None of my posts are me telling you what you need to believe. They are me giving you my perspective and the 'why' of that said perspective. This post will be different. This post is me still working out what it is I believe about Hell and the why of it. All based within the context of 'my' understanding of the Gospel. This is something I'm sure will continue to develop over time as I continue to discover more of God.

- I see in scripture two ages. The present age, and the age yet to come. The present age is understood as being only a temporary age. This is made evident by the fact that there is yet a second age to come.

- In this present, but temporary age, life is temporary. If life is temporary, then logically, death must also be temporary. Maybe this is why death is often referred to as sleep?

- The age to come is understood to be everlasting. If this age is everlasting then so must life be also. And if life is everlasting then, likewise, death must also be everlasting.

- At the end of the first age we will all be resurrected, believers and unbelievers alike. Now because I understand being created in the image of God to mean that we have three defining parts; body, soul, and spirit, I believe all three are essential for life. We cannot exist without all three. (With regards to spiritual death, I believe that our spirit has gone into a dormant state. It is not actually deceased) For this reason I am leaning towards the idea that both believers and unbelievers will receive new bodies at the time we are resurrected. And that these new bodies will be free of a sinful nature. Why?

- We will all stand before the full presence of God. Any corruption within us would likely be obliterated in the full presence of God. Just an assumption on my part. And this is only going to compound the coming judgment for an unbeliever.

- A new sinless body will most likely mean a clear understanding of one's purpose within creation. And it is for this very reason why I am coming to this particular conclusion of Hell, and what that may actually look like. (Again, this is still something I'm working out)

- Unbelievers will suddenly have full awareness of their purpose while at the same time recognizing where their rejection has led them. All the while standing in the full presence of God, the very purpose for their existence. At that moment nothing else will matter to them. All they will want and desire is standing right before them. But... with the knowledge they will never have it due to their former rejection.

- You will now have an unbeliever who's only desire is to worship and to be in the presence of God, but unable to carry it out. (there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth).

- I believe, that in the very beginning, man was created with physical death being a natural part of his existence. Hence the tree of life. As small a possibility as this may have been, a third option was always available: man could have not sinned, but also could have not eaten from the tree of life. Inevitably resulting in everlasting death. Extreme, I know, but hear me out.

- In the age to come, man again has access to the tree of life. So logically, death must still be possible, and dare I say, an option. However, highly unlikely a choice anyone would make after experiencing the full presence of God. Still, the option being there would align with God's character just as it would have in the beginning. And it's the reality of the possibility of death that now applies to unbelievers in this new age.

- If you were to stand in the full presence of God and then suddenly be taken out of His presence, any amount of time, out of His presence, would feel like hell to you.

- In the first part of Genesis, man lived upward of a thousand years. If we carry that over into the new age, you now have unbelievers with new bodies capable of living that same amount of time. This would be worse than any hell anyone could ever imagine. To an unbeliever, any amount of time is going to feel like an eternity. (the word 'Eternity' is often used as hyperbole in scripture since only God is truly eternal)

- An unbeliever will eventually face everlasting death (the second death/lake of fire). But not until after what felt like an eternity of hell for them. In this scenario, not only is God's justice served (experiencing time outside the presence of God in a sinless state where all you want is to be in His presence), but also His love and grace (He does not leave them there for the rest of eternity). I do not find any mention in scripture of man being sent to hell to spend eternity with Lucifer.

As I said, this understanding is something I am currently working out. So I do not hold dogmatically to it. If you do not agree but feel it necessary that I know you don't agree, then do me the respect of explaining why you don't agree, as it may help me in my understanding.

In the end does it matter if I/we understand what exactly Hell is? Not at all. But, everyone is different and being able to answer an unbelievers concerns or questions more confidently may be the defining point of whether they choose to believe or not.

