I’ve put together a Christmas presentation titled “What Child Is This? - A Journey Through the Nativity.” It’s a quiet, scripture‑rooted walk through the birth of Jesus, from the angel’s announcement to the worship of the shepherds and the Magi. My hope is that it brings peace, reflection, and a blessing to each one of you who views it.

If it blesses you, feel free to share it with others this season. May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified.

YouTube Link: What Child is This? A Journey Through the Nativity

JimR-OCDS said:

The pastor should be removed from the parish by his bishop.

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Hard disagree

ICE is separating children from their mothers on the thinnest of evidence and the flimsiest of reasons.

We, as Christians, are required to stand up and say something.

Recipts so I don't have to put up with people claiming I'm just some kind of lying lair:

I think was the C Walk.

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Alternatively, the Shuffle.

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wing2000 said:

$2,000 in our HSA.? That might cover the ER facility fee...but not much else....but I'm sure my superior negotiating skills will convice the Hospital to lower my bill!

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My current insurance plan is $2,000 a month. Per person.

A similar thread is happening here: Netflix's promotion of LGBT themes, sexual preferences in kids' shows 'pervasive': report

Michie said:

A growing consumption of ultra-processed foods such as breakfast cereals, yogurts, soda, cookies and even infant formula is fueling an increase in chronic diseases, including mental illnesses around the world, according to a global team of public health experts.

The warning comes in the form of a three-part series published in The Lancet, titled "Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health."

A growing consumption of ultra-processed foods such as breakfast cereals, yogurts, soda, cookies and even infant formula is fueling an increase in chronic diseases, including mental illnesses around the world, according to a global team of public health experts.

The warning comes in the form of a three-part series published in The Lancet, titled "Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health."

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Ultra-processed foods fueling chronic diseases, mental illnesses globally: study

A growing consumption of ultra-processed foods such as breakfast cereals, yogurts, soda, cookies and even infant formula is fueling an increase in chronic diseases, including mental illnesses around

www.christianpost.com

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But it's the food we LOVE! The food we have been taught to love by our TVs. Oh, and our TVs now teach us to love the pharma that treats the diseases the food we love is causing in us. Get a shot (a day for the rest of your life) and eat whatever you want.

lismore said:

If a group are 1.5% of the population and yet have 41% of air time on Netflix, it isn't a representation it's an agenda. God Bless.

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If we expand the statistic to include everyone who has family or friends who are gay or gender-diverse, the number rises to much more than 1.5%.

But I'll agree that part of the picture is a deliberate intention to invite viewers to see LGBTQ people as part of the normal variety of humankind.

Everything I don't like is woke.

I don't like everything my political opponent does.

No.

ARBITER01 said:

If you look at Acts 2, the 120 had the same thing happen that happened to Cornelius's household, they were born again then immediately filled with The Spirit. Cornelius's house was water immersed afterwards.

The process in scripture is as follows: repentance, immersion into The Holy Spirit where He applies the blood of Jesus to be born anew spiritually, water immersion in the name of Jesus, the Corneliusfiling of The Holy Spirit, and then one that many never reach for, the Spiritual anointing upon our head, ie the crown of life from The Father.

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The 120 were baptized during Christs ministry. Jesus’s disciples baptized people, they baptized even more than John the Baptist. There is no other occasion where what happened with Cornelius ever happened again. Baptism was the practice of the Apostles. If you check scriptures for the word baptism or baptized or something similar you will see that it was indeed part of becoming a Christian.

Something else interesting from one of those texts

The former scribes, however, could not find a good lineage for the Virgin and her father, or kindred; wherefore did the Jews crucify Christ, and taunt Him, and mock Him, and say to Him, " Show us the fathers of Mary the Virgin and her people, and what is her genealogy.'* Therefore did they blaspheme her and Christ. But henceforth shall the mouth of those unbelieving Jews be closed ; and they shall know that Mary is of the seed of David the king, and of that of the patriarch Abraham.

In gospel of Nicodemus the OT Judeans are accusing Jesus of being born of fornication also, and then later on the talmud says the same.

Say it aint so said:

Yes. In the 90s when and where a second dose was recommended.

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And before measles was declared 'eliminated' in the US circa 2000, because of our vaccination efforts.

Welcome back, measles!

HIM said:

Saying things like this doesn't help prove anything..

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Sure it does . It s typical legalist hermeneutics.

HIM said:

Unbelief here is the obstinate stiff-necked type.

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Saying things like this does not help prove anything.

HIM said:

The sinning comes from the evil heart of unbelief. And the more one sins the more this evil hearted obstinate condition grows. It isn't that they did not believe in God. The issue was they did not believe God because of their rebellious nature.

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And yet those that hear His voice are His sheep and He will never loose them.

HIM said:

Yes. I don't think anyone has said different in respect to that verse.

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Really? You might want to read the thread first.

