Please pray for her. She has 4 chemo treatments over 8 weeks. Then a pet scan to see how it’s responding. Thank you!

My proposal outlines how to start implementing self-governing areas in America, providing an opportunity for all who desire it to achieve it.

Achieving Self-Governance For Every American
by Jeb Smith

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health department announced plans to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply in a bid to ramp up pressure on an industry he has often derided.
The Department of Health and Human Services said it aims to work with the industry to eliminate six synthetic dyes — such as red dye No. 40 and yellow dye No. 5 — from the food supply by the end of 2026.


“One by one we’re going to get rid of every ingredient and additive in food that we can legally address,” Kennedy said.

$28,000 for planting 16 trees. I'll take that job for half the money.

What follows is some of my favorite theologians that have influenced me.

• John Duns Scotus (after formally studying Thomism for three years, when I learned about the Scotist understanding of the Will having primacy over the Intellect and how natural law even though it is found outside of revelation must be subordinate to the will of God, I discovered a totally new perspective on things).
• Soren Kierkegaard.
• John Wesley (probably one of the only Protestant thinkers to seriously engage with the Greek Fathers understanding of theosis).
• The Church Fathers (mainly Sts. Augustine, Athanasius, Maximus, Basil, Clement of Alexandria, Justin Martyr, Melito of Sardis).
• Evagrius Ponticus (a great writer on the topic of logismoi).
• Pseudo-Dionysius.
• Meister Eckhart.
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
• John Paul II.
• The Lublin School (while not a Thomist, I enjoy their work engaging with phenomenology).
• Nikolai Berdyaev.
• Kallistos Ware.
• Alexander Men.
• David Bentley Hart (while I completely disagree with his politics and don’t like his view of universal salvation, his defense of classical theism is interesting).
• Gregory Palamas (theologian from the East who comes the closest to agreeing with Scotist thought, defends the notion that the distinction between God’s essence and energies is a biblical doctrine).
• Robert Speer (Presbyterian minister who wrote The Principles of Jesus where he discusses the “Four Absolutes” of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love).

Your pickup truck is breaking down, and you cannot afford a new one. Good jobs are hard to find, and prices keep going up. You fear you might not be able to keep your God. Times are tough. I get it.

In frustration, you look for people to blame, and you find no shortage of possibilities. You could blame DEI recipients, transgenders, or Democrats, for instance. And then along comes a presidential candidate who speaks out against all the people you blame. True, some of those people being hated could include your friends or even yourself, but largely the message resonates with you. Yes, you have been told this candidate should never be President again, but then again, you hear this candidate is blaming the people you blame. You like that. And so, you vote for him.

But have you turned to hatred, rather than resolving the problems?

Here are some of the groups being hated:

DEI Recipients: Historically, discrimination had made it hard for minorities and women to have equality. DEI programs have been instituted to help overcome this bias, so that the result of both the lingering discrimination plus DEI emphasis would supposedly put everybody on more of an equal footing. Yes, some of those programs may have gone too far. There is always room for healthy debate. But how can it be good to lash out in hatred of all who have sought what they consider fairness?

Immigrants: People have blamed a range of other people here, from criminals to hard-working undocumented people to green card holders to natural-born citizens. All get lumped together with calls for mass deportation. Sure, violent criminals must go, but, in the meantime, many good people get caught up in a wave of hate.

LGBTQ+: No, Mr. Falwell, homosexuals and abortion providers were not the cause of the 9/11 attacks. There are decent people in the LGBTQ+ community who just want to live their lives. But an outpouring of hatred has been showered on these groups.

Other religions and nationalities: Other religions, especially Muslims, have seen immense hatred. In particular, vast hatred is reserved for the Palestinian people. True, Hamas has committed evil acts. Those who do that should be punished. But there are a vast number of people living in Palestine who want to live their lives peacefully. They think they deserve a fairer distribution of the land where they and the Israelis live.

Foreign Countries: There seems to be no end of the vitriol against China. Now, even Europe and Canada are in the crosshairs. Everybody seems to get the blame except, oddly, Russia. But America relies on a world of friendship. Somehow, we strike out in anger at even our friends, thinking that somehow that is OK.

Environmentalists: There is unending anger at those who seek to preserve the environment and seek to be honest about the limited resources in the world we live in. Environmentalists care about our future. Without such concern, the future is bleak.

