Help, as in for me...I just offered to help at Junior Church. I said I could do art and crafts, and I can...it is just that children are like beings from another planet to me. I know Jesus will help with that part, the Bible is not exactly ambiguous about His feelings about the little people. I did explain to our Family Minister, and she is a gift from heaven in her role, so I am sure it will be just fine when it comes to it.

How are all of your churches doing for volunteers?

The Presbyterian Church (USA) recently gave final approval to an amendment to its Book of Order that will require clergy candidates to be questioned about their views on LGBT ideology.

Known as Amendment 24-C, it was part of a proposal known as the Olympia Overture, which sought to amend G-2.0104b of the Book of Order to require candidates to be asked about their views on issues including sexual orientation and gender identity.

The measure was approved for consideration last year at the 226th PCUSA General Assembly by a vote of 297-130. From there, the measure needed to get a simple majority of presbyteries, or regional bodies, to vote in favor of it.

Continued below.

Good Morning and greetings to all from England
Haven't been on any forums for some time now so looking forward to some 'online' companionship and sharing.

Hope you all have a Blessed Sunday

When an infant child dies does its soul go to be with God in heaven or does something else happen?

My bible has 73 books in it and was formed as a canonical source of authority in the fourth century AD, and dogmatically defined as 73 books in the fifteenth century and again in the seventeenth century. It formed my Church's theology but was not alone in doing so. Church tradition as presented in the early Church Fathers and in Church practises played and continue to play a fundamental role in forming theology. There is also the living presence of the Holy Spirit and in her people as well as her bishops playing a role of continuous theological formation that is called by some "the development of doctrine" which means that doctrine develops as the need to express it more and more clearly draws it into greater clarity as new issues arise. This is the Catholic way of approaching holy scripture and doctrine.

What is your understanding of how you form your own theology and of how your denomination forms its theology?

I have a website dedicated to Christ, www.heavenandfreedom.com I just checked my website stats, in the last few days it has gotten 1 hit from Israel! There has been a good 10 hits from Israel in the last few years since I launched my website! Also 1 hit in the last few days from the United Arab Emirates, this is probably Dubai! Also 1 hit in the last week from Egypt! Also 1 hit in the last week or so from Iran! Also about 500 hits from people using Apple iPhones, they may be people in 3rd world countries without a computer! HALLELUJAH!

Why do we never hear much about this in the mainline news? This global and needs to be exposed. Who is behind the trafficking.

I have a website dedicated to Christ, www.heavenandfreedom.com . I just checked and my website has 14 hits from Sony Playstation gaming devices! I can't imagine who these people are and what their situation is, they may be people without a computer and their only internet access is through their Sony Playstation!

The Los Angeles Times reported that multiple chants of “Fuera ICE” (ICE, get out) could be heard and flash-bang grenades were set off, though it was unclear who had set them off. One protester lit an entire bag of trash on fire and left in the street just half a block away from the immigration agents on Saturday in Paramount, which is about 82 percent Latino. . .
FBI deputy director Dan Bongino posted on X that they were reviewing evidence from the protests to ensure that “perpetrators are brought to justice.” "The Right to assemble and protest does not include a license to attack law enforcement officers, or to impede and obstruct our lawful immigration operations,” Bongino said.

If they impede or assault officers they are going to jail.

Obedience to the Holy Ghost,
Is never ending wonderfulness.
If you desire to live in never ending wonderfulness,
then enter into the straight gate,
to the path of never-ending wonderfulness.

in Gal 2:16, we read;

"know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."

However, in the Romans 2:13, it is written;

"For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous."

?

More and more, I can sense God is near, but it matters less and less to me. His presence does nothing for me. It is not helpful in any fashion. I don't care is he is there, but I do care that he actually helps me, which he doesn't. It is like talking to your friend the cop and a mugger comes up, beats you nearly to death, and your "friend" just stands there and watches it happen. Then afterwards, comes and put a hand on your shoulder and the only thing he does is tell you it will be okay. He doesn't stop the guy or call an ambulanced for you. He just stands there watching and then tries to comfort you. I don't want Him to comfort (meaningless, useless words) , I want Him to actually help (materially change the situation). Comforting is almost worse than nothing. especially from someone who could prevent the problems in the first place. I don't trust Him anymore, I needed action BEFORE OR DURING the problems, not after. After is entirely too little, too late.

