....President Biden made the right decision to exit the presidential race. It's rare for any political decision to rank so high....

"In the latest New York Times/Siena College poll, released on Thursday, 87 percent of registered voters approved of his decision to drop out. Only 9 percent disapproved."


Share of Americans, or U.S. voters, who…

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was fooled into boarding a U.S.-bound private plane with Joaquin Guzmán, El Chapo’s son, who was also detained, a DHS official said.

A longtime senior leader of the Sinaloa cartel, Ismael Zambada Garcia, or “El Mayo,” and a son of famed drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán were taken into custody Thursday by U.S. authorities in Texas, according to senior Mexican and U.S. officials. It was a major blow to the Sinaloa federation, a global drug-trafficking syndicate considered the No. 1 supplier of fentanyl to the United States.

A Department of Homeland Security official with knowledge of the arrest said Zambada was fooled into boarding a private plane bound for the United States with the former drug lord’s son, also named Joaquin Guzmán.

The elder Guzmán was arrested in 2016 and convicted of multiple drug charges in the United States. He is serving a life sentence in a Colorado maximum-security prison. He and Zambada were considered co-founders of the Sinaloa cartel.

U.S. had targeted Sinaloa cartel fentanyl production​

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that U.S. authorities had “taken into custody” both Zambada and the younger Guzmán on Thursday in El Paso. They face multiple U.S. charges, including for involvement in the cartel’s “deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks,” according to his statement.

The operation appeared to be part of a deal with Guzmán; it was not clear what potential benefits his family might receive. The two men were arrested in El Paso by the FBI, officials familiar with the operation told The Washington Post.

El Chapo’s son Joaquin had been under pressure from his family to turn himself in to U.S. authorities, according to a former U.S. official with knowledge of the joint investigation by the FBI, DEA and Homeland Security Investigations agents.

[Zambada] is also in a position to provide U.S. authorities with information on corrupt Mexican officials, Callery noted. “We’ll see who he is willing to give up,” he said.

Fox News host Laura Ingraham dives into what's happening at the World Economic Forum and what the Great Reset means.

Login to view embedded media

It seems a main contention regarding the function of Church today boils down to the relationship between power and love.

We have those who quote 1 Cor 13 as if its message eclipses 1 Cor 12 - yet the great commission and indeed the actions of early believers confirm that unity and community was foundational and the gifts were operating to confirm the Kingdom coming to both Jew and Gentile.

Sadly neither of the two main camps attempting to grab the attention of believers and the unsaved have successfully combined these two foundational elements of faith.

Firstly, those who insist on Love and deny power - reducing the actions of believers to study, personal devotion and gathering, deny the empowering that evidences the Kingdom.
Such gatherings try to touch the world, but are powerless to demonstrate the Kingship of Jesus over evil bondages, sickness and disease.
Such gatherings do well to preserve fundamental truths but sadly have become little more than a museum to a faith that once was.

Secondly those who insist on Power, in the main lack the Love - the ingredient that in combination with genuine divine power, should testify to the new and living Kingdom.
The very essential foundation on which the gifts evidencing the Kingdom need to operate is Love and Unity.
This requires necessary community in which these gifts genuinely develop, the least are heard and His Voice eventually prevails.
Sadly few make this journey because the cost is high in working through inevitable relationship issues - it is much easier to just Lord it over and present a staged version of the kingdom in action.

There is a third group who stand on the liturgical traditions, as if form and control are essential to true fellowship. They maintain an orderly presentation of His Living Kingdom. In this the transition from temple to meeting house is largely lost and healthy community is also very rare.


So this is a call to review what it means to gather in Him - a return to first Love - sharing and equality - Worship and Love never ceasing - leadership that does not 'Lord it Over'
This will be attractive to the World, this is essential to true evangelism (John 17:23 "I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me".)

Community is a natural response to persecution - this is why the Jews are so good at it.

Let's return to First Love before we are forced to - as hatred of the faith increases.

Salt Lake City was awarded the 2034 Winter Olympic Games and an IOC meeting in Paris. From what I understand, many of the venues used in the 2002 Olympics will be reused, after updates, for the 2034 games. The venues are all still in use, with a trust account of money, from the 2002 games, being used to fund operation and upkeep of the facilities. They are largely used for training, particularly for youth to get involved in winter sports. The hope is to do the same, for the 2034 Olympics to leave a further legacy of facilities that are used for youth training.

