This article was referenced from a Protestant Fundamentalist web site.

I agree whole-heartedly with the conclusion, although I disagree some
on the description of the dynamics involved, and the results of not catechizing.
---------- ----------

Topics mentioned in the article...

1 Some sort of teaching of "beliefs"/doctrines is necessary.
Some Christian groups incorporate this into preparing a person to join the
people of God, or incorporate this into teaching new Christians so that they
are more knowledgeable in the faith.

My comments on the points, are prefeaced by "---" ...

--- The article is from a Protestant Fundamentalist point of view. It denies that
the "faith" is a body of knowledge. However, one of the biblical uses of pistis
("faith") is as a body of knowledge, so I have to disagree on this point with the
article. Consider...

In the world-class NT lexicon (BDAG, 818-820), under pistis("faith" in English translations), there are the meanings...
"1 that which evokes trust and faith, the state of being someone in whom confidence can be placed, faithfulness, reliability, fidelity, commitment"
"2 state of believing on the basis on the reliability of the one trusted, trust, confidence, faith" specifically lists Ephesians 3.12 under the subheading of "of faith in Christ".
"3 that which is believed, body of faith/belief/teaching"

From the New Testament vocabulary, it is possible to have faith in all sorts of people or things ("faith" is not a uniquely Christian concept). And so, Christians must deal with the topic of misplaced faith.

--- Protestant Fundamentalists often do not believe that "faith" can refer to a
body of beliefs, simply because they are taught that the early creeds of the
Church are not necessary knowledge, in order to join God's People.
This ignores that the Nicene Creed was used as a template to teach those
who wanted to become Christians, in the early centuries of Christianity.
(Whether or not the doctrines in the Nicene creed, had the name "Nicene
Creed" when this body of beliefs was used to catechize.) This is a cultural
problem, and is not compatible with the New Testament's meanings of
"faith".

2 The faith is a way of being in the world.
I agree with this. But, following Jesus as King, is undefined behavior, apart
from the deposit of Apostolic teaching that we call "the faith". You can't "follow
Jesus as King", using any definition that feels right to you.

3 How do you teach your children the faith?
The article is correct, that we should not pawn this off on some day care
group. Parents have got to be involved.

4 One mark of how well a child has learned "the faith", is their ability to
answer questions about "the faith". We should not be afraid of using this
method of asking questions (there is a cultural problem in America,
where many educators and parents think that it is not a good/positive thing to
ask kids questions, and show up their ignorance). We should not be afraid of
learning that we are ignorant, as a first step in learning.

5 Sound preaching is good, but it is not quite the same as catechism.

--- In one way, preaching is not like ancient preaching in the Church.
In North Africa, we have people in the congregration interacting with
the great Christian teachers, as they preached. The pagan philosophers
might raise objections to the preaching, and probably the Christian
congregation would voice their approval of the orthodox doctrines being
taught.

6 The article brings up that it would be helpful to use a printed catechism.
The author suggests The New City Catechism. Of course Catholics would
use the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).

--- The advantage of using a printed catechism, is that you can look up topics,
and there are definitions right in front of you. You may not agree with the
definitions. But at least you know what precisely you don't agree with. So
there is a path of discussion, and a path to ask questions about all sorts of
topics.

7 The author of the article mentions that one of the problems with NOT
catechizing, is that you will get pastors who do not know the doctrines of
the faith, (and so, cannot catechize others).

--- I would add that there are a dozen SERIOUS problems with NOT catechizing...
and that some of these problems will not fully present themselves, for a few
generations after a group has stopped actively catechizing...

(a) There is a degeneration in congregations, of what "the faith" is.
This leads to all sorts of "cultural Christianity", that is not orthodox.
(b) The New Covenant that the New Testament describes, is a formal covenant
between God and mankind. God will give us guaranteed benefits, IF we
hold to required behavior and belief. Do we really expect God to change the
terms of the agreement (to forgive our sins, and make us holy), if we are
generationally forgetting the terms of this agreement? Can we stop paying
our mortgage agreement, and still keep our house???
(c) A formal class on catechism OUGHT TO present basic models of
what reality is
how we perceive reality
what good evidence is, for believing something
what lying about reality is (such as in "You shall not lie!")
how we can choose to mis-perceive reality
that there is a MORAL-ETHICAL OUGHT to properly perceive reality
that reality is NOT whatever I assert it is, or wish it to be
that conspiracy theories are explanations of reality, that are NOT
demonstrated to be true; and so, holding and propagating
conspiracy theories involves "bearing false witness" about reality.
and THAT is a serious and forbidden sin in Christianity and Judaism.

