my Dad fell on the stairs and hurt his arm slightly. His arm is swollen and he is in slight pain when he moved his arm in certain ways.

please pray that he recovers swiftly. He says he will go to the urgent care, but he is an extremely stubborn person and always says “oh I’m fine” until it’s the very last minute (he had a similar injury where his arm was all infected and discolored but he didn’t care and brushed it off) please also pray that he changes his stubborn mindset (which annoys me to no end)

I realize I am asking a rhetorical question, but want to solicit advice anyway. There is a woman who I am interested in being more than a friend but she has shown little to no signs of interest on her part. Add to that I don't know if she is available or not (She doesn't wear any kind of ring on the left ring finger so I assume she is neither married or engaged). My current inclination is to say to heck with it and take my shot (ask her out) despite lack of signs, and risk rejection and awkwardness because you never know.... to use an analogy from my username, the ball could end up in the back of the net. But with no visible signs, should I even waste my time asking? What would my fellow single guys do in this situation?

Hi,

Wrong expectation can lead to disappointment. What should we expect if we follow Christ ? Or is it better not to expect anything ?

I think most of when following Christ at least expect this bare minimum, roof over our heads, protection from injustice and pain caused by persecution etc, enough to eat and drink, health, enough finances to live a decent enough life and we also want this for our spouse, children. So it is kinda what prosperity gospel teaches.

But we all know from real life observation this is not always the case, for some it is, for some it isn't.
I mean some of us could die of sickness, we might get persecuted for our faith, we might struggle in finances etc.

Br,

What is the Wesleyan take on imputed righteousness. Calvinists believe God sees us through the holiness of Jesus and not as we really are. I personally find this unscriptural. Christ certainly sees Christians in the 7 churches in Revelations as they really were. I know John Wesley took issue with the Calvinists of his day over this issue.

All ideas are welcome. All Faiths are encouraged to participate. What is not accepted is fighting, bickering, and arguing. Christians do not do that . . . at all.

Let’s go!

Some interesting things were said about John. Such as he arrived with the spirit and POWER of Elijah. John would cause the hearts of fathers to their sons and the hearts of their sons to their fathers. It was said that John would prepare the way for Jesus. Those who received the Baptism of John recognized Christ as, at a minimum, their Earthly king. Those who rejected John’s Baptism did not believe. Jesus said it Himself that no human is greater than His cousin, John the Baptist. Jesus also positioned the question of whether or not John’s Baptism was from Heaven, or if it was just from this world.

Based upon the imagery and language applied to John and his water Baptism, it seems that quite a load and heavy responsibility was placed upon his shoulders to reach tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of Jews (and perhaps a few Gentiles), before Jesus’s death.

We need to discuss the doctrine of salvation. To start the discussion, I offer the following brief and admittedly incomplete outline of the most very basic elements of salvation.

1. Salvation is the Reconciliation of Man with God
2. Salvation is in Jesus Alone
3. Salvation is the Positive Result Evangelism

Scriptures can be added and much more can be said about this, but it is a start.

Hi,

Got to be honest, sometimes the prospect of heaven is not that appealing compared to what this world has to offer.
That why some people sell their souls to the devil. Do sins like selling drugs to get rich. They fornicate and live a promiscious life.
How can we desire the eternal things, the things of heaven more than what this world has to offer ? It is not always that easy, got to be honest, the things of this world are very attractive and tempting sometimes.

Br,

If you do, what will you be growing this year? And if you have started already, what are you growing?

Since Jesus ascended, there have been around 300 predictions as to the day of His return. Unless I missed something, not one has come true. I have no expectation that anyone on this forum has greater insight than their predecessors in last day speculations.

I must agree. Remember Joe's administration maintained for years that the border was safe, secure, and closed.

‘One even threatened my dog.’​

(LifeSiteNews) — An LGBT talk show host has been kicked off his show and has received an onslaught of vitriol from fellow homosexuals and members of “the LGBTQ community” for supporting Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s forthcoming legislation that will ban surgically or chemically “transitioning” children.

On February 7, David Oulton, who hosts the show “Face to Face With David” on the LGBT network OUTtv was told that his show would be cancelled in light of him supporting Smith’s forthcoming legislation banning “sex changes” for minors.

