I feel like everyday I grow more and more convinced of "dead internet" theory...
In a country where we supposedly have freedom of speech, who decides what is, and isnt?

"The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has contracted New York-based Accrete AI to deploy software that detects “real time” disinformation threats on social media."

My name is FaithT not LadySparkle. A few months ago something went wrong on the forum and wouldn’t let me in so I changed my name to LadySparkle. I was being helped by Tampasteve and told I can’t change my name on here. Long story short, we got it straightened out and I used a new password And the name FaithT.
Now I can’t log on again and when I used my new password it says it’s not valid and that my name is LadySparkle.How do I log in under FaithT?

Narcan which is used for opioid overdoses can now be bought over the counter.



What is this? To me this pretty much says "when you do drugs and overdose just use this and you can save a dopeheads life so they can live to do more drugs later". This is essentially approving drug use and diminishes their negative effects. It makes opiod abuse a little more acceptable.

When I was a kid we had slogans like don't do drugs, DARE officers came to our schools and talked about drugs, comic books had little ads about not doing drugs, cartoons would sometimes have little messages about not doing drugs and so on. What happened to all of that?

We should be discouraging drug use, not normalizing it.

SCRIPTURE: I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth - (Revelation 3.8-10).

LESSON: It is worth noting that the synagogue of Satan is first a synagogue, but not of God, but of Satan. Except for sin, Satan has no originality. There are wisdom, solutions, messages, predictions, and so on that exist today that are not of God, but a perversion from Satan, which tragically, even the church has embraced (owing to the body of Christ's prevalent lack of discernment). As a result, the wicked wind of doctrine has washed away many in the body. As for the Philadelphia church - those of us who refuse to succumb to corruption, the Lord has promised to shower us with glory. This will manifest itself in various aspects of our lives - at home, work, spirituality, wisdom, problem-solving, and more. His blessings will be so apparent that others will come to us, humbled, seeking guidance on the ways of the Lord. This will be especially true during the time of testing that is set to challenge us all. Those who embrace and follow the wisdom from above are the only ones who can successfully navigate through this testing period. This wisdom is characterized by purity, peacefulness, gentleness, and a willingness to yield to others. It is also abundant in mercy and produces good deeds. This wisdom is impartial and always sincere." - Timothy 3.17.

PRAYER: Grace to obey you to the end, we pray, Lord.

Matthew 28:16-20 ESV


I personally believe that this mandate the Lord Jesus gave to his 11 disciples at that time is a mandate for all who believe in Jesus Christ and who are his disciples, his followers, who are following the Lord with their lives in obedience to him and to his commands. For we are taught in the Scriptures that we who believe in Jesus Christ are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

And we are taught that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and that we are to let our light shine before others. And Jesus said that whoever believes in him will also do the works that he did, and Jesus’ primary ministry was in sharing the truth of the gospel, in addition to his ministry of healing and miracles. And when we believe in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, we are to be our Lord’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. There is no reason to think these don’t apply to us.

And there is no reason to think that what Jesus told Paul should not also apply to us who are also ministers of the gospel of Christ. For what Jesus instructed Paul to do and to say represents the message of the gospel that we are all to share. So we, too, are to open the eyes of the spiritually blind through the preaching of the gospel so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ.

[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]

Thus, as our Lord’s present day disciples, we should be those who are going forth with the preaching and teaching and sharing of the message of the gospel of Christ, and who are making disciples of Christ of the people of this world. Now, we can’t make people become disciples of Christ, but we can certainly teach them how to become followers of Christ, which it appears not many are doing these days. So many people are cutting the gospel short by telling people to just “believe” in Jesus and now they are “good to go.”

The problem with that is that they are selling the gospel message short, and so many people are not coming to genuine faith in Jesus Christ. They are also mostly not teaching the people what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ, i.e. what that faith should look like. And so we have many professers of faith in Jesus Christ who are not living the life that God has called all his followers to live, for many of them are believing that they don’t have to because they are being told that they don’t have to do anything.