NOTE: most of the younger generations of Americans, and the "electronic
screen" genertions, cannot intelligently discuss what reality is, or how we
have a moral-ethical ought to perceive reality accurately, or what evidence is,
or what knowing is. Becasue of this, they do not understand one of the very
basic teachings of Jesus, about reality and perceiving and believing.
"Be careful how you hear!"

(d) As soon as orthodox catechism stops, then that generation of Christians
is no longer equipped to explain/defend the faith (Christian apologetics stops),
and the entrance requirements (to join God's People) and the continuing
living requirements of the new covenant, and the exit requirements (for
leaving the new covenant) ARE NO LONGER UNDERSTOOD.

This means that we will have congregational members who conder themselves
to be "Christians" or "Catholic Christians" or "Orthodox Christians" who are
using a false measure of what it is to be a Christian. This is not benign! This
creates new impediments in congregational members, that an orthodox pastor/
teacher must overcome.

When orthodox catechism stops, then there are generations of people who
consider themselves to be Christians, and who may be "evangelizing" for
some other faith, but not for "the faith once delivered to the saints".

---------- ----------

This article brings up crucial questions, about how the Christian faith is
described, and passed on to new generations.

Although the questions raised are good, many of the crucial topics that
SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, were not addressed. And, this is
probably because the author is not using a definition of "faith" from the
Greek New Testament, and is projecting an anti-intellectual view of
what Christianity is.

The CSB states that it is a gender accurate translation, similarly ESV 2011, NIV, and some others are in varying degrees gender accurate, is this a good thing?

Eph 2:
8 For it is by GRACE [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].
(MY NOTE: Vrs 8, By GRACE (undeserved/unmerited/earned favor) are you SAVED (from sins required wage/DEATH) thru FAITH (in Who Jesus is (God the Son) & what He accomplished on the cross. Vrs 9, No boastful personal works involved. Jesus (praise His Name) did ALL the work)

2 Tim 1:9 for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],
(MY NOTE: Delivered from sin's wage is, NOT, on the merit on any personal works. But, because of His own purpose & GRACE which was granted/given to us thru FAITH in Christ' sacrificial sin atoning death on the cross.)

Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
(MY NOTE: Thru the POWER of Christ's resurrection! Every believer Past-Present-Future is Justified/Saved/Judicially Declared Righteous by God)

Titus 3:
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
(MY NOTE: The believer is Justified/Saved by the GRACE of God! NOT, by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He SAVES us)

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
(MY NOTE: GRACE has a name, it's Jesus the Christ!)

God’s GRACE isnt deserved, cannot be earned, nor can it be accessed thru any personal works. GRACE is a God given FREE GIFT (Rom 3:24, 4:16, 5:1-2,15, 11:6, Eph 2:5 & 8) & is accessed thru FAITH. FAITH placed in who Jesus is (God the Son) & what He accomplished on the cross. Sins ordinance/law levied/required wage (DEATH Rom 6:23).

Conversion is a finished transaction. When Christ baptizes the believer with His Forever (Jn 14:16) Indwelling Holy Spirit (only Christ preforms this spiritual baptism. The believers salvation is sealed & forever preserved.

ALL the believers sins Past-Present-Future are imputed onto Christ & the believer (thru FAITH) placed in who Jesus is (God the Son) & what He accomplished on the cross (paying sins required wage/price DEATH Rom 6:23) completely pardoned/forgiven.

SALVATION/ETERNAL LIFE SECURE

Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
(MY NOTE: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Also see Mat 3:11, Lk 3:16 & Jn 1:33)

Christ's Holy Spirit, "eternal sealing's/NT/Body of Christ" doesn't begin until after Jesus death & resurrection:

Jn 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

2 Tim 1:14 Refers to the Holy Spirit as a Good Deposit.

2 Cor 5:5, Eph 1:14 & 2 Cor 1:22. Refer to the Holy Spirit as "the earnest" = Deposit or Pledge.

Eph 1:13, 2 Cor 1:22 & Eph 4:30 Refer to the Holy Spirit as a Seal.

