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.

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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!

I watched Guillermo del Toro’s production and appreciated it. But I knew it took liberties. I read Mary Shelley’s novel a few years ago. So I am reading it again slowly. It begins with the letters from the ship captain to his sister. He is out to find the North Pole.

His one lament is that he does not have a friend to share his quest. He struggles with loneliness. The movie portrays him as a gruff old seaman.

I welcome others who would like to share their thoughts about the movie and/or novel.

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 refuse to give up though. I covet your prayers.

My name is just plain old Dave. I used to post on Christian forums for about eight years when they first became popular in the early two thousands, and then stopped for about ten plus years, until recently when I started posting again. It seems that the character of many of the main forums has changed. I'm guessing that many were sold, which I always thought was inevitable since these were kind of a last stand where Christians could still talk without the 'modern thinking' (to put in mildly) policing us. So I'm looking for a new home.

My views on Scripture have grown, and they they have always been unique in a lot of ways and continue to be so. I've always considered myself reformed, but at the same time, I've always questioned some of the traditional reformed views of Scripture. Recently, many of those questions are being answered and I'm finding myself moving further away from traditional reformed views. Though, foundationally, I still hold to God's sovereignty over all things and continue in those core Biblical beliefs. I'm anxious to bring my understanding of Scripture to productive discussions and see what happens.

Sorry in advance for my dyslexia crippled posts. Sometimes it makes my already hard to understand posts even more difficult to read. I have good days and bad. Looking forward to talking....

Dave

A Long Slow Journey

Tenderness has the power to melt the most hardened hearts steeped in pride. As we receive God’s love in our hearts, our identity as His beloved sons and daughters is restored. The tenderness of God heals. The caress of God disinfects and cleanses our wounds. The tenderness of God brings peace, serenity, and rest to the

The Love Crucified Community. The Simple Path to Union with God (pp. 279-280). Kindle Edition.

++++++++++

It has been a long journey learning to trust in God. Many of our deepest wounds are formed in childhood, hidden in memory yet still shaping our lives in ways we may not see. What others notice in us can remain invisible to ourselves.

In my youth, I had no words for my inner struggles. This led to seasons of chaos, much of which I managed to conceal—though not all. One day, while reading from the First Letter of John (3:20): “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything,” the words pierced me. I fell to my knees in tears, realizing that my lack of self-love had blocked my growth in self-knowledge. That moment began the slow process of trusting in God’s love for me.

The inner journey requires persistence. Setbacks, failures, even great sins must not keep us down. I have learned to rise again and again, for failure is often part of the path to faith. I am a slow learner, but perhaps that is why I welcome old age—it has brought me a deeper, though still limited, understanding of God’s love for me and for all. We must remember: we are made in His image and likeness; He is not made in ours.

—Br. MD

This is a thread for sharing what you've learned from your reading.

Examples of things to share:
- New words
- Information / facts
- Perspectives you hadn't previously considered

I'll go first: Today, while reading A Separate Peace, I discovered the word "cupola." It refers to those decorative structures that sit on top of buildings.

Simple cupola:


Fancy cupola:

Today, cancelling others is all the rage. But back in the day of the 2nd millennia BCE Egypt, some Pharaohs already figured out that rubbing other people out of written history could be good for the propaganda machine they were pushing, such as is seen in the two 'fun' videos below.

In fact, two of the candidates for the Exodus pharaoh were known for cancelling those aspects of written history that didn't quite reflect the popular reading which they preferred everyone else read. Oh, for the power of education!

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November 29, 2025 – Philippines



Pray for the growing number of former Muslims who have come to faith in Christ and are sharing the Good News in their communities. Pray for wisdom, protection and a boldness as they share God’s love.

28 November 2025 – Sri Lanka



Thank God for pastor ‘Alan’, who has expressed his deep gratitude for our partner’s programme which helps church leaders affected by persecution.

27 November 2025 – Sri Lanka



Pray for our partners as they support many pastors who have experienced persecution. Pray that these pastors would know healing, encouragement and growing resilience to remain faithful in this challenging environment.

26 November 2025 – Sri Lanka



Thank God for training seminars that equip pastors and other church leaders serving in contexts of persecution to know how to respond to violations of religious rights.

25 November 2025 – Sri Lanka



Many Christian teachers, and their students, experience significant rejection. They are often marginalised and opposed, even by other teachers in their schools. Pray that they would have resilience to persevere, and love for those who mistreat them.

24 November 2025 – Sri Lanka



Praise the Lord for an annual camp of Christian teachers run by our partners. Pray that the camp continues to offer an enriching time of fellowship and encouragement, and that those attending leave better equipped to serve.

23 November 2025 – Sri Lanka



Pray for ‘Joyce’, a Christian teacher who, along with her husband, is reaching and encouraging young people with the gospel. Pray that the couple would be encouraged, despite the opposition they face.

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There is no eternal torture mentioned in the bible. Annihilation or (preferably) UV are the two real options

A Republican congressman from South Carolina is facing backlash from his colleagues and some Orthodox Christian leaders after he accused Russia-aligned Orthodox churches of functioning as "intelligence operations" for Russia.

The controversy began after U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., reacted to an invitation for a "Legislative Day of Action" organized by the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in a Nov. 18 post on X.

Characterizing the event as a ploy by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), which he called "not a separate religious organization but an extension of the Russian state," Wilson urged lawmakers not to "entertain this intelligence operation," citing Russia's suppression of evangelism and attacks on Christians in Ukraine.

Continued below.

11/29/25 DAY 1

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