Oulton took to X (formerly Twitter) to document what happened, including threats of “violence” and what he called “homophobic rhetoric directed” his way for supporting Smith.

“Interesting Since I (a gay) voiced my support for@ABDanielleSmith the only threats of violence or homophobic rhetoric directed my way has been from within the LGBTQ community. One even threatened my dog,” wrote Oulton on X (formerly Twitter) last week, noting how even his dog came under threat.

On January 31, Smith announced what is the strongest pro-family legislation in Canada, protecting kids from life-altering so-called “top and bottom” surgeries as well as other forms of transgender ideology.

Alberta’s forthcoming regulations include a ban on so-called “top” surgeries (mastectomies, breast constructions) as well as “bottom” surgeries (vaginoplasties, phalloplasties) for children 17 and under. Puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones are also restricted to those age 16 and older, but only with parental consent.

Oulton has been a supporter of both Smith and the United Conservative Party, which Smith leads, and last month posted a picture of himself with the premier and UCP Minister of Arts, Culture, and Status of Women Tanya Fir after he met with them to talk about “concerns of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Smith, though opposing some aspects of the transgender movement, supports homosexual “marriage.”

Continued below.

Please pray God will protect me and my mind. Amen

The active duty U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy has died of his injuries, the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed on Monday.

Aaron Bushnell, 25, of San Antonio, lit himself on fire in front of the embassy on Sunday afternoon. First responders took him to a hospital, where he later died, the MPD said.

Horrible. It's reminiscent of the Buddhist monk who immolated himself back in 1962 to protest of the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government.

Air Force member Aaron Bushnell dies after setting himself on fire near Israeli Embassy

Meet Iman- a former drug addict who has given his life to Christ! It was really sad and I actually felt really sorry for him- he was in such a bad state from drug addiction that his own family forbade him from coming to events as they were embarrassed by him.

One night he flipped through channels and came across a TV station (bare in mind this is Iran- odds,etc) and heard the words "I gave my heart to Jesus" this happen a second time too.

Third time- he had just come down from the flat roof, smoking crack when he heard those exact words again but this time he listened longer, it was a testimony from a former drug addict, Iman prayed for God to save him and you can guess what happened next!

When he got saved Iman felt the literal presence of Jesus next to him and was too reluctant to open his eyes!

Iman shared the Gospel, but his country being Iran, he was repeatedly sent to jail, in prison however, the guards and inmates really liked him.

He was put in a cell with the worst inmates- the mentally ill, gangs and murderers, but because the prison officers liked him so much, he was offered a nicer place..... but he refused as he was leading them to Christ!!!

When the authorities said he could be released with bond money he told them to hold on to the offer.... his ministry was not complete yet!

This is an amazing testimony and such an amazing testimony about zeal for Christ, I had to share it!

Please pray feel like I’m losing it

Hi,

I am just looking for advice/answer/ truthfully not sure which. I am an older gent who went back to church at 60. I joined a church and read the Bible. attended services, (still do) classes, etc. Lately i notice what i had been feeling has sort of waned. Often reading the Bible, i realize i might as well be reading a text book-meaning i read the words but they are just tha,t words.

Here is my dilemma. I believe in God, that Jesus died for our sins, in the trinity. I intellectually understand all of it and believe it. But what i once felt in my heart is now in my head only. It is hard to explain, but it is all of a sudden like an ambivalence towads it. Almost if my thoughts go -ya, i get it but.....

Is this something that can occur? Can you read too much or listen to much, where you become non plussed by it OR (and i am hoping) is it a case of "it can happen" but to continue what you are doing as it will come back. That feeling, the one that had me excited, desiring to change my life, act more like a believer a Christian has not left, it may have waned. Thanks in advance

