Pastor Steven Furtick’s multi-campus Elevation Church, headquartered in North Carolina, collected more than $108 million in tithes and offerings in 2023, as in-person church attendance soared to more than 17,000 worshipers weekly with three new campuses, according to the megachurch’s 2023 annual report.

The church, which withdrew its affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention last summer, after more than 20 years of cooperation with the nation's largest Protestant denomination, reported a 21% year over year increase in in-person church attendance and hundreds of thousands more from the U.S. and around the world tuning in online via the church’s website or social media such as YouTube.

Elevation Church noted that they added permanent church campuses in Belmont, North Carolina, and Orlando, Florida, as well as a second campus in Toronto, Canada. At the end of 2021, Elevation Church reportedthat they had 19 physical locations spread across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Florida. Eight of those locations were reported as owned by the church, while 11 of the locations are leased.

Continued below.

After surviving two days alone enduring wind and rain from Hurricane Beryl, a 1-year-old baby was rescued when a truck driver on I-10 East near the Texas-Louisiana border saw the child crawling towards the highway a few miles from where his older brother's body was found.

"We looked at this 1-year-old as our miracle baby because he was still alive," Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory said during a news conference earlier this month, according to KPLC-TV.

"This kid spent two days out in the weather on the side of the highway. Thank God that trucker saw him. When you look at the video here, he was, you know, crawling toward the highway."

The infant, Kingtrail Jack, was discovered just miles from where the body of his 4-year-old brother, Legend Jack, was discovered behind the Louisiana Welcome Center in Vinton on July 9. Both children were last seen with their mother, Aaliyah N. Jack.

Continued below.

This was the right thing to do. However it shouldn't end there. While she was the head, there were those that were also directly in charge of the security rhat day that should also face the end of their career. Failure to secure and maintain security over the area is up to the leader and he/she screwed up.

The perpetrator of a series of what police say were likely politically motivated attacks on supporters of former President Donald Trump and law enforcement, including a brutal assault on an 80-year-old man, has died by suicide.

The City of Hancock Police Department in Michigan announced Monday that the department responded on Sunday to "three different incidents that appeared to be politically motivated."

Two of the incidents involved vehicles that were "intentionally vandalized," according to police.

Continued below.

Michie said:

(OSV News) — He was a priest whose wide smile could just light up a room and whose energetic self-giving to the people he served seemed limitless.

Those who knew Father Norman Fischer said the priest’s easy ability to model the love of Christ and build bridges — sometimes through a beaming selfie or a fist bump — was legendary. So was his skill at mediating conflict, or inspiring a deep appreciation of cultural diversity. He was even known to break into a rap in the midst of a homily.

Remembering Father Norman Fischer​

And now he’s gone from this life.


On Sunday, July 14 — at the age of just 50 — Father Fischer’s earthly journey came to an end.

Father Fischer had shepherded souls both as pastor of one of Kentucky’s oldest Black Catholic parishes, St. Peter Claver in Lexington, and as chaplain at Lexington Catholic High School.

“He used his voice — not only serving the people of the Diocese of Lexington, but serving the church in the United States, and specifically, serving the Black Catholic community,” said Father Kareem Smith, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel in New York’s Bronx borough. “This is a tremendous loss.”

Father Smith served with Father Fischer on the board of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, and less than a year ago, Father Fischer was elected NBCCC president. With Father Fischer’s passing, Father Smith — previously vice president — assumes the role of acting president until an election can be held.

“As the church at large struggles with vocations,” said Father Smith, “the same is true of course in the Black Catholic community — and to lose a priest of his age, only 50 years old, in an important ministry in his own diocese and of course nationally, is a tragedy.”

Black Catholics​

Continued below.

Joyful Black Catholic priest mourned after unexpected passing

Those who knew Father Norman Fischer said the priest's easy ability to model the love of Christ and build bridges -- sometimes through a beaming selfie or a fist bump -- was legendary. So was his skill at mediating conflict, or inspiring a deep appreciation of cultural diversity. He was even...

www.oursundayvisitor.com

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May he RIP.

essentialsaltes said:

Not if the state doesn't approve your curriculum.