What can I do? I don't care about the good on the other side, I don't trust Him, and more an more He is not worth it anymore.

null

So, are corporations really thinking through the long term logistics involved in their financial status if over half of U.S. jobs are replaced by A.I.?

I don't know. But I'm listening to those who think they know .............

If AI Takes All Of Our Jobs... Who's Going To Buy Everything?​

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So yes I have two posts going on here. But since I am back (been gone since Covid), might as well talk about whats on my mind.

So as you know I am in my 40s. Raised Christian, though the denomination varied (Evangelical, Presbyterian...etc) as we switched churches a few times. I always was close with God. Prayed every night, read my bible...etc. I also have had major health issues my whole life. We also haven't been to church or even watched a online service in years. Not because we don't believe. We can't drive, and her work shift ends Sunday morning, so we are usually asleep when church is normally going on. We don't really pray together. Or read together. We are both super stressed becauyse of financialty debt that every waking moment is spent figuring out how to earn money, how to pay one bill, while saving for the next...etc.

I don't even take my pills most times because I am overwhelmed and forget. Mind you even when I was single I was this way. I was always busy just trying to survive and make something of myself.

Which meant around at 16 when I had grand mal seizure and brain injury, I started to get mad at God. I also wanted to end my life, but didn't because I truly believe it leads to hell.

However all this stuff also made me at times stronger in my beliefs because I knew God had plans. Like helping people on here (like the early 2000s and before). Those who were also sick and felt like maybe God didn't care. However in the back of my mind I always had this fear of death. This fear of "what if".

As time went on and I started having health issues, I read my bible less, I stopped doing devotions..etc. Long story short I maybe read my devotions a few times a year. Never really read my bible other than looking up verses. Praying comes in spurts, sometimes I may pray a few times a week. Or just a few times a year.

So... part of me believes God is real. But I always see things online that make me question. Like when people say prayers don't do anything as people's situations never really change. Much of anythink that happens seems to be luck or coincidence. For example I've never seen anyone with stage 4 cancer cured. I remind myself miracles of such scale aren't really a thing and of coruse we have free will so God can't really answer prayers like "God give me a home a for free!"

Then I see people say things about evolution, history...etc. LIke historical events and people that existed before Adam and Eve would have. I don't know how to explain that. Like I know about carbon dating is flawed, but it seems alot of what people tell me is true and I can't explain it. Though in my mind I think maybe its the devil who made things seems a certain way so we can question God on purpose.

But my biggest problem is death. I fear it. Many nights I can't sleep and wake up crying and screaming. If God isn't real, I will just cease to exist. Not even knowing I am gone. It terrifies me. The only thing that keeps that thoughts at bay is knowing that heaven/hell exists. So when I die, I will instantly see heaven and things aren't over. But as I age and get closer the death, its harder to not think about death. Even my dad, a prayer warrior, when I asked about this was unsure and said he really doesn't know what to say.

On the other hand I see Israel still existing and it makes me think if God wasn't real, there is NO way they would not have been taken over/taken out by now. Sadly there is not alot of this stuff to prove God is real. Most everything is based on faith. But I wonder what if God isn't real, what if the whole point of the bible is to fool people into a false sense of comfort. Or as some people have yelled at me "Only naive people believe it because they lack critical thinking skills when evidence is all aroudn them to suggest its not real!"

Again, I don't know what to do or to think. Do I think God is not real? I do wonder. But deep down I still believe of course. Part of me wishes I was dumb, so I wouldn't even be able to understand half of what people try to scare me with into thinking He's not real. This also makes me question am I really saved? Am I destined for hell? I've also done some horrific things in my life. THings I know God would disapprove of. Things I'd probably be in prison for (I didn't kill anyone if your wondering lol).

When I pray for forgiveness, I often can't forgive myself for things I've done. For decades on end. I may sometimes pray again for forgiveness for the same thing. Thinking I'm pure evil and God hasn't forgiven me. I guess I'm harder on myself about not being perfect for God.

