Hmm. What was it, that dies in darkness?

Let us join together in unison to pray for our priests. Please feel free to add in your prayers for them



Artist Daniel Gerhartz

Joe's mental health was on display for all to see in what was arguably the worst performance during a presidential debate...ever. I can recall Ross Perot's debate and Joe's campaign team wishes he did that well.

Joe's mental fitness has been a subject of controversy since 2020 at least. During that campaign, Joe did pretty well whenever he wasn't required to speak off the top of his head. Aside from some rambling tales of Cornpop...Joe appeared to be a viable candidate and tales of his mental decline were overblown. During his first two years, despite multiple crises like Afghanistan and the border and inflation....Joe spent less time in front of the press than any other president. Early on, he made some mistakes talking about his past, he called out to a dead woman who was a former associate thinking she was in the crowd, he called Kamala the president and mentioned that he did as he was told.

Alone...I think any of these blunders could be dismissed. If you watch mainly left wing sources....they were dismissed if you saw them at all. If you watched any right wing sources....they started to paint a troubling picture.

Then his SOTU address went rather well with only a few hiccups...and it seemed like Joe was again, mostly mentally there....occasionally having a few gaffes. Then footage of him abroad began to surface on foreign media outlets and it was disastrous. Joe was being led around like a dog at the Westminster kennel show. He was walking to greet people 30 feet away, and would walk right past them as if he forgot what he was doing in a space of 10 seconds. He was forgetting the end of his speeches, then his sentences, then the exit off the stage. In Vietnam, he told the press he was going to bed, then was interrupted by smooth jazz, and handlers rushed to help him leave.

About 30% on either side of the political aisle will lie to themselves and believe any rhetoric their party tells them....but 60-70% of voters could see something was wrong, even if it wasn't spoken of much on the left and only speculated about on the right. Openly slandering Biden without evidence of dementia or alzheimer's was a risky proposal that would likely haunt the news outlet willing to try it.

Yet even after the debate....it appears that some outlets on the left are still pretending. It's jet lag, a cold, or bad moderation from CNN. I know these "journalists" have hours of footage they parse down to minutes for their stories. There's no doubt in my mind they were all well aware that Joe is mentally gone and has been for some time. MSNBC is the outlet that arguably acts as the Fox News for the left....carrying the Democratic Party's water no matter what. They've been pushing the idea that this was a rare one-off incident that isn't indicative of Joe's mental health.

However, before you believe that, consider what they said a day before the debate.

Login to view embedded media
Some of what is said there is true. The live political debates are of little importance in evaluating the competency of a president. A president will have multiple aids and advisors who can help the president make decisions. This is true. A president though...still has to make those decisions. They will have to meet with tough foreign leaders and impress foreign allies. They will need to make difficult decisions about how to secure our future and at no point will anyone accept the answer "well my advisor told me to do that" when they fail or make a mistake. At the very least, we should want to see a president who can convincingly pretend to have the answers. A debate where others are answering for you isn't a debate....but it is a clue to just how dependent upon his staff Joe Biden is. The suggestions in that short video aired before the debate are made by someone who knows Joe doesn't have the brains anymore.

It indicates, to me, the press on both sides has known this for years. That's why they wanted Joe's competition behind bars or bankrupt. They wanted him removed from ballots. They wanted the voter to have no other choice...and they could continue with the gaslighting. The party and the media outlets competing for the attention of the left don't respect the intelligence of their audience.

That seems obvious to me though, and I'm curious about whether or not others believe that the media knew Joe was cuckoo for coco puffs.

Pray that Jesus Christ guides France's Recently elected Parliament members to view Christians in favorable light, and support Christians in the culture wars ( i.e. prolife, pro-Traditional marriage, etc.):

I thought babies had the same obligation as everyone else to attend Mass every Sunday, only the responsibility for upholding it and the consequences for missing it fall on the parents.

My wife and I were in disagreement about that this morning. We go to separate Masses, and today she decided that she and my step daughter would go to the noon Spanish Mass after some quick dress shopping for a wedding she has coming up. I asked what about our son (18 months) and she said he could just stay home with me, indicating he wouldn't go to Mass at all since I had already gone and would be headed to work a few hours later. I said that wasn't okay because the sin of failing our obligation falls on the parents if we don't take our children. Eventually we decided I'd take him down to the Church and drop him off with her, so I did.

