Assailants kidnapped Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, the pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Karku, Nigeria, along with 10 others, the Nigerian Diocese of Kafanchan announced Feb. 7 in a press release asking for prayers.

“This terrible event occurred at about 03:20 [AM] at his residence, and the situation was described by the villagers as an act of invasion by a group of terrorists,” read the release, which was written by the diocesan chancellor, Father Jacob Shanet.

"At the time of writing this report, the incident has resulted in the killing of three people (Mr Jacob Dan'azumi, Mr Maitala Kaura, and Alhaji), aside from those abducted," he continued.

Fr. Shanet asked for prayers for those kidnapped or killed.

“We kindly invite all priests, Christian faithful, and men and women of goodwill to pray for Fr. Nathaniel, the other ten people, and the repose of the souls of those who were killed during the attack,” he said in the release.

Continued below.

Sometimes the judges realize there is no way to get around the law.

Alot of people say that you can't prove that there are other places other than this, and that whether there is or not is a matter of whether you think there is or not, or what you believe, and I think that they are correct in that mostly really, and that it really does just come down to what you think, or a choice to believe it or not actually, etc.

Personally, I think there is, or at least could be, and this is for a lot of reasons, most of which most of you probably won't believe, so I'm going to try to stick to just only the ones that you maybe can believe maybe, ok.

I don't think this is the real reality, and that what each of us is, goes well beyond this actually, etc. I think that this reality is just a sub-set of another reality which is the real reality, etc. That this is more like a program, or simulation, and that most of what we see/experience here is only temporary, and that this is not the greatest or highest reality, but is only a part or sub-set of that other reality, etc. Also that this reality is deterministic also actually, etc. And that some of us maybe even had a pre-existence before this maybe, but that memory of only just fails us right now currently, etc, but that also might be re-restored upon re-entering maybe. There are a lot of possibilities, etc.

Why this reality or our temporary existence here is another discussion for another time, although I do think I have some answers for that though actually.

Anyway, what do you think?

Can you exercise some sort of faith/belief that this reality might not be the only reality, or the highest or greatest reality? Or at least allow for the possibility of that maybe?

What do you think?

Take Care/God Bless.

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended mass deportations in response to Pope Leo XIV’s opposition. Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe said the lawmaker’s response was “deeply concerning.”

Continued below.

Pastor John Tittle of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona, where Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been a member for 30 years, prayed earnestly with his congregation Sunday for her safe return and that God would soften the hearts of her kidnappers.

“Calm them in the storm. Lord God, bless and guide the authorities in their search for Nancy. Give them wisdom along every step of the path to her,” Tittle prayed during the worship service. “Lord, we ask that you would soften the hearts of those who are responsible that they might come forward and do what is humane and what is right. [We] pray for mercy, for grace to prevail.”

The prayer came just hours after Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Camron and Annie Guthrie, said in a video Saturday that they are willing to pay a ransom for their mother’s return as authorities moved into the second week of searching for Nancy Guthrie.

Continued below.

The Apostasy

The day of the Lord will not come unless the apostasy comes first. So, what is “the apostasy”? What does it look like? Well, it means to depart from the faith of the gospel of our salvation and from obedience to our Lord. It is a defection, a falling away from true faith and true biblical worship of God to go after the gods of this world. It is a defection or a falling away from the truth of the gospel to go after the lies that this world and the enemy of our souls are offering. And has that already come? In the USA it certainly has!

For, in the USA, where I live, a cheapened and altered and diluted “gospel” message has largely taken the place of the gospel taught by Jesus and by his New Testament apostles, taught in the correct biblical context. In the USA the most popular “gospel” message is teaching that a mere verbal confession of Christ as Lord, and of his bodily resurrection, is enough to secure for the “believer” salvation and forgiveness of all sins, and eternal life with God, but regardless of how the person lives in lifestyle, by habit.

But…

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; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

The Man of Lawlessness

Now, I make no claims to being a prophet of God. I am a servant of the Lord, as all should be who profess faith in Jesus Christ. And my assignment from God is just to write down what I am learning from the Lord each day during my times with him in his word, and then to post these writings on the internet for the encouragement and strengthening of the body of Christ in their walks of faith, to inform of world events which are or may be impacting the church, and to share the biblical truth of the gospel of our salvation.

