• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

A Servant to All

“For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:16-23 ESV)

What was the gospel that Paul preached? He preached Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who is God, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That Jesus Christ, who is God, and who is our creator God, left his throne in heaven, came to earth, lived on the earth, and eventually died on a cross to deliver us out of our slavery to sin so that we, by faith in him, might die with him to sin and now walk in freedom from bondage to sin in walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands.

But he also preached that we must no longer walk in sin, making sin our practice, for if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God. For if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, and not walks of obedience to our Lord, we will NOT inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips have professed. He said that over and over again. The message could not be more clear. No “wiggle room” allowed!

He spoke all the time on the subjects of holiness and righteousness and godly living. And the grace of God which he taught was that God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we await our Lord’s return. For Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14; cf. Ephesians 2:10).

[Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Php 2:5-11: Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 9:28; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

So, as we read this passage of Scripture, we need to read it in that light. For Paul was committed to Jesus Christ and to preaching the truth of the gospel of Christ. That was his life. That is what he lived for, to please God, to serve him, to obey him, and to preach the truth of the gospel so that many people would find true hope and true healing for their sins and eternal life with God via God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in the Lord. For by faith we die with Christ to sin and we now walk in obedience to his commands, in his power.

So, when he said here that he made himself a servant to all people that he might win more of them, in no way was he saying that he made any moral or spiritual or biblical compromises in order to win people over. So he did not serve anyone in the sense of doing what is opposed to God and to his word or that would require him backing down in any way from doing the will of God for his life. He did not let any person be his God. God was still his only God, and he followed the leading of the Lord in what he did.

So, whatever he did, he did not back away from serving the Lord in any way. He did not compromise truth or righteousness or the gospel or his commitment to the Lord and to the truth of the gospel in any way. But he found ways to relate to the people where they were in order to better communicate with them so that they would listen to him. But, again, this did not involve cutting short the message of the gospel to make it more acceptable to human flesh as so many are doing today.

So, let me give an example from my own life and ministry which I believe can fit here. The Lord called me 20 years ago to write down what he teaches me from his word each day and to post these writings on the internet. But as means of communication changed on the internet, the Lord began to add on to my ministry new ways of communicating. I still write out what he teaches me from his word each day, and I still post these on the internet, but even though some of them may be long to some people, they are half to a third or to a fourth of the length of some of my earlier writings.

So the writings became shorter, and some are longer or shorter than others. And then he added on writing and recording songs, which was all new to me, and then he added on writing poetry, and then he had me recording video talk devotions, and then Christian memes. So these are all different ways of communicating which may reach a wider audience than when I was just writing out my times of devotion with the Lord each day. So no compromise of truth or righteousness, just different ways of communicating with people.

Should I Not Preach Jesus

An Original Work / July 4, 2013
Based off 1 Corinthians 9:16-10:13


Woe to me should I not preach Jesus.
I’m compelled to preach the full gospel.
I make myself a slave to ev’ryone
To win their hearts to Christ.
All this I do for my Lord Jesus,
And for the sake of His Name;
Do it for the sake of His gospel,
So that I, its blessings gain.

Scripture notates the sins of others;
Written down for us as examples
To keep us from setting our hearts
On evil as did those of old.
Do not worship other gods of man;
Do not give your hearts to them;
Not partake in immorality.
Do not test your Lord and King.

So, be careful if you think you are
Standing firm in your faith in Jesus.
God has given his word to warn us,
So through faith we will not fall.
No temptation has o’ertaken you
Except what is commonplace.
God is faithful to not let you be
Tempted past what you can bear.
He gives the way of escape.

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Being an "effeminate" Christman man, and wanting a masculine Christian woman--Is this normal or right?

This is basically a "part 2" to my first post here. (shout-out to @Sif and @bèlla )


To summarize, I felt abnormal as a Christian man because I find masculinity in women attractive, while femininity has little to no value, attraction wise. Then there's the fact that I'm kind of "effeminate".


