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

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

Trump says Putin ‘has gone absolutely crazy’ after major Russian attacks on Ukraine

CNN —
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Vladimir Putin “has gone absolutely CRAZY,” after the Russian leader launched the largest aerial attack of Moscow’s three-year full-scale war on Ukraine.

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Hours earlier, Trump had told reporters: “I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people, and I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin.”

Continued below.

The Abrahamic and Sinai Covenants: Two Distinct Pillars of God's Plan

The Abrahamic and Sinai Covenants: Two Distinct Pillars of God's Plan

Many today wonder whether the covenant made with Abraham is the same as the one given at Mount Sinai, or whether one replaces the other. According to Scripture, the Abrahamic Covenant and the Sinai Covenant are two distinct covenants. They serve different purposes, were given at different times, and are not mutually exclusive. One does not cancel or replace the other, but both are part of God's unfolding plan. To be valid, however, any covenant requires both parties to accept and uphold their agreement.

The Abrahamic Covenant was given long before the law at Sinai. It is centered on God's promises to Abraham and his descendants. In Genesis 17:7, God says, "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you." This covenant was unconditional, built on God's word alone, and it included promises of land, a great nation, and that through Abraham all nations of the earth would be blessed. It was sealed with a sign—circumcision.

In contrast, the Sinai Covenant was given to the children of Israel after their exodus from Egypt. It was a conditional covenant based on obedience to God’s commandments. In Exodus 19:5-6, God says, "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people..." This covenant included the Ten Commandments, along with civil and ceremonial laws. Its sign was the Sabbath, as written in Exodus 31:16-17: "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath... for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever."

Though they are different, Scripture never teaches that one replaces the other. In fact, God continually refers back to the Abrahamic Covenant even after the giving of the law. In Leviticus 26:42, God says, "Then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember..." This proves that God keeps His promises and sees the Abrahamic covenant as still active, even when Israel fails to uphold the Sinai covenant.

The prophet Micah also testifies to this in Micah 7:20: "You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old." This shows that the covenant with Abraham remains alive, grounded in mercy and promise, while the covenant with Israel at Sinai was based on truth and responsibility.

When Jesus came, He did not erase either covenant. He confirmed the promises made to Abraham and fulfilled the requirements of the law. In Luke 1:72-73, Zacharias proclaims under the Holy Spirit, "To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham." And in Matthew 5:17, Jesus says, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."

Jesus did not cancel the law, nor did He replace the promise. Instead, He revealed their deeper meaning and brought them together in Himself. The Abrahamic covenant lives on through faith, and the Sinai covenant is written in the hearts of those who love God, as promised in Jeremiah 31:33: "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

But just like any covenant, both the Abrahamic and Sinai covenants require agreement. God's promises are sure, but they must be received. The law is holy, but it must be embraced by a willing heart. A covenant is only fully alive when both sides honor it. This is why Jesus calls His followers to not only believe, but to obey. As He said in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?"

In the end, both covenants stand as two pillars of God's relationship with His people. The Abrahamic Covenant reveals God’s unbreakable promise. The Sinai Covenant reveals His holy standard. One flows into the other. The promise leads to the law written in the heart. The inheritance of Abraham is received by faith, and that faith leads to obedience, not lawlessness.

God never broke either covenant. He is still waiting for His people to agree with Him, to walk in His ways, and to accept the fullness of what He has promised and commanded. These two covenants together show the beauty of God’s plan: mercy, truth, faith, and obedience working together in harmony.

They deny the Saving Efficacy of the Death of Christ !

In the last days on the brink of the return of Christ to gather His People, there will be wide spread apostacy in religion wherein they will speak as though they honor the Lord Jesus Christ, but in reality they dishonor Him in His Person and Work, and deny the Saving Power of His Death. Paul writes 2 Tim 3:5

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

They deny the Power of Godliness by denying the Saving Power/Efficacy of the Death/Blood of Christ. This they do by teaching that sinners Christ died for remain lost and condemned. This teaching is a great dishonor to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. I will in this thread post scriptures that Testify to the Saving Death of Christ, yes His Death in and of itself, secured and brings about the Salvation of each and every sinner He died for, namely His Elect, or Sheep or His Church !

First lets look at Peters writing to believers here 1 Pet 2:24

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.


