Twelve-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte revealed on Instagram this week that he had gotten baptized and rededicated his life to Jesus. The news comes amid the Olympic swimmer’s divorce and months after he revealed he had gone to rehab and was staying sober.

“I love sharing my life with my fans/followers. In this season of growing, I have learned that the only thing that truly matters is what God thinks of me,” said Lochte in the caption of his Nov. 2 post. “I made the decision to rededicate my life to Jesus and today I was baptized!”

“My heart is full of so much love and happiness and I’m just so thankful for everything God is doing and going to do in my life,” he said. “Thank you for all those who have loved and supported me throughout my life, you mean so much to me!”

In his post, Lochte tagged Canvas Churchin Alachua, Florida.

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Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Rabbi Jason Sobel is one of the advisors on the acclaimed series “The Chosen” and, as such, gives input regarding the Jewish context of the show. In a recent interview with ChurchLeaders, Sobel shared that he led a Passover Seder meal for the cast prior to them filming the Last Supper scene for Season 5.

“I got to do a Last Supper for all of the cast of ‘The Chosen’ before they filmed it,” said Sobel. “Jonathan [Roumie], who plays Jesus, a friend of mine, he would come to my house to learn about the Jewish holidays. He was at my house for Passover—the Last Supper was a Passover Seder.”

Sobel mentioned, laughing, “And my son turns to me and says, ‘Dad, it’s really weird that Jesus is at the table and you’re leading the Passover.’”

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Michie said:

A British pastor was warned by a police officer that a Bible verse displayed on the back of his campervan could be considered “hate speech” if reported. The conversation occurred at a petrol station and was described as advisory.

Mick Fleming, 59, a former drug dealer-turned-pastor who now lives in his van, had John 3:16 prominently displayed on the vehicle. The verse reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

The incident took place late last month in Burnley, a town in Lancashire, where Fleming was approached by a police officer who tapped him on the shoulder and offered what the pastor described as a friendly warning, The Telegraphreported.

The officer reportedly told him, “A bit of advice — the writing could be seen as hate speech in the wrong context. I am just giving you a heads up.” Fleming said the officer emphasized that the warning was not part of an investigation or arrest but was intended to alert him that the display might lead to a police inquiry if someone filed a complaint.

Fleming recounted the exchange on his YouTube channel and posed the question to his audience about whether a Bible verse such as John 3:16 could reasonably be considered offensive.

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Pastor warned John 3:16 Bible verse display may violate ‘hate speech’ law

A police officer warned a pastor that a Bible verse displayed on the back of his campervan could be considered hate speech if reported The conversation occurred at a petrol station and was described

www.christianpost.com

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Here’s a link to his YouTube channel for anyone who wants to support him.

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Praying for Israel and Jerusalem is about G-d's glory filling the earth.

Why is He so passionate about this one geographical location? It is difficult to understand the Almighty's burning zeal for a seemingly insignificant city in the Middle East unless we realise that it is and will be the capital of G-d's kingdom when Jesus returns to restore all things.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the G-d of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Isa 2:2-3

Isaiah describes the millennial Messianic kingdom as in Micah 4:1-5. G-d's government (mountain) will be established over all the kingdoms of this world; Gentiles (nations) and Jews (peoples) will do the will of G-d; justice and peace will reign.

At the end of days, Jerusalem will be established and will be the capital of the world, both spiritually and politically. The Gentile nations will make pilgrimages to Zion to worship and receive divine instruction.

It is important to understand why we pray for the destiny of Israel and Jerusalem, otherwise we lack the motivation to stand with G-d for Israel and Jerusalem. Jerusalem is probably the most controversial (and most hated) city on earth. Before the return of Jesus, Scripture clearly states that all nations will take a stand against the city of Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:3; 14:2; Psalm 83:2-8).

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Zec 12:3

For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Zec 14:2

Keep not thou silence, O G-d: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O G-d. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Ps 83:1-7

It will become increasingly unpopular to take a stand for Israel and Jerusalem in any form. If we do not clearly understand from G-d's Word why we are committed to Israel and Jerusalem, we will retreat in the days ahead. The salvation of Israel and the restoration of Jerusalem under the reign of Jesus is at the heart of G-d's plan to bring His kingdom in fullness to earth and fill the earth with His glory (Isaiah 11:9; 61:11).