HIM said:

No, that is not what the verse is saying. The Good News here that did not benefit them is in respect to The Good news preached to those who were being spoken of in chapter three who were hindered from entering into the promised land. The writer of Hebrews is saying they in his time have had Good News preached to them as those who were in Moses time did. But those in Moses' time did not heed because of their evil heart of unbelief. They did not believe what God said. They did not have faith in God therefore their carcasses fell in the desert because of their sin.

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Partially but the main point follows in verse 8 and 9. The example of the Israelites that did not enter the rest with Joshua (not Jesus) is brought forward to the present set of believers and since this book is called Hebrews for a reason you can’t divorce the historical and linguistic context to force an interpretation.

HIM said:

Yes, the rest we have in Christ Jesus being His House. If we hold fast in confidence we will remain His house as He succours (helps) us when we are tempted. We just need to listen to His voice as we hear it. This is the Gospel. Part of it anyway.

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Do you know what Justification means and the result it has on all believers? Do you know why Paul says in Rom. 8:1 that there is no condemnation for those in Christ? Have you read 1 Cor. 3 and what happens at the judgment? I’ll posit that all with saving faith will always remain in Christ.

HIM said:

Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (helps) them that are tempted.

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

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Keep reading. He explains this in Hebrews 5.

HIM said:

Bad translation, the word if needs to be in the text as it is in the verse three below. Go to your Greek to English Interlinear you will see yourself.
Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

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That would only apply to the Masoretic text only used to translate the KJV if in fact it was translated correctly. This version is not updated and is incorrect as evidenced by their error in quoting Psalm 95:11 where the KJV omits the “not” referring to enter His rest.

Psalm 95:11 KJV
“Unto whom I sware in my wrath That they should not enter into my rest.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Heb. 4:3
“For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, If they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

No other updated translation, including the NASB, uses the “if” and matches the Psalm quote.

HIM said:

The Rest here in verse 3 is that of the Good News, the rest we have in Christ Jesus being His house. There He helps us when we are tempted if we listen to His voice. The works of this rest were finished from the foundation of the world is what these verses are saying. This is brought out even more in verse 4 where he starts the verse with the word "for" which adds a reason to that which was previously stated. There it states that when God spake in that certain place Mt Sinia, that He said that He rested from all His works. That would include resting from the works for the rest which is the Good news of Christ Jesus. Verse 5 continues in that it says, "in this again".

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You only come to this conclusion because of the KJV translation error.

HIM said:

In this again what? This brings us back to verse 4 where it says, He speaks of the Seventh Day, if we shall enter into the Rest which we have in Christ Jesus being His house listening to His voice.

Heb 4:5 And in this again, If they shall enter into my rest.

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I disagree.

HIM said:

Why does he say that? Let's continue and we shall see.

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Let’s not. I don’t do preachy or talk down type of talk. Let’s talk about your interpretation and translation error up to here and then continue once this is settled.

Lost4words said:

The Church. That is the true church of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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I believe the true church of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Catholic Church; otherwise, I would not be a member of it.

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Here's a short video I made for Christmas. Hope it blesses you!

Michie said:

One year after the 2024 presidential election returned him to the White House, President Donald Trump remains popular among Catholic voters ...

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It may not be that Donald Trump is 'popular' but that he's still seen as better by a mile or two than the failed administration he replaced.

The head of the Anglican Church in North America should be put on trial for allegedly violating ordination vows and for sexual immorality, a denominational investigative body has concluded.

The Board of Inquiry issued a short statement on Friday stating that there was “probable cause to present” ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood “for trial for violation of Canon 2 of this Title.”

According to the board, Wood should be charged with “Violation of Ordination Vows,” “Conduct giving just cause for scandal or offense, including the abuse of ecclesiastical power” and “Sexual Immorality.”

The Board of Inquiry will refer its decision to The Court for the Trial of a Bishop, a seven-member ACNA court that oversees proceedings against bishops.

In October, The Washington Post published allegations that Wood had engaged in sexual misconduct and abuse of power while serving as rector at St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

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A look at popular Eastern Orthodox objections to Catholicism—and why many of the same critiques, from papal authority to ecclesial scandals, apply across both apostolic traditions. The video urges viewers to move beyond online polemics and toward serious theological dialogue aimed at eventual unity...

15:08

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…CHRISTIAN ARCHAEOLOGY


In this centenary year of the establishment of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology, it is both my responsibility and my pleasure to share some reflections that I consider important for the Church in our present time. I do so with a grateful heart, knowing that when our memory of the past is illuminated by faith and purified by charity, it nourishes hope.

In 1925, the “Jubilee of Peace” was proclaimed with the intention of easing the terrible wounds of the First World War. Significantly, the centenary of the Institute coincides with another Jubilee, which also seeks to offer a new vision of hope to a humanity troubled by numerous wars.

The present age is marked by rapid changes, humanitarian crises and cultural transitions, and requires that we not only draw on ancient and new knowledge, but also search for a profound wisdom capable of preserving and passing on to future generations what is truly essential. In this light, I strongly wish to reaffirm the essential role of archaeology in understanding Christianity and, consequently, its application within catechetical and theological formation. Archaeology is not just a specialized discipline reserved to a few experts, but a path accessible to anyone who wishes to understand how faith is embodied in time, place and culture. For us Christians, history is a vital foundation. Indeed, we journey through life in the concrete realm of history, which is the same setting for the unfolding of the mystery of salvation. All Christians are called to ground their lives in the Good News that begins with the Incarnation of the Word of God within human history (cf. Jn 1:14).

As our beloved Pope Francis once reminded us, “No one can truly know their deepest identity, or what they wish to be in the future, without attending to the bonds that link them to preceding generations. This is true not only of us as individuals, but also as a community. Indeed, the study and writing of history helps to keep ‘the flame of collective conscience’ alive. Otherwise, all that remains is the personal memory of facts bound to our own interests or sensibilities, with no real connection to the human and ecclesial community in which we live.” [1]

The house of Archaeology

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Vote to overhaul FEMA canceled after leaked report​

The FEMA Review Council was scheduled to approve its recommendations for overhauling the agency Thursday.

The move came after Trump officials were angered that CNN had obtained a copy of the FEMA Review Council’s final report and published an article on its website Wednesday, according to two people who are close to the panel. One review council member told a person close to the panel that officials canceled the meeting to demonstrate that the leaked report has not been finalized and is subject to change.

The Trump-appointed 13-member council, led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been working for months on recommendations to streamline FEMA and speed up disaster aid.

The cancellation apparently occurred at the last minute.

Shortly after noon Thursday, Noem was testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee and left the hearing before it ended to attend the review council meeting.

“I have to actually leave this hearing early because the FEMA Review Council is giving their report today on suggestions for changes to FEMA, and I have to co-chair it,” Noem told Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.), who had asked her a question.

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​

Council members were expected to vote on proposed cuts that would alter the way the federal government responds to declared emergencies.​

The draft of the report signaled the review council’s plan to dramatically cut the agency even as climate change-fueled disasters increase, provoking swift condemnation from advocacy groups and emergency management experts. Critics panned the draft as a blueprint for weakening the nation’s primary emergency-response agency and shifting responsibility onto states unequipped and unprepared to manage crises alone.

The Washington Post reported that senior administration officials were displeased with the document’s abstract plan to restructure FEMA, prescribing huge cuts without providing specifics.

“It is time to close the chapter on FEMA,” the leaked report states, according to CNN, which reported that the draft calls for the most sweeping transformation of FEMA since its creation nearly five decades ago, including cutting half of the agency’s staff.

FEMA’s annual workload has more than doubled over the past two decades, as the warming climate supercharges Atlantic hurricanes, accelerates wildfire seasons and drives inland flooding with record rainstorms. What happens next with the review council’s recommendations may determine how the United States navigates a worsening era of climate extremes

Shana Udvardy, a policy analyst for The Union of Concerned Scientists, warned in a statement Thursday that the reported recommendations would “gut FEMA, leaving states to shoulder the burden of disasters and putting disaster victims at risk of serious harm.”

Many of the government’s most seasoned FEMA staff were already pushed out or sidelined in recent months, replaced, in some instances, by officials with minimal disaster management experience.

FaithT said:

Do you think this will become a thing again?

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I think it is a little bit more of a thing than it was, but I think it will be a slow thing. I see a lot of it in the Ordinariate. A little in my parish. And among younger women too.

Rapper and country artist Jelly Roll testified to God’s work in his life throughout his recent conversation on Joe Rogan’s podcast, which was released Wednesday, Dec. 10. At the end of the podcast, an emotional Jelly Roll learned that a dream of his has been fulfilled: He was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Editor’s note: This video contains language some might find offensive.

“I just never thought this was the journey, dude. I thought I’d die young or I thought I’d kill myself. I didn’t think I was going to be able to figure it out,” said Jelly Roll.

“You figured it out, and you’re figuring it out more every day,” Rogan told him.

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Stryper frontman Michael Sweetrecently informed fans that he has been diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.

“A lot of you have been asking about my health and well being so I wanted to give you an update,” Sweet said in a social media post on Tuesday (Dec. 9).

Sweet cofounded the iconic Christian metal band in 1983. The band has influenced many Christian rock bands and artists today, including Skillet frontman John Cooper. Throughout the band’s career, Stryper, a name inspired by Isaiah 53:5, has received a Grammy Award nomination and won two Dove Awards.

After thanking his social media followers for their “thoughts and prayers,” Sweet shared that his endocrinologist told him that a nodule in his right thyroid that was biopsied on Nov. 17 came back positive for cancer.

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An Ohio surgeon who had his medical license suspended has been indicted on federal charges after he allegedly tried to force crushed abortion drugs into his pregnant girlfriend’s mouth after she refused to abort her baby.

A Lucas County Grand Jury indicted Dr. Hassan-James Abbas, 32, on Dec. 3 for six felony charges, including abduction, tampering with evidence, disrupting public services, unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug, identity fraud and deception to obtain a dangerous drug.

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