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Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-13T10:32:04-0600

durangodawood said:
Thanks for including us on this signal chat.

I just got the joke. It's already been a long day.

essentialsaltes · 2025-12-13T10:30:30-0600

Trump's 'historic' peace deal for DR Congo shattered after rebels seize key city

The US ambassador to the UN has accused Rwanda of leading Africa's Great Lakes region toward war, just over a week after a peace deal was signed in Washington to end the decades-long conflict.

[T]he M23 rebel group says it has "fully liberated" the key city of Uvira in an offensive the US and European powers say is backed by Rwanda. UN experts have previously accused it of having "de facto control" of the rebel force's operations.

The rebels were not signatories to Trump's deal - and have been taking part in a parallel peace process led by Qatar, a US ally.

The M23's new offensive in South Kivu started a few days before Kagame and Tshisekedi flew to Washington last week to ratify the agreement first hammered out in June.

durangodawood · 2025-12-13T10:29:56-0600

ThatRobGuy said:
....."Ladies, Gentlemen, Heads of State, Ambassadors, we'd like to welcome you all to this gala affair, there's some bug spray by the salad bar if the mosquitos get too bad"

The US is something of an outlier in this regard.

Do most countries have their ballroom or similar at the capitol building or executive residence/office?

Always in His Presence · 2025-12-13T10:29:06-0600

There are a number of references I'd like you to look at:

first reference

Acts 19:1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

Notice - Paul is speaking with disciples - (saved) -

1. They are already had experienced the baptism into repentance -

2. Then Paul Baptized them a second time in the Name of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Second reference -

Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Baptisms - plural.

Third reference:

John 20:21 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

They received the Holy Spirit - then later -

Acts 1: 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Three distinct and very plainly written Scriptures - each demonstrating more than one Baptism.

look again at

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Is it possible that the subject of the sentence is our entrance into the Body of Christ and yes, there is one Baptism into Christ - but as evidenced by Paul's own writings and actions - there was another where the Holy Spirit was involved.

If your answer is no - them please explain the above notated Scriptures.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-13T10:28:29-0600

durangodawood said:
Thanks for including us on this signal chat.

I'm going for a cabinet post one day and need some experience.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-13T10:25:28-0600

More fake liberal outrage. The Democrats had years to demolish parts of the White House but sat on their hands doing nothing. But as soon as President Trump paved over an abandoned empty lot or removed an old unused derelict structure, oh! It's the end of the world!

rockytopva · 2025-12-13T10:24:37-0600

Desk trauma said:
Still abusing that equation.

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” - Nikola Tesla

But... Tesla was no fan of the E= mc2 theory. Being brought up by an Orthodox priest had contrasting views: Einstein's famous $E=mc^{2}$ showed mass and energy interconvertible, while Tesla believed energy came from the environment, not trapped in matter, rejecting relativity and quantum ideas, seeing cosmic forces (like earth-atmosphere potential) as primary energy sources, viewing "God" as the underlying universal laws.

Atom - Encapsulated energy and light. Split it and you get a lot of it
A human cell - Contains trillions of atoms
A human body - Consists of trillions of cells

If unique genetics were not enough we have the influences of family, culture, and the generation. But in the midst of it all... It is always nice to come across pleasant and nice spirited ladies and gentlemen in our daily interactions. And not the savage nature we hear so much about on the news.

"A clear and calm social order is characterized harmony and tranquility, plainness and simplicity, serenity and freedom. In an orderly society, jobs are easy to keep, work is easy to do, manners are easy to observe, and debts are easy to repay. The more knowledge and ability there are, the more virtue declines; so perfect people are pure and simple, without useless complexity." - Lao-Tzu

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-13T10:19:30-0600

It's a sad day when a religious leader is not allowed to cull the flock. Culling the flock keeps it healthy by removing the undesirable parts.

essentialsaltes · 2025-12-13T10:18:04-0600

New Republican health plan suggestion: Drink bleach!

