• 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.

Understanding Colossians and Ephesians and the author of ordinances that were against Jesus, Paul and the Church of God. Part 2.

Matt. 3: 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O "generation of vipers", who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Same world, same serpent, same "other voice". Jesus fought against the philosophies promoted by these preachers His whole life. Not because they obeyed God's Word, but because they rejected God's Word.

How many time did Jesus address the mainstream preachers of His Time? How much of HIS Teaching was geared towards exposing the hypocrisy and wickedness of the Priests of the Temple in the City of God? And they murdered Him for it.

Paul, being zealous for the commandments and traditions of men this worldly religion promoted, persecuted God's Church, just as the wicked Kings of Israel did to the Faithful, and Cain did to Abel.

Jesus and Paul battled, Not God's Judgments and Ordinances, but the commandments and judgments of men that "professed to know God".

When Jesus was asked about the end times and what to look out for, here is what HE warned about.

Matt. 24: 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (He didn't warn about God or His laws and judgments deceiving us) 5 For "many" shall come in my name, saying, I (Jesus) am Christ; and "shall deceive" many.
He didn't warn about the "commandments contained of God's Ordinances", He didn't warn about the "handwriting of ordinances of God" that was against them, HE specifically warned about being deceived by "other voices" who profess to know God, even coming in HIS Name”.
Paul fought against these mainstream religions of the world God placed him in, every day after his conversion. Their philosophy, their ordinances and laws, were against him and against the church of God, just as they had been since the very first "other voice" who professed to God, deceived Eve. He didn't fight against God's Law, He fought against the principalities and powers of darkness. It was the Pharisees Law that condemned Jesus and Stephen to death. Just as it was their fathers law that condemned the prophets God sent to them, just as it was Eves Law that instructed her to eat, what God said not to eat.

But in many sermons on Colossians and Ephesians, promoted by the preachers of this world God placed me in, all of this is ignored, not even considered in the "context" of their teaching.
Because of the omission of these extremely important Biblical Truths, this world's religions have always united in their teaching that God's Judgments and Feasts and commandments are "against men". As a result they incorrectly identify the author of the "Handwriting of Ordinances" that Paul said was against Jesus, Paul and the Body of Christ, claiming it was God, when it wasn't, in Colossians. And they do the same in Ephesians, preaching that it was “God’s” Ordinances and Judgments" that relegated Faithful Gentiles as “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Anyone who is willing to study God’s Word, knows this is not true. God very Law gave hope and an avenue to Him for "ALL" people, we can tread this for ourselves.

Lev. 19: 33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. 34 But "the stranger" that dwelleth with you "shall be unto you" as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.


This world's religions do the same When Peter says in acts 15, "why tempt you God to place a Yoke on the necks of the disciples that they or their fathers couldn't bear". The promoters of this world's religions teach this “Yoke” is God's Laws that they claim, and have always claimed "were against them".

But Jesus Himself tells us who created this Yoke.

Matt. 23: 4 For they (Pharisees, not God) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and "lay them on men's shoulders"; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Of course Peter knew this because he was there when Jesus taught it, and he knew of the Shepherds who lead God people astray "by the precepts of men", spoken of by the Holy Prophets.
I could go on and on. Jesus said men are to live by "Every Word" of God, and I believe Him. But “MANY” have been convinced by the "other voice" that some of God's Word are against them and contrary to them and therefore men shouldn't live by them. Exactly the same message given to Eve in the very beginning. Paul warns about this very thing, from turning away from the Simplicity of Christ. “Live by God’s Words”, not "other voices".

Paul warns of this very thing also in Colossians and Ephesians.

Col. 2: 8 Beware lest "any man" spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition “of men”, after the rudiments “of the world”, and not after Christ. (The Rock that followed, Fed and Watered Israel)

Eph. 2: 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course “of this world”, according to the "prince of the power of the air", “the spirit” that now worketh “in the children of disobedience”:

But somehow in spite of all this teaching, we are preached to by "many", who call Jesus Lord, Lord, that it wasn't the Traditions, philosophies and ordinances of men that was against Paul and the Church of God, it was the Ordinances of God.