Please pray against evil thoughts

FEBRUARY GUEST DEVOTIONS



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Mon 26/02/2024 16:24

PSALM 113 By David Ettinger
诗篇113篇 作者 大卫·艾丁格

The Psalm Universe
诗篇的世界
In that wonderful universe of the biblical Psalms, we certainly have our “biggies.”
在圣经中诗篇的美丽星空中，也有属于我们自己的“大星球”。
For primarily theological reasons, these include Psalms 2, 22, and 110.
关于基要的神学原理的，是诗篇第2、22以及110篇。
We also have the “heavies,” those dealing with guilt and sin.
我们也有一些“重量级的”，对付我们的亏欠乃至罪。
Central among these is Psalm 51, with other worthy candidates being Psalms 6, 38, and 130.
这其中居于中央的当属第51篇，当然第6、38以及130篇与之相比也是伯仲之间。
We also have the dark “imprecatory” Psalms, those in which curses are pronounced on enemies. These include Psalms 35, 83, 109, and 140.
我们也有一些针对仇敌发出诅咒的诗篇，这包括第35、83、109以及第140篇。
And, of course, there are just the flat-out long ones. These include Psalms 78, 89, 18, and the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119.
当然还有一些超长篇，比如第78、89和第18篇，以及当选正本圣经最长章节的第119篇。
There are also a host of small Psalms which fall into various categories, but because they are brief, they hardly get noticed.
有相当一部分小型诗篇可以同时列入不同类型当中，但因为它们篇幅过小，往往很难吸引注意力。
However, one of these little psalms recently caught my attention. It is Psalm 113, and as far as I’m concerned, it is one terrific, little psalm!
然而其中一篇最近引起了我的关注，这就是第113篇，而且就我而言，这完全可以算的上是一篇极其精美的小诗歌！



Verses 1-3: Praising the Lord
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. |
第一至第三节：赞美主。
你们要赞美耶和华！耶和华的仆人哪，你们要赞美，赞美耶和华的名！耶和华的名是应当称颂的，从今时直到永远！从日出之地到日落之处，耶和华的名是应当赞美的！

What I love about this brisk start is that the command to praise God issues forth without compromise or explanation. The assumption is that God is who He is, and this alone is cause for praise. Of course, the admonition to praise the Lord is not directed at just anyone, but at “his servants,” those who know Him, love Him, adore Him, and serve Him. Praise and adoration are God’s rights, and He expects those who are His to thankfully and joyfully render it unto Him.
我喜欢这种及其简洁的开篇方式，就是那种发自内心的诉求，就是要赞美主，不需要任何妥协或者多余的赘述。这表明主就是主，他自己就是赞美的唯一理由。值得注意的是，这种赞美的行为主体不是任意的人，而是“他的仆人”，那些认识他，爱他，仰慕他而且服侍他的人。赞美和敬拜是主的权利，他希望那些属于他的人心怀感激的，喜乐的奉献给他。

Furthermore, we are told that praising God is to be our occupation for eternity. From the moment He brought us into a relationship with Him, we were to praise and adore Him. And we’re never to stop – in both this life and the next! We are to engage in a lifestyle of praise and worship, with the Lord at all time being at the summit of our thoughts.
它甚至告诉我们赞美主就是获得永生的方式。从他拣选我们与他联结的那一刻算起，我们就应该赞美他、尊崇他。而且我们永远不要停歇下来，无论是今生还是来世！我们开始了这种赞美和敬拜的生活方式，这种方式让我们时时刻刻把主放在我们思想的至高处。

Eternal praise includes daily praise, as we are to do so “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets” – from sunup to sundown. This does not mean we must spend every moment of every day praising God; this is impossible. However, we are to place God at the center of our existence, acknowledging and remembering him throughout every day, regardless of how busy or stressful it is.
永世的赞美意味着每一天的赞美，是因着那句“从日出之地到日落之处”中的从日出到日落。这不意味着我们需要花费每一天中的每一分秒去赞美，这真的很难实现。然而我们需要把主放在我们存在的中心，无论我们的生活有多么忙，或者生活的压力有多么大，每天都来铭记和念想他。

Verses 4-6: The Majesty of the Lord
The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
第4至第6节：主的大能
主超乎万民之上，他的荣耀高过诸天。又有谁能像我主耶和华，谁像耶和华─我们的　神呢？他坐在至高之处，自己谦卑，观看天上地下的事。

This truly is a majestic passage as we are reminded of God’s glory and power. What are the most powerful entities you can think of? Governments? Nations? Armies? Guess what, God is far mightier than all the nations of the earth combined. In fact, He reigns over them, and even scoffs at them (Psalm 2:4).
这节甚至可谓鸿篇巨著，来提醒我们知道主的荣耀和力量。你能想到的最高权威是什么呢？政府？国家？或者军队？要知道，我们的主比那些地球所有国家组成的联合部队更有力量。事实上，他管辖他们，甚至奚落他们（诗篇2:4）