I'm physically weak, have no real interest in sports or any stereotypically masculine pursuits, I'm lacking bravery or courage, and I don't have the "Hero Instinct" (a need to be needed). I'd hate to be admired for physical strength, and I have a grandmother and a family friend who both think I'm a genius because I'm more skilled with phones and computers than them, but that praise means nothing to me. To put it simply, I'm not masculine or manly (nor do I have any real desire to be). But I'm mostly concerned about the former.


How many Christian men and boys do you know with my type? I actually fell for 2 black women at my job on different occasions because the only thing feminine about them was their anatomy. They both worked out, used "bro" and "bruh" almost as much as commas, wore combat boots (the first did) or hoodies, sweatpants, and sneakers very often, and they didn't act feminine at ALL. One even worked security part-time. Both times, my crushes were spurned because they were lesbians.


Again, how common are Christian men like me? Femininity is practically worthless to me, in terms of attraction. Apart from desiring to be a parent, if you count that. Physical strength and prowess make my heart throb (and so does courage and being willing to fight and hunt). And personality-wise, I'm essentially trying to date/marry one of the guys, a real-life Private Vasquez. The more masculine/manly/boyish a sister in Christ is, the more attracted I am.


How common is this in the Church? Is this normal? Is my own condition something to worry about?

There is no formula to effect miracles

Ex 17:

6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.”
A few decades later, at Meribah in Nm 20:

7 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8“Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.”
Mt 20:

34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.
Mt 9:

29 He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened.
Jn 9:

6b He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. 7 Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
There is no single formula to effect a particular kind of supernatural miracle.

God has the last Word

God has the last Word:

John 17 NIV

"Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

"I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me."

"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep[d] through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth."

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

God bless us all!

biblegateway.com

A young priest explains the Lord's Day

This is a video-based post. The transcript follows the video.
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Transcript​

