• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • 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.

Hundreds of jobs at stake after Campbell Soup faces possible 'shutdown' in Florida; Secret recording revelation opens 'Pandora Box'

Synopsis

Florida's Attorney General is investigating Campbell's over potential violations of the state's lab-grown meat ban, following a secret recording of an executive. The probe, triggered by concerns about 'bioengineered meat,' could lead to significant job losses in the state. This investigation intensifies scrutiny on the company's operations and regulatory compliance.​


Hundreds of jobs hang in the balance at Campbell's after Florida’s attorney general warned that he will 'shut down' any company violating the state’s ban on lab-grown meat, following the launch of an investigation. The probe was triggered by a secret recording of a company executive, which raised concerns about potential non-compliance, raising fears of large-scale layoffs at Campbell's in the region.

Attorney general James Uthmeier minced no words while reacting to a ghastly revelation which directly affects the Floridians at large.

Continued below.
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Seeking advice from lifelong virgins

I never had a girlfriend in my 22 years of life until I met the love of my life in 2024. She passed away earlier this year. She wasn't perfect but was closer to it than anyone I've ever met. Witty, innocent, gorgeous, thoughtful, forgiving, the whole 9 yards. We were waiting until marriage to have sex, both of us were virgins. She told me she didn't know what she would do if I died first, and that she would probably become a nun. I told her I would never remarry if anything were to happen to her. We didn't get a chance to get married to begin with, but sure enough, something did happen to her. I intend to honor the spirit of what I promised, I know there is no Biblical obligation, but I find it to be romantic to do so. But it has been and will be difficult for me. It's been 6 months since she passed now. I don't know why the Lord took her from this earth so early. She was just 19. I know that there's no marriage in heaven, but I really want to see her again. Without getting too graphic, we were not 100% innocent. We never had sex, but we definitely had very intimate moments together. Have I already defiled the marriage bed with her? Were/are we one flesh? Does that even matter when it comes to seeing her again? How can I find the resolve to honor what I promised to her? I don't mean to spark any played-out gender war nonsense but I am generally unimpressed with the American dating pool. I'm not necessarily longing for another woman, but I always envisioned myself having a family one day. Has anybody else been in a similar situation?

New Member

Good evening

I'm 46 married, 2 kids.
Grew up Lutheran. Kind of did my own thing for about 30 yrs when i left for the Marines at 18.
Back full circle now, been doing alot of reading and researching and listening to Catholic podcasts, etc (Wife is Catholic, she also is getting back into it.) Anyway I have been doing research because I didn't know much about Catholicism.
Wanting to become Catholic but I don't know the first thing about that right now. Maybe about 2 months back into my journey. Any advice along the way always appreciated and not judged.

Looking forward to spending more time here in the community. Definitely had to find some like minded individuals to talk with.

Thank you for taking the time to read and God Bless!
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Does Open Carry Cause Problems?

Those who say that open carry of guns causes no problems should consider something that happened in Jacksonville, FL, last December. Deputies pulled a man over and ordered him out of the car. He had a gun in a holster. The Deputies decided that was legal. (I’m not so sure.) Still, they did not want to talk to an armed man at a traffic stop. One Deputy tried to lift the gun out of the holster. Maybe it was a tight fit, and did not come out easily. Deputy Mindy Cardwell wound up shooting driver Jason Arrington in the leg with his own gun.

We are told that Deputy Cardwell was dismissed, at least as a patrol Deputy, although she is still working part time for the Sheriff’s Department.

A source very friendly to guns warns us that “criminals do not fear guns—they seek them.” Open carry of a firearm can attract criminals who want to steal the gun.


Sources
Florida officer fired after she accidentally shot a driver with his own gun during a traffic stop

gunsamerica.com/digest/open-carry-goes-horribly-wrong

The Devil and His Role in Music and Beyond

I prayed today. I asked God for clarity. He rather quickly opened my eyes to the bitter reality of a fallen world corrupted to the bone by the Devil.

I have come to the conclusion that entertainment is Satan's counterfeit of Christian joy, and that the industry of such is Satan's tool to bring destruction upon unbelievers and sterility to the witness of believers. Woe to the lukewarm who rely upon their assurance of salvation and make for themselves false gods which neutralize their witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Woe to those who make darkness and worldliness an important factor in their lives, for the fruit of their ministry is rotting from the inside out. Woe to the unequally yoked who cheat on God with the world, especially those who dare to conflate their affair with the world with the Gospel witness. Those who believe yet are unfaithful to the covenant between them and God are putting their souls in great peril. Woe are those who proclaim the Gospel and yet promote worldly entertainment with a glaze of "Christianity," for their ministry is a ministry of leading the sheep astray and confusing the goats, not bringing clarity to what is true.