God dwarfs the earth by His majesty, but surely He has met His match in Heaven itself. After all, the greatest of human minds cannot make a dent in comprehending the vastness and magnitude of the heavens. Surely even God looks at the heavenlies with awe. Not so! Not only does God not marvel at the vast infinitude of the “great beyond,” but He must “stoop down” to even view them. No, God doesn’t actually stoop; this is an example of hyperbole (exaggerated language to demonstrate a point). The picture, however, is clear: as vast and mighty as the heavens are, they are but as anthills to God, so much mightier is He than are they.
凭借他的大能，上帝使世界变得渺小，但是他能与天国相比吗？毕竟，最强大脑也猜不透天堂的边际在哪里。即便是主他自己，面对天国时也是带着敬畏的。不但如此，主不但瞠目惊叹于这种无边无际，更要放低自己的身段看待天国。并不是主真的屈尊，而是一种夸张的例子（为了阐释某种观点而使用夸张的文字）。可以肯定的是，即便天国至高至大，但相形于造物主，便形同虚无，因为我们的主胜过万有，高于一切。

Verses 7-9: The Blessings of the Lord
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.
第7至第9节：主的祝福
他从灰尘里抬举贫寒人，从粪堆中提拔穷乏人，使他们与王子同坐，就是与本国的王子同坐。他使不能生育的妇人安居家中，为多子的乐母。你们要赞美耶和华！

Despite God’s might and majesty, He is still a lover of men and women, and is not too “big” to care intensely about we “little ones” here on planet Earth. Therefore, He raises us spiritually from the “ash heap” – the eternal death sentence of sin – and gives us eternal life with Him in Heaven, where we will be equal to the “princes” of this life. In blissful eternity – made possible by the shed blood of Jesus Christ – we will take our place among the princes of the faith: Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, and so many more who have been lifted from the ash heap. We will worship our King side-by-side for eternity.
尽管主是无所不能的至高者，但他仍然钟爱着世人，这种天壤之别也不能阻隔他对我们的关心。因此，他从尘土——也就是那种罪的终极审判，永久的死亡中——将我们的灵提升起来，赐给我们与他同住天国的福分，让我们得永生。在永恒的极乐中，因为基督耶稣的宝血变为可能，我们也会变得像亚伯拉罕，雅各布，约瑟夫，摩西，大卫，以赛亚，杰里米亚以及向他们那样的信心的王子，并被主将我们从灰尘中提升起来。为着那永生，我们将会肩并肩，一起敬拜我们的国王。

The “childless woman” – a metaphor for spiritual condemnation – will become the “mother of children.” Before we came to Christ, we were spiritually barren – bereft of God and damned. But after bowing the knee to Christ, we are blessed with the fruit of salvation, our spiritual barrenness banished forever.
“没有孩子的女人”——一个被定罪的比喻——将会变成“孩子们的母亲”。在我们还没有来到基督面前时，我们精神上是贫瘠的，被主唾弃和定罪的。但自从我们屈膝承认基督那一刻起，我们被祝福，得到了解救的果实，我们在精神上的不结果子的状态完全不复存在。

Between the recognition of God’s majesty and the gratitude we feel from all He has done for us, how can we not “Praise the Lord”!
既然我们意识到了主的大能，有感恩我们所能感知到的他为我们做的一切，我们怎么能够不“赞美主”！