I always have felt I am a failure in Gods eyes. When I pray and most often nothing happens, I feel I am ignored because He gave up on me. I feel when I get to heaven I will be one of those people of whom He says "Go away, I do not know you!". I don't want to be. I knowing Thomas was a doubter, so maybe its normal for some to also feel this way and still be saved? Honestly all I want is God to hold me. Show me He's here. I just want to be able to meet Jesus when I die and thank Him for everything. I want to Worship the Lord.

So not sure what I am looking for here. Not judgment, hopefully. Maybe encouragement. Or a reminder of something. A way to repair my spiritual armor to full strength again. In the end, I still want to just please God. Despite all my flaws and struggles with some sins.

Evangelical pastor Rick Warren this week said the upcoming 2,000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus highlights the Lord's "unanswered prayer" of unity in the Christian world, a unity which he said will help bring the message of salvation to the world.

Warren, the founder of the Baptist Saddleback Church in California, spoke to EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser in Rome on attending a gathering of Global 2033, a Catholic evangelization initiative working to spread the Gospel message ahead of the two-thousand-year observance of Christ rising from the dead.

Asked by Thonhauser why he was speaking at a Catholic event, the Protestant minister claimed that "no single denomination can complete the Great Commission on their own."

Continued below.

Hakeem Jeffries Threatens to Dox ICE Agents Amid Rising Attacks, Death Threats​

Can't stop the lawful action with legislation - so lets put them and their families in danger. And people wonder why the Democratic Party is losing voters by the thousand.

It will also be livestreamed.
It seems as if every time I open Facebook I see 'reels' of Pope Leo, catching stuffed animals one-handed as he rides through crowds in the Popemobile, riding donkeys in Peru surrounded by throngs of children, blessing babies, and making profound statements about faith, humanity, community, and love that resonate strongy with people of all faiths--or no faiths--who believe in goodness and long for a better world.
Mesmerizing with charisma based on authenticity and goodness in a world longing for peace, love, and hope.
In June 14th's media battle between consummate good and attention-craving evil, I will choose good.
Why fill your minds with slime when you can be uplifted and inspired?

President Donald Trump responded to the sudden return of Salvadoran illegal and alleged gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, saying, "he’s a bad guy" and that the courts will "show how horrible this guy is."

Trump appeared unbothered by Abrego Garcia’s return on Friday afternoon, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that the Department of Justice made the decision and that soon the world will see how "horrible" a person he is.

Trump expressed confidence in the DOJ and its case against Abrego Garcia. "The DOJ made a decision," he said, adding, "I think their decisions have been very, very good."

Click to expand...

I hope they give the wife-beating gangster a speedy trial and send him back to where he belongs.

Battle of Los Angeles: Anti-ICE Leftists Go Berserk Against Federal Agents, Storm DHS Facility​

Mayhem ensued when ICE raids were conducted in Los Angeles yesterday. Like in Minneapolis, leftists came out of the woodwork to berate and disrupt federal agents enforcing immigration laws. Unlike that incident, however, it didn’t lead to what I was told is an act of armed rebellion: anti-ICE activists stormed a federal building, and the local police were nowhere to be found.

Videos showed federal agents running after people in the parking lot of the Home Depot in Westlake, not far from downtown Los Angeles

Another raid occurred at a business in the Garment District near 9th and Towne streets, with agents in riot gear detaining workers at a clothing store as dozens of people began to gather outside. As workers were hauled off in cuffs, throngs of people yelled at the agents and held up cellphones to record them, according to videos of the showdown. One person threw eggs at one of the vehicles as agents pushed members of the public back, the videos showed.

In the street, immigrant-rights advocates stood on a bed of a truck, using megaphones to speak to the workers inside the store, reminding them of their constitutional rights and instructing them not to sign anything or say anything to federal agents. They also told the agents that lawyers wanted access to the workers, and sometimes called out specific names.

“I want to talk to my clients Luis Lopez and Michel Garcia. We are here," one person could be heard saying. "The community is here with you. Your family is here with you."

Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe, a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of ICE, said federal agents in downtown Los Angeles were executing search warrants related to the harboring of people illegally in the country. At least 44 people were arrested and one for obstructing No other details were provided.

The crowd remained mostly peaceful, but photos and videos of the scene showed some unmarked vehicles used by ICE had been vandalized with graffiti. As agents whisked away workers in white SUVs, members of the crowd walked and ran alongside the vehicles, videos from the scene showed. At one point, a man backpedaling in front of a departing SUV was nearly run over when he tripped and fell in front of the vehicle.

Officials from the Service Employees International Union said in a statement that its California president, David Huerta, was detained and injured during a downtown raid "while exercising his First Amendment right to observe and document law enforcement activity."

An SEIU spokesperson said Huerta was taken to LA County General Hospital for his injuries and later released into federal custody.

Ilse Escobar, a United Teachers Los Angeles political organizer, told The Times she saw a scuffle take place before seeing Huerta being thrown to the ground by a federal agent.

"I told him, you just arrested a labor union president," Escobar said.

[Having watched some of the protest live on local TV, it looked like many union organizers were there and kept their protest disciplined and legal.]

So this is going to be a long post. I'll use AI to summarize it a bit better of its to long though. I'm also spilling my emotions on here so its going to be intense. There are so amyn details I could add but it would be a book if I did. Skip past the ____ to get to main post, if not the details are below of our situation

So I'm 43 (USA), my wife is 39 (From Philippines). Been married 12 years. Marriage is not perfect, but the love is beyond strong. Neither of us really wanted kids, me more so than her. I am disabled and have never been able to hold a job or work. She knew this going into it. Thus I lived at home. She accepted me and married me. My parents brought her here. Sadly she didn't understand how money worked and over time got herself in debt by 80k.

She learned the hard lesson and filed for bankruptcy. She on a payment plan through debt management. And still paying off some loans that weren't covered by debt management. Needless to say we barely have money for anything. We only pay $100 rent a month because it's so bad. I was on some special version of SSI so at least I had money coming in. Until she started making to much at Amazon and I lost it, I also lost my medicaid.

So as you can tell, we are NOT ready for a baby. I don't know how well my health issues will do (22 migraines a month being the biggest issue) will do with a baby. Among my other health issues. I love kids mind you, she does also, however shes grossed out by kids. Like not wanting to change diapers. She also had a very low pain threshold. Since four of us live in one house, its not even close to being baby safe. Nor is there room for. We have a spare bedroom upstairs, which will work when its older of course. Our room is small and barley could hold a baby crib.

So... I realize it takes two to have a baby of course. We seldom have sex, just because neither of us cares about it that much. When we do there is no protection as we can't afford it (I literally stopped taking some meds to save money). Without going into intimate details I will simply say we still tried to methods to not get pregnant.

She been pregnant for two months now, just found out yesterday from a test (I kinda knew when he missed her period for more than a month). To note she was pregnant four years ago and had a miscarriage.

____________________

So when she went to work (third shift) I spend most of the night crying. I am depressed. This sounds AWFUL. But I don't want the baby. I almost resent her. She's annoyed that I am not being positive. But I don't want to lie and pretend I care, when I don't. I've spent my whole life disabled, with issues. Often hoping God would take me. I also spent my life catering to others. Never asking for anything. The whole meek and humble thing. I let people walk all over me. And now we are having a baby.


I feel like being selfish now. I want what I want. I'm tired of putting up with people doing what they want and screwed up my life. I always gave her what she wanted. I let her do what she wanted (mostly). I figured being a useless disabled husband, I shouldn't ask for anything. Now I have had enough.

No, I don't believe in divorce. I do love her deeply, I'm just depressed, angry...etc right now. And no, by saying I don't want the baby I am nto talking about the A word. That is a sin and awful. However I have been praying for a miscarriage again. I can hear the comments already tearing me apart for even saying such a thing. But I don't know what else to think. We can't afford it, she's not responsible enough to handle one, my health is awful and I can't deal with one.

I also don't want to hear about "Well you shouldn't have been intimate!" That does not help as can't change the past. It's not like we don't know that of course. We only were intimate maybe 2-4 times a year as it was. Just looking for advice for the here and now. To note, while she doens't want a baby either, being pregnant of course has her emotional and now she's happy.

Meanwhile I am stressed thinking about the reality of it. And I know I can't talk to anyone. My Christian friends will judge me for feeling this way. My non-christian friends will just yap about the A word or say things like split up. I also should note I grew up homeschooled. So I was around babies, kids...etc. I love kids. I'd love to be a dad. And of course my parents live with us, so that will help. Even though they are near deaths door and have health issues themselves. Honestly I am tired of my life. If not for the fear of death and God, I'd end it currently. I'm tired of being tired and givingt up everything and getting nothing in return. Tired of being nice.

I just need advice, or comfort. Or something. I know God has things happen for a reason and a baby is a blessing of course.

When we are born into this world, we are born with sin natures, in the image of Adam, the first man God created, and the first man to sin against God. We are separate from God, unable within ourselves to be made righteous in the sight of God. We sin, by nature, and we are destined to hell. So God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (God the Son), to the earth to be born as a human baby to a human mother. And while he lived on the earth he was both fully God and fully human (God incarnate) living among the people.

But the purpose for Jesus coming to this earth and to taking on human flesh, although without sin, was so he would be our sacrificial lamb on a cross to put our sins to death with him so that, by God-persuaded faith in him, we would now die with Christ to sin, and be raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. As those who confess him as our Lord and Savior, our lives are now to be surrendered to him to obey him and to live only for him.

But we still live in flesh bodies in a fallen world, and so we still have the vulnerability to sin against God, although we should no longer be inclined (motivated, persuaded) that direction. Our desire should now be for our Lord to please him in all that we are and do and say. For we died with Christ to sin, so how can we live in it any longer? Sin should no longer have mastery over our lives to where we still obey sin, in practice. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But obedience to God leads to eternal life with God.

So, although we should no longer desire sin, but God and his righteousness, it is possible for a true believer in Christ to sin (1 John 2:1-2). But a true follower of Christ should not be one who is still committing sin in practice, deliberately and habitually. For the Scriptures teach that if sin is our practice, and not obedience to God, that we do not know God, we are not in fellowship with him, we are not born of God, but we are still of the devil, and we will not be saved from our sins nor have eternal life with God in heaven.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

But should any of us be caught in sin once again, or should we wander from the truth (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20), then we need to repent of our sins and obey God and submit our lives to God, and allow him to restore us back to a right relationship with him in full surrender to his will and purpose for our lives. But true biblical repentance is not a “sin, confess, sin, confess” ritual whereby our lives are not surrendered to the Lord, to walking in his ways, but where we sin deliberately and habitually against our Lord.


And this doesn’t have to be just about sin, repentance, and restoration. Sometimes the Lord allows us to go through trials and tribulations to test our faith, and those trials can be very hard, at times, and they can really stretch us, and may even tempt us to want to give up the fight, at times. And so we must turn to the Lord in these times of temptation or trials, and we must seek his face, and believe in him to restore us and/or to give us the strength to endure. But we must never give up on God!

For the Lord will have compassion on those who are truly his, who are not faking their Christianity while deliberately and habitually sinning against God and against other humans. For biblical repentance is not just saying you are sorry, especially if you go right back to recommitting the same sins habitually. True repentance results in not only a change of heart and mind, but a change of behavior, attitude, and lifestyle. If we are truly repentant we will not keep repeating the same sinful practices deliberately.

Now, again, this doesn’t have to be just about sin and repentance and restoration. But this can engage any kind of testing and trials and tribulations which we go through in this life to test our faith. And there, as well, we will need God’s lovingkindness and his grace extended to us for us to survive the onslaught against us. We will need the Lord to ease our pain and suffering and to give us joyful hearts, even in the midst of suffering. For we will need to see that suffering has a purpose, and then submit to God.

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 17:14; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

When Pretty Things Get Broken

By Joni Eareckson Tada

I have a piece of China, a pretty porcelain vase –
It holds such lovely flowers; captures everybody’s gaze.
But fragile things do slip and fall, as everybody knows.
And when my vase came crashing down, those tears began to flow.

My life was just like China, a lovely thing to me;
Full of porcelain promises of all that I might be.
But fragile things do slip and fall, as everybody knows.
And when my life came crashing down, those tears began to flow.

Now Jesus is no porcelain Prince. His promises won’t break.
His holy word holds fast and sure. His love, no one can shake.
So, if your life is shattered by sorrow, pain, or sin –
His healing love will reach right down and make you whole again.

‘Cause don’t we all cry when pretty things get broken?
Don’t we all sigh at such an awful loss?
Jesus will dry your tears, as He has spoken;
‘Cause He was the one broken on the cross.

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Lyrics free download, compliments of Joni and friends:

Broken and Regretful
An Original Work / June 7, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love