Senator Endorses Discredited Doctor’s Book on a Chemical He Claims Treats Everything From Autism to Cancer

Wisconsin's Ron Johnson has a history of spreading vaccine misinformation. Now he's giving credence to assertions about the therapeutic powers of chlorine dioxide, a disinfectant and deodorizer. “It is all lunacy," one expert said.

He’s promoted disproven treatments for COVID-19 and claimed, without evidence, that athletes are “dropping dead on the field” after getting the COVID-19 vaccination. Now the Wisconsin politician is endorsing a book by a discredited doctor promoting an unproven and dangerous treatment for autism and a host of ailments: chlorine dioxide, a chemical used for disinfecting and bleaching.

The book is “The War on Chlorine Dioxide: The Medicine that Could End Medicine”by Dr. Pierre Kory, a critical care specialist who practiced in Wisconsin hospitals before losing his medical certification for statements advocating using an antiparasite medication to treat COVID-19. The action, he’s said, makes him unemployable, even though he still has a license.

Kory’s book, set to be released to the public in January, argues that word of chlorine dioxide’s effectiveness has been suppressed by government and medical forces that need people to remain perpetually ill to generate large profits.

Johnson confirmed to ProPublica in an email that he authorized the statement on the cover. “After reading the entire book, yes I provided and approved that blurb,” he said.

iluvatar5150 · 2025-12-13T10:17:39-0600

Vambram said:
Did Christ's teachings include bringing in a culture from another nation which practices fraud and tribalism and stealing billions of taxes from us

Votes for Trump, complains about fraud and tribalism.

classic.

durangodawood · 2025-12-13T10:17:23-0600

Aryeh Jay said:
While not as memorable or iconic as Nelson's "Now is the time" signal, it clearly directs action against an opposing force. B-E-A-T_ A-R-M-Y

Thanks for including us on this signal chat.

NxNW · 2025-12-13T10:14:25-0600

iluvatar5150 said:
The coordination with Posobiec is far more troublesome than the reading list.

This is amusing, though. Who does he think he is, Donald Trump?

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-13T10:13:47-0600

Apparently zero hour is 2000 Zulu today. 4 p.m. Eastern time zone

DaisyDay · 2025-12-13T10:13:28-0600

essentialsaltes said:
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration diverted more than $35 million in taxpayer funds — an amount far greater than previously known — as part of a brazen agenda last year to defeat two ballot amendments he staunchly opposed, a Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times investigation has found. Much of the state money was intended to assist needy Floridians, including children. Instead, it paid for political consultants, lawyers and thousands of advertisements that helped DeSantis and his supporters win at the ballot box.

The findings shed new light on the DeSantis administration’s marshaling of state resources to finance his fight against political causes supported by a majority of Florida voters. Amendment 3 would have legalized recreational marijuana. Amendment 4 would have overturned the six-week abortion ban pushed by DeSantis. Both fell just short of the 60% needed to pass. The most visible cog in his campaign — the use of the state’s Hope Florida charity — is the subject of a grand jury investigation. In that case, nearly $10 million from a Medicaid settlement was steered to a political committee controlled by the governor’s chief of staff.

The diversion of state money came at a time when the term-limited governor’s deep pool of donors had begun to dry up after a failed presidential campaign. Without the cash needed to wage the all-out blitz to defeat the amendments, he turned to taxpayer money to air what he called “public service announcements” to educate Floridians.

See also:

What is Hope Florida? Why Casey DeSantis-connected charity is reportedly under investigation
The battle over Hope Florida, a project spearheaded by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, kicked into a new gear with news that a criminal investigation may have been opened into a $10 million "donation" from a Medicaid settlement that was then sent to a political committee to fight a constitutional amendment that her husband, Gov. Ron DeSantis, didn't like.

Corruption at the highest state level.

Maria Billingsley · 2025-12-13T10:12:13-0600

ThatRobGuy said:
Every ballroom is by most conventional definitions are "over the top"

The public vs. private funding conversation is just another "no-win trap".

