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  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

‘Joseph Didn’t Make It’—Chicago-Area Church Updates Already Controversial Nativity Scene

Wannabee dictators know how to deal with violence. But unless they have complete control of the society, they are helpless before ridicule. The collapse of Trump's attempt to take over Portland lies not in mobs answering violence with violence, but with giant frogs doing the hokey pokey.

Jesus would approve.
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Trump Admin Removes MLK Day, Juneteenth From National Parks Fee-Free Days (but adds Trump's Birthday!)

About face: Lawsuit targets plan to put Trump's image on popular national parks pass

An environmental organization on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over plans to use a rendering of Trump on an all-access annual national parks pass for next year, characterizing the move as the "crassest, most ego-driven action yet" from the administration.

Federal law requires the pass to feature the winning photo of the National Parks Foundation's annual public lands photo contest, which for the 2026 pass is an image of Montana's Glacier National Park, the organization said.

[federal law schmederal law]

View attachment 374328


"Instead of filing frivolous lawsuits, this leftist group should be thanking President Trump for enhancing opportunities for Americans to enjoy our beautiful national parks," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in response to the suit.

Looks better than mine.

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Poll: Which Book Cover Do You Like Best... Thank you

Ah, I see now. A google search tells me that Mere Christianity has been published with more different covers than I realized. The cover designs on my two copies look like this, both fairly simple:

mc_cover1.jpgmc_cover2.jpg


So I guess my previous comments should be directed to the publishers, not to you. But I'll stick with my earlier thoughts. Publishers shouldn't add subtitles that Lewis didn't write, and they shouldn't Americanize his spelling.
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Is Hell Annihilationism or Eternal Torment

That's wrong, because here's why God created languages. This will prove that "mans wisdom" contributed nothing.

Genesis 11:7-9​

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.​

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

So yes, you can burn your diploma :wave:


So God "created" the English language [and all of the languages spoken around the world today] during the Tower of Babel incident? Really?

Well, whatever the case may be, I'm not worried that Hell is either an ongoing fire or an extinguishment from existence. Both are bad and I'm open to either perspective.
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Want to know a secret? You’re saved before you know it

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.
"All on your lonesome" is what is known as a straw man. It wrongly characterizes other peoples' beliefs, then sets out to disprove it. I don't doubt that there may be some people out there who think salvation comes after a strictly personal decision without any outside influences, but I have not encountered any. So I dougt seriously that "the vast majority of you reading this" think that way.
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The law, the commandments, and Christians.

The 10 are presented to a post-exodus Israel and establish a covenant relationship. They are framed in a way for a specific time, place and people and we shouldn't expect them to be universal as they were never presented that way. We cannot superimpose the 10 over Christian living and expect the same results because we are not in the same conditions the 10 were made in. The 10 have monotheistic claims and moral pillars framed in a way that uniquely challenges Israel and the surrounding cultures (through Israel). In the NT Christ reframes these as a heuristic approach over a list of dos and donts that is often summed up by NT authors as "loving your neighbour as yourself,"; this is known as "Christ's law".

It is this law that is fundamental and reaches deeper than the 10 can ever. First, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,” this includes the monotheistic claims of the 10 but also far greater. it is not only about idolatry, graven images and using his name in vain (which of course are not consistent with loving God with all your heart), but also innately our every action as directly involved with obedience to love God. Christ calls this the greatest commandment. The second is to love your neighbour as yourself. and this certainly includes not murdering your neighbour, stealing, lying, sleeping with their wife, etc... but it goes far deeper. We are no longer merely resisting doing harm, but Christ flips it and tells us we should be actively seeking to love others.

The 10 simply do not go to this length, and I may keep the 10 but hate my neighbour (and yes, even hate God), which is inconsistent with Christ's law. We cannot approach Christ if we cannot seriously approach our own actions critically to align with Christ. Christ's law has this goal, where the 10 are lacking, and we can keep the 10 while failing to critically address sin in our lives. This is the conversation Christ has with the Pharisees; it wasn't about how well they kept the law, Christ was more interested in their heart. The heuristic approach in Christ's law is not about a check list, and we must actively participate in understanding how our actions contribute to loving God/neighbour.