Ah, Psalm 113. Now that’s one terrific, little psalm!
啊，诗篇第113篇，真是一篇短小却又绝美的诗歌啊！



WHAT JESUS WENT THROUGH.. FOR YOU
耶稣为你经历了什么
At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death penalty. At the time crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet. Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails were driven into His wrist, not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself so that He could breathe.
在其33岁的时候，耶稣被判处死刑。当时，受钉十字架而死是“最糟糕的”死法。只有最坏的罪犯才会被判处钉十字架。耶稣的手和脚被钉在十字架上。每个钉子长6到8英寸。钉子钉在他的手腕上，而不是通常所说的手掌。手腕上有一条筋延伸到肩膀。罗马兵丁知道，当钉子钉在手腕上时，那条筋就会撕裂和破裂，迫使耶稣使用其背部肌肉来支撑自己，以使他还能呼吸。
Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just to continue to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.
他的双脚被钉在一起。因此，他只好用将其双脚钉住十字架的单个钉子，来支撑自己身体的重量。因为太痛，耶稣不能用双腿支撑自己身体的重量，所以他被迫交替拱起他的背部，然后使用他的双腿，只是为了能继续呼吸。想象一下那种挣扎、疼痛、痛苦和需要的勇气。
Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours. Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds.
耶稣忍受这种痛苦长达3个多小时。是的，超过3个小时！你能想象这种痛苦吗？他死前几分钟，耶稣停止流血。他的伤口只是在淌水。
From common images, we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side... But do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even large nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the nails and the spear, Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture. He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds. The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood.
从一般的图片上，我们看到他手脚上的伤口，甚至他腰上被枪刺的伤口...但我们认识到他的伤口实际上是在他的身上。用锤子将大钉子钉在手腕上，双脚重叠，用一根大钉子穿过足弓，然后罗马兵丁用枪刺穿他的腰。但在使用钉子和枪之前，耶稣曾被鞭打和殴打。鞭打是如此严重，以致从他的身上撕下肉来。殴打如此可怕，以致他的脸撕破，他的胡子从他的脸上扯掉。荆棘的冠冕深深地切入他的头皮。大多数人不会幸免于这种折磨。他的血都流尽了，他的伤口只能淌水了。我们人类成年人的身体含有约3.5升（仅少于1加仑）的血液。
Jesus poured all 3.5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His members; a crown of thorns on His headband, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest. All these without mentioning the humiliation He passed after carrying His own cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where His hands were nailed)
耶稣流尽了所有3.5升的血;他的身上钉了三个钉子;他的头上带着荆棘冠冕，除此之外，一个罗马士兵把枪刺入他的胸口。所有这些没有提及他所受到的羞辱。耶稣携带他自己的十字架后走了近2公里，而且过程中，有人朝他的脸上吐痰、扔石头（十字架几乎重30公斤，并只是到钉耶稣的双手的较高的地方）
Worse of all of the above, was the wrath from his Father he had to endure. God's righteous anger was poured out upon him.. the righteous one.. to save us.. we who had no righteousness, but Jesus took our place, he took our punishment. God's justice and holiness were satisfied, so that his mercy and grace could be given to fallen man.
上面所有的情况中最糟糕的是，耶稣必须得忍受他的天父的烈怒。上帝的公义愤怒倾倒在他身上...义人...以拯救救我们...我们没有公义，但耶稣代替我们，承担了我们该受的惩罚。上帝的公义和圣洁得以满足，所以上帝的慈爱和恩典可以赐给堕落的人。
Jesus had to endure this experience, so that we can have free access to God. So that our sins could be "washed"away. All of them, with no exception!
耶稣必须忍受这种经历，以使我们能够自由接近上帝。以使我们的罪能“洗净”。所有的罪，没有例外！
JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR US! He died for us! Let us forever worship Him and give thanks forever and worship at His feet.
What will ye do with this Jesus?
Will you respond like the thief and the religious leaders who cursed him?
Will you wash your hands of him like Pilate?
Will you mock Him like Herod?
耶稣为我们而死！他为我们死了！让我们永远敬拜他，永远感谢他，并匍匐在他的脚下敬拜。
你会如何对待耶稣？
你会像强盗和咒诅他的宗教领袖那样回应吗？
你会像本丢彼拉多那样逃避处死耶稣的责任吗？
你会像希律那样讥笑他吗？
OR
Will you accept Him as the Son of God.. like the Centurion and the second thief?
The most important question ever is WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?
The answer will determine, where you will spend eternity
或者
你会像百夫长和第二个强盗那样，接受耶稣作为上帝的儿子吗？
最重要的问题是你如何看待基督？
答案将决定你是永远待在天堂还是地狱


SOAK IN SCRIPTURE

CHINESE

神的主权

Rev. Darryl Dedert

圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/22224232636918

长久的安慰

Rev. John Byl

圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/222242320225792

与神关系的首要诫命 The First Commandment Concerning the Relationship with God

Rev. Simon Yin

圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

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如何遵行第一诫命 How to Obey the First Commandment

Rev. Simon Yin

圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

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ENGLISH

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God Knows All Things

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Luke 15:11-24 ESV


I am most certain that all of us, if we have lived for very long, have some regrets over things done and/or said in the past. I know that I do. But we can’t go back into the past and undo those things, can we? At least not in real life. Maybe in science-fiction movies, we can, but not in reality. We can’t change history. What is done is done and what was said was said and we can’t make it disappear, no matter how hard we may try.