2 Tim 1:14 The Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you
(MY NOTE: The Holy Spirit dwelling within us <PRESENT TENSE). Is God's good deposit)

2 Cor 5:5 God, who also hath given unto us the "earnest" of the Spirit
(MY NOTE: Cor written to believers: God has <PAST TENSE, given/DONE DEAL)

2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also "sealed us" & "given the earnest" of the Holy Spirit in our hearts
(MY NOTE: God has given <PAST TENSE/DONE DEAL > Holy Spirit. His DEPOSIT/PLEDGE/PROMISE & SEAL, until the soon coming day of our final redemption)

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(MY NOTE: The gospel of your salvation: you believed & were <PAST TENSE > sealed/DONE DEAL with God's salvation sealing Holy Spirit promise)

Eph1:14 Which is the "earnest" of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession
(MY NOTE: The Holy Spirit by which only Christ baptizes/seals & indwells us. Is God's earnest = a down payment/pledge)

1 Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
(MY NOTE: Know that you HAVE (< present tense). If one can lose eternal like, then it was never eternal)

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
(MY NOTE: Christ via the offering of his own sinless blood, entered once into heaven holy place & obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us.)

Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
(MY NOTE: This new sin management blood covenant is EVERLASTING! Not just 1 year or until the next time to stumble or fall)

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
(MY NOTE: Christ sinless payment REDEEMED believers/saints from Mosaic laws sin punishment & has obtained scriptures promise of an ETERNAL inheritance)

Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
(MY NOTE: Christ PERFECTED FOREVER those that are sanctified)

Still, Mikey, 43, who grew up in nearby Oakdale, and began building the castle five years ago on farmland while he was homeless, will not surrender if he can help it.


Even though he lives in a nearby council flat and not in the castle, Mikey has been told by the local authority that he breached planning rules because the structure needed permission to be built on agricultural land.



The veteran, whose retreat has been visited by people such as troubled reality TV star Katie Price, has a growing army of supporters, not least his 100,000 followers on Instagram.

Click to expand...

By the time he was through, the 8000 seat Wilkes Barre arena was almost empty. One guest said in 2016 he put up a lawn sign for Trump. In 2020 he just voted for him.
After hearing his speech, he decided Trump would be a dangerous president.

One of things you’re not supposed to do when you’re in the business of news reporting, or political commentary, is repeat yourself. Saying the same things over and over again is usually a good way to turn off your audience. Everyone in the media knows this, and political campaigns know it too. They count on it. They think that if they just ignore inconvenient facts — no matter how bad they may be — then eventually people will stop talking about them.

That’s why I’m going to begin by repeating a highly inconvenient fact that the Kamala Harris campaign apparently wants everyone to ignore, even though it’s unprecedented in modern politics. Since becoming her party’s presumptive nominee well over a month ago, Kamala Harris still hasn’t participated in a single press conference or interview. The most she’s done is deflect a couple of softballs on an airport tarmac. Harris was also completely absent from the Sunday shows the other day, even though pretty much every single Sunday show is explicitly on the side of her campaign.


Even when Joe Biden ran for office in 2020, when he was secluded in his house supposedly because of COVID, he sat for more interviews than this. He logged in via Zoom, and he only spoke to media outlets that wanted to do everything in their power to prop him up. But still, he technically spoke to the media. Kamala Harris isn’t even capable of doing that. And to this day, there are still no policies listed on her campaign’s website. She’s given speeches about price controls and more taxes, but she hasn’t outlined how any of that will work in practice.

Assertions - see below - have been made as to why the canonical autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine is not canonical. This is in reply.

I'll state again the gist of how the OCU came into being: Historically, Kyiv is the mother of Moscow and not the other way around. The dominance of Moscow was affirmed in the 17th century when it uncanonically took over the Kyiv Metropolitanate. Given the independence of Ukraine, the EP corrected the 17th century theft by Moscow by inviting in 2018 the various Orthodox factions - at least 3 of them - in Ukraine to unite in order to receive the Tomos of autocephaly. All three main jurisdictions were represented in the unification council. They affirmed their commitment to a canonical Church, elected a Primate, and was bestowed the Tomos. Thus was formed the canonical autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. It has 5 college and above educational theological institutions, many monasteries, and many historical churches and cathedrals galore, etc.

It is due to Moscow's uncanonical actions in the 17th century that in 2018, Ukraine had 3 fully functional Orthodox jurisdictions in Ukraine, 2 of which had no desire to commemorate Moscow's archbishop. In addition, the Greek Catholic church (Uniate but orthodox practicing) was formed in Ukraine in reaction to the actions of Moscow even prior to the decisive blow to Kyiv in the 18th century. So there were 3 fully formed Orthodox and 'Orthodox like' bodies that were developed in Ukraine due to Moscow. This was a mess and without the EP's action would remain so today. Today, there is still the Greek Catholic church, which is on friendly terms with the OCU's Primate, the canonical OCU, and the renegade UOC under Moscow. The renegade UOC has 9 months to break its link to Moscow.

To deny the validity of the EP's actions in Ukraine is to deny that Kyiv is the mother of Moscow, and to assert that there is a canonical way for one canonical Church (Moscow) to take over another canonical Church (Kyiv). That isn't Orthodoxy. That is uncanonical, un-Orthodox.

This document, very readable, in English, details the basis for the EP's actions regarding Kyiv. THE ECUMENICAL THRONE AND THE CHURCH OF UKRAINE: The Documents Speak

As to the assertions below:
There was no uncanonical action taken by the EP in granting the Tomos. See the link above.

1'. Yes, there is no canonical way for a functioning church to be taken over by another in Orthodoxy. That point is made in the link given above. The uncanonical action was Moscow's in the 17th century.

2'. There has been violence, but it has been the actions of the UOC and not the OCU. Ukraine has a detailed statute governing transfer of church property and affiliations of governance. Parishioners have taken legal actions - documents, votes, etc. - fulfilling the statute only for the UOC remnant to bully the majority from taking control of the properties, padlocking the churches, stripping the churches of icons and accoutrements - candle stands, and divine utensils, etc. Legal actions have been prolonged in order to gain access to legally transferred churches. Prior to the full scale invasion, some regional authorities purposely frustrated communities from switching to the OCU.

As to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra - a critical state historic property, there are still UOC monks there and a system of occupation by UOC people have prevented the full inventory of the property (this may have been done) by the state. No UOC monk has been expelled. The UOC ran full businesses on the property, and added/changed buildings in violation of its lease.

3'. As the EP has said, the banning and defrocking of hierarchs and priests by Moscow was based on lack of conformance to Moscow's uncanonical control (the concept, but my words) and not for canonical reasons. Those actions were and are invalid - un-Orthodox, uncanonical.

The link gives the relevant references. Yes, the canons should not be violated, but they were in the 17th century and for years thereafter. The EP fixed that in 2018/2019 with the Tomos delivered to the canonical Church.

I cannot make out the meaning of the last sentences. The OCU has been recognized by the EP, Alexandria, Cyprus, and the Church of Greece. When the war is over, there are very likely 3 national churches that will quickly recognize the OCU. And the monks of Mount Athos pray for Kyiv/Ukraine against Moscow. Slava Ukraini!

Assertions made against the OCU: (shortened, but not edited):
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) began by violating the canons from the moment of its creation. As for the historical aspects, one can argue for a long time, but as of 2019, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) was the only canonical, world-recognized church in the entire Orthodox world.

1. According to Orthodox canons, it is impossible to create a church on the canonical territory of another church. Thus, the very creation of the OCU on the territory of the UOC was non-canonical.

2. The second argument is that the activists supporting the OCU began with violence. I am not saying that all members of the OCU agree with this. But the violent seizure of churches and monasteries is true. There were 150-200 monks of the UOC in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, now there is 1 monk of the OCU instead of them, because the OCU has almost no monks.

3. The personnel of the OCU priesthood raises serious doubts. They have 3 types of clergy:
3.1. clergy ordained in the ROC and UOC, but defrocked banned from serving by their church;
3.2. clergy who transferred from the Kyiv Patriarchate and ordained by former Metropolitan Filaret Denisenko, who was not only defrocked and banned from serving, but is also under the anathema of the ROC. Also clergymen ordained by other clergymen who had already been defrocked at the time of ordination;
3.3. clergymen who came from the UOC and are under a ban on church service. Thus, the OCU has no canonical clergymen.

The canons of the Orthodox Church were adopted at the Ecumenical Councils more than 1100 years ago and it is not for us to change them.

At the same time, the only canonical orthodox church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Due to the adoption of such a law [what law?], where the terms are written ambiguously, and other actions of the authorities, there cannot be canonical Orthodoxy in Ukraine with officially legally registered canonical orthodox religious organizations.

The assertions were made here, last entry - then closed: In what cases can a traditional church be banned in democratic states? The Ukrainian Orthodox Church may be banned.

Hello. My name is Abby and I live in North Carolina. I'm 20 years old and attend community college. I plan to transfer to a four year university once I earn my associate's degree. I want to study literature. I hope to become a professor and an author when I'm older. I have big dreams, but I've been struggling in school and in my personal life for the past few years.

I struggle with maladaptive daydreaming (MD). For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a dissociative disorder that traps a person in daydreams for hours at a time. These daydreams can be based on insecurities, past trauma, relationship troubles, stress, etc. After attempting many remedies, I've realized that praying to God is the best cure. I've also been wondering whether or not these daydreams are a form of demonic possession, but I don't want to get too deep into that just yet.

I have memories of praying to God when I was really little, but not very often. I didn't think about God for the majority of primary and secondary school. I only started exploring my faith about two years ago. Even then, I didn't speak to God or read the Bible everyday. I spoke to Him and read when I felt desperate. I feel desperate now, but I think being a part of this community will inspire me to keep God at the front of my mind for longer.

My goals include building a strong habit of prayer, expanding my biblical knowledge, and joining a church one day. I hope this community will prepare me.

Here is a William Blake poem titled "On Another's Sorrow" that I love - The Poetry Hour

Jesus: The Good Shepherd , Are You His Sheep?

In many verses of the bible, Jesus is portrayed as the Good Shepherd, a tender and loving caretaker who watches over His flock with unwavering devotion. This profound metaphor not only illustrates His deep care and sacrifice but also invites us to reflect on our own place in this divine relationship.

In the biblical context, the sheep represent the believers — those who follow Jesus and seek His guidance. Sheep are known for their dependence on their shepherd, needing constant care, protection, and direction. Similarly, believers are depicted as needing the loving oversight and guidance of Jesus.

Jesus Himself reveals His role as the Good Shepherd in John 10:11 (NKJV), saying, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." This declaration underscores the extent of His commitment to His followers, showing His readiness to sacrifice everything for their well-being. He continues in John 10:14 (NKJV), "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own," illustrating the personal and intimate relationship He has with each believer.

The Good Shepherd knows His sheep individually. As John 10:27 (NKJV) states, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." In this verse Jesus not only leads but also listens to and recognizes each one of His followers, guiding them with wisdom and care.

The relationship between Jesus and His followers is one of profound security. John 10:28 (NKJV) assures us, "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." This promise of eternal life and unbreakable protection highlights the depth of His care and commitment.

Jesus’ compassion is vividly illustrated in Matthew 9:36 (NKJV) and Mark 6:34 (NKJV), where He sees the multitudes as "sheep having no shepherd" and is moved with compassion. This imagery reflects His concern for those who lack spiritual guidance and His mission to bring them into His fold.

In Luke 15:4-7 (NKJV), Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to find one that is lost. The joy of finding the lost sheep represents the immense value He places on each individual. This parable reveals the boundless love and joy that Jesus experiences when even one person turns back to Him.

In a profound moment after His resurrection, Jesus specifically entrusts Peter with the care of His flock. In John 21:15-17 (NKJV), Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love Me?" Each time Peter affirms his love, Jesus responds, "Feed My lambs," "Tend My sheep," and "Feed My sheep." This commission highlights the responsibility of shepherding the believers, emphasizing the importance of nurturing and guiding them in their faith.

Finally, Revelation 7:17 (NKJV) envisions a future where "the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters." This verse promises that Jesus, the Lamb of God, will continue to shepherd and care for His people eternally.

Are You His Sheep?