In its day the 10 were radical claims and ways of thinking challenging not just Israel but surrounding cultures too as a polemic to show order and restoration under God, but Christ's goes deeper than the 10 ever can; He is interested in letters of not just "the heart" but "OUR heart" which is the place where the value is birthed, but he is not interested in the letters on stone which can be exploited to support our own sin and may be devorced from our heart. It is good to think that murder, adultery, stealing, etc... are wrong but most (if not all) would accept this throughout all of civilization without any prompting and the 10 do not hold dominion over these moral claims. It is better to cut to the heart over a motivation to resist evil (which is limited, especially when condensed to 10), but actively be involved with doing good in all our actions. Christ himself tells us "it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath" (Mat 12:12), establishing that goodness itself is above sabbath law (directly) but also more broadly is a comment on all law and a nod to his own commandment that is Christ's law. This focus you will find is far more consistent throughout the NT.
I agree with most of this completely and yet this is the very reason Jesus could truthfully say in Matt 19:17,
"If you want to enter life, keep the commandments”, referencing the ten,

and Paul could say In Rom 2:13:
"For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous."

or in Rom 8:12-14
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God."

The new covenant is not about whether one must be obedient but rather about how one becomes obedient, authentically, and, yes, love, which fulfills the law by its nature (Rom 13:10), is that authentic means. It's the righteousness that the law and prophets only testify to but cannot accomplish in us (Rom 3:21-22). That accomplishment comes solely by virtue of becoming united with the Vine, by communion with God, the very source of love. And that union, that ingrafting, is first established by faith.
"...not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith" (Phil 3:9).
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Donald Trump Says US To Launch Land Action in Venezuela ‘Very Soon’

Oil futures rose yesterday after news of the ship's seizure was announced.

"This is just yet another geopolitical/sanctions headwind hammering spot supply availability," Rory Johnston, an analyst with Commodity Context, said.

Good job Donald. It's almost as though he wants to increase the price oil. Shell oil, who ships 150,000 barrels per day to the US from Venezuela, should be happy with higher prices though.

Clearly you don't understand the 4 dementia chess Trump is playing. Gas is at the lowest price in decades. View attachment 374343
Taken two days ago.

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Date of authorship of Revelation

Before anyone becomes a Christian they are “in the world“ , they are unconverted and still in their sins. The scripture says all have sinned, just what is it that determines this ? What is that we have done that makes us sinners ? Scripture says we need Jesus to have these sins forgiven, so we need Jesus to take away whatever it is that says we are sinners. I know we are saved from our sins but what is it that calls us sinners
because that is what we need saved from. All people need saved from whatever it is that calls us sinners. People in the past, the present and the future all need saved from whatever it is that says we are sinners.
Sure, we need saved from sin but sin is the result of whatever it is that defines what sin is. What is it ?
Adam, and Eve the first sinners. God created everything good and very good so no disease or pain or death but they broke Gods one command to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good, and evil so God cursed the world in Genesis 3. All humans after them have 'sinned'. Creation was around 5500 BC. Creation . com and answers in genesis have articles about creation vs evolution biology fossils etc if someone has not looked into that already.

Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

So apparently Gods perfect law involves sacrificing animals on a temple mount temple in Judea, not wearing mixed fabrics, stoning other people to death, not eating shellfish, not once lying. So everyone has broken those laws. And it was saying even if someone followed all it still doesn't make them righteous only belief in Jesus death burial resurrection does. Eventually in Revelation 20-22 in the future in the new Jerusalem there is no more curse from Genesis 3. Believers have glorified bodies not ones that get sick and worn out like on earth, and believers life forever with God Jesus angels etc.

1 Corinthians 2 9 No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him

1. The Origin of Human Sin — Adam’s Fall

Genesis 3 (the entire chapter)

Human sin begins when Adam and Eve disobey God.

Specific verse describing the consequence:

Genesis 3:6

“The woman took of the fruit… and ate; she also gave to her husband… and he ate.”
This act introduces sin and death into human history.

Genesis 3:17

“Because you have eaten… cursed is the ground because of you.”

2. All Humans Inherit a Sinful Nature

Psalm 51:5

“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
Shows sin is not just actions — it’s a condition.

Job 14:4

“Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one.”
This describes inherited impurity.


