When I was a young monk in my twenties, Br. Ken’s parents would visit our monastery once a year. I still remember the first time I met his mother in our family's guest house. She was sitting in a rocking chair, gently holding a Rosary. We spoke for about thirty minutes, and I found her to be a lovely, gracious woman. At one point, I asked about her Rosary. She told me that as she grew older, prayer became more important to her, and the Rosary was her constant companion. Most days, she would sit quietly in her living room, slowly reciting its prayers.

Over the years, I’ve noticed this pattern in many older people—men and women alike—who made prayer a priority when they were younger. I once knew a Jewish woman who spent her days repeating the Psalms. Now that I am older, I understand what they were experiencing.

As my energy for engaging with the “outer” world diminishes, my desire to pray and open my heart to God continues to grow. Like Br. Ken’s mother, I find myself craving prayer. The soul breathes when it prays, and as I age, this need to embrace God’s love deepens. My connections with others have also become richer. Years ago, I made Br. Ken’s mother a Rosary with large wooden beads strung on Paracord. She loved it, prayed with it daily, and was buried with it when she passed away.

My recent heart procedure was difficult, yet it brought profound changes and unexpected inner healing. I’m not sure I would want to go through it again, but I know the experience was worth it. It taught me endurance, vulnerability, and the hard truth of mortality. No book could have prepared me for that journey.

Through it all, prayer sustained me. I’ve learned that what feels like God’s absence often hides a deeper experience of His presence. Prayer is not always easy, but the Rosary gives me a starting point—a rhythm and beauty that carries me forward. I pray slowly, because if I rush, the words become mechanical and lose meaning. Others prefer a faster pace, and that works for them. For me, slowness opens the heart.

Prayer also connects me to the world—to every man, woman, and child. It roots me in the present moment, keeping my mind from drifting to the past or future. When I am truly present, even fatigue feels lighter. In the end, prayer helps us adapt to the changes of aging and reminds us how precious each day is. We only have now. Staying rooted in that truth is both a gift and a challenge—and without God’s grace, it reveals our inner poverty.—Br. MD

There are seasons in our walk with God when freedom doesn’t come all at once but unfolds step by step. Sometimes there are several seasons we go through in our lives that are very difficult… one after the other, after the other, where it seems like it will never end. Yet when we look back, we realize He was working in places we didn’t even recognize at the time. This testimony is part of that journey - the story of how the Lord broke my chains and taught me how to live as someone truly free.

Psalm 34:19 (NKJV) “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

For many years it felt like one bondage after the other would bombard my life. I would just be set free from one, and another would come, and another after that. I got to the point in life that I wondered what would come next, and if I would ever be fully set free of the bondage in my life.

Psalm 18:6 (NKJV) “In my distress I called upon the Lord… and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.”

Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…”

Sometimes that freedom comes suddenly, like a prison door swinging open. Other times it arrives quietly, like dawn slowly pushing back the night. However it comes, the Lord leads us forward teaching us that freedom is not only a moment, but a lifelong walk with Him.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NKJV) “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

During the years of bondage I was going through in my life, I felt like I was trapped in a cage. The bars on the cage were likened to prison bars. It felt like there was no way out of the bondage I was in. As I moved on in my walk with God, in my heart I saw the “prison walls” fall down from all four corners of my life. God had set me free from every bondage I was ever in.

Psalm 107:14 (NKJV) “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke their chains in pieces.”

Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV) “…He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”

After the Lord delivers us, He invites us to learn how to walk as free people.

Freedom is not a feeling - it is a fact established by Christ. But learning to live in that freedom takes trust. It takes daily surrender. It takes choosing to believe what God says about us, even when our emotions tell a different story.

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free…”

Romans 6:18 (NKJV) “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

For years, shame whispered that I was still the same person I used to be. Old habits tried to convince me that nothing had really changed. But the Holy Spirit kept reminding me of a simple truth:

“If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” - John 8:36 (NKJV)

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2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”

Romans 8:1 (NKJV) “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”

Freedom became not just something I received - but something I practiced.

Every time an old pattern tried to rise up, the Holy Spirit whispered in my heart, “That’s not who you are anymore.” Every time shame tried to return, He reminded me, “You are forgiven, washed, and made new.” Every time fear tried to creep in, He said, “You are Mine.”

And slowly, the truth settled deep into my spirit: I am no longer defined by what once held me. I am defined by the One who set me free.

If you are walking out your own journey of freedom, take heart. You are not alone. The same God who broke your chains and broke down those “prison walls” will teach you how to walk without them.