So, what I am sharing here are just my observations, and you can take it from there and pray about it to see what the Lord is revealing to your spirit. This “man of lawlessness” could, indeed, be just one man who raises himself up to god-like status to be worshipped by other humans, who makes golden statues of himself to put on display, who is loud mouthed, hateful, boasting of all his accomplishments, egotistical, arrogant, blasphemous, immoral, and who thinks he owns the world and that the world should bow to him.

Or the man of lawlessness could be more than one person…

Now, first of all, “the temple of God” is not a physical building, and it will never again be a physical building. For God does not live in buildings built by human hands (Acts 17:24). Ever since Jesus Christ died on that cross in taking upon himself the sins of the world, and he was resurrected from the dead, the temple of God has been the people of God who have, by faith in Jesus Christ, died with Christ to sin, and who are walking in obedience to him and to his commands, by God’s grace, in the power of God within them.

So, we need to translate this passage in 2 Thessalonians in that light. This is speaking about the “man of lawlessness” taking his seat in the hearts and minds of the people of God who by faith believe in Jesus Christ. Collectively we are the church, so the man of lawlessness is taking his seat in the gatherings of the church, the body of Christ, the temple of God, God’s only temple. And this man of lawlessness is displaying himself as being God, to be worshiped as though he is a god. And he is deceiving many people.

When I was a young child in the 1950s, those who professed faith in Jesus Christ (plus family) met together in a building which they called “the church.” There was a large room in this building which was then called “the sanctuary,” which is where the church services were held. And we were taught that coming into that building meant that we were now entering “the house of God.” And the room called “the sanctuary” was regarded as “holy ground.” So there were some definite carryovers from the Jewish temple.

So, here is where it gets interesting. In “the sanctuary,” at the very front of the room, largely displayed on one side of the platform (from where the preacher taught his sermon), was the flag of the United States of America. And in some of these gatherings we were taught to put hand over heart and to pledge (vow) our allegiance (loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness) to the US government, as though they were a god to be worshiped. And we were taught to sing patriotic songs of worship of the government and to honor our military as though they were our saviors who protected us from evil.

And as I was contemplating this, then in my mind I heard these words, “the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” And then I remembered that, in such gatherings where we pledged our allegiance to the flag, that there was another flag on display, and it was called “the Christian flag.” But we always vowed our fidelity first and foremost to the government, and the Christian flag second. And all this took place in the gatherings of “the temple of God.”

Then, also in the 1950’s, the church at large (not every congregation) in the USA was talked into incorporating (merging, combining, uniting, partnering) with the state (with the government, with the world) via the 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit organization status, which puts them underneath the rule of the government and answerable to the US government for what they do or don’t do. So, overall, there has been no more separation of church and state, as a general rule. And the government was now put in a position of authority over the church (“he takes his seat in the temple of God”).

So, take this to the Lord in prayer, and ask the Lord to lead you to all truth. Study the Scriptures in their correct biblical context, and then obey them.

The Apostasy
An Original Work / February 9, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Congregation fears police left their pastor to die after failing to intervene

NEW DELHI — As police looked on, a Hindu nationalist mob in India subjected a pastor to dehumanizing brutality, damaging his hearing in the process as they tried to force him to worship a Hindu deity.

The mob of 150 villagers led garlanded Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik, 35, like a cow by stringing his sandals around his neck and made him walk on thorns as they assaulted him while parading him through Parjang village, Dhenkanal District, Odisha state, on Jan. 4.

Along with tying him to a Hindu temple and forcing him to chant Hindu slogans, they tried to make him drink water mixed with cow dung, the sources said.

Continued below.

Last night was a wonderful night. My son felt well, was laughing and talking to friends and I am very thankful for it. Tonight he is feeling bad again. Please once again pray for my son Jakeb. Please ask God to heal him mind and body and give him happiness. I'm so sad. I ask in the name of Jesus. Thank you and God bless you.