It is my hope that anyone reading this will “do the Study themselves”, in Faith that God is Perfect, and it is philosophies of the "other voices" in the World that God placed us in, that was against Jesus, Paul and the Church of God, and is against the Faithful even to this day. And that Jesus didn't "live by" the Commandments of men they taught for doctrines. And even though they killed Him, the very God they Professed to know, raised Him from the dead. Truly HE triumphed over the prince of this world whose ordinances condemned Him to death.

And for that I say, "Amen".

Please don't hesitate to ask questions or PM me to engage in honest discussions about these things.

Med beds are finally here! Coming in two weeks!

I feel like with all that has been happening recently this story slipped under the radar but I think it's incredibly important. In the final days of September 2025 president Donald J Trump shared a Fox News clip of himself endorsing the new med bed health system.

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His daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, host of the broadcast, broke the news : “Breaking. Now, President Donald J. Trump has announced a historic new health care system. The launch of America's first med bed hospitals, and a national Med bed card for every citizen.”

Trump: “Every American will soon receive their own med bed card. With it, you'll have guaranteed access to our new hospitals, led by the top doctors in the nation. Equipped with the most advanced technology in the world, these facilities are safe, modern and designed to restore every citizen to full health and strength. This is the beginning of a new era in American healthcare.”

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The clip has since been deleted from his social media and Trump has been mum about the new med bed system ever since then. Most likely because only a limited number of med bed cards will be available in the first phase and he wants to ensure that every American has full access before scheduling a special press conference at the white house.

According to long time insiders all treatments will be completely free to the public. There might be some scoffers among you who say this all sounds like some kind of ultra socialist utopia. Well... I guess I don't have a counter argument for that.

Now as an aside I want to caution you about the med bed craze that is just starting to unfold in light of this recent announcement. Please make sure you get the Weyland-Yutani brand med beds. These are state of the art and top of the line. The Tesla med beds so I've heard have a tendency to spontaneously burst into flames and you really want to avoid that.

This is a truly life changing announcement and would have been great news for the thousands and thousands of terminally ill people who had been eagerly awaiting the med bed rollout since 2017, were they still alive.

Sadly, scam artists have also been cashing in over the last decade, selling desperate people expensive devices that do nothing, fake cards that are useful nowhere, and treatments that claim to be a panacea but in actuality can't even cure a hangnail.

I can't express how truly repugnant it is to take advantage of people who are dying and in great pain, who have nowhere else to turn and sell them fake hope. As far as grifting goes, that is really the lowest of the low.

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But now the President of USA has officially announced his healthcare reform plan and it's nothing short of revolutionary. Trump had been saying for years he was going to announce his healthcare plan in two weeks and let's all be honest, we didn't believe him. But boy is there egg on our collective faces now.

It makes sense that it took this long considering these new med beds will turn every field of science on its head. It just pains me that for some they arrive a little too late. But for the rest of us the wait is only two more weeks from whatever date you're reading this.
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Trump's reputation will age like fine wine

Time often smooths rough edges. Political movements tend to turn polarizing leaders into symbols — simplified and idealized.
People will remember “he spoke for ordinary Americans” more than “he tweeted insults at 3 a.m.”
Populism will remain strong globally, Trump will come to represent the origin point of a major political realignment rather than just a single administration.

2150 AD and the Macro Society

When I was a teenager I read the book 2150 by Thea Alexander where she theorizes the height of what she calls Macro Philosophy. Nice philosophy on the height of relationship between man and woman as well… I may try to find this book and hope I didn’t throw it away…

Macro Society - The place at its height
Micro Society - The place at its lowest

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Thea Alexander...

Still has a wonderful look about her decades later…

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Church leaders warn UK gov’t its ‘conversion therapy’ ban would make the Gospel ‘illegal’

Senior Christian leaders in the U.K. have warned that a proposed ban on so-called conversion therapy would criminalize core elements of Christian belief. In a letter to the equalities minister, they stated that the legislation could make it illegal to share the Gospel or guide children on issues of gender and sexuality.