One other new idea that Salt Lake is planning is to create a "village," somewhat similar to the athletes village, for the families of the athletes. It is something Lindsey Vonn, a former Olympian who is a part of the SLC Organizing Committee, came up with to help improve things for the athletes -- that athletes won't have to worry about their families being able to find housing (particularly affordable housing) or transportation.

Palmer pilot who flew with revoked credentials claimed to be ‘free citizen,’ feds say​

Alaska’s U.S. attorney’s office said in a statement Monday that William Marsan, 56, is accused of operating an aircraft without an airman certificate, operating an unregistered aircraft and operating an aircraft displaying a false registration mark. The case began in June of 2023, when the close call involving Marsan’s Piper Cherokee was reported to the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Marsan did not radio his intention to take off from an airport in Palmer and operated the aircraft against the flow of landing traffic, resulting in a near mid-air collision with another aircraft attempting to land,” officials said in the statement.

The FAA’s investigation led it to issue an emergency revocation of Marsan’s pilot certificate in January. Marsan had 10 days to file an appeal, but did not do so.

“Nevertheless, (Marsan) has continued to operate the aircraft without registration, with an obscured identification number, and without a valid pilot certificate through the date of this indictment,” prosecutors wrote.

Who will help their presidential candidate more? Vance or the Democratic nominee, likely Shapiro or Kelly.

pass the popcorn for the debate.

Maybe Vance can solidify the Republican base in Ohio.

In an effort to deliver the most environmentally friendly and self-sustaining Olympics in modern times, local organizers did not equip the athlete village with air conditioning. Additionally, all furniture is made of pressed cardboard that can be recycled after the Games.

That may be good for sustainability but not so much for athletes in need of recovery and rest.
“I sat on the bed and said, ‘Oh, oh my. Help,’” Landi said. “Additionally temperature wise, it was just a little harsh. We just needed some comfort.”
Many athletes from around the world, including the U.S. gymnasts, brought their own air conditioners to chill the air. The gymnasts, though, are uniquely advantaged by the BedJet topper.

I am a new follower in Christ and am trying wrap my mind around one particular concept in the scripture and I could be way off with my interpretation. In the Gospels they speak of the Transfiguration of Christ. I understand what it was and what happened. However, my question is does the Transfiguration count as a sign that Jesus is the Lord and Son of God? There are many instances where He preaches that a sign will not be delivered because of the wickedness and sinful nature of the current generation and they don't deserve a sign. I could be way off in this thought but wanted some opinions. Thank you all.

I’m planning on going to a new hair salon and I was looking at their website. It has the names, pictures, bios etc. of their stylists. I noticed that two or three male stylists had he/him behind their names. At first I thought it seemed odd but it didn’t occur to me what it meant. Then I remembered it means they’re transsexuals, but I Googled it to be sure. These women’s pictures really look like men. They had me fooled. Has anyone here ever had an experience like this?

Paris Olympic officials attempted to offer more plant-based foods in an effort to reduce the Games' carbon footprint. While there is a variety of cuisine available to accommodate the tastes of different countries — and an abundance of baguettes in France — vegan meals aren't in line with what the athletes prefer to eat while competing.

One British athlete told the Times that the food situation is chaotic compared to the well organized facilities in Tokyo.

The Village provides approximately 40,000 meals a day with 3,300 seats available in the facility's main restaurant. Some countries can't get meals anywhere else but the Village, while Great Britain's athletes are housed in a part of the village near the River Seine that has a separate restaurant and performance lounge.

I've been a Confirmed Catholic for at least ten years now and I'm going to my first Confession in two days.

Does anyone have any advice?

I don't want to take up too much of the Priest's time. Do people normally get into things that they did before their conversion? I know the main thing I struggle with. Do people mostly get into what they continue to struggle with or do they get into everything they have done naming every sin that one can remember?

I know I shouldn't be nervous but I'm a bit intimidated by the process. Can one confess that they want Reconciliation for every sin remembered or not remembered or are we supposed to name each sin one by one? I remember most things that I have done but I don't remember every single one and the ones I do remember, I don't always know when it happened. For example, is it possible to receive absolution when you know that you have committed sins that you don't remember? It would be very difficult to remember every impure or lustful thought. Can one still be absolved in that situation?

