In his letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on Wednesday, Abbott wrote that the program was created to increase access to nutritious food and that many SNAP purchases are for food without nutritional value.

The governor said he wanted to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to buy sweetened drinks and candy so that Texans can "lead healthy and productive lives" and requested the waiver "to prohibit the purchase of unhealthy, highly processed food using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits."

Former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer, according to a statement from his personal office Sunday, and it has spread to his bones.

“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” the statement said.

Q: I recently took a six-week theology class, and the priest teaching it was pretty emphatic that most don’t make it to heaven. First, we must be without mortal sin. So all those who forsake Mass or the Holy Sabbath would not be eligible. I have also heard other well-known priests state the same thing. One used the parable of the sower (the one with rocks, weeds, path and rich soil) to illustrate that per Jesus only 25% make it to Heaven. Yet often I hear priests say the opposite. What is your take on the parable?

A: To me, it seems that looking at this parable in terms of celestial statistics is a fairly unusual interpretation.

Hearing the ‘Good News’​

Continued below.

Universalism is gaining popularity and a pivotal verse is John 12:32.

ESV
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Can folks suggest what was meant by John in this verse please.

My thoughts are that He was prophesied to be the ultimate stumbling stone - one from whom no one could hide.

Judgement therefore amounts to Him weighing every mans response, in this life, to Himself (Jesus) witnessed to all men through the Gospel and/or through creation itself.

This is done through the work of the Holy Spirit who convicts the WORLD of sin, righteousness and judgement.

Your thoughts appreciated.

Joe Biden has been diagnosed with "an aggressive" form of prostrate cancer that has metastasized to his bones:

https://apnews.com/article/biden-cancer-prostate-be18c98abe341cd91277e1d3b75d5cd5

This follow a previous story of a small nodule found on Biden's prostrate:

Whats a nodule? Is it cancer? Small nodule found in Biden's prostate during exam

Any metastasized cancer is bad, period.

Given other issues circulating around Biden's health, I wonder why it wasn't found during his check-up in February last year.

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."

1. Where is the example of someone saying it in Scripture?
2. When was it first used as an example of prayer.

Please - no disparaging remarks about our Roman Catholic family.

He's at it again. Is this just another deflection from his own troubles?

The book of Enoch is quoted/referenced in the NT a few times... but is it left out of the Bible itself. Early Christians used it and the Ethiopians still do..
... So what don't the Western Christians include this scripture?

• Luke 3:37: Briefly mentions Enoch in the genealogy of Jesus.
• Hebrews 11:5: Quotes a passage about Enoch being translated, suggesting he did not experience death.
• Jude 1:14-15: Quotes a passage attributed to Enoch, the Seventh from Adam, which is believed to be from 1 Enoch 1:9. This passage is not found in the Old Testament.

the-universe-is-suspiciously-like-a-computer-simulation

Here is a link to a downloadable video tract. Most people today are getting their information from videos. This might be a useful tool to pass along to those interested in Christianity.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I humbly request your prayers for me and my family. We are serving in ministry here in Odisha, and honestly, it has been very difficult. There are many challenges — spiritually, emotionally, and physically — as we try to share God's love and truth with others.

Please pray for:

Strength and protection for my family as we continue our ministry.

Open hearts among the people we are trying to reach.

Peace and guidance through the struggles we are facing.

Financial provision, as we are going through a hard time with resources and basic needs.


Sometimes the path feels heavy, but I believe in the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God. Your prayers mean a lot to us, and we truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

May God bless you all abundantly.

In Christ,
Prakash Ganta (or leave your name out if you prefer)

Hi all,

There have been some things with the preaching at our church that I have disagreed with. It is not that people do not have the Holy Spirit, but just that the preaching has become unbalanced. There are just areas that I feel do not follow the pattern God has laid down. We had a prayer meeting tonight, and after the prayer meeting I was introduced to some people who had seen similar problems with the church. One being a youth leader and one an evangelist. When they were first critical of the things seen, I tried to focus their attention on the fact the Holy Spirit was still working through the church. But as we got talking, we thought about starting to meet together and get something happening out side the current church. The problem in our community is there is not one church that I would go to, if I left ours, because they all seem to have similar problems, or doctrinal differences. We have decided to pray for some time for guidance. I ask, as believers, that you could pray for us, that if this meeting was truly of the LORD, we will follow after His will. But if we need to return to submission to our current church that we will do so. THank you in advance.