for most Christians Sunday is the day
for worship whether it be around an
altar to celebrate the Lord's Supper or
in an auditorium to give God our praise
Sunday is simply the Lord's Day that is
unless you're among the communities that
worship on Saturday while Christians
have been worshiping on Sunday since
immediately after the resurrection some
have pointed out a problem God
established the Sabbath on Saturday and
never abolished that law why do some of
us worship on Sundays and are we
breaking God's commandment by not
honoring Saturdays
this is Catholicism in focus
[Music]
in the beginning God worked for six days
creating the heavens and the earth the
Seas and all that are in them and on the
seventh day he rested and since God did
this you should do this as well this is
the explanation given in the law as to
why the Jews were to keep holy the
Sabbath based on the first mythological
account of creation found in the book of
Genesis it connects the observers with
the story of our beginnings the power of
God and a desire to be like God
for millennia even up till today Jews
have observed the Sabbath on the seventh
day Saturday keeping it holy with rest
and worship and yet Christians for some
reason ignore the law and worship on
Sundays what gives some have suggested
that it simply switched days that we no
longer observe it on Saturday but it's
still the same Sabbath just celebrated
on Sunday while seemingly logical this
is not correct what is often overlooked
in this issue is the clear distinction
between the official Sabbath and what
came to be known as the Lord's Day you
see after the resurrection the early
Christians continued to observe the
Sabbath on Saturdays because they still
saw themselves as Jews they went to the
synagogue observing the required period
of rest but also began to celebrate a
new feast the Lord's Supper well there
is no mandated time for the celebration
at first and some celebrated it daily
whenever they had a meal it almost
immediately became associated with
Sunday the day of the week when Jesus
was resurrected scripture shows us that
this tradition dates all the way back to
the very first Christians with Saint
Paul speaking of a collection being
taken up and the act of the Apostles
describing the time to break bread both
of which taking place on the first day
of the week this celebration and holy
observance for early Christians was not
confused with the Sabbath nor was an
attempt to transfer it but clearly a new
more important observance by the early
2nd century that dedicate taught only of
the Lord's Day saying nothing of the
Sabbath observance while Saint Ignatius
of Antioch wrote those who lived
according to the old order of things
have come to a new hope no longer
keeping the Sabbath but the Lord's Day
in which our life is blessed by him and
by his death by the mid 4th century this
explanation was taught in an official
Council of the church Christians should
not Judy eyes and should not be idle on
the Sabbath but
work on that day they should however
particularly reverence the Lord's Day
and if possible not work on it because
they are Christians from almost the very
beginning Christians acknowledged that
the Sabbath remained on Saturday and the
Lord's Day was now celebrated on Sunday
so why don't we observe Saturday's as
well then are we not breaking God's
commandment to keep holy the Sabbath
some have suggested that the reason we
don't is because the law no longer
applies that has been abolished and so
is no longer binding on Christians this
is also not correct besides the fact
that Jesus famously preached I did not
come to abolish the law but to fulfill
it the letter to the Hebrews written a
generation after the birth of the church
continues to assert the importance of
the Sabbath therefore a Sabbath rest
still remains for the people of God for
this reason the Catechism of the
Catholic Church reminds the faithful
that the requirement to keep holy the
Sabbath is still very much in effect
devoting thirty-nine canons to
explaining its significance God
entrusted the Sabbath to Israel to keep
as a sign of the irrevocable covenants
the Sabbath is for the Lord holy and set
apart for the praise of God his works of
creation and his saving actions on
behalf of Israel know the Sabbath has
not been abolished but our relationship
with it has definitely changed when we
look to the letters of the New Testament
it's clear that there is a developing
approach to the observance of the law
st. Paul writes in numerous places that
one is not justified by the works of the
law but by Jesus Christ and specific to
this question that such specificities of
the law missed the point of Christ
therefore let no one act as your judge
in regard to food or drink or in respect
to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath
day things that are a mere shadow of
what is to come but the substance
belongs to Christ
coupled with the fourth Gospels
assertion that Jesus is the true place
of worship and the lord of the sabbath
Christians began to understand the
insistence on this law as not regarding
a particular day but a person as st.
Gregory the Great wrote for us the true
sabbath is the person of our Redeemer
our Lord Jesus Christ for Christians the
Sabbath as a day remains Saturday as
this is what God established eternally
as a remembrance of the first creation
this cannot and does not change rather
the perp
of the Sabbath has been fulfilled in
Christ what matters is not a day of the
week but the object of worship so why
has Sunday become the de-facto day of
observance of the Sabbath when it could
be observed any day of the week the
answer of course has everything to do
with the resurrection it was on a Sunday
that Christ rose from the dead and so it
is on a Sunday that creation came to its
fulfillment
just as Saturday was traditionally
observed as a remembrance of creation
Sunday the 1st and eighth day is a
remembrance of God's final recreation in
Christ it's for this reason that pope
john paul ii wrote in his apostolic
letter on the subject that what God did
in Christ did not abolish the Sabbath
but rather brought its initial meaning
to fruition the Paschal mystery of
Christ is the full revelation of the
mystery of the world's origin the climax
of the history of salvation and the
anticipation of the eschatological
fulfillment of the world what God
accomplished in creation and wrought for
his people in the Exodus has found its
fullest expression in Christ's death and
resurrection though it's definitive
fulfillments will not come until the
parousia when Christ returns in glory in
him the spiritual meaning of the Sabbath
is fully realized
so no Sunday is not the Sabbath but
ignoring Saturday is not a sin either
the Sunday observance of the
resurrection a practice that has been
held in our tradition since the very
first Christians fulfills what God
always intended we are to remember God's
work of creation maintain a spirit of
rest and take part in the holiness of
our Lord could that happen any day of
the week
absolutely the fact that Jesus rose from
the dead on a particular day is of no
consequence next to the fact that he
rose from the dead it's why we as
Catholics celebrate the Lord's
resurrection in the Eucharist nearly
every day of the year as each day is an
opportunity to take part in the life
that he brought us for this reason
groups like the seventh-day Adventists
who insist on observing a Saturday
Sabbath are not wrong per se but they do
miss something in the process the
Sabbath is not a day as much as it is a
person a reminder of creation that is a
weekly observance if we choose to
remember this on Saturday our focus
remains on the first
creation but if we do so on Sunday the
first and eighth day our focus is on the
fulfillment of that creation in Christ
any day that we celebrate God is a good
one and if you ask me none of it makes
any sense without that fulfillment
[Music]
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Democrats falling in line behind Harris, ending weeks of rancor about Biden

Democrats falling in line behind Harris, ending weeks of rancor about Biden​

While a few in the party have continued to advocate for an open, competitive process, the vice president appeared to have an inside track to seamlessly securing the Democratic nomination.

The Democratic Party moved further toward fully coalescing around Vice President Harris as its new presidential nominee on Monday, a rapid and dizzying show of unity that followed weeks of public infighting and rancor over President Biden’s now-abandoned candidacy.

Less than 24 hours after Biden’s abrupt exit from the race, hundreds of state delegates, the majority of Democratic lawmakers and governors, a group of state party chairs, and several influential interest groups threw their support behind Harris, as other potential candidates said they would not challenge her. Biden, upon ending his bid, endorsed Harris as his successor.

Glad to see the Democratic Party falling in line quickly. It's reported Harris have received over 80 million in donations since yesterday's announcement of her being endorsed by the President. There appears to be new energy on the progressive side. Corporate media and its owners are doing all they can to put Trump back in the White House, but I believe decent Americans see the threat Trump presents and will come out in November to defeat him. And I believe Harris will make a great president.
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Would a Christian go to hell doing a sin before they die ?

I was having a debate with a friend saying if a Christian committed homosexuality or fornication and died right after they are going to hell. He disagreed and said since they have a relationship with Christ they won’t especially if they was not living that life on a regular basis.

SS Director Cheatle Maintains "Full Accountability"

Today, the first day of questioning upon Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle by congressional committee.

Thank God for the bipartisen attention generated towards uncovering this national disgrace/crisis being fostered upon America who seeks to understand how an elite institution such as the United States Secret Service could grant a "person of interest" just enough precious seconds to carry to completion the assassination of a former president, Donald J. Trump?

First of all, how does one justify bringing raw security measures before the public? The notion, "The people deserve to know" sounds as though that may be the extent of the perps punishment IF, there is indeed a nefarious plot here meant to be seen, not caught.

How is this dealt with if the one requested to appear does not come prepared, nor refuses to release known names or facts when asked which she did throughout the 4-hr questioning?

Are these many refusals by Director Cheatle compacted in good standing and accountability?
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A Proposal for my Messianic Brothers: Witness to a Non-Messianic Jew

Hello folks. I am not a Messianic Jew, nor a Jew, though I appreciate Jewish culture, and my Jewish brothers in God. This is a proposal for any Messianic Jews who have non-Messianic Jewish friends or acquaintances. Jews worship the same God as Christians, YHWH. However, the second Person of the Trinity is missing from the Jewish faith: Jesus. One can worship God the Father, but one can not approach the Father without going through His Son, Jesus Christ, as stated in John 14.

The challenge: Try to talk to at least one Jew about the Gospel of Christ and the beatitudes. :) Hopefully, through the grace of God, that the Jews convert to Christianity, or Messianic Judaism. Witnessing to non-Christians is important in these days before the Great Tribulation. Matthew 28 discusses how the Jewish folks denied Jesus, and only until the Jews accept Jesus, that Christ will return.

Verse
Matthew 28:37-39 (NKJV): “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

John 14:6 (NKJV): "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

Mission to Jews

Question for my Democratic friends

How is it democratic to have a candidate placed by the hierarchy of the party and not voted on?

Kamala was not voted into her candidacy, she was gifted the position by the Party leaders and not the voters.

Looks more like a dictatorial line of succession than a democratic process.

Curious on how you explain this.

Understanding the Gifts of the Spirit and Order in Worship (Check here often, slow process)

Exposition on 1 Corinthians 14 (Check here often, slow process)

1 Corinthians 14:1, "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy,"

Underscores the paramount importance of love (charity) as the guiding principle for all spiritual pursuits. This verse is an encouragement for believers to prioritize love in their interactions and ministry, ensuring that their desire for spiritual gifts is motivated by a genuine concern for others' edification and well-being. The emphasis on prophecy is seen as an endorsement of its role in building up the church, offering guidance, encouragement, and correction under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Prophecy is speaking forth God’s word to provide insight and edification to the congregation. Thus, this verse is a call to balance the pursuit of spiritual gifts with a foundational commitment to love, using these gifts, especially prophecy, to strengthen and nurture the church community.

1 Corinthians 14:2, "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries,"

Highlights the profound and personal nature of speaking in tongues as a form of communication with God. Speaking in tongues is a vital manifestation of the Holy Spirit, signifying a direct and intimate dialogue between the believer and God. This practice is seen as a deeply spiritual experience where the individual utters divine mysteries that transcend human understanding. It underscores the idea that speaking in tongues is not primarily for public edification unless interpreted, but rather for personal edification and spiritual connection with God. This aligns with the emphasis on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, where speaking in tongues serves as the initial evidence of this experience,(Acts 2:1-4) reinforcing a personal and spiritual communion with the divine.

1 Corinthians 14:3, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort,"

Highlights the vital role of prophecy in the life of the church. In this context, prophecy is understood as a divine utterance inspired by the Holy Spirit, which serves three key functions: edification, exhortation, and comfort. Edification refers to building up the faith and spiritual maturity of the congregation, helping believers grow in their understanding and relationship with God. Exhortation involves encouraging and urging individuals to pursue righteous living and remain steadfast in their faith, providing motivation and guidance. Comfort denotes offering solace and reassurance, particularly in times of trial and distress, reminding believers of God's presence and promises. Prophecy is a powerful tool for ministering to the spiritual needs of the church, promoting unity, spiritual growth, and emotional support. This perspective underscores the belief that spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, are meant to be exercised in love for the benefit and strengthening of the entire church body.

1 Corinthians 14:4, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church,"

Highlights the different roles and impacts of speaking in tongues and prophesying within the Christian community. Speaking in tongues, a significant practice in worship, is seen as a personal edification experience, where the individual is spiritually uplifted and strengthened by direct communion with God. This private benefit, however, contrasts with the broader, communal benefit of prophecy. Prophesying is considered a higher gift in the context of public worship because it communicates God's message in an understandable language, thereby edifying, exhorting, and comforting the entire congregation. This verse is emphasizing the need for balance between personal spiritual growth and the edification of the church body. While speaking in tongues is highly valued for personal spiritual development, prophecy is especially esteemed for its capacity to build up the church, reinforcing the communal and interdependent nature of Christian life and worship.


These are spiritual gifts, can they be counterfeited and how would one really know if they are really authentic ?

Speaking in tongues is regarded as a genuine spiritual gift and the initial physical evidence of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, the possibility of counterfeits is acknowledged. To discern the authenticity of speaking in tongues, several criteria are emphasized. Firstly, the context in which the gift is manifested is considered crucial; authentic speaking in tongues should occur within a sincere, worshipful, and orderly environment as described in Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 14. Secondly, the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, and righteousness, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, should be evident in the life of the individual speaking in tongues, demonstrating a genuine transformation and alignment with God’s will. Thirdly, the guidance and confirmation from church leaders and the community of believers play a vital role in discerning authenticity, as they can provide spiritual oversight and discernment. I believe that through prayer, scriptural alignment, and the witness of the Holy Spirit within the church, believers can distinguish true manifestations of speaking in tongues from counterfeits, ensuring that this spiritual gift is used for the edification of the church and the glory of God.

Responding to Project 2025



A policy book this large provides plenty to split hairs over. As with any dividing moment in politics, Christians have a duty to recall their primary identity within the kingdom of God. The apostle Peter refers to the church as God’s own nation and priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9-12), reminding believers that in this world, we are simply sojourners and exiles in a foreign land (1 Pet. 2:11).

An already-not-yet nature is inherent to the Christian life since we know that we are part of an eternal kingdom, but we reside in a temporary place. Yet, while we are here, we have a responsibility to seek the welfare of our community, just as God commanded the Babylonian exiles in their temporary homes away from Jerusalem (Jer. 29:4-7).

How do we adopt this kingdom-minded approach to our political engagement? We pray for our leaders, our nation, and our individual discernment. We intentionally seek out the truth, research consequential policies, have important conversations, and then vote accordingly. We guard our hearts against the corrupting tendency of political idolatry and the wicked desire to place our faith in ideology. Lastly, we actively work toward Godly solutions in our society rather than hoping for legislation and policymakers to do the work for us.