If it was publicly funded, people would gripe about "look at what Trump is wasting your tax money on"...privately funded is "oh, it's rich people buying influence"

Keeping in mind that the head of state ballroom in Britain looks like this:
View attachment 374403

In France:
View attachment 374404

In Germany:
View attachment 374405

Japan:
View attachment 374406

To pretend that the "Trump-proposed" design is somehow uniquely tacky or a waste of money is silly.

Like I said, I'm by no means a "ballroom event" type of guy. Give me a steakhouse or craft brewery any night of the week.

But we can't pretend that this whole ballroom thing is "shocking and appalling".

The main issue is the size not the design.

Akita Suggagaki · 2025-12-13T10:11:35-0600

zippy2006 said:
This is a good challenge.

The problem with the way that recent papacies have wielded these very subtle theological-moral doctrines is that they tend to simply pretend as if the legal sphere does not exist (cf. Where the Church’s Immigration Rhetoric Fails - First Things).

Hence the Catechism and the Compendium are much more careful than Dilexi te (and beginning with Francis, papal documents have become increasingly rhetorical and propagandistic). For example:

The footnote 371 refers to Rerum Novarum #11, which says nothing about "common and promiscuous dominion" (it turns out that the translations and references are often inconsistent in these documents, including DT).

More succinctly, Catholic doctrine involves a complex balance of opposed and paradoxical principles and values. The Francis papacy had a tendency to highlight one side of the paradox, pretend that the other doesn't exist, and mislead quite grievously. I haven't read this document, so I have no reason to believe that Leo is following in Francis' footsteps, but attempts to highlight the universal destination of goods without mentioning the complex and paradoxical context in which it resides do not do justice to Catholic doctrine. Historically, the universal destination of goods is treated as a kind of exception which applies in cases of extreme poverty. Most people nowadays want it to mean much more. Beyond that, the universal destination of goods is a specifically theological doctrine, absent from natural reason in its stronger forms.

Yes, Catholic doctrine involves a complex balance of opposed and paradoxical principles and values. But people today, including leaders at high levels, don't seem to have the inclination, patience or even desire to get into the complex weeds where doctrine, principles and values seem to conflict in our day to day social realities. Even more now than ever we like the concise tweets that confirm our biases.

But you identify my biggest gripe. Let us sed both sides of any issue fairly and as objectively as possible. But how de we do that? There does not seem to be a forum for such a hopeful debate. Instead we are forced to listen to each side, who do not talk to each other, and try to discern what is more valuable.

Mark Dohle · 2025-12-13T10:09:41-0600

Prayer as I Age

Moses urges us to pray with the same ardor of Jesus, to intercede for the world, and to remember that despite all its frailties,
it still belongs to God. Everyone belongs to God. The worst sinners, the most wicked people, the most corrupt leaders,
are children of God, and Jesus feels this and intercedes for everyone. And the world lives
and flourishes to the blessing of the righteous, to the prayer for mercy.

Community, Love Crucified.
Teaching Manual Love Crucified
2020 (p. 74). Kindle Edition.

When I was a young monk in my twenties, Br. Ken’s parents would visit our monastery once a year. I still remember the first time I met his mother in our family's guest house. She was sitting in a rocking chair, gently holding a Rosary. We spoke for about thirty minutes, and I found her to be a lovely, gracious woman. At one point, I asked about her Rosary. She told me that as she grew older, prayer became more important to her, and the Rosary was her constant companion. Most days, she would sit quietly in her living room, slowly reciting its prayers.

Over the years, I’ve noticed this pattern in many older people—men and women alike—who made prayer a priority when they were younger. I once knew a Jewish woman who spent her days repeating the Psalms. Now that I am older, I understand what they were experiencing.

As my energy for engaging with the “outer” world diminishes, my desire to pray and open my heart to God continues to grow. Like Br. Ken’s mother, I find myself craving prayer. The soul breathes when it prays, and as I age, this need to embrace God’s love deepens. My connections with others have also become richer. Years ago, I made Br. Ken’s mother a Rosary with large wooden beads strung on Paracord. She loved it, prayed with it daily, and was buried with it when she passed away.

