Wanting to wish a happy Thanksgiving weekend to our mission squads preparing to make the move over. We got word in our own network that we have 5 families on tap coming to join our efforts in progress in next couple of months, in France and where we've fanned out. We've had great success lately with our conversion and new church construction areas of focus, and more and more community participation which makes it even more exciting. Happy to have you all join, you are blessed and you will be welcomed.

The bottom line is that nowhere in the entire Bible does the Hebrew word bara ever suggest that matter comes into existence out of nothing. In every instance, whether its subject is a person like Jacob, a craftsman such as a blacksmith, a physical place like Israel, a signpost in Ezekiel, or non-material realities such as darkness, the north and the south, or calamity, the word never implies the sudden appearance of material substance.

At no point in Scripture does bara describe a situation in which matter is created out of nothing. Either the subject already exists, or the thing being “created” is not material to begin with.

Therefore, when we read Genesis 1:1 and see that God bara the heavens and the earth, it is eisegetical, not grounded in the biblical text itself, to claim that the physical earth popped into material existence at that moment. Such a reading is also anachronistic. Ancient peoples in the time of Moses never described creation as the production of matter from nothing. In the hundreds of ancient Near Eastern creation accounts from that era, creation consistently begins with dark, chaotic, watery conditions.

And that is exactly the kind of scene we find in Genesis.

Homily Monday, December 1st 2025

Isaiah 4:2-6

“The branch of the Lord will be beauty and glory.”



The Branch that is of God is God nourishing his people. We await the Savior as a reminder, and at the same time, we know that God is present with us right now, in our lives.



Matthew 8:5-11



Jesus said to the centurion, “I will come and cure him.”

The centurion said to Jesus, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

The centurion’s trust is an example for us. We know that God is at work right now in our lives and in the lives of every person.



Biblical texts: NAB-RE

Normand Thomas.

At the risk of becoming repetitive, there were a few more things he said which I haven't included. The problem now is trying to remember the sequence in which he said these things and fit them into the narrative.

However they included -

1. Predictions of wars which haven't happened YET, but the way things are going I think they could well come to pass. I'm not going to put them here as I don't want to be accused of increasing political tensions.

2. At one point he cried out with some alarm “I always was doomed! I didn't really have any choice!"

I was an atheist at the time but that seemed unjust to me. I said "That can't be right!" He replied "Oh, it's right, all right. You can see that from here!"

But later in the conversation he said "I was WILLING...." (to act the way he did and keep acting that way). This of course brings up the hoary old chestnut of predestionation and free will, which I don't intend to get into here.

In the case of Adolf Hitler for example, I think he "... always was doomed...", but I think we could be quite confident that he was "... WILLING ..." to do the things he did and to keep doing them. I'd say, "more than willing".

3. He said at one stage “By the time you’ve finished my name will be mud in heaven and on earth!" At the time that sounded ridiculous but he's already known in heaven (and/or hell) simply because he is dead. I'm not setting out to blacken his name but with the internet these days who knows what's going to happen?

But the internet didn't exist in 1979. There was a system called ARPANET, which became the internet in 1983, but in 1979 I'd never seen a personal computer or even heard of one.

4. He mentioned a particular Australian politician and said "He's a spoilt brat!", but I'm not naming names.

5. He also said "I needed psychiatric help, but it wasn't available!" No doubt that was true, and perhaps if the help had been available he might have changed his tune somewhat. But he spent most of my life deliberately humiliating me, so I find it hard to be sympathetic.

Those were other things he said, but I now have trouble remembering exactly when he said them and in what part of the conversation. But that's the bulk of them.

I've had other spiritual experiences, but I've only directly seen two deceased persons - my father (with verbal exchange) and one aunt (sight only) - and that's it. I've had a few visions one of which was affirmed as accurate by the pastor as he featured in it, along with another church attendee and a former neighbour.

There's also been a few "double whammies' which are like a breath going through you in waves from head to foot. In my case they highlighted what someone else was saying in each case.

They're probably the main supernatural incidents in my life anyway. The rest of the time I get along like anybody else, confined to this natural world and its laws only.

In honor of my cousin, I pray that he is in a better place. It hurts to see my cousins (his brother and sister) in the picture, and he is not there anymore. Like, something is missing. I pray for them, if they are really struggling may they seek help if they can't do it on their own. In Jesus's name amen

Amen. Heavenly Father, please reach out to those families that are lost and in need. May no one miss the blessing and the gift You have to offer to everyone in the world.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." ~John 3:16

Thank you, Father. You are doing the work and advancing the kingdom to all generations.

Let us come together in one accord and worship and praise Your name.

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift.

Richard T said:

Welcome to CF and Congrats on entering the teaching profession. I pray you can focus on Christ and find His will for all the parts of your life.

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Amen. I’m with Richard!

Delvianna said:

Welcome! I know you're struggling with OCD but also don't rule out demonic warfare. They just love coming out with all kinds of stuff to put in your head and make you think its you. Spiritual warfare is my ministry so if you ever wanna chat, let me know! God has not abandoned you... even if someone is dealing with the worst sins, God still wants them to come to obedience and he helps them get there. So that's not abandonment, so I don't want you to think that. Breathe, take every thought captive and go to God. Focus on just talking to him and asking for guidance.