Music as entertainment is one of Satan's greatest spells of destruction upon this world. Music moves the soul. Satan vies for our souls. Music is an act of worship. If we aren't using music as an act of worship to God, we are worshipping something that is not God, and all that worship ends up being funneled to the Devil himself. For where God is not, the Devil is there, masquerading as whatever we want him to masquerade as. The Devil's greatest trick is to convince unbelievers that he doesn't exist, and to convince believers that he's not the focus of idolatry. We are at war against spiritual forces. Whatever moves the soul the greatest is the greatest spiritual battlefield. Music is one of the greatest avenues for both God and the Devil to work within us. The road to Heaven is narrow and the Devil longs to drag us off the tightrope of holiness.

The Devil wants us to believe that music is a neutral medium. It is not, and is in fact one of the Devil's most powerful strongholds. We must be exceptionally diligent and perceptive of the Devil's wiles so that we may avoid his sleazy tricks. That is why it is imperative that we listen to music that is glorifying to God. Woe is the road that mixes the holy and the profane. Woe be the industry of Satan in the name of Jesus Christ our LORD. Great is the music that glorifies the LORD in truth and righteousness. Great is he who takes music out of the Devil's clutches in Jesus' holy Name. Great is the LORD who purifies music and makes it a vehicle for worship and glory. Great is the LORD who delivers those from the world and into His holy Presence. Great is the LORD whose believers make noise for Jesus Christ.

Now regarding music with a dark, angsty, aggressive vibe, I randomly bumped into a comment section on YouTube and it had quite the impact on me.

Poster: Question. Why does heavy, head banging music calm me down when I’m upset?? I am saved also.

Commenters:
  1. A: Because you enjoy it and there's nothing wrong with that told this by my pastor when I was younger in my teens We'll taking my class to take Communion at church {DISAGREE}
  2. B: Could it be calming down a demon that is influencing you? I believe that one can be saved and still be influenced by demons. Refusing to participate in negative, destructive thinking and behaving is not easy but it is effective. Bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. 10:5 Best wishes :) {AGREE}
  3. C: @B that’s exactly whats going on {AGREE}
  4. C: Because you feed your demons then they comedown and give you different emotions. You feel relief till next time. Pray to God when you’re sad or happy. He is you Father He will help you. {AGREE}
  5. D: @B there’s wisdom in this. Yes this has been my experience. {AGREE}
  6. D: @C agreed from experience {AGREE}
  7. E: Yes I totally agree!! I was recently delivered from ANGER, RAGE AND VIOLENCE. And haven’t had ANY RECENT episodes or desires for listening to hard rock music to calm me down. PRAISE GOD! {AGREE}
  8. Simply because it is what you enjoy. Nothing to do with what this guy is saying, the only thing in music that can negatively influence you is what you allow. I myself often listen to different types of German, Russian and Celtic music, as well as Gregorian music and so called "dark chant" and "dark choir" music, the latter of which is often very peaceful and calming, relaxes the mind and helps me to think more clearly. {MIXED}
I never really thought about music from that perspective before, but I feel like that makes a lot of sense. Sin invites demons to take residence beside us and oppress us at every possible opportunity. They know they can't get us, so they'll torment us and turn us away from God. It makes sense that demons would be gladdened by dark things in our lives, hence why partaking in dark things might "calm us" for the time being. But Satan and his minions are ravenous and are never truly satisfied. They seek out our bondage to sin and latch themselves there. We must rebuke the Devil and his legions in the name of Jesus Christ.

As I'm growing in my newfound faith in the Savior, my taste in music and entertainment as a whole has been completely flipped on its head. I used to listen to a lot of extremely dark metal, most often black metal, doom metal, and sometimes extremely harsh grindcore and death metal, but now being on the road to righteousness, I have no room for music that will hamper the peace of the Holy Spirit. I've lately been drawn to ambient, some glitch, some IDM, drone, minimalism, etc. All of it is instrumental so voices won't distract me from reading the Bible and other holy activities like prayer and meditating on the Scripture.

