There has lived no one like Jesus. Men love darkness more than light and they love their sin more than God.

stevevw said:

In thinking about this further I have expanded my view. I agree that the two most obvious churches that are closest to the original or were at least built on that original format. Is the Catholics and Orthodox.

Primarily I could see them unifying out of all churches and denominations because they are at least open to supporting the fundemental ways the early church worshipped. Especially the sacrifice of the bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ.

This is the one factor I think of all things that will unite. Just like the early church it was central and really apart from some prayers and praising and readings this was it. There was no Ted Talk or profound sermon. It was fellowship in the body of Christ.

But unlike some denominations who have no chance of uniting because they are divided. They either dismiss it or reimagine it into how they think it should be done. A modernisation to conform with the world more than Christ.

In saying that I think there are many within all denominations who are of Christ church. They may either partake in it with an honest heart if their church offers it. Or are willing and wanting to do so.

This is where I think Gods spirit comes in. As this is so fundemental and a truth I think all Christians know. But for whatever reasons have been side tracked or denied this. But as the spirit can come over people and then the church I think this can bring Christ spirit to existing groups of Christians who have strayed who will want to go back to partaking of the bread .

On the other hand there will be churches and denomionations which become more worldly and lose their way and we can tell by the fruits and know that we should stay away. We too could be blinded and fooled if not strong in the faith.

I was only thinking this as I am starting to go to a local church associated with a Homeless Hub I work at. A few of the homeless guests go there and they also provide a meal.

I am thinking wow how is this not reflecting Christ church even though they are not Catholic or Orthodox. They are very basic, some bible readings and a bit of a sermon. But not a preachy one and just a down to earth one about lifes struggles and how God offers hope and salvation.

I think these smaller churches or gatherings are probably capturing more closely the essense of sharing the bread of Christ. They just don;t specify it or state the need for it. Certainlt the sharing of a meal beforehand is sort of the same. So I sometimes wonder where the line is.

Its hard to know and Gods spirit works when two or more are gathered. But I sort of believe that Christ is with this small church, they are living His words. Even though they are not practicing this the same way as the Catholics or Orthodox.

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Dear Brother,
Your reflection is thoughtful and sincere, and I appreciate the way you are trying to understand the heart of the early church. You are absolutely right about several key points, and there are also a few areas where some clarification can help strengthen your understanding.

First, what you said correctly:
You are right that both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions have preserved many elements of ancient Christian worship. Historically, the earliest Christian gatherings centered on the reading of Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and the breaking of bread. Acts 2:42 says they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Your observation that this rhythm has been preserved more consistently in liturgical traditions is historically accurate.

You are also correct that the Eucharist (the early Greek term is Eucharistia meaning “thanksgiving”) was central to early worship. The writings of the church fathers such as Ignatius of Antioch (late first century) and Justin Martyr (mid second century) describe the Eucharist as the core of Christian gathering. So your point about its importance is valid and well grounded in history.

Additionally, your heart for smaller gatherings that live out Christ’s teachings is beautiful. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.” Christ is indeed present among believers who gather in humility, love, and truth.

Where some clarification is needed:

1. Unity will not primarily come through liturgical form but through truth and the Spirit.
   While you are right that the Eucharist was central, Scripture does not teach that unity comes from a particular style of worship but from shared doctrine and the Spirit. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).
   The Greek word hagiason (sanctify) means to set apart by truth, not by ritual.
   Unity comes through the Spirit and the Word, not through outward forms alone.
2. The early church did have preaching and teaching.
   You mentioned there was no “Ted Talk or profound sermon.” It is true that modern-style sermons did not exist, but teaching was always present.
   Acts 20:7 says Paul “spoke to the people and kept on talking until midnight.”
   The Greek verb dielegeto used here means discussion, reasoning, and teaching.
   So preaching was a normal part of early worship, though more interactive and less performance-driven than today.
3. Not all denominations reject the Lord’s Table out of worldliness.
   Some churches practice Communion less frequently not because they reject it but because their understanding of it is shaped by Scripture differently than Catholic or Orthodox traditions.
   For example, many evangelical churches emphasize the symbolism found in 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul focuses on the heart, not only the ritual.
   Your concern is understandable, but we must be careful not to assume that different equals worldly.
4. Sharing a common meal is beautiful but not identical to the biblical Lord’s Supper.
   You are absolutely right that the early church often included meals (called agape feasts). Jude 1:12 refers to them directly.
   But Paul makes a distinction between regular meals and the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11.
   He writes, “Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?” meaning ordinary food is one thing, the Lord’s Table is another.
   So your sense that “it feels similar” is correct, but biblically they are not the same.
5. Christ is present wherever believers gather, but the sacraments have their own biblical place.
   Your conclusion about Christ being with the small church you described is absolutely correct.
   However, even if a group reflects Christ in love and community, it does not automatically mean they are practicing the Lord’s Supper in the same sense as the early church.
   Both fellowship and sacrament have value, but they are distinct practices.

