I encountered God's goodness in His discipline and forgiveness as a youth. I never saw that goodness and even if I did, it is not like it taking place in my heart itself. This in turn changes me to read and interpret sacred scripture differently to some other Christians who only have Sola Scriptura, the example of Martin Luther and the difficult passages in the OT. Like Lamentations. Jesus cross shows love but there is violence and much hidden meaning.

Also Jesus blessed the little children, but also lamented and said He wished He could hold them under His wings, but that Jerusalem would be destroyed. And Luther endorsed the soldiers to stop a revolution in Germany.

I say that a personal taste of God's goodness is vital to know God and understand scripture and perhaps write a theodicy. It takes the Spirit and His touch or fill.

This site claims to be quoting Pope Leo XIV

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I am not sure that this is actually Leo XIV - but it was written very well.

The obvious answer would seem to be at the giving of the ten commandments at Mt Sinai in Exodus chapter 20:

And God spoke all these words:
...
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. 11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

This is not the first time that the word comes in the Bible. In Gen 2 we read:
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work.a

3Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.

Just as in English there is a strong similarity between the Hebrew words for seventh and sabbath. But these verses seem to be an aside written by the author as a comment on the verse. It's not recording giving of the sabbath to Adam and Eve.

Before the giving of the ten commandments at Mt Sinai we have the account of the manna from heaven in Ex 16
Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you c refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30So the people rested on the seventh day.

Now this happens before the Israelites get to Mt Sinai so when was the sabbath first given to the Israelites?

Christian who does not know what the flesh is, thinking that all evil and sin comes from the flesh. And thought that good and kind acts come from the Spirit of God. Therefore, ignorant Christian often thinks that sinning (disobedience and breaking the law) is from the flesh. Hence, most ignorant Christians associate behaviour as an indication of repentance (good behaviour equals a Christian who has repented and bad behaviour equals a false Christian who was not saved).

Have you considered this? A non-Christian (gentile) from all other religions who has never accepted Jesus, never born again, does NOT have the Spirit of God and still the sinner is capable of doing charitable works, good works, kind acts and sacrifice self for others. From this, we can conclude that the flesh (which is part of the unsaved sinner) is capable of EVIL and GOOD works.

If good works is a sign of repentance and salvation, doesn’t that qualify a non-Christian who has done lots of good work entry into Heaven? But the answer is NO. According to the bible, nothing good comes from the flesh.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

And that includes the righteous deeds and acts from the flesh.

Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all OUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away

The flesh is like a two-edged sword, sin/disobedience on one edge and good works/righteous acts on the other edge.

When you are sinning, you will feel condemn and distant yourself from God and church.

When you are doing good works and righteous, you will feel good, pride will start to increase. And you will stop depending on God until your next sin or fall.

Both sides of the flesh will cut like a two-edged sword.

What is the Spirit of God?

The Spirit of God is a totally foreign entity that is not part of us. The spirit of God has a will of its own. When a person is born again and received the Holy Spirit, it indwells the Christian.

Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

The Spirit of God and the flesh are two different entities in a Christian. They are constantly at war with each other.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

How to know that you are operating in the Flesh or the Spirit?

The flesh is part of us. When we operate in the flesh, we will be depending on ourselves.

Why does the flesh sins? It is due to the lack of faith in God. When we depend on ourselves, we take the faith in God and put it on ourselves.

Romans 14:23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and EVERYTHING THAT DOES NOT COME FROM FAITH IS SIN.

Because of the lack of faith in God, we will start to doubt (whether God will or even willing to provide?).

Doubting lead to worry (we will start to formulate our own plans).

Worrying lead to fear (when our plans failed).

Fear lead to sin (we will use unorthodox methods such as lying, cheating, stealing and etc).

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Doubting is unbelieving and it ends in fear. A doubtful and fearful heart is the mother and the start of sins. In Revelation 21:8, God puts the fearful and unbelieving as the first group into hell.

Are you feeling weary and burdened to please God? If yes, then you are depending on your flesh (self-effort, self-determination, self-sacrifice and yourself) to obey. Everything depending on self is of the flesh.

During Jesus’ ministry on earth (except when he was carrying our sins), there was NO mention of Jesus feeling worried, anxious, stressed and fearful when he was facing an impossible situation with no solution. Instead, Jesus was always restful, relaxed, calm and gentle.

Why it is so? It is because Jesus did not depend on himself. Jesus did NOT plan ahead (Remember, the Holy Spirit is a different entity from our mind and body. If we plan ahead, we are depending on our own intelligence and abilities).