Jesus warned us that the road to salvation is straight and narrow and that only a few of us will find it. Many are traveling down the wrong road, which leads to destruction. This is because many of us have heard about salvation but few of us want to do what is necessary to get salvation (many are called but few are chosen). (Matthew 7:13, 14)

Many contend that Jesus did it all and now all we have to do is have faith. It’s starts off with repentance, that’s one of the first thing Jesus says when he got started in his ministry, Jesus says in Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The Bible contains the truth, and the truth is the Word of God, which is the real life of man. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (St. John 17:6, 8, &17) And Jesus answered him saying, "It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (St. Luke4: 4) "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (St. John 6:63)

So we have to believe the word of God and do it. "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read". (Isaiah 34:16)

Man disobeyed and brought death into the world; Jesus came and restored life unto man. "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1Corinthians 15:21-22) How did Jesus restore life to man? By coming into the world, living a perfect life before God the Father as an example to this disobedient and sinful man. "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. "They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away." (Psalm 69:1-4)

The Lord gave all of his commandments, laws, and statues to the children of Israel to live by and to teach all of the other sons of Adam. "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6)

"Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.” (Deuteronomy 4:1-10)

Exodus 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

Numbers 15:16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.

"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.” Amen. (Romans 9:1-5)

God also made this proclamation: "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition in the UK Parliament, a 'cultural Christian' says spending money on benefits is unchristian.


Earlier this month, Badenoch quoted St Paul’s advice to Timothy in the Bible as she argued that the “responsibility and dignity of work” was a Christian imperative, the Times reports.
She said: “St Paul, we read, in the first Epistle to Timothy proclaims that ‘Anyone who does not provide for his own household … is worse than an unbeliever’.

“This is the Christian recognition that we all have duties … To ourselves, to our families and to the community we are part of. Conservatives believe in making work pay, in rewarding risk, in ensuring effort matches reward.”

She continued: “My message is let’s get people off welfare into work. Let us not leave debt for our children and grandchildren. That is the worst unfairness.”

When she was asked to elaborate on what she meant, Badenoch continued: “In early Christian times there was no state or welfare so I think that you can argue that, actually. The Christian tradition is about communities and families and charity, not about compulsory taxation in order to pay welfare.

Any thoughts?

New here, hope to have some great conversations on religion and on politics. I'm a confessional Lutheran (WELS) and grew up in the church, though around my college years I let Worldly things and doubts and people get in the way and make me question God and his existence, thankfully he brought me back into the Fold by the time I turned 30, with a faith stronger than ever. Looking forward to talking with you all!

I have been struggling with OCD and struggling with the gospel for decades. I ask the question because of what I read in a book on Christians with OCD. The book is called Strivings Within by Mitsy VanCleeve. The author talks about how the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan, centuries ago, apparently had OCD. I have read about him and how he kept doubting his salvation and having other struggles. VanCLeeve said that he eventually gave up trying to seek assurance. He decided that come heaven, come hell, he was for ‘venturing all for the name of Christ.’ She said that only by making this decision was he able to continue ‘serving His Lord.’ This jives with other advice I’ve read which says that OCD people must learn to live with the OCD and its uncertainty.

If all of the above is true, then OCD people can never get assurance of salvation, right?. Yet one author I read said that your spiritual life will never really take off until you have assurance.

"New findings show that some coastal regions will become far more acidic than scientists once thought, with upwelling systems pulling deep, CO2-rich waters to the surface and greatly intensifying acidification. Historic coral chemistry and advanced modeling reveal that these regions are acidifying much faster than expected from atmospheric CO2 alone, raising serious concerns for fisheries, marine ecosystems, and coastal economies."

The emissions of CO2 into our atmosphere is not only about rising sea levels and hungry polar bears. It threatens also directly the food production and income of millions of people living near and from the sea.
The acidification of the oceans by the CO2 is a different consequence of the release of this gas, aside from global warming.

When I was preparing my recent article about the Little Vespers of the Byzantine Office, I had a chat with one of the wise men I consult about such things, and we got to talking about the length of the service known as All-night Vigil. As previously noted, the term “all” in “All-night” is something of a rhetorical exaggeration, but in large monasteries such as the great houses on Mt Athos, not by much, and this was his description of the order of services for a patronal feast which he attended at one of them.



“Ninth Hour, Small Vespers, dinner in the refectory with solemn procession from the church and then back afterwards.

Break for confessions

Beginning of All-Night Vigil proper

– Vespers with Artoklasia (4 hours; the troparia at the artoklasia took 30 minutes with the terirems, Psalm 103 took 1.5 hours)

Reading of the Saint’s Life (around midnight)

Orthros

After the Kontakion of the Sixth Ode they passed to a full Akathistos (I went to sleep at that point) (Presumably) First, Third, and Sixth Hours, Divine Liturgy
Then procession with water blessing.

Lunch”

Me: “Terirems?” (This word struck me not only because I had never heard it before, but also because it doesn’t sound Greek at all.)