The main reason she didn't want to take him was the heat. We've been in the middle of a severe heat wave, the high yesterday was 117 and today it was about 107 when the noon Mass let out. It was bad enough that she had to take him to a doctor's appointment at 1:45 in the afternoon on Friday when it was about 110, she didn't want to put him through that again even though our parish is well air conditioned. She suggested he stay home and watch a live streamed Mass with me but I reminded her that hasn't been valid for years unless you're a bedridden invalid.

Someone else mentioned that babies don't have an obligation until they reach the age of reason, which is seven years old in the Latin Church. Is that right?

So here is the thing, I reverted to Christianity in late 2023 in a serious manner and this question has been bothering me ever since. Are we allowed to do what I said in the thread title? And adding to that, are we allowed to care for idolaters in Christianity? Would appreciate answers that are backed by verses from the scripture. Thanks.

Matthew 5:

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:

Click to expand...

Jesus warned against careless, frivolous, or vain swearing. People in his time routinely abused swearing.

either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

Click to expand...

Note that Jesus did not say that do not swear by God.

37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Click to expand...

For routine matters, no need to swear. Just be honest.

Mat 26:

63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Click to expand...

On this occasion, Jesus did not tell the high priest not to swear. He responded to the high priest swearing.

64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Click to expand...

To convince the hearers of the speaker's seriousness, there are special occasions for true swearing. 2 Corinthians 1:

23 But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.

Click to expand...

2 Corinthians 11:

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

Click to expand...

Galatians 1:

20 In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!

Click to expand...

Can a Christian swear an oath?

Yes, swearing before a judge is okay. A marriage vow is okay.

Last night I had a dream , telling me what everyone wants in life, and I am going to shock you but the world wants nothing to do with God these days , deep down inside the world wants peace and dignity , yet they overlook their own creator as a solution.



They (mankind) look towards greed , envy , lust, and all kinds of perversions to fill their hearts with what the creator had created in their hearts in the first place and that is peace, joy, love and respect.



The enemy has stolen all of this and more from the beginning of time , we have been robbed , killed and lied to by the enemy.



That brings up an important question, and that is if you are going to walk up to a complete stranger on the street are you going to start off by telling them that Jesus loves them? Or are you going to tell them that there is a creator that will give them back all of the peace, joy and love that has been withheld from them from the beginning of time? Are you going to add to trier misery? Or are you going to give them that much needed hope that only you can provide at that very moment?



You want to show them hope love and respect from the very beginning , not shove your beliefs down their throat. This will turn off more people than you will ever know.



That is what Jesus called Religion, and He hated Religion, first show people respect and listen to them, their hurts and troubles are sometimes bigger than you can ever know. The first thing that people have been robbed of since the beginning of time is a feeling of human dignity, respect and just someone to listen to them. Do ask if you could pray for them first, you never know.



Perhaps that person has grown old and been just dumped in a nursing home , abandoned and their families have turned against them, they just don’t care.



Their are too many people in this world that just don’t care any more , you have to show them that someone cares, and that person can be you.



Are you going to put your self in their shoes ? 90 percent of the people just don’t care about Jesus or the Devil , but if you first give them a reason to want Him then maybe that 90 percent would be more open.



You have to take baby steps when talking to unbelievers, start off with the beatitudes , then say that there is a creator that loves them , don’t say God or Jesus instead ask them if they know who that creator is?



You would be surprised at some of their answers, let them lead into the existence or non-existence of Jesus and the devil.



Ask them if they know who the enemy is ....



Then when they tell you , you can have a serious conversation with them about it all , then you can lead them into why they would want to have Jesus in the first place , don’t force Jesus down their throats , instead ask them who they think the creator is, everyone at least believes in some form of a creator.



Remember above all you will catch more flies with honey ......

Russ Campbell

Apparently, a pro-palestinian mob decided to step up all that "intifada" talk and actually attack a bunch of jews at a synagogue. This is completely understandable, as all that talk about a worldwide intifada starts to sound insincere if you aren't willing to terrorize jews wherever they live.