Hey all so maybe someone can relate to this issue of mine. It seems like for a while now I've lost time in my day to day life. What I mean by that is well to tell you the truth i dont really know. Time isn't going by faster but for some reason it just seems like I have less time in my day to day life (mostly after work) maybe its because of my routine now and the time i go to bed vs waking up or its just because I'm getting older but compared to my last long term job i had things are just different time wise. This has led me to a problem. sometimes like today it just seems like I'm not spending as much time in Gods word. Like all i did was listen to a couple of chapters and try to read along followed by a 30+ min session trying to talk to God but like always struggling. I know it's not performance based but I definitely struggle with that mindset and it can tire me out. Is this normal? Is anyone else like this? How would others go about this issue? Thanks?

Hey everyone. I have to have surgery on one of my eyes, or I could go blind in that eye. Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding a doctor who will do the surgery because I am high risk, as I have stopped breathing and had to be intubated during surgery before, and therefore, I have to have eye surgery under general anesthesia. I'm having a hard time finding a doctor who accepts my insurance and who is willing to do this kind of surgery. Please pray for me! I don't want to go blind in my right eye!

Some space conspiracy theories just won't go away.

The internet is absolutely full of myths and urban legends about space and just about everything else, so readers must be a skeptical these days.

From claims of aliens crashing on Earth and UFOs being hidden on military bases, to Mars being abnormally large and the moon turning green, space tends to attract some outlandish or at least highly unproven claims that should be vetted carefully.



Here are some of the biggest space myths and conspiracy theories that just won't go away.

Twelve NASA astronauts walked on the moon between 1969 and 1972, but in the decades since Apollo 11 astronauts first set foot on the moon, many theories have been put forward claiming that the whole Apollo program was staged. However, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has since released photos of the landing sites as they appear on the lunar surface many years later.

Continued below.

Self-hatred is a crushing experience. A friend once told me that when his father was teaching him to shave, he said, “the hardest part of shaving every day is looking at the man in the mirror.” For those who struggle with self-loathing, that daily encounter can be profoundly painful. What, then, are Christians to do when they find themselves hating who they are?

First, we must clarify that self-hatred does happen. Some are confused by Paul’s statement in Ephesians 5:29, “For no one ever hated his own flesh.” Paul is speaking proverbially. Like the Proverbs themselves, he uses universal language to communicate a general truth. Generally speaking, people seek their own preservation. Yet in our fallen world, self-loathing — though not universal — is tragically real.

So how should a Christian respond?

First, look up


Continued below.

What if I hate myself?

What are Christians to do when they find themselves hating who they are

www.christianpost.com

During mitigation hearings last month, lawyers for Jimmy Lai, 78, pleaded for leniency for the Apple Daily founder, citing his “advanced years” and a raft of health problems.

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in jail following his conviction on foreign collusion and sedition charges.

Lai, 78, appeared at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building on Monday morning to receive his sentence – over two years after his trial began.

He was convicted in December under the national security law, which Beijing imposed in June 2020 following the 2019 pro-democracy protests and unrest.

Continued below.

China’s Food Safety Report reveals Pesticide Contamination, Food Additive as Major Concerns
China’s most recent government-led food safety report has revealed pesticide contamination, microbial contamination
and excessive food additive content as the major concerns.
Read more

Food safety in China: Current issues and policy responses​

Despite the Chinese government's ongoing efforts to enhance food safety regulations, the growing occurrence of food safety scandals highlights the need for additional measures.

China has seen many food safety incidents. In 1988, in Shanghai, a hepatitis A outbreak occurred due to the consumption of raw clams leading to infection and hospitalisation of many people. Another incident was the Chinese milk scandal, in 2008, wherein the infant-milk formula and other foods got contaminated with melamine, affecting 300,000 children with kidney and urinary tract infections. This led to establishing the new People's Republic of China Food Safety Law which states in Article 19 that ‘Food safety standards are compulsory standards. No compulsory standards other than food safety standards shall be formulated for food products.’ Despite this, there have been multiple food safety scandals in the past two decades; the most recent one being the unsafe conditions at Wuhan’s animal market spreading the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reason for such a high number of food-related incidents remains the lack of monitoring and regulation by the government and the lack of ethics by food companies for profits...
Read more

Venerable Fulton Sheen to be beatified
The Holy See informed the Diocese of Peoria that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification, according to the diocese.