In 1995, psychologist and science journalist Daniel Goleman "published a book introducing most of the world to the nascent concept of emotional intelligence.” And 30 years later, these 5 components remain vitally important:

1. Self-awareness
2. Self-regulation
3. Motivation
4. Empathy
5. Social skills

Emotional intelligence is obviously crucial for anyone who wants success in their marriage, family, career, and friendships. But is there an overlap with your spiritual life? In other words, does spiritual growth increase emotional intelligence?

Continued below.

Historically speaking white male protestants (WMP) built America. Catholic Hispanics, foreign powers, and pagan native Americans were just the guys in the way of the expansion and development of the continental USA stretching from sea to shining sea. Black people were brought in to do the grunt work but were organized by the WMPs. Even the official end of slavery after the Civil War did not end this arrangement as WMPs stayed in charge. The first Catholic president did not happen until the sixties and he was murdered. The second Joe Biden is similarly loathed by WMPs as was the first black president - Obama - both were perceived by WMPs as symptoms of American decline. There has never been a female president in the USA. With Trump, the WMPs feel like they are back in charge after the drift of recent decades.

1) Is this a fair description of the political history of the USA?

2) Is a more equitable vision where Hispanics, Women, Blacks, and Catholics share in the success, wealth, and power of the USA desirable?

3) Which is the greater threat to WMP power:
a) The restoration of social mobility and the American dream to give everyone a chance
OR
b) The concentration of power and wealth in the hands of 1 percenters who are often atheists, or liberals rather than WMPs

4) How can hope be restored to every American that they can somehow make it without borrowing beyond their means? What are the major barriers to that happening?

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia overnight into Sunday launched its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022, after the first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years failed to yield a ceasefire.

Continued below.

Moody's downgraded the U.S. sovereign credit rating on Friday due to concerns about the nation's growing, $36 trillion debt pile, in a move that could complicate President Donald Trump's efforts to cut taxes and send ripples through global markets.
Moody's first gave the United States its pristine "Aaa" rating in 1919 and is the last of the three major credit agencies to downgrade it.

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This came after the tax bill didn't go through and seems to also have been fueled by the Republican bill not doing anything to curb the deficit.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know YOU, the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST whom YOU have sent.”
— John 17:3 (NKJV)

LORD JESUS,
YOU who has loved us so deeply,
We come before YOU, grateful and humbled.
YOU have walked beside us even in our darkest days,
And YOUR grace has kept our hearts from breaking.

LORD, our deepest desire is to know YOU more—
Not just in stories or in doctrine,
But to experience the fullness of YOUR love,
To see YOU face to face,
And to rest in the peace that only YOU can give.
YOU are the ONE who knows us fully,
Even when we do not know YOU completely.

We long for the day when we can stand in YOUR presence,
Where there will be no more fear, no more pain,
Only the overwhelming joy of YOUR eternal embrace.
Until that day, help us walk with YOU,
To reflect YOUR love in every act,
To carry YOUR grace in our hearts.

Thank YOU, LORD, for YOUR love that never fades,
For YOUR mercy that never fails.
Help us to live each day with this hope,
And to share the light of YOUR grace with others,
So that they too might know the peace of YOUR presence.

In YOUR holy name LORD JESUS do we pray, Amen.

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The popular vote of last night's Eurovision Song Contest was won by Israel by a significant margin. A queer man singing in a woman's voice (counter-tenor is the official term) won for Austria overall. Yuval Raphael who survived the Hamas attack, at the last concert she went to in Israel, came to Europe to sing her positive upbeat song, "New Day Will Rise". The disconnect between the politics of the street - with angry-faced thousands marching for Palestine and the wishes of Europe's silent majority could not be clearer. The antisemitism that has plagued so many political arenas across Europe in the last year is not the feeling of the majority here.

I wonder what would have happened if Israel had won overall instead of Austria. Could they have held the contest in Israel?

