Several. Then again, I live in the most conservative diocese in the nation. That's when I attend my parish. A vast majority do NOT.

At the tradional Latin Mass, almost all females (including infant girls and little girls) wear the veil. I've only seen maybe 1-2 at the TLM that don't.

Bible distribution continues in Pakistan despite devestating floods.

While flooded rivers and fields have made travel difficult in Pakistan, some Christian teams continue to carry on the important work of distributing Bibles there. Devastating floods have led to the deaths of more than 800 people and forced over 1 million Pakistanis to evacuate their homes and villages. “Please pray for them,” said a front-line worker. “It is very difficult, and they need to know where they can go because of the many flooded areas and also because of ongoing security threats.” Around 2% of Pakistan’s population, roughly about 4 million people, are believed to be Christians. Even during dry seasons, Christians must use care in distributing Bibles, knowing the opposition they could face at the hands of fanatical Muslims.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Pakistan and learn how to pray.

Commitment to prayer counters fear.

For Christians in Buddhist-dominated Bhutan, fear of the government and the reaction of neighbors to Christian witness runs deep. Anti-conversion laws can bring punishments up to life imprisonment for carrying out the activities of the Christian faith. However, many faithful brothers and sisters in Christ remain committed to him despite the risk. A front-line worker shared the example of one Christian woman dedicated to praying continuously. Seven days each week, she comes to the church to pray, returning home only to sleep. “Her trust and passion for the Lord was humbling,” the worker said. Pray for Bhutanese Christians to have strength and courage to persevere in the face of fears and pressure. Pray also for protection and encouragement for those who are facing opposition, imprisonment or family rejection.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Bhutan and learn how to pray.

Sentenced for practicing their faith.

Eleven Christians in Libya have been sentenced to 3 to 15 years in prison for practicing their faith. The 11 were arrested in March 2023 and sentenced in April 2025. Members of the group, which includes 9 Libyan men, one woman and one Pakistani national, were sentenced on several charges including “insulting Islam” and “calling for the establishment of a banned group,” according to various reports. They also faced charges of apostasy for converting from Islam and could have been sentenced to death, but the court did not pursue that penalty. Pray that our imprisoned brothers and sister will stand firm in their faith amid the challenges of prison; that they will have opportunities to share the gospel with their fellow inmates; and that they will be released. Pray also for their families to experience God’s comfort and provision.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Libya and learn how to pray.

Off topic, I was able to livestream an entire episode of Better call Saul in the time it took to load this page. I suppose I should be watching Narcos.

I don't have a problem with taking an unregistered ship in international water. Let the owners/insurers sue in international court the legality of the ship and cargo. I I am not sure if rank and file crew members would know about the fake registration. Some are assigned from agencies, that recruit from owners/operators. I am glad that the U.S. military handled this without any loss of life on either side, that Trump got a warrant and given the value of the cargo, I think that the legalities can be worked out later.

From google ai:
Who can justify the taking of a ship that is flying under a false flag? Anyone?




"Yes, a warship or authorized government vessel from any state can legally stop, board, and potentially seize a ship on the high seas that is flying a false flag.

Under international maritime law, specifically Article 92 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a ship must sail under the flag of only one State. If a ship sails under two or more flags according to convenience, or under a false flag (without the authorization of that country), it may be treated as a stateless vessel.

Stateless vessels are not entitled to the protection or the exclusive jurisdiction of any flag state. This means that the principle of freedom of navigation, which generally prevents interference by other nations on the high seas, does not apply.

Article 110 of UNCLOS explicitly grants any warship the right to board a merchant ship on the high seas if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that:

• The ship is engaged in piracy or the slave trade.
• The ship is involved in unauthorized broadcasting.
• The ship is, in reality, of the same nationality as the warship, despite flying a foreign flag.
• The ship is without nationality (stateless).

The recent seizure of the oil tanker Skipper by the U.S. demonstrates this principle. The U.S. government justified the seizure by pointing out that the vessel was falsely flying the flag of Guyana, a fact confirmed by the Guyanese Maritime Administration. Additionally, the U.S. had a federal judicial warrant to seize the vessel due to its alleged involvement in an illicit "dark fleet" oil trafficking network that violated sanctions against Venezuela and Iran, which further solidifies the legal basis for the action.