The Holy See has officially informed Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification, according to an announcement from the diocese.

“The next step in the process is the celebration of the beatification, in which Fulton Sheen would be declared Blessed,” Tylka said. “Archbishop Fulton Sheen was one of the greatest voices of evangelization in the Church and the world in the 20th century. I have long admired his lifelong commitment to serve the Church as a priest, rooted in his deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Eucharist.”

“As he journeyed through the different stages of his life, his ability to share the Gospel and truly relate to people drew countless souls into an encounter with Jesus — one that transformed not only his life, but more importantly, the lives of those he touched.”

“In his later years, particularly through his work for the Missions, Archbishop Sheen helped us recognize that the Church is meant for all people. He reminded us that as members of the Church, we are called to serve everyone, especially those most in need and those longing to hear and experience the Gospel, wherever they may be in the world,” he said.

Continued below.

A new case before Europe’s human rights court could reopen a long-running fight over Christianity’s place in public life—this time inside Greece’s courtrooms.

For several years now, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has made the presence of Christian images and symbols in public spaces one of its recurring battles. After Italy was pressured through litigation to remove crucifixes from its schools, Greece is now being targeted over the presence of holy icons in its courts. Italy ultimately won its case. Will Greece succeed in safeguarding this essential part of its historical and spiritual heritage?

Some cases have a long life. In 2009, the ECtHR issued a ruling requiring Italy to remove crucifixes from public schools. The unprecedented mobilisation of twenty-one European states alongside Italy forced it to back down, and two years later, in 2011, in the case known as Lautsi v. Italy, it finally handed down a ruling in favour of Italy’s position, allowing it to keep its crucifixes.

The Lautsi case was followed by a period of relative calm in the fight against the presence of religious symbols (Christian, needless to say) in public spaces.

In 2020, a request was filed inviting the ECtHR to take up another contentious case: the presence of Orthodox icons in Greek courts.

The offensive came from an atheist association, the Union of Atheists of Greece. The first appeals were lodged in 2018 and 2019. The applicants requested the removal of Christian symbols displayed in the courtroom during hearings on religious matters. They argued that the presence of these icons was discriminatory, compromised the objectivity of the court, and violated their right to a fair trial, as well as their right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

Continued below.

Gunmen massacred and executed dozens of people in two Muslim-majority villages in Nigeria’s western Kwara state after residents refused to accept their extremist preaching, according to reports.

The violence began on Tuesday evening and lasted for about 10 hours, leaving bodies strewn across Woro and Nuku, residents told The Associated Press. The attack follows a letter sent weeks earlier to residents announcing the intention to spread a radical interpretation of Islam.

Several villagers, including traditional leaders’ relatives, were killed or kidnapped. One survivor told AP the assailants entered a mosque, made the call to prayer, and then shot worshippers as they arrived.

Continued below.

Moore says Trump not inviting Democratic governors to White House is ‘especislly confounding’​

The New York Times first reported Friday that Trump was only inviting GOP governors to the meeting and did not invite [Maryland gov Wes] Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) to a bipartisan dinner for governors and their families.

Moore wrote on the social platform X on Sunday that he was “uninvited” to the National Governors Association (NGA) dinner, which is typically attended by state executives of both parties. Moore was elected by Democratic and Republican governors to serve as vice chair of the NGA last July and will take over as the group’s chair this year, succeeding Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R).

The Maryland Democrat added the move is “especially confounding” considering that “just weeks ago,” he was part of a bipartisan group of governors that went to the White House to work with the Trump administration on reforms to lower energy costs.

[Ordinarily the NGA would sponsor the event, but since the vice chair has been uninvited..."

“In this time, the president cannot use this time to divide our organization,” he told host Dana Bash. “Our organization stands firm that, if you exclude one, you exclude us all, and this will not be an NGA event.”