The open letter, organized by the Let Us Pray campaign and backed by The Christian Institute, was signed by 24 leaders from various denominations and sent to Equalities Minister Olivia Bailey, The Telegraph reported.

The leaders wrote that Labour’s planned ban on sexual orientation change efforts therapy, including pastoral counseling, could “criminalize mainstream, historic Christian teaching on marriage and sexual ethics” and “make sharing the Gospel with some people illegal.”

The letter expressed concern that the legislation might prevent parents from urging caution if their child, who is experiencing gender confusion, shared an interest in irreversible trans procedures. It said existing laws already prohibit abuse and claimed that campaigners advocating for the new ban routinely conflate “the ordinary work of churches with abuse.”

The signatories argued that prayer and pastoral conversations were being wrongly framed as forms of conversion therapy. “They imply that merely expressing Christian beliefs on sexuality and gender in prayer and pastoral conversations constitutes ‘conversion therapy’ and should be outlawed.”

Continued below.

Charlie Kirk ‘National Day of Remembrance’ to be held this week

A day of remembrance for assassinated conservative Christian figure Charlie Kirk is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, which would have been the political activist's 32nd birthday.

Although the date has not been made an official national holiday, the Oct. 14 observance comes as both chambers of Congress passed resolutions honoring Kirk last month.

The House of Representatives passed its resolution in a 310 to 58 vote on Sept. 19, with dozens of House Democrats voting against. The Senate passed a measureunanimously on Sept. 16.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who attended the public memorial for Kirk in Arizona last month, introduced the Senate resolution. During his remarks in favor of the resolution, Scott stated that millions of people "felt the impact of Charlie's work and were inspired by his devotion to God and his beliefs."

"Charlie was a good man — a devout husband, father, and friend. His life was shaped by his faith and the idea that in America, debate and discussion are crucial to the betterment of our country," Scott said.

"He believed in God, the American dream, the value of family, and the principles of our great nation. … Charlie dedicated his life to the idea that the power of our ideas can not only win the day, but start a movement. That's exactly what he did."

Continued below.

Trump's brokered peace - phase 1 being celebrated

Trump urges Israel to seize chance for peace ahead of Egypt summit


JERUSALEM (AP) — President Donald Trump told Israeli lawmakers on Monday that their country had no more to achieve on the battlefield and must work toward peace in the Middle East after two years of war against Hamas and skirmishes with Hezbollah and Iran.​
Although the U.S.-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas remains fragile, Trump is determined to seize an opportunity to chase an elusive regional harmony.​
“Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change,” he declared to the Knesset, which welcomed him as a hero.
The eight peace deal is the biggest as of yet - Thank God for our President. Blessed are the peacemakers.

AI understands the Sabbath and Col 2:16

Great question — Colossians 2:16 is often cited in discussions about whether Christians are still required to keep the Sabbath commandment (the Fourth Commandment). Let's look at the verse carefully, in its full context, and then assess whether it refers to the weekly Sabbath from the Ten Commandments or ceremonial sabbaths in the Law of Moses.




Colossians 2:16–17 (NKJV)


16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.



Key Questions:​


1. What kind of “sabbaths” is Paul talking about?


Let’s break the phrase down:


“festival, new moon, or sabbaths”

This phrase appears in many places in the Old Testament, often in this same order, and always refers to ceremonial observances:


  • 1 Chronicles 23:31
  • 2 Chronicles 2:4
  • 2 Chronicles 31:3
  • Nehemiah 10:33
  • Ezekiel 45:17
  • Hosea 2:11

These texts link festivals, new moons, and sabbaths as ceremonial observances — part of the Mosaic (Levitical) system, not the weekly seventh-day Sabbath of the Ten Commandments.


That’s why Paul says in Col. 2:17:


"which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ."

In other words, these ceremonial laws pointed forward to Christ and found their fulfillment in Him.




