RocksInMyHead said:

Commenting on the bias and/or reliability of a source is meaningless unless accompanied by refutation of the information presented in the article.

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Just find another source. I purposely don't use Fox , Newsmax, and other right leaning outlets because I know what the reaction is going to be

In August, [previous post] US district judge Anna Manasco, a Trump appointee, had ruled the map Alabama Republicans adopted in 2021 diluted the influence of Black voters in the area around the state capital of Montgomery, which was a violation of the Voting Rights Act. After the Alabama legislature declined to implement a new map, she appointed a special master to come up with a new one. The special master invited members of the public to submit possible plans.

In a surprising decision, the map she chose wasn’t one drafted by a court-appointed special master and his expert cartographer, but rather one that had been submitted by an anonymous member of the public, known only by their initials, “DD”.

The decision stunned “DD” – an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Alabama named Daniel DiDonato – who learned his map had been selected as he was preparing to leave for his 9.30am introduction to political science class.

DiDonato, who grew up in Russell county along the border between Alabama and Georgia, was the only member of the public to [submit a plan]. In early October, he spent a few days staying up late in his dorm drawing potential maps that could give Black voters a better chance of electing their preferred candidates.

He used a free online software, Dave’s Redistricting App, to draw the lines. He had begun playing around with it about a year ago, amid a budding fascination with redistricting.

Hey all hope you all get what you need I just wanted to say again a big thank you to our Lord and St Jude thank you!

rambot said:

In correct. I was about to get solar panels put on (and then my basement had a leak nad needed to get replaced).

The system paid for itself in 20 years and most of the system had a 30yr warranty (certain things only being 15).

In the time I was considering it, max panel size available for sale went from 440W to 500W. So if I got the stronger panels it also paid off quicker.


Wind literally does nothing. They've painted one aerolon black and bird deaths went down 70%.

Lithium is extracted from the sea water.

It's not like O&G don't have problems at their extraction or processing points either so not sure what you're getting at.

People change their internal combustion engine cars like, every 10 years.... They don't last NEAAAARLY as long as a solar array on a rooftop would last.

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How long does a battery last in an EV before it has to be replaced? Then, what happens to that old battery?

Roughly 500 miles east of Bali lies the island of Flores, a vocational powerhouse that supplies seminarians not only to Indonesia but also to Catholic communities around the world. Catholicism first arrived here in the 16th century, when Portuguese spice traders brought missionaries to the rugged, mountainous island. Today, the faith is deeply rooted, with more than 80% of the island’s 2 million people being Catholic.

Flores hosts several seminaries, most clustered around Maumere on the island’s northern coast. Religious congregations including the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), the Somascan Fathers, the Rogationists, the Vocationists, and the Carmelites all operate seminaries there, creating a dense network of vocational formation rarely found elsewhere in Asia.

Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD, of Ende and a native of Flores, stressed the island’s importance not just for the Indonesian Church but for dioceses and religious congregations worldwide.

“Many of the alumni of these seminaries are working outside the country,” he noted, highlighting the island’s contribution to the global clergy. A thriving minor seminary system also feeds this pipeline, which currently has 650 students enrolled at the junior and senior high school level.

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Jeesuspelastaa said:

The early congregation is our example.

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Indeed, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, such as the Orthodox Church of Finland, or the Syriac Orthodox Church which has a large presence in Sweden, and the Assyrian Church of the East, also numerous in Scandinavia, and other traditional liturgical churches such as the confessional Lutheran churches (such as the Lutheran Church of Latvia), the Continuing Anglicans and other traditional Anglicans of GAFCON, traditional Old Catholics such as the Polish National Catholic Church (despite the name, they consist mainly of Polish Americans in the US) and the Norwegian Catholic Church (which exists mainly in Norway) and traditional Roman Catholics, particularly those using the Traditional Latin Mass, which is one of the oldest liturgies in continual use, despite refinements to the rubrics and music under Byzantine and Gallican influence (it was originally a very minimalist liturgy compared to other Western liturgies such as the Mozarabic, Gallican and Beneventan liturgies).

A beach day, a thick manuscript, and five years of quiet access turned into a book that lets the world step inside a hidden monastery.​

I didn’t expect a day at the beach to turn into a doorway into a cloistered monastery.

The manuscript was thick, intimidatingly so. I tossed it into my bag, with a bottle of water, a towel, and the excuse every work-from-anywhere person knows by heart: “I’m going to work… at the beach.” Ironically, I actually mentioned this very day in a previous piece.