Scripture define its own categories. Once the Jewish purification framework is laid out, the New Covenant shift from water washing to Spirit purification becomes impossible to miss

Mosaic Law required numerous ceremonial water purification rituals (ablutions): washing hands, feet, bodies, garments & sacred vessels. Jewish law recognized 3 primary forms: hand washing, hand & foot washing & full‑body immersion in a mikveh (JewishEncyclopedia.com). On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest was required to wash his hands & feet 10 times each & full body immersion 5 times. Other priestly duties required additional purifications (Ex 30:19–21; Lev 6:27; 14:8–9; 15:16; 16:4, 24; 22:6)

Every Mosaic observant Israelite understood these washings. A full mikveh immersion expressed: I acknowledge I'm unclean, I'm turning from that state, I'm returning to covenant faithfulness, I'm restoring my ritual status before God and the community
(Sources: Jewish Virtual Library; Sefaria; Rabbi Samson R. Hirsch)

The pattern was always the same:
Unclean > immerse > clean - Impure > immerse > pure - Out of fellowship > immerse > restored. But these immersions never removed sin. They restored ritual purity, not spiritual regeneration

Israel was ordered to wash themselves before meeting the Lord at Sinai (Ex 19).

John the Baptist prepared Israel to meet the Lord (Mal 3:1; Matt 3:3; Mark 1:2–3; Luke 3:4).

John's baptism of repentance was a traditional Jewish purification immersion. They confessed their sins, acknowledging they had strayed & were living outside covenantal markers & immersion restored their ritual standing before God & the community.

John's baptism prepared Israel for the Messiah, through whom remission of sins would come (Acts 19:4). John operated entirely under Mosaic Law & did not baptize Gentiles (Matt 3:1). In Hebrew/Aramaic, repent (שׁוּב, shuv) means “return to the Lord your God.” John's baptism did not save or remit sin.

Acts is a transitional book, mapping the shift from the Old Covenant's physical circumcision (Gen 17:1–14; Acts 7:8) to the New Covenant's spiritual circumcision of Christ (Col 2:11). Pentecost occurred on the Temple Mt & the categories in Acts 2 are entirely Jewish. Archaeologists have documented more than a hundred mikva’ot around the Temple Mount, especially at the Southern Steps where Acts 2 unfolded.

John 3:25 records a dispute about purification, not forgiveness. This is how Jews interpreted immersion. John & Jesus' disciples practiced a baptism of repentance. A ceremonial purification preparing Israel to return to & meet the Lord

Acts 19:4 confirms this: John's baptism was preparatory, pointing people to Christ. None of Israel’s ceremonial washings, including water baptism, remitted sin or granted eternal life. They restored ritual purity, not spiritual regeneration.

Under the New Covenant, Scripture consistently attributes true cleansing, washing, sanctifying & purifying to the Holy Spirit, not to water.

Titus 3:5, the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit - 2 Thes 2:13, sanctification by the Spirit - Rom 15:16, sanctified by the Holy Spirit - 1 Cor 6:11, washed-sanctified-by the Spirit of our God - 1 Pet 1:2, in the sanctification of the Spirit - Acts 15:9, purifying their hearts by faith

Across multiple authors, Paul, Peter & Luke the pattern is identical: The Spirit is the purifier. Water is the symbol

And the major lexicons agree: Sanctification = purification & purification is the Spirit's work.
BDAG: to purify, cleanse from moral defilement - TDNT: cleansing, removal of impurity, purification - Louw–Nida: to purify, to cleanse, to make holy

So when the Spirit fell in Acts 10, the purifier Holy Spirit/Himself acted. Water follows, it never causes.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit remits sin, purifies the heart, grants eternal life & brings a person into the New Covenant. This baptism is performed by Jesus alone (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). No human hands, no ritual water. NEW COVENANT FULFILLMENT: Holy Spirit Baptism as the True Purifier!