⚖️ 3. All People Commit Sin

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
This is the clearest universal statement.

1 Kings 8:46

“There is no one who does not sin.”
Even the Old Testament states universal sinfulness.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”

4. Adam as the Source of Human Sin

Paul’s theology directly connects all human sin to Adam’s act.

Romans 5:12

“Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”

Romans 5:19

“Through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners.”
This explains why we are sinners — we inherited Adam’s fallen condition.


5. Sin is Universal in the Human Heart

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”

Mark 7:21–23

Jesus explains sin comes from within:

“From within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts… All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

6. Humans Cannot Attain Righteousness on Their Own

Isaiah 64:6

“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”
Even our best deeds cannot erase our sinfulness.


Summary: Why Humans Are Sinners (Biblical Teaching)

  1. Adam’s original rebellion brought sin into the human race (Rom. 5:12).
  2. All humans inherit a sinful nature (Ps. 51:5).
  3. All commit personal sins (Rom. 3:23).
  4. The human heart is corrupted and produces evil (Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21).
  5. No one is righteous by themselves (Eccl. 7:20; Isa. 64:6).
Put together:

We are sinners both by inheritance and by personal choice.
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Inspired texts outside the protestant canon

Lets keep the context of the conversation, claiming that there exists " inspired" texts outside the Tannak and New Testament.

This is the comment I am referring to:

"Actually at the time of Christ different groups of Jews recognized different lists of books as Holy Scripture. "

This is what Jesus Christ of Nazareth said about traditions of men:

Mark 7:8-9, 13 (NKJV):
“For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. ... making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Matthew 22:29 (NKJV):
> “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.’

During His ministry, Christ Jesus challenged Jewish leaders who derived their authority from sources beyond the established written Tannak. The primary target of His condemnation was the Pharisaic Oral Tradition (the "tradition of the elders"), which they treated as divine law, yet He rebuked them for allowing these man-made rules to nullify the written Word of God (Mark 7:8, 13, NKJV). Separately, groups like the Essenes relied on circulating Apocryphal and Pseudepigraphical books for unique doctrines, while the Sadducees rejected everything but the Torah. By consistently citing and emphasizing the entirety of the written Scriptures and condemning the Sadducees for "not knowing the Scriptures" (Matthew 22:29, NKJV), Jesus fundamentally rejected the legitimacy of any new, non-prophetic authority, be it oral legalism or speculative literature, that attempted to supplant or add to the authority of God's established written revelation.
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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anyone know anything about Gematria?

Consider, the wisdom of God, with which all creation was made, included mathematics, which had always been in the wisdom of God. It was necessarily present in God's wisdom, as God is triune in being. If God was not triune but solitary in being, there would be nothing of mathematics from that, as there would be nothing but solitary unity, everything would be just a value of one, and no other numbers. Love God has requires more than one, and creation would not come with no number but one. God's creation is possible as it comes from love that God has, and has without limit.
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Etymology of bible words jew, jewish, gentile, judaism

The

This is a long discussion/explanation and requires academic readings. But in short Chat GPT is correct; The term "yehudi/Jew" comes from the Southern kingdom of "Judah" vs The Northern kingdom of "Israel".

It becomes way more complicated when using the term "JUDAISM" and Chat GPT does do a decent job explaining that term because pre-70 AD it was not used as a term for a religious system. A better translation back then would be "the way of the Judeans" and not Judaism.
yep thanks for the comment. I don't use the word judaism or jew-ish due to the confusion it causes. If i say jews I say OT Jews or OT jews at Jesus time to put it in historical context. The word jew jewish judaism appears zero times in the dead sea scrolls of enoch, jubilees, test of the 12, war scroll, damascus document, community rule, temple scroll, and every single other non protestant OT scroll. it does appear in Isaiah once in the DSS. ofc if someone reads about the dss the authors say jews wrote them and a jewish community and judaism blah blah blah... the words are thrown around really loosely and just wrongly
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Do All Religions Lead To God?

It gets very confusing with all the different religions and claims that this or that belief or ideas from various movements that they have the path that leads to God, so is it. But when you hear a Christian religious leader or teacher claim that all religions lead on a path to God, that raises questions. Scripture is clear that is not the case. We find it in John 14...

