Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said Sunday that he would consider supporting an effort to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) if he allows a deal to pass to keep the government open that gets Democratic votes.


To me, this seems like stupidity on display "I'll vote to oust Kevin if there's a spending deal that gets any Democratic votes". It also shows the lack of seriousness about the matter among the "hard right" members of the house.

"Does the other side hate it?" should never be prioritized over "Does it make sense?"

If their priority is "this has to be a funding bill that 100% of Democrats hate and refuse to support, otherwise that means we must not be owning them enough", that shows an incredible amount of pettiness on their part.

It's also stupid for the simple reason that he just flipped his cards "face up" on the table. Now, any democrat who wants to see more intra-GOP fighting and make Kevin's life miserable knows they simply just have to pretend to support a deal and that'll immediately trigger talks of an ouster vote.

The "a sliver of compromise is an indicator of weakness" mentality isn't a viable way to govern at the national level...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill late Friday night that would have required judges to consider whether parents have affirmed the gender identity of their children amid custody disputes.

The bill, introduced by state Assemblywoman Lori Wilson (D), would allow courts to consider each parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity when making decisions about custody and visitation.

“I urge caution when the Executive and Legislative branches of state government attempt to dictate — in prescriptive terms that single out one characteristic — legal standards for the Judicial branch to apply,” Newsom wrote in his veto letter.


Color me surprised about this one. While I think he was right to veto it (there are a plethora of factors and considerations required with regards to custody disputes beyond just "does Parent A affirm gender identity while Parent B does not")

Possible that this surprising move (vetoing a pro-Trans bill introduced by a fellow democrat in the blue state of Cali) is part of a larger strategy to move a few notches toward the middle in the chances that Biden opts to bow out and the DNC will be looking for someone else to "carry the torch"? (knowing that in order to win, there has to be some measure of moderation?)


It just seems odd...if he has no aspirations of pursuing any office beyond the scope of California, then there seems to be no political upside for him to have vetoed this bill. It certainly won't gain him any popularity points among democrats in Cali...which is why I floated the idea that maybe it's not "Cali-exclusive popularity" he's going for with that move.

Thoughts?

Another photo-op for biden:


President Joe Biden will travel to Michigan on Tuesday and walk the picket line with members of the United Auto Workers union, he announced Friday, a trip that comes after the president faced political pressure to ramp up his public support for the union members.

“Tuesday, I’ll go to Michigan to join the picket line and stand in solidarity with the men and women of UAW as they fight for a fair share of the value they helped create. It’s time for a win-win agreement that keeps American auto manufacturing thriving with well-paid UAW jobs,” Biden said in a post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

I do not know for sure if the man was being trafficked...but I had enough reason to believe he was under someone else's control that I gave all the information I had to the National Human Trafficking Hotline on an online form. What I had is not enough to build a case, barely enough to identify the potential victim or exploiter. So it's a very long shot to believe anything can come of this.

But I have done everything I can. I submitted a police report to the city, a report to the Trafficking Hotline, and now I submit prayers that justice & peace & all that God wants may flourish on this Earth. It's a long shot to believe anything could be pieced together to any useful degree, but I believe in a God who can still work wonders in the face of great improbability. Please, pray for everyone who is being exploited in any way, for their exploiters, and for all who work to free the exploited & bring them to fullness of life.

Be blessed, my friends...may His blessings be increased in everyone involved.

Login to view embedded media
i really love this song

Disney is creating a buzz with its newest foray into programming for mature audiences as it debuts “Pauline,” a series about a teen girl who finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand with Satan. Yes, you read that right. The production company once synonymous with family-friendly programming is jumping into bed with the devil himself.

This comes at the end of a long line of projects departing from what was once considered appropriate in children’s television. Gone are the days when parents could turn on a Disney series without careful scrutiny. Disney+ showcased “Out” in 2020, a short film about a gay man coming out to his family, released its “Pride Collection” of over 20 different series in 2022, introduced its first live-action trans character that same year, and included gay kiss scenes in feature films “Star Wars” and “Lightyear.” Parents who wish to discuss these sensitive topics with nuance must take care to avoid this kind of secular programming, which company executives have stated is intended to provide an indoctrination of its values into young children.

Flawed theology​

Continued below.

Had the privelige of preaching this morning on the topic of Discipleship and what it means to be a true disciple. Here is the link Login to view embedded media

The other day during one her sermons she said,. Sometimes.she gets fearful she won't go to heaven. Can you imagine? She has done so much for God . I never ever expected her to say something like that. Bless her heart dear Lord.

Watching Joyce Meyers the other day she couldn't have said anything more shocking then this. she said sometimes she wonders if she will go to heaven. She does so much for God! Bless her heart dear God.

The governor can now pick some winners and losers in the school vouchers game of private schools getting taxpayer funds.

Florida suspends scholarships for 4 schools with ‘ties to Chinese Communist Party’​

In a statement to News 6 on Saturday, an FDOE spokesperson said that the four schools were targeted due to their affiliation with Spring Education Group and Primavera Holdings. The spokesperson pointed to text on Sagemont.com that reads, “Spring Education Group is controlled by Primavera Holdings Limited, an investment firm (together with its affiliates) principally based in Hong Kong with operations in China, Singapore, and the United States, that is itself owned by Chinese persons residing in Hong Kong.”

A spokesperson from Sagemont Preparatory School provided News 6 with the following statement on Saturday:
Our schools are locally run, abide by local, state and federal laws, and do not have ties to any government or political party, either foreign or domestic. Our curriculum is accredited, standards-based and academically rigorous.

“The Chinese Communist Party is not welcome in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said in a statement.

First they came for the alleged Chinese Communists...

These are my highest rated films involving religion/Jesus in highest rated order :-

1. Jesus Of Nazareth with Robert Powell…….6 hours long and hugely powerful.
2.Risen…..not historically accurate but beautiful filming, great acting with an inspiring end
3. Passion Of The Christ……….painful, but a reminder of what physical and emotional pain Jesus Christ went through for us.
4.The Book Of Eli…..Denzil Washington, great concept
5.It’s A Wonderful Life
6.The Omen Trilogy…..a horror but concludes with the second coming
7.Spartacus
8.The Robe
9.The Ten Commandments
10.King Of Kings

God Bless

Good day, everyone. I hope you are doing well. I wanted to kindly ask for your prayers for success with my continuous job search and job applications. May God have mercy and favor on me to finally receive some good, long-awaited news, as it is becoming very stressful financially. I am going to keep doing my part and keep hoping, but may God open doors for me. Your prayers are much appreciated. May God bless you all.

Recently I experienced a period of great consolation. After having considered my experience objectively (and under the guidance of my spiritual director), I have valid reason to believe that this was the work of the Holy Spirit, although I am not sure what to call it if that makes sense? Anointing? Baptism of the Holy Spirit? The fact that this was consolation was also confirmed by members of this forum. At a particular moment during this time of consolation, I experienced a vision that I believe was from the Holy Spirit. Since this occurrence happens very seldom to me, I have no reason to believe that I am schizophrenic or hallucinating, etc. I would prefer to keep the particular content of the vision to myself, but I believe it might or might not be a private revelation of the future. However, I am not 100% sure. I think that it would perhaps be very beneficial for me, if someone could interpret the vision for me (e.g. like Joseph did for pharaoh in Genesis). I have prayed for wisdom but I am none the wiser in this matter. Who should I turn to for interpretation of (what I believe to be) personal private revelation? A priest told me about the Carmelites for these sort of experiences? Truth be told, even though this vision filled me with awe and joy, I am slightly concerned (I will explain why here). After I had this vision, things sort of went back to normal in my life. Since I was filled with expectation about this experience being the precedent to a great personal breakthrough, I was disappointed when I saw that nothing had changed in my life. As such, to express my disappointment, I relapsed into old patterns of sin and sensuality. Now I am worried that the anointing over my life has been taken away from me, because of the fact that I chose to indulge in sensuality and sin after having an experience like this, if you know what I mean? Do I have reason to be worried? Or should I just carry on as usual? Have a blessed day and thank you for reading this far.

41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. - Daniel 2

Fr. Dwight Longenecker

I am often asked my opinion about girl altar servers–yea or nay?

Readers of my blog and of my book Letters on Liturgy and anyone who attends Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenville will know of my preference and opinion–and that is “nay” But why do we have all altar boys?