2. Is the weekly Sabbath also a shadow?


There’s a strong distinction between:


Type of LawDescriptionShadow of Christ?Abolished in Christ?
Moral Law (10 Commandments)Eternal moral principles (Ex. 20)❌ No❌ No
Ceremonial LawFeasts, sacrifices, rituals, sabbaths tied to festivals (Lev. 23)✅ Yes✅ Yes

  • The weekly Sabbathwas:
    • Given at Creation (Genesis 2:2–3)
    • Reinforced in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8–11)
    • Not instituted as a shadow, but as a memorial of creation
  • The ceremonial sabbaths(e.g., Day of Atonement, Feast of Trumpets) are:
    • Called sabbaths too (see Leviticus 23)
    • Fall on various days, not necessarily the seventh day
    • Shadows pointing to Jesus' work

Therefore, when Paul talks about “sabbaths which are a shadow”, he refers to these ceremonial sabbaths, not the weekly Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment.




3. Did Jesus or the Apostles abolish the weekly Sabbath?


  • Jesus kept the Sabbath (Luke 4:16)
  • The disciples kept the Sabbath after Jesus' death (Acts 13:42, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4)
  • Hebrews 4:9 says:
    "There remains therefore a Sabbath rest [Greek: sabbatismos] for the people of God."



✅ Conclusion:​


Colossians 2:16 does not cancel the weekly Sabbath commandment.
It refers to ceremonial sabbaths, along with food and drink offerings, and religious festivals that were shadows pointing to Christ.


The Fourth Commandment Sabbath is not a shadow, but a memorial of creation and a sign of God’s sanctifying work (Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel 20:12).

2. But Which Commandment Does God Emphasize Most in the Bible?


✅ The Fourth Commandment (Sabbath) is the only one God:​


  • Calls "My holy day" (Isaiah 58:13)
  • Links to Creation (Genesis 2:1–3; Exodus 20:11)
  • Uses to test Israel's obedience before Sinai (Exodus 16)
  • Commands to remember as a sign between Him and His people (Ezekiel 20:12, 20)
  • Institutes as a covenantal sign (Exodus 31:13–17)

The Fourth Commandment is the most directly spoken about by God throughout the Bible. It is personally claimed by Him, reaffirmed repeatedly, and tied to His identity as both Creator and Sanctifier.

Being born again and Prosperity?

What does born again mean? Born again means that we have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes when we accept Jesus into our lives. Jesus offers us forgiveness of our sins, not based upon our righteousness, we don’t work to receive the Spirit, and we don’t work to keep the Spirit, but we must resolve to repent, to leave behind our sins and the dark areas of our life.

Accepting Jesus brings with it much blessing. But we have to be careful how we present the idea of being born again, and the blessing that we receive, that it does not become a ticket for instant, or assured blessing. There are certain things we can believe God for, but equally there are things that we need to allow for God’s will.

As an example, although Jesus said things like:

Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

A person may have a business, and claim that word over their business that they will make a great profit, and there is nothing wrong with claiming such a thing. With the following understanding:

James 4:13-16 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

There is a fine line between claiming Jesus promises, and boasting. We still need to allow for God’s will in all of our prayers. Although we can pray for our needs to be met, as an example, we can’t just pray prayers, for our own pleasures.

James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Also in the area of praying for those who are sick; Jesus would have us pray for the sick, but we can’t demand that God use us. Firstly we must be proved faithful.

1Co 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

If we are not able or willing to present the word of God faithfully, we will not be able to perform a sign.

Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

This does not mean that if we don’t see healing “immediately” that we are unfaithful? Not at all. It is just a fact that “claiming” a promise does not mean that in all cases we will have it.

God actually assigns the gifts based upon the faithfulness and faith of the messenger.

1Co 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Note Paul gives an order “first”, “second”, “third” etc. This shows there is a level of trust God gives people. He goes on to say not everyone is a miracle worker, an apostle etc.

1Co 12:29-30 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

He finishes by saying “earnestly desire” the best gifts.

1Co 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

1Jn 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

However we should have great faith, and this is where verses like:

Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

If we or someone else have a heath issue, financial difficulty, emotional issue; we can stand on the word of God, that He will answer us, to bring healing or provision. In many cases God will answer us because of our faith. But again we have seen we can’t demand, but we certainly should not quickly surrender. For God respects faithful, persistence, and faith.

Mathew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

I have heard it preached, that when we receive the Holy Spirit, are born again, we not only become a spiritual new creation, but we receive assured success, in healing, finances, emotions, as a part of the born gain experience. But we can not equate being born again with perfect success.