I might eventually return to some form of Christian rock/metal once I become more mature in my faith, but that's purely up to the LORD.

I encourage discussion on the matter and this is not dogmatic, just personal observation.

The use of the Old Testament

A lay preacher I had a lot of time for as a young Christian told me a basic principle: "The OT is in the NT revealed, the NT is in the OT concealed). And I've been thinking there is a warning here not to take the OT as normative without reference to the OT. A good example is why Christians believe that the system of OT sacrifices of animals don't apply to the Church today.

But I wonder if there are not more examples. Now I know some Christians make a lot of

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mt 5:17-20

But, in Jesus' day, those commandments would include the commandments for animal sacrifices that were still being done in Jesus' time.

Another aspect of the OT is there's a lot of wars and killing. If Israel was successful on the battlefield (i.e. killed lots of people) then that meant God was blessing them and vice versa. When Jericho fell we read:


They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys. Josh 6:21
The donkeys might lead them into idolatry! Everyone seems to include babies.


David is praised not so much for his poetry but for killing lots of people. Joshua holds up Moses' arms so the Israelites can kill lots of Amalekites:
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Ex 17:10-13

And there are many more examples in the OT. Not exactly blessed are the peacemakers or turning the other cheek. So I think we need to be very careful about drawing moral lessons for Christian behaviour from things that were done in the OT narratives or history books. Reference should always be made to the relevant teaching in the NT and we should interpret the OT in the light of the NT not vice versa. So hopefully any donkeys that might stray into a church in the next few weeks will be safe.

Job’s Restoration and Reassurance of Restoration

Peter 5.10 NKJV.jpg

Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are the God who restores. You see the wounds of our hearts, the losses we have endured, and the seasons that felt stripped bare. Yet You promise that nothing is wasted in Your hands. Thank You for being faithful to redeem what was taken and for reminding me that restoration is not only possible, but certain in Your timing. May this devotional be a reminder that You are the Potter, shaping me into a vessel of honor, and that my latter days can be greater than my beginning. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Devotional Message
Key Verse:
“And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10 (NKJV)
Job’s story is one of profound loss and miraculous restoration. He lost his possessions, his family, his health, and even the support of those closest to him. Yet when he prayed for his friends, God restored him. His wealth was doubled, his family renewed, and his latter days were blessed more than his beginning. Job’s testimony became a witness of God’s faithfulness across generations, showing that restoration often comes after obedience and forgiveness.

Joel’s prophecy echoes this truth: “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” (Joel 2:25 NKJV).

God’s promise is that what feels wasted will never remain wasted in His hands. He redeems time, fruitfulness, and dignity. Restoration is not only about material things but about peace, joy, and testimony being renewed.

Jeremiah 30:17 assures us: “For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord. (NKJV). His restoration touches every part of our lives - body, mind, soul and spirit.

When I read Job 42:10, I sensed God confirming to me that, He is working on my behalf to restore what was stolen. Just as Job’s restoration followed forgiveness and prayer, my act of forgiving those who wronged me has opened the door for renewal. The “doubling” may not always be material, but it will be seen in spiritual fruit, ministry impact, and the quiet dignity of restoration. God’s reassurance is like a steady anchor. Even when circumstances feel uncertain, His promises remain unshaken.
Scripture confirms this promise across generations: God restores time and seasons lost (Joel 2:25 NKJV), health and dignity (Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV), and gives a double portion of honor and joy (Isaiah 61:7 NKJV). He restores joy, strength, and peace (Psalm 51:12 NKJV; 1 Peter 5:10 NKJV), and rebuilds what was ruined, bringing new beginnings (Amos 9:14 NKJV; Isaiah 43:19 NKJV). Undoubtedly, the latter days can be greater than the beginning, and what was consumed will be redeemed for His glory. Restoration is God’s work, not mine; forgiveness and obedience unlock blessing, and my testimony - like Job’s - will echo His faithfulness.

And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 (NKJV)

Meaning: Job’s restoration began with forgiveness. His willingness to pray for his friends - the very ones who had misunderstood and accused him - revealed humility and obedience. God honored this posture by restoring him abundantly. This shows us that restoration is not triggered by demanding justice or clinging to bitterness, but by surrendering to God’s way of mercy.

Application: Forgiveness is often the hardest step, yet it is the key that unlocks renewal. When I intercede for others, even those who hurt me, I align myself with God’s heart. My prayers become seeds of blessing, and God’s favor flows into my life. Restoration begins when I let go of resentment and choose obedience.