I am very aware that, in writing about the subject that I am tiptoeing through a minefield. “But the Vatican permits altar girls! Why not?” Then the sentimentalists chip in, “You’re being so mean to little girls!” Or the liturgical modernists: “It’s a lovely thing to welcome all God’s children to the table of fellowship!” or the pragmatists, “The girls can do just as good a job as the boys. Why exclude them when we need more kids to be altar servers?”

So here’s why I say “Nay” to girl altar servers. First there is the traditional argument that serving the altar is often a stepping stone to a priestly vocation and as the priesthood is closed to females, it is appropriate to reserve altar serving to boys. I’m not so convinced by this argument. Maybe. Maybe not. I think a vocation to the priesthood is more complicated.

However, I think there are more profound reasons for reserving the role of altar server to boys, and this leads to a conversation about the wider cultural context.

Continued below.

For the sake of those reading this who may not know what Facebook is, it is a place on the internet called a “social media” site where people can go to connect with other people, usually with friends, family, and neighbors.. and for Christians, with other believers in Jesus Christ, usually people they know. My children got me to go on there maybe in 2007, but my husband and I got off of there in May of 2015, and we were off of there for six years until the Lord led me to return two years ago, and my husband Rick returned also.

Well, a few days ago I sensed the Lord leading me to begin a small group for Christian women who wanted to study the Scriptures together to grow in their relationships with Jesus Christ. And I sensed him leading me to begin with the book of Ephesians and to share small sections of Scripture at a time, and to ask questions for the women to answer, if they want to, and now I sense he wants me to share these lessons with you, as well. So feel free to respond, for I do enjoy respectful discussions which stick to the Scriptures, in context, and related specifically to the topic being discussed.


Questions:

1. Who is this written to specifically, and then more broadly?
2. Who are the saints? What does it mean to be a saint?
3. Who are the faithful in Christ Jesus? What does it mean to be faithful in Christ Jesus?
4. Do you have any questions about this verse?

Now I use a website called biblehub.com to help me to understand the meanings of words in the Bible. If you put in the verse you want to look up, and click on "Int" (Interlinear), and click on the number at the top of the word you want to look up, it gives you a definition and the usage of the word. But we also can know the meanings of words often by the context of the passage, and context is always critical to correct biblical interpretation.

For example, the word "saint" renders this definition: “sacred, holy.” Usage: “set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred.” Then in HELPS Word-studies: “40 hágios – properly, different (unlike), other ("otherness"), holy; for the believer, 40 (hágios) means ‘likeness of nature with the Lord’ because ‘different from the world.’"

Also, if you look up the word faithful it renders this: “faithful, reliable.” Usage: “trustworthy, faithful, believing.” And in HELPS Word-studies: “Cognate: 4103 pistós (an adjective, derived from 3982 /peíthō, "persuaded") – properly, faithful (loyalty to faith; literally, fullness of faith); typically, of believing the faith God imparts.”

And then as we consider the faith which God imparts, we read in the Scriptures that Jesus is the author and the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2), and that our faith is gifted to us by God, and it is not of our own doing, not of our own fleshly works nor of the will nor the flesh of humankind (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13), and it is persuaded by God (John 6:44). So God and the Scriptures define what faith is for us, not us, and thus this faith will conform to the character and to the will of God.

I invite all of you to answer any of these questions you feel comfortable answering with what you understand, but to also consider what I will share with you regarding what I am learning from it. And I hope as we move along that we will all feel comfortable sharing what we are learning in the process. So I will tell you here that I used to skip over these introductory remarks in these books of the Bible until I learned how important they are to us in understanding the whole of what follows. For whom these words are written to plays a huge role in us knowing how we can apply them to our lives.

So, who is this written to? It is written to the saints, to the faithful in Christ Jesus, more specifically to those in Ephesus, but more broadly to all who are saints and the faithful in Christ Jesus. So what does that mean? It is written to all those who have chosen the way of holiness, of separation from the world, and of becoming more like Jesus. And it is written to those who have been divinely persuaded of God as to his holiness and righteousness, and of their sinfulness, and of their need to repent of their sins, to forsake them, and to now follow Jesus in obedience to his ways, and who are walking in his ways (Romans 1:18-32; Acts 26:18; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

This is not saying that these people have arrived, though, or that they are perfect in every way, but that first of all they have made that choice to leave their lives of sin behind them, to live no longer like the world, but like Jesus. And so Paul is giving them instructions in how to live holy lives unto God and in how to no longer live like the world and in sin. And this is critical that we understand this as we continue to read and to understand the lessons to be learned in this book, and then to apply these lessons to our lives. For that is why we are here, because we are people of God desiring Jesus Christ.

Any questions? Please ask them. Sincerely, Sue Love, age 73, teacher of the Scriptures, by the grace of God, for fifty years, and still always learning.

When I Go Home

By G. M. Eldridge

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes…” Revelation 21:4

In the moment He appears
And the light from heaven shines,
I’ll forget ev’ry fear,
Ev’ry pain I’ll leave behind.
Then I’ll see Him as He is
And I’ll know Him as I’m known.
Ev’ry tear wiped away when I go home.

Ever present is the tho’t
That a moment waits for me
When unworthy as I am,
His glory I will see.
I will empty all my praise
Before my Father’s throne.
Ev’ry tear wiped away when I go home.

If the trial I endure,
And your presence I can’t find,
Be near me, Lord, I pray,
Bring back unto my mind
That your promises are firm
And I’m never on my own.
Ev’ry tear wiped away when I go home.

Login to view embedded media Caution: This link may contain ads

Please pray for Lynn, she has blood clots in her stomach and the doctors do not know what is causing it. She has been in the hospital for a week, and has trouble walking. Praying for healing. Thank you for your prayers. God bless.

There will be a series of devotions written not by me, but by a former chief warlock Ben Alexander to tackle some very thorny issues.

Here is his website:

https://www.espministries.com/


BE BLESSED AS YOU READ THESE DEVOTIONS, PLEASE SHARE THEM.
Please listen to the sermons at the bottom.
If you aren't already subscribing and you wish to, please email me at keitherichobkirk@hotmail.com


Many Christian parents are concerned about what Halloween really is. We know that it is of Druidical origin which means that it was part of the Druid religion. In essence, Druidism is the worship of evil spirits, especially of druids who were believed to dwell in trees. There were priests in the Druid religion and like all pagan religions, Druidism revolved around the worship of evil spirits, and offerings to them to insure the welfare of the worshippers.
许多基督徒父母都很关心万圣节到底是什么。我们知道它起源于德鲁伊教，这意味着它是德鲁伊宗教的一部分。从本质上讲，德鲁伊教是对恶灵的崇拜，尤其是那些被认为住在树上的德鲁伊宗教。德鲁伊教中也有祭司，像所有异教一样，德鲁伊教以邪灵崇拜为中心，并为它们献祭，以确保信徒的福祉。

THE ORIGIN OF HALLOWEEN
万圣节的由来​

The name of the festival in early days (and it is still found in Ireland) meant "Satan's Watch." It was the night given over to Satan and his demons to work all the evil they wanted in the hope they would leave people unmolested the rest of the year. A fire was commonly kept burning on that night. The ghosts of the dead were dreaded and feared and men were thought to be restless in their graves because of something that happened in their life on earth. They were supposed to come back from the dead to take vengeance on those who were descended from people who had wronged them. People commonly locked themselves in their houses and spent the night in terror, letting the devil have his fling and do his worst.
万圣节在早期(在爱尔兰仍然存在)意味着“撒旦的守夜”。在这个夜晚，撒旦和他的魔鬼可以为所欲为，希望在接下来的一年里不会侵扰人们。那天晚上一般都会点燃篝火。人们对死者的鬼魂感到恐惧和害怕，认为死去的人会因为在世间发生的某些事情而在坟墓里焦躁不安。据说他们会复活，向那些曾经冤枉他们的人的后代复仇。人们通常把自己锁在家里，整夜都在恐惧中度过，让魔鬼为所欲为，尽其恶行。