But we can make attempts at righting the wrongs done, where possible, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We can confess wrongdoing, and truly repent of what we did, and seek forgiveness from those we sinned against in the past… But let me back up for a minute here. Whenever we sin against God or against other humans we should repent (turn away from) our sins and now go the opposite direction, by the grace of God. That is a given!

But repentance, if it is genuine, is not just a change of mind, but it is a change of mind resulting in a change of behavior. It is a lot like making a U-turn in a road. You were traveling one direction, but now you are traveling in the opposite direction. But you don’t keep making U-turn after U-turn and go back and forth between “sin, confess, sin, confess,” etc. But this doesn’t make us perfect or mean that we will never sin again, but true repentance does not stay on a sinful course, repeating the same sins over again.

The beautiful thing about the prodigal son is that he saw the error of his ways and he truly repented of his sins. He came to himself (to his senses), this tells us. But those who continue in their sinful practices have not yet come to their senses, for their past is not really past. They may have short periods of time when they take pauses, but then they continue on in the same deliberate and habitual sins against God and against other humans. No true repentance! No true humility! And just saying, “Sorry,” doesn’t do it.

The beautiful thing about this story is that, even though the man did what was evil in the sight of God, and he wandered and he went his own way, for a time, God, who is represented by the father in this story, received him back with open arms because he returned to the father, and he humbled himself and was willing to become a servant, and he recognized his own unworthiness. But when God forgives, he forgives, and he wipes the slate clean so that we can now walk in victory over darkness and now walk in the light of God’s love and grace.

But his forgiveness of our sins is not free license to continue in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord. The Scriptures are quite clear that if sin is what we practice, i.e. what we keep going back to over and over again, and if obedience to our Lord and holy living are not our practice, that we do not truly know God. We are not in genuine relationship with the Lord Jesus. And we will not inherit eternal life with God unless we truly repent (turn away from) those sins to now follow him in obedience to his commands.

Now the Lord Jesus put a song in my mind this morning that is a secular song put out by a father-daughter duo who started singing together in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. And they have become immensely popular. They both have beautiful voices. And in the song they are discussing how they are thinking about the future and the past, but how time keeps on turning, and how they keep on learning. And they came to the conclusion that they can’t change the past, and they really don’t know what the future holds for them, and so they would rather be here in the present.

And it is true that we can’t go back in time and undo what was done. And we have only some control over what happens to us in the future. But what we can do in the present is to not continue to live in the past and to not keep repeating the same sins over again. We can make that spiritual U-turn in our lives and now live in the present, in the here and now, by the grace of God, in his power, strength, and wisdom. And we can be someone else, not the same person we were before. We just have to humble ourselves before God and become his servants by making him Lord of our lives. We just have to turn or return to him and he will receive us, like this father did his son.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-24; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-11; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

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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Jesus said After the tribulation Matthew 24:29 I am Post trib pre wrath believer in Jesus. If someone disagrees and is Pre trib that's fine, you can be saved and be pre trib. and Post tribbers dont make it a salvation issue. you are still. brother in Christ. It is the pre trib people who teach with this cult like false gospel that you must be pre trib or you're not saved, or they will break fellowship with you, and they mock. and that's wrong. Because the truth is not on their side they have to threaten you. when the Bible clearly says after the tribulation scores of verses but Matthew 24 is the most damning because it's coming from Lord Jesus Christ directly.

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mark 13:24-25 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Rushing Wind - Keith Green

Rushing Wind blow through this temple
Blowing out the dust within
Come and breathe Your breath upon me
I've been born again

Holy Spirit, I surrender
Take me where You want to go
Plant me by your living waters
Plant me deep so I can grow

Jesus you're the One
Who set my spirit free
Use me, Lord
Glorify Your Holy Name through me

Separate me from this world, Lord
Sanctify my life for You
Daily change me to Your image
Help me bear good fruit

Every day You're drawing closer
Trials come to test my faith
But when all is said and done, Lord
You know, it's been worth the wait

Jesus, You're the One
Who set my spirit free
Use me, Lord
Glorify Your Holy Name through me

Rushing Wind blow through this temple
Blowing out the dust within
Come and breathe Your breath upon me
For I've been born again

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Kirk Cameron has some thoughts on what it really means to "turn the other cheek."
The actor said intolerance, at least when it comes to evil and tyranny, is, in fact, a “very essential Christian virtue,” one which, he added, America’s founding fathers espoused.