I appreciate your feedback

I assume the chef thing is just for identification, not related to the plot.

Paris Olympics: Russian chef arrested over plot to 'provoke hostilities'​

During a raid at his apartment on the right bank of the Seine on Sunday, officers found documents believed to be linked with Russia's special forces, which are a part of the security agency FSB.

A Washington Examiner review of social media posts and resources in connection to the planning of the protest found that a familiar cast of characters helped plan and execute the Wednesday rally that turned violent in the district. These organizations, which share ties to terrorist factions and some of the largest and most influential philanthropy networks funded by left-wing billionaires, touted on social media how they were behind the demonstration and sought to gin up support for the event in the lead-up to Netanyahu’s arrival.
No surprise.

I don’t remember doing anything to injure my right foot. It has pain mostly toward the toes area, which kind of makes it awkward for me in walking as I’m trying to avoid increasing the pain.

I always rely on non-medicinal healing methods when possible, which is virtually all the time, with success.

If I treat the food with something called Lidocaine ointment in the daytime, and use a little heat pad on it at night, that helps a lot.

Sometimes there is no pain at all for hours and hours.

But so far, the pain always seems to come back. It is not terrible at all, but worrisome , and again it sometimes makes me unsteady in walking, as I am trying to walk in such a way that I don’t aggravate it.

Any prayers for this problem to go away are
much appreciated.

noun \ ‘fruhm ‘thə ‘RIVər ‘too ‘thə ‘si \

: the catch-all phrase symbolizing Palestinian control over the entire territory of Israel’s borders, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea

HOW IT’S ANTISEMITIC:​

A poster from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist group.

“From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” is a rallying cry for terrorist groups and their sympathizers, from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) to Hamas, which called for Israel’s destruction in its original governing charter in 1988 and was responsible for the October 7, 2023 terror attack on Israeli civilians, murdering over 1,200 people in the single deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. It is also a common call-to-arms for pro-Palestinian activists, especially student activists on college campuses. It calls for the establishment of a State of Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, erasing the State of Israel and its people. Another phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” which uses the Arabic word for “uprising” or “shaking off,” also calls for widespread violence against both Israelis and Jews across the globe (see “Globalize the Intifada”).

Continued below.

Did Adam know he was naked before he ate the forbidden fruit?

Before the fall, Ge 2:

25 The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Click to expand...

They were aware of their physical state of nakedness but felt no shame in their consciences.

After eating the fruit, Ge 3:

7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.

Click to expand...

Now, they had a new type of awareness: the nakedness bothered their consciences. So,

they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths

Click to expand...

to cover their nakedness. But this only covered their physical nakedness, not the shame they felt.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Click to expand...

They hid because they felt shame. They felt shame because they had disobeyed God. Their consciences told them they were guilty. Hiding from God was how they dealt with their guilt. They didn't want God to see their attempt to cover their nakedness with fig leaves.

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Click to expand...

Why was Adam afraid? Because he was naked? Because he was half-naked?

Yes, even with the fig leaves, he still felt naked or half-naked. He felt shame and he felt guilt in his conscience. The feeling of guilt was a new sensation to Adam. He didn't know how to handle it.

This was the critical moment for Adam to confess his disobedience. At this point, he should have said, "I'm sorry. I have disobeyed you and ate the forbidden fruit."

Adam missed this critical moment. Instead of dealing with the deeper issue of disobedience, he only pointed out the superficial problem of being naked or half-naked.

11“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

Click to expand...

God pointed out the real issue to Adam. They were completely naked before, and it didn't bother them before.

Why did Adam think that he was still naked after sewing the fig leaves?

Because he was still half-naked and could not face the deeper issue of guilt of disobeying God and the shame of being half-naked. Guilt and shame were new feelings to him.

To partially solve this problem:

21 the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them

Click to expand...

i.e. animal skins.

The complete solution is found in Christ, who frees us from a guilty conscience. Both required the shedding of blood.

There was no shame in being naked before Adam and Eve ate. After the fall, they felt shame, guilt, and fear. They tried to cover their naked bodies. They couldn't face God in their conditions. They had lost their innocence.

Why was Adam afraid because he was naked?