More contestants sang their songs in their languages rather than in English and more attempted to sing in French than before, including Yuval who sang a verse in French and Hebrew as well as English. But songs lacking English content did not do as well with the public as with jurors with the obvious exception of Britain itself - English remains the main language of connectivity in Europe and the organisers hosted in that language. Britain scored null points from the public though did better with the juries and still seems isolated following BREXIT. Their song was a little blasphemous, all style and no substance, so perhaps this is just as well. Switzerland was highly favored by the national jurors but also received no votes in the popular vote. The disconnect between the experts and the public is a feature of recent years with France and Italy also beneficiaries of their bias.

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Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Reflection for discussion: It can be hard within society with worldly influences all around us. But there is another way of looking at having someone who is an influence within our lives and the world, and that influence is the Lord Jesus Christ! People who have a spiritual fellowship in prayer with Jesus via the Holy Spirit can be helped with words and deeds, for example, by reading and seeking God's word the Bible, believers in Christ Jesus can be fed spiritually and by deeds can see them Serve a Risen Saviour being Jesus. In conclusion, it can be mentioned: "It is no longer we that liveth but Christ that liveth in us." Amen!
What do others think?

Over the last few years, Burkina Faso has risen sharply on the World Watch List owing to a spike in violence against followers of Jesus. The rise of violent Islamist extremists has forced Christians to flee, and even cities that used to be safe are now at risk of attack.
Believers living in areas where militant groups are active, risk being kidnapped, displaced or worse. Christians have been targeted and killed and churches destroyed. Because of jihadist activity, hundreds of churches have been closed.
Additionally, converts from Islam can face more general pressure. Family and community members reject converts and attempt to force them to renounce their faith.

Meet Pastor Soré​

“I do believe that we’re displaced, but Jesus is not and will never be displaced from our lives. He is always with us. This truth strengthens my faith and helps me in this difficult time, and I’m glad with God.”
Pastor Soré (name changed), displaced believer in Burkina Faso.

What does Open Doors do to help?​

Open Doors works through local partners to strengthen Christians in Burkina Faso by providing persecution survival training, relief aid, and spiritual and trauma care.

Please pray​

• Pray for hope and healing for believers who’ve endured violence and displacement by Islamist militants.
• Pray for encouragement and strength for church leaders who’ve been forced to flee – yet still hope to minister to their flocks.
• Pray for protection for journalists’ who face danger and that they will be able to report the news truthfully.

Even the most massive birds have never reached the sizes of their dinosaur relatives​

Evolution has a fondness for big birds. During the past 66 million years, repeated on different continents and islands all over the world, avian dinosaurs have reached prodigious sizes and even become apex predators in their ancient habitats. Ten-foot-tall elephant birds strutted across Madagascar until a thousand years ago. The sharp-beaked “terror birds” of prehistoric South America were formidable carnivores for tens of millions of years. And the nearly seven-foot-tall, nut-cracking Diatrymastrutted through ancient forests of western North America in search of ripe fruit and nutritious seeds 45 million years ago. Such enormous birds almost seem like a return to the Mesozoic days of giant, feathery dinosaurs, which raises the question of whether such avians could ever reach Tyrannosaurus rex sizes.

Continued below.

Palm Springs explosion
Sky vs. Fever
live: Eurovision final
New Orleans jail escape
Las Vegas gym shooting
U.S. News
One person killed in explosion outside fertility clinic; police say act was ‘intentional’
By ERIC TUCKER, SEJAL GOVINDARAO and GENE JOHNSON
Updated 7:15 PM EDT, May 17, 2025
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An explosion that heavily damaged a fertility clinic Saturday in the upscale California city of Palm Springs was apparently intentional, local authorities said. One person was found dead, and the FBI said it was sending investigators, including bomb technicians, to the scene.

Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills said in a statement that the blast “appears to be an intentional act of violence” and that several buildings were damaged, some severely.

“There has been one fatality, the person’s identity is not known,” Mills said.

The act was being investigated as a possible car explosion, according to two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss preliminary information from an ongoing investigation. One of the officials told AP that investigators believe the person who died was likely the person who set off the explosion, but they cautioned that the investigation was still in its early stages. Authorities have not disclosed a motive.

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This may get interesting. Especially when they find a suspect and a motive.