Dear Brother,
Your instincts are good, and your heart is in the right place. You rightly sense that God is moving wherever people humbly gather in His name. You also correctly value the early church’s devotion to the breaking of bread.

The only encouragement I offer is to see unity not as something achieved through returning to a particular ritual form but through returning to Scripture, to the Spirit’s leading, and to living out Christ’s commands in love. Doctrine, fellowship, worship, and the sacraments all work together, not against each other.

Thank you for sharing your reflections. They show a sincere desire to understand the heart of the early church and follow Christ faithfully.

Blessings
Pastor waris

The Barbarian said:

It's a graph of expulsions of people attempting to cross the border. As your numbers indicate, Biden caught and expelled a lot more than Trump. I'm still trying to figure out why you think that's a bad thing.

And you think Biden should have gone down there and broken up the demonstration? How would that work? As you see,Biden was focusing on stopping illegal immigrants from crossing the border. As your numbers indicate, he was 4 to 5 times more effective than Trump in this effort.

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No, 4 to 5 times as many people were crossing the border and that number is down 96% under Trump. Under Biden most of those people were given an order to appear in court and released into the country

Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green has donated $7 million to help rebuild the historic sanctuary of First Baptist Dallas.

The announcement came during a Sunday morning service at the downtown Dallas megachurch, led by Senior Pastor Robert Jeffress. Nearly 18 months after a devastating four-alarm fire gutted the 134-year-old sanctuary in July 2024, the donation marks a pivotal moment in the congregation's campaign to raise $95 million overall for the new facility and expanded ministries.

Before launching into his sermon series, "The Divine Defense: 6 Supernatural Weapons for Defeating Your Unseen Enemy," Jeffress recounted how Green's offer — initially a matching grant of up to $7 million — evolved into an immediate windfall. "A couple of months ago, you remember David Green, the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, came to visit us, and he loves our church. He loves what our church stands for," Jeffress told the congregation.

Continued below.

DamianWarS said:

I’m not “removing the He who said”—I’m simply letting all of Scripture speak, including the parts that explicitly define the 10 as the Sinai covenant (Deut 4:13) and the parts that explicitly say that covenant is now obsolete and passing away (Heb 8:13), Just because you refuse to acknowledge it doesn't mean man is deciding what is moral. That is the New Testament interpreting the Old.

Quoting or referring to the 10 in the NT doesn’t mean the Sinai covenant still governs Christians. The NT quotes lots of OT laws and moral teachings without putting believers under those covenants. Moral truth continues and covenant structure changes. That is the distinction Hebrews and Paul make repeatedly. No one is “deciding for God” which commands matter. The NT itself says Christians obey Christ, walk by the Spirit, and fulfill the law through love (Rom 13:8-10; Gal 5:14). That's not replacing God’s law, it’s following the administration of the new covenant God Himself established.

As for “debating AI”, I’m just giving you what the text actually says, not what anyone tells me to argue. You and I simply read the covenant passages differently, and that’s fine. You’re welcome to move on, and I’ll leave it here too.

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Well you didn't say you weren't using AI to help your posts and your style has completely changed. You are not giving me what the Text actually says, you left out a lot of context. I can put this argument into AI and it would give me a different version than you're getting. I always prefer prayerfully study more than anything.