Spiritualism and witchcraft is very real and we should not be providing our children with this opportunity for involvement. Many, if not all of our Halloween customs have their roots in these ancient beliefs. The witch on the broomstick and the jack-o-lantern are the symbols of Halloween. The witch, of course, is the personification of evil which is a substitute for Satan. The jack-o-lantern symbolizes the fire that was kept burning in the houses of those who feared Satan's worst. In fact the jack-o-lantern is always lit up (there is a fire there) so as to frighten away the devil.
招魂术和巫术是非常真实的，我们不应该给我们的孩子提供这种参与的机会。即使不是所有的万圣节习俗都源于这些古老的信仰。骑在扫帚上的女巫和南瓜灯是万圣节的象征。当然，女巫是邪恶的化身，是撒旦的替代品。南瓜灯象征着那些害怕撒旦使坏的人家中一直点燃的火。事实上，南瓜灯总是被点亮(那里有火)，以驱赶魔鬼。

WHAT HALLOWEEN REALLY MEANS
万圣节的真正含义​

Dressing up in costumes and "trick or treating" to the neighbors is a carry-over of the idea of making an offering to Satan and to the spirits to appease them. "Trick or treating" is a modern form of saying "offering or revenge." The grotesque and horrible masks our young people wear making themselves look like skeletons, dead people, or horrible monsters are symbolizing Satan and inspiring fear to get an offering.
穿着奇装异服和对邻居说“不给糖就捣蛋”，这是一种向撒旦和邪灵献祭以安抚他们想法的延续。“不给糖就捣蛋”是现代的表述方式，意为“献祭或报复”。我们的年轻人戴的那些怪诞可怕的面具，让自己看起来像骷髅、死人或可怕的怪物，象征着撒旦，并激发人们的恐惧以获得祭品。

Satan likes Halloween celebrations because this is a glorification of evil. Most people naturally do not think of it in this way. We believe it is all done in fun. Is it wise to have our children dress up like the devil and have "fun" in a devilish form? Can this possibly please God? After all, Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we are in a spiritual battle against Satan and his demons when it says. "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. When the Word of God teaches this, do you think it is right to celebrate a night given over to our enemy, Satan? When we poke fun and joke about the spirit world, we are encouraging ourselves and our children to believe that this doesn't really exist. When we allow our children to dress up like witches and ghosts, we are allowing them to treat lightly what God treats seriously in His Word. Exodus 22:18, Deuteronomy 18:10, and several other scriptures tell us that this is wrong. Those who don't know about the origin and meaning of Halloween are feeding their own belief into the Word of God when they treat lightly and celebrate what God hates. Satan camouflages himself amidst fun and gaiety and gets people to belittle his power and activity among men or even completely deny it. It is a very clever trick of the enemy.
撒旦喜欢万圣节的庆祝活动，因为这是对邪恶的颂扬。大多数人自然不会这样想。我们相信这一切都是为了好玩。让我们的孩子打扮成魔鬼，以魔鬼的形式享受“乐趣”是明智的吗?这能讨上帝的喜悦吗?毕竟，以弗所书6章12节告诉我们，我们是在与撒但和他的魔鬼作属灵的争战。“因为我们并不是与属血气的争战，乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战。”当神的话语教导我们这样做时，你认为庆祝我们的敌人撒旦之夜是正确的吗?当我们拿灵界开玩笑时，我们是在鼓励我们自己和我们的孩子相信这并不存在。当我们允许我们的孩子打扮成女巫和鬼魂时，我们就允许他们轻视神在他的话语中认真看待的东西。出埃及记22:18，申命记18:10，以及其他几段经文都告诉我们这是错误的。那些不了解万圣节的起源和含义的人，当他们轻视和庆祝上帝所憎恨的事物时，他们正在形成对上帝的话语的信仰。撒旦把自己伪装在欢乐之中，使人轻视他在人间的权力和活动，甚至完全否认他的能力和活动。这是敌人非常聪明的伎俩。