My recent heart procedure was difficult, yet it brought profound changes and unexpected inner healing. I’m not sure I would want to go through it again, but I know the experience was worth it. It taught me endurance, vulnerability, and the hard truth of mortality. No book could have prepared me for that journey.

Through it all, prayer sustained me. I’ve learned that what feels like God’s absence often hides a deeper experience of His presence. Prayer is not always easy, but the Rosary gives me a starting point—a rhythm and beauty that carries me forward. I pray slowly, because if I rush, the words become mechanical and lose meaning. Others prefer a faster pace, and that works for them. For me, slowness opens the heart.

Prayer also connects me to the world—to every man, woman, and child. It roots me in the present moment, keeping my mind from drifting to the past or future. When I am truly present, even fatigue feels lighter. In the end, prayer helps us adapt to the changes of aging and reminds us how precious each day is. We only have now. Staying rooted in that truth is both a gift and a challenge—and without God’s grace, it reveals our inner poverty.—Br. MD

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-13T10:09:35-0600

durangodawood said:
Can someone translate for me?

While not as memorable or iconic as Nelson's "Now is the time" signal, it clearly directs action against an opposing force. B-E-A-T_ A-R-M-Y

DaisyDay · 2025-12-13T10:09:22-0600

SavedByGrace3 said:
How many objected to the basketball court that Obama had built?

Lols, way too many.

SavedByGrace3 said:
Nuff said...

Is it? Did Obama demolish historical architecture? Or did he simple repurpose the existing tennis court with some paint and moveable hoops?

The Basketball Court

Shortly after taking office, President Obama had the White House tennis court adapted so it could be used for both tennis and basketball. The White House has had a smaller outdoor court since 1991, but the adapted tennis court allows enough room for a full court game of basketball. The new court has played host to a number of distinguished visitors, from college basketball championship teams to Wounded Warrior players.

throughfierytrial · 2025-12-13T10:07:46-0600

Studyman said:
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

Caleb and Joshua didn't harden their hearts when they heard the Voice of God, but many did provoke. Should we not understand who it was that fell in the wilderness and why? Isn't this the purpose of this part of Hebrew 4? And the Author does explain who fell, and why in the next verse, in my understanding.

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

So God told them about His Commandments, including His Holy Sabbath, that those who defiled or polluted them, would be cut off from His People, would be "put to death".

Clearly Caleb and Joshua believed God, and it was attributed to them as Righteousness. They didn't reject or defile God's Commandments, including the polluting God's Holy Sabbath commandment.

But of those who fell in the Wilderness, it is written:

Ez. 20: 11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. (Howbeit not all)

Are these not examples God had written for us, upon whom the ends of the world are come, "to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted"? (1 Cor. 10)

It seems wrong to judge 1 of the Commandments they defiled, as irrelevant for us.

You seem to have neglected looking into the passages Icited. Colossians 2:16-17 and Galatians 4:8-11 which state very clearly we are no longer under O.T. law (even listing the Sabbath among them) and what purpose these Days served back then. I believe you’d follow the thoughts I set down better if you were to read them
I explained my faith with back up Scripture.
I do not wish to continue and just “argue” which Scripture itself warns against.
And yes, I’m aware Caleb and Joshua were spared due to their faith… I am always hopeful that the reader has done his due diligence in reading the Scripture before posting so some knowledge I hope is assumed.

essentialsaltes · 2025-12-13T10:06:42-0600

durangodawood said:
Can someone translate for me?

Army vs. Navy Game 2025 prediction, pick, odds, spread, where to watch live

The Black Knights and Midshipmen will put a bow on the college football regular season in Baltimore on Saturday

www.cbssports.com

Neostarwcc · 2025-12-13T10:03:00-0600

Michie said:
Wonderful news!

Yeah! I think both the nucala and changed bipap pressures that my pulmonologist did when Jeanette and I were in Ohio are finally working! I got the injection last Friday so it's great that it kicked in a little over a week later.

durangodawood · 2025-12-13T09:55:03-0600

Aryeh Jay said:
Well something is about to happen today. My ship is currently flying this message to our little fleet.