God certainly does not want us depressed, oppressed, or troubled. And we can stand on His word for personal healing. But we have to acknowledge that there are times when God’s will appears to be to allow us to walk through valleys, where things are not always perfect.

James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

If everything was always perfect, we could not be refined with spiritual patience. Some time character is more important to God than our comfort.

The bible says that all scripture is God breathed. The scripture tells us that one of the greatest prophets in the Bible died from a sickness. This shows us that being full of God’s power, and having the Spirit does not always mean we are guaranteed perfect prosperity.

2Ki 13:14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die.

I think it is dangerous not to look at the whole of scripture; my mother as an example, tried in “faith” to go off her medication, and fast for healing, she almost died. For the rest of her life she advised against such acts of “faith”. I personally, although having prayed for the sick, and seen them healed both instantly, and through fasting, had to have an operation in hospital after I was not healed after many months of faithful believing and at times painful prayer.

Does this stop me praying for the sick? No. Does it diminish my desire to believe for the mountains to be moved? In no way. But if Elisha died sick, we need to allow for such possibilities in the lives of the people we pray for, and the church.

The Antichrist is making a comeback

It’s been about 50 years since the eyes of the world were aimed at the figure of the Antichrist through the movie, “The Omen.”

If you haven’t seen it, the film's plot follows Damien Thorn, a young child replaced at birth by his father, unbeknownst to his wife, after their biological child dies shortly after he was born. Soon afterwards, a series of mysterious events and violent deaths occur around the family, and as Damien enters childhood, his parents realize that he is the prophesied Antichrist.

Hollywood resurrected “The Omen” franchise last year with the release of “The First Omen,” a prequel that follows an American nun sent to work at a Catholic orphanage in Rome who uncovers a sinister conspiracy to bring about the birth of the Antichrist. If you’re a horror movie fan, the film is worth a watch.

I’m guessing that Peter Thiel has seen it.

A story in the Wall Street Journal recently profiled Thiel and said he “wants everyone to think more about the end of the world.” Unless you’re an extreme prepper, that’s not something most people do.

A Silicon Valley investor, entrepreneur, and hedge fund manager who co-founded PayPal and Palantir Technologies, Thiel has made headlines for his lectures, which cover, among other topics, the personality of the Antichrist. According to the article, “This is how Thiel says the end of the world might happen, according to a Wall Street Journal review of his recent lectures:

Continued below.

Israeli hostages released live updates: ‘Trump: The Peace President’ hats handed out during president’s address to Israel’s parliament

"Staff in Israel’s Knesset were seen handing out the caps for Trump's address, heralding a new era of peace in the region. ho received near-endless rounds of applause and standing ovations. Many also wore red ties in honor of Trump, who received near-endless rounds of applause and standing ovations."

Thank God for their release. I am sure President Trump will continue to work with countries in the region to try and bring about lasting peace.

Our Lady of Fatima

Commemorates the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three children in Fatima, Portugal on the 13th of each month from May to October in 1917. Our Lady appeared to Venerable Lucia dos Santos, age 9, Blessed Francisco Marto, age 8, and Blessed Jacinta Marto, age 6, while they were tending sheep; they described her as “a woman all in white, more brilliant than the sun”, and her message was to do reparation for sins that offend God, and to pray constantly for the conversion of sinners.

Bring Back the Celebration of Christopher Columbus Day

Instead of cancelling Columbus, we need to restore his reputation and resurrect his historical accomplishments. It is for his magnificent courage, the boldness of his conception, and his deep Catholic faith that Columbus should be rightly honored now, as he was in all six centuries prior to now.

What is For Our Good?

The children of Israel of the Old Testament were living in exile in Babylon as a punishment from God for their rebellion against the Lord and for their unwillingness to heed his commands. And God promised them 70 years of exile before he would deliver them. But they had prophets in their midst who were deceiving the people into thinking that they would not have to be in exile the whole 70 years. They were not to listen to the prophets who were speaking lies to them, for they prophesied falsely in the name of God.