AN ALTERNATIVE FOR TODAY
今天的替代选择​

Satan is getting bolder in the United States, Occult practices are springing up all over America. Halloween parties provide a perfect setting for these. Often at these parties there is fortune telling, ouija boards, seances, and things of that nature. We can't afford to have our children participate in these activities.
We realize the problems this creates because it will be said "everybody" is dressing up to go "trick or treating." October 31 is not evil of itself. It is what we do with it that matters. Let's work at substituting good fun for bad. We can start working through our church. Instead of having a Halloween party, have a fun night ---games, refreshments, and perhaps even a film. The children can dress up - maybe a clown night, an old-fashioned night, or even Bible character night. Have a party! Have fun! Let it be harmless fun and let us glorify our Lord Jesus Christ - not His adversary.
撒旦在美国越来越猖狂，神秘活动在美国遍地开花。万圣节派对为这些提供了一个完美的场所。通常在这些派对上会出现算命、占卜板、降神会等类似的活动。我们不能让我们的孩子参与这些活动。我们意识到这带来的问题，因为会有说说“每个人”都在装扮去玩“不给糖就捣蛋”。10月31日本身并不邪恶。重要的是我们如何渡过这一天。让我们努力用好的乐趣来代替不好的方式。我们可以通过我们的教会开始工作。与其举办万圣节派对，不如过一个有趣的夜晚——玩游戏，吃点心，甚至看电影。孩子们可以盛装打扮——也许是小丑之夜，一个老式的夜晚，甚至是圣经人物之夜。举办一个派对吧!玩得开心!让它成为无害的娱乐，让我们荣耀我们的主耶稣基督，而不是他的对手。

One of my concerns is that when a child has enjoyed trick or treating once a year and then becomes a teenager…What then? Well, they are not going around knocking on doors for candy, that’s for kids. So, what happens --- they have parties and hold séances. This is a fact, and the results sometimes can be devastating, added to the fact that they are violating God’s will and opening themselves up to demon possession.
我担心的一个问题是，当一个孩子每年享受了一次“不给糖就捣蛋”的游戏乐趣，然后长成十几岁的青少年……那么接下来呢? 嗯，他们不会到处敲门要糖果，那是给孩子们的。那么会发生什么——他们会举办派对，开将神会。这是事实，结果有时是毁灭性的，加上他们违背了上帝的旨意，让自己暴露于恶魔附体的危险之中。

The BOTTOM LINE is that this would be a good time to explain to our children about the TRUE source and power and the one who we should really celebrate is JESUS.
最重要的是，现在是一个很好的时机，向我们的孩子解释真正的源头和力量，以及我们真正应该庆祝的是耶稣。

God Bless,
Ben
愿上帝保佑
本（Ben）


SOAK IN SCRIPTURE

CLICK ON LINK OR COPY AND PASTE INTO BROWSWER

CHINESE

腓立比书 2：1-5 基督里合一

Rev. QINGJIANG ZHANG | Philippians 腓立比书

纽约以便以谢基督教浸信会

sermonaudio.com/sermon/8223135316778

腓立比书 2：5-11 以基督的心为心

Rev. QINGJIANG ZHANG | Philippians 腓立比书

纽约以便以谢基督教浸信会


sermonaudio.com/sermon/82231354131855

腓立比书 2：12-18 保罗的榜样

Rev. QINGJIANG ZHANG | Philippians 腓立比书

纽约以便以谢基督教浸信会


sermonaudio.com/sermon/8223142361529

腓立比书 2：19-30 提摩太和以巴弗提

Rev. QINGJIANG ZHANG | Philippians 腓立比书

纽约以便以谢基督教浸信会



sermonaudio.com/sermon/82231426216565

ENGLISH

JOHN KNOX INSTITUTE

PART 9

John Knox Institute of Higher Education

PART 10

John Knox Institute of Higher Education

PART 11

John Knox Institute of Higher Education

PART 12

John Knox Institute of Higher Education

She has been in the hospital for a few days with double pneumonia, i just ask for prayer for her to be well soon she was doing good then not so well, but now she is doing ok again!

Looks like a sweet movie. On Fox extra

Ephesians 1:2 ESV


1. Who is this written to specifically? And more broadly?
2. What is the meaning of this word grace? Grace from God?
3. What is the meaning of this word peace? Peace from God/Christ?
4. How are both grace and peace to be applied to our lives?

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the saints in Ephesus who are also faithful in Christ Jesus. And a saint is one who is holy. And for the believer it means “likeness of nature with the Lord” because “different from the world." And faithful means reliable, trustworthy, believing, and loyalty to faith, the faith which is persuaded of God, thus believing the faith which God imparts (source: biblehub.com). So more broadly this applies to all of us who are God’s saints and faithful ones.