Affirmation: I choose forgiveness and prayer, knowing that God’s restoration flows through humility. My obedience opens the door for His blessing, and my prayers for others invite His renewal into my own journey.

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”
Joel 2:25 (NKJV)

Meaning:
The locusts symbolize destruction, wasted time, and fruitfulness consumed. God’s promise is that even years stripped bare by pain or emptiness can be redeemed. He is Lord over time itself, able to restore dignity, fruitfulness, and joy.

Application:
I can trust that no season of my life is wasted. Even the barren years are woven into God’s plan of redemption. What felt consumed will be renewed, whether through ministry impact, fresh opportunities, or renewed joy. His timing redeems what seemed lost forever.

Affirmation: I believe God is redeeming my lost seasons. What was consumed will be returned in abundance, and my testimony will shine with His faithfulness.

“For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17 (NKJV)

Meaning: God’s restoration is holistic. He heals physical wounds, emotional scars, and spiritual weariness. His renewal touches every part of life, bringing wholeness where brokenness once reigned. Restoration is not partial - it is complete healing.

Application: In weakness, I can cling to His promise of healing. Whether I face physical pain, emotional scars, or spiritual fatigue, God’s restoration brings wholeness. His healing is both present and eternal, renewing me daily and preparing me for eternity.

Affirmation:
My health, joy, and peace are being restored by the Lord’s faithful hand. I am being renewed from the inside out, and His healing is my testimony.

“Instead of your shame you shall have double honor… everlasting joy shall be theirs.”
Isaiah 61:7 (NKJV)

Meaning: God replaces shame with honor and sorrow with joy. His blessings exceed losses, showing His abundant grace. Restoration is not equal exchange but overflowing abundance. Where shame once defined me, dignity now reigns.

Application: Even when I feel diminished or overlooked, God promises to lift me up. His restoration is abundant, replacing shame with dignity and sorrow with joy. He does not simply balance the scales - He pours out double honor.

Affirmation: I rejoice in the portion God has given me. My shame is replaced with honor, and His joy is everlasting in my life.

“Behold, I will do a new thing… I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV)

Meaning:
God’s restoration is creative and surprising. He brings life where there was barrenness and makes a way where there was no way. His new beginnings spring forth in unexpected places, proving His power to transform desolation into abundance.

Application:
I can expect renewal even in desolate places. His restoration is not limited by my circumstances; He creates rivers in deserts and paths in wilderness. What feels impossible becomes possible in His hands.

Affirmation: God is making a way in my wilderness. He is bringing new beginnings, and His rivers of life are flowing into my desert places.

Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your promises of restoration. You are faithful to redeem what was lost, heal what was broken, and multiply what was diminished. Teach me to walk in forgiveness, obedience, and trust, knowing that Your timing is perfect.
May my testimony, like Job’s, echo with hope and encouragement for others. Strengthen me with peace, dignity, and joy as You unfold new beginnings in my life. Anchor me in Your reassurance and let my life shine as a vessel of Your Word, Spirit, and love. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen

Journalizing Questions to Ponder

1. What losses in my life do I need to trust God to restore?
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2. How does forgiveness open the door to renewal in my journey?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Which scripture on restoration speaks most deeply to my current season?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. How can I testify of God’s faithfulness even before restoration is complete?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. What new beginnings might God be preparing in areas that feel barren?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To the Holy Spirit
Thank You for guiding every word, guarding every step, and glorifying Jesus through it all. All glory, honor, praise and worship goes to
God Almighty, for He alone is worthy to receive it all.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Scripture Acknowledgement: All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version® (NKJV). Used with permission.
All rights reserved. Special thanks to Bible Gateway for providing accessible, searchable Scripture resources that support devotional
writing and spiritual study.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
May these words echo grace, healing, and truth wherever they are read.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does atheism even really exist?

You may have read this thread title and thought "of course atheism exists, my coworker is an atheist" or something like that.