Through the Holy Spirit baptism, believers are placed into the body of Christ- by one Spirit (1 Cor 12:13). This is the New Covenant counterpart to the Old Covenant's physical initiation rite. Paul calls it - the circumcision made without hands & the spiritual circumcision of Christ (Col 2:11). It is the inward purification of the heart (Rom 2:29), the very thing Israel's external washings symbolized but could never accomplish.

Jesus Spirit Spirit baptism is also His eternal salvation seal:
The Spirit abides FOREVER (Jn 14:16) - Believers are SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13–14) - SEALED unto the day of redemption (Eph 4:30) - the Holy Spirit is God's earnest/DOWN PAYMENT guaranteeing our inheritance (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5) - the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts is the assurance of God's love (Rom 5:5) the Holy Spirit guards the salvation entrusted to us (2 Tim 1:14)

When Jesus immerses & SEALS a believer with/by/in the Holy Spirit, He accomplishes what every mikveh, every ablution, every priestly washing, every purification rite & John's baptism of repentance symbolized

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the New Covenant fulfillment of all Israel's Old Covenant purification rituals. Water rituals pointed to it. The Spirit performs it. Jesus alone administers it.

From Moses to John to Jesus to Peter to Paul, the pattern never changes: Water symbolized purification.

It's Christ's Holy Spirit baptism that truly purifies, forgives & grants eternal life.

So my wife yesterday got a blood test done because shes been having over a dozen pregnancy symptoms as many of you know. But yesterday morning two days after her expected period she noticed some bleeding and she immediately thought it was her period and got discouraged. So I looked it up and saw that she could potentially be having a miscarriage or about to have one so we rushed to a walkin clinic after she got home from work. They gave her a urine test there and it was negative but I told the doctor her suspected implantation cramps were from the first to the 3rd and the ones on the 3rd were very mild pressure so we suspect that she finished implanting on either the 3rd or the 4th and she was like "ok so her hcg levels would be way too low for a urine test to detect then by now let's do a blood test that should tell us something"

We got the results of that blood test back last night but the results are very confusing to us and we want to confirm with the clinic if the results were 0.0 or if there was some hcg in her system. Because the blood test results said <5. You would think if there was no hcg in her system the results would say 0.0 completely negative and not <5 and im also curious as to exactly what level of hcg was found in her system.

But anyway last night the blood got a lot heavier and she reported that it was clearly her period so I told everyone including the Christian organization that was going to do the free pregnancy test on her that she got her period and wasn't pregnant including my mom and Elder Larry. But now? Im not sure. Theres some hcg in her system allegedly do there could be hope. But her bleeding definitely has me concerned if she is pregnant. Were calling her gynecologist tomorrow and seeing if we can see her before ive got to be in Burlington for a cardiology appointment to see about potentially getting my PFO closed. So.. please pray for us and for our potential child that could be there.

Peace in Christ.

“Into the age” in several verses found in John is in the Greek manuscripts but is not translated whatsoever in most Bible translations (such as the KJV).

"into the age" = Greek: eis ton aiona.

In John 8:51, "into the age" (or "to the age") in some literal translations refers to a temporary state, meaning those who keep Jesus' word won't "see death for this age," , for this age we are currently living in, highlighting a significant difference from translations who just say "never see death" without including “into the age”.

If we keep His saying, we shall never see death (mortal death) but shall continue to live here “into the age.” We shall have an age-lasting life (aka “eternal life”.)

John 8:51 KJV
(51) Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death (INTO THE AGE).

Most of the “literal” translations include it though:

Literal Standard Version
truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone may keep My word, he may not see death—throughout the age.”

He gives (present tense) us an age-lasting life so that we shall never perish (our mortal bodies will not be destroyed) but shall be living INTO THE AGE.

John 10:27-28 KJV
(27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
(28) And I give (present tense) unto them eternal (AGE-LASTING) life; and they shall never perish (INTO THE AGE), neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Literal Standard Version
and I give continuous life to them, and they will not perish—throughout the age, and no one will snatch them out of My hand;

The Lord is the Lord of both the dead and the living.