But the gospel of Christ is not a “do nothing” gospel. For we are to be teaching the people to observe (to keep, to obey) all that Jesus has commanded all his followers to obey. And he said that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For he said, in essence, that if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self that we will lose them for eternity. But if for the sake of Christ we die to our old lives of living in sin and we now live for God and his righteousness, then we have eternal life (Luke 9:23-26).

And then we read in Ephesians 2:8-10 that we are saved by God’s grace through God-given faith in Jesus Christ. And this is not of our own doing. So, we can’t decide what that faith should look like. The word of God is what defines what that faith should look like. And Jesus defined it in Luke 9:23-26, and in Acts 26:18 when he called Paul to the ministry of the gospel. For God-given and God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ submits to Christ as Lord, and it results in the sinner leaving his life of sin behind him to follow our Lord in obedience in holy living in the power of God for the glory of God.

But so many people read Ephesians 2:8-9 separate from verse 10 and separate from the whole of the teaching in the book of Ephesians, and so they build a false doctrine of salvation around those two verses. But verse 10 says this: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” And we read this in Titus 2:14: “who 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.”

As well, the grace of God is not a free license to keep living in deliberate and habitual sin without guilt, without conscience, without compassion, and without remorse, but many are falsely teaching that it is. But we read in Titus 2:11-13 this: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce” (to say “NO” to) “ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” So, please take this all to heart.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; 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 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Seek the Lord

An Original Work / July 20, 2012
Based off Isaiah 55

“Come to Me all you who thirst; come to waters.
Listen to Me, and eat what’s good today,
And your soul will delight in richest of fare.
Give ear to Me, and you will live.
I have made an eternal covenant with you.
Wash in the blood of the Lamb.”

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him.
Let the wicked forsake his way, in truth.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will receive mercy.
Freely, God pardons him.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,”
declares the Lord, our God.

“My word that goes out of My mouth is truthful.
It will not return to Me unfulfilled.
My word will accomplish all that I desire,
And achieve the goal I intend.
You will go in joy and be led forth in peace.
The mountains will burst into song… before you,
And all of the trees clap their hands.”

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Interesting article. We had a precarious start that almost didn't happen.

As I read the article I couldn't but help but image and wonder the future demise of Homo sapiens as a species. Especially with what we have done to the Earth.


Human ancestors nearly went extinct 900,000 years ago

Let's change the spelling of words we don't like

What is the reason? And does God command it?

Dear friend
亲爱的朋友
Can you spend five minutes a day to pray for China?
你可以每天花5分钟为中国祷告吗？
Here are requests for every day of the week for China, I am a foreign Christian living in China and so I am on the ball so to speak in regard to the needs of the Chinese church.
以下是每日为中国所做的祷告请求，我是在中国生活的外国基督徒，因此我讲述中国教会的需求实属情理之中。
Please share this prayer focus with your church/social media groups.
请分享这份祷告在你的教会/社交群体上。
You can even set up a church/social media group to pray for China.
你也可以建立一个教会/社交群体为中国祷告。
Please print out these requests and post on Church notice boards/church websites.
请打印这些请求，并张贴在教会告示板/教会网站。
Please post them on Facebook/Twitter ( daily), your social media profile is meant to be an avenue to help and bless your fellow brethren, USE IT!
请（每天）张贴在脸书/推特上，你的社交群体简介就是助人的途径，请为你的同工弟兄姊妹祝福，请使用它！


2 Thessalonians 3
帖撒罗尼迦后书第3章
Finally, brothers,[a] pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honoured,[b] as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.[c] 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
1弟兄们，我还有话说：请你们为我们祷告，好叫主的道理快快行开，得着荣耀，正如在你们中间一样；2也叫我们脱离无理之恶人的手，因为人不都是有信心。3但主是信实的，要坚固你们，保护你们脱离那恶者。4我们靠主深信，你们现在是遵行我们所吩咐的，后来也必要遵行。5愿主引导你们的心，叫你们爱神，并学基督的忍耐。