We are governed by the New Covenant agreed Heb8:10 Established on better promises Heb8:6 not new laws as it still has God's laws written now in the heart and only God can define His laws, not man. The fact remains that the apostles and Jesus still quoted them as being law in the NT never once said the law of God changed or we don't have to keep them or parts of them changed, in fact NT plainly says not to break the least of these commandments Mat5:19 and breaking one we break them all James2:11. Because God- who there is no one above, said in His own Words- I will not alter the words of My covenant. Psa89:34 Exo34:28 Heb8:10 The words did not change, the location changed "magnified" Isa42:21 written in the heart of the New Covenant believers, those who do not have subject themselves to the law of God are the ones sadly in rebellion. Rom8:7-8

Jesus quoted verbatim from the OT on the greatest commandments Deut6:5 which was repeated after the Ten Commandments was repeated before entering the Promise Land. Many never entered due to disobedience Heb4:6 and God tells us verbatim why they did not enter Eze20:16 and in the NT we are told not to follow their same path of disobedience Heb4:11.

Love does fulfill the commandments because if we love God, we will not break the first 4 commandments of His laws on how we love and worship God, if we love our neighbor we are not going to break the last six commandments, the summary of the second greatest commandments Rom13:9 why this is the love of God we keep His commandments 1John5:3 and only God defines them Exo20:6, not man, because mans testimony will never be greater than God's Exo31:18

A growing number of Britons who leave Christianity are turning to paganism or other forms of spiritualism instead of converting to other major religions, a new study has found.

The survey, released by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life, questioned 2,774 adults who self-identified as having "experienced a change in their religious belief," seeking to provide insight into "how, why, and in what direction Britons are moving between faiths, spiritualities, and non-belief."

The researchers conclude that "Britain is not secularising in a straightforward way" but rather "undergoing a re-composition of belief, a shift away from inherited institutional structures towards personalised, practice-based, and wellbeing-oriented forms of faith."

Forty-four percent of respondents said they left Christianity, while only 17% said they had newly become Christians. Meanwhile, 39% of respondents said they had become an atheist or agnostic.

Continued below.

A growing number of Britons who leave Christianity are turning to paganism or other forms of spiritualism instead of converting to other major religions, a new study has found.

The survey, released by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life, questioned 2,774 adults who self-identified as having "experienced a change in their religious belief," seeking to provide insight into "how, why, and in what direction Britons are moving between faiths, spiritualities, and non-belief."

The researchers conclude that "Britain is not secularising in a straightforward way" but rather "undergoing a re-composition of belief, a shift away from inherited institutional structures towards personalised, practice-based, and wellbeing-oriented forms of faith."

Forty-four percent of respondents said they left Christianity, while only 17% said they had newly become Christians. Meanwhile, 39% of respondents said they had become an atheist or agnostic.

Continued below.

Across the globe, Christians are enduring persecution and discrimination on a scale unmatched in the modern era. Recent assessments estimate that hundreds of millions of Christians — roughly 1 in 7 believers worldwide, and closer to 1 in 5 in Africa — live in places where their faith puts them at daily risk. In just the past reporting year, well over a quarter-million Christians were driven from their homes.

These are not just statistics. They are families. They are futures. And for my family, this crisis has a name: Ruben Vardanyan.

A personal story of faith under fire

As the world prepares to celebrate Christmas — a season of hope and freedom — my siblings and I are clinging to the hope of seeing our father again. My daughter has never met her grandfather; she was born after he was taken captive more than two years ago.

On Sept. 27, 2023, Azerbaijani forces captured my father as he attempted to leave Nagorno-Karabakh along with the last 120,000 indigenous Christian Armenians still living there — victims of one of the most severe campaigns of forced displacement against a Christian population in the 21st century. His “crime” was advocating for the right of Christian Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh to live safely in their ancestral homeland.

Today, he and 22 other Armenian Christian detainees remain imprisoned in Baku — denied due process, denied spiritual support, and even denied the right to possess a Bible.

And yet, the world has not remained silent.

My father’s case has drawn bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress, as well as strong advocacy from the French Parliament, the European Parliament, and leading human-rights organizations such as Amnesty International — all calling for his immediate and unconditional release. These voices are united: his detention is unlawful and unjustified. And yet, despite these efforts, my father remains behind bars.

The United States has leverage — and a duty to act

Continued below.

JD Vance and Marco Rubio are Catholic.

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

Peace in Christ.