The “work” was a draft by a cloistered Dominican nun friend from Our Lady of the Rosary Monastery in Summit, New Jersey. The title: Joy Within His House: A Cloistered Nun’s Reflections on Following Christ.

I’d already spent years photographing the community. Thousands of frames of their life behind the grille. But that afternoon, beneath a Marian blue sunny sky, with waves crashing on the shore, I journeyed deep into that world through the heart and mind of one of their own, Sister Mary Magdalene of the Immaculate Conception, OP.

By the time the sun started to set, I knew two things.

First: this was not just a “religious book.” It was a brutally honest, surprisingly funny, deeply wise tour through the spiritual life, narrated by a millennial bride of Christ who has lived this vocation long enough to know what it costs and why it’s worth it.

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On July 5, 1840, the Flemish Jesuit Pierre-Jean De Smet offered Mass atop a bluff near present-day Daniel, WY. Assembled to witness the ritual was an immense crowd of fur trappers and Indigenous peoples who had convened for the annual trade rendezvous held nearby. The memorable scene marked the first public celebration of the Mass in what is today Wyoming.


De Smet had arrived at the rendezvous to evaluate the prospect of establishing missions in the area. Up to this point, the 39-year-old’s experience as a Jesuit had been characterized by chronic illness, discouragement, and failure. His 1840 journey to the Rocky Mountains, however, launched a transformative phase of his career, one that would catapult him to fame as the century’s foremost missionary to the North American Indians as well as an energetic diplomat, intrepid explorer, pioneering cartographer, and popular author who would leave a lasting mark on the history of the American West.


In a letter, De Smet described the pivotal events of July 5 like this:

I had the privilege of celebrating, to the great joy of all, a Mass which the character of those assisting and the majesty of the wilderness combined to render solemn. The altar was erected on an elevation surrounded by branches of trees and garlands of flowers. It was a spectacle truly moving to the heart of a missionary to see this immense family composed of so many different tribes bowing down with equal humility before the Divine Host. The Canadians intoned hymns in French and Latin, the Indians chanted songs in their own mother tongue; all distinctions, all rivalries of peoples, were obliterated before a unanimous sentiment, that of Christian piety. Oh! it was truly a Catholic ceremony. This place has since been called la Prairie de la Messe. (Translated from Annales de la Propagation de la Foi, vol. 13 (1841), 488.)

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Coldwater mayor: Honest mistakes led to voter fraud charges​

In his first interview since being accused of voting illegally by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, Joe Ceballos, a self-described loyal Republican voter, contends he thought he could vote as a legal permanent resident.

Ceballos, the twice-elected mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, says he didn’t understand that as a Mexican immigrant he couldn’t vote in the United States.

An honest mistake, he said. But now he’s found himself in legal trouble that threatens to upend the life he’s spent half a century building.

He now faces felony charges for voter fraud, filed by Kris Kobach, the state attorney general.

Ceballos, 54, also thinks he “probably” voted for Kobach all four times Kobach ran for state office.

What’s worse than Kobach’s charges, he said, is that the Department of Homeland Security is now threatening him with starting that legal process called deportation.

“I haven’t seen Mexico since I was four,” Ceballos said. “I don’t speak Spanish anymore. If I get deported it would wreck my life.”

Ceballos’ friends are now ticked off. And not at Ceballos.

“If deportation happens, I can tell you that Kobach will have trouble showing up here, especially if he asks to stay with us for a while,” said Dennis Swayze, an 80-year-old Comanche County rancher and a Republican voter.

Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and sacramental theology at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum university.

Q: What is the Church’s position about draping a coffin with a flag for the funeral of a returned serviceman? — P.G-W., Melbourne, Australia

A: The use of national or military flags on coffins at funerals of deceased service personnel is usually permitted, but only for certain parts of the funeral rites. It may occasionally be allowed for other persons who held important civic offices or were otherwise noteworthy public figures who warranted a state or public funeral. The practice does not usually pose problems to the conduct of the funeral Mass since flags or insignia are usually removed during the Mass and, where customary, a pall is placed on the coffin. In some places, this removal takes place at the entrance to the church. Any civic or military rituals usually follow the religious rites. Military funeral honors can be combined with religious rites. Some U.S. dioceses have specific norms for military funerals. One diocese points out, «Typically, religious ceremonies are conducted first, followed by the military honors, such as Taps, the flag presentation, and any optional rites like the three-volley salute or a flyover, before the casket is laid to rest.»

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Questions about liturgy: Flags Over a Coffin | ZENIT - English

Benaiah468 said:

There it is shown that the rule of the former empires will be abolished and handed over to one like a son of man, the Messiah:

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Yas and the only chosen people will be all those of the Kingdom. Religion and ancestry is obsolete. Jesus went first to the House of Israel, and when they failed Him yet again, then later to the gentiles of all nations, for all of mankind was free to repent and pledge allegiance to the Kingdom,, no longer being slaves to the nations nor the elohim powers that still control them.

John 17:17 "Sanctify them in Thy Truth , Thy Word IS Truth"

Michie said:

Pastor and bestselling author John Piper recently addressed how Christians should view their body image without falling into a state of dishonor when it comes to obsession with one's own outward appearance.

In an episode of the podcast "Ask Pastor John," posted to the Desiring God website last Thursday, an unnamed listener asked whether it was "sinful to enjoy how I look as I continue this healthy routine."

“I know it's good to be healthy, as it gives me more energy and makes me feel better day-by-day, but I don't want to fall back into obsession or dishonor God with my focus," the listener noted.

"I understand He should be first in all things, including my fitness. But if I notice my body changing, is that wrong? And if so, how can I turn away from that?"

Piper, chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church for over 30 years, encouraged listeners to reject statements like, "I enjoy how I look," or "Is it OK to notice how I look?" when talking about one's own appearance.

"Even though both of those sentences might be totally innocent in general, that way of talking is going to go hand in hand with a perception — maybe not a reality, but a perception — that this person is a little excessively concerned about personal appearance, even if that's not true," Piper said.

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Should Christians obsess over body image? John Piper answers

Pastor and bestselling author John Piper recently addressed how Christians should view their body image without falling into a state of dishonor when it comes to obsession with one s own outward

www.christianpost.com

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In general any time "enjoy how I look" is said, something "not good" is sure to follow. Don't use those kinds of statements.

But I do agree that "How I look" should reflect well on Christianity and God our Maker. We should try in general to look our best.

1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"

So then we should not seek to be morbidly obese for the "glory of God" or to be emaciated for the glory of God. Or to look like a slob etc.

"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God".

Some people engage in "suicide by what we choose to eat". I don't think God approves of that.

Nor does He approve of "suicide by not caring enough to live healthy"

It is one thing to endure persecution from others, it is another to have to endure your own persecution of your own body

Father Robert Terence McCahill, a Maryknoll missionary who works in health care for poor, disabled people in Bangladesh, marks 50 years of service in the country in this first week of December.

Over his five decades in Bangladesh, McCahill has visited 13 administrative districts in the Muslim-majority nation, spending three years in each one serving the people there. He left Srinagar in Munshiganj district near Dhaka in late November after completing three years there, though he does not yet know where he will go next.

“I think that just as Jesus was not tied to one place and asked to spread the word of God, I travel around and reach people of all religions with love and work,” McCahill told CNA on Nov. 18.

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Two of my favorite resources about OCD are scrupulosity.com and Mark DeJesus YouTube videos. Scrupulosity.com has a helpful group coaching program, as well as loads of articles about different scrupulosity topics. Here is one:Why Do I Always Have Salvation Doubts? - Scrupulosity.com

Two churches in Port Sudan were defaced in coordinated acts of vandalism, with Islamic declarations painted in red graffiti on their exterior walls. The incidents occurred last week in the center of the city’s market area.

At the Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the Islamic Shahadah, which reads “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger,” was scrawled alongside a Qur’anic verse, “There is no God but He, the Lord of the Honorable Throne,” the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwidereported.

On the walls of the nearby Orthodox Church, vandals sprayed the phrase “Allah is eternal.”

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Following the release of “Wicked: For Good,” many people have reacted to the film’s spiritual and allegorical elements and what it says about friendships, morality and the idea of good versus evil.

“Wicked: For Good,” which officially debuted in theatres on Nov. 21, is the second half of the film adaptation of the stage musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2003. The first movie, released in November 2024, covered Act One of the musical, while the latest film is an adaptation of Act Two.

Here are four notable reactions to “Wicked: For Good.”

Plugged In

Writing for Focus on the Family’s Plugged In, which reviews popular forms of entertainment to help families navigate the culture, Emily Tsiao wrote that “Wicked: For Good” is “just as magical and musical” as the first film. She also praised the movie’s “endearing story of enduring friendship,” which she predicted would drive many people to tears.

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Maria Billingsley said:

Like for everyone else, repentance is key.
Be blessed

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Genesis 4:25 NIV
[25] Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

I think this verse implies that Cane eventually repented. But I cannot confirm it.

eleos1954 said:

Sainthood signifies a positional status in Christ—being set apart by God for His special use and purpose. It does not imply sinless perfection, but a calling to live a life that reflects God's moral purity.

Just to clarify ...

The term "saints" in the New Testament epistles is used by Paul to address living members of the church (e.g., in Rome, Corinth, and Philippi), not just deceased individuals who have been canonized by a church.

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Incorrect. Paul says, Ephesians 2:19,20. The whole building including the foundation is a dwelling place for GODS SPIRIT. Furthermore, in Hebrews 11:40 these preChrist saints of the same faith as you and I will be in the first resurrection with us, and only the church is in the first resurrection. These preChrist saints are the root of the olive tree in Romans 11:18 We, you and I are children of Abraham according to faith, the same faith Abraham and all these ancient saints had. The church did not begin on Pentecost. Pentecost was stage 2 the calling of the Gentiles. This is one reason why Paul is the dominant writer of the New Testament. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy to call the Gentiles. The church goes back before the law was even given. One reason why Christ came was to confirm the covenant, the promises made to the fathers. Romans 15:8 What the vast majority of people do not know is that the promises, the new covenant was given to Abraham but needed confirmation by Jesus Christ. This is the real reason why Jesus was baptized by John, to fulfill all righteousness. John didn’t even have the authority to baptize with the Holy Spirit, that authority belonged to Jesus as confirmed by Johns own words. Matthew 3:11 and this is further proven by Acts 19:3-7 The baptism of Jesus was also the fulfillment of the sign given to John to identify the messiah. John 1:33 Many people fail to live by every word of GOD. What I have written here is true but I can’t prove it to anyone because only GOD can open a persons eyes to see and ears to hear. The information I have given here can be used to correct many errors that exist in understanding but only the church has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD to all others it has not be given. Matthew 13:11 The one called, Loves Gods Word, has knowledge and he may know these things as well.

Unnecessary conflict to get more oil and gas reserves.

"Tale as old as time...
song as old as rhyme....

BelieveItOarKnot said:

The term AS moves such scriptural statements OFF literal understanding and INTO spiritual insights

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Rubbish.
Maybe you could tell us what "spiritual insights' you get from Isaiah 30:26a?

The sun can make very bright flashes, one happened yesterday:
At 0249 UTC, a previously overlooked sunspot exploded. The X1.9 category flash is shown here in an extreme ultraviolet image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory: Quote from spaceweather.com 12/1/2025

What will happen will not be 'doom and gloom' for the Lords faithful peoples, as verse 26b says.

MarkSB said:

I wholeheartedly disagree. It is an excuse, because you're not looking at the actions of Donald Trump on their own merits, and not holding him accountable. Instead you point at the other side and say "they do it too"... which I would argue is not only an excuse, but a false equivalency.

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Too much “What about” while disowning own faults.

MarkSB said:

So I'm guessing what is being implied here is that the Democrats "cheated" in the 2020 election? If that is what you are saying, I will pose this question: If the democrats / "deep state" have such control over elections - then how did Trump win in 2024? If these unnamed powers were able to cheat in 2020 and make Joe Biden win, then how did Trump win in 2024 if there is such an underhanded conspiracy against him?

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That is easy: he won in spite of the powers against him because he is so well liked. We could make up any answer because facts do not matter. All that matters is what Trump says. How did we ever get this far down onto untruth?

Appeals court disqualifies Alina Habba as U.S. attorney for New Jersey​

Down goes the Parking Lot Attorney.

Valletta said:

The four years of fraud, the election interference including collusion between the executive branch and social media to defeat Trump, as well as collusion by the courts, the flooding of our nation with 10 to 20 million immigrants who were largely unvetted, the defund the police movement, and the woke policies caused the people to vote for a widely disliked and abrasive presidential candidate. Human trafficking reached a level in our country not seen since the Civil War. The Democratic Party is deeply fractured, with radical leaders in charge but a part of the base that does not believe in the promulgated policies. I am convinced that locating the hundreds of thousands of missing children, jailing criminals and deporting violent illegal criminals, stopping the crazy pork filled spending bills of Democrats, letting the parents decide about transitioning and what their children are taught in school rather than the state, stopping government sponsored drag queen shows for our children, curbing the runaway inflation, and supporting our law enforcement officers and military, that is, keeping the promises made, are essential to our future. Giving in to the authoritarians who will decide what kind of oven you use and what car you drive and what your child will be taught in school and what pronouns you must use and putting men in girls locker rooms will be the end of our nation.

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Do you believe that none of these events will occur the next time Democrats win an election?