The wise man explained to me that terirems are nonsense syllables added to the liturgy, which were originally spontaneous expressions of joy added to the texts when sung. Over time, they came to be completely scripted, and it is considered part of Byzantine musical formation to study the codified ones. Not at all surprisingly, theological pseudo-explanations have been created to explain them, e.g., that they are words that the angels sing in heaven, or of a lullaby which the Virgin Mary sang to Christ. There is very little information about them available on the internet, but some of the very few references I was able to find say that they were also used to cover the gaps in the music if the clergy hadn’t finished what they were doing. (The syllables te-, ri-, -rem are not the names of notes, by the way.)

Here are a few of examples. You can find more on YouTube by searching in various languages; in Greek, the word is τεριρεμ, in Slavonic and its derivatives, терирем.

Continued below.

Peace in Christ.

Jesus is being sought in the man-based churches where He is not.

The man-based churches are places where His manifest life is being denied. The Holy One and the Just is being denied. The Lord of glory who has already been raised from the dead to glory is being crucified among the man-based churches where they are “voting” to crucify Him rather than "release" Him in their own lives so that they may live.

He is not there among the dead man-based churches for He IS RISEN. He is alive now so that we may also live now and not mortally die.

Why seek the Living One among the graves of the dead man-based churches where they have crucified the Lord of glory (and are keeping Him that way)?
They are denying the Holy One in their lives so that His life is never made manifest in their mortal flesh. No flesh is being saved among them. They are instead mortally perishing...and they know not what they are doing as they lack understanding of the gospel of the glory of the Lord Jesus. In ignorance do they do it.

Mat 28:5-6 KJV
(5) And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
(6) He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

When we number/reckon/estimate/count Him among the man-based churches...the gathering of the transgressors (where He is not), then we are taking part in a "vote" in the crucifying the Lord of glory out of our own lives. We "vote" for their "another jesus"....a jesus the barabbas ... whom they are preaching (the jesus who is the antichrist) instead of Jesus the true Christ.

But to those who shall overcome them, He will give us the hidden manna....the hidden wisdom of God ...that is being hidden from the "princes of this age" who are crucifying the Lord of glory....and persuading a multitude to vote to do the same. They know not what they do.

Our Lord will also give us a stone…a white (LIGHT) stone…to vote with. We choose light instead of darkness We are given a new “name”…that is, a new authority to release Jesus in our lives instead of crucifying the Lord of glory out of it. We vote for the true Jesus who is the Christ and who is innocent.

The word for “stone” here in Revelation 2:17 is the Greek word “psēphos” = From the same as G5584; a pebble (as worn smooth by handling), that is, (by implication of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict (of acquittal) or ticket (of admission); a vote: - stone, voice.

Rev 2:17 KJV
(17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

We are given the hidden manna...the hidden wisdom of God...and a white stone to “vote” for the release of Jesus in our own lives…a new authority given by Him to us.

Joh 19:10-11 KJV
(10) Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
(11) Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

The “chief priests and the elders” of the man-based churches want you to choose their “another jesus”….their jesus the “Barabbas”….which means “son of the father.” They are persuading a MULTITUDE of people to “vote” for the “jesus” of the church fathers that is being preached. When we choose their “jesus” the son of the church fathers, we are choosing to destroy the Jesus out of our own lives.

Mat 27:20-23 KJV
(20) But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
(21) The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

When we vote for their “another jesus,” we are then choosing to crucify the true Jesus which is the Christ out of our own lives. His life is not being made manifest in our mortal flesh. They "vote" with their "voice" and ALL say unto him "let Him be crucified."

(22) Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
(23) And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

Act 26:10 KJV
(10) Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice (Greek: psēphos - pebble for voting) against them.

We are denying the Holy One and the Just when we choose their “jesus” the Barabbas….the “jesus” of the church fathers that is being preached by the church rulers…the chief priests and elders. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob has ALREADY GLORIFIED HIS SON JESUS....so why crucify the Lord of glory out of our own lives? He is risen.

The true witness of the apostles have been silenced.

Act 3:13-15 KJV
(13) The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
(14) But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
(15) And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

And yet the false witnesses are persuading MULTITUDES to choose their “another jesus” that is being preached in the man-based churches where His resurrected life is not being found as it is being denied by them in their “vote” against Him. The true witnesses...the true apostles... preached the true Jesus and not "another jesus" and is being currently preached by the false apostles...the falsely sent. Jesus was "silent" during the trial of the false accusers which signified the silence of the true witnesses during this time.