One step at a time. One day at a time. One victory at a time.

You are free - and you are learning to live like it.

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) “…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it…”

Psalm 37:23–24 (NKJV) “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord… Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

To the Holy Spirit: Thank You for guiding every word, guarding every step, and glorifying Jesus. All glory, honor, praise, and worship belong to God Almighty, who alone is worthy.

Scripture Acknowledgement: All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version® (NKJV). Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Special thanks to Bible Gateway for providing accessible, searchable Scripture resources that support devotional writing and spiritual study.

May these words echo grace, healing, and truth wherever they are read.

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Cosmic Charlie said:

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:

https://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/5441487-ice-raids-trauma-children/

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/23/politics/us-citizen-children-separated-parents-deported-ice-invs

ICE Sent 600 Immigrant Kids to Detention in Federal Shelters This Year. It’s a New Record.

Under a zero tolerance policy, the first Trump administration separated immigrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border. New data suggests separations are happening all over the country, often after little more than a traffic stop.

www.propublica.org

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Disobedience by the pastor would be the reason for his removal.

The creche is no place for a modern-day political message, which divides rather than unites.

"For he was numbered w/ the transgressors"

FWIW

GOP lawmaker drops FBI whistleblower bombshell about J6 pipe bomb suspect​

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) claimed [an FBI 'whistleblower' asserted that] the FBI arrested the wrong person in the Jan. 6 pipe bomb case.

The 30-year-old Cole lives in a community where several employees of the FBI, Secret Service and police also reside, and the whistleblower said they must have seen him on one of his frequent walks around the area.

"He wanders around his neighborhood several times a day while walking a dog," Massie wrote. "Other than walking his dog, he doesn’t engage in any other activities outside his home. He does not interact with anyone. He doesn’t wave or acknowledge others or even say hello. He does not even look at other people when he walks by. He appears to live in his own world."

"His behavior is awkward," Massie wrote. "It’s obvious he has a mental disability, and likely lives in a permanently vulnerable, intellectual, and emotional state. It’s well known that individuals with mental conditions are susceptible to providing inaccurate and unwarranted 'confessions.'"

"Not only were neighbors not evacuated during the arrest and search of the alleged bomber’s home, they were required to remain in their homes," the congressman wrote. "If the suspect had in fact been engaged in making bombs and stockpiling bomb materials, the proper safety precautions were not taken."

--

The official word is that they have phone records and receipts, which would seem more conclusive, but given how trustworthy the Administration is, there could be some hilarious egg-on-face moments in the future, especially after some of them did a touchdown dance in the end zone and talked smack about how the 'Biden FBI' didn't crack the case. Now the lack of K$H gloating has another potential meaning: he doesn't believe it either, but was under pressure to produce a perp. Let's see how this develops.

Caritas Lithuania has launched a new support initiative for individuals struggling with pornography addiction, responding to what staff describe as a marked surge in people seeking help as explicit content becomes increasingly unavoidable online.

The program, offered in Lithuanian, English, and German — both in person and remotely — provides counseling not only for those battling compulsive sexual behaviors but also for spouses and family members affected by them.

Caritas workers report a noticeable rise in referrals, with many parish priests now directing individuals in their care to the program, touching upon the growing need for coordinated pastoral and professional support.

Growing demand for help​

Continued below.

I hear about dreams a lot. It is a common theme with Christians and God speaks to us using dreams. I have my own at times also and only God can show what a dream means. Book of Daniel for reference. While there are details not in your post about the situation that are relevant, such as what you were praying about in specific terms of the kind of oppression, I do understand not wanting to reveal parts of one's personal life or conversations with God.

With all that out of the way, number one... you praying before is significant. Timing is everything and God has perfect timing. If God created everything, and He did, then nothing is a coincidence in the world because it is supernatural, not natural. Very often God does speak to people directly following a dream, and it is done so that one knows God is listening to their prayers and He is with them.

Secondly, the creature looking like a "familiar" person before incurring its punishment is a warning to you, that things (and people) are not always what they seem. The phrase "we find out who our friends are" came from people realizing that often those that seem friendly or like they have our best interest in mind, sometimes don't and are not really friends at all. It may very well be that God is telling you that you have connections, or relationships, that are oppressive even though they seem like "familiar" friends.

