I was relaxing in front of the TV and noticed that there seems to be an ongoing lineup of Christmas shows on at least two cable channels (You know the one especially that has 40 different titles, 5 actors, 2 writers and one plot line)

Got me thinking about my younger years, when my Methodist church would designate a Sunday in July as "Christmas in July " Sunday Complete with Christmas hymns and message....

Of course this somewhat conflicts with our current ecclesiastical year that I now foolw based on Catholic/Anglican order of seasons

BUT it got me thinking....Am I not the one on here who encourages people to live with Christmas values all year around?
To practice charity and giving on a daily basis? To practice acceptance, tolerance and Love not just in December but all the year through?

DO I not endeavor to live the principals best expressed in DIckens A Christmas Carol" by the character of Fred who states
“Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”

SO as much as I scoff at the Hallmark channel (of which I am not a fan) I think it is time to stop and remember the daily message of God's Gift to the world, and to meditate for a moment on the true meaning of Christmas and endeavor to live it year round

Could the Pope expand the restrictions of the Non Expedit to other nations? So far in history its only precedent is when it was used to tell Italians to boycott the polls in the 19th century.

I don't think Francis would do this but if another Pope were reigning and with the recent news here in the US that the Republican party has removed the pro-life position and traditional marriage from its platform, could a Pope issue Non Expedit? That could be crippling even though I would guess probably 2/3 of American Catholics would either ignore it or not understand it.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) spoke at 2024’s National Conservatism conference — better known as NatCon — and made a bold declaration in support of Christian Nationalism.

Speaking from the podium during NatCon 4’s gala dinner on Monday, Hawley stated: “Some will say I am calling America a Christian nation, and so I am. Some will say I am advocating Christian nationalism, and so I am.”

From NatCon:

Where a Christian majority exists, public life should be rooted in Christianity and its moral vision, which should be honored by the state and other institutions both public and private. ... Adult individuals should be protected from religious or ideological coercion in their private lives and in their homes. [But obviously not necessarily in their dealings with the aforementioned state and other institutions.]

.

“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump posted on his social media website. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

Trump Disavows Project 2025 Transition Plan

Donald Trump distanced himself Friday from Project 2025, a massive proposed overhaul of the federal government.

time.com

Trump has outlined his own plans to remake the government if he wins a second term, including staging the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and imposing tariffs on potentially all imports. His campaign has previously warned outside allies not to presume to speak for the former president and suggested their transition-in-waiting efforts were unhelpful.

You can also plainly see that the Project 2025 is not from the Trump Campaign nor is it from the Republican National Convention. Nor is Project 2025 endorsed by Trump nor the Republican Party.

It is the result of a think tank and not even all it's members agree with it.

Advisory Board | Project 2025

GET INVOLVED Does your organization want to join us in the fight for our country? Join Us

www.project2025.org

Please - let's be intellectually honest .

Exodus 20:

1 God spoke all these words, saying,
2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3“You shall have no other gods before me.

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Keep #1.

4“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Keep.

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5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them.

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Keep #2.

7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

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Keep #3.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.

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If you wish to keep this one (#4), I am not going to stop you. I do not keep the weekly sabbath.

12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

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Keep #5.

13 You shall not murder.

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Keep #6.

14 You shall not commit adultery.

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Keep #7.

15 You shall not steal.

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Keep #8.

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

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Keep #9.

17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.

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Keep #10.

I keep everything except the weekly Saturday sabbath. I keep the true sabbath rest in Jesus 24/7.

In general, I am guided by the Paraclete.

RW Schambach telling the story... When he was young the ministry team was invited out to a wonderful dinner after church. Before they started to eat the host begins to testify. He said that some kind of sickness possessed him with paralyzing effects. The effects were so devastating that they called the priest in for the last rites. He knew the priest was giving him the last rites but couldn't flicker an eyelash. When the priest left the room another came through the wall. This one was dressed in pure white. He whispered these things into his ear... "You don't have any trouble! All you need is faith and God!" Story in the video below...