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Isa 11:9

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord G-d will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. Isa 61:11

G-d is committed to the salvation of Israel so that His own glory may be revealed throughout the earth. His plan is to redeem the whole earth. His means for this strategy is the redeemed and restored nation of Israel under the leadership of Jesus. G-d told Abraham (Genesis 12:3) that through his descendants all nations would be blessed. Israel is G-d's means of redemption for all nations; all who accept Jesus Christ.

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord G-d; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord G-d, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. Ezek 36:22-23

For if the casting away of them [Jews] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? Rom 11:15

Through the rejection of the Jewish people, the Gentiles had the opportunity to be reconciled to G-d. When the Jews themselves are reconciled, what will this be other than life from the dead?

G-d made a covenant with his friend Abraham that through his descendants all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). He confirmed the covenant with Isaac and then with Jacob. At the heart of the covenant was G-d's promise to redeem and restore the whole earth through the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, thereby bringing blessing to all nations.

It is through the seed of Abraham, Jesus, that the nations will be blessed. Part of this blessing (a firstfruit) was released through his death and resurrection, whereby he gained authority to rule over the earth and restore all things. However, it is not G-d's intention to simply redeem human souls, but to free the whole creation from the curse (Romans 8:20-24).

Jesus did not exercise his dominion over the earth in a manifest political manner during his first coming. This will be different when he returns. The second coming of Jesus marks the beginning of a period of 1,000 years, known as the Millennium, the Messianic Kingdom or the 1,000-year reign. This period is also known as the time of restoration of all things (Acts 3:21) or the Messianic Age, which was prophesied by the OT prophets. What the Jews expected of Jesus at his first coming, he will accomplish at his second coming.

The Bible is very clear that Jesus, as the last Adam, will reign over an earthly kingdom that will encompass all other kingdoms. When we pray, ‘Thy kingdom come,’ do we realise that there will be a dramatic, literal response that will disrupt the entire social order of the planet? G-d's plan, through Jesus, is a complete takeover of planet Earth. Jesus is coming back to finish the job! He will restore all things, bring the whole earth back under G-d's rule, and fulfil G-d's promise to Abraham.

And in the days of these kings shall the G-d of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Dan 2:44

I was terrorfied my exorcist whould be mad at me, but not at all. I was completely surprised and also scared as he blessed a resurrected cross for me during a session.

I wonder if he was just so happy that I wanted that.

He even kissed the large crucifix for my home prayer nook before he gave it to me!

On Sunday (Nov. 2), Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch shared a two-minute video to over a million of his social media followers explaining the difference between religion and a relationship with Jesus.

Formed in 1993, Korn is one of the world’s best-known nu metal bands and has received multiple awards, including two Grammys.

“Religion and religious people will pile on you loads and loads of guilt,” said Welch. “They tower over you with their self righteousness to make you feel that you are way beneath them, in order to keep you in that spirit of control over your life.”

Welch shared that he has seen it “countless times” and described religion as a “cancer to spirituality,” saying that it “chases so many people away from even the thought of relationship with Christ.”

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Clare73 said:

Previously addressed. . .see post #2.

Can you choose to be sinless, to never sin?
If you can, why have you not done so?

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Can you choose to live a perfectly sinless life?

RainySunflower said:

I follow Watchman River, and he has a point. ^^ Every time I open any of his videos, literally at least 6-7 articles which prove end times point. ^^ So yeah, The Great Frying is coming soon. ^^

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I stopped watching him a few years ago as he was part of the problem pushing rapture dates. But the world is definitely getting closer in what looks like the trib will start soon. I believe the great falling away has already happened and the chess pieces are moving into position. Personally, I think it'll be at some point after Trumps term in office because it looks like all the wrong people are getting into power right now.

English Literature students at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom have been warned: Scripture contains some “graphic bodily injury and sexual violence.” Specifically, the institution highlighted the Old Testament account of Cain killing Abel and the gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Other literary works also receive trigger warnings, the university explained. In a statement, it said that type of “content note is a standard academic tool used to signpost when sensitive or graphic content will be discussed.”

But critics called the move a form of censorship, saying it is “misguided” and “absurd” to label God’s Word as potentially triggering.

Bible Receives Trigger Warning from University of Sheffield​

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o_mlly said:

Your zeal for the Word of God is admirable. See Genesis 1:3. Let there be peace between us.

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Thanks. Likewise.

I would say that these verses are about moving things, separating, organizing, structuring. As opposed to material objects simply coming into existence. Light, like darkness, particularly in old testament times, were not viewed as physical objects as we think of them today in terms of photons.

