Valletta said:

“This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. “Irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists have real-world consequences. It must stop.”

Los Angeles man arrested for throwing Molotov cocktails at security officers inside ICE building

"This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said

justthenews.com

They know this and won't stop the name-calling and the violent language. It's pushes people who are mentally on the edge into serious crimes.

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<Looks at Trumps response to senators making a video about illegal orders>

Physician, heal thyself.

Textual Variants Daniel’s 70 weeks, Susanna, Prayer of Hananiah, Bel and the dragon codex vaticanus from 350 AD renders the prophecy very differently and it makes a change to the meaning of it

MarkRohfrietsch said:

Or Luther's small Catechism for that matter.

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Quite accurate. Perhaps one of our SDA friends here might wish to respond.

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

For the Hymn itself, I recommend the Douay-Rheims translation, which tracks closely the Greek and the Vulgate, and which preserves all of its startling imagery:

He hath raised up an horn of salvation to us. (v. 69)

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stevevw said:

From what I understand the early church was fairly insultaed from the world. From the Roman pagan politics and ideological beliefs within the public square.

So there was a pretty stark destinction that Paul and the congregations could refer to as to being a Christian. If people were being executed for their belief it was a pretty clear destinction and alien to the world.

Peter and Paul is writing to a number of churches the same message. Clement of Rome later did the same and writing as far away cities across the Roman Empire.

Ignatius of Antioch mentions around 110AD that where there is the Catholic church (universal church) there is Christ. The church fathers emphasise unity and Clement mentions that division was the beginning of sin and Christ was no longer in the church when dividied.

If we are transformed in our minds and hearts by Christ and His spirit lives in us then there is no way that people can be dividied and I think this is the key.

Today its easy to claim a Christian in words and the meaning of everything as been compromised. Even the truth itself in a postmodern society is rationalised into there being no single truth but many.

So I think as someone mentioned it is the actions more than the words. Living the words that united the minds and hearts. You cannot go wrong. If each is willing to lay down their life for Christ and others then they cannot be anything but of one mind and heart.

But where there is division I think this is bad fruit regardless of the cause. This is a red flag I think. I cannot understand how modern denominations can have fundemental differences in their beliefs. I believe is is a consequence of modern times and like everything else truth is relative.

But if the truth is so compromised to the point that its not to different from the world and becomes just one more identity group in a big pot of groups all fighting over truth. Then I think this is not good fruit and to be avoided.

I don't think Christs church is a religion though I think the Catholic and Orthodox are the closest. But a Christian within Christ church should be the same mind and spirit regardless of the church clubs we label religions and denominations.

Though I do think the church is one of the biggest deceptions satan uses to fool people away from God.

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There is still a remnant of the church that is basically invisible to professing Christianity. Jesus did say that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. Matthew 16:18 By the way Peter isn’t the rock, the foundation of this church, Jesus is. You are right about today’s churches. GOD calls people out of them not into them. 2 Corinthians 6:17

As Fr. Chris says, Lent is a time of penance with preparation, and Advent is a time of preparation with penance. Difference of emphasis, but both have to do with preparation and penance.

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Instead of taking the normally-allotted time between the First Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve to accomplish this task, like the rest of us, Scrooge is pigeonholed into a three-phased, crash-course program to do something he has never done before. He thoroughly examines his conscience in preparation for the birth of the Infant Savior between the hours of 1 AM and sunrise on Christmas Day.

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It helps to understand why the Filioque was added in the first place. It was to combat various heresies, including the Arian heresy. It’s more of a discipline than a doctrine. No Ecumenical Council of the whole Catholic Church has ever mandated the Filioque for the Eastern churches.

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Homily, Saturday, December 6 2025



Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26



“People of Zion, dwelling in Jerusalem, you shall no longer weep; The Lord will be most gracious to you.”



The grace of God is present in this moment. We receive it.



Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8



“Jesus proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom.”

The Gospel is Jesus. Jesus proclaims that God is with us.



Biblical texts: NAB-RE

Normand Thomas.

joechristianwarrior said:

I’ve been reflecting lately on how often Scripture warns us about greed and how closely that warning is tied to God’s call for justice and care for others. Jesus speaks about money and the dangers of wealth more than almost any other topic, yet many Christians today find conversations about justice uncomfortable or “political.”

So I wanted to ask the community here:
Why do you think discussions about justice and greed create such tension among believers?
Is it a matter of theology, culture, politics, or something deeper in the human heart?


I’m preparing a video on this topic and would truly appreciate hearing a range of Christian perspectives!

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Can you give examples of exactly what aspects of justice you’re referring to because I’m not aware of Christians avoiding the topic in general.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let Your perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed
rest in peace.

Amen.

December 5, 2025

Our Morning Offering – 5 December – O Adorable Heart of my Jesus!