Sunday
周日
Please pray that the Chinese church, would be filled with purity, power and boldness as it meets today. Please pray for the pastors as they preach, for boldness and empowerment. Please pray for the protection of all services.
请祷告中国教会，就像今天一样充满洁净，权柄和胆魄。请在牧师传道之时为他拥有胆魄、允准而祷告。请祷告所有侍奉都得到保护。

Monday
周一
Please pray as the church is 80-90% women. Men need to be challenged and activated into leadership. Please pray that each church would have a group of godly men, who fear nothing but God, and who are prepared to sacrifice themselves for the gospel.
请为教会80％-90％的女士祷告。男士需要经历挑战并活跃在领导岗位。请祷告每个教会都将有一群神的仆人们，他们除了神无所惧怕，也准备好为福音奉献自己。

Tuesday
周二
Plese pray for the next generation, most of the church is made up of middle-aged people. Please pray that there would be an influx of young people and children into the church. The next generation is only interested in the latest fashion and cell phone. Please pray for the children of China, who are under severe pressure to achieve a good score at school.
请为下一代祷告，绝大多数教会是由中年人组成，请祷告教会有年轻人和孩子们进入，下一代仅对最新的时尚和手机有兴趣。请祷告中国的孩子们，他们在学校为了获得好分数面临严重的压力。

Wednesday
周三
Persecution is real, but we can and do share the gospel. Please pray that God would open up opportunities to share the gospel. People are in great need. Many people have mental problems, the society seems stable, but people are hurting very deeply. Please pray that the church, would be salt and light.
迫害真实发生，但我们能做的就是分享福音。请祷告神将开启分享福音的机会。人民有巨大需求。许多人有精神问题，社会看似平稳，但人们内心被深深伤害，请祷告教会将成为盐和光。

Thursday
周四
China people groups, languages and religions | Joshua Project

140 million are unreached. The size of the task is huge, to walk down a street is to be overwhelmed by this mass of humanity. Please pray that every person in China, would hear the gospel.
一亿四千万人未领受福音。这项任务数字巨大，走在街上都会被大量民众所征服。请祷告中国每个人将听到福音。

Friday
周五
Many millions are trapped in Buddhism (500 Million), Communist Ideology (130 Million) and Atheism (500 Million). These ideologies are deep strongholds for the Chinese people and can only be dismantled by fervent and persevering prayer. Especially pray for the leader of China and the members of the CCP.
几百万人陷入佛教（5亿），共产主义（一亿三千万）和无神论者（5亿）。这些意识形态是中国人信仰的主体，仅能通过热切而持久的祷告来废除。尤其为中国领导者和共产党员祷告。

Saturday
周六
Please pray for Revival of the church in China, it is only the power of the gospel, that can release China from the power of darkness. Consistent and fervent prayer is needed, please pray that the Chinese church would be filled with power and boldness and would by the preaching of the gospel, CHANGE MANY MILLIONS OF HEARTS IN CHINA.
请为中国教会复兴祷告，它是福音的唯一力量，能将中国从黑暗的权力中释放出来。持续和热切的祷告是需要的。请祷告中国教会将会被力量和胆魄充满，也将被福音的传播充满，因而改变中国几百万人的心灵。

Are you willing to join us?
你希望加入我们吗？
If you aren't a member of our prayer team, please email me at keitherichobkirk@hotmail.com
如果你不是我们祷告团队的一员，请发送邮件至keitherichobkirk@hotmail.com。
These requests are guidelines, please use the books Operation World and Operation China for more detailed information.
这些请求是一些指南，请使用书籍-世界运作和中国运作，获得详细信息。
For news of persecution in China, please go to
Voice of the Martyrs and Open doors

获取中国关于迫害的新闻，请到，殉道者的声音和开放之门。



SOAK IN SCRIPTURE

Please click on or copy/paste into your browser

CHINESE

神接纳卑微的人

Ying-Ju Chen | 路加福音

Lynnwood Orthodox Presbyterian

sermonaudio.com/sermon/827232213201928

餅酒的本質 The Essence of The Bread and The Wine

Rev. Simon Yin

圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/813231849433558


对上帝认识是人真正的荣耀

Luis Fernando Loaiza

圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/8162321154854

为什么教会如此重要？

芮牧师

真柱浸信教会


sermonaudio.com/sermon/71123121353434



ENGLISH

When everything goes wrong and God does nothing

Gerard Hemmings

Amyand Park Chapel

sermonaudio.com/sermon/4223114436657

Hugh Latimer, Bishop and Martyr.