The baring of our sins and His stripes are one and the same, which resulted in being healed. The word for healed iaomai means:


  1. to cure, heal
  2. to make whole
    1. to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one's) salvation

      Yes it means to bring about or accomplish or effect ones Salvation ! Thats what His Death did for them He died for. Thats why they became believers, Salvation causes belief in the Truth 2 Thess 2:13

      But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Utah judge cites defendant’s ‘privilege’ in ordering no additional time [after 112 days of time served] for 2 felony counts of child sex exploitation

Aidan Hoffman, 22, was sentenced Tuesday in Grand County after pleading guilty to two felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to court documents, Hoffman possessed and distributed multiple images of children being raped and sexually abused.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Don Torgerson twice cited Hoffman’s “privilege” as he ultimately decided not to require him to serve any additional jail time or pay a fine, despite prosecutors asking for prison.

During the hearing, the judge referred to the time Hoffman had already spent in jail, saying that “112 days is a lot of jail time. It’s a lot of jail time for someone your age who comes from some level of privilege.”
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Texas will require public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments under bill nearing passage

Come September, every public school classroom in Texas could be required to display the Ten Commandments under a requirement that passed a key vote in the Texas legislature Sunday — part of a larger push in Texas and beyond to increase the role of religion in schools.

Do the Ten Commandments still apply under the new covenant today?

Many today question whether the Ten Commandments still apply under the new covenant. Some believe they were temporary, pointing to writings that describe the law as a ministry that brought death and condemnation. But when we look deeper into the words of Jesus and the prophets, we find a different truth—one filled with life, purpose, and enduring glory.

The prophet Jeremiah gave a clear promise from God:
“I will make a new covenant… I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:31–33)

This promise was not about removing the law but placing it where it was always meant to be—inside the heart. The commandments, once written on stone, would now be written in living hearts through the Spirit of God. But like any true covenant, it only works when both sides agree. God remains faithful, but His people must accept it, cherish it, and allow His Spirit to plant it deep within them.

Jesus never set the commandments aside. He honored the law and taught its fullness. When He healed on the Sabbath or defended His disciples for picking grain, He wasn’t breaking the law—He was showing its true purpose. He said, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:12) The Sabbath was made for man—not man for the Sabbath. Jesus reminded the people that the heart of the law is love, mercy, and goodness, not cold rituals.

He also taught that not even the smallest part of the law would pass away until all is fulfilled:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill… till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law.” (Matthew 5:17–18) Jesus taught from the law and lived by it. He deepened its meaning. He showed that anger leads to murder, and lust is already adultery in the heart. His teachings didn’t cancel the law—they raised it to its true spiritual level.

So why does it seem today that God's law is not written in the hearts of many? The answer lies in the covenant relationship. If one party refuses the covenant, it cannot be fulfilled. The Spirit cannot write in a heart that is closed. Many call Jesus Lord but do not walk in His ways. As He said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

The commandments remain—not as a list of rules, but as a path to life. The law of God is perfect, converting the soul. The problem was never with the law, but with the hearts of people. The old covenant failed because the people broke it, not because the law was faulty.

The new covenant is not the removal of God’s law but its renewal—inside us. The Spirit does not lead us away from the commandments but gives us the power to live them. Jesus said the Spirit will guide us into all truth. The law and the Spirit are not enemies—they work together when the heart is willing. In the end, the new covenant fulfills the old by making it alive. The law that once condemned now becomes a light. But for this to happen, the covenant must be embraced, and the heart must be softened. God's law in the heart is a sign of His people. It is how we love Him and love our neighbor.

The commandments are not heavy when written in love. They are eternal because they reflect the character of God Himself. They are still standing, still holy, and still waiting for hearts that will receive them—not in stone, but in spirit and truth.

A complement to this post can be found below;

White House Publishes "Gold Standard" for Conducting Science in USA


(c) Agencies, unless prohibited by law, shall review agency actions taken between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025, including regulations, guidance documents, policies, and scientific evaluations and take all appropriate steps, consistent with law, to ensure alignment with the policies and requirements of this order.​

The CDC has stopped putting out its newsletters. Databases have disappeared from view. NOAA is crippled just ahead of hurricane season.