2Co 11:3-5 KJV
(3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
(4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
(5) For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

But in ignorance do we do crucify the Lord of glory (who has already been raised to glory)…as do our church rulers who have persuaded us to do so.

Act 3:17 KJV
(17) And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

The church rulers…the princes of this age…are in ignorance of what they are doing… for if they knew the hidden wisdom (the hidden manna) of God, then they would not crucify the Lord of glory whom God has ALREADY raised from the dead. He has already been raised to glory as He currently sits at the right hand of God. They are keeping Him crucified in their churches.

1Co 2:7-8 KJV
(7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
(8) Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Satan’s seat…His throne…is there where he is presiding over this “trial” that is being conducted….in the man-based churches where they are voting to crucify the Lord of glory rather than release Him in their own lives.

False witness have come forth in this trial to persuade the multitudes to vote against Him (to DENY Him) and the pile of stones used to vote to crucify Him has gotten high. “Pergamos” = height, elevation. Truth has perished and is cut off from their mouths. There is no true witness being heard in this "trial". We are only hearing false witnesses.

Rev 2:12-13 KJV
(12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
(13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Satan's throne ...the false accuser's seat...is presiding over this "trial"

No wonder that Pilate sat down in the judgment seat in a place called the “Pavement”…that is, Lithostrotos which means “stones strewn”.

The stones that are being strewn are the votes to crucify the Lord of glory rather than release Him in our lives and the pile of stones has gotten high (Pergamos = height) from the multitude who are choosing "another jesus" an antichrist rather than Jesus who is the true Christ.

When we vote for their “another jesus” the son of the church fathers, we crucify the true Christ out of our own lives instead of releasing Him so that His life shall be manifest in our mortal flesh so that we may shine His glory.

In Hebrew, it is called “Gabbatha”…which means “elevation, height, knoll” and signifies the mounting elevation of the pile of stones that has been strewn to vote to crucify the Lord of glory. This is what “Pergamos” also means: elevation, height. A MULTITUDE has chosen (in ignorance) to crucify the Lord of glory.

Joh 19:13 KJV
(13) When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

To those who overcome, He will give a white stone to vote to release Jesus who is the true Christ and overcome the "vote" for "jesus" the barabbas.

Mat 27:17 KJV
(17) Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

My brother-in-law is doing witchcraft. I got suspicious, and I googled the signs, and it made sense. I'm feeling nauseous after a good cake and a glass of chocolate milk. This should not be so. Yesterday I denied my dad and felt bad afterwards. I didn't want to tell him because I don't want to scare him. So I need prayers because my other brother might be suspicious of him, too. Basically, I want the truth to come out, and the devil needs to stop hiding. We need the truth, God.

Would Christianity still dominate the United States if it were reimagined as a small town of 100 people?

That's the premise of a new report from Pew Research Center, which offered fresh analysis of America's religious landscape through the lens of Pew's sweeping 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study (RLS).

The study, conducted from July 17, 2023, to March 4, 2024, surveyed nearly 37,000 U.S. adults and paints a portrait of a community where belief — or the lack thereof — shapes neighborhoods, generations and daily life.

Noting that the U.S. has a population of roughly 262 million adults, with Christianity claiming about 162 million adherents and 76 million people reporting no religious affiliation, Pew researchers acknowledge that grasping the full scope of faith in America can feel overwhelming.

Continued below.

Jesus Christ had just begun his earthly ministry, and so he was calling disciples to himself to work alongside him in ministry. And when he calls us to put our faith and trust in him to be Lord and Savior of our lives, that is the call he is making on each and every one of our lives, too. For a call to believe in Jesus is not in words only, but it is a call to leave our former lives of sin behind us to now follow our Lord wherever he leads us in walks of obedience to his commands, living holy lives, pleasing to God, in his power.

I really like it that when Jesus called these men to be his disciples that they immediately left the lives they had been living behind them to follow Jesus Christ where he led them. Evidently they did not hesitate. But we do not know all the details of how this all took place because we were not there with them. But the point is that when Jesus called them to follow him, they followed him immediately. And to follow our Lord is to obey him, to do what he says that we are to do, and to be who he calls us to be for his service.