J. C. Ryle | Five English Reformers

Dr David C. Mackereth

sermonaudio.com/sermon/81523013462018

Team Players

Robert Gianserra | Book of Colossians

Grace and Truth Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/5723184945972


How to Witness to Roman Catholics Biblically

Mike Gendron

Baltimore Bible Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/11172238306710

親愛的在線兄弟姐妹
這是非常緊急的事情，請為我祈禱
不知道是不是我的電磁波太強了。我召喚的任何人似乎都可以加入我的在線實時聊天，他們受了很多苦。
他們就是日復一日地睡不著。這是一種痛苦。我的骯髒和不尊重的形像在我的大腦中同時傳輸到他們的大腦中，這傷害了我的家人、親戚、兄弟的感情。
希望有超過一百人在網上受苦。請不斷地為我祈禱。請讓他們解除一些電磁波干擾，讓他們好好休息一下。。我奉行耶穌的名譽祈禱。阿門

https://www.b.itch.ute.com/video/Y56m7B1hGfVN/

Remove the . after the letters b and h above and the link will work.

YouTube Channel Video Devo
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“The Simplest, Yet Hardest Command”
John 15:2 NIV
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

This passage came up the past week as the verse of the day in the Bible app. Each time I come across this passage, I am reminded of two things. First, it’s one of the most simple commands to understand. You don’t need a college or seminary degree to understand what it means. Second, even though it’s a simple command, it must be one of the hardest commands to live out in our lives.

I often find myself wondering why it seems so difficult to love some people. I want to love others with a genuine love of Christ. I want them to see Him in me and through me. However, I’m often finding it hard to love people who are way different than me. Instead of taking the perspective and attitude that I can love on people and learn so much from them in how they are different, I find myself feeling like I want to stick with small talk and go to talk to others I get along with better.

I know I’m not alone in this feeling. As I consider this, I’m remembering 2 different quotes I’ve seen in the past from TobyMac. One is “Love Difficult People. You’re one of them.” The other quote is “When Jesus said love your neighbor, He knew your neighbor would act, look, believe and love differently than you. It’s kind of the whole point.”

Those 2 quotes are so very powerful and they should stick in our minds every day when we encounter others who we won’t feel as comfortable talking to. We are commanded to love others, especially those who are different from us. I tend to often forget God wants me to learn from others that are different from me. I often want to shy away from getting into conversations that make me a bit uncomfortable.

We all need to remember the people Jesus came into contact with on a daily basis. He got his hands dirty talking to people who were way different and He interacted with them to show the love of God. God calls us to live this command out and reach out to people in any ways we can to show His love.

Funny thing is, even if we talk to people who are different from us, that doesn’t mean we have to agree with what they say or what they do. We can respectfully disagree and still show the love of God. However, I am not good at conversations where I disagree with people. I’ve just never been good at those discussions. I need to remember that I can learn from them and they can learn from me. Showing love and respect is the key.

Jesus told us to love others. No one is excluded from that command.

The phenomenon of cutting people out of our lives is growing, especially among young people, and it's not always beneficial.​

Recently my young adult daughter declared that one of her close friends was “toxic” and she was going to end her friendship with her. Now this was a friend she’d known throughout her adolescence. She was a good friend who had developed certain issues, as many youngsters do, but fundamentally she is a decent person.

I must admit I was concerned about her use of the word “toxic.” It just seems that lately this has become a buzzword for people — especially among the younger generations — to describe someone who is less than perfect. Personally, it’s a phenomenon I find a little disturbing as there leaves little room for forgiveness, growth, or an adjustment of our own expectations.