Genesis 1:3-4, 6-7, 9-10 ESV
[3] And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. [4] And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

[6] And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” [7] And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.

[9] And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. [10] God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

I would say that these verse are more about organizing, separating, ordering things. Rather than ex nihilo creating things. Gathering waters, separating them, separating light from dark.

And we see this elsewhere as well:
Psalm 104:2, 5 ESV
[2] covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
[5] He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

Taking the heavens that are already there and stretching them out.

Or here is an interesting one:
Wisdom of Solomon 11:17
For your all-powerful hand, which created the world out of formless matter, did not lack the means to send upon them a multitude of bears or bold lions.

When we look at old testament texts closely, we see this theme come out again and again. The material, the formless earth. It was already there.

Wisdom of Solomon is considered apocrypha or deuterocononical, but it gives us a window or a reference into the ancient world and how things were viewed back then.

wing2000 said:

The last time I checked, the Russians and Ukranians were still shooting at each other. And Israel resumed bombing in Gaza. Is that what you call peace?

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Did I say Russia Ukraine?

wing2000 said:

The border is still open for commerce. And illega immigrants are still being detained. The border is not "closed."

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ILLEGAL border crossing have dropped 96% over the Biden fiasco - and who in their right mind would want to stop commerce? Talk about grasping at straws...

wing2000 said:

Peace? Unleashing thugs with badges to terrorize neighborhoods is your version of peace?

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As far as I know, only the violent criminals and those who support their violence call law enforcement thugs. I could be wrong, but those thugs are saving innocent people lives and livelihoods.

wing2000 said:

Making healt insurance unaffordable is a victory?

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Obama and his sycophants said it did - and they still do - throwing hundreds of millions of dollars into a system that threw millions of people off their health insurance and giving subsidies to people making millions of dollars a year, while pouring billions of our dollars into the Insurance and pharmaceuticals industry.

wing2000 said:

Say, what is your solution? Do you have more than "concepts of a plan" to offer?

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I don't and neither do you.

And Chuck Schumer exposed his support for big Pharma when he walked off the Senate floor in a huff when questioned.

What do you think of when you think of waving palm branches on Palm Sunday, a day that commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey? The images likely evoke the ideas of a humble king coming in peace.

However, if you were knowledgeable about the Jewish culture of the time, you would recognize that the palm branches had quite a different meaning for the people who welcomed Jesus.

“It’s exactly the exact opposite,” said Rabbi Jason Sobel, who joined ChurchLeaders for an interview about his new book, “Transformed by the Messiah: How Old and New Testament Jesus Connections Reveal God’s Intentional Story for Your Life,” which is out now.

“Historically, when you look at Second Temple Judaism, when you read the works of Josephus, or you read about the story of the Maccabees, which Hanukkah is about,” said Sobel, “really, the palm branch became a sign of Israel’s national independence that they won after military victories.”

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Best advice to find God every day, highly recommended by many Catholic Priests

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The results of the elections on Tuesday were in favor of democrats in democrat states who were forecasted to win.
There was no blue wave.

timothyu said:

How quickly it became an unfruitful olive tree

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Nonsense. The only unfruitful aspect is the enduring schisms which began with Byzantine and Frankish politics and which were exacerbated by later corruption in the Roman church leading to the Reformation and Counter-Reformation (nothing like that has ever happened in the Christian East, which are neither Reformed nor counter-Reformed, because the constant fruit of martyrs we bear under Islamic and Communist persecution results in us not having the time for schism and heresy).

9Rock9 said:

I've always admired Orthodox Christianity. I find the mystery and mysticism appealing. However, I am still a staunch Protestant in some of my convictions like sola scriptura and justification by faith alone.

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I still am decidedly Protestant in my ecclesiology, especially in embracing the priesthood of every believer. My inclination is more towards the Wesleyan quadrilateral, especially since I don't see a neat way to separate tradition(little t) from Scripture as far as determining the canon and establishing its authority without circularity.

9Rock9 said:

I find the Orthodox view of the afterlife intriguing, but idk enough about it to actually have an opinion on it either way.

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I'm not sure which one you're refering to, as there are a couple. The most outlandish beiing Aerial Toll-Houses

9Rock9 said:

I always figured I'd make a good monk, but that's not really a thing in evangelical Protestantism.

