• 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.

Hail storms

We've had a few storms in the SE Queensland area lately which have produced giant hail.

While isolated incidents are not rare, there have been several storms lately which have done this.

We had big hail ourselves in October 2020 which smashed about 14 of our roof tiles, and damaged the carport and patio roofs. One of the hail stones was about four inches across and smashed three tiles by itself.

But it's rare to have several storms which produce big hail.


For at least the sixth time in as many weeks, parts of south-east Queensland have been lashed by hailstones causing widespread destruction to property and vehicles.

On Monday, giant 14-centimetre hailstones were recorded in Chandler, in Brisbane's south-east, while 11-centimetre stones fell on the city's bayside.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) classifies giant hail as stones with a diameter larger than 5 centimetres.

And while residents of the country's most natural disaster-prone state are no strangers to wild weather, the spate of hailstorms has many questioning if it's going to become a more regular occurrence.
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Porneia, sexual immorality and romantic love, committed love in marriage.

For century after century porneia in the new testament was translated as sexual immorality. But in the 20th century, romantic poetry and arts leaned towards porneia being love. Romatic love, unrequited love, love at first sight, free love. People moved by lust commit adultery and can't deny their feelings and falll in love with the other woman and leave the wife for the lover. There are stories true and fiction of men falling in love with their prostitute. A lover can be, or become first love. Ladies can be in love with their first love, lover for the rest of their life, despite getting married and having children with the second love.

Is it as simple as saying porneia is sexual immorality?

A look at Malachi 1:1-2:7 and Matt 10:1-11:30

MAL 1:1-2:7

The prophet speaks and writes through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), “Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have hated”. You ask, “Isn't God love?” Isn't God all about love? Why does he “hate poor Esau?” The word “hate” has the same meaning as “reject”. YHVH, who is “all knowing,” knew even before Esau was born that he would reject HIM, so YHVH rejected Esau! Even in Hebrews 12:16 speaks about "the godless Esau, who, for a single morsel of food, gave up and despised his birthright."

Polluted offerings, corrupt priests. No wonder God is fed up with Israel, they have gone “the way of Esau” offering God the “left-overs” and not offering with “pure hearts”. It is like today, if we serve the LORD with less than our best, or only with “half a heart” or just because we feel we “have to” then, we are offering “polluted offerings”. We should serve GOD with all we have, with the best we have, or not at all!

He has given all believers the gifts of the Spirit, the abilities to serve God while we are on Earth. Are we using those to serve, or, are we like the servant who buried the master's talent in the ground? Let's use our "talents of spiritual gifts" wholeheartedly as faithful sons and daughters of the Most High.

MATT 10:1-11:30

Yeshua sends out the twelve talmidim (disciples) to teach the Torah and to share the word that Yeshua is the Mashiach, who has fulfilled all the prophecies of the Torah. First, to the “lost sheep of Israel,” remember that Israel has been scattered to many different countries, many being absorbed by the nations, yet still remember their identity, but even in Israel, there are those who need to know the truth about Yeshua as Messiah, prophesied by Moshe and the prophets

The work and ministry of sharing/teaching the WORD of God is not a lone undertaking; it is to be shared by many, and ALL who have that calling. Even Yeshua, God in human form, could not be in all places at the same time, so he sent out his followers to fulfill the “Great Commission”.

Today, we are equipped with the “gifts of the Spirit” to fulfill this great task, and today we have the internet to help spread the “Good News,” whereas hundreds of years ago, only papers and books were available to those who took up that task. We are living in exciting times; let's take advantage of everything that is available to us today. Use all things to the glory of God.

ROM 9:6-13

Very interesting verses; “For not everyone from Israel is truly part of Israel. Indeed, not all descendants are from the seed of Abraham. From the Hebrew New Covenant, it says, “Lo kol asher heim mi-Yisrael gam Yisrael” (not all of them who are from Israel also Israel).

As we recall, Abraham had two sons from Sarah's womb, Ishmael and Yitzchak. Although both were his sons, the promise was given to Yitzchak. The descendants of Ishmael are now the Arab countries. Can we say that they also have the same interests that all believers have? Are they not following another religion? Even though quite a few are born-again believers.