Mark 13:11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

The only preparation work that Jesus did was to pray. Jesus flowed with the Spirit of God and did what he saw his Father did through the Spirit. If God the Father completed the task, there is no doubt that it will be completed physically when we embark on the assigned task.

John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

Even though Jesus’ 3.5 years of ministry on earth was tough and impossible (in the eye of man), he said that his yoke is easy and burden is light. Jesus flowed with the Spirit of God and did what was assigned to him by God (there are many good works to be done but not all good works are assigned) and he did it with the empowerment of the Spirit of God (when God assign a task, he will go in advance to make preparation in the situation and hearts of the people involved.)

Have you removed your old yoke (the yoke of the law which is designed to be uphold and obey by the flesh) and put on Jesus’ yoke (the yoke of grace which is lots of prayer and flowing with the Holy Spirit and empowerment from God)?

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

For pride month I thought I might dip my toes into queer theology for the first time. Does anyone have any recommendations for something that is written for lay-people?

“A local judge in Boston ordered the flight grounded and has now trapped ICE officers in Djibouti with these savage monsters! Having to guard and protect them 24-7 in a location with no appropriate facilities! No detention space! No detention beds! Nothing! Putting their lives on the line! They have to watch them 24-7. There aren’t enough resources to ensure the safety of these ICE officers! Is this judge mad? Is this judge a lunatic? What kind of country are we living in where we are even having this kind of conversation!?” Stephen Miller said during an appearance on Newsmax this weekend.

I absolutely concur with Mr. Miller.

Hi all,

I saw a random video of Holy Saturday being celebrated, and when the priest was walking by, many of the parishioners were touching his vestments as he walked by.

Is this common? Greek tradition? Russian?

Peace

Here's a link. For some reason this isn't getting much attention...

Police Arrest Protestors at Seattle's Cal Anderson Park

CNN —
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Vladimir Putin “has gone absolutely CRAZY,” after the Russian leader launched the largest aerial attack of Moscow’s three-year full-scale war on Ukraine.

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Hours earlier, Trump had told reporters: “I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people, and I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin.”

Continued below.

The Abrahamic and Sinai Covenants: Two Distinct Pillars of God's Plan

Many today wonder whether the covenant made with Abraham is the same as the one given at Mount Sinai, or whether one replaces the other. According to Scripture, the Abrahamic Covenant and the Sinai Covenant are two distinct covenants. They serve different purposes, were given at different times, and are not mutually exclusive. One does not cancel or replace the other, but both are part of God's unfolding plan. To be valid, however, any covenant requires both parties to accept and uphold their agreement.

The Abrahamic Covenant was given long before the law at Sinai. It is centered on God's promises to Abraham and his descendants. In Genesis 17:7, God says, "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you." This covenant was unconditional, built on God's word alone, and it included promises of land, a great nation, and that through Abraham all nations of the earth would be blessed. It was sealed with a sign—circumcision.

In contrast, the Sinai Covenant was given to the children of Israel after their exodus from Egypt. It was a conditional covenant based on obedience to God’s commandments. In Exodus 19:5-6, God says, "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people..." This covenant included the Ten Commandments, along with civil and ceremonial laws. Its sign was the Sabbath, as written in Exodus 31:16-17: "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath... for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever."

Though they are different, Scripture never teaches that one replaces the other. In fact, God continually refers back to the Abrahamic Covenant even after the giving of the law. In Leviticus 26:42, God says, "Then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember..." This proves that God keeps His promises and sees the Abrahamic covenant as still active, even when Israel fails to uphold the Sinai covenant.

The prophet Micah also testifies to this in Micah 7:20: "You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old." This shows that the covenant with Abraham remains alive, grounded in mercy and promise, while the covenant with Israel at Sinai was based on truth and responsibility.

When Jesus came, He did not erase either covenant. He confirmed the promises made to Abraham and fulfilled the requirements of the law. In Luke 1:72-73, Zacharias proclaims under the Holy Spirit, "To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham." And in Matthew 5:17, Jesus says, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."

Jesus did not cancel the law, nor did He replace the promise. Instead, He revealed their deeper meaning and brought them together in Himself. The Abrahamic covenant lives on through faith, and the Sinai covenant is written in the hearts of those who love God, as promised in Jeremiah 31:33: "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

But just like any covenant, both the Abrahamic and Sinai covenants require agreement. God's promises are sure, but they must be received. The law is holy, but it must be embraced by a willing heart. A covenant is only fully alive when both sides honor it. This is why Jesus calls His followers to not only believe, but to obey. As He said in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?"

In the end, both covenants stand as two pillars of God's relationship with His people. The Abrahamic Covenant reveals God’s unbreakable promise. The Sinai Covenant reveals His holy standard. One flows into the other. The promise leads to the law written in the heart. The inheritance of Abraham is received by faith, and that faith leads to obedience, not lawlessness.