This is the “death” that we are to die: bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus so that His life might be made manifest in our body….in our MORTAL FLESH. This is the keeping of His “daily” sacrifice as we are to ALWAYS do it. We then manifest the Son of man to the outside world by doing so. The people of the outside world who are sitting in deep darkness will then "see" Him made manifest through us by looking at us. They will come to His manifestation through us. They will come as a "cloud" as the Son of man comes upon a cloud of EYEWITNESSES of His glory that they will see through us who manifest it to them.

2Co 4:10-11 KJV
(10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
(11) For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

But currently, the Son of man is “going away”…sinking out of view from this earth…as His life is not being made manifest in the man-based churches as the Son of man is being given up/betrayed into the hands of sinners. The people of the outside world are in complete spiritual darkness as they do not see the form of Christ nor do they have the knowledge of the glory of God.

We are “asleep” to this fact in the man-based churches and we need to “awake” …to “behold”…to perceive… what is really going on in them: He is being betrayed (PRESENT TENSE) now in the man-based churches who know not what they are doing. The man-based churches will not believe in this knowledge when they will hear it.

Mar 14:41-42
(41) And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed (present tense) into the hands of sinners.

We are to “awake” (RISE UP= awaken) to this fact and take action and GO away from them: “let us go.”

We must come out from among them and be separate and be no longer attached to the unclean body of the man-based churches where His life is being given up.

(42) Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

The Son of THE man is being betrayed PRESENT TENSE)!

Mat 26:24
(24) The Son of (definite article: THE) man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of (THE) man is betrayed (PRESENT TENSE)! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

The people of the outside world who are sitting in deep darkness cannot now “see” His life shine through us for He is being currently given up so that His life is not being made manifest in the mortal flesh of any of the man-based church goers.

The Son of THE man (man = Anthropos - From aner and ops (the countenance; from optanomai). Aner = man and “ops” = EYE.

Optanomai = the first a (middle voice) prolonged form of the second (primary) which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternates of G3708; to gaze (that is, with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable;

The outside people (the anthropos) are to SEE….to GAZE with wide eyes at something remarkable: the manifestation of the life of the SON of God made through the flesh of His people. The Son of the "man"...the anthropos...as the outside people of the world will see the Son and consider what they are seeing.

They …the anthropos…will “see” Him manifest through us and will consider. Kings will SEE something remarkable with their eyes. They will see the King of kings and the Lord of lords through us. He makes us kings and priests through His manifestation of His glory in us to them.

Isa 49:7 KJV
(7) Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

Kings shall SEE His "visage"...His view....and they will consider Him at the VIEWING of the Son whom we manifest to their eyes. They will see the Son of the man…the seeing man that will consider what he is seeing with eyes wide open to this remarkable sight of Him at their viewing of Him made manifest through us.

Isa 52:14-15 KJV
(14) As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
(15) So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

wing2000 said:

Hernandez is believed to be in the United States after Trump pardoned him.

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Is he here illegally? Can he be deported?

-- A2SG, asking for a friend....

Why Senate Republicans aren't uniting behind a health care plan​

Three days before a high-profile vote on a Democratic proposal to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies, GOP senators are nowhere near coalescing behind any single alternative that could be put up alongside it.

For Republicans, the risk of proceeding Thursday with a side-by-side vote is clear. While Democrats say they will have their entire 47-member caucus behind the three-year extension, any GOP plan right now is likely to fall well short of complete unity — and highlight the divisions in their party.

“What signal would that send if Republicans say, ‘Yeah, we’re going to say no to the Democrats’ plan, but we’re not going to offer anything?’” Sen. Josh Hawley(R-Mo.) said. “The message that will send is, good luck to the American people, and we don’t really care.”

[Isn't that what motivated you to cut the subsidies in the first place?]

One of the aides said Republicans will be prepared to make the case they have plenty of ideas and are ready to talk with Democrats once they move off a proposal that won’t get the 60 votes needed to advance.

[Well, plenty of concepts of an idea, anyway.]