Lastly, God is telling you that He has you covered, and that your oppression has not went unnoticed. He sees you, hears your prayers, is with you, is answering your prayers, and there will be punishment for those who are oppressing you. When God gives us dreams He is saying, "I hear you, I love you, I see this, I will deal with it." Direct messages from God during a demonic war against God take special attention from Him to send to us. The enemy certainly doesn't like your dream, that is for sure. You can read in the book of Daniel where the angel Gabriel had to fight 21 days to get a message to Daniel (Daniel 10:13), and... also needed help in the fight. This means dreams are a big deal and God could possibly very well have angels fighting the enemy to send every one of them.

Sometimes people do have "random" dreams that don't carry significance or are not from God. Sometimes the enemy can cause dreams also, but these usually are tormenting, frightful, and don't have any clear message or comprehensible references to the person's situation or their prayers. I don't think your dream falls into this category. I think it was God and He is comforting you, reassuring you, and giving you a heads up of what is going on to help you.

Keep praying, since you know He listening.

A Republican U.S. representative is sponsoring a bill that would require fathers to cover half of pregnancy-related costs for mothers carrying their children.

Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, is sponsoring the Supporting Healthy Pregnancy Act, Fox News Digital reported.

The bill would require the father of a child to pay for at least half of out-of-pocket medical expenses involved with pregnancy and delivery. This would become a legal requirement only after the mother puts in a request.

Hinson said she is working to “expand access to maternal care” and to “ensure women have resources throughout pregnancy and beyond.”

Continued below.

Secular dating shows like “The Bachelor,” “Farmer Wants a Wife,” and “Love Is Blind” are among a plethora of programs that aim to bring singles together. But what would it look like to add faith to matchmaking in a dating show? CatholicMatch, one of the first Catholic dating sites, seeks to do just that with the launch of “The Catholic Dating Show.”

Earlier this year, CatholicMatch released a new platform called “Relate.” This platform is meant to bring users together for weekly live, virtual events such as trivia nights, discussions with prominent Catholic speakers, and “The Catholic Dating Show.”

The show has quickly become a fan favorite, bringing in over 600 live viewers through the dating site and even more when it is uploaded to CatholicMatch’s YouTube channel the next day for nonmembers to watch.

Taking place two Saturdays a month, “The Catholic Dating Show” is an hourlong event that features one single woman and three single men. During the first half of the show, the woman asks her suitors questions to get to know them better. The three men also have their cameras off for this part so the woman cannot see them.

Continued below.

why did Martin Luther removed them?

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

The Ecumenical Councils - Church History Simplified​

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And look at this. In a recent episode of his show, Kirk Cameron publicly announced a change in his long-held views on Hell. Previously accepting the view of eternal conscious torment for the wicked, he now rejects it — calling such a fate “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Cameron says that the Bible, especially in its Old Testament writing, does not depict the souls of the wicked as immortal. Instead, the only souls promised eternal life — immortality — are those granted to believers.

Complete article:

Kirk Cameron no longer believes in eternal punishment​

(OPINION) In a recent episode of his show, Kirk Cameron publicly announced a change in his long-held views on Hell. Previously accepting the view of eternal conscious torment for the wicked, he now rejects it

Platte said:

didactics,

When did the concept of ANE begin? That might help you in your quest.

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Ancient Near East, or ANE, concepts of cosmology similar to those found in the Bible, date back several thousand years ago, at least to 2500BC but likely much earlier.
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Rescued One said:

I don't like debate. God, not debate, converts people. But Cakvinists don't teach that childless women go to hell.

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For the 2nd time, that is not what I'm saying. If my wording made it seem that way, I apologize, but that was not my point which is why I referred you to my first response that I made that clarified my point. My point was based on Calvanists Unconditional Election stance (The U in TULIP) and how the argument for childless mothers being about salvation is equivalent to Calvanists argument root of Unconditional Election, not literally saying Calvanists preach childless women go to hell.

I hope that clears things up.

FredVB said:

I think the conundrum I posted is only so for literalist views of anything in Bible passages that are as likely symbolic. The book of Revelation is full of symbolic passages, and much of what will be said of what is in any afterlife would be, as any of that goes outside of experiences any have in this world. This applies to the afterlife of the saved, too. Eye has not seen, not ear heard, not have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love God. 1 Corinthians 2:9

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That, my friend, is actually yet another aspect which has caused all manner of division within Christianity. The interpretation of Revelation is a minefield, indeed. That there are very obviously many things in it which are symbolic and allegorical is obvious to everyone except to those at the very extreme end of literalism. The difficulty is determining whether or not passages which could be taken at face value are, in fact, literal or symbolic or even both, has vexed Bible commentators since, at least, the earliest centuries of Christianity. It is no small difficulty to overcome to avoid reading into the passage one's own extrabiblical thoughts and beliefs. A classic case is the woman in chapter 12 who, according to Roman Catholics, is none other to Mary, but for Protestants is the personification of God's wife, Israel, who gave birth to her son, the Church.