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Thank you For your encouragement!

That's just Lazy.

el3venS1x said:

Bastards.

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"Coming from a Christian person, that's a Blessing"

AV1611VET said:

So no one takes her cookbooks literally?

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Some very important content you snipped from my quote... it's almost like it invalidates your entire analogy.

NxNW said:

It might be. According to your previous posts, we should now expect a downturn.

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I'm not so optimistic as to expect the printing presses to stop rolling.

I am praying for Sarah Beckstom's family. It's so sad that she passed away! Let's keep praying for Andrew Wolfe.

Ophiolite said:

I shall accept that kangaroos have the most limited of nautical skills, but the same constraints should not be automatically applied to homo sapiens.

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It brings in the idea of whether the creatures originated from a central common location and then found their way to distant lands. Or the similar environments led to the similar phenotypes. .

Did you know that a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, by itself, is not sufficient to bring about salvation from sin resulting in eternal life with God? For Jesus taught that not everyone who calls him, “Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the ones doing (obeying) the will of God. Therefore, we are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23).

And this is why this passage of Scripture in 2 Peter 3 teaches us that we need to be people who live in holy conduct and godliness, because our Lord is going to visit this world we live in with judgment, and all who are living in sin and in disobedience to our Lord, in deliberate and habitual practice, will not enter the kingdom of heaven because of their disobedience. And it won’t matter if they made professions of faith in the Lord, because they did not live the faith that they professed to have. For they loved their sin and not the commands of God. So, love God, forsake your sins, and obey God!

So, what does it look like for us to be in holy conduct and godliness? Well, to be holy is to be separate (unlike, different) from the world, because we are being conformed by God to the likeness of character of Jesus Christ, as we cooperate fully with God’s work of grace in our lives. For his grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return. And to live godly lives is to follow after the example of Christ Jesus and how he lived when he lived on this earth, in God’s power.

And then it says here that, according to His promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. And I find this subject a little difficult to comprehend, but basically when Jesus comes to judge and to destroy the universe, as we have come to know it, he will provide a new dwelling place for us who are his followers, in which righteousness (and not sin) dwells. There will be no more sin, no more evil, no more sickness, no more death, no more sadness, and no more tears. And we will be with our Lord for eternity. And there will be much rejoicing!

[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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In Holy Conduct and Godliness
An Original Work / November 30, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Nithavela said:

He'll just have the DOJ throw anyone into the slammer that he pleases and there's nothing you can do about it.

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Yeah, like that's been happening.

Water too drink.

When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, he told his disciples that he was going to be leaving them, and that he was going to prepare a place for them, but that one day he would come back and he would take all his followers (his faithful bride) to be with him for eternity. And that was nearly 2000 years ago. And so there are people who doubt his words, since he has yet to return and to take his faithful ones to be with him for eternity. But just because it has not yet happened, it does not mean that it will not happen.

One day Jesus will return for his faithful bride, and he will take us to be with him for eternity. And the world as we know it will be destroyed with fire, along with all who are ungodly. And who are the ungodly? They are not just all who make no professions of faith in Jesus Christ, but they are all who are living ungodly lives in deliberate and habitual sin against God and in willful and habitual disobedience to his commands. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the ones DOING the will of God.

But just because our Lord has not yet returned, it is not a sign that he will not do what he said he would do, for his timing is not the same as ours. And the reason for his delay is that he is not wishing (willing, wanting) that anyone should perish in their sins, but that all would come to repentance. And repentance is a change of heart and mind resulting in a change of behavior. For it means we die to our old lives of living in sin so that we can now serve our Lord in walks of obedience to his commands, in his power.

So, this is not just about confessing our sins and asking God for forgiveness, but this is us turning away from our sins to now follow Jesus in obedience. And to confess our sins is not just a verbal acknowledgement of sin, but it is agreeing with God about our sin, not just that we sinned, but that Jesus Christ died on that cross to put our sins to death with him so that, by God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in him, we will now die to sin and walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands (see 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6).

For 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).

For by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are 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 slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

[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]

Send a Revival

An Original Work / June 25, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Send a revival to this nation, Lord, I pray.
Bring us to our knees, Lord, humbly today.
Teach us to daily walk in your footsteps.
Guide us in your truth, and may we find rest.
Send a revival to this nation, Lord, I pray.
Bring us to our knees, Lord, humbly today.

Be our desire and our hearts’ pure devotion, Lord.
Make us a people who walk close to you.
Change our hearts to conform to your likeness.
May we love others who are in distress.
Be our desire and our hearts’ pure devotion, Lord.
Make us a people who walk close to you.

Teach us to be an example of your love, Lord.
May we serve others as though serving you.
Keep us in fellowship with you, I pray.
May we obey you in all things today.
Teach us to be an example of your love, Lord.
May we serve others as though serving you.

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But for All to Come to Repentance
An Original Work / November 30, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love