No, your coworker just calls himself an atheist, but in reality he just worships lower gods than Christ (such as video games, anime, porn, money, etc;)

Here is the scripture I see as backing this up:

“Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” - Philippians 3:19

In my opinion, as someone who is neither a priest or a theologian, this shows that all atheists worship their own god(s), which dismantles many pretentious atheist arguments such as "I just worship one less god than you do" and "religion is inherited", etc;

Scripture does not really define what atheism is aside from it being foolish so I wanted to make this thread to ask if we as Christians should even believe in such a thing as atheism

Judge dismisses James Comey and Letitia James cases, finding prosecutor's appointment invalid

Judge dismisses James Comey and Letitia James cases, finding prosecutor's appointment invalid

Washington — A federal judge on Monday ordered the criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James to be dismissed on the grounds that Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney who secured their indictments, was unlawfully appointed to the role.​
The rulings from U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie are a significant victory for Comey and James, who both argued their prosecutions are retaliatory and motivated by President Trump's efforts to punish his political foes.​
"I conclude that all actions flowing from Ms. Halligan's defective appointment, including securing and signing Mr. Comey's indictment, constitute unlawful exercises of executive power and must be set aside," Currie wrote in her opinion in the Comey case, a line that she repeated in her ruling in the James case.​
Currie ordered the indictments to be dismissed without prejudice, which would allow prosecutors to seek charges again. She suggested that prosecutors could not seek a new indictment in Comey's case since the statute of limitations for the offenses expired at the end of September.

Don't cheer too quickly -
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What’s one ‘harmless’ habit you finally quit because it was quietly stealing your joy?

I binned mindless late-night scrolling when I realised sunrise prayer felt like cardboard because my brain was mush.
The first week was boring, week two I dreamt again, week three I actually wanted to open my Bible.

Drop yours below—no shame, no sermon—just one sentence on the joy-thief you ditched and how life smells different.
Curious what tiny things we’ve all walked away from.

Grace, Jason in Japan

Hierarchy in Heaven and Virginity

“There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.” - 1 Corinthians 15:41–42
Luke 19:17

“Well done, good servant; because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.”

Matthew 5:19
“Whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

1 Corinthians 7:38
“So he who marries his fiancée does well, but he who refrains from marriage will do even better.”

Matthew 19:12
“There are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

Revelation 14:4
“These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins… These follow the Lamb wherever he goes.”

what do all these verses mean?

May securing safe one's body be synonymous with losing one's soul ?

From Pilate that washed his hands to Simon's denial, and even through Simon of Cyrene that bore the cross intermitently, please, do you think they all kind of lost their souls, while Jesus was busy saving them (their souls) on the cross? If yes, and in a likewise and general manner, is it possible people loose something of their souls when attempting to secure their body's safety, as they deal with Truth in also washing hands, denying, etc.. ?
In short, is there any other way to keep souls safe but to uphold thruth, whatsoever happens ?

The Mamdani Model: More Socialist Mayors to ComeBeware! The DSA will attempt to repeat Mamdani’s success in other Democrat strongholds.

"Many informed Democrats are aware of this slick maneuvering and are not happy about it. You might recall the serpentine James Carville screeching about lifetime socialist Bernie Sanders during the 2016 Democratic Party Primary: “But Bernie’s not a Democrat!” No, Bernie never was. The Senate “Independent” way back in 1980 had served as a formal presidential elector to the Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party. Bernie in 2016 merely adopted the Democrat label to try to get himself elected president. And many of the dupes that comprise the Democrat rank and file willingly pulled the lever for him, giving him an astonishing 13 million primary votes that year, not far behind Hillary Clinton. "

Not your father's Democratic Party for sure!
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SLOTKIN STUMPED! Senator Admits She's 'Not Aware' of Any 'Illegal' Orders From Trump to Military [WATCH]

“To my knowledge, I am not aware of things that are illegal, but certainly there are some legal gymnastics that are going on with these Caribbean strikes and everything related to Venezuela,” Slotkin responded.

Then why make that outrageous video?
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X rolls out location tool, unmasks fake Gaza influencer network

Platform’s new transparency feature uncovers fake Gaza influencer network, revealing users posing as war witnesses while posting from Central Asia and Europe.

Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has quietly introduced a feature in recent days that publicly displays key background information about user accounts. The tool adds a small button on profile pages that reveals the country or region where an account is based, how many times the user has changed their handle, when the account was created and where the app was originally installed, making previously hidden information accessible to all users.

North Dakota Supreme Court upholds law banning abortion in nearly all circumstances

The North Dakota Supreme Court has narrowly upheld a state law that bans abortions in nearly all circumstances, overturning a lower court ruling against it.

Last Friday, the state’s highest court released an opinion in the case of Access Independent Health Services, Inc., et al v. Drew H. Wrigley et al., which centered on whether a 2023 state law banning abortion is constitutional.