In summary, any state with the capability and reasonable grounds for suspicion can act against a ship using a false flag, as it is considered a matter of enforcing public order and security on the high seas."

Interestingly, neither the USA or Venezuela are signatories of this nearly universal law. Google ai still justifies it by "customary law."

It is also interesting that "Overall "Dark Fleet" Percentage: The "dark" or "shadow" fleet (vessels with obscured ownership and operations, often using deceptive practices like false flags) now accounts for an estimated 10% to 17% of all global seaborne oil transportation."
There should be more done about false flag ships. I hope they do not get their oil or their ship back unless they have a good legal reason. In those ships that cut the underwater cables, some officers are charged with crimes. Typically the ships were returned though.

samaus123456789 said:

Jesus actually quoted 1 Enoch to the Sadducees, and told them they were ignorant of the scriptures (1 Enoch). Also the ystuff up a story in Tobit so Jesus was saying they were ignorant of that too.
Mark 7 explains what one of the traditions of the elders was- saying they devote their money to God therefore can't help their parents with it. Jesus said based on the law of Moses you should be KILLED for this. Traditions of the elders was not referring to 1 enoch or Jubilees or test of the 12 or any other inspired non pseudepigraphal books. There is no such thing as biblical pseudepigrapha as far as I know. There is no evidence of any anyway. The pharisees focused on the letter of the law and neglected the spirit of the law the 2 great commandments and mercy justice compassian. tithing spices was not in the written torah but Jesus had no problem with it as long as they followed the spirit of the law as stated.

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Scholars generally disagree that Jesus directly quoted 1Enoch. While His statement about the resurrected being "like angels in heaven" (Matthew 22:30) is conceptually similar to passages in First Enoch (1 Enoch 15:6-7), it is not an exact quotation. Jesus referred to the canonical Old Testament as "the Scriptures" when correcting the Sadducees, not First Enoch, which was not part of the Jewish canon.

Dave... said:

Hi Arbitor

All the gifts are from the Spirit. Local, corporate? I'm not sure what you mean that. The Body of Christ, yes. Alistair Begg said it best. "Anything good that comes from us for the Church is an undeserved gift from God".

Dave

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Well you seem also to be saying that people are using the Spiritual gifts incorrectly. What do you mean by that? Exactly how?

camille70 said:

Who are the vouchers payable to?

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I assume it goes toward insurance premiums. Which, in a sense, is practically what is happening now. The only difference, as far as I can tell, is that people are no longer limited to selecting only what is available on the Obamacare marketplace. However, I can see a floodgate of fraud with pop-up fake insurance companies begging for your voucher money. I am afraid that the only solution is stop all subsidizing, and premiums will drop like a rock. When insurance companies realize that Uncle Sam is no longer giving everyone $2,000 per month to cover premiums, premiums will almost instantly drop by $2,000 within weeks, and their profits will crumble.

Since you like AI, I asked Gemini to Analyze your AI post by what you stated.

1. Analysis of Framework 1: Conventional Historical Method​

The first section (Steps 1-6, Checklists) presents a standard, widely accepted methodology used in critical historical and biblical scholarship. The premise of this section is strong and internally consistent.

Strengths and No Major Historical Problems:​

• Step 1 (Genre): Crucial for proper interpretation (e.g., apocalyptic texts vs. history).
• Step 2 (Dating): Acknowledging ranges (terminus a quo, terminus ad quem) and lack of precision is standard historical practice.
• Step 4 (Parallel Sources): Comparing texts (Josephus, DSS, archaeology) is the core of historical corroboration.
• Step 5 (Claims vs. Interpretation): Separating observation from speculation is essential to avoiding circular reasoning.
• Step 6 (Probability): Stressing confidence levels (High, Moderate, Low) over certainty is key to responsible historical judgment.
• Checklists (Bias, Complexity, Expert, Evidence): These are excellent critical thinking tools, promoting self-correction, acknowledging multi-causality, and valuing expert consensus.
• Rule 3 (No Autographs): Recognizing the textual transmission chain ("copy of a copy") and the resulting potential for errors/interpolations is fundamental to textual criticism.

The only minor issue is the presentation: The text claims "Historians and scholars do exactly this," which is mostly true, but the tone is overly prescriptive. Nonetheless, the method itself is sound.