[See: Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; John 6:44]

Now, does that mean that you shouldn’t bother reading this if this is not where you are? To the contrary! For not one of us has “arrived” yet. None of us will be absolutely perfect until we get to heaven, providing that is where we end up. But the point in knowing who this is written to is so we understand that these are the people to whom God’s grace has been imparted. These are the ones who have the peace of God in their lives. God’s grace and his peace are not promised to those still living in sin against God.

[See: 1 John 1,2&3; Romans 6:1-23; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 5:3-6]

So, what is the meaning of God’s grace? God’s grace is his kindness towards us, and the word means "favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit") – properly, grace is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them") (source: biblehub.com).

[Rom 3:23-25; Rom 5:1-2; Rom 6:1-4,6-7,12-23; 2 Co 6:1-2; 2 Co 9:8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 6:24; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 10:26-31; Heb 12:12-17; Jude 1:4]

Okay, so what did Jesus do to give himself away to people because he is leaning toward them to share benefit? And what benefit? Well, the Scriptures teach that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. He died that we might live for him and no longer for ourselves. He shed his blood for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so we would now honor God with our bodies, and so we will now live for him in walks of obedience to his commands.

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]


Does this include forgiveness of sins? Yes! Does this include the promise of heaven when we die? Yes! But provided that we walk (in conduct, in practice) according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh, and that we walk in holiness and in righteousness, and not in deliberate and habitual sin against our Lord, and provided that we die with Christ to sin and live to his righteousness daily (in practice), and that we make it our practice to obey him, and that obedience to sin is not what we practice.

[Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 5:3-6; Galatians 6:7-8 etc.]

Is God’s grace a free gift to us? Yes! But “free” does not mean freedom to keep living in sin claiming heaven as your eternal destiny. “Free” just means that Jesus shed his blood for us to buy us back for God out of our lives of sin so that we can now, by his grace, die with him to sin and live to his righteousness, in his power and strength. So “grace” is not free license to continue in deliberate and habitual sin. “Grace” delivers us from our slavery (addiction) to sin so we will now live for God and for his righteousness.

Then we will have true peace with God. For we cannot be at peace with God if we are still walking in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord, and if our lives are not surrendered to Jesus Christ to do his will for our lives. For this word “peace” means “to join, tie together into a whole” – properly “wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God’s gift of wholeness)” (source: biblehub.com). So if we are still going our own way, and not the way of the Lord, we cannot be at peace with God.

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Login to view embedded media Caution: This link may contain ads

I learned something today, as I was reading the Bible, and decided on this topic, so that it would be broad, and not focused on that one thing..

Sexual immorality is mentioned often in the Bible.
What does it involve exactly?

Most people are aware that it involves adultery - having sexual relations with a married person, or infidelity.
Others are aware that sexual immorality also involves premarital sex - which needs no defining.

What about masturbation?
Well, I discovered today that the Bible pointedly places masturbation in the category of sexual immorality - in an almost direct way.
I did hear other scriptures used, but I think this one is more pointed. Maybe I heard it used, but didn't connect the dots.

1 Thessalonians 4:
4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;

Masturbation is defined as ___. We look up the definition, and what we see, is being described in these verses, as something we should avoid practicing.

Would oral, and anal sex, be considered sexual immorality?
The scriptures uses the terms uncleanness Colossians 3:5, and licentiousness, wantonness - conduct shocking to public decency, lewdness. Galatians 5:19

Licentiousness is defined as
a throwing off of sexual restraint; lewd character or behavior
wanton disregard or transgression of laws, rules, or moral norms

Licentiousness and vulgar, are interchangeable.
That definition matches the Greek word ἀσέλγεια - aselgeia.

Is oral and anal sex vulgar.
Many people say no.
I believe they are

If the Catholic Church is too conservative
to have a woman priest play Jesus during Communion.

What could a woman priest do during Mass?

Catholics aren’t required to believe in creationism and are free to believe in evolution as well as to take some things in the Bible as non literal. So what is the best response when a literalist says that “Jesus believed in creationism?” Or Jesus believed this or that when it‘s something Catholics are free to believe otherwise?