My favorite part of the article.....

At the news conference, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she plans on meeting with the city attorney’s office to talk about the potential for permits for protests, people wearing masks at protests and “establishing clear lines of demarcation between what is legal and what is not.”

I'd say she's about 6 years too late....as the left has gradually permitted increasing amounts of violence to go unpunished at their various protests and counter-protests. I can see why it's a problem now though....since these are two groups thst typically vote Democratic. The violence was acceptable when directed at anyone imagined to be on the right.

Thoughts ?

I'm in my 50s but I keep feeling something (a call, vocation?) to develop musically. What would be your recommendations?

The reality is almost certain that Biden will not serve out 4 1/2 more years as president.

Biden may or may not be the candidate most likely to defeat Trump. I don't think so. However, if Biden is elected, Kamala Harris will be president sometime in the next 4 years.
=========
SOME THOUGHTS
The issue is who should lead the US in the next four years, NOT Biden's record over the last 3 1/2 years (which I think has been very good). Democrats would love to have a referendum on Biden's record. The issue is the future.
============
BOTTOM LINE FOR DEMOCRATS
Should Biden run, expecting Harris to be president in a year or so.

Or should Harris run NOW.

IMO, Biden has likely already brought us to a Trump presidency. Harris is likely the only candidate that can unite the party and PERHAPS defeat Trump.

A Harris candidacy would very likely save the House for the Democrats.

Trinity Foundation investigator Pete Evans took this photo of Benny Hinn’s Dana Point, California, beach home while it was under construction. Evans spoke with Dave Busk, the builder, and was told the residence would be his client’s “dream home.” | Trinity Foundation

Beach houses and beach condos along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts have become the vacation homes of choice for America’s wealthiest pastors and ministry leaders.

Over the past three years, the investigative nonprofit Trinity Foundation has conducted hundreds of property searches, resulting in the discovery of 40 beach houses, beach condos and waterfront homes in coastal cities owned by church and ministry leaders and their nonprofit organizations. These 40 properties — a few of which are listed in the piece — are worth a combined $140 million.

For this report, Trinity Foundation restricted the definition of a beach house to a home or condo within 1 mile of a beach. This restrictive definition prevented the inclusion of such properties as televangelist David E. Taylor’s $8 million Tampa parsonage and other expensive pastor-owned vacation homes.

Continued below.

Students are losing out on months of learning as Texas becomes more reliant on uncertified teachers to fill vacancies, according to new research.

A study by Texas Tech University’s Jacob Kirksey examined the ramifications stemming from an explosion of uncertified teachers across the state.

Students with new uncertified teachers lost the equivalent of about four months of learning in reading and three months in math, Kirksey’s research found.

However, the data showed that if an uncertified teacher had previous classroom experience – such as working as a substitute – students performed on par with those taught by certified educators.

A Dallas Morning News analysis of state data found that roughly one in three new teachers hired in the state during the 2022-23 school year were uncertified.

Teachers in the early elementary grades are often tasked with screening students for dyslexia. The study found that students assigned to an uncertified new teacher in first grade were less likely to receive dyslexia services by third grade. [Either untrained teachers magically make their students not be dyslexic, or these kids are not getting the early intervention they need.]

Typically, to become certified in Texas, teaching candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, complete an educator preparation program, pass related exams, submit a state application and go through a background check. They are supposed to receive training in how to manage student behavior, plan lessons, serve children with disabilities and other classroom skills.

The path to becoming a teacher without state certification is less clear. The level of training can be wide-ranging. [Study data shows 18% of untrained teachers have no college degree.]

Uncertified educators made up 45% of full-time, new teacher hires in Kirksey’s examination.

Their distribution across the state was uneven. Rural districts hired these teachers much more often – at a rate four times higher than in non-rural communities.

I think that people with the inner function of the conscience working, so not psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists, have the inner likeness of God in them. They are not totally depraved. Referring to Calvin's teaching. So I do not believe in tarrying in church but sometimes exercise my conscience.

Why do Calvinist's think all are totally depraved?