---

2. Analysis of the Transition and Primary Flaw​

The text takes a hard pivot with the phrase:

"Here is a full, rigorous analytical method that assumes: ⭐ Pseudepigrapha does not exist"

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This single transition sentence contains the central flaw and bias of the entire document. It sets up an argumentative structure where the conventional, evidence-based method (Framework 1) is immediately presented as the opposite of a "full, rigorous" method simply because Framework 1 allows for the category of pseudepigrapha (or fictional attribution) based on evidence.

The problem with the overall premise is that it presents an unresolvable conflict between two methods, one of which is axiomatically (based on a non-negotiable premise) designed to reject the findings of the other.

---

3. Analysis of Framework 2: The Axiomatic Method​

As detailed in the initial response, this framework is based on theological axioms (non-historical assumptions) that dictate the conclusion:

• Core Presupposition: Authorship claims are true, and prophecy is real.
• Flaw: This inverts the historical process. Instead of following the evidence (e.g., late language, historical anachronisms, dependence on later texts) to a conclusion (e.g., the text is later or pseudepigraphic), this method starts with the conclusion (the author is genuine) and forces the evidence to fit (e.g., by claiming late language is merely "scribal updating").
• Example (Isaiah): Assuming "Prophecy of Cyrus is allowed" means the text rejects the evidence-based analysis for multiple authors (Deutero- and Trito-Isaiah) which is supported by linguistic shift, theological focus, and historical context. This is the purpose of the framework: to eliminate historical-critical conclusions that conflict with traditional views.

The Problem with the "Final Reassurance"​

The final reassurance attempts to legitimize the second, axiomatic framework by referencing the humility of the first:

“You are simply honest — and honesty is the foundation of wisdom."

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This is a rhetorical maneuver. It takes the humility and caution preached in Framework 1 ("We don't know everything," "Expect your views to evolve") and selectively applies it to justify Framework 2's dogmatism ("Avoid all 'forgery' or 'fictional attribution' explanations").

---

4. Analysis of the Mindset and Coexistence​

The final section on a responsible mindset contains several excellent points but ends with a problematic assertion:

✔ Differentiate faith from history Faith asks “What does this mean for me?” History asks “What does the evidence show?” Both can coexist as long as you don’t mix the tools.

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The Core Contradiction: Mixing Tools​

The text immediately contradicts this sound principle by presenting Framework 2.

• Framework 1 (History): Uses historical tools (linguistics, comparative sources) to analyze the evidence.
• Framework 2 (Theology/Faith): Uses faith axioms ("Prophecy is real," "Authorship claims are honest") but labels itself as a "full, rigorous analytical method" for history.

The very act of presenting Framework 2 as a valid historical alternative is the act of mixing the tools. It introduces a theological tool (the belief in literal, genuine attribution) into a supposed historical process, thereby invalidating its claim to be a purely historical analysis.

Summary of Problems with the Premise​

The problem is not with the individual steps of Framework 1 (which are sound) but with the overall premise of the entire document, which is a polemic disguised as a balanced analysis:

1. False Equivalence: It asserts that two methods—one based on evidence and one based on faith axioms—are equally "valid approaches historically."
2. Unfalsifiability: It shields the axiomatic method (Framework 2) from refutation by labeling all contradictory evidence (linguistic drift, anachronisms) as "scribal updating."
3. Contradiction: The text correctly advises separating faith and history but then presents a "historical" framework (Framework 2) that is fundamentally driven by a faith commitment (a refusal to accept the possibility of pseudepigrapha).

In conclusion, the document's premise is flawed because it attempts to validate a theologically driven method as an equally rigorous and historically sound alternative to the conventional, evidence-driven critical method.

Wow. Praise the Lord!

essentialsaltes said:

Santos’ exclusive guest list for the party included several members of Congress, including Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

“I’m glad he’s out of prison,” Rep. Burchett told TMZ outside the event. “The party was rocking, man.”

He recalled, “I saw people getting turned away while I was coming in. I’m not used to that,” adding, “They had caviar, which I’ve never actually seen in real life… They had these humongous shrimp and then they had that chocolate fountain.”