Government Workers: There has been a vast backlash against the many career government workers who dedicate their lives in civil service. They are degraded as “the Deep State.” They have faced massive layoffs. But don’t forget, at its core, government is good.

The needy: There is endless backlash against welfare queens, without even acknowledging that the welfare program was abolished in the Clinton era, replaced with the much less generous Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). We need programs like Medicare, TANF, FEMA, and USAID. But unfortunately, these programs get branded as Marxism and receive the wrath of many people.

America is, and always has been, great. That greatness has sometimes been overshadowed with hate. We had slavery, the Trail of Tears, and subjugation of women. Despite that, America has been moving on with things like The New Deal, The Great Society, Civil Rights, and even Compassionate Conservatism. Are we now losing all that? Are we making America hate again?

US Supreme Court appears likely to uphold Obamacare’s preventive care coverage mandate​

The Trump administration defended the mandate before the court, though President Donald Trump has been a critic of the law.

See also:

Hello Beautiful People of God,

My Name is Josephine....

I’m so excited to be here as a new member in this amazing Christian forum! It truly warms my heart to find a space where faith, love, and encouragement flow so freely.

I believe God orders our steps, and being here is no coincidence, it's part of His beautiful plan. I'm looking forward to learning, growing deeper in Christ, and connecting with fellow believers who are passionate about their walk with God.

May our time here strengthen our faith, spark fresh fire in our hearts, and remind us of how deeply we are loved by our Heavenly Father.

Can’t wait to share, laugh, pray, and grow with you all. ❤️
Stay blessed always!

Warm regards,
Josephine

Theologian and author John Piper addressed a listener’s fear of eternity becoming monotonous, explaining why Heaven, despite its boundlessness, will never become boring for those who trust in Christ in a recent episode of his "Ask Pastor John" podcast.

“‘Pastor John, I have been struggling with the concept of eternity lately,’” a listener named Mason said. “‘I started reading Randy Alcorn’s book about Heaven. … At first, I had difficulty imagining what Heaven could be like, even for a short time. But after reading, I began to understand joy for thousands, millions, or even billions of years. However, even a hundred trillion years still seems nothing in light of eternity. I struggle to process something with no end. How will we not get bored?’”

Piper, the longtime pastor and founder of Desiring God ministries, first acknowledged that Mason’s question reflects a universal human dilemma.

Continued below.

Not from the government but because of threats such as cartel members.

You see, cartel members don't like the church giving hope to potential cartel recruits!

The cartels offer a life of paranoia and a strong chance of a very gruesome death, whereas the Gospel brings peace with God and an eternal hope!

The Open Doors World Watchlist gives us a story of Sergio- he was praying with an individual when he heard motorbikes revving outside his house, he felt God strongly urging him to not go outside to investigate.

Hours later Sergio's neighbour told him there were cartel members pointing a gun at the house's door, waiting for him to come out!

Another missionary in Mexico, Marcos saw trademark cartel vans with tinted windows repeatedly circling his church during a service in which he was teaching vulnerable people likely to be recruited by the cartels.

Despite the threats our Mexican brothers and sisters in Christ in Mexico still have the bravery to share the Gospel with people marked by the cartels, how much more should we have the confidence to share the Gospel with our friends, family and acquaintances?

Indeed, the lack of due process for Trump and conservatives who supported Trump was a big reason why Trump got elected.

I don't have a tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, X, or any other media account. So I normally don't see these kinds of videos but I ran across this on Substack.
Don't know who he is, but kind of like some of the right wing US podcastors, he could be just paid by foreign entities.
Yet if you listen to his summation of American to Chinese manufacturing, to me he hits in out the park.

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In a Christian religious context, a denomination refers to a distinct branch or group within Christianity that has its own beliefs, practices, and organisational structure. While all Christian denominations share core beliefs—such as faith in Jesus Christ—they may differ in theology, traditions, governance, and interpretation of scripture.

Christianity has a vast number of denominations, and a number of major branches like Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Within Protestantism, there are further divisions, such as Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, and many more, these are denominations. These denominations often arise due to theological disagreements, reform movements, or cultural influences over time.