I wouldn't mind finding a new church, but being that I'm naturally so skeptical and inclined toward the philosophical appraisal of darn near everything, I don't really see any churches in my area that would allow me "to be me" and put up with my questions and evaluations of their specific Church Dogma and the presentation of further historical, hermeneutical, and sometimes scientific, research ...

I prefer a church denomination that doesn't assume the Bible comes in a hermetically sealed box from that church's own self-accredited packaging plant, especially not for the specific support of politics.

Does anyone know of a Christian Church like that? I don't, but if anyone here does, please let me know.

An interesting video youtube suggested to me:

Login to view embedded media

Jesus' teaching that one should treat others as they themselves would like to be treated, commonly known as the Golden Rule, holds a profound theological meaning. Do you agree that It encapsulates the empathic essence of morality, emphasizing the dignity and respect due to every individual? And would practicing this commandment lead individuals towards greater empathy and moral integrity, while guiding societies towards fairness, equality, and mutual respect?

TikTok user Tiff (@theunapologetictiff) posted the original video, which has since amassed more than 879,000 views, on June 28. In it, she says, “I am so upset, and I’m not trying to be dramatic, but I’m literally shaking.” She says she was just at Planet Fitness changing in the women’s locker room when a male staff member walked out of the women’s bathroom and saw her without a shirt or bra on.

So guy working at Planet Fitness peeps on woman changing clothes...and PF decides to tell her to relax and plays the whole thing off.

It doesn't appear that the guy is trans....but as PF allows anyone to use the restroom they feel comfortable in, he doesn't appear to be in any trouble. Besides, what difference would it make if he said he feels like a woman?

Judging by the response from staff, this isn't his first time. PF even runs a scary promo allowing underage girls to try the gym out for free.

Thoughts?

By Thursday, it will be 2 weeks since the debate. I expect Biden to drop out by next weekend. Two weeks is enough time to have the discussions and to review polls regarding the presidency AND THE HOUSE.
==============
CNN and MNBC will be happy to broadcast 2 or 3 or 4 debates among the top 5 so Democratic candidates (July 22 and couple after the Olypics makes sense to me). They could run the debates, or the party could appoint those who would ask the questions. Maddow and Stephenopolis come to mind. Networks could decide to have town hall interviews with the top candidates, or not.

The delegates would then decide in the old-fashioned way, at the convention. The country would be focused on the Democrats for several weeks.

This is the BEST chance for the Democrats to win the House and perhaps even the presidency, although that is now a long shot, now that Biden wasted a year of the country getting to know the candidates. The primaries were a fine opportunity, now lost.

I find as I look over the Hillsong scandal and at the churches, there is a worldly influence constricting us. The fear of man is also restricting us.

One cannot preach to sinners as before, or there may be a press circus or something less intense. And the repentant sinner can't preach, or they may be criticized. I think to some extent the world has always criticized us. But now they are condescending about what's right and honourable and may not tolerate our mercy and grace.

Remembering Nicky Cruz, John Newton and King David in Psalm 40. Set free, being set free, being attacked with aha aha. And there is also pimp to preacher Jan Ericksson. The Cross and the Switch Blade, and Run Baby Run. Still on Delafe testimonies sinners repent, but the need is for the reaper to overtake the Sower. We need more. We need a lot more grace and many preachers, stable ones. "Where sin abounds grace even more." Quote from Paul the Apostle.

Reinhard Bonnke was well reputable and had good success, and we need out reaches to the lost. Because Jesus wants all the world to hear the Gospel before He returns. I think the rules churches make restricts this. The government laws may not be designed with our interests in mind but are condescending. Their care is one dimensional. Sometimes even communist like, banning Bibles in nursing homes according to ACLJ.

When a man and a woman unite together in what is to be a Christian marriage, according to the Scriptures, the man is supposed to leave his parents, hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh, united as one, not to be divided. That is God’s design and purpose for marriage which the Lord had me write about recently in a document called, “A Godly Marriage,” which can be read at the link at the end of this writing (1).

And to “hold fast” to his wife is to be glued to her, to cleave to her (stick to; cling to; stand by her). And he is to promise to love and to cherish her, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep himself only unto her, for as long as they both shall live. And the wife is to promise the same to her husband. And both are to put this into daily practice in their married lives.

[Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 2 Peter 2:13-19; 1 Corinthians 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Ephesians 5:1-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Titus 2:3-5; Matthew 5:28; Matthew 15:19-20; Matthew 19:9; Mark 7:20-22; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:13-21]

Now, with regard to the subject of obedience to other humans, whether they are our husbands, bosses, government heads, the police, pastors/elders, or parents (if we are children under their supervision), all obedience is subject first to God and to the teachings of the Scriptures and to his moral principles and his commandments for us in holy living. So we are never to submit to sin of any kind, never to compromise truth and righteousness, never to do what is immoral, and never to deny Jesus Christ and the truth of his word.

And if you are a husband, a father, a boss (earthly master), a pastor/elder, or a person whose job it is to uphold the law of the land, if you are a Christian, then you should not be harsh with those under your care, but you are to love them as God/Christ loves us. And you are not to be domineering, but you are to lead by example. And you should not be a bully or a tyrant, but you should love as Jesus loved and gave himself up for us so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. So love as you want to be loved.

And whatever we do or whoever we serve under, we are to work as though we are working for the Lord, and we should do all as is fitting (proper) in the Lord. So, we do not ever have to submit to evil or to compromise our faith and practice and our witness for the Lord in order to be in submission to those who are over us. And Jesus, and his disciples, and Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel all serve as wonderful examples of how to put this into practice in our daily lives, being willing to die for the truth of God.

And then we are to place those in authority over us in the hands of the Lord, trusting the Lord to work in their lives according to his will and purposes. And then we should pray for them and for wisdom and guidance from the Lord each day to know just how best to minister to those in authority over us and how best to love them without compromising truth and righteousness, and without disobeying our Lord and sinning against him.

[Matt 4:17; Matt 7:21-23; Matt 11:20-21; Matt 12:41; Matt 21:28-31; Mk 1:14-15; Lu 5:32; Lu 9:23-26; Lu 13:1-5; Lu 15:2-7; Lu 24:45-47; Jn 3:17-21; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 8:31-32,51; Jn 10:27-30; Jn 14:15-24; Jn 15:1-11]

In Harmony

An Original Work / September 2, 2012
Based off Ro. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-17

Love each other truly.
Cling to what is good.
Hate all that is evil.
Never lack in zeal.
Serve the Lord with fervor.
Joyful in hope be;
Patient in affliction;
Praying faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people
Who are found in need.
Do not be conceited.
Sympathetic be.
Love, and show compassion
In humility.
Keep your tongue from evil.
Peaceful you must be.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;
Listens to their prayers.
But He’s against evil –
Is His to avenge.
Do not fear what they fear.
Suffer patiently.
In your hearts, make Christ Lord.
Serve Him faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Login to view embedded media
(1) A Godly Marriage

See The new earth as "heaven"

Social media platforms are awash with conspiracy theories following the death of a Mexican man from a new strain of bird flu.

The theories are largely based on the false belief that the U.S. government is concocting a new pandemic ahead of the November election, four years on from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a means to control the population and presumably tip the result in President Joe Biden's favor.

The Context​

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the 59-year-old man died in Mexico City on April 24 after developing a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, and general discomfort. They say his death was caused by a strain of bird flu never before found in humans – H5N2.

Continued below.

God bless, folks!

Resurrection Catholic Parish in Tualatin, Oregon, invited Buddhist monks to instruct parishioners on Buddhist practices last month and allowed the monks to carry out their chants and prayers in the sanctuary in front of the altar.

TUALATIN, Oregon (LifeSiteNews) — Tibetan Buddhist monks instructed Catholics in their religious practices and led them in non-Christian chants at a Catholic church in Oregon.

On June 26, 2024, five Buddhist monks were invited to Resurrection Catholic Parish in Tualatin, Oregon. According to the parish pastor, Father Bill Moisant, the monks, whom he does not name, came from the Gaden Shartse Monastery in southern India and are followers of the Dalai Lama. Photographs show that two of them gave a small group of primarily elderly Catholics a presentation on Buddhist “meditation” and led a prayer session in the nave of the church.

Continued below.