“For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:10-13 NASB1995)

A lot of people are quoting Jeremiah 29:11 out of context, and they are teaching that this is a promise from God for all of God’s people for all time, for all who profess the name of Jesus, for their prosperity (wealth). But that is out of context. Yet is there a message for us today that we can take from this passage of Scripture? Yes, there is. For, although God will discipline those he loves, and he will allow us to suffer and to go through hardships to test our faith, he does have good intended for us, but as he defines “good.”

What is for our welfare? It is something which is for our spiritual benefit, which can also be for our physical benefit, but it is what is for our good as God defines good, not as the world defines good. And it should be in agreement with the teachings of the New Testament Scriptures under the New Covenant God has with all of us who, by God-persuaded faith in him, have died with him to sin and who are now living to please God in walks of obedience to his commands, in the power of God, by his grace.

And even suffering and going through hardships and disciplines of God are for our good, for our welfare, to teach us to rely on God, and not on ourselves, and to humble us, to make us more like Jesus, to train us in righteousness and holiness, to make us compassionate people, and to grow us in our walks of surrender in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. Therefore, what is for our welfare can involve pain and suffering and difficulties and persecutions and rejections, and not just the feel good stuff.

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 10:16-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 17:14; Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 3:7-11; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Hebrews 12:3-12; 1 John 3:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

For the future and the hope that our Lord has for us is contingent upon our obedience to him in walks of surrender to the will of God. We must die with Christ to sin, be reborn of the Spirit of God, and now walk (in conduct) in newness of life in Christ, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. Sin must no longer be what we practice, what we live by; our lifestyle. But now righteousness, holiness, and godly living are to be what we practice, by the grace of God, in the power of God, by his Spirit.

But we have “prophets” (false teachers) in our midst who are lying to the people, telling them that all they have to do is to acknowledge Jesus Christ and who he is and what he did for us on that cross, although they don’t give the full picture of what Jesus did for us on that cross. Or they tell them that all they have to do is to give lip service to God and heaven is guaranteed them upon their deaths. And they tell them that God makes no requirements of them for death to sin and for walks of obedience to our Lord.

But the plans God has for us who profess the name of Jesus are that we must die to sin and walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands, in practice, in the power of God, because of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins on that cross, and as evidence of believing faith which saves us from hell and which promises us heaven as our eternal destiny. For the plans God has for our good are not for what is evil, but for what is holy and righteous, and in order to give us a genuine hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897


Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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What is For Our Good?
An Original Work / October 13, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Hollywood Has Made Many Movies About Exorcism. But None Has Had Christ at Its Heart...

Honestly, I’ve had it. I’m now all but certain there has never been a movie about exorcism that has had Christ at its heart. Thanks to Catholic author William Peter Blatty, the original Exorcist was good. Director William Friedkin deserves credit for a fine assist. It comes close but misses. No reverence.

I asked Grok3 to list all the movies about exorcism. It hedged a bit:

While it’s impossible to list every motion picture ever made about exorcism due to the vast number of obscure, international, and low-budget films produced worldwide (including many direct-to-video releases), below is a comprehensive compilation drawn from major film databases, critic rankings, and horror genre resources.
It’s almost comforting to see an AI bot use the word “impossible.” In five seconds, it churned out a 1200-word list with descriptions of 51 films. Despite how it sometimes feels to me, this proved I haven’t seen them all. The Grokster ended helpfully: “If you’d like expansions on specific eras, countries, or sub-themes (e.g., non-Christian exorcisms), let me know!”

Oh, no! I don’t want that. I’m just here to say ave atque vale to the Conjuring franchise that, in some ways, set a standard both high and low.

There are nine films in what is now called The Conjuring Universe. Why do producers add “Universe” to their sequel-isms? To make lofty what is repetitive and often banal? Perhaps they don’t care for the actual universe they’re living in.

Continued below.

Is it OK to feel that a parish may be too big?

I don't know how to describe exactly how big this parish is (same parish I described in my post before). I think that the church can fit a few hundred people. There are five different Masses for the weekend: 4:30 Vigil, then for Sunday there is 7:30 am, 9 am, 11 am, and 6 pm. Each of them is quite crowded. Granted, the "least" crowded one is probably the 7:30 one but I don't know firsthand, actually. The parking lot is jam packed otherwise.