Reflecting on these scriptures, consider your own place in this divine metaphor. Are you listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd? Are you following His guidance and trusting in His care? Embrace the reassurance and security that comes from being one of His sheep, knowing that the Good Shepherd is always watching over you with boundless love and protection.




Blessings.

State and national Republican Party leaders are suing the State Board of Elections again, days after the board criticized GOP leaders for filing a lawsuit based on what the board called "categorically false" allegations about the potential for voter fraud.

Monday's complaint is the second lawsuit making election integrity-related claims that GOP leaders say call into question whether large numbers of immigrants are illegally voting in North Carolina — echoing false claims former President Donald Trump made in the 2016 and 2020 elections. State elections officials say the GOP's claims are based on a skewed version of the facts, and that the lawsuit's proposed solution is itself illegal [because it is now too close to the election to purge them].

The Republican Party leaders claim in their lawsuit that some of the people in the database without matching information could be immigrants illegally registered to vote, although it offers no evidence of such cases.

Sure, purging them sounds like the right solution.

Harris, who replaced President Biden atop the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket last month, has been accused of flip-flopping on a number of issues since jumping into the race against Trump, including support for Medicare for All, banning fracking and legalizing illegal immigration, in an attempt to appeal to a larger set of voters.
In each case, Harris’ revised position has been announced by her campaign rather than confirmed by the vice president herself.

She needs to be called out on what she has said in the past. She is far to the left and her policies will crush America.

Greetings and blessings, everyone! I'm Robert from North Carolina. My user name is storypeddler. I am a writer and retired (since May) college English professor. Looking forward to learning my way around the site.

Two members of Donald Trump’s campaign staff had a verbal and physical altercation Monday with an official at Arlington National Cemetery where the former president participated in a wreath laying ceremony, NPR has learned.

A source with knowledge of the incident said the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staffers from filming and photographing in a section where recent U.S. casualties are buried. The source said Arlington officials had made clear that only cemetery staff members are authorized to take photographs or film in the area, known as Section 60.

When the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staff from entering Section 60, campaign staff verbally abused and pushed the official aside, according to the source.

In a statement to NPR, Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign spokesman, strongly rejected the notion of a physical altercation, adding: "We are prepared to release footage if such defamatory claims are made.

The Trump campaign declined to make that footage immediately available.

In a statement to NPR, Arlington National Cemetery said it "can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed."

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This former CNN anchor went to several different states asking people about Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. It looks like Don Lemon didn't like what he heard.

“I wanna get a law passed […] You burn an American flag, you go to jail for one year. Gotta do it — you gotta do it,” Trump said.

On Monday, Trump complained about pushback to a proposal to sentence people to a year in jail for burning the American flag.

“They say, ‘Sir, that’s unconstitutional.’ We’ll make it constitutional.”

In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson that while the desecration of the flag may be objectionable, “If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”

A New Hampshire state representative will pay two drag queens $100,000 each in a settlement after they sued him for falsely calling one a sex offender and accusing another of acting inappropriately with children.

Rep. David Love (R) made the comments in 2022 while introducing a bill to require library employees and volunteers to obtain background checks. He was driven to do so, he told his peers in the New Hampshire legislature, because of drag queens.

Now the allegations — which Love reiterated despite the drag queens, local officials and community members contesting them — will cost him $200,000.

[And the apology]

“After being provided with inaccurate information, information that I failed to verify, I publicly accused Robert Champion aka Monique Toosoon of being a registered sex offender and Michael McMahon aka Clara Divine of ‘rubbing butts’ with children,” Love said in his retraction. “... I have since learned that those assertions were completely false. I wish to publicly retract those statements and apologize to Robert and Michael.”

With their settlement, they join a slew of drag performers who have successfully sued over false accusations of sexual misconduct. In May, a jury awarded Idaho drag performer Eric Posey more than $1 million after a conservative blogger falsely accused him of exposing himself to children. A U.K. judge in January ordered a conservative commentator to pay a British-Canadian drag queen Colin Seymour around $200,000 in a libel case after falsely calling him a pedophile, Deadline reported.

Deleted

Former President Trump has added former Democrats Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard to his transition team, broadening his coalition of supporters "across partisan lines." "As President Trump’s broad coalition of supporters and endorsers expands across partisan lines, we are proud that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Trump/Vance Transition team," Trump campaign senior advisor Brian Hughes told Fox News Digital. "We look forward to having their powerful voices on the team as we work to restore America’s greatness," Hughes added.