Gracious Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus,
I pray that catz boyfriend’s new owner would simply rent the flat back to him and that he would be allowed to stay. Please guard catz’ mind from relying on him, for it is You who saves, not us, though sometimes You work through us to help. Guard her with Your strength, and help her to walk in Your power. Show her ways these two can improve their financial situation, and open up opportunities for them.
In Christ’s Name,
Amen

“The universe is a dark forest. Every civilization is an armed hunter stalking through the trees like a ghost, gently pushing aside branches that block the path and trying to tread without sound. Even breathing is done with care. The hunter has to be careful, because everywhere in the forest are stealthy hunters like him. If he finds other life—another hunter, an angel or a demon, a delicate infant or a tottering old man, a fairy or a demigod—there’s only one thing he can do: open fire and eliminate them. In this forest, hell is other people. An eternal threat that any life that exposes its own existence will be swiftly wiped out. This is the picture of cosmic civilization. It’s the explanation for the Fermi Paradox.”
― Cixin Liu, The Dark Forest

Coolerranch said:

*Takes a sip of magic tea* May God bless you even if it may seem as though satan has gotten an advantage or is worth believing. For God will send someone to help you whether it be the Holy Spirit, or angels, or a person to remind you that you're being helped by these beings.

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I am sure it is happening with prayer, from me, and from any others if they do, there is help coming, which is from God. I do what I see to do according to what God's will is, and trust God as I know I can, in which I would walk with God, I would not want it another way. I am in good shape still even while with the real vulnerability with good choices I made, even for quite a long time, though much of what I talk about is dismissed by most others. Many will miss out on some good things that could be for them.

Why was Mary conceived without sin?
This question lies at the heart of one of the most misunderstood yet most beautiful doctrines of the Catholic Faith.

In this long-form catechetical video, Excerpta Catechismi explores the Feast of the Immaculate Conception through the traditional teaching of the Church, drawing especially from The Church’s Year by Rev. Leonard Goffine, Sacred Scripture, and the writings of the Church Fathers and saints

You will learn why Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin from the first moment of her existence — how this privilege flows entirely from the merits of Jesus Christ — and why the Immaculate Conception marks the first light of redemption before the birth of Christ. Far from diminishing Christ’s role, this doctrine magnifies His saving power and reveals what grace can accomplish when sin has no foothold.

This video also explains the biblical foundations of the Immaculate Conception, including the angel’s greeting “full of grace,” the prophecy of the Woman in Genesis, and Mary as the true Ark of the Covenant. It reflects on Mary as the New Eve, her role in God’s plan of salvation, and the powerful moral lessons this feast offers to every Christian.

As Advent approaches, the Immaculate Conception reminds us that Mary is the pure dawn before the rising of the Sun of Justice. By contemplating her purity, humility, and obedience, we are invited to prepare our own souls for the coming of Christ through repentance, devotion, and conversion of life.

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December 9, 2025

Our Morning Offering – 9 December– Tota Pulchra Es, Maria


One Minute Reflection – 9 December – ‘ … Thou enabled the world to read the Word, the Father’s Son!’

Feria (Second Sunday of Advent) propers (EF)

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent (EF)

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent readings & commentary (OF)
Saint Juan Diego, Hermit—Optional Memorial

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent; Opt Mem of St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (USA)

Daily Gospel

ADVENTCAzT 2025 – 10 – Tuesday 2nd Week of Advent

Saint Leocadia of Toledo Virgin and Martyr

Saint Juan Diego Visionary of Our Lady of Guadelupe

Saint Juan Diego, Hidden Keeper of the Tilma

Saint Juan Diego

Saints of the Day

Sermons for Everyday Living - St Juan Diego 12/9/25

There are 3 Marian feasts this week and they’re perfect for Advent

Audio version of Gueranger
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A good example is with Kirk and how the TP gatherings were falsely narrated as being like Nazis. To some degree all the talk about Trump and Vance and conservatives as Nazis is partly due to the Christian connection. They have some similar beliefs and ideas that progressives regard as being like Nazis.

I think mainly due to the fundemental difference in how each sees the world and how society should be ordered. Progressives I think they use the idea of love being all inclusive and making everyone welcome and feeling good about themselves and the world.

So the idea of sin, accountability and especially the consequences for wrong doing (punishment) is a no no. It represents cruelty and control. It makes people feel uncomfortable and is percieved to be harmful. In a feelings based view of the world.

So for example the Christian belief of Gods judgement for sinners is seen as outdated and harsh. By the same logic heavy controls on immigration of even crime is seen as controlling and cruel and not allowing for peoples feelings and experiences.