Actually Adam was afraid because he felt guilt in his conscience. The nakedness pointed to his disobedience. If he had obeyed, the nakedness wouldn't have bothered his conscience. The nakedness symbolized his guilt. He wanted to hide from God. He wasn't just hiding his nakedness; he was hiding his guilt.

Has anyone ever been pulled towards paganism and back to God and Jesus? What's your experiences? I can't be the only one

Eccentric tech mogul Elon Musk recently said that he considers himself a “cultural Christian” during a conversation with conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.

Musk is the founder of SpaceX, the CEO of Tesla, and the majority owner of X (formerly Twitter).

Peterson is a Canadian psychologist and author. While Peterson has often spoken positively about Christianity and has even offered a lecture series on the biblical book of Exodus through his partnership with The Daily Wire, he does not identify as a confessional Christian.

Peterson and Musk recently sat down for a two-hour interview, which was broadcast on X. During the freewheeling conversation, the two spoke about a number of topics, including artificial intelligence, ancient Mesopotamian religion, the carnivore diet, environmentalism, and gender identity.

As Peterson spoke to Musk, he wore a sports coat emblazoned with icons of Christian saints.

Continued below.

Why do people boast of being "Conservative", especially politicians?

Isn't that basically an admission to being unable or unwilling to adapt to the changing realities of the world?

Biden tasks Harris with tackling migrant influx on US-Mexico border​

She has been a failure and take note - this is one effective truth that the legacy media is going to try to make excuses for.

You know how polls are but you know if anyone feels this way about any assassination attempt, there are some serious changes to be made. From the top rung on down.
*******************************

About one-third of Democrats say they wish the assassin's bullet directed at former President Donald Trump earlier this month did not miss, a new poll suggests, a potential reflection of the volatile political climate engulfing the United States.

A snap July 18 survey of 235 Democrats conducted by University of Buckingham Professor Eric Kaufman examined whether people agreed with a statement declaring that "I wish Trump's assassin didn't miss."

The survey was commissioned five days after Trump narrowly escaped death as an assassin's bullet grazed his ear at a July 13 rally in Pennsylvania but did not kill him. However, one attendee was killed and two others were injured.

Kaufman, a politics professor, stated that based on his research, "a third of Democrats support the attempt on Donald Trump's life." He expressed gratitude that the remaining two-thirds of Democrats in the sample did not support it.

"This raises the question of which kind of Democrat backed the killing of Trump," Kaufman wrote. "Support for the statement hardly varies by age, race or education, but is connected to ideology and partisanship."

Continued below.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee about the agency's ongoing investigation of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, providing new information uncovered while other factors continue to be investigated.
Wray said Wednesday during the House hearing the would-be Trump assassin conducted a Google search on "how far away was Oswald from Kennedy?"

At one point during the hearing, Wray said that Crooks purchased a ladder prior to the shooting but it was not found at the site. Wray said the FBI is still looking into how Crooks was able to get on the roof.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the incident and so far has not found the motive of Crooks, who fired eight shots from a rooftop about 150 yards from the rally – killing one and wounding three, including Trump.

Committee member Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., asked Wray whether or not the gunman worked alone.
"So far we have not found any evidence of accomplices or coconspirators ... foreign or domestic," Wray replied.
Wray also said the FBI has yet to find a motive in the shooting, but that Crooks clearly had a fascination with public figures and that about a week before the shooting he became "very focused" on Trump and the rally. In addition, Wray said Crooks was not on the FBI's radar or in the agency's database before the shooting and that investigators found about 14 guns in his family home. Early in the hearing, Wray said that FBI has uncovered a drone that gunman used the day of the attempted assassination and that he flew it in the vicinity of the rally site about two hours before Trump took the stage, at about 5:30 p.m.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio., pressed Wray for more information.
"When I say area, not over the stage and that part of the area itself," Wray said. "I would say about 200 yards."
He also called the assassination attempt a "threat to democracy."
"The attempted assassination of the former president was an attack on our democracy and our democratic process and we will not and do not tolerate political violence of any kind, especially a despicable account of this magnitude," he said in his opening statement. He also said the FBI is working "tirelessly" to figure out the failures of the rally.

Wondering if anyone can point me to specific documents amongst the writings of the early Church fathers that express the belief that the bread and the wine are literally the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Thank you.