Although three of the five justices who heard the case found the ban unconstitutional, North Dakota requires a supermajority of the court to strike down a law on constitutional grounds.

State Supreme Court Justices Daniel Crothers and Lisa Fair McEvers found the ban unconstitutional, with Daniel Narum, a district court judge who sat in place of recused Justice Douglas Bahr, joining them.

Continued below.

MODERN MIRACLES OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

A few years ago, I decided firmly to embrace wearing Our Lady’s Miraculous Medal every day. I’d gotten a large oval one as a birthday gift from my friend Danny Risdon and felt a calling to keep it on me.

This meant that my other necklaces were put to one side. I’ve always had something of a small obsession with neck jewelry. I broke school rules by my strands of many beads and I wore a choker with feathers as a twenty something. Okay, sometimes now I wear both a fashion necklace and Miraculous Medal, but I always keep the latter dangling right over my heart.



Such was my lack of faith in Our Lady’s incomparable intercessory powers I didn’t think some of what has happened to me could come to pass. The first prevented my mugging. I was in a smart area, going about my business, when a petite woman approached me, seemingly all smiles and friendly. But then she viciously lunged in, grabbed my Miraculous Medal, but as soon as it touched her fingers, she had to drop it like a red-hot poker. I made my escape, knowing that the panic I felt was nothing to being robbed. Oh, thank you, Our Lady!

Continued below.
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What the Church Teaches About the End Times, Antichrist, and the Second Coming...

In the 1970s, an old man with disheveled white hair sat in front of the White House holding a sign that read, “Repent, the end is near.” After fifty years, joking about the end of the world is less carefree, as anxiety quietly creeps in. The end is indeed near for many of us inching toward the top of the actuarial tables.
Reasonable fear recognizes threats in proportion to the danger. It impels us to flee or confront danger depending on the circumstances. At times, it is prudent to keep our heads down. At others, we courageously jump from the foxhole and charge ahead.

Fear of suffering—fear of serpents, plagues, and other punishments—repeatedly brought the Israelites back to their senses as they wandered the desert. Jesus Himself dreaded the prospect of His Passion in the Garden, yet He courageously carried His Cross in obedience to the Father. He also describes the end times to help us persevere in the faith.

A healthy and proportionate fear of the end times—and of our individual demise—keeps us “sober and alert.” One day we will stand before God for our Particular Judgment. The details of our life will pass before us, with God as our infinitely just Judge. There will be only two eternal destinations: Heaven (usually delayed by the purifying fires of Purgatory) and Hell.

The Church teaches that, before Christ returns, the Church will face a final trial involving a great spiritual deception led by the AntichristL a false messiah who exalts humanity in place of God. After this, Christ will come again, raise the dead, judge all souls, and renew all creation.

Continued below.

5 Catholic resources to help you grow closer to Christ this Advent

As Advent quickly approaches and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins to make its way into our lives, here are five resources to help you prepare to welcome Jesus this Christmas.

From Ascension:​

Join Father Mike Schmitz this Advent for “Waiting Well: Advent with Fr. Mike Schmitz” on the Ascension app.

Beginning Nov. 30, a 26-day video series will guide viewers on becoming aware of how God is shaping them through seasons of waiting and how to wait well. Each day a five-minute video will be released and feature a reflection from Schmitz that unpacks the daily Mass reading as well as Scripture versus, catechism excerpts, and reflection questions to encourage participants to go deeper into the meaning of Advent.

Continued below.
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Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to move beyond outdated theological disputes

Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians to move beyond “theological controversies” that no longer serve the cause of unity and to rediscover together the faith professed at the Council of Nicaea 1,700 years ago.

In a new apostolic letter, In Unitate Fidei(“In the Unity of Faith”), released Nov. 23, the solemnity of Christ the King, the pope links the anniversary of the first ecumenical council to the holy year of 2025 and to his upcoming apostolic journey to Turkey, where he will commemorate Nicaea’s 1,700th anniversary and take part in an ecumenical event with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Nov. 30 before traveling on to Lebanon.

“I would like this letter to encourage the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith,” the pope writes, stressing that the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed “for centuries… has been the common heritage of Christians, and it deserves to be professed and understood in ever new and relevant ways.”

In a strong ecumenical appeal, Leo XIV says the Nicene Creed “can be the basis and reference point” for a renewed journey toward full communion among Christians. “It offers us a model of true unity in legitimate diversity. Unity in the Trinity, Trinity in unity, because unity without multiplicity is tyranny, multiplicity without unity is fragmentation,” he writes.

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Priest walks from Illinois to New York against ‘inhumane’ immigration enforcement

After a month and a half of walking an average of 17 miles a day, 67-year-old Father Gary Graf said he is starting to get “a little pain in one shin,” but his broken ribs are “getting much better.”

On Oct. 6, Graf, a Catholic priest from Chicago, began a journey on foot from Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home in Dolton, Illinois, to New York City to bring attention to the plight of immigrants amid the sometimes “inhumane” ways the Trump administration is treating them during its immigration enforcement actions.

He hopes to arrive at the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island, where his own great-grandparents entered the country as immigrants, by Dec. 2.

A few weeks ago, when visiting a parish in Indiana, he was invited to ride a horse. He fell off as it galloped and broke several ribs, which led him to take one day off to recover. That day, friends walked in his stead.

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Single mom battling custody order barring her from taking daughter to church

A single mother is challenging a custody order that prohibits her from taking her 12-year-old daughter to a Calvary Chapel church in Maine after a lower court accepted the claim that the denomination is a "cult," granting the girl's father the power to determine which religious activities she's allowed to attend.

In combating the December 2024 custody order, the mother, Emily Bickford, is receiving legal assistance from the Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal group that has helped bring the mother's case before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

“Calvary Chapel is not a cult. This custody order banning Emily Bickford from taking her child to a Christian church because of its biblical teachings violates the First Amendment," Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement shared with The Christian Post.

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Palestinian Authority school textbooks continue to teach hatred of Israel and Jews, despite promises of reforms

A report by the Israel- and United Kingdom-based Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-SE) found that the Palestinian Authority’s 2025-2026 national school curriculum has not been reformed to eliminate inciting and hateful elements, despite promises to do so.

The report, released last week by the educational watchdog organization, represents the first comprehensive review of the full corpus of educational materials used by the Palestinian Authority since its previous report in May 2021.

IMPACT-SE found that PA curricula “continues to systematically violate UNESCO principles and educational standards,” through material which “incites antisemitism and violence, promotes jihad and martyrdom, glorifies terrorism, rejects peacemaking and the two-state solution, and erases Israel from maps.”

IMPACT-SE found little change from the modest reforms first established during the 2016 reform cycle.

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And, behold, I am coming (present tense) quickly (without delay); and my reward is with me...

Peace in Christ.

Again, If we keep the “daily” sacrifice of our Lord in our mortal bodies, then the life also of Jesus shall be made manifest in our body…in our MORTAL FLESH. We are to lift up the Son of man by always bearing about in the body the dying of our Lord Jesus so that that His life is made manifest in our outer mortal flesh.

This is the manifestation of the Son of man to the world. We are to receive the promise of His manifest presence so that the world may “see” Him through us and be saved.

2Co 4:10-11 KJV
(10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

(11) For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

We must lift up the Son of man so that the people of the outside world may “see” Him and believe. We lift Him up by the keeping of His daily sacrifice in our mortal bodies so that His life is made manifest to them. We are instrumental in bringing salvation to the people of the outside world through the keeping of the dying of our Lord Jesus in our mortal bodies.

Joh 3:14-17 KJV
(14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

(15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God loves the world in this way, that He GIVES NOW His only begotten Son (of whom we are to receive His presence). Through Him, the world might be saved. We are instrumental in manifesting the life of the Son to them so that they may "see" Him and be saved.

(16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

This is the "death" we are to die: We are to die to the sin…keeping the daily sacrifice of our Lord Jesus in our mortal bodies. This is lifting up the Son of man in this earth so that all shall be drawn to Him (and us as we manifest His shining light to them.)

Joh 12:32-33 KJV
(32) And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

(33) This he said, signifying what death he should die.

We are to receive the promise….the promise of His presence …in our mortal bodies. We do not mortally die while we await His arrival. He does NOT DELAY as being universally preached in all of the man-based churches who are preaching in error of the Word of Truth.

Heb 10:36-37
(36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

He IS COMING now (present tense) and will arrive and NOT DELAY. The enemies of the cross of Christ are preaching that He DELAYS His coming.

The original Greek is erchomenos (coming, present participle) and ēxei (will come, future tense). He does NOT DELAY.

(37) For yet a little while, and he that IS COMING will come, and will NOT DELAY.

We are to manifest the presence of the Lord to the people of the outside world who are sitting in great spiritual darkness. This is why the disciples asked what shall be the sign of His PRESENCE (Parousia) so that we may know we have it.

Mat 24:3
(3) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming (Greek: Parousia = PRESENCE), and of the end of the world (AGE)?

We shall know we are manifesting His presence to the people of the outside world by the effect of shining of His light rays from us (the “east” = the dawning light) to them (the “west” = where the sun had gone down.)

Mat 24:27 KJV
(27) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming (PRESENCE) of the Son of man be.

The effect will be thus: one person of the outside world who is in the deep darkness (“in that night”) shall SEE His life being made manifest to them and will believe and be received unto Christ (“taken”) while one shall be left.

Luk 17:34-37
(34) I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
(35) Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

(36) Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

The “eagles”…those who are “taken”…shall be gathered together wherever the living body of Christ is.

(37) And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body (Greek: Soma -sound body) is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Our light….Jesus Christ who is the light of the life of men…shall come (arrive) and the glory of the LORD is risen (shoot forth beams) upon us.

Isa 60:1-4 KJV
(1) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

His light shall shoot forth to those of the “west” who are in deep darkness. They shall SEE His glory upon us…and come to that light. They will come to our light...to the brightness of our rising (the dawn.)

(2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
(3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Those who are saved among them shall then come to that light. They shall gather themselves to us…like the eagles do with the living body.

(4) Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

Yet, right now there is a great misinformation campaign being fought against His people by Satan and his ministers who are not preaching that Jesus Christ IS COMING (present tense) in the flesh…our mortal flesh. They are enemies of the cross of Christ as they are actively removing the keeping of His daily sacrifice out of the lives of those they are deceiving.

2Jn 1:7
(7) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ IS COMING in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The deceivers are not preaching from the spirit of Christ but rather from the spirit of the antichrist….the spirit of error concerning the “doctrine of THE Christ.”

They are instead preaching many “strange doctrines” and are actively cutting off the life of Jesus from being made manifest in the mortal flesh of anyone that they are deceiving. And so the people of the outside world are not being saved as a result. They do not "see" the light but are in deep darkness because of the false prophets who are not preaching the truth of the gospel to His people.

2Jn 1:9-11
(9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of THE Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of THE Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
(10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him “rejoice”:

(11) For he that biddeth him “rejoice” is partaker of his evil deeds.

The Son of man ( His manifest life in our mortal flesh) is being betrayed (given up) into the hands of sinners. We must rise and depart from the man-based churches where His life is being cut off from being made manifest in this earth.

Mat 26:45-46 KJV
(45) Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

(46) Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

In Revelation 22, Jesus says that He is coming “quickly”…that is, WITHOUT DELAY.

He promises “I am coming without delay.” It is important to note that the word “come” is in the present tense. He is COMING now.

He does not say that He will come (that He is delaying His coming) but that He is coming now (without delay) in the present tense.

Rev 22:7
(7) Behold, I come (coming) quickly (without delay): blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

He is coming (present tense) without delay:

Rev 3:11
(11) Behold, I am coming (present tense) quickly (without delay): hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Rev 22:7
(7) Behold, I am coming (present tense) quickly (without delay): blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:20
(20) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I am coming (present tense) quickly (without delay). Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

This is a very important message of Revelation. He is coming presently without delay. The time is at hand. Do not be deceived by the deceivers who are preaching that He is delaying His coming when He is not. They are the people of the prince that SHALL COME someday and not of the Prince of Life who IS COMING NOW and will arrive.

Rev 22:10-13 KJV
(10) And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

(11) He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

How will we respond to that message? His reward is according to what our response shall be towards the hearing of that message.

(12) And, behold, I am coming (present tense) quickly (without delay); and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
(13) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

The evil servant will hear and yet not believe.

The evil servant will say in his heart that the Lord DELAYS His coming…and will begin to beat upon those who will preach otherwise.

Many will join together in their unbelief of the message and will respond with evil towards those who will preach the Word of Truth. They will take pleasure in their unrighteousness.

Mat 24:48-51 KJV
(48) But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

(49) And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

Yet, He will come and reward according to their deeds towards the hearing of the Word of Truth.

(50) The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
(51) And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Rom 2:6-10 KJV
(6) Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
(7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
(8) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
(9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

(10) But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:


Rev 22:20 KJV
(20) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

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