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lol wut? The guy's a 61yo congreeman, has never seen caviar and gets excited over a chocolate fountain?

sjastro said:

Let's look at your snake image, if the rock has been reduced to a melted paste why not shape the snake in a single scoop instead of segmented scoops?
The reason is quite simple, this is a relief cut where a series of overlapping holes were drilled which were then chiselled out and gives the segmented appearance. This was explained to you but alas due to cognitive dissonance it didn't register.

As an AI exercise I asked it how it was produced.

The difference in my response to AI is I based it on the Egyptian method of drilled overlapping holes whereas for AI the holes are not overlapped but the manufacturing principles are similar.
Even if AI is a dumb language model why is there no reference to stone softening and scooping, since you rather disingenuously try to portray this as established science it should have fallen within the range of an AI response.

Click to expand...

As a further AI exercise I asked if the snake shape could have been the result of melting and scooping.

---

Could this shape have been produced by melting and scooping?​

No. The physical features visible in the image are all consistent with mechanical removal of material, not melting.

---

1. The depressions are circular and uniform​

The small cavities in the vertical line are true circles of similar diameter.

• Melted and scooped material does not naturally form repeated, identical, circular holes.
• Circular holes are a known outcome of drilling or repeated percussion with a fixed-diameter tool.

---

2. The holes follow a straight axis​

The depressions form a straight line, with consistent spacing.

• Thermal softening or erosion does not create a straight sequence of evenly spaced depressions.
• Straight, evenly spaced holes are diagnostic of a deliberate mechanical technique used to weaken stone along a line so it can be split.

---

⚒️ 3. The interior texture shows brittle fracture, not flow​

A melted-and-scooped surface would show:

• smoothed or glassy interiors
• sagging, flowing forms
• soft edges

Instead, the walls show:

• granular fracture
• chipped edges
• powdery or micro-flaked surfaces

These occur when stone is struck or drilled, not heated.

---

4. The upper cavity does not match melted shapes​

The larger cavity above the row of holes has:

• uneven edges
• mechanical chipping
• no signs of fused or softened material

If material were melted and removed, we would expect:

• rounded, fluid margins
• continuous curvature
• a unified flow texture

Instead, we see something that is more consistent with mechanical hollowing or later weathering of a mechanically made recess.

---

️ 5. Weathering can make the pattern look organic​

Wind, rain, and mineral oxidation can soften the edges of already-existing mechanical tool marks.


This can make a row of holes resemble:

• a snake-like figure
• a stylized groove
• an organic form

But the underlying geometry—repetition, circularity, straight alignment—reveals a mechanical origin.

---

6. Summary: Why melting is ruled out​

Evidence in the photo	What it indicates
Repeated circular holes	Mechanical drilling/percussion
Straight alignment	A deliberate split line
Consistent diameter	A fixed-size tool, not melting
Granular fractured surfaces	Impact or drilling
No fluid textures	Not melted
Organic look only after weathering	Appearance, not origin

All diagnostic features match mechanical tool action, not thermal alteration.

---

If you want, I can also redo this in a short bullet list, show how this compares to real melted stone, or explain how the tool method works.

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Apple Sky said:

This is not figurative.

King James Bible
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

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It does not delve into the mechanics of whether they are generating light or reflecting light. Obviously there is no conflict with Scripture when we understand that the moon is reflecting the sun's light, since that would by its very nature make it a lesser light.

essentialsaltes said:

Don't forget the attic. Classic hiding place.

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durangodawood said:

Good point. I expect hiding places to be covered in the training brochure.

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Tell Anne, hi.

rjs330 said:

Thats a terrible assumption to make. If you listen to her story you might realize she wrote to tell the story of the horrors of Islamism. Because she lived it. Would she be more believable if her story didn't make her book didn't sell?

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There's a lot of money to be made in the anti-Islam industry, and many ex-Muslims have discovered this. Anytime I see an ex-Muslim who frequently appears on right-wing platforms promoting their books or sharing horror stories, I question their sincerity and motivations.

rjs330 said:

As we have seen in the US already places that have been Essentially taken over by the Islamic community. Places in Europe are even worse off.

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Have you been to any of these places in the US and Europe that you believe have been taken over by the Islamic community?

Thank yo

jacks said:

I like 1 & 6 best. However, your poll only shows 5 choices for me?

Great book BTW.

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Thank you! I didn't realize the poll only went up to 6!

Thanks for the advice. Hopefully I can look into a book like that sometime.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is no stranger to losing grand jury cases, but now that federal agents have moved into Chicago, prosecutors there are being blocked from prosecutions, too.