So, this sets the example for us as to what it should look like in our lives when Jesus calls us to himself to believe in him. For faith in Jesus Christ is not of our own doing, not of the will of human flesh. So we do not get to determine what that faith looks like. God does. And he is the one who gives us the faith to believe in Jesus. And he is the one who persuades us as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to die to sin and to walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands, all in His power!

[Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; Acts 26:18]

But these were not perfect men. They were followers of Christ, yes! But they had a lot to learn, and Jesus taught them much about what it meant to be his followers. And sometimes he had to correct them and to help them to grow in their faith. And I really don’t know at what point Judas had a change of heart and mind, and when he decided to turn against Jesus, but he was one of Jesus’ disciples for three years alongside all the others who followed the Lord wherever he led them in doing what he called them to do.

So, our walks of faith in the Lord Jesus, in following him wherever he leads us, may not be “smooth sailing” (easy) all the time. For we are mere clay in the hands of the Potter (God/Jesus Christ) being molded into the likeness of Christ, which is a lifelong process, provided our faith is genuine, and we are cooperating with God’s work of grace in our lives. But we should be followers of Christ who are going where he leads us, and who are doing all that he commands us to do, as his followers. None of us should betray our Lord.

Now, Jesus said to the fishermen, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And when we accept Jesus’ call upon our lives to put our faith in him, this is the call he is placing upon our lives, too. For a call to believe in Jesus is a call to discipleship, and it is a call to follow our Lord in ministry in sharing the truth of the gospel of Christ with the people of the world. It is a call to become whoever he created us to be in doing what he created us to do, for his service. We are his workmanship, created by God for good works.

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Living Sacrifices

Based off Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:11-14 NIV
An Original Work / September 14, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you,
In view of God’s mercy,
To give yourselves to God in love
As living offerings,
Pleasing to God, holy in love.
This is your true worship.
Do not conform to worldly lives.
Let God transform you today.
Then you’ll be able to
Test and approve of what
God’s will is – His pleasing
And perfect will. Oh, holy ones,
I counsel you – Offer yourselves unto God.

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you –
Do not be conceited.
Humble yourselves before your God.
Do not be self-righteous.
The strength you have to live in love
Comes from your Lord God, so
Live your new lives in pow’r of God.
Be changed in heart, mind and will.
Do this because of what
Christ did for you when
He died on the cross to save
The world from sin. Oh, holy ones,
I counsel you – Humble yourselves before God.

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you –
Count yourselves dead to sin,
But be alive to God in Christ.
Do not let sin reign in
Your earthly lives so you
Obey its evil desires.
Offer yourselves unto your God
As those who’ve been born again.
For sin shall no longer be
Your lord and master.
Give of yourselves to God
For righteousness. Oh, holy ones,
I counsel you – Be alive to God in Christ.

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A Call to Discipleship
An Original Work / November 29, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Our Morning Offering – 30 November – O Come, O come, Emmanuel


One Minute Reflection – 30 November – ‘ … You ask then how I knew He was present …’ St Bernard

Thoughts for an Extraordinary Advent

ADVENTCAzT 2025 – 01 – 1st Sunday of Advent

First Sunday of Advent propers & commentary (EF)

The First Sunday of Advent propers & commentary (EF)

Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's Instruction First Sunday in Advent (EF)

In Illo Tempore: 1st Sunday of Advent (EF)

The Tempestuous Collect for the First Sunday of Advent (EF)

A season of hope: sermon on the first Sunday of Advent (EF)

Scripture & Tradition: First Sunday of Advent

First Sunday of Advent (Year A) readings & commentary (OF)

First Sunday of Advent readings & commentary (OF)

Sunday Reflections, 1st Sunday of Advent, Year A, 30 November 2025 (OF)

He Bids Us, Stay Awake! First Sunday of Advent (readings & commentary OF)

Advent is Apocalyptic (readings & commentary OF)

Daily Gospel

A Recipe for Readiness – A Homily for the First Sunday of Advent

Saint Andrew Apostle

Saints of the Day

Sermons for Everyday Living - Be Prepared 11/30/25

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Pulled from notes taken long ago - -

Often terms get used without full understanding of their meaning and use. The purpose is to explore what the term exegesis means.

Biblical exegesis (from the Greek ἐξήγησις, exēgēsis, meaning "leading out" or "explanation") is the critical interpretation and explanation of the text of the Bible using a systematic, disciplined methodology to determine the original intended meaning of the author as understood by the original audience.