Exclusive: Florida never OK’ed school plans for sex ed — so Orange County students went without

School districts were left in the dark after the state didn’t approve sex ed curriculum, leaving students without the lessons.

www.orlandosentinel.com

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It sounds like that was a choice by the schools. The state has approved curriculum and the districts chose not to use it. So thats on them.

That being said I do believe the state ought to be faster at approving or disapproving curriculum sent to them. Unfortunately it's not just a Florida. Government is notoriously slow everywhere regarding many things needing approval. It's the nature of the beast. At least Florida had something they could use in the meantime.

Pro 15:1 KJV "A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

Pro 15:1a KJV "A soft answer turns away wrath: See True Church Paper

Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Psa 78:38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yes, many times he turned his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Christian Principles (Matt 16:13-20 Acts 20:28 Col 1:13-18 Heb 12:23)

Eph 4:32 And be you kind one to another, tend erhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. you have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Rom 2:4 Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Eph 1:7 Rom 3:25

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration (restore), and renewing (resuming activities after interruption) of the Holy Ghost; Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

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Acts 15: continues

Prov 15:1b but grievous words stir up anger."

Prov 15:1b but **grievous words (causes heartbreaking painful consequence) stir up anger (causes judgment from God)."
** Dark Sentences (Dan 8:23 Heb 5:14)

Coming of Grief (Acts 20:29 grievous wolves (Zeph 3:3) enter in)

• **Gen 3:1 KJV "Now the serpent was more subtle (crafty snare) than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he (Lucifer) said unto the woman (Eve), yes has God said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Gen 3:2 KJV "And the woman said unto the serpent, we (Adam and Eve) may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:" Gen 3:3 KJV "But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, you shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die." Gen 3:4 KJV "And the serpent (Lucifer) said unto the woman, you shall not surely die:" Rev 2:23 kill Jezebel’s children with death Rev 6:2 convincing them to change their mind to follow a lie
• Act 18:7 KJV "And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, **whose house (Acts 1:21-26) joined hard (bible college) to the synagogue (religious building)."
• Heb 5:14 But strong meat (principles) belong to them (Christians) that are of full age (mature), even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised (wisdom in maturity) to discern both **good (principles of Jesus) and evil (principles of Lucifer).
• Gen 3:5 For God does know that in the day you (Eve) eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, **and you shall be as gods (Rev 2:13 seat of Lucifer), knowing good and evil (Adam’s authority went to 2Cor 4:4 god of this world).

Accepting a Lie

Mat 23:4 For they (Scribes and Pharisees) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them (heavy burdens) with one of their fingers (authority).

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint (tithe for herb) and anise (tithe for spice) and cummin (tithe for herb), and have omitted the weightier (left out and this becomes grievous) matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 1John 5:3 commands of God not grievous, John 2:15 moneychangers

Rev 2:24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine (Jezebel Rev 2:20-23), and which have not known **the depths of Satan, as they speak (grievous words); I will put upon you none other burden (grief).

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, will sup (fellowship) with him, and he with me.

Pro 25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, **and a soft tongue (crafty deception) breaks (causes) the bone (Zeph 3:3 painful consequences).

Pommer said:

There is a sub forum dedicated to the topic of conspiracy theories, yes, I’ve seen it.

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I found it in a unusual place under Hobbies, Interests & Entertainment.

eleos1954 said:

We should question things .... nothing wrong with that at all

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I do not think we question things enough. Nice post though, it really gets at the heart of the issue.

An Alabama pastor reportedly wrestled a gun away from his grandson after the grandson allegedly shot five people, including four children and his wife. Brandon Kendrick II (32) has been arrested and charged with five counts of capital murder.

Among the victims were Brandon Kendrick’s wife, Kelsey Kendrick (24), and his own children, Kaleb Kendrick (6) and Kynli Kendrick (2). The other two victims were relatives Haley Daniels (6) and Colton Daniels, who would have turned nine on Tuesday.

Brandon Kendrick had been living in a garage apartment of his grandfather, Allan Kendrick (71), who is the pastor of Oasis of Praise Church in Bessemer, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham.

Police responded to a call at Allan Kendrick’s residence in West Blocton, a town roughly 30 miles south of Bessemer, on Thursday (July 18) around 10 p.m. Brandon Kendrick was taken into custody without incident.

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Josephine Hope-Scott Ward (1864–1932) wrote at the crossroads of the implementation of Catholic Emancipation in England—particularly the Universities Tests Acts of 1871—and the Catholic Modernist Crisis (1893–1914). The author of ten novels, a novella, and numerous articles and personal writings, Josephine Ward’s body of work provides a unique look into how the modernist controversy was experienced by English Catholics in the first decade of the twentieth century.

Josephine Ward was the niece of the Duke of Norfolk, which demonstrates her ties to Recusant England. She was also the daughter of the Tractarian and Oxford convert, James Robert Hope-Scott (1812–1872). In 1887, Josephine married Wilfrid Ward (1856–1916), who was the son of the notable Oxford convert, William George Ward (1812–1882). Formed by the English Catholic intelligentsia, Josephine and Wilfrid would become two of the most influential Catholic voices in England at the time of the modernist controversy. Though nearly all of Josephine’s writings have fallen out of print and all but disappeared from the historical record, her voice is essential for an understanding of the social and religious implications of the modernist crisis in England in particular, but also in the greater Anglophone sphere. This is particularly true of her novel, Out of Due Time.

The Modernist Crisis in a Nutshell​

Continued below.

God’s purposes are often unknowable by us, but there’s no question that he has a plan.

A chorus of populist theologizing greeted the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Much of it was along the lines of “Considering that the shot missed killing him by only a couple of inches, God must have been looking out for him.”

I fully agree. God certainly was looking out for the former president. So what else might we say about what happened?

Although pushing too hard to explain God’s ways can be presumptuous, we can at least say that any serious attempt to understand will run up against mystery. Comprehending God’s plan in its literally unimaginable extent and complexity lies far beyond our limited capacity for grasping divine realities other than those he reveals. As for the little that we do see, it’s seen, as St. Paul remarks, as through a glass — darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12).

In the present case, then, start with the obvious. God isn’t a Democrat or a Republican or anything else in political terms. But politics and politicians do have places in God’s providential plan, as do everyone and everything that exists now or ever has existed in the past or ever will exist in the future. Also, although God doesn’t cause evil, he does permit evil’s intrusion into history — including the evil done by crackbrained individuals who shoot celebrities.

Continued below.

BCP1928 said:

No doubt that there are many Nationalists who are Christian. Many Christians believe that the US is a secular state, yet they are patriots anyway

He believes that the US is a Christian nation to be ruled by biblical law.

The Statement on Christian Nationalism & the Gospel

CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM is a set of governing principles rooted in Scripture’s teaching on Christ’s rule as supreme Lord and King of all creation, Who has ordained civil magistrates with delegated authority to be under Him, over the people, to order their ordained jurisdiction by punishing evil...

www.statementonchristiannationalism.com

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I didn't see his name on that document. But what has he done that is so dangerous?

I sincerely hope he repented before he died.

The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith sends a letter, approved by the Pope, to the cardinal bishop of Como granting the ‘nulla osta’ regarding spiritual experiences at the Sanctuary of Maccio.

Vatican News

The entry into force of the new Norms for discerning alleged supernatural phenomena has allowed a new “green light” from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, this time with regard to spiritual experiences at the Shrine of Maccio in Villa Guardia, near Como in northern Italy.

In 2000, Gioacchino Genovese, a music teacher and choir director, married and the father of two daughters, began to perceive through “intellectual visions,” a “living presence of the mystery of the Holy Trinity.”

A serious, discreet person who never sought the limelight, five years later he invited more people to be involved with adoration, supplications, and novenas.

After an initial examination of Genovese’s writings and of the phenomenon more generally, in 2010 the then Bishop of Como, Diego Coletti gave the parish church the status of a Sanctuary with the title Santissima Trinità Misericorida (“Most Holy Trinity Mercy”).