In Israel today, we see quite a few cultures and people groups, not all are direct descendants of Abraham. But let’s go a step further and say, “Not all have the faith of our father, Israel,” and many in “Israel” have little or no faith at all, so how can we have the faith of “Israel” and thus be part of “Am Yisrael?”

It is through the “Yeshua Connection” that we are connected to the “Truth.” "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE" (John 14:6)

So, to be a real part of “Am Yisrael” to be part of the “Covenant of Abraham” it doesn’t depend on blood relation, but “Spirit” relation. One can be a physical descendant of Abraham and be lost and going to hell. Still, one can turn that relationship around and be “heaven-bound” through a personal relationship with Messiah Yeshua, the hope of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
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What is a moderate?

So, since this is the moderate forum, I must ask, what makes you a moderate?

I'm personally starting to think I am a moderate, but I also kinda wary of the label due to fear of drifting towards progressive Christianity and theological liberalism.

I come from a conservative evangelical background, so I saw moderates as a slippery slope towards apostasy.

Now, though, I am not sure if I am a conservative anymore. I still hold conservative viewpoints on Nicene orthodoxy and LGBT related issues pertaining to weddings and ordination, but I think I am moderate on most other issues.

I think the Bible is infallible when it comes to matters of faith and practice, and its purpose is to point the reader to salvation. It's not meant to be a science textbook nor an exhaustive source of all knowledge.

I lean towards a complementarian stance on women's ordination, but I also now know there's more nuance to the issue than I had initially assumed. Aside from thinking the office of pastor should be reserved for men only, I think I am a believer in gender equality in all other areas of life.

I guess I realize that some initial assumptions I held were wrong, and I think I am closer to moderate viewpoints, but I worry about drifting towards liberalism.

A minor thing, but I have been told mainline denominations might be a better fit for me, even though I still think of myself as an Evangelical, though that's likely due to the stereotype of mainline = liberal.

What about you? Anyone else have similar concerns?

#38 in Christian persecution, Kazakhistan.

In Kazakhstan, religious freedom is heavily restricted by the country's Religion Law, dating back to 2011. The government continually tightens its control over society, leading to increased surveillance, raids on meetings and arrests. They use the threat of militant Islam to justify these restrictions.

Russian Orthodox churches face fewer issues since they typically don’t engage with the Kazakhstani population.

Indigenous Christians with a Muslim background suffer the most. They face persecution from both the state and their own families, friends and communities. Some converts are locked up by their families, beaten and eventually expelled from their communities. Local imams also preach against them, further isolating these converts.

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?

In Kazakhstan, all Christian communities can face rights violations by government officials, regardless of location. However, converts to Christianity experience the most intense pressure from family, friends and the community, especially in rural areas. This pressure is less severe in urban
settings, where they may have more anonymity and support networks.

Meet 'Ailin'

[My family] started to force me to say [the Islamic statement of faith], to renounce my faith, my Christianity. But I said: ‘No, I know my God—it's Jesus. I believe He is God. I’m a Christian; I’m not a Muslim.”

AILIN, A BELIEVER IN CENTRAL ASIA

What as changed this year?

Kazakhstan has jumped nine places on the 2025 World Watch List since last year. This is primarily caused by a higher violence score. Across the board, pressure on followers of Jesus remains very high.

Religious freedom is restricted by legislation dating back to September 2011. The Kazakhstan government has been increasing its control over the whole of society, which has led to heightened surveillance, raids on meetings and arrests.

What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Kazakhstan?

Open Doors helps Christians in Central Asia* who face persecution for their faith. They provide immediate aid and support by distributing literature, prayer, training and various social and economic projects such as rehabilitation centres.

* For security reasons, the name Open Doors cannot be associated with certain activities in this country. When communicating about projects in this country do not use the country name, instead use the region name: Central Asia.

How can you pray for Kazakhstan?

  • Pray for Christians who can be targeted for violations of Kazakhstan’s Religion Law. Ask God to protect churches from misuse of these regulations.
  • The government of Kazakhstan regularly monitors church leaders. Ask God to protect His servants.
  • Many believers in Kazakhstan have trouble getting regular access to Bibles and Christian literature. Pray that God’s Word will find its way to every believer in the country.