God never broke either covenant. He is still waiting for His people to agree with Him, to walk in His ways, and to accept the fullness of what He has promised and commanded. These two covenants together show the beauty of God’s plan: mercy, truth, faith, and obedience working together in harmony.

In the last days on the brink of the return of Christ to gather His People, there will be wide spread apostacy in religion wherein they will speak as though they honor the Lord Jesus Christ, but in reality they dishonor Him in His Person and Work, and deny the Saving Power of His Death. Paul writes 2 Tim 3:5

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

They deny the Power of Godliness by denying the Saving Power/Efficacy of the Death/Blood of Christ. This they do by teaching that sinners Christ died for remain lost and condemned. This teaching is a great dishonor to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. I will in this thread post scriptures that Testify to the Saving Death of Christ, yes His Death in and of itself, secured and brings about the Salvation of each and every sinner He died for, namely His Elect, or Sheep or His Church !

First lets look at Peters writing to believers here 1 Pet 2:24

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.


The baring of our sins and His stripes are one and the same, which resulted in being healed. The word for healed iaomai means:

1. to cure, heal
2. to make whole
   
   1. to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one's) salvation
      
      Yes it means to bring about or accomplish or effect ones Salvation ! Thats what His Death did for them He died for. Thats why they became believers, Salvation causes belief in the Truth 2 Thess 2:13
      
      But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Last time i heard about the grace last time, somebody says "If you lose grace from God it over for you ." And it makes me anxiety I don't wanna be lose. That Faith makes me anxiety. I often think better i didn't know the Bible.I wanna cry right now. OCD makes me crazy.

Aidan Hoffman, 22, was sentenced Tuesday in Grand County after pleading guilty to two felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to court documents, Hoffman possessed and distributed multiple images of children being raped and sexually abused.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Don Torgerson twice cited Hoffman’s “privilege” as he ultimately decided not to require him to serve any additional jail time or pay a fine, despite prosecutors asking for prison.

During the hearing, the judge referred to the time Hoffman had already spent in jail, saying that “112 days is a lot of jail time. It’s a lot of jail time for someone your age who comes from some level of privilege.”

Come September, every public school classroom in Texas could be required to display the Ten Commandments under a requirement that passed a key vote in the Texas legislature Sunday — part of a larger push in Texas and beyond to increase the role of religion in schools.

Many today question whether the Ten Commandments still apply under the new covenant. Some believe they were temporary, pointing to writings that describe the law as a ministry that brought death and condemnation. But when we look deeper into the words of Jesus and the prophets, we find a different truth—one filled with life, purpose, and enduring glory.

The prophet Jeremiah gave a clear promise from God:
“I will make a new covenant… I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:31–33)

This promise was not about removing the law but placing it where it was always meant to be—inside the heart. The commandments, once written on stone, would now be written in living hearts through the Spirit of God. But like any true covenant, it only works when both sides agree. God remains faithful, but His people must accept it, cherish it, and allow His Spirit to plant it deep within them.

Jesus never set the commandments aside. He honored the law and taught its fullness. When He healed on the Sabbath or defended His disciples for picking grain, He wasn’t breaking the law—He was showing its true purpose. He said, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:12) The Sabbath was made for man—not man for the Sabbath. Jesus reminded the people that the heart of the law is love, mercy, and goodness, not cold rituals.

He also taught that not even the smallest part of the law would pass away until all is fulfilled:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill… till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law.” (Matthew 5:17–18) Jesus taught from the law and lived by it. He deepened its meaning. He showed that anger leads to murder, and lust is already adultery in the heart. His teachings didn’t cancel the law—they raised it to its true spiritual level.

So why does it seem today that God's law is not written in the hearts of many? The answer lies in the covenant relationship. If one party refuses the covenant, it cannot be fulfilled. The Spirit cannot write in a heart that is closed. Many call Jesus Lord but do not walk in His ways. As He said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

The commandments remain—not as a list of rules, but as a path to life. The law of God is perfect, converting the soul. The problem was never with the law, but with the hearts of people. The old covenant failed because the people broke it, not because the law was faulty.

The new covenant is not the removal of God’s law but its renewal—inside us. The Spirit does not lead us away from the commandments but gives us the power to live them. Jesus said the Spirit will guide us into all truth. The law and the Spirit are not enemies—they work together when the heart is willing. In the end, the new covenant fulfills the old by making it alive. The law that once condemned now becomes a light. But for this to happen, the covenant must be embraced, and the heart must be softened. God's law in the heart is a sign of His people. It is how we love Him and love our neighbor.