View attachment 374430

Can someone translate for me?

durangodawood · 2025-12-13T09:53:23-0600

Keep Hemet weird!

Anne69 · 2025-12-13T09:52:35-0600

There are seasons in our walk with God when freedom doesn’t come all at once but unfolds step by step. Sometimes there are several seasons we go through in our lives that are very difficult… one after the other, after the other, where it seems like it will never end. Yet when we look back, we realize He was working in places we didn’t even recognize at the time. This testimony is part of that journey - the story of how the Lord broke my chains and taught me how to live as someone truly free.

Psalm 34:19 (NKJV) “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

For many years it felt like one bondage after the other would bombard my life. I would just be set free from one, and another would come, and another after that. I got to the point in life that I wondered what would come next, and if I would ever be fully set free of the bondage in my life.

Psalm 18:6 (NKJV) “In my distress I called upon the Lord… and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.”

Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…”

Sometimes that freedom comes suddenly, like a prison door swinging open. Other times it arrives quietly, like dawn slowly pushing back the night. However it comes, the Lord leads us forward teaching us that freedom is not only a moment, but a lifelong walk with Him.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NKJV) “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

During the years of bondage I was going through in my life, I felt like I was trapped in a cage. The bars on the cage were likened to prison bars. It felt like there was no way out of the bondage I was in. As I moved on in my walk with God, in my heart I saw the “prison walls” fall down from all four corners of my life. God had set me free from every bondage I was ever in.

Psalm 107:14 (NKJV) “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke their chains in pieces.”

Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV) “…He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”

After the Lord delivers us, He invites us to learn how to walk as free people.

Freedom is not a feeling - it is a fact established by Christ. But learning to live in that freedom takes trust. It takes daily surrender. It takes choosing to believe what God says about us, even when our emotions tell a different story.

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free…”

Romans 6:18 (NKJV) “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

For years, shame whispered that I was still the same person I used to be. Old habits tried to convince me that nothing had really changed. But the Holy Spirit kept reminding me of a simple truth:

“If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” - John 8:36 (NKJV)

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”

Romans 8:1 (NKJV) “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”

Freedom became not just something I received - but something I practiced.

Every time an old pattern tried to rise up, the Holy Spirit whispered in my heart, “That’s not who you are anymore.” Every time shame tried to return, He reminded me, “You are forgiven, washed, and made new.” Every time fear tried to creep in, He said, “You are Mine.”

And slowly, the truth settled deep into my spirit: I am no longer defined by what once held me. I am defined by the One who set me free.

If you are walking out your own journey of freedom, take heart. You are not alone. The same God who broke your chains and broke down those “prison walls” will teach you how to walk without them.

One step at a time. One day at a time. One victory at a time.

You are free - and you are learning to live like it.

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) “…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it…”

Psalm 37:23–24 (NKJV) “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord… Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

To the Holy Spirit: Thank You for guiding every word, guarding every step, and glorifying Jesus. All glory, honor, praise, and worship belong to God Almighty, who alone is worthy.

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.

Latest activity

Latest activity

Trump's 'historic' peace deal for DR Congo shattered after rebels seize key city​

Senator Endorses Discredited Doctor’s Book on a Chemical He Claims Treats Everything From Autism to Cancer​

Wisconsin's Ron Johnson has a history of spreading vaccine misinformation. Now he's giving credence to assertions about the therapeutic powers of chlorine dioxide, a disinfectant and deodorizer. “It is all lunacy," one expert said.​

What is Hope Florida? Why Casey DeSantis-connected charity is reportedly under investigation​

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Trump's 'historic' peace deal for DR Congo shattered after rebels seize key city

Senator Endorses Discredited Doctor’s Book on a Chemical He Claims Treats Everything From Autism to Cancer

Wisconsin's Ron Johnson has a history of spreading vaccine misinformation. Now he's giving credence to assertions about the therapeutic powers of chlorine dioxide, a disinfectant and deodorizer. “It is all lunacy," one expert said.

What is Hope Florida? Why Casey DeSantis-connected charity is reportedly under investigation