(However, I would point out that there are some people in life who can be mentally and physically damaging to us. In this case I can totally appreciate that they should be avoided at all costs or encouraged to seek professional help.)

What makes someone “toxic”?​

Continued below.

Revelation 6

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Click to expand...

So Nelson Walters is making the argument that the bow in question here is a reference to the rainbow God displayed after Noah's flood, marking the covenant with the Earth, and he does have a point.. this is the stage for the UN's 2023 SDG summit:


and the UN's symbol contains a laurel wreath crown, like the Stefanos crown referred to in Revelation 6:2
It's an interesting take at least, and seems to have some ground to stand on if Israel were to enter into an agreement to divide land for peace with Saudi Arabia.

The covenant with the many in Daniel 9:27 is "confirmed" possibly at the 2024 summit is the argument being made.

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Hello fellow Christians. I'm Irene from Philippines. Hope this will be a good place to hang out. Looking forward to having nice discussions with all of you.

“We need to go into impeachment right now. I know that people are reluctant and some people are in so-called swing districts,” Ms. Tenney said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.” “But look: we voted for H.R. 1, which is critically important having to deal with energy. If we can’t vote for impeachment of a guy who’s blatantly corrupt — we have the evidence out there.”

Here I am hoping to share my interests and hobbies.

I have an Interest in arts n crafts, I love taking pictures of sunsets, and I collect jigsaw puzzles.

“Fauci admits that masks don’t work for the public at large but still absurdly claims masks work on an individual basis. More subterfuge,” Mr. Paul, Kentucky Republican, posted Sunday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

I think Hosea is mine. I love his word on knowing God and how deep God's love is for His people.

How to stop abortions.

1. Stop insulting single pregnant women.

2. Free child care.

‘They knew everything about her:’ Mother of girl nearly sold on the dark web gives warning to parents​

“I’m always worried about other places-- when you go on vacation, when you go here and go there--but it happened here, right around us,” the mother told us.

She said the FBI came knocking on her door June 29th of this year to deliver news they never expected. They had uncovered a disturbing dark web advertisement.

The man accused of posting that was Kelly Garrett Ivey, 41.

The mother said they knew his name, because they had attended the same church at one point.

“He stole our personal pictures that we thought were safe [shared privately on Facebook],” she said tearfully.

“I don’t want people to get out of it, ‘The church is a bad place.’ Because church isn’t a bad place. There’s predators everywhere,” she explained.

However, she noted that people should not let their guard down, even in places considered safe.

--

[From the article linked on perp's name:]

With school and extracurricular activities resuming from the summer, Camila Zolfaghari, Executive Director of Street Grace Georgia, a group that works to prevent human trafficking, said students and parents need to be aware.

“They really need to watch their online presence. They need to understand exploiters are online trying to meet them, trying to lure them, and presenting as someone safe,” she said.

“Have very open conversations with your kids,” Zolfghari advised parents. “Because they are experiencing all kinds of things through their phones, and if we aren’t willing to talk about that thing with that child, they are just going to assume it’s normal.”

Future of controversial West Bonner superintendent uncertain after recall of two far-right trustees​

Two leading members of the West Bonner County school board were recalled Tuesday in a repudiation of extreme far-right politics that have invaded the rural North Idaho school district.

A more than 60% majority voted to recall Chair Keith Rutledge and Vice Chair Susan Brown, according to unofficial election results from the Bonner County elections office.

Rutledge and Brown were two of the three West Bonner board members who voted in June to hire Durst, who was an Idaho Freedom Foundation staffer with no experience as a school administrator or teacher. Durst’s selection inspired community backlash from many parents in the district who argued he was unqualified.

Both Rutledge and Brown campaigned against a school levy that voters rejected in May, which has resulted in major financial challenges for the district. The failed $4.7 million supplemental levy represented a third of the district’s budget.

The recall petition organizers alleged Rutledge and Brown failed to uphold their oaths of office to improve public schools

Dana Douglas, the chairwoman of Recall Replace Rebuild, described herself as a conservative Christian. She said the takeover of the school district is an example of what can happen when parents and voters do not pay close enough attention.