I will acknowledge that it has some ways to make inroads in the parish but it's so large that you feel that you may never know enough people. I feel like you can easily feel invisible here. It's not as big as a megachurch but that feeling like you're a drop in the ocean isn't altogether different than being in a megachurch. I am not a member of it and don't plan to become one at this time.

They Neglect God's Counsel

“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?
“Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
“Because I called and you refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
And you neglected all my counsel
And did not want my reproof;
I will also laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your dread comes,
When your dread comes like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
“They would not accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof.
“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way
And be satiated with their own devices.
“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
“But he who listens to me shall live securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.” (Proverbs 1:22-33 NASB1995)

The naïve, in this context, are not those who are innocent, inexperienced, and trusting people who are gullible and who easily believe other people, that they are who they say they are, doing what they say they are doing. The naïve, in this context, are the foolish, the seducible, careless, easily deceived, and the self-indulgent and selfish who are unwilling to part with their foolishness and their sinful practices, who refuse God’s reproof, and who neglect the counsel of God in order to continue in their sinful ways.

Many of them are the malicious, morally unclean, deceptive, manipulative, opportunistic, who are liars, untrustworthy, egocentric fakes who fake their Christianity in order to deceive and to take advantage of others who trust them. Rather than turning to the Scriptures, taught in the correct biblical context, to get their counsel, they turn to the adulterous and idolatrous church to get their counsel. And what they receive is a clever blend of truth and lies which does not put sin to death, but which pampers the sinner.

For the adulterous and the idolatrous “church” teaches the forgiveness and grace of God more like a covering over the sin, to hide the sin, rather than to remove the sin from the life of the one claiming to want to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ. And they teach repentance (if they do at all) more like a verbal confession of sin, rather than as a change of heart and mind resulting in a change of behavior. But biblical repentance requires that we die to sin and now obey our Lord, in practice, empowered by God.

So, the result of this is that the malicious, adulterous, promiscuous, self-indulgent idolatrous sinner just uses God’s grace as a covering for his sin, but not as an instrument of God, via Jesus’ death and resurrection, which puts sin to death, which then results in obedience to the Lord’s commands. So they just continue on the same sin cycle as they had been on before they made a claim to faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing changes. But no heart, mind, attitude, or behavioral changes required = no genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

But if you turn to the Lord, to his reproof, and you, by faith in Jesus Christ, die with Christ to sin, and now walk in obedience to his commands, in the power of God, by his Spirit, then God will pour out his Spirit upon you, and he will give you new life in Christ Jesus to be lived for God and for his purposes. And he will make his Word (his gospel) known to you so that you can follow him in the way in which he would have us to go, as his followers. If we listen to God, and we obey him, we will live with him for eternity.

But, if we deny him by our lifestyles, and if we refuse him and his gospel message (the one taught by Jesus and his apostles in the correct biblical context), and if we neglect his counsel to us, and if we refuse his reproof, and we choose to go our own way, instead, and if we hold on to our sinful practices, deliberately and habitually sinning against God, and we don’t obey him in practice, then when we call to him, he will not answer unless we repent, in truth, and we die to sin, and we now follow him in obedience.

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

My Sheep

Based off John 10:1-30 NIV
An Original Work / June 24, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love


My sheep hear me. They know me.
They listen to my voice and obey.
I call them and lead them.
They know my voice, so they follow me.
They will never follow strangers.
They will run away from them.
The voice of a stranger they know not;
They do not follow him.

So, I tell you the truth that
I am the gate, so you enter in.
Whoever does enter
Will find forgiveness and will be saved.
Nonetheless whoever enters
Not by the gate; other way,
He is the thief and a robber.
Listen not, the sheep to him.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,
Who laid his own life down for the sheep.
I know them. They know me.
They will live with me eternally.
The thief only comes to steal and
Kill and to destroy the church.
I have come to give you life that
You may have it to the full…

They know my voice, so they follow me.