John 11:23-26
(23) Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

“AT” or "IN"…the Greek word “ἐν”.... is NOT a textual variant here in verse 24. The dead….even though they believed in Christ but mortally died…shall live again. They shall be resurrected AT the last day. The first shall be last in the resurrection.

(24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

The “dead” who believed in Christ shall be raised to life again AT the last day.

They believed in Christ as the Son of God but they listened to false prophets who led them astray from the path that leads to His life (an age-lasting life).

They were sown in dishonor. They were sown in weakness. They were sown in corruption. They died mortally in such a way.

Yet, they will live as they will be raised in glory. They will be raised in power. They will be raised incorruptible. All this is to be done to the "dead" AT the last day of this age when the last enemy (DEATH) is destroyed. The resurrection of the dead. Though they had mortally died (perished), they shall live as they will be resurrected AT the last day of this age. The Lord is Lord of both the DEAD (who mortally died without having an age-lasting life) and the LIVING (who shall never die throughout this age).

(25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

But the “LIVING” shall never die….INTO THE AGE. They shall not mortally die (perish) but shall have an age-lasting life TO THE last day of this age where their mortal bodies shall then be changed into immortal. They will have circumvented death completely in Christ.

(26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (INTO THE AGE). Believest thou this?

What is faith, in this biblical context? What does this faith look like, in word and in deed? Well, the word “faith” means “persuasion.” In this case, since it is faith in Jesus Christ, it is the divine persuasion of God as to our sinfulness, of God’s righteousness, and of our need to repent of (turn from, die to) sin, by the grace of God, and to commit our lives to following our Lord in walks of obedience to his commands, empowered by God. We believe God and his Word, and so we surrender to God and we obey the teachings he has for us.

So, if we who believe in Jesus are increasing in faith, what should that look like? Well, the more that we know God and what God has for us to be and to do, because we want to know and to do his will, because we are studying the Scriptures in their correct biblical context, the more we should be obeying him in doing his will. We should be maturing in our walks of faith on a daily basis, becoming more and more like Jesus in godly character and in doing and speaking the kinds of things he did and that he spoke to people.

We should be stepping out of our comfort zones more and more, even more willing to speak truth to the people, many of whom we know will not listen to us, and some of whom will mock us, laugh at us, disregard us as crazy, and otherwise just ignore us because they think that we are religious fanatics of some kind. And some of them may rebuke us, and treat us like trash, and lie about us, and treat us with disdain and abuse. But know they treated Jesus and his New Testament apostles and the prophets before them the same.

But Christian persecution isn’t just about attacks on us and on our character because of what we believe and put into practice. But this about attacks on the truth of the gospel of our salvation. This is about people falsely claiming to believe in Jesus and to speak the truth of the gospel who are, in reality, “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” out to steal, kill, and destroy, not only the people of God, but the message of the gospel of our salvation. And so they teach the Scriptures out of context, and they speak lies disguised as truth.

So they teach God’s grace as free license to continue living in deliberate and habitual sin against God, only now without feelings of guilt. And they teach that, even if you are living in deliberate and habitual sin, that you can just “claim who you are in Christ” to relieve any feelings of guilt. But we are not “in Christ” by lip service only. “In Christ” means we have died with Christ to sin and we are now walking in obedience to his commands, by the grace of God, in practice. So don’t believe the lies! Believe God’s Word (in context).

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; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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Is Your Faith Growing More and More
An Original Work / February 9, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

This Novena prayer may be said at any time but especially in the nine days leading up to the Feast of the Holy Face on Shrove Tuesday. The first Medal of the Holy Face was offered to Pope Pius XII who approved the Devotion and the Medal. In 1958, he formally declared the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus as Shrove Tuesday.

Day 1 - 2/9/26

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

“I firmly wish that my face reflecting the intimate pains of my soul, the suffering and love of my heart, be more honoured! Whoever gazes upon me already consoles me.”
– Our Lord Jesus Christ to Sister Pierre

DAILY PREPARATORY PRAYER

O Most Holy and Blessed Trinity, through the intercession of Holy Mary, whose soul was pierced through by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of her Divine Son, we ask your help in making a perfect Novena of reparation with Jesus, united with all His sorrows, love and total abandonment.

We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(mention request here…)

Amen.

Psalm 51, 3-4.

Have mercy on me, O God in Thy goodness, in Thy great tenderness wipe away my faults; wash me clean of my guilt, purify me from my sin.

O most Holy Face of Jesus, look with tenderness on us who are sinners. Thou art a merciful God, full of love and compassion. Keep us pure of heart, so that we may see Thee always. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us; Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer to Our Almighty Father

Almighty Father, come into our hearts, and so fill us with Thy love that forsaking all evil desires, we may embrace Thee, our only good. Show us, O Lord our God, what Thou art to us. Say to our souls, I am Thy salvation, speak so that we may hear. Our hearts are before Thee; open our ears; let us hasten after Thy voice. Hide not Thy Face from us; we beseech Thee, O Lord. Open our hearts so that Thou mayst enter in. Repair the ruined mansions that Thou mayst dwell therein. Hear us, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Thy only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (St. Augustine)

Our Father
Hail Mary x3
Glory Be

O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

On Saturday, January 24, Dr. Jerry Johnson, a recent convert to the Catholic Faith, addressed a packed room of over 90 people at the Tradition, Family, Property Washington Bureau in McLean, Virginia. The title of his talk was “A Path to Rome: My Conversion Experience to the Catholic Church.”

Dr. Johnson’s background as a leading Southern Baptist is well known. He was baptized into the denomination at age 9 and was leading his own small congregation at 18. He later became a pastor at larger churches. He also served as President of Criswell College, Academic Dean at Midwestern Baptist Seminary, Dean of Boyce College, and Chairman of the Board at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was the President and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters (NRB).

Why He Became Catholic?​

Continued below.

Peace in Christ.

We have 2 “wills” of the Father here in John 6.

John 6:37-40
(37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
(38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

The 1st “will” of the Father is for the Son to lose nothing that has been given Him…that it should be raised (to stand up) TO THE last day.

It is not to raise it up “again” but “to stand up” TO the last day…the last day of this age. "Again" is found in some translations (such as the KJV) but does not show up in the Greek. "Again" is implied (erroneously).

We are to be kept standing here in this mortal body in this current age TO the last day of this age.

It is not “at” or “on” or "in" the last day but TO the last day. The “last day” is the last day of this current age that we are living in now.

This 1st “will” applies to Christ the firstfruits….the 144,000….the vessels of His mercy.

We who are “Christ the firstfruits” HEAR and believe on Him and have an age-lasting life now in this age. We do not mortally die but will be kept standing up here in this earth to the last day of this age (having an age-lasting life).

(39) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up/stand up TO THE (τῇ) last day.

TO THE = Greek - τῇ : The actual dative singular feminine article. Because it is a dative form, it is often translated as "to the" or "for the" in English. In this context, it is “TO THE”.

“at” "on" =[ἐν] “the last day” = τῇ ἐσχάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ.

Some manuscripts have this variant text “ἐν” inserted in them giving us a reading of “ἐν” τῇ ἐσχάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ (at or on the last day), but some manuscripts omit the article or use slightly different phrasing (e.g., τῇ ἐσχάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ).

Textual variants are differences in wording, spelling, word order, omissions, or additions.

The variant text (“ἐν” ) is an “addition” and should not be found there as it changes the whole meaning dramatically. We are to be stood up TO the last day and not "on/in/at" the last day.

This is not a “minor” textual variant (“ἐν” ) as supposed by many (and overlooked by all) but a MAJOR one that changes the verses of John 6:39-40 dramatically.


The 2nd “will” of the Father in verse 40 is that everyone who SEES the Son and believes into Him may have an age-lasting life. The people of the outside world are the ones who will SEE and believe.

We, the 144,0000 under the 1st “will” of the Father, manifest Him in our mortal flesh to the people of the outside world (the subject of the 2nd “will”) who will then “behold” Him through us. They behold the Son by beholding us.

(40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth (beholds) the Son, and believeth on him, may have (PRESENT TENSE) everlasting (AGE-LASTING) life: and I will raise him up TO the last day.