Protestant denominations share core beliefs but differ in theology, traditions, and governance. Here are some key distinctions among major Protestant groups:

• Lutheranism: Emphasises justification by faith alone (sola fide) and the authority of Scripture (sola Scriptura). Sacraments like baptism and the Eucharist are central to worship.
• Calvinism (Reformed tradition): Stresses God's sovereignty, predestination, and the idea that salvation is entirely by God's grace. The Presbyterian Church is a major branch of this tradition.
• Anglicanism: Maintains a blend of Protestant and Catholic traditions, with a structured liturgy and Episcopal governance. The Church of England and Episcopal Church are key representatives.
• Baptists: Advocate believer’s baptism (as opposed to infant baptism) and Congregational autonomy. They emphasise personal faith and the priesthood of all believers.
• Methodism: Founded by John Wesley, it focuses on personal holiness, social justice, and the transformative power of grace. Methodists often emphasise free will in salvation.
• Pentecostalism: Known for its emphasis on the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts (such as speaking in tongues), and lively worship. It stresses direct personal experience with God.

Each denomination has unique interpretations of doctrine, worship styles, and church governance.

Catholic and Orthodox Christianity share many foundational beliefs but differ in key theological and doctrinal aspects. Here are some of the main distinctions:

Shared Beliefs

• Trinity: Both affirm the doctrine of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as established in early ecumenical councils.
• Scripture & Tradition: Both recognise the authority of Scripture alongside Sacred Tradition as sources of divine revelation.
• Eucharist: Both celebrate the Eucharist, believing in the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine.
• Apostolic Succession: Both maintain a continuous line of bishops tracing back to the apostles.

Key Differences

• Papal Authority: Catholics recognise the Pope as the supreme authority on Earth, while Orthodox churches operate under a conciliar model where local bishops collectively govern.
• Filioque Clause: Catholics believe the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, while Orthodox Christians hold that the Spirit proceeds only from the Father.
• Original Sin & Salvation: Catholics emphasise original sin and the necessity of grace through sacraments, while Orthodox theology focuses on synergy between divine grace and human free will.
• Immaculate Conception: Catholics believe Mary was conceived without original sin, whereas Orthodox Christians honour her but do not hold this doctrine.
• Purgatory: Catholics believe in purgatory as a place of purification before heaven, while Orthodox Christians do not.

Both traditions have rich theological and liturgical practices.

MSN U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that its Office of Federal Student Aid will require borrowers, currently in default, to resume repaying their student loans, beginning May 5th. The department has not collected on defaulted loans since March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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According to the Trump administration, 42.7 million borrowers owe more than $1.6 trillion in student debt, and more than 5 million borrowers have not made a monthly payment in more than 360 days.

"Only 38% of borrowers are in repayment and current on their student loans," according to the department. "Most of the remaining borrowers are either delinquent on their payments, in an interest-free forbearance or in an interest-free deferment."


"American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies," said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

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After all, why shouldn't young people starting their lives out share in the misery of their boomer parents seeing their life savings evaporate due to Trump economic policy?
As we move through "the worst April since the Great Depression," the government wants to be an equal opportunity bad news deliverer--everyone except billionaires gets to share the misery brought on by the bad decisions of 49.9% of voters.

I bet the 30 something percent of eligible voters who didn't show up last November are sure sorry now.

Philosophy involves engaging the world with method and practice, involving critical thought, analysis and evaluation of the world around us.

Unlike theology, it starts on different grounds for evaluating the world and making assertions about it, hopefully the assertions are justified, or verifiably valid and sound.

As Paul the Apostle intimated in Colossians 2:8, the evaluations we Philosophers make can be good or bad, depending on how they're constructed and used; it's really Christians though who, I think, can make the better use of this academic discipline.

So, without further ado, the following introductory video by Philosophy professor, Jeffrey Kaplan, is one of my favorites, and whether I agree with everything he says or not in the video, I think he provides a very basic introduction to the subject which is entertaining and informative. Feel free to listen in, learn and comment if you wish.

What is Philosophy? - First Lecture of the Semester​

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Practical, Philosophical Question for all to consider: What is the difference between a secular philosopher and a Christian philosopher?

Further reading suggestions for those who would like to answer the question above for themselves:

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(taken from @Sachinettiyil on Twitter)

I thought folks would find this interesting, there were a couple details I didn't know.

Also for reference, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church is currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell of Dublin.

1. Confirmation of Death

The Carmerlengo (Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church) officially confirms the pope’s death.

Traditionally, he gently calls the pope’s baptismal name three times. If there’s no response, he declares the pope dead.

2. Destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring

The Fisherman’s Ring, a signet used to seal official documents, is broken by the Camerlengo in the presence of the cardinals.

This prevents its misuse and symbolizes the end of the pope’s authority.

3. Official Announcement

The Vatican makes an official public announcement.

Bells may toll and mourning customs begin, including the flying of flags at half-staff in some places.

4. Nine Days of Mourning

A period of official mourning lasts nine days, during which Masses are offered for the repose of the pope’s soul.

The body is prepared and displayed in St Peter’s Basilica for public veneration.

5. Burial

The pope is traditionally buried int he crypt beneath ST Peter’s Basilica (though he may request another resting place).

The body is usually placed in three coffins: wood, lead, and another wooden coffin, each placed inside the other.

6. Sede Vacante (Vacant See)

During this time, all governance of the Church is paused, except for routine matters handled by the Camerlengo.

No new appointments or major decisions can be made until a new pope is elected.

7. Preparation for the Conclave

The College of Cardinals gathers in Rome.

After at least 15 days but no more than 20 days following the pope’s death, the conclave begins to elect a new pope.

Only cardinals under 80 years old are eligible to vote.

8. The Conclave

Held in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy.

Voting continues until a candidate receives two-thirds majority.

After a successful vote, the elected cardinal is asked: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?”

If he says yes, he chooses a papal name.

9. The New Pope is Announced

The cardinal proto-deacon steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and declares “Habemus Papam!” (We have a Pope!)

The new pope then appears and gives his first Urbi et Orbi blessing.

A few months ago I asked my spiritual father the following question. This is a questioned that has burned in me for years since I took over the editorship of OnePeterFive. It is a question that has troubled by conscience and caused me to lose a great deal of sleep. Here’s the question:

How do I criticise Pope Francis and not fall into the sin of pride? How do I tell the truth without provoking anyone to harden their hearts against our Holy Father?

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My spiritual father responded with this wisdom:

In order to avoid the sin of pride, we must imagine that Pope Francis will one day die a Christian death and attain a higher place in heaven than you.

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Continued below.

King Charles has said he and Queen Camilla have "heavy hearts" after Pope Francis's death, as they paid tribute to his "compassion" and "tireless commitment" to people of faith.

In a statement, the King said that though "deeply saddened", their sorrow had been "somewhat eased" by the Pope being able to share an Easter greeting with the world on Sunday, before he died aged 88.

The King and Camilla met the pontiff on a state visit to Italy earlier this month, which the couple said they remembered with "particular affection".

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the leader of Catholics in England and Wales, echoed the King's comments, saying the Pope's death "brings great sadness to so many".

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Alabama lawmakers have approved a series of bills that would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments, ban LGBT pride flags and prohibit school employees from using pronouns that don't align with students' sex.

The Alabama House of Representatives passed the bills on Thursday, with House Bill 178 passing the chamber in an 88-11 vote. The bill would mandate that K-12 public schools display the Ten Commandments in an entryway or in common areas like cafeterias and classrooms where U.S. history is taught.

According to the bill, no local board of education is required to use its funds to comply with the mandate, and the bill states that it can accept donations.

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Please pray for Annie, a young girl who has been feeling unwell. Every 3-4 days, she experiences vomiting along with pain in her heart. Please lift her up in prayer for healing and comfort.

There’s an old Italian adage that warns against betting on the presumed favorites ahead of a papal conclave. It cautions, “He who enters a conclave a pope, leaves it a cardinal.”

With Pope Francis dead at age 88, the Catholic Church’s next leader will likely be chosen from a group of cardinals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in both spiritual and organizational capacities.

The process of choosing the next pope is known as a conclave. This occurs after the death or resignation of a sitting pope. Following the papal vacancy, the College of Cardinals — consisting of cardinals from around the world — is summoned to Rome. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the voting.

These cardinals meet in the Sistine Chapel, where they cast votes to select the new pope. The voting is conducted in secret and a cardinal must receive a two-thirds majority to be elected.

If no one achieves the required majority, voting continues over several rounds. After each session, the ballots are burned: black smoke signals that a decision has not yet been made. When a new pope is elected, white smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, and the faithful outside St. Peter’s Basilica know a decision has been made.

The newly elected pope then appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to address the crowd and announce his selection.

Technically, any male Catholic over the age of 18 who has been ordained as a priest is eligible to become pope. However, in practice, the pope is typically chosen from among the 135 cardinals who will take part in the conclave.

Here are six men who could be among the most likely candidates to take the helm of the Vatican. Be warned that all of them may end up remaining cardinals when this process is complete:

Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy)​

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