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus declares that the only way to God is through Him.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=5fd0...cmVsaWdpb25zX2xlYWRfdG9fb25lX2dvZC5odG0&ntb=1

God hides things

While I am sympathetic to the extra books, I choose to just rely on the Holy Spirit if there are gaps in my knowledge. I am not saying they are not be useful but thus far in my walk the bible seems more than sufficient to learn.
Alright. Well you are missing out on a lot. 2 Esdras says in the extra books is knowledge, wisdom, and understanding which is why they are only for the wise, and why God hides them from someone with not enough faith. Those that have more will be given etc. I'd recommend getting stuck into 1 Enoch the most important oldest book in history written before Noahs flood.
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Breaking Up With Toxic Femininity

Femininity is a gift given to us by God. It’s not toxic, and it’s not a problem. In fact, we need femininity. Women are the heart of society, and a weak heart will beget a dying culture. As Anthony Esolen wrote in his book No Apologies, “The masculine and feminine stand and fall together.”

The Not-So-Nice Voice Crying Out in the Wilderness

The Baptist, then, was not standing at the crossroads warmly greeting the pilgrims, saying, “All you need is faith alone, and you are saved! All are welcome! Have a nice time in Jerusalem!” No, he didn’t say that because merely being a member of a particular race of people, even the race chosen by God, was not good enough.

Old Time Thomistic Metaphysics

From our morning coffee routine to scientific research, we are a bundle of habits. Good habits are virtues; bad habits are vices. Whether good or bad, our habits govern the faculties of our souls and shape our emotions. At times, vices intermingle with virtues like poison ivy hidden among flourishing foliage. Healthy introspection, aided by God’s grace, helps us identify and distinguish our virtues from our vices. The classic teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, rooted in the wisdom of the great pagan philosophers, provide a stable framework for self-understanding.

Weekly homilies

Homily Friday, December 12 2025



Isaiah 48:17-19

“Your peace would be like a river, your vindication like the waves of the sea.”



By allowing the Lord to live within us and receive his grace, we open a window of possibilities.



Matthew 11:16-19

“We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.”



Sometimes we are ingenious in seeking all sorts of ways to reach people, but in our experience, this doesn't work. The shortest path is to lead the person into God’s heart to notice and receive his grace.



Biblical texts: NAB-RE

Normand Thomas.
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Second Week of Advent (Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary)

December 11, 2025

Our Morning Offering – 11 December – O Gloriosa Femina, O Glorious Maid, Exalted Far


One Minute Reflection – 11 December – “Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”- Matthew 25:21

Saint Damasus propers & commentary (EF)

Feria (Second Sunday of Advent) propers (EF)

Thursday of the Second Week of Advent (EF)

Thursday of the Second Week of Advent readings & commentary (OF)
Saint Damasus I, Pope—Optional Memorial

Thursday of the Second Week of Advent; Opt Mem of St. Damasus I, Pope readings & commentary (OF)

Daily Gospel

ADVENTCAzT 2025: 12 – Thursday 2nd Week of Advent

Saint Damasus Pope

Pope Damasus: The Faith, the Bible and the Mass of All Time

Pope St. Damasus I

Saints of the Day

Sermons for Everyday Living - St Damasus 12/11/25

Audio version of Gueranger
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Novena to St. Lucy For Eye Health & Spiritual Sight

12/11/25 Day 8

O St. Lucy, whose name proclaims the radiance of light, we approach you with humble confidence to seek your holy intercession. Obtain for us, through your prayers, that sacred illumination which guides our souls away from the shadows of sin and leads us toward the brightness of virtue.

Obtain for us also these petitions which we offer to you in this novena:

[Mention your petitions now]

We beseech you, St. Lucy, through your powerful advocacy before the throne of the Lamb, the protection of our eye sight, and for the grace to employ our eyes always in service of God’s glory and never for that which offends His divine majesty.

Help us to perceive with clarity the truths of our faith and the needs of our neighbor, that we may walk steadfastly in the light of Christ and labor earnestly for the salvation of souls.

Pray for us, St. Lucy, that having honored you as our advocate in this earthly pilgrimage, we may one day behold with you the eternal splendor of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose divine light all shadows flee away forever. Amen.
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