The prefect's letter​

Continued below.

JimR-OCDS said:

It is not love if affirming immoral behavior. In fact, to not tell others about evil is the opposite
of love. Just turning a blind eye toward evil and saying nothing is not love, but participation in
the evil itself. Jesus spoke against evil, often.

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exactly .
in fact we are told
you shall not hate your neighbor in your heart
you shall in any way rebuke them and not ALLOW sin upon them .
LOVE CORRECTS .
Yet christendom has a big problem .
It seems to think its not loving and even judgmental to correct sin and error within THE CHURCH .
That led to it also now being accepted in the CHURCH . as we see more and more rainbows
and etc getting set up . Leaven will bring buddies if leaven is not corrected .
WHY does GOD warn
Because HE desires not the death of the wicked but rather they would , REPENT .
But todays love seems not to warn , it seems to just allow SIN upon its neighbor
in fact its getting so bad now
they are even accepting UNBELIEF as OKAY .
But that aint what JESUS said . HE said IF you BELIEVE NOT that i am HE , you gonna DIE in your sins .
but today its the mantra about how everyones religoin is okay stuff .
Its getting worse all the time my friend . IF WE LOVE THEM we correct them .

In north-central China, roadwork near the city of Taiyuan uncovered a tomb dating to the Tang Dynasty that is turning heads for its remarkably preserved collection of murals depicting daily life.

One might imagine such a tomb decorated with images of dragons among heavenly palaces resting on clouds—depicting a glorious afterlife, but this tomb shows a series of pictures of household chores, and a glimpse of the Silk Road in the form of a foreigner.

Discovered in 2018 on a hill slope alongside the old Jin Ci West Central Ring Road in Taiyuan city, the tomb consists of a brick chamber, entranceway, and corridor, and first welcomed its owners into the embrace of the Earth around 736 CE during the Tang Dynasty.

Continued below.

probinson said:

So you're from Pittsburgh but you don't like the Stillers?! Say it ain't so!

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I worshiped in that “church” during the glory years, I’m at best agnostic when it comes to all things SPORTSBALL. (They say we’re going to get a MLB franchise here soon!)

The boss of a seafood delicacy business has spoken of the shock he experienced harvesting a monster oyster as big as a newborn baby.

Tom Haward said he was fascinated after his company retrieved the huge mollusk, weighing 5.5lbs (2.5kg) along the coast of Mersea Island, Essex.

Mr. Haward estimates the 12 inches long and five inches wide oyster is 20 years old which makes it considerably rare as they usually only live for around six years in harvested waters.

“My first thought was ‘flipping heck’. We work with oysters all the time and see thousands upon thousands a day, but to see one like that, it was fascinating,” Mr. Haward said. “You could see the growth lines on it, just like a tree. It’s very intriguing.”

Richard Haward’s Oysters, founded in 1769, harvests around a million mollusks a year but Mr. Haward said this one was the largest he’d seen.


Positing how an oyster could live so long, the oysterman said that with 14 miles of oyster reefs, it’s always possible for an individual to be looked over.

“Some can be left growing as they keep getting missed and then they can end up around 20 years old,” he said.

Unlike other delicacies, size doesn’t confer special treatment, and if the oyster does make it to their market stall, it would be sold according to the weight of its meat, putting it at about $12.00.

Continued below.

John 8:

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am**.”

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was born
γενέσθαι (genesthai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

There was no Koine Greek tense that corresponded exactly to the English past tense. The aorist was often translated as the English past tense.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am
εἰμί (eimi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

G1510-εἰμί was a different verb from G1096-γίνομαι. They were not just different in forms; they were different lexemes, having different meanings. εἰμί was the verb to be while γίνομαι was the verb to become.

The past tense of εἰμί was the imperfect indicative: ἤμην (ēmēn) - I was. There was no aorist tense for G1510.

The main verb of the clause was εἰμί. The secondary verb, the infinitive, was γενέσθαι. This showed their relative time.