These principles should characterize every Christian’s approach to the culture, and living them out is an act of obedience to God that goes beyond personal politics. So, regardless of how you plan to vote this fall, commit to a kingdom-minded approach and trust that the Lord is not limited by who runs the government.

Need help navigating this site

Hi -

I was looking for a Christian theology forum. I found this one on a search engine, and it took me to a post titled Mariology and Hagiography. I was not allowed to reply unless I registered, so I did so. But now I cannot find that discussion again. And I do not find a search box on this site. I'm very technologically challenged, being an old lady. Can someone please help me out? Thank you.

Radiation exposure from CT scans

Five days ago I had CT scan of the neck. Then, the next day, I read on the internet that radiation from one CT scan is 200 times larger than from the exray, so now I regret it. In addition to the current CT scan of my neck, I also had CT scan of my abdomen 2 years ago. Here are the things I am concerned about:

1) Cancer risk

2) Whether I will be aging faster since both radiation and aging has the same mechanism (mutation and free radicals)

3) Whether my IQ will decrease since the radiation hit part of my brain even though it was directed at the neck

4) It said "do not stare" yet I did, so I qm wondering about developing vision problems

Since the way radiation damages my body is through free radicals, is there some medicine that can get them out of my system?

Bought a power bank

I just picked up this power bank off of Amazon, I was playing around with my mini laptop the other day and it turns out I found that the battery life was only 2 hours and 30 minutes from a full charge, terrible! This kills the portability of the laptop, it is small enough to fit in your pocket but the battery life means you have to keep it plugged-in all the time. The power bank should help extend the battery life by alot and it is portable. It is slick, has a nice heavy feel to it, probably weights about 3 pounds.

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Controversial Street Preacher Slams Subway, Saying Christian T-Shirts Led to Bigotry

Controversial street preacher David Grisham shared video this week from inside a Wisconsin Subway restaurant, where an employee acknowledged she was refusing to serve him and three other men. The group, who traveled to the Republican National Convention from Texas, were wearing T-shirts with messages such as “Homo Sex Is Sin, Romans 1” and “Abortion Is Murder.”

Now some Christians are urging Subway to respond; others are threatening to boycott the fast-food chain. “Christophobic bigotry should not be tolerated,” Grisham wrote on Facebook. “Please give Subway corporate a call.”

David Grisham Refused Service at Subway

A 30-second video circulating on social media shows Grisham and his companions trying to order sandwiches at a Subway in Waunakee, Wisconsin. When one man asks a female employee, “Are you refusing to serve customers?” she nods. The person filming the encounter says, “I want her to say it again.” The woman then replies, “I am refusing you service.”

Continued below.

The Democrat's big lie

So, here we are on July 22, 2024, just a little under 24 hours from when Biden made his historic announcement that he is no longer running for President of the United States and the Democratic Party is in unprecedented chaos. Let's reflect on how we got here.

First, we hear regularly from Democrats how Donald Trump lies about everything. They're not wrong. When Donald Trump is speaking, there's a high probability he's lying as well. But now, Democrats look like GIGANTIC HYPOCRITES. For the last few years, we've been told one of the biggest lies from the Democratic Party. That lie was that Biden was "sharp as a tack" and that he was "the best version" of himself ever. People were saying this as recently as one month ago. Any attempt to point out clearly obvious signs of decline in his mental acuity were met with vociferous claims of RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY! and CHEAP FAKES!. It's a Russian disinformation campaign! The gaslighting was near universal from Democrats and from the legacy media claiming that what you were seeing with your own two eyes was not who Biden really was. Fact-checkers went into overtime concocting explanations for how Biden's obvious cognitive decline wasn't actually real.

That is, until June 27, 2024. Biden took the debate stage and laid bare for the entire world to see just how far his mental state had declined. Almost instantaneously, the entire Democratic Party and the legacy media turned on a dime. Suddenly, they were willing to admit what just about everyone else had been saying all along, that Biden was not fit for another term in office. He must step down. There's no way he can win. His path to victory is gone. For over 3 weeks, there was a relentless pressure campaign on Biden to admit that he was not fit for another term in office. The lies that we had been fed about him being "sharp as a tack" were no longer tenable. And so yesterday, July 21, 2024, Biden dropped out of the race citing what was best for his party and the country, and yes, he gave his party top-billing over the country when talking about what was best. Worse, he didn't even make an appearance. He simply tweeted out a letter on X announcing his decision and said in the letter that there'd be more details later this week.