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Luke was with Paul in Miletus in Ac 20:

16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

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Paul wanted to go to Jerusalem. He arrived at Ephesus:

22 Now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit,

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Paul felt the Spirit wanted him to travel to Jerusalem. He believed he was following the Spirit's leading.

not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

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He did not know exactly what would happen there, but he knew the Holy Spirit told him to expect harsh treatment from different cities.

25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

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Paul had some inkling of what would happen in Jerusalem.

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

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They knew bad things would happen to Paul in Jerusalem but didn't advise him not to go.

Paul and Luke arrived at Tyre in Ac 21:

4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

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The Spirit inspired the brothers at Tyre to tell Paul not to travel to Jerusalem. This was to test Paul's resolve to strengthen his faith and commitment. Paul insisted on moving forward.

Now, did the Spirit inspire Paul to go to Jerusalem?

I think so.

They arrived at Caesarea:

10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

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Agabus quoted the words of the Holy Spirit to warn and prepare Paul.

Did the Spirit inspire Agabus to tell Paul not to go to Jerusalem?

No. The Spirit inspired Agabus to tell Paul what would happen to him in Jerusalem. That didn't surprise Paul; he knew it more or less (v. 23).

12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

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Luke and the brothers in Caesarea urged Paul not to go.

Did the Spirit inspire them to urge Paul?

No. They did it out of their personal concern for Paul.

13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

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Paul insisted on going despite the hardship waiting for him there.

14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

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They resigned to the will of the Lord.

17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

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The brothers in Jerusalem didn't tell Paul to run away.

Did the Spirit inspire Paul to go to Jerusalem and simultaneously inspire his friends to tell him not to go?

Yes and yes.

Was that contradictory?

No. The Spirit inspired Paul to go. That was Paul's mission from the Spirit. The Spirit inspired his friends to tell Paul not to go because of their personal concern for him and because God wanted to test Paul's resolve through his friends. This dual action allowed Paul to demonstrate his faithful character before the disciples so that they and we could learn from this series of oppositional events.

Would Biden or Harris get a high turnout of blacks, youth and suburban women in PA, MI and WI? Biden or Harris?
============
I suspect that a significant number of blacks, youth and suburban women will stay home if Biden is at the top of the ticket. This will make it more likely that the Republicans will win the House and the presidency. I focus on the 3 key states. If one candidate wins these three, that candidate would likely win the presidency.

I am not sure if this is the correct forum, but I had sex after becoming saved. I have repented and have been getting closer to God this year and He has done so much for me since. But I read somewhere that if you had pre marital sex after becoming born again then God won’t send you a husband (I’m a woman), because you disobeyed Him. Is this true? I have always wanted to be married and am so disappointed with myself for disobeying God and trying to control my situation. Now I’m afraid because I have wanted nothing more than to be a wife and mother but I’m afraid that it won’t happen for me anymore because I went outside of His will. If that is the case then I will accept my punishment, but would like advice from other believers. Thanks

What kind of a country do we live in where gays can openly oppose a bill that would make buying sex with children a felony? They claim it will hurt the gay community.

If america had any sense of morals, values and standards these people would be arrested for opposing a bill that is against having sex with children. They should become registered sex offenders just for this alone.

Anyone that isn't against diddling kids has no place in a civilized society. It just goes to show how emboldened the gay community has become when they do this publicly and openly.

If they claim it will effect gays more then doesn't that tell us all something about gays? Maybe tells us gays will be impacted because the gays are having sex with kids the most?

May God help America, because we really could use his help.

What's your opinion of this statement from Senator Marco Rubio?

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Was wondering about this. When I praying/talking to the Lord, do you confess a particular sin or just that you have sinned?

Make sense? I generally compare my day to the 10 commandments or things I’ve picked up on that the Lord is not a fan of. Myself I seem to struggle with anger, and lust. But I don’t normally itemize the list.

Sorry if I’ve asked this in a dumb way I’m not very poetic lol.