My translation:

Before Abraham was to become, I already am.

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See also Before Abraham was, I AM

Put on the Lord Jesus. The One on the throne, the greatest One of all, wants us to put Him on. That's very intimate, with Jesus who is so great and better than we are.

But we can want to be intimate with feelings of pleasure. Lusts can take us to seek pleasure. But pleasure feelings are not love. Lusts can feel very convincing so people can feel they are in love with each other, but - -

Jesus is gentle and humble and quiet and better.

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

The lust can be very busy lying to us, making much noise and promises of pleasure. But then the pleasure leaves us and forsakes us, and the people we use do not last. And the loneliness and boredom are still there, making their pain and noise, spoiling us so we do not enjoy quiet rest with Jesus.

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

In this "yoke" of Jesus we have connection, intimacy . . . companionship with love so we are not lonely; and we have *God's* pleasure of Heaven's goodness of God's love pleasantly soothing and caressing us with His rest >

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

Yes, there is pleasure at His right hand >

"You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
(Psalm 16:11)

Jesus is perfectly pleasing, satisfying God Himself . . . so delighting that He on the cross satisfied our Father to forgive us for any and all sins (1 John 2:2) and reconcile with us and adopt us as His own children. And Jesus in us can be so pleasing to us while changing us to be like Him so pleasing to our Father . . . "conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (in Romans 8:29)

gentle and humble

so humble, not conceited, so superior and yet He loves and cares for each and every person, and was willing to leave Heaven in order to reach us and so suffer and die for us . . . while we have been conceited to judge who is good enough for us to love and worth loving

Jesus is all-loving, so generously forgiving . . . not bored and lonely, but so loving and kind.

So put Him on.

Not putting on a show and gestures of prayer to God "out there somewhere", but submitting to how You change us and share with us and personally guide us, all the time so we are with You.

And we get this in sharing with one another, since You in Your love are about family, Father. We can not find out how to love like You, by being distant from our brothers and sisters . . . and enemies. But You are not conceited and distant, but humble and willing to share, while strong enough in love so You do not fear or get hurt, and You in Your love share this strength with us.

"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?" (1 Peter 3:13)

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10)

Change our character, LORD our Father, so we are, please, and the glory is to You who are able to do this.

Zaha Torte said:

And what roles were the males and females fulfilling for those tens of thousands of years?

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Depends on what society and what time one looks at.

For example, women as the literal property of their husbands whose only purpose was to make babies has been common in many places and at many times. I personally think that women are people and that people shouldn't be property, so I would consider that particular example a bad one to emulate. But I have this funny notion of "human dignity" that I subscribe to. Your mileage may vary.

-CryptoLutheran

Whyayeman said:

Skinny-dipping!

It's been a while...

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I actually just did it, lol! Super, super liberating.

Michie said:

The project consists of a few major goals outlined in their mission statement.

1. Centralize power in the executive branch, i.e., the president.
2. Dismantle the administrative state
3. Defend the nation's sovereignty and borders
4. Secure God-given individual rights — to live freely

Some of the proposals include putting the Federal Justice Department entirely under the president's control.
******************************

“Think tanks do think tank stuff. They come up with ideas. They say things, I, look, I like Heritage Foundation, I agree with some of the things they stand for," Rubio said on an appearance on CNN's State of the Union. "I've seen plenty of write-ups, frankly, not just from left-wing think tanks, but from columnists and others who are opinion writers who have actually come up with crazy ideas that are now the policies of the United States under Joe Biden. Things like, I don't know, letting people into our country and releasing them, because there's no danger."

The document states these proposed actions would all be taken within 180 days of a potential presidential inauguration, Jan. 20, 2025, hence the name "Project 2025." Again – Donald Trump has not openly accepted this plan as his own, so this is not a sure thing even in the event Trump is elected.

The entire docket is available to read for free at project2025.org.

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I listened to Ben Schapiro before Congress, being asked about Project 2025. He like most, said he hadn't
read the document other than the little soundbites reported in the news on it. He then affirmed as did the
Democrat congressman asking the questions, the four items you outlined.