The Biden administration repeatedly pressured Facebook to censor information about the COVID-19 crisis in 2021, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told House Republicans, adding he regrets taking down certain posts.

Mr. Zuckerberg said in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan that the administration repeatedly pressured the social network for months to remove virus-related material, including humor and satire.

“I believe the government pressure was wrong, and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it,” Mr. Zuckerberg told Mr. Jordan, Ohio Republican.

Mr. Zuckerberg also said his company erred in demoting a story about President Biden’s son, Hunter, and a laptop that seemed to have information about the Biden family’s foreign business ties. The platform’s maneuvers made it less likely for users to see the story.


Anyone who participated in this assault on the Constitution should be fired.

...and no, "orders are orders" is not a valid defense.

The states challenging the new program argue that it is bypassing Congress, whose job is to legislate such issues, and accused the Biden-Harris administration of doing so for “blatant political purposes.”

I fear a lot of damage has already been done. I bet they will try a workaround or violate the order, after all, what jury would convict such an old gentleman who has lost a few steps steps?

I am losing hope because my life is going down the drain fast. I am wondering whether or not someone cursed me because this is beyond the ordinary and all of the misery of my life has made me feel dead inside and depressed. I hear an inner "voice" that is not very distinct from my own and the voice claims that it is my crush from upper secondary school. At first I thought this was the Lord supernaturally connecting me and her but this has to be something strange and schizophrenic. I honestly want to die. My life is going nowhere and I do not understand why things had to turn out this way. I WANT COMPLETE HEALING BUT THE DOCTORS ONLY GIVE MEDS that do not cure the condition. I WANT TO BE FREE BUT WHY WON'T GOD HEAR MY DESPERARE PRAYERS?

John 20:

29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

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Hebrews 11:

1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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2 Corinthians 5:

7 For we live by faith, not by sight.

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All three verses indicate that faith is not-seen. Is faith, by definition, not-seen?

Would God be happy with a person (M) who believes in His promise (P) to him with 0 physical evidence, or worse, the evidence is against P's fulfillment?

What kind of physical evidence did Noah have to believe that God was going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens?

God says P to M.
V1: M believes P because God says it and acts accordingly before seeing P fulfilled.
V2: M asks to see evidence that P would come true.
Would God be more satisfied with V1? We need to look at the issue from God's point of view, not from man's point of view.

Can anyone give me a concrete example of blind faith in God after God has spoken P to him?

There is no such thing because blind faith is faith.

Berean Literal Bible, Matthew 18:

3 Truly I say to you, if you are not converted and become as the little children, you shall never enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

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Strong's Greek: 3813. παιδίον (paidion) — 52 Occurrences

BDAG:
① a child, normally below the age of puberty, child
ⓐ very young child, infant, used of boys and girls. Of a newborn child
② one who is open to instruction, child
③ one who is treasured in the way a parent treasures a child, child

When my daughter was 5, I placed her on a high spot and told her to jump. Unhesitantly, she jumped, and I would catch her. She looked forward to this exercise with laughter. When she was 8, I repeated that experiment. It took me a couple of minutes to convince her to jump

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Who would have guess it? Well everyone with a functioning brain actually. In the land of the free freedom of speech is not so free apparently. Truth is what the government tells you it is. Everything else is misinformation and disinformation.

Your COVID-19 and Biden's laptop stories are the untruths because big tech companies like Facebook (Meta) said so. And Facebook said so because Biden persuaded (ordered) so.

What is more horrid is the press release by the administration. It is nothing short of doubling down on gaslighting us. "You" should think of "your actions" on the American people. While the biggest affect on the American people is done by the administration and the media/tech cartels.

In a statement issued to the website Politico, the White House stood by its actions.

It said: “Our position has been clear and consistent: we believe tech companies and other private actors should take into account the effects their actions have on the American people, while making independent choices about the information they present.”

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Here I thought chairman Xi has the race for world most obvious liar in the bag. Good to know Biden is still in the race and has some good chances to win.

Gambate! Biden-san! Can't let China have all the glory. USA! USA! USA!