The relationship between the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath, and the New Covenant

The relationship between the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath, and the New Covenant is a profound subject with significant implications for biblical theology and Christian practice.
At the heart of this discussion lies the assertion that the Decalogue, as articulated in Exodus 34:28 and Deuteronomy 4:13, constitutes the very covenant God established with Israel. The text is explicit: “He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.” This identification of the commandments with the covenant itself underscores their enduring and foundational significance within the biblical narrative.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 introduces the prophetic promise of a “new covenant,” one that is distinguished not by a new set of laws, but by the internalization of God’s existing law. The prophet declares, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” This passage does not suggest the abrogation of the law, but rather its transformation from an external code to an internalized moral compass, written upon the very minds and hearts of God’s people.
Within this framework, the Sabbath commandment emerges as a critical test case. It is not merely one precept among many, but is uniquely described in Exodus 31:16-17 as a “perpetual covenant” and a “sign forever” between God and His people. The language of perpetuity and covenantal signification elevates the Sabbath to a status of enduring theological importance.
As the biblical texts confirms, the Ten Commandments are the covenant and the new covenant is characterized by the internalization of these laws, then the Sabbath, as an integral part of the Decalogue, must also be understood as retaining its relevance and authority. The new covenant does not negate the Sabbath, but rather inscribes its meaning more deeply within the believer’s consciousness and spiritual identity.
In conclusion, the theological logic that flows from the identification of the Ten Commandments as the covenant, and the new covenant as the internalization of God’s law, leads to the affirmation that the Sabbath is indeed a perpetual ordinance. Its observance, whether literal or spiritualized, remains a sign of the covenant relationship between God and His people, now written not on tablets of stone, but on the tablets of human hearts. This enduring principle invites continual reflection on the nature of divine law, covenant fidelity, and the rhythm of sacred time in the life of faith. The sabbath Command is for all of God's people, those who love Him and do his will.

Obligations

You are obliged to care about and for the poor.
If one sacrifices from what has been wrongfully obtained, the offering is blemished; the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable. The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly; and he is not propitiated for sins by a multitude of sacrifices. Like one who kills a son before his father's eyes is the man who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor. The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it is a man of blood. To take away a neighbour's living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood. Sirach 34:18-22 RSV-CE

My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you? Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don't have enough to eat. What good is there in your saying to them, "God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!"—if you don't give them the necessities of life? So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead. But someone will say, "One person has faith, another has actions." My answer is, "Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions." Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear. You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless? How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions. And the scripture came true that said, "Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous." And so Abraham was called God's friend. You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone. It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road. So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead. James 2:14-26 GNB
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Duck Dynasty star dies after devastating health battle as family reveal his brave final message

Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson has died at the age of 79 after a heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer's disease in his final months.

The professional hunter turned reality star's family announced the news in a Facebook post on Sunday, leaving fans devastated.

We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,' Phil's daughter-in-law Korie Robertson said Sunday on Facebook.

She thanked people who had prayed for Phil, who dealt with Alzheimer's disease in his final months. She recalled how he bravely told loved ones that he was not afraid of death and considered it a comeback to the kingdom of God.

Continued below.

New and looking for fellowship

Hello I am new to this forum, and new to this kind of socializing. My name is Becky and I am a Christ follower. I am not new to my faith but in the last year have been working on deepening my relationship with God. I hope to find fellowship here, due to my work schedule it is hard for me to connect with others.

Do you parish hop or do you feel committed to one parish?

I've always loved my parish and I hate the idea of going somewhere else for Mass unless I'm out of town or something. I really love my parish community and feel devoted to it, but my wife is the opposite. She doesn't dislike our parish by any stretch, in fact I think she likes it a lot, but she doesn't think twice about going to Mass at another parish, even 20mins away if it suits her. And by suitable I mean she doesn't have to wake up too early to be there. I started wondering if this was cultural, if it was a cradle vs convert thing or if it was maybe just something she and her old friend circle used to do cause I know they were all spread out and would join each other for Mass at different parishes or go to other events like Holy Hours at parishes that weren't theirs.

How about you guys? Do you tend to go to the same parish every week or do you have a couple that maybe you bounce around to? If you stick with the same parish do you also go to the same Mass every week as well?
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The auto-pen scandal is going to be massive

Members of the Biden Administration need to go to prison for decades over this.


The House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Biden’s autopen abuse isn’t just political theater—it’s a constitutional reckoning. Bank records show $30M funneled through Biden family shell companies while executive actions like the LNG export pause were signed without his awareness. When Speaker Johnson confronted Biden, he denied his own policy, proving he wasn’t steering the ship.

The Oversight Project’s findings confirm pardons issued via autopen batch signatures lack legal legitimacy if Biden didn’t personally authorize them. This isn’t about partisan grudges—it’s about whether unelected aides committed forgery on presidential documents. Subpoenas for Tomasini, Bernal, and O’Connor are the first step.

Biden’s testimony isn’t optional; it’s mandatory for validating two dozen EOs and pardons that reshaped policy. The clock’s ticking, but the swamp’s still blocking transparency.

Quiet quitting

Do you Christians experience feeling empty and sometimes terrified of nothing? Like your atoms are drifting away from each other.

Or, did you used to feel like that but Christ closed the gap?

It feels like hanging in a gap sometimes with no sides. Sometimes this is very very difficult.

Do you still sometimes feel this, even though you have Christ? Or is it just life. That's what life just feels like. Not Light or Dark or even bland.. just suspended and disintegrating.

Or is it just some people sometimes. I really really don't care about salvation or what comes next. What about now, what about this. Has Jesus helped you, can he?

If you had a job, and you really didn't care for it. Would you quit? Or quit quietly slowly withdrawing so gently that it's not even noticed. Just stop trying.

Anyway, I hope my questions make some sort of sense to somebody?
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Trump's bizarre speech at the West Point Commencement

It was sad, very sad.

Trump goes off on some stuff about 'trophy wives'. ? What does that have to do in regards to the occasion?



Other quotes were wierd:

Trump unleashes bizarre commencement speech at West Point and there are comments made in regards to quotes posted below:

  • “We couldn’t get anybody to join our military. We couldn’t get anybody to join our police or firefighters. We couldn’t get anybody to join anything. And right now, just less than a year later, we just set a brand new peacetime recruiting record.” (As CBS News reports, Trump’s attempt to take credit for boosting military recruitment is misleading: Data show the military is still struggling to recruit compared to earlier this decade, and experts say recent progress is likely due to reforms introduced under former President Joe Biden.)
  • “And we are buying you new airplanes, brand-new, beautiful planes, redesigned planes, brand-new planes, totally stealth planes. I hope they’re stealth. I don’t know, that whole stealth thing, I’m sorta wondering. You mean if we shape a wing this way, they don’t see it, but the other way they see it? I’m not so sure.”

Is he aware that while the Army does have helicopters and some planes, the Air Force is the one that has most of the planes?

  • “I went through a very tough time with some very radicalized sick people, and I say, I was investigated more than the great late Alphonse Capone. Alphonse Capone was a monster, he was a very hardened criminal. I went through more investigations than Alphonse Capone, and now I’m talking to you as president, can you believe this?” (Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of fraud and former DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith said that he believed Trump would have been convicted for trying to overthrow the 2020 election had he not won reelection last November. A prior fact check from CNN found that Trump’s claim he was indicted more than Capone was false: Trump has been indicted four times, but Capone was indicted six times.)

Usually presidents stay and shake hands with the graduating cadets, but Trump left.
He is spending the weekend playing golf at one of his resorts.

Could the Pope be arrested if He tries to re-enter the USA?


Since immigration issues are on the verge of the absurd for some USA visa holders, I bring this issue to really hammer why the letter of the law should not be followed in all citizenship/immigration matters.

This article outlines part of the quandry that the U.S. Constitution outlines for those that work for foreign governments in a policy position. Since the Pope does this as head of state for the Vatican, an indpendent country, it seems he could lose his U.S. citizenship. Thus, technically he could be detained and deported like any other illegal entrant if he tries to re-enter the USA or a U.S. territory that requires a USA visa. This is an interesting legal issue and following the letter of the law could mean he no longer is a USA citizen.

§ 3a.2 Requirement for approval of foreign government employment.

(a) The United States Constitution (Article I, section 9, clause 8) prohibits the acceptance of civil employment with a foreign government by an officer of the United States without the consent of Congress. Congress has consented to the acceptance of civil employment (and compensation therefor) by any person described in § 3a.1(b) subject to the approval of the Secretary concerned and the Secretary of State (37 U.S.C. 801, Note). Civil employment with a foreign government may not be accepted without such approval by any person so described.


Accepting, Serving in, or Performing Duties of a Position with the Government of a Foreign State - Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 349(a)(4)​


"A U.S. national’s employment, after attaining the age of 18, with the government of a foreign country or a political subdivision thereof is a potentially expatriating act pursuant to Section 349(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act if the individual is a citizen of that foreign country or takes an oath of allegiance to that country in connection with such employment. Such employment, however, will result in one's expatriation only if done voluntarily with the intention of relinquishing U.S. citizenship. Running for foreign office, even foreign head of state, is not a potentially expatriating act; only accepting, serving in, or performing the duties of a foreign office are potentially expatriating as described above."

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