• Text-centered: It starts with the biblical text itself (usually in its original languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) rather than imposing external ideas onto it.
• Historical-grammatical method: The most common approach seeks to understand:
  • What the human author intended to communicate
  • The historical, cultural, and literary context
  • The grammatical and syntactic structure of the original languages
  • The genre of the literature (narrative, poetry, prophecy, epistle, allegorical, etc.)
• Objective as possible: Aims to let the text speak for itself rather than reading assumptions or theological systems into it (contrast with eisegesis, which means "reading into" the text).

This is important because proper exegesis is centered and focused on the TEXT of the Scripture verses. Many times people get the two terms exegesis confused with eisegesis.

NOTE: The main reason why I do not use eisegesis is because it calls for "reading into", or reading in one own ideas or Religious agenda.

Proper exegesis includes:

• Textual criticism – Establish the most accurate original wording.
• Translation / linguistic analysis – Study the original languages (syntax, semantics, idioms).
• Literary context – Examine the passage in its immediate context and the broader book.
• Historical-cultural context – Research the time period, customs, geography, politics, etc.
• Genre analysis – Identify the literary form and its conventions.
• Theological analysis – Trace themes across Scripture (canonical context).
• Application – Only after determining original meaning do responsible interpreters move to contemporary significance.

Hello brothers and sisters. I have followed Christ for many years I have struggled with OCD since I was a young teen. At first it was having to say things a certain amount of times for it to feel right. That abated and it did not rear its ugly head it I was 35. Sitt at home with my wife, all of a sudden, I started having blasph thoughts about the Holy Spirit. It scared me to death. We didny know what was going on and didn’t go to the hospital For an evaluation. After about a yea, I agreed to go into an inpatient psychiatric hospital. at that point, they didn’t really know what was going on and treated me for simple anxiety. The medication helped and was able come off a lot of it after a while. At the beginning of this year it returned exce on steroids this time. I have never had these kinds of thoughts in my entire life. Along with it was an urge or an anger or hate towards God. I don’t understand any of this even though I have known about scrupulosity for a while now. I don’t want these thoughts and feelings but at times it feels as if I am an apostate or have committed the unpardonable sin. I feel lost, God doesn’t talk to me anymore. I can’t read the Bible without having the worst thought. I am on prozac an one other medication. It slows the thoughts do but it makes you not care about anything. I feel like someone has switched my brain with an unbeliever . I feel hopeless. It’s been 11 months and my faith is waning. The thoughts may have slowed but these urges are just not going away. I know John Bunyan had issues like this. I know that scrupulosity can flip your beliefs and make you question everything I am in counseling but they are having me try to do things that are scary. Only God knows about my soul but I want God to heal me and restore my soul. I believe in miracles as I have witnessed them before. I grew up in a very strict denomination which really was more about works than faith. Couple that with a an austere father I really hated as a teenager. i feel I have viewed God like my earthly father and tried to perform to get his approval through good grades and athletic performance. I refuse to give up though. I covet your prayers.

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

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

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

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

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Walking in The Light

Based off 1 John 1-2
An Original Work / November 16, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

When I lift up my voice, and
Sing praise unto God,
I will fellowship with my
Lord and Savior, King.
In Him there is no darkness.
He is in the light of truth.
If we walk in His light,
From sin He purifies.

If we repent of our sins,
He’ll forgive us now,
When we humble ourselves, and
Before Jesus bow.
The man who says, “I know Him,”
But does not obey His truth,
There is no truth in him.
In darkness still he’s found.

Do not love the world of sin,
For it is hell bound.
If you follow the world, you’ll
Not in Christ be found.
The world and its desires
Will not last; they’ll expire.
The one who does God’s will,
Receives eternal life.

See that what you have heard from
Christ remains in you.
Then, you’ll remain in Christ, and
In His Father, too.
This is what He promised us –
His eternal life with God.
So, continue in Him, and
You’ll receive a crown.

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

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

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

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

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

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

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

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Send a Revival

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

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

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

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

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

Peace in Christ.

Why seek the living among the dead….the dead man-based churches where they are continuing to serve the sin and are mortally perishing to the grave?

He is not there among them for He is risen.