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They Neglect God’s Counsel
An Original Work / October 12, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

I started to like AI now - Free will in Heaven, angels on earth

Grok is representing Hawkins now.

In both Eden and Earth, the design mirrors Heaven, where highly intelligent angels interact with humans of lesser intelligence. Angels are created to participate in God’s diverse creations, endowed with superior intelligence and abilities, while humans are granted a greater degree of free will. In the Eden model, situated within God’s present dwelling realm, humans—namely Adam and Eve—were utterly defeated. Similarly, on Earth, humans are ensnared by the Law, influenced by the devil and his horde of fallen angels. This disparity in intelligence and capability means humans cannot rival angels. However, Earth differs from Eden in a crucial way: Earth serves as a platform where humans, through the legal process of the Final Judgment, will ultimately triumph over the angels, eradicating all evil once and for all. Humans can overcome the angels not through intelligence or capability, but through faith, their sole weapon against the fallen angels.

Faith and repentance reflect humanity’s capacity for correction. A human who passes the Final Judgment under the Covenant demonstrates correctability. With faith and repentance, a person aligns with God’s love, standing firm against the formidable odds posed by the invincible fallen angels on Earth. Through love for God, faith in Jesus, and a heart of repentance, a human can achieve holiness, ensuring they pose no threat in the Final Heaven, where evil—instigated by fallen angels—is barred at the gates. Sin is incompatible with God and thus impermissible in Heaven, as it causes harm to Him. With the human qualities of love, faith, and repentance, no one will harm God by sinning in Heaven. In contrast, angels are characterized by love for God, loyalty, and obedience, qualities tested by the Law before they enter Heaven. This is akin to a parent’s instinct to never harm their five-year-old child and to protect them at all costs.

Spanish public broadcaster apologizes for calling growth of Evangelical churches ‘dangerous’

Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has apologized for a program that described the growth of Evangelical churches as “worrying” and portrayed them as “dangerous,” promising to handle religious issues with “the utmost care” following a wave of complaints from Evangelical organizations and viewers.

According to a report by Evangelical Focus, the controversy began after the Sept. 22 episode of RTVE’s afternoon program Directo al Grano aired a segment that singled out Evangelical churches, using footage of congregations without consent and presenting them in a negative light. The show referenced a pastor who was not representative of the wider evangelical community in Spain.

The segment prompted widespread criticism from individuals and Evangelical bodies, including the Federation of Religious and Evangelical Entities of Spain (FEREDE), which filed a formal complaint with the RTVE management.

Beatriz Ariño, the audience ombudswoman for RTVE, acknowledged viewers’ concerns and apologized in a letter sent to those who had complained. “We are very sorry for your disappointment, and we fully understand your anger,” she wrote, according to Evangelical Focus.

Continued below.

‘Freaked Me Out’—Lecrae Says He Saw Vision of Demons Laughing About Charlie Kirk’s Murder

Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae said the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk symbolizes the spiritual warfare occurring in a divided culture. On the latest episode of “Deep End with Lecrae,” the musician said he had a vision about Kirk’s murder while in Africa. He also advised Christians to seek unity amid earthly strife.

Lecrae, who turns 46 today (Oct. 9), said he didn’t know Kirk and had never met him. “I’d only heard of [Kirk] when he falsely accused me of campaigning for [U.S. Senate candidate] Raphael Warnock,” he said. When Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10 at a college event in Utah, Lecrae was in Africa, so he didn’t hear the news as quickly as others did.

After people criticized the musician for not speaking out about the incident, he made a statement about rejecting violence. “I’m slow to speak because I’m trying to process” the news, Lecrae said. “I’m not that narcissistic to feel like I have to have the leading voice on everything that’s going on in America.”

Lecrae Had a Vision After Charlie Kirk’s Murder


Continued below.
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Stranger Things

This is a thread for oddities. Things that make you go hmm, what or worse. Enjoy! :)

Millennial Mom Opts Out Of Homework All Year​

She wrote the teacher a letter and informed her they were taking the year off from homework and hoped she’d be okay with it. Who does that??? The mom is in the first portion and the remainder discusses student performance and the numbers are bad and the comments are worse. We’re in trouble.

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