To love like You, Lord,
That is what I desire;
To live like Jesus,
And let His words inspire;

To let His Spirit
Fill up my life with grace;
To care for others
Who I meet face to face;

To show compassion
For all who live in sin,
Showing them the way
To living in freedom;

My life to give them,
To open blinded eyes;
Free those in darkness,
So they in Christ abide.

Sin now forgiven,
They with Christ crucified;
With Him they’ve risen
To their new lives in Christ.

They walk in freedom.
Sin’s grip now has no place.
They live for Jesus,
Who they’ll meet face to face.

Amen, and Amen!

An Original Work / June 5, 2018

Missing you

A tribute thread for Golden Eagles for which to remember loved ones passed, and good times and bad times, and all times in between, all remembered with love and tears.

Please share your tributes here

The mountains declare the praises of God.
Their beauty proclaims His glory.

The sky and the clouds, the stars up above
Give evidence of His story.

The sun, as it shines, His radiance shows.
The treetops proclaim His kingdom.

The colors of all His beauty shine forth.
Creation declares His wisdom.

We have no excuse if we not believe
In Him from whom all was conceived.

For God has made known Himself to all folk,
Through all that He made in a week.

So, trust in Him now. Believe in His Son
Who died on a cross for our sins.

Make Jesus your Lord, trust now in His Word.
And do what He says, truth within.

Your sins He'll forgive. His pardon receive
When you trust in Him as Savior.

From sin you're set free, if you will believe,
And you will make Him your master.

An Original Work / May 26, 2018

President Joe Biden sat down last week with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos amid widespread criticism over his debate performance against former President Donald Trump that some critics described as "dismal."

Biden has since faced calls for him to step aside as the presumptive 2024 Democratic nominee, though he issued a letter on Monday asserting his intention to remain in the race.

More than 51 million people tuned in to watch the unusually timed June debate last week, according to the Nielsen company.

Continued below.

Who is God? He is Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – our triune God, the creator of the universe and the giver of life to all humanity. And he made known who he is to all humankind through what he created:


Our God is the Lord (Owner-Master) of the universe and the heavens above and all of his created works, although not everyone who was made by him honors him as such. For many who know God exists, for they have seen him in his created works, do not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but their foolish hearts are darkened, and so they exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. So God gives them up to their lusts (Romans 1:21-25).

But for those of us who have put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and who do make it our practice to honor God with our lives, we are in a different category from those who have chosen their sins over God. For we have believed in our Lord, and we have surrendered our lives to him, and for his service, to live to please him with our lives and no longer to live for the pleasures of our sinful flesh. And all of this was made possible for us via Jesus’ death on a cross where he put our sins to death with him.

But not just that! Jesus was resurrected on the third day from the dead in victory over sin, Satan, death, and hell, on our behalf, so that by faith in him we might die with him 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. He died on that cross to deliver us out of bondage to sin so that we will now serve him with our lives in walks of holiness and in righteousness and in obedience to our Lord and to his commandments.

As the Lord’s followers, we have now been forgiven of our sins and we have the hope of eternal life with God, but provided that we continue steadfast in faith in him in walks of obedience to his commands and in righteous living and that we do not return to living in sin and not in obedience to our Lord. For it is those who practice righteousness who are righteous in the sight of God. And those who practice sin God does not acknowledge. He said they do not know him (1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10).

But as Jesus’ followers who die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and who now walk in obedience to his commands, the Lord gives us the strength that we need each day to live holy lives pleasing to him and to resist the devil and to flee temptation to sin. He is the one who empowers us with his spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-20) so that we can fight off the attacks of the enemy and so that we can do what God has called us to do. If we will listen to him and obey him, he will keep us from stumbling so we can walk in holiness.

[Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 9:28; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Luke 9:23-26; Matt 7:21-23]

Songs in the Night

An Original Work / December 18, 2013

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.
You, my Savior, I now adore.
Hope in heaven awaiting me,
Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,
And I’m bound for heaven.
Jesus set me free from
All my sin, I say.
I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:
Overcame death, my vict’ry won!
Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!
I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!
My sin is but hist’ry!
I am free to please Him
With my life today.
I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me
A new life bought at Calvary.
Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.
Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;
Through my Lord, I’m able
To sit at His table;
Fellowship with Him.
I will thank Him always!