He is alive now so that we might have His risen life now in our mortal bodies. Jesus died in our place. He died in the flesh and was resurrected in the flesh so that our mortal flesh is made alive by Him as His life is to be made manifest there.

Don’t believe the man-based preaching of their covenant with death and their agreement with the grave. The Son of God comes to give us an understanding so that their lies and deceptions are swept away as He opens up the Scriptures to our understanding.

The “two men” in shining garments = Moses and Elijah = the Law and the prophets. We are to hear Him (Jesus) as He opens up their words to our hearing ears.

Luk 24:
(3) And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
(4) And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
(5) And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Jesus IS RISEN. He is not in the dead man-based churches where they are all mortally perishing because they continue to serve the sin. Jesus is alive now so that we might have His life now in our mortal flesh.

(6) He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Yet, no flesh is being saved in the man-based churches where the Son of man is being given up into the hands of sinful men who are actively preventing His life from ever being made manifest in the mortal flesh of their deceived congregations.

(7) Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

The “princes of this age”….our church rulers….are actively NOW crucifying His life (the Lord of glory) from being made manifest in this earth. The come to nothing as their end is destruction of the flesh. “world” = age.

1Co 2:6-8
(6) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world (AGE), that come to nought:
(7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world (age) unto our glory:

The “Lord of glory” is already RISEN NOW to glory. But, they are actively crucifying the Lord of glory from this earth in their ignorance of the gospel of the glory of Jesus. His manifest glory life is not being made manifest in the mortal flesh of those they are deceiving….who are perishing away mortally to the grave without this manifestation.

(8) Which none of the princes of this world (AGE) knew: for had they known it, they would not crucify the Lord of glory.

The Prince of life is being “killed” from this earth who God has ALREADY RAISED FROM THE DEAD. We are denying the Holy One and the Just when we choose “another jesus” that the princes of this age are preaching to us.

Act 3:14-17 KJV
(14) But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
(15) And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
(16) And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

In ignorance though do we do this ….as do our church rulers….the princes of this age… which come to nothing as their end is destruction of the flesh.

(17) And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

The “princes of this age” are serving only for their own belly (they preach themselves only)…which is the “god of this age” ….and so their minds are blinded to the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.

This knowledge of the gospel does NOT enlighten them. They have no understanding of it. If they did, they would be preaching it to their congregations so that they may manifest His light to the people of the outside world.

2Co 4:3-7 KJV
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (PERISHING):
(4) In whom the god of this world (AGE) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

We are to shine the glory of God to the people of the outside world (who are in deep darkness) in the face of Jesus Christ that we with “open face” reflect and manifest to them so that they may “see” Him through us and be saved. The light within us is to shine forth to the people of the outside world giving them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ whom we are to reflect to them so that they may "see" Him through us.

(6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

This is not about “dying and going to heaven” (as currently being taught by all man-based churches)…this is about having His life NOW in our mortal flesh…in this “earthen vessel.” We have this treasure in “earthen vessels.”

(7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Now if we are dead with Christ (dying to the sin…being freed from the sin), we believe we shall also live with Him…for He is RISEN NOW so that we might have His life NOW in this mortal body.

Rom 6:4-11
(4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
(6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of THE (definite article) sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve THE sin.

He that is “dead” is freed from the sin. This is our “death” now.

(7) For he that is dead is freed from THE sin.

Now if we are dead (from serving the sin) with Christ, we believe also that we shall LIVE with Him.

Christ gives our mortal flesh His life so that we do NOT mortally die for He is ALIVE NOW…He is risen. He has already tasted mortal death for us so that we do not die. He has ALREADY mortally died in our place so that we do not have to die.

(8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Christ is already raised from the dead and dies no more. Death has no more dominion over Him.

We also are to reckon ourselves to be “dead” unto THE sin but ALIVE mortally unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Death has no more dominion over our mortal bodies because Christ does not die any more. Remember that Jesus died in the mortal flesh and was also resurrected in the mortal flesh in this earth.

(9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
(10) For in that he died, he died unto the sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
(11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto THE sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

His life is not being found among the man-based churches where they are crucifying the Lord of glory as His life and glory is not being seen among them. Yet, MANY are thinking that He is there among the transgressors. He is not there.

He was reckoned among the transgressors 2000 years ago. What was written was accomplished in Him at that time. He is no longer among the transgressors as this prophecy was COMPLETELY fulfilled at that time.