“This community is not going to back down,” Turner said. “We are awake now and we are going to stay awake.”

[Did I hear that correctly?]

[In January of this year,] President Nicolás Maduro met with evangelical Christian pastors from where he ordered the execution of the My well-equipped church plan, [to help fund] "parochial houses so that parishioners can develop their faith in the encounter with God," he announced from El Laguito, in Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas.

The president also launched the Social Church Program, "which serves as a means of supporting those most in need"

So far, 2.500 churches have benefited from infrastructure improvements and maintenance, 1.245 temples have undergone extensive intervention, and 13.915 Venezuelan pastors have been registered to provide them with social protection.

“In times where evil dresses in a cassock and tries to resume hatred and violence, let's say: No to violence! No to hate! Yes to peace, harmony, union and happiness!"

He also added that God will provide the prosperity, peace and happiness of the great Bolivarian Venezuela.

--

[This stuff about 'evil in cassocks' points to some friction between Maduro and the Catholic hierarchy. Venezuela remains majority (~70%) Catholic.]

While confronting Catholicism, Chavismo announces plans with evangelical pastors​

Maduro’s measures intend to allocate resources to social missions to restore temples, support those in need through evangelical volunteering and even create television and radio programs to spread the word of this current of Christianity.

These plans are promoted in the midst of a confrontation between sectors of the Catholic Church and Chavismo, since Maduro has lashed out on various occasions against Catholic actors and especially the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV), accusing them of becoming political actors in favor of the Venezuelan opposition.
...
In addition, he reported that he would help launch a television program called Corazón Cristiano, in which “meeting spaces would be promoted in different groups of apostolates and Christian churches framed in a specific agenda of cultural and spiritual actions.”

Finally, he ordered the president of the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), Jorge Márquez, to set up a technical table to “give full support to the Christian Church for Christian radio broadcasting.

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When [Maduro's predecessor Hugo] Chavez was in power (1999-2013), the Government created a program called “Mi Casa Bien Equipada” (My well-equipped House), which had the mission of providing the population with very affordable electrical appliances.

Maduro has had the great idea of rolling out his own version of Mi Casa Bien Equipada, but this time it’s the Mi Iglesia Bien Equipada (My well-equipped Church).

Let me clarify, these aren’t any [and all] churches, only Evangelical ones and I’d even dare to say only Pentecostal ones to be exact.

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Venezuelan Police raid, arrests at gay spa provoke fears of new persecution​

Within moments of [the police's] arrival on July 23, they had rounded up 33 men, including Araujo and the club’s owner, on charges of indecent outrage, noise pollution and criminal association.

“I still don’t understand,” said Guillermo Luis, Avalon’s 34-year-old owner. “We had all the paperwork and they still arrested us. Not even brothels in Venezuela face actions like this.”

The men were outed and ridiculed, the club was closed for weeks and Venezuela’s LGBTQ+ community fears a new government drive to criminalize homosexuality. The authoritarian socialist state is one of the few countries in South American that does not recognize same-sex marriage.

In the first quarter of the year, the Venezuelan Observatory on LGBTIQ+ Violence recorded at least 60 attacks against the gay community. Thirty percent, the observatory says, were committed by a state agency. [The Observatory's coordinator Velásquez] noted that the raid was the fifth against a gay establishment in the past two years, but the first time such a large group was arrested.

Officers sent the men’s pictures, names and ID numbers to reporters, who posted them on Twitter.

Most of the men were held for three days before they were released. Attorney General Tarek William Saab, amid protests, eventually announced that charges against them would be dropped. But Luis and two of his employees were held for a week; their charges remain pending.

Velásquez says the government is trying to strengthen ties with increasingly powerful and wealthy evangelical Christian groups.

“We see with concern how the government has strengthened the alliance with religious groups that use anti-rights language,” Velásquez said. “These groups have funds and institutional support.”

2Corinthians 5:6 says among other things the words that constitute this thread's title. What do you think of it?