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Let's say A1 made God.

Who made A1?

A2.

Who made A2?

A3.

And so on. There is no end to this line of questioning.

The Bible declares God is existence, Psalm 90:

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

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God is self-existent in himself. He declared his tautological existence in Exodus 3:

14a God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.

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Does this refer to being cut off because they do not believe or that if they believe and are saved can they be cut off after salvation?

FYI: I believe that once you leave Adam to join Christ you can't go back (Rom 8:37-39).

Can you please pray that Jesus comes to me and that I feel his tangible presence and that nothing evil happens to me all the days of me and my family's life and Pastors and all of God's creation can you pray that Jesus let's me know if he's still In my life

It doesn't seem as if Biden will step down willingly....and he would have to in order for the DNC to run someone else (it's in their rules apparently). If however, Biden can be convinced this is his second term so he can't run a third time (a possible solution) who would step up and take his place?

Many people say "anyone" to this question because it simply means....not Joe. Asking who they actually want or who could win is harder to answer...

That's because the left's foray into identity politics has left them with many memorable and diverse politicians who don't know what they're doing. Let's look at the possibilities...

1. Kamala Harris.
Pros- Non-white female.
Cons- 0 achievements plus she starts sentences without knowing how they end. Politicians have to master the art of saying nothing but sounding like they know what they are talking about. Harris isn't there yet...

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2. Pete Buttigeig
Pros- Gay.
Cons- Can't run a train yard. Trains are super complicated. They require a functioning train, a functioning track, and schedules. East Palestine was a disaster early enough that Pete convinced people it wasn't his fault. Later derailments were given less attention because that excuse only works once.

3. AOC, Tlaib, Pressley, Omar, aka the "squad".
Pros- Sassy, non-white, female (maybe, they can't define what a woman is).
Cons- Possibly hate the US and want to destroy it. AOC used to market herself as a progressive but she's given up that schtick and gone full establishment Democrat. She supports war in Ukraine and will accept bribes, especially those she solicits. Tlaib and Omar hate Israel (our one regional ally) and support Hamas. Seriously, both supported BDS, a pro-Hamas funding organization.
Pressley...well she's capable of saying things that make Donald Trump look reasonable and politically savvy.

4. Gavin Newsome.
Pros- People from California seem to like him.
Cons- People not from California think he's try to turn "Escape From LA" from a movie to a real life challenge. Seriously, every time I hear someone bring him up the reason he gets floated as a possible candidate is "I think he could win" whenever I ask why....crickets. This suggests to me that he's a politician's politician. Corrupt to the core, able to say all the right things, no idea what he's doing regarding policy or leadership. He's even got two strikes already against him....he's white and male (I think, I'm not sure he can explain what a man is).

5. Gretchen Whitmer.
Pros- almost the victim of an FBI plot.
Cons- Who? Apparently Whitmer said or did something at some point to be considered for the presidency. I just can't figure out what. Again, this may have something to do with her being a woman. I don't want to jump to conclusions though, as it's unclear what a woman is to people on the left.

These are some of the Democratic Party offerings and while they certainly aren't the only options (I've heard Cory Booker's name) they're the frontrunners imo. If you'd like to add a name to the list...please do. Just include pros and cons. If you feel I've left something important out on this list...please remember that I can't list everything about a person.

If this list seems underwhelming....I'd agree....and I'd point out it's the inevitable result of treating inherent characteristics like race, sex, or sexual orientation as accomplishments worthy of positions of authority and power. They aren't things that anyone does...and aren't really worthy of reward or celebration.

"Breaking"​

MSN​

Prediction: Sorry Democrats, Biden Isn't Going Anywhere​

Story by Robby Soave
• 1hr ago


President Joe Biden sent a defiant letter to congressional Democrats on Monday morning stating unequivocally: "I am firmly committed to staying in this race." This followed his Friday interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, in which he said it would take a literal act of God to force him off the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket.