities.

That's my cold blooded view, and that's what I think.
Just follow the Lamb wherever He goes .... can't go wrong with that ;o)
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Dancing robot, life-sized puppet part of big spending on promotion of $3 billion light rail project

The crime problems are similar to those in New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. Older Asian women are targets. Add to that poor planning. The system should not have been above ground and the above ground system was put on street level which means now putting in turnstiles instead of the current honor system would be extremely expensive. A number of homeless simply lived on the rail cars or at the stops. Instead of focusing on the perpetrators of the crimes St. Paul was working on reparations and "gun violence." Repeat offenders do not seem to phase them.
You know, if mankind went extinct, all those safety issues would go away.
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Digital ID

Hi Chubby,

You might like this Bible study on Revelation and than they go into Daniel. Its 112 episodes that are about 30 minutes each. There are two pastors and two lay people going through the Book of Revelations and this is a great study.

Revelation is highly symbolic but the Bible explains what these symbols means clearly, if we allow Scriptures to interpret Scripture.

Anyway, it was a Bible study I really enjoyed, listened to it twice. If you go through it please be sure to have your Bible handy, because its pretty much just going through it word for word.

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Thank you very, very much! I will take a look!

I have not read Revelations with the family yet so any assistance with what I know will be a million questions will be gratefully received. :praying:
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Notre Dame Professor Secretly Books Campus Rooms for Condom and Plan B Distribution...

University ignores deception, blatant policy violation​

A Gender Studies professor has secretly booked rooms for Irish 4 Reproductive Health (I4RH) using a fake club name. I4RH, an unofficial student group, uses the reservations to meet and distribute contraceptives on campus—a direct violation of university rules.

Professor Pamela Butler, Associate Director and Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Gender Studies Department, books the rooms under the “Gender Studies Club,” an organization that does not exist on Notre Dame’s club database. I4RH uses Butler’s reservations to host students in Debartolo Hall, where the group distributes free “resource bags” for attendees, which contain condoms, Plan B, and cards with information on abortion services for students.

As I4RH told the Rover, the group is “not affiliated with the University in any official capacity, nor do we intend to be.” Student Activities Office (SAO) guidelines limit the use of campus rooms to official student clubs only, which would prevent I4RH from meeting on campus in an official capacity. Despite this, I4RH uses Instagram to publicly advertise its meetings in Debartolo Hall.

Butler primarily researches “feminist, queer, and trans theories of race and racialization” and “reproductive politics,” according to the Gender Studies website. She teaches courses on “Feminist and Queer Prison Studies,” “Race and the Politics of Reproduction,” and “New Readings in Transgender Theory,” which she is offering this spring.

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Pope Leo XIV Issues Apostolic Letter 'In Unitate Fidei' on 1,700th Anniversary of Nicene Council

Ahead of his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, Pope Leo issues the Apostolic Letter 'In unitate fidei' on the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, broken down into 12 points, with the hope of "encouraging the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith."

Ahead of his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, Pope Leo XIV issued on Sunday, 23 November, the Solemnity of Christ the King, the Apostolic Letter 'In unitate fidei' on the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

The full Letter, which has the hope of "encouraging the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith," is broken down into twelve points, and can be read in its entirety HERE.

In 2025, the Catholic Church is commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine I in the city of Nicaea.

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‘Bride of Christ’: Meet the Sisters Adorers Dedicating Lives to Praying for Priests

The Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest are drawing young women who seek a contemplative life rooted in tradition, adoration and prayer for priestly vocations.

NAPLES, Italy — Since its foundation 35 years ago, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest has inspired men and women to embrace a traditional vocation dedicated to honor God and the sanctification of priests in the service of the Church and souls.

Animated by a deeply missionary spirit, the institute seeks to spread the reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ in all spheres of human life.

Today, the Institute of Christ the King includes 147 canons and 108 seminarians serving in 13 countries around the world, carrying out their apostolic work in the churches entrusted to them, in schools and missions in Africa and through retreats, catechesis and spiritual guidance.

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‘Burial Gardens’: How a Cemetery Visit Becomes a Lesson in Hope

In the light of Christ’s Resurrection, even the resting place of the dead points to the promise that all shall be made new.

“Look, Dad — a burial garden!”
It took me a moment to process our 6-year-old’s exclamation from the back of the minivan. Burial, yes — she was referencing the cemetery we were passing across the road — but did she just say “burial garden?”

A few days before, we had visited the grave of her great-grandmother, who died three years ago. My mom had brought flowers to the cemetery, distributing them to the grandkids for them to place on the ground. We cried; we laughed; we told stories — we remembered.

This was the first time our 6-year-old — who has always had a deep curiosity about death and the afterlife — had visited a cemetery. But apparently, she wasn’t afraid or disturbed at all. On the contrary: Whether it was the flowers, the family bond, or just the orderly rows of headstones in that plot of land, she walked away conceiving of it as a garden — a place not only of tranquility and peace but of vibrancy and color.

Out of the mouths of the young, God has prepared praise for himself (Matthew 21:16) — and almost immediately, the phrase struck me as a perfect summary of the paradoxical attitude of the Christian toward death. On the one hand, a cemetery is a place of “burial,” the interment of our mortal remains into the earth. Burial signals to us the inevitability and finality of death. “We must all die,” a wise woman of Scripture declares. “We are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up” (2 Samuel 14:14).

On the other hand, a cemetery is a kind of garden, a charged place of patient waiting, hidden growth, and, above all, of hope for a future flowering. Indeed, in the Gospel of John, we hear that Jesus himself was buried in an actual garden: “Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid” (John 19:41).

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Armed Attackers Kidnap Children From Catholic Elementary School in Nigeria

Nigeria has been battling with a surge of violence orchestrated by gangs, whose members carry out indiscriminate attacks, kidnapping for ransom, and in some cases, killing.

The Diocese of Kontagora in Nigeria has described as “painful and disturbing” the Friday, Nov. 21, kidnapping of children and staff at St. Mary’s Catholic Nursery, Primary, and Secondary Schools.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, the diocesan secretary of the Nigerian episcopal see appealed for intensified national action against insecurity.

Father Jatau Luka Joseph said armed attackers invaded St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger state, in the early hours of Nov. 21, abducting “some pupils, students, teachers, and a security personnel who was badly shot.”

“The incident occurred between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., causing fear and distress within the school community,” he said.

“The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora strongly condemns the attack and expresses deep concern for the safety of the kidnapped children and their families,” Father Luka Joseph said.

He added that security agencies were immediately informed and had begun coordinated efforts to ensure the safe rescue and return of the victims.

Continued below.

Hearing Loss Strikes Two Priests, Threatening the Sacrament of Confession

The Catechism speaks about making confession available to those who are hearing-impaired, but this week, we heard from the other side of the screen.

Two priests who have been featured in the pages of the Register both opened up on social media, lamenting a reality they both face: loss of hearing.

Although hearing aids do exist and help to some degree, the loss of hearing comes at a great cost for Father Dwight Longenecker and Father Joseph Krupp: not being able to hear the confessions offered by the parishioners who come seeking absolution.

Father Longenecker was the first to admit how frustrating it is to lose the ability to hear, especially when working in the confessional.

“I am really fed up with my worsening hearing loss — especially as it makes hearing confessions a total chore,” he wrote on social media.

“Prayers to St. Francis de Sales: patron of the deaf and hard of hearing AND patron of confessors AND patron of writers who had a ministry to Protestants AND was bald and bearded! St. Francis de Sales pray for us!"

Father Joseph Krupp responded to Father Longenecker, saying he shares the same affliction, writing on X:

Continued below.

Pope Leo XIV warns against ‘false mercy’ in marriage annulment proceedings

In a firm call to avoid “false mercy” in marriage annulment proceedings, Pope Leo XIV reminded that compassion cannot disregard the truth.

During a Friday audience with participants in the legal-pastoral training course of the Roman Rota, the Holy See’s court of appeals, the Holy Father read a lengthy speech in which he recalled the importance of the reform of marriage annulment processes initiated by Pope Francis 10 years ago.

The pontiff emphasized that theology, law, and pastoral care must be understood in a harmonious way, not as separate or opposing areas, and pointed out that annulment proceedings are not merely technical procedures to obtain the “free status of persons” but rather an ecclesial service based on the search for truth and on family pastoral care.

Judicial processes at the service of truth​


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He hangs the earth upon blimah

I've always thought of this verse as simply reflecting how the earth hangs upon the waters of chaos (tohu) just as the North or Mt tsaphon, the heavens, are above the heavenly waters of chaos (also tohu). Which would be a reflection of ANE cosmology. Or ancient Israelite cosmology.

Psalm 136:6
to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever


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Tohu, is regularly translated as "nothing" or "desolation" meaninglessness, futility, or something opposed to wisdom. And this can be seen in Proverbs chapter 8 where wisdom establishes order and boundaries to the waters or chaos and draws a circle on the face of the deep.

So the verse is saying, he spread out the heavens (tsaphon, the North) over the waters above. He spread out the earth over the (beliymah) waters below.
And the North or Tsaphon, or Mt Tsaphon, is the meeting place of heavenly beings. Of the divine council of the elohim.
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Majority of Australian and French priests are thriving, reports say

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed.

Majority of Australian and French priests are thriving, reports say​

A report has found that the majority of Australian priests and deacons are thriving in their ministry roles.

In the first-ever survey of well-beingamong Australia’s clergy, the National Centre for Pastoral Research and the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office found 75% of clergy reported having “good” or “very good” self-confidence, 66% reported they maintain a healthy diet, 61% said they get sufficient rest, and 55% reported high energy levels.

In addition, the vast majority of clergy, at 90%, described their connections with their parishes as positive. Overall, 71% reported feeling hopeful, and 61% said they felt joyful frequently.

This comes on the heels of an October survey in France that found most Catholic priests — 80% of those who responded — said they “are happy in their mission” and feel "faithful to their calling," useful, and "at peace," according to the Catholic Weekly. The survey by the Observatory of Catholicism was conducted with the French Institute of Public Opinion.

Dutch bishop says Cardinal Fernandez ‘Co-Redemptrix’ title decision is ‘mistaken’​


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Can not being in the correct denomination cause someone to not be saved?

If God tells you something it is your duty to inform your conscience of it.
I see it differntly. Maybe it's just semantics. But I think the correct response to God when He leads, guides, directs, teaches, corrects, and comforts us from the intimacy of our own hearts is to believe what He says and respond as He directs. If He tells us to change denominations, then we should trust His voice and do what He says. If He tells us to not change our denomination, then we should trust His voice and do what He says. If He doesn't say anything to us about changing denominations, we shouldn't concerned about it.

There is no Bible verse that says, "Let your consience be your guide". On the contrary, there are many Bible verses that say things like "Trust in the Lord" (Pr 3:5), "Believe me" (Jn 14:11), and "Walk in the Spirit" ( Gal 5:25). Verses like these point point us to God as our leader and guide and confirm that everyone who places their trust in Him will not stumble or be put to shame (Rom 9:23).

We have an intimate personal relationship with the Lord. He lives in our hearts. There is no substitute for hearing Him and doing as He says. But doing so is not about proving ourselves to be faithful so that in the end we will obtain eternal life. It is about living out the eternal life that He has already given us. And it is about bearing fruit that enriches us and brings Him glory. Proverbs 3:5-6 sums it up well...

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;​
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,​
And He shall direct your paths. (Pr 3:5–6)​
You might be saying the same thing in a different way, but it seems like informing our conscience and letting it be our guide creates a little distance between us and God.
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Tit for Tat Tariffs - The US versus the World

Congressional Budget Office Lowers Tariff Savings Estimate By $1 Trillion

Recent tariff changes will produce $3 trillion in total savings, the office said, down from the $4 trillion savings estimate it made in August.

Since these tariffs were supposed to partially pay for tax cuts for the wealthy, I guess we'll have to raise their taxes. We certainly wouldn't want to add an extra trillion to the debt, would we?

(Not to mention the debt that would come from those tariff checks)
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CHRISTMAS CARDS?

My spouse and I have a tradition of making holiday cards (I'm not the artistic one, but I do what I can) and sending them out. Friends and family adore them, but we definitely have seen the amount of reciprocation falling over the past decades. Some people have photocards made, with a few family photos collaged together, and those are much appreciated since we don't see some of these folks very often. But there's nothing like a card with even a short handwritten note. But it is definitely falling out of fashion.
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Israel attacks Beirut, other targets in Southern Lebanon; targets 'key' Hezbollah figure

Israel attacks Beirut, targets 'key' Hezbollah figure

The IDF has been increasing the rate of strikes targeting alleged Hezbollah members and infrastructure in southern Lebanon in recent months, but until Sunday had not resumed attacks inside the capital.
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