US military carried out second strike killing survivors on a suspected drug boat that had already been attacked, sources say

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/28/politics/us-military-second-strike-caribbeanis

While I previously posted thoughts on boat killings and how the law and bible applies to them, This act of killing alleged drug smugglers after the boat was disabled is taking things another step further. It brings into question too, what lengths Trump might go to in possible ground operations.
Critical Issues on Trump Policies in South America. T

Trump to pardon Ex-Honduras President Guilty of Drug Trafficking and conspiring to import cocaine into the United States

Trump Announces Pardon for Honduran Ex-President Convicted in Drug Case

President Trump announced on Friday afternoon his intention to grant “a Full and Complete Pardon” to a former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, who was found guilty by an American jury last year of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States in a sweeping drug case.
The pardon announcement came in a pair of social media posts by Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly weighed in on that country’s upcoming election on Sunday. He had already endorsed a candidate, a former mayor from the conservative National Party named Nasry “Tito” Asfura.
....Mr. Hernández received millions of dollars from trafficking organizations in Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere, including from Joaquín Guzmán Loera, known as El Chapo, who was a Mexican drug lord and the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. In return, prosecutors added, Mr. Hernández allowed vast amounts of cocaine to pass through Honduras on its way to the United States." NYT
In other words he is pardoning a ex president who was found guilty of doing the same thing he accuses the Venezuelan president of doing. To me, the pardon power needs to be amended and removed from presidents.

Bear Fruit in Keeping with Repentance

John the Baptist was called of God, even before he was born, to be “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” And he did exactly as the Lord had called him to do. He came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And people were coming to him to be baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins (see Matthew 3:1-6).

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father”; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’” (Matthew 3:7-10 NASB1995)

The scribes and Pharisees (and Sadducees, too) of Jesus’ day were skilled at hypocrisy. Jesus described them in this way (see Matthew 16 & 23):

• They do not practice what they preach​
• They do their deeds to be seen by others​
• They love places of honor; they love attention​
• They lead people to hell on the promise of heaven​
• They profess one thing but live the opposite​
• They adhere to religious rituals but not to God’s righteousness​
• They appear clean (righteous) outwardly but inwardly are evil​
• They are full of wicked deeds, greed, hypocrisy and self-indulgence​
• They persecute those who are truly righteous in God’s sight​
• Their teaching is not to be trusted; not to be followed​

Therefore, when John saw them coming to him for baptism he did not trust their motives. He doubted the genuineness of their actions, and for good reason. So he called them a “brood of vipers.” For they were malicious, treacherous, and venomous in their nature and in their actions. And they were deceptive, and sneaky, and those who liked to trap people with their words, and who got pleasure out of causing other people pain.

So, he knew that they were not coming to have their hearts, minds, and actions altered (changed, transformed) via genuine repentance. He knew that they were not wanting God to change them inside and out so that they would escape the wrath of God to come. And so he let them know that genuine repentance will result in the bearing of spiritual and biblical fruit (results, outgrowth). There will be evidence that a change has taken place.

And the same is true for us today. For repentance is not just mouthing words of confession of sin, but it is a change of heart and mind resulting in a change of behavior. And it is gifted to us by God, as is our faith, as is our salvation from sin. And it has to do with us dying to sin, being changed in heart and mind by God, and us now walking (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord’s commands, living holy lives pleasing to God, by the grace of God.

And just because you attend services at an institutional “church,” and perhaps you went through the waters of baptism, or just because your parents claimed to be Christians, or you serve on some kind of church committee, that does not mean you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Just because you verbalize faith in Jesus Christ, it does not guarantee you salvation from sin or eternal life with God. We must truly repent.

And the Scriptures make it very clear that if we do not have that change of heart and mind, resulting in a change of behavior, and if sin is still what we practice, and not obedience to God and to his commands, we will not have salvation from sin nor eternal life with God. And that was John’s point to the Pharisees and to the Sadducees. And that is God’s point to us, as well. For it is not a verbal confession of faith in Jesus Christ which saves us, but it is obedience to God that results in life eternal with God/Christ in heaven.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Walking in The Light

Based off 1 John 1-2
An Original Work / November 16, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love


When I lift up my voice, and
Sing praise unto God,
I will fellowship with my
Lord and Savior, King.
In Him there is no darkness.
He is in the light of truth.
If we walk in His light,
From sin He purifies.

If we repent of our sins,
He’ll forgive us now,
When we humble ourselves, and
Before Jesus bow.
The man who says, “I know Him,”
But does not obey His truth,
There is no truth in him.
In darkness still he’s found.

Do not love the world of sin,
For it is hell bound.
If you follow the world, you’ll
Not in Christ be found.
The world and its desires
Will not last; they’ll expire.
The one who does God’s will,
Receives eternal life.

See that what you have heard from
Christ remains in you.
Then, you’ll remain in Christ, and
In His Father, too.
This is what He promised us –
His eternal life with God.
So, continue in Him, and
You’ll receive a crown.

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Bear Fruit in Keeping with Repentance
An Original Work / November 28, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Have Christians lost true affection for one another?

It seems that there is a distraction from the things of God among His people, especially His love when it comes to each other. A loss of Godly affection, true brotherly love, the caring for others and any anguish and contrition for harming one another and forgetting what we have been given, to love your neighbor.

Instead Christians, have turned into the type of person who is beyond experiencing guilt, shame, or regret for their terrible actions against others, because all they care about is themselves and nobody else.. They have become ‘remorseless', and 'uncaring', with only the things of self.

A character defined by narcissism with an exaggerated sense of self-importance, looking for others to focus on them and give them worldly 'praise' and 'honor'. Many forget what God in His Word tells us...

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

2 Timothy 2:24-25
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

What can be done?

Trump admin set to let protected status for 350,000 Haitian migrants expire in February

DHS is offering $1,000 exit bonus and free plane tickets for voluntary departure by February 2026​


The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants living in the United States.

The agency posted a federal register notice stating that the 353,000 Haitian migrants who currently hold TPS will see their status expire in February. TPS protects eligible migrants from deportation and lets them work legally in the United States while conditions in their home country remain unsafe.

"After consulting with interagency partners, Secretary [Kristi] Noem concluded that Haiti no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS," DHS said in a news release. "This decision was based on a review conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, input from relevant U.S. government agencies, and an analysis indicating that allowing Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is inconsistent with U.S. national interests."

DHS told Haitian migrants under TPS to prepare to depart if they have no other lawful basis for remaining in the United States.

Continued below.

Feeling down

Please may I ask for a prayer, feeling down. I work two jobs but recently lost a source of income so things are very stretched at the moment. I've applied for and inquired about a couple of jobs recently but haven't heard anything. Please pray for another job thank you

Anglican priest dies in captivity after being kidnapped in Nigeria amid wave of abductions

Amid a rash of mass kidnappings in Nigeria, an Anglican priest in Nigeria abducted along with his wife and daughter has died in captivity, leaders of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion announced on Wednesday.

The Rev. Edwin Achi was kidnapped on Oct. 28 along with his wife, Sarah Achi, and daughter from Nissi village, Chikun County, in Kaduna state. Church leaders did not say how he died, but the assailants had demanded a ransom of 600 million naira ($415,216).

“The Venerable Edwin, who was kidnapped alongside his wife on 28 October, has been confirmed dead,” the Anglican leaders said in a press statement. “His transition is a painful loss to the entire Diocese, the clergy, the church family and all who were blessed by his faithful ministry, humble spirit and unwavering devotion to the service of God. We continue to pray for the release of his wife and daughter still in the hands of kidnappers.”

Days before his death, his captors released a photo of him and his wife along with other captive Christians.

Continued below.

US military may cut ties with Scouting America, claims 'attack' on 'boy-friendly spaces': report

The United States military may soon cut ties with Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, amid claims that the youth organization "no longer supports the future of American boys."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will soon look to sever ties between Scouting America and the military, according to an alleged draft memo that has not yet been sent, which National Public Radio reported on Tuesday.

Continued below.
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Roblox serves as 'hunting ground' for child predators, lawsuit claims

Roblox failed to implement safety standards that would've protected an Oklahoma teenager who an adult sexually exploited after meeting through the popular gaming platform, a new lawsuit alleges, as the company faces mounting legal pressure.

The teenager's mother is suing the platform, with the Dolman Law Group filing a lawsuit last Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit is one of several abuse-related lawsuits that have been filed against Roblox in recent years.

The boy, who is one of the plaintiffs, is identified as "John Doe J.H" in the suit, while Roblox is named as the defendant.

The complaint asserts that Roblox has served as a "hunting ground" for child-sex predators for years, claiming it gives them "easy access" to children and fails to screen users properly.

"As a direct result of Defendant's reckless disregard for child safety, Plaintiff has suffered devastating and life-altering psychological trauma," the lawsuit states." His life will never be the same."

Continued below.
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'Unconscionable': Jailed pregnant women giving birth in cells, report claims

Advocates are calling for action after dozens of pregnant women or their families alleged in a new report that jails in the United States have subjected them to severe mistreatment or medical neglect, including women who gave birth on dirty cell floors.

Bloomberg Law and NBC News published the findings after a year-longinvestigation involving interviews with over 60 people, including a dozen previously incarcerated women.

After reviewing federal civil rights lawsuits from 2017 to 2024, the reporters found at least 54 pregnant women or their families alleged to have been subjected to severe mistreatment or medical neglect. Many of the pregnant women who have made allegations about mistreatment had been locked up for "petty crimes," the report states.

Continued below.
  • Prayers
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Afghan national charged with first-degree murder for National Guard attack

The 29-year-old Afghan national arrested in connection with Wednesday's shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., was charged with first-degree murder on Friday, following the death of 20-year-old National Guard Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who immigrated to the U.S. in 2021 and recently settled in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children, was upgraded from initial assault charges following Beckstrom's death, authorities said.

Beckstrom, a West Virginia National Guard member deployed to the capital for security operations, succumbed to her injuries late Thursday at a local hospital, President Donald Trump confirmed in a statement.

The second victim, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical but stable condition at George Washington University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

Continued below.

Trump terminates orders signed by Autopen during Biden administration

"I am hereby cancelling all Executive Orders, and anything else that was not directly signed by Crooked Joe Biden, because the people who operated the Autopen did so illegally."

We can't have a country where unknown people issue presidential orders.
  • Agree
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The Electrical Nature of the Universe

Conventional teaching is that the sun and stars obtain their energy by nuclear reaction, that is: atoms splitting to become less complex elements, thereby releasing energy. However there are several things about that theory that cannot be explained, such as: how can this continuing reaction be controlled, so as not to totally explode and disintegrate? Why isn’t the sun just a dead ball of helium by now, or at least showing signs of degeneration? Why do the stars have coronas – something not associated with nuclear explosions?

The fact is that the stars consist of plasma, at least on their surface, which is a kind of fourth state of matter. On earth we are familiar with solid, liquid and gaseous forms of matter. Ice, water and steam are examples, but we witness lightning and can produce plasma effects in the laboratory, both are high energy states where electrons are so excited that they leave their atoms. Our sun is a huge ball of plasma, lacking electrons - it is actually an incredibly powerful positive charge, but free electrons are present in the solar system. This system is just like a capacitor and if anything bridges the gap between the sun and the planets, an electrical discharge can take place. Just the normal, cyclical sunspot activity does this and we have seen many Coronal Mass Ejections, that fortunately have not been large or not directed toward earth. A comet can trigger this effect, as demonstrated by comet Hale-Bopp, that caused the sun to be active for quite a while. CMEs occur when the suns magnetic field is interrupted – called a ‘Zenor breakdown’. This results in a tremendous release of energy and matter [superheated hydrogen plasma] is explosively thrown away to whatever direction the sun is facing at the time.

Our sun is at the centre of a heliosphere that reaches out way beyond Pluto and earth is an integral part of the system, with its own magnetic field. Our magnetic field, the Van Allen belt, protects us from most CMEs; they just cause auroras and some radio interference. However, we have had the bad news that lately, there has been substantial reduction to; and even holes forming, in our magnetic shield. Isaiah 34:4 and Revelation 6:14a, tell of how our protective shield and atmosphere, will be pushed aside by this blast.

The ancient prophet states in Isaiah 30:26-28: that on the Day that the Lord takes action in His creation, to ‘sieve the nations for destruction…the sun will shine with seven times its normal brightness’. [brightness: 'intensity' or ‘strength’] This perfectly clear and understandable prophecy, tells us that a CME of unprecedented magnitude, Joel 2:2-3, directed straight at earth, will fulfill all the graphic, detailed prophecies of how the Lord will reset our civilization – as He did once before, in the days of Noah.
References: www.electric-cosmos.org/sun.htm
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Doing What God Can Bless

November 28. 2025

Deuteronomy 28:8 KJV
The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

My Interpetation:
The Life we live richly blessed .Cannot not be taking from us. Whoever you bgo the blessings of God is always there- Gaurtenteed favor of God amd to receive.

University of Minnesota on Whiteness Pandemic

"If you were born or raised in the United States, you have grown up in the Whiteness Pandemic, and you can play a role in halting and reversing this pandemic, especially if you are White because of the power and privilege you hold in this racialized society. If you were socialized into the culture of Whiteness during childhood it is not your fault, but as an adult it is now your responsibility to self-reflect, re-educate yourself, and act."

This may be helpful in understanding the Minnesota political culture.

GOP lawmaker faces backlash after linking Orthodox churches to Russian 'intelligence operation'

A Republican congressman from South Carolina is facing backlash from his colleagues and some Orthodox Christian leaders after he accused Russia-aligned Orthodox churches of functioning as "intelligence operations" for Russia.

The controversy began after U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., reacted to an invitation for a "Legislative Day of Action" organized by the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in a Nov. 18 post on X.

Characterizing the event as a ploy by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), which he called "not a separate religious organization but an extension of the Russian state," Wilson urged lawmakers not to "entertain this intelligence operation," citing Russia's suppression of evangelism and attacks on Christians in Ukraine.

Continued below.
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Are there still Apostles today?

A little Biblical history and perspective first.

First and foremost is Jesus Christ -

Heb 3:1Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,​


There is the Original 12:
  • Simon (Peter)
  • Andrew (his brother)
  • James (son of Zebedee)
  • John (his brother)
  • Philip
  • Bartholomew (Nathanael)
  • Thomas (Didymus)
  • Matthew (the tax collector/Levi)
  • James (son of Alphaeus)
  • Thaddaeus (Judas son of James, also called Jude or Lebbaeus)
  • Simon (the Zealot/Cananite)
  • Judas Iscariot (the betrayer, later replaced)
Judas was replaced by Matthias - After Judas Iscariot's death, Matthias was chosen by lot to replace him and is explicitly numbered "with the eleven apostles" (Acts 1:26). He is therefore referred to as an apostle. They held a unique position (role) in the Gospels -

Rev 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The Reader will notice that the writers of their Gospels - Luke and Mark were not part of the 12. - yet many refer to them as Apostles


Luke 9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”​
The reader will note that the 12 were called disciples when they were with Christ and Apostles when they were sent out -​

Keep reading:

Luke 9:10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done.​
Same 12 people - their titles changed from disciple to apostle because they were sent out on a specific journey.
Luke 10:10 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”​
EXACTLY the same direction from the Lord - EXACTLY the same authority and results.

Apostle - transliterated - apostolos - a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):—apostle, messenger, he that is sent.​

Then there is Paul - an Apostle to the Gentiles

Barnabus - Acts 14:4 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out

James - Gal 1:19 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

None will ever be to the level of the 12 -

But there are numbers called by God and sent who bear the Title Apostle who preached the Gospel, cast out demons and healed the sick.

When I think of modern times, I think of Dr. Billy Graham, who preached the Gospel to over 1 billion people - ministered to Kings and President, who's ministry saw tens of millions come to Christ for Salvation.

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