The Democrats LIED about Biden's mental acuity for years. The legacy media was 100% complicit. They want you to believe that Biden just collapsed in the debate. Actually, first they wanted you to believe that he had a cold and just had a "bad night". But when those narratives fell through, they were left with nothing.

And now, the Democrats are circumventing the democratic process entirely to "save democracy" they say. Despite the fact that Joe Biden overwhelmingly won ALL of the primaries, the Democrats are content to toss those elections aside and instill whoever it is they like. The right time for Biden to announce he wasn't seeking re-election was BEFORE the primaries, so that the voters would be able to select their candidate. But because it was necessary to keep up the big lie that Biden was mentally fit for another term, they ran him and kept repeating the big lie that he was "sharp as a tack" to put themselves in this mess.

They're still not completely admitting the lie. They can't say that Biden isn't seeking re-election because he is mentally unfit, because if he's mentally unfit for another term, then he's certainly mentally unfit to be running the country NOW. So they simply say it's for the good of their party and the country. So they simply say he's not seeking re-election for the good his party. In other words, we're losing, we know it, so we're going to do whatever we need to do to cling to power.

And of course, all of the Democrats that were just 24 hours prior talking about how awful Biden was and how he had to go were suddenly awash with praise for the man when he announced he would end his bid for the presidency. He's a "selfless hero" and a "patriot" now that he's stepped aside conceded to the intense pressure campaign to run him off and begrudgingly went kicking and screaming.

The Democratic Party has been propagating a massive lie for years that has now placed them in this impossible situation where they must disenfranchise primary voters to "save democracy". It will be interesting to watch how the party spins this, but you can bet your bottom dollar that it will almost certainly involved more big lies.

  • Poll
Who Would You Pick to Replace Biden?

Who would you pick to replace Biden?

  • Kamala Harris (Current VP)

    Votes: 14 70.0%
  • Gretchen Whitmer (MI Governor)

    Votes: 2 10.0%
  • Pete Buttigieg (Secretary)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Gavin Newsom (CA Governor)

    Votes: 1 5.0%
  • J.B. Pritzker (Il Governor)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Mark Kelly (AZ Senator)

    Votes: 1 5.0%
  • Robert F. Kennedy (To Switch Parties to Dem)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Michelle Obama

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other (Listed Below)

    Votes: 2 10.0%

This poll is mostly for the Democrats here. I'm interested to see in who you would pick to replace Biden. If it's someone not listed, please share below. This is a sincere post :)

Was Kamala aware of Joe’s decline?

Was Vice President Harris aware of President Biden’s decline?

If she was, what does that say about her, especially since she said she would say something to the American people if the president declined too far.

If she wasn’t, is she really the person to lead this country?

Healing For My Family

Hello brothers and sisters, I would like to ask if you could please say some prayers for me and my family. My mom's had a lot of health issues over the past three years, and there's been something going on with me for months that often keeps me awake at night. It's getting very frustrating and difficult to deal with for all of us.

Thank you and God bless.
:purpleheart:

Donations rolling in for the Democratic Party


Democrats greeted President Biden’s departure from the presidential race with an avalanche of cash, donating more than $50 million online on Sunday and making it the single biggest day for online Democratic contributions since the 2020 election — with hours to go.​
The huge amount is based on a New York Times analysis of the online ticker of contributions maintained by ActBlue, the leading site processing Democratic donations.​
With Mr. Biden gone and Vice President Kamala Harris building momentum to claim the nomination, Democrats went online to contribute at a startling pace. Donations spiked from an average of less than $200,000 per hour in the hours before Mr. Biden quit to nearly $11.5 million in a single hour later on Sunday, the analysis shows.​
As of 10 p.m., Sunday was ActBlue’s third biggest day for online donations in its history.​

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