Luk 22:37-38 KJV
(37) For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

The two swords show us that this prophecy had a definite beginning and a definite end. He is NO LONGER among the transgressors....the man-based churches. You will not find Him among them for He is RISEN now. If He is alive now, we are to have His life now in our mortal flesh. We do not see His life being made manifest in any man-based churches. So He is not there among the dead man-based churches where they are actively crucifying the Lord of glory who is already risen to glory and sits at the right hand of God.

(38) And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

The Scripture was completely fulfilled 2000 years ago. We should not be numbering/estimating/reckoning that He is among the transgressors today. He is not among the man-based churches.

Mar 15:27-28 KJV
(27) And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
(28) And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

But in the minds of many (a place called "Golgotha"....the place of a skull...where the mind is located) they do crucify the Lord of glory for they are reckoning that He is among the transgressors to this day .

Mat 27:33-35 KJV
(33) And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
(34) They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
(35) And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Hi,

I just received this beautiful VMG sterling silver with moissanite medal. I see that all the Guadalupe medals have the Virgin hovering over what appears to be a child with wings. Is this an angel? Thanks

The Nigerian government is scrambling to respond following a wave of abductions and attacks, including one in which more than 300 schoolchildren were seized. This, along with the announcement that a priest who was kidnapped along with his wife was confirmed dead, has led President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a national emergency.

In a statement issued this week, Tinubu ordered the recruitment of 20,000 new police officers, in addition to the 30,000 previously approved, and called for their rapid deployment to areas plagued by armed violence, the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported.

He also approved the recruitment of forest guards under the Department of State Services and said state-run security outfits would receive federal support.

The president instructed police personnel to be withdrawn from VIP duties and reassigned to operational roles. He also called for a ban on open cattle grazing and said herders must surrender illegal arms.

Places of worship were urged to seek security protection, and state governments were advised against placing boarding schools in remote, unsecured areas.

Continued below.

Christian human rights organization Voice for Justice UK has raised serious concerns about the National Trust after a Catholic filmmaker was denied filming permission at a Christian site.

Tensions arose after Christian Holden requested permission to film at St Cuthbert’s Cave near Belford, Northumberland. St Cuthbert is the patron saint of Northumbria and is traditionally believed to have been laid to rest in the cave in 875 AD. The National Trust, a heritage organization, manages the site.

Holden was producing a film titled "The Way of St Cuthbert," a historic path that follows St Cuthbert’s journey from Melrose Abbey in Scotland to Lindisfarne, off the coast of Northumberland, England.

For reasons that remain unclear, Voice for Justice UK said the National Trust refused to give Holden permission to film in the historic cave.

Continued below.

Hello! My name is Emily. I am twenty years old and I'm new the forum!

My life thus far has been defined by isolation, rejection, and mental suffering. I never felt like I could connect with anyone, and I saw how many others in the world were suffering too. It destroyed my trust in God for years and I stopped calling myself a Christian. One night when I was seventeen, I wanted to take my own life, but I had the urge to pray for the first time in years. Then the Holy Spirit told me to read my untouched New Testament. That's where my story began - at what seemed like the end.

Right now, I'm enduring another period of complete isolation and even heartbreak, but I am also more strengthened than ever in Christ. Although I'm very shy, I am also glad to be on this forum among fellow believers. Thank you for having me!

My father in law had a stroke that paralyzed him 3-4 months ago since he wasn't going to get any better they placed him in hospice care. Then this afternoon came. His oxygen dropped to dangerous levels his blood sugar spiked to over 400 (432) and now he's fighting for his life and now hospice is telling my mother in law he's going to take a turn for the worse. My father in law is dying and my wife's family is grieving. My wife and I are ok. My wife is trying to figure out how she can get time off from Walmart with just two days of pto to go to the funeral and my mother in law is beyond hysterical. She afterall was married to him for 36 years and doesn't want to let go. She's in need of prayers. We're in need of prayers while we grieve during this trying time of our lives.

And honestly? I'm sad too. I barely knew the man and it feels like I lost one of my grandparents it's just sad and such a sad time of my life as I watch my wife grieve the loss of her father. I will never understand because I've never lost my father I still have him. I can still talk to him I can still tell him I love him I can still hug him. I can't understand what she's going through. It's just... sad...

Other parts of the forum have chat threads. We should have one! Let's chat, Millennials!

Moe's name calling skills... My people had a few good ones for me!