One Minute Reflection – 5 December – … Know that the Kingdom of God is near. – Luke 21:29-31

Feria (First Sunday of Advent) propers & commentary (EF)

Friday of the First Week of Advent (EF)

Friday of the First Week of Advent readings & commentary (OF)

Friday of the First Week of Advent readings & commentary (OF)
Other Commemorations: St. Sabbas, Abbot

Daily Gospel

ADVENTCAzT 2025 – 06 – Friday 1st Week of Advent

Saint Sabas Patriarchal Abbot in Palestine

Saint Sabbas

Saints of the Day

Sermons for Everyday Living - Make Your Best Confession 12/5/25

Audio version of Gueranger
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I think we have a relationship with God in Christ. So we transition from the flesh to the spirit. When we invite Christ into our hearts He is living in us. But Christ cannot live with sin. So having Christ in us leads to a continual offloading of the sinful nature to come closer to God in that relationship.

Just like any relationship you have to work at it to get closer. Or you come to know the things you must do to continue to be close to God.

I think this is a matter pf personal relationship with each individual and it may be different. Depending on the particular experiences and circumstances.

While at the same time each is called to the level of their knowledge in God. In some ways seeking to be closer to God and to know His word and the spirit of God is opening up a persons eyes to God that this increases the responsibility. The more you know and become aware the more responsibility you have.

This same principle applies to those in positions of care under the law of Duty of Care. The more knowledge you have of the situation the more accountability you have to ensure good outcomes for others.

I think our conscience is the thing that tells each of us the truth and Gods will. If we are open to God then we will hear the spirit and the more we ignore this the more it persists until we act on it or reject it. Its an ongoing relationship of trust and faith. A battle between the spirit and the flesh.

An 8-year-old kidney transplant recipient in Brazil is becoming one of the country's youngest and most visible Evangelical figures as she preaches to churchgoers and millions online amid a trend of child preachers drawing strong social media followings in the South American country.

Ester Souza delivers sermons at a church led by her parents in Votuporanga, located in the state of São Paulo, often drawn from personal experience.

She speaks in front of a congregation of about 50 people each week, including both adults and children, The Washington Post reports. Her mother records the services on a mobile phone and uploads the videos to her daughter's social media accounts. She has nearly 2 million followers across platforms, and one of her videos has more than 11 million views.

The girl began preaching shortly after recovering from a serious medical condition. In 2020, she was diagnosed with kidney failure and remained in the hospital for two months. During that time, pandemic-related restrictions prevented her parents from staying with her. She later said she saw a man in white who told her she would be taken care of. Her kidney transplant took place in March 2021.

Continued below.

The day before Thanksgiving, Americans were shocked by the tragic shooting of two members of the National Guard by an Afghan asylum seeker allowed into the United States by the Biden Administration. According to the AP:

“The suspect in Wednesday’s shooting near the White House that killed Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, both of the West Virginia National Guard, is facing charges … Rahmanullah Lakanwal is a 29-year-old Afghan national who had been living in Bellingham, Washington … He worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War.”

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This killer left his five children in Washington state to drive to DC to ambush Sarah Beckstrom with shots from a .357 pistol, then grabbed Beckstrom’s weapon and mortally wounded her with a shot to the head. He then shot Wolf multiple times, and “When Lakanwal paused to reload, a National Guard major leapt from cover and turned the ambush back on the attacker — stabbing the alleged terrorist in the head multiple times and bringing him to the ground. During the initial attack, the major allegedly heardLakanwal yelling 'Allahu Akbar,'" the New York Post reported.

Many wonder how Lakanwal could go from seeming an American ally in Afghanistan to this. I’d like to offer some perspective from what I have learned of Lakanwal and my experiences with Afghans in Afghanistan.

Continued below.

Even a cursory perusal of the national news media will suggest that among the significant problems afflicting American education from the elementary to the postgraduate level is a stunning lack of academic freedom. Indeed, anyone who has attended an American university in the last 30 years has been made aware to varying degrees that if you express certain “conservative” or “traditional” views on moral and political issues, you may well face varying degrees of discrimination or prejudice.

As I have interacted with students on campuses across the country over the past few decades, I have the clear impression that the “groupthink” on many college campuses (starting with a nearly monolithic faculty group liberal worldview) has reached stifling levels. Many, many times, I have had students tell me that they are fearful that if they say what they really think about various political, religious, or philosophical subjects in class or in term papers, they will be penalized by prejudiced liberal professors.

Even way back when I was an undergraduate (1965-1969), the overwhelming majority of my liberal arts professors at Princeton were liberal. I will always remember attending my first lecture in a history class. The professor, a man with a worldwide reputation, began by going through the syllabus, summarizing each of the assigned 16 required textbooks, giving each one’s historical worldview. He then volunteered that he was a Marxist-Leninist (he said he used to be a Communist, but he left the party as a protest to the crushing of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956) and he would be lecturing from that perspective.

Continued below.

12/05/25 Day 2

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

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

[Mention your petitions now]

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

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

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

GoldenKingGaze said:

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?

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I remember there was this idea that having sex with someone was more intimate then was made out. It was impossible to have sex with someone without it meaning something more than just sexual gratification. Even if that meant someone had to pretend or deny that reality. By doing so this took something away from the persons soul.

I think over time sex has been reimaged. Or maybe its history repeating itself. It seems when we take the spiritual aspect out of the equation we naturally turn to the base naturalistic instincts. Sex is made more important than it is to compensate the lack of spiritual connection.

Or sex is spiritualised with pagan beliefs which seems a natural belief when humans move away from God. They create gods out of nature, Gods creation itself.

A door is a gate or an entrance into something. It is a way into something or to somewhere. And in his life and death and resurrection, Jesus Christ provided the way to salvation from sin and eternal life with God. He is the way into relationship with God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. And he is the only way to forgiveness of sins and to victory over darkness. Even the faith to believe in him is gifted to us by God and is persuaded of God, and it is not of our own doing, not of the flesh of humankind.

And his sheep are all of us who have been crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as servants of righteousness in walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands, by God-gifted faith in our Lord Jesus (see Romans 6:1-23). For Jesus said that his sheep listen to him, i.e. they heed (follow) his voice, and he knows them, and they follow (obey) him. And he gives them eternal life, and they will never perish (see John 10:27-30).

All who came before Jesus, who could be classified by him as “thieves and robbers,” were false prophets and teachers who taught lies and who led many people astray. And he could have been referring to the Scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees, as well, i.e. to all the religious rulers and people of prominence and influence in the temple of God who were teaching the people lies and who did not practice what they preached to others, too. They claimed to be of God, but they did not believe in Jesus Christ, God the Son.

But anyone who enters the sheep fold through the door (Jesus Christ), they will be saved. But we can only enter through faith in Jesus Christ, which comes from God, which is gifted to us by God, and which is persuaded of God as to his righteousness and holiness and of our sinfulness and of our need to die with Christ to sin and to walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands in holy living, empowered by God. So this faith is not of our own doing, and so we don’t get to decide what that faith looks like. God does!

The thief who comes only to steal and kill and destroy is Satan, the devil, who is our arch enemy because he is the enemy of God. And all who are thieves and robbers are of the devil, because they serve his purposes and not the will of God. The goal of all of them is to keep us from believing in Jesus with God-persuaded faith in him, by which we die with Christ to sin and we now walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. And many of them are disguised as pastors who are teaching lies to the people.

So, test everything you hear coming from the mouths of all who say they are of God and who claim that they are teaching the gospel of Christ and of our salvation. Test what they are teaching against the Scriptures taught in their appropriate biblical context, and compare Scripture with Scripture, for they should agree with one another if they are teaching on the subject of faith in Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life with God. And many are those who are teaching lies by willfully teaching Scriptures out of context.

But Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

[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]

My Sheep

Based off John 10:1-30 NIV
An Original Work / June 24, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

My sheep hear me. They know me.
They listen to my voice and obey.
I call them and lead them.
They know my voice, so they follow me.
They will never follow strangers.
They will run away from them.
The voice of a stranger they know not;
They do not follow him.

So, I tell you the truth that
I am the gate, so you enter in.
Whoever does enter
Will find forgiveness and will be saved.
Nonetheless whoever enters
Not by the gate; other way,
He is the thief and a robber.
Listen not, the sheep to him.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,
Who laid his own life down for the sheep.
I know them. They know me.
They will live with me eternally.
The thief only comes to steal and
Kill and to destroy the church.
I have come to give you life that
You may have it to the full…

They know my voice, so they follow me.

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The Door of The Sheep
An Original Work / December 5, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Landon Caeli said:

"The human brain isn’t a blank slate waiting to be written by experience, according to research that challenges the century-old Tabula Rasa theory. The study shows that neurons grown in laboratory dishes spontaneously organize into precise firing sequences that resemble those seen in developing mouse brains, suggesting our neural circuits arrive pre-configured with computational architecture long before we experience the world.

The question of whether brains are shaped primarily by nature or nurture has occupied philosophers and scientists since at least the 17th century, when John Locke proposed the mind as a “tabula rasa” or blank slate. Modern neuroscience has largely assumed that while basic brain structures are genetically determined, the precise firing patterns that encode information must be learned through experience.

This study provides direct evidence against that"

Brain Cells Come Pre-Programmed, Challenging Century-Old 'Blank Slate' Theory

Lab-grown brain cells fire in precise sequences without sensory input, showing the brain isn't a blank slate.

studyfinds.org

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If not, who came upon the idea of "Brain washing?"