Even the idea of locking people up or having borders is seen by some as controlling.

So I think this is the basis for why Christianity is percieved as so controlling and cruel that it is compared to the Nazis controlling and cruelty. Of course this is rediculous as the Nazis killed 7 million Jews and others and Christians ain't doing that and in fact show a lot of forgiveness and love.

But this is the Postmodern age where feelings and words create reality. Words are given new meaning then reapplied in narratives and when this is repeated enough it becomes the reality. People begin to believe it enough that they will actually act on it as we have seen with the assassinations and attempts.

12/09/25 Day 6

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.

BCP1928 said:

The US has no state called Columbia.

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Lol I mean Columbus. Columbus, Ohio the capital and largest city in Ohio. I know Ohio from the CSNY song by the same name. Great song.

BCP1928 said:

I don't think you have any idea what "sanctuary" means in this context.

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I think I understand it enough to know that it has caused some States a lot of trouble in trying to harbor and hide illegals. Something like 20 million in the last few years and some States have been overwhelmed. No checks, vetting and integration.

Its a complete mess and so big that its now a national safety and security issue. The entire system is untrustworthy and needs to be investigated and restructured. This is a major turning point for the US I think when it comes to immigration and national identity and all that.

Not just the US but most western nations. Reassessing the whole idea of immigration and how best to structured it so that it does not become something that undermines and destroyes the nation but builds it up.

Having people who come here and even locals always complaing about western nations being like Nazis and the worst nation. When the nations they came from were the bad ones. Everyone has to unite under the one Flag and nation and not 50 different ones as far as national identity.

This whole identity politics and culture war of whites verses blacks and gender and sex wars and now religion and belief wars is destroying nations and the long held values that built them.

I think the body of Christ reigns today even more than ever because theres too many wolves. Now more than ever is the world open to turning a truth into a lie and a lie into the truth. The postmodern age where words, narratives and feelings make relaity and there is no way to tell the truth.

So we need a clear and truthful example in among all that white noise of Enlightened relativism that will be different and stand out as worthy and without fault. One that is above reproach.

As Christians we know this is Christ. But we have often failed to differentiate ourselves from the culture wars and the church has become just another identity among many even divided among itself. In a never ending war of words and alternative truth claims.

So that means the only way to stand out from all this is to actually be like Christ. To become part of the body of Christ. Which means actually living like Christ and not just speaking the words. This means actually doing what the bible says. Not half doing it but doing it all the way. Just as they did in the early church.

That means being willing to lay down your life literally. Put God above world desires and wants. Not having those material goods and doinging everything as Gods will and not our own.

When we see how even churches don't live to much different to the world then its no wonder people hate the church and God. Most people today do not do what they say. They are good at pointing out the wrongs of others or how people should live. But don't actually live that way themselves.

People are more respected when they live what they preach or teach. In fact for the early church and for Christ they were fairly silent when it came to their own opinion and getting into culture wars. They lived the gospel and example and the few words they did say were well respected. Because people seen that they lived what they preached and it was the truth.

This is all about embodying the gospel and Christ. This example speaks volumes and is power. People cannot argue against it because you are what you say.

But the important thing is that no human idea could ever be good enough that it would make a person untouchable and above reproach. Because we are weak.

So when people embody and like as Christ and actually putting others above themselves, loving their enermies and dying for them. Thet see God without one word being spoken. This is the power of Christs example. People do not even have to say where the truth and power of this testimony comes from. They immediate see it is from God as Christ is God and we are reflecting that to others.

I think the body of Christ is rising again because the world strayed so far away from God. When this happens God reminds people and Christs light shines in the darkness so that people can know Him when the chaos and darkness becomes too great in the world. Bold and pure Christians will restore Gods truth in among all the lies and wolves and Pharisees who are hypocrites.

Homily Wednesday, December 10 2025



Isaiah 40:25-31

God said, “Lift up your eyes on high and see who created these?”



When we realize that we have created nothing, we more readily receive God’s love in the present moment.



Matthew 11:28-30

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.”



Let us read carefully: the yoke the Lord wants us to bear is peace, the rest of the soul.



Biblical texts: NAB-RE

Normand Thomas.