The commandments are not heavy when written in love. They are eternal because they reflect the character of God Himself. They are still standing, still holy, and still waiting for hearts that will receive them—not in stone, but in spirit and truth.

A complement to this post can be found below;

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The CDC has stopped putting out its newsletters. Databases have disappeared from view. NOAA is crippled just ahead of hurricane season.

The relationship between the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath, and the New Covenant is a profound subject with significant implications for biblical theology and Christian practice.
At the heart of this discussion lies the assertion that the Decalogue, as articulated in Exodus 34:28 and Deuteronomy 4:13, constitutes the very covenant God established with Israel. The text is explicit: “He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.” This identification of the commandments with the covenant itself underscores their enduring and foundational significance within the biblical narrative.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 introduces the prophetic promise of a “new covenant,” one that is distinguished not by a new set of laws, but by the internalization of God’s existing law. The prophet declares, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” This passage does not suggest the abrogation of the law, but rather its transformation from an external code to an internalized moral compass, written upon the very minds and hearts of God’s people.
Within this framework, the Sabbath commandment emerges as a critical test case. It is not merely one precept among many, but is uniquely described in Exodus 31:16-17 as a “perpetual covenant” and a “sign forever” between God and His people. The language of perpetuity and covenantal signification elevates the Sabbath to a status of enduring theological importance.
As the biblical texts confirms, the Ten Commandments are the covenant and the new covenant is characterized by the internalization of these laws, then the Sabbath, as an integral part of the Decalogue, must also be understood as retaining its relevance and authority. The new covenant does not negate the Sabbath, but rather inscribes its meaning more deeply within the believer’s consciousness and spiritual identity.
In conclusion, the theological logic that flows from the identification of the Ten Commandments as the covenant, and the new covenant as the internalization of God’s law, leads to the affirmation that the Sabbath is indeed a perpetual ordinance. Its observance, whether literal or spiritualized, remains a sign of the covenant relationship between God and His people, now written not on tablets of stone, but on the tablets of human hearts. This enduring principle invites continual reflection on the nature of divine law, covenant fidelity, and the rhythm of sacred time in the life of faith. The sabbath Command is for all of God's people, those who love Him and do his will.

You are obliged to care about and for the poor.
If one sacrifices from what has been wrongfully obtained, the offering is blemished; the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable. The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly; and he is not propitiated for sins by a multitude of sacrifices. Like one who kills a son before his father's eyes is the man who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor. The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it is a man of blood. To take away a neighbour's living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood. Sirach 34:18-22 RSV-CE

My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you? Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don't have enough to eat. What good is there in your saying to them, "God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!"—if you don't give them the necessities of life? So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead. But someone will say, "One person has faith, another has actions." My answer is, "Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions." Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear. You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless? How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions. And the scripture came true that said, "Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous." And so Abraham was called God's friend. You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone. It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road. So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead. James 2:14-26 GNB

Gerald Weston says "The biblical holy days" 2
Constantine is not the reason for assembly on Sunday. "God" is! ...
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Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson has died at the age of 79 after a heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer's disease in his final months.

The professional hunter turned reality star's family announced the news in a Facebook post on Sunday, leaving fans devastated.

We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,' Phil's daughter-in-law Korie Robertson said Sunday on Facebook.

She thanked people who had prayed for Phil, who dealt with Alzheimer's disease in his final months. She recalled how he bravely told loved ones that he was not afraid of death and considered it a comeback to the kingdom of God.

Continued below.

Hello I am new to this forum, and new to this kind of socializing. My name is Becky and I am a Christ follower. I am not new to my faith but in the last year have been working on deepening my relationship with God. I hope to find fellowship here, due to my work schedule it is hard for me to connect with others.

Here are all the end times times frames in the bible by chapter in the order they appear in the first diagram. Then by fit in the second diagram.

I've always loved my parish and I hate the idea of going somewhere else for Mass unless I'm out of town or something. I really love my parish community and feel devoted to it, but my wife is the opposite. She doesn't dislike our parish by any stretch, in fact I think she likes it a lot, but she doesn't think twice about going to Mass at another parish, even 20mins away if it suits her. And by suitable I mean she doesn't have to wake up too early to be there. I started wondering if this was cultural, if it was a cradle vs convert thing or if it was maybe just something she and her old friend circle used to do cause I know they were all spread out and would join each other for Mass at different parishes or go to other events like Holy Hours at parishes that weren't theirs.

How about you guys? Do you tend to go to the same parish every week or do you have a couple that maybe you bounce around to? If you stick with the same parish do you also go to the same Mass every week as well?