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A lot of introverts feel this way...the cenobite life has a certain appeal, and I feel like its a major missing factor in Protestant spirituality though I understand why from a doctrinal standpoint.

9Rock9 said:

I guess I'd describe myself as Evangelical in beliefs, but prefer Eastern styles and aesthetics.

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I'm kind of flipped, Eastern in my approach to theology and beliefs, but prefer Baptist style worship and liturgy(for lack of a better word)

The iconic view of the Bible is a big part of why I'm able to accept more controversial views like mytho-history and also why I'm able to not shy away from deconstructive scholarship to engage with secular scholars of religion.

Arcangl86 said:

Wow. She's doing well that by herself? With that much power does she even need to be in Congress to "destroy the USA"

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She was Speaker of the House and has been the leader of the democrats in the House of Representatives
for decades. Hakeem Jefferies is now the corrupt leader, but Pelosi still has much power and influence in the DNC.

On Wednesday, Nov. 5, UniteUS, the movement that has reached thousands of college students for Jesus, held an event near the campuses of the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, and Cincinnati State College.

Over 5,500 people attended the event that took place at Heritage Bank Center, which is directly located next to Great American Ball Park—home of the Cincinnati Reds. As they entered the arena, attendees were met with three pickup trucks filled with water in preparation for spontaneous baptisms that would follow the event inside.

ChurchLeaders witnessed Dove Award-nominated worship group Elevation Rhythm starting the night off leading worship. That was followed by Bible teacher, author, and podcaster Jennie Allen pleading with the students to follow Jesus.

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No different than the Novus Ordo format. Only those ignorant of the Novus Ordo would
believe in the difference.

Servus said:

I said perhaps worse before it gets better. Not it will end up as a disaster.

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You have no policy to reference and are only assuming things could get worse—Got it!

During a recent interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters, Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, shared that she hasn’t watched, nor ever will watch, the video of her husband’s assassination that immediately flooded social media following the shooting.

On Sept. 10, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) cofounder Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while he was speaking during his The American Comeback Tour stop at Utah Valley University.

Charlie and Erika, 36, were married in May 2021. The Kirks have two children under the age of 4.

“I never saw the video. I never will see it. I never want to see it,” Erika told Watters. “There’s certain things you see in life that you can never unsee. There’s certain things in your life that mark your soul forever.”

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NxNW said:

Irrelevant.

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It’s not irrelevant; US military power depends on global actions. You avoid discussing this because it would weaken your argument for military spending.

Hans Blaster said:

You can't be bothered to know what was being responded, but I need to read all your conversations with several posters and assess a third party. I'm not interested in discussing a third person when I am in a dialog.

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You weren't in a dialogue, you butted into a conversation that was already going.

Hans Blaster said:

You don't see how morals are demonstrably different in different societies? Get real.

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I return to my question about the holocaust.

Hans Blaster said:

Do ya think someone might not want engage in examples when the very first one offered is the morality of the Holocaust? Examples aren't needed here.

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They very much are, because the issue is whether or not what a given society considers moral makes that moral. The example was expressly chosen because it is assumed that it is indisputably immoral, but if morals vary depending on the society cannot be condemned.

Hans Blaster said:

Argue with my positions when you reply to me, not others. If you don't know what I think, ask.

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You've presented nothing worth arguing about.

Hans Blaster said:

I commented on a post about an academic paper (one that you have twice told me in *our* conversation is irrelevant and you won't discuss) that you described. I didn't think much of the paper or what it was claiming. You then responded to me 8 MINUTES after I posted not in reply to you and included several concepts that were not in my post into your reply. This is you, not me.

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Yes, I have stated that the criticisms you've lobbed aren't really relevant to the issue that was being addressed. I responded to you because the context of why that paper was even referenced in the first place matters more than the paper itself, especially given the thread topic.

Hans Blaster said:

Theory of mind is what psychologists call our understanding of the mental states of others. I used the term correctly in context. As I noted when I did, a theory of mind is one of the features that allows us to understand how our actions might make others feel and this is a key component underlying the construction of moral systems.

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I'm not up on psychologists lingo, so my confusion was more general regarding how "theory" is used.

Hans Blaster said:

Those are the moral instincts. Moral systems require the addition of values and principles placed on top of the instincts.

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Sure

Hans Blaster said:

"oughts can only be determined after the goals have been.

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Sure thing, but such artificial oughts render the whole enterprise suspect.