AstralHammer said:

I guess this is why this an interesting topic for me and should fictional video games with magic in it be avoided when there is no deity worship or deity-sourced powers? At the beginning of my first post in this topic, my answer would be it is acceptable. From what you and @CoreyD have been sharing, it causes me to think a bit about it.

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I think the answer comes down to discernment and asking God. If there isn't a source stated for the power, I think it can go either way but I wouldn't say just outright its wrong or okay. I think it depends on the storyline, message and themes at that point.

BobRyan said:

from: https://x.com/WesleyLHuff/status/1998190919539892630

Quoting Wes Huff:

"I’m seeing a lot of people attempting to critique it. I hold to ECT, but I do understand the topic of conditional immortality and I have yet to see anyone actually give a rebuttal that shows me they’ve interacted with the arguments and biblical reasoning from the other side. To condemn conditionalism/annihilationism as heresy is to say that John Stott, Edward Fudge, F. F. Bruce, potentially even Athanasius of Alexandria, are all heretics. This is, with all due respect, ridiculous. While the position might be unorthodox it is not heresy. If you actually want to interact with someone who knows the topic reach out to my friends
@datechris and/or @DanPaterson7
. Both are solid, fair minded, well educated and articulate..."

Texts like Ezek 28:28:14-19 and Matt 10:28 come up in those discussions as we might expect.

But I think Wes Huff's list of Bible scholars is interesting
John Stott,
Edward Fudge,
F. F. Bruce,
potentially even Athanasius of Alexandria

Dale Moody,
Clark Pinnock

could be added to that list

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I’m undecided on this. I have a book, 4 views on Hell and there are convincing arguments for all 4 views

13 December 2025 – Algeria​

Pray that Christian children and youth in Algeria will have opportunities to remain in their country and to grow and develop in their faith without persecution or discrimination.

12 December 2025 – Algeria​

Pray for freedom of conscience and religious belief for all Algerians, not only in law but also in their minds, hearts, homes and communities. May God’s people have courage to stand up for the truth in this challenging period.

11 December 2025 – Algeria​

Please pray for God’s protection and care for Algerian Christians such as our partner, pastor ‘Yuba’, and his wife and children, who take great risks to stay in Algeria and continue ministering.

10 December 2025 – Algeria​

Pray for wisdom, courage and grace for church leaders as they continue to struggle for legal recognition, freedom and rights for Christians and churches within Algeria. Pray for an end to the relentless hounding of the church by the authorities.

09 December 2025 – Algeria​

Pray for the ongoing court cases involving pastors and other church leaders who have been prosecuted simply for their Christian ministry. May those who have been convicted see their sentences overturned on appeal at the Supreme Court.

08 December 2025 – Algeria​

Please pray for the re-opening of the more than 45 Algerian Protestant churches that have been closed by the Government.

07 December 2025 – Iran​

Pray for work translating the Bible into the many ethnic-minority languages of Iran. In a closed country with no physical churches and where even home groups can be at risk, a believer’s Bible – especially in their indigenous language – is vital.

Claiming what God Himself said is doing justice and righteousness Isa56:1-2 which is the foundation of His throne Psa89:14 is not moral I believe is taking the liberties that only God has. Only God can bless and only God can sanctify both of these God connected with the seventh day Sabbath. Gen2:3 Exo20:11 Isa56:2 Eze20:12

Our Heavenly Father said Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God Exo20:8-11, it is the holy day of the Lord Isa58:13 God is love and we are made in His image to love. If our earthy father asked us to remember something that is important to him, would we show love by forgetting and doing what we want instead or modifying it to make it more convenient for us. Would our spouse appreciate it if we celebrated their birthday on a different day because we made other plans, is this love? I believe those who separate this one comamndment, when God did not Deut4:13 Exo34:28 Exo20:6, are missing the whole point of what God is asking of us if we love Him Exo20:6 John14:15. Forgetting something that God said to Remember that He made holy, sanctified and blessed, I think shows bigger implications of the issue, the heart. Eze20:16 1John2:3-4

Was this oil painting the first image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the U.S.? The question may never be answered for certain. Amid the speculation, there is one other piece of the puzzle that should not be missed, however: The arrival of this unique painting in Mother Seton’s chapel, far from Mexico or any knowledge of the events in Guadalupe, was itself something of a miraculous occurrence, a loving response to a woman who had once begged Mary to “adopt me as your child.”

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