The first time it happened in November, a magistrate judge said that until recently, he'd only ever heard of a grand jury rejecting a prosecution once in the "early part of this century." Now it's happened three times in the past few months.

Nathan Griffin, who is a manager of the Lake View comedy club, the Laugh Factory, was accused of assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent who was involved in the operation. He was accused of trying to shut a car door when the agent was getting out of the car.

While grand juries have cleared three people, at least 13 defendants have had charges against them dropped that are connected to the "Operation Midway Blitz" efforts.

Thus far, prosecutors have not secured a single conviction of individuals arrested for charges connected to "Midway Blitz," the report said.

Michie said:

Editors’ note: The Christian Post Opinion Page has published two countering views on Calvinism. To read the opposing view in the piece titled “Which comes first in salvation order: Faith or regeneration?” click here.

Want to know a secret? If you’re a Christian, you were saved before you knew you were.

Now, I’ll bet that the vast majority of you reading this think that you made a personal decision — all on your lonesome — to receive Christ, and once done, you were a child of God in the faith. John Chipman believes this, as evidenced by his article, “Which comes first in salvation order: Faith or regeneration?”

He says, “Faith precedes regeneration. Always. For everyone.”

Many think that the reverse is heresy and short-circuited. Still, I’m going to ask you to give me a few moments to make a case for the position of regeneration (the Spirit’s supernatural work of giving spiritual life to us, transforming the heart, and enabling faith, so that we become a new creation in Christ), preceding faith. I used to believe the reverse in my earlier Christian walk, but am now convinced that we can’t make that move of commitment towards God until He enables us to do it.

Continued below.

Want to know a secret? You’re saved before you know it

Want to know a secret If you re a Christian, you were saved before you knew you were

www.christianpost.com

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Want to know the truth - the writer is wrong.

Hindu persecution of Christians in India has been steadily increasing since the BJP came to power. St. Thomas, pray for us! St. Stephen the Illustrious Protomartyr, pray for us! St. James the Great and St. James the Just, pray for us! St. George the Great Martyr, pray for us! Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, save O Lord Thy flock in India.

Jerry N. said:

Why?

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I'm guessing they expect the propellant exhaust to be visible.

On Tuesday, a Utah court ordered John Banuelos held in jail until a January hearing. Banuelos was charged with kidnapping and sexual assault in November after DNA collected during the Jan. 6 prosecutions was matched with a cold case in Utah.

essentialsaltes said:

Ignoring evidence, Kristi Noem says no citizens have been detained by immigration agents​

Noem’s comments might’ve appeared encouraging to those who don’t know better, but there’s ample evidence to suggest she was lying.

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Here's a new version from her hearing today. per atrupar

MAGAZINER (RI): How many veterans have you deported?
NOEM: We haven't deported veterans
MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea

It's just another example of Trump hiding embarrassing/incriminating evidence from Americans. Nothing new here.

ThatRobGuy said:

For certain technologies, that can be true.

Although, even for those, we still have people in the legislature who are in their 60's, and will likely stick around another 15-20 years if they had their way. And they're likely behind that curve.


AI appears to be a different beast in terms of how quickly things go from "new to obsolete".

Being in the field, I go to the major conferences every year, stay on top of changes and new releases as much as one can, etc...

The features/toolsets change very rapidly.

AI-based tools - and the knowledge required to use them proficiently - have changed more in the last 2 years (and will change more in the next year), than Microsoft's Visual Studio offering (an IDE for programming for those who don't know) has changed in the last 10-15 years.

A person who was familiar with building solutions using Visual Studio 2012 (and haven't touched it since) wouldn't have that drastic of a learning curve if they cracked open VS 2022 and started tinkering around with it, there would be a lot that felt familiar. The same will certainly not be true for the various AI toolsets out there.

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Thats insider stuff. Time in a dev environment or similar should not be a pre req to effective representation. That would be like expecting all congress people to be medical doctors if they are going to deal with health care matters.

We just need people who can A. relate to what the typical contemporary consumer is going through. and B. are educatable and responsive to ever changing tech and its consequences. I do get that many in congress dont cant satisfy either of those. But age will be increasingly less an indicator. The generations who do seem have a mental block re tech are naturally receding.