In a Feb. 21 appearance on the “Timcast IRL” podcast with Tim Pool, Cameron touched upon a number of topics, including his fight against “religious viewpoint discrimination” in public libraries and Noah Webster’s Christian influence on education.
But it was in response to Pool’s apparent reference to a Christian Post story earlier this month about his comments on conservative Christians playing a role in America's decline by being “tolerant and accepting” that led to a lively conversation between Pool and Cameron.

Crediting a 2023 speech by entrepreneur Patrick Bet David for his comments, Pool summarized David's speech as essentially saying, “Christians in this country are good people who keep saying OK to these people, being tolerant, allowing them to live the way they want to live.
"But what happens is they push more into the institutions, they introduce dangerous, bad ideas, they start targeting kids, and now we're here where we are today."

Cameron responded by saying “turn the other cheek” and “love your neighbor” were never intended to allow for the tolerance of evil.

“… I see so many who are just tolerating evil and that’s not loving your neighbor,” he said. “At the end of the day, the two great Commandments of Christianity are to love God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength, and the second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself.

“If you 'tolerate' the kinds of things that bring misery to your neighbors and ultimately strip them of their liberties, you're not loving them.”
As an example, he cited Just War Theory, followed by most Christians for over a thousand years, which states that if you believe your enemy is preparing to attack, you are justified in defending your own people by attacking first.

Cameron said the Constitution is another means of mitigating against overreach by tyrants.
“We don't tolerate tyranny, either from the outside or the inside, and that is a very essential Christian virtue, is to not tolerate that type of thing,” he added.

Hi,

So imo the hardest job as a christian is to love your neighbour and fellow christian.
Thing is we sometimes want our circle of friends to be small, we select our circle of friends, we dont want to deal with some people sometimes.
Is not that we hate them, thing is the difference could be to many or great that we don't have the energy and patience to deal with some people.
Our love is imperfect, we are only human. God's love is perfect, Jesus love is perfect that is why he could deal with all types of people.

Br,

Inflation has changed the way many Americans shop. Now, those changes in consumer habits are helping bring down inflation.
Fed up with prices that remain about 19%, on average, above where they were before the pandemic, consumers are fighting back. In grocery stores, they're shifting away from name brands to store-brand items, switching to discount stores or simply buying fewer items like snacks or gourmet foods.
More Americans are buying used cars, too, rather than new, forcing some dealers to provide discounts on new cars again. But the growing consumer pushback to what critics condemn as price-gouging has been most evident with food as well as with consumer goods like paper towels and napkins.

In recent months, consumer resistance has led large food companies to respond by sharply slowing their price increases from the peaks of the past three years. This doesn't mean grocery prices will fall back to their levels of a few years ago, though with some items, including eggs, apples and milk, prices are below their peaks. But the milder increases in food prices should help further cool overall inflation, which is down sharply from a peak of 9.1% in 2022 to 3.1%.
Public frustration with prices has become a central issue in President Joe Biden’s bid for re-election. Polls show that despite the dramatic decline in inflation, many consumers are unhappy that prices remain so much higher than they were before inflation began accelerating in 2021.

Biden has echoed the criticism of many left-leaning economists that corporations jacked up their prices more than was needed to cover their own higher costs, allowing themselves to boost their profits. The White House has also attacked “shrinkflation,” whereby a company, rather than raising the price of a product, instead shrinks the amount inside the package. In a video released on Super Bowl Sunday, Biden denounced shrinkflation as a “rip-off.”
Consumer pushback against high prices suggests to many economists that inflation should further ease. That would make this bout of inflation markedly different from the debilitating price spikes of the 1970s and early 1980s, which took longer to defeat. When high inflation persists, consumers often develop an inflationary psychology: Ever-rising prices lead them to accelerate their purchases before costs rise further, a trend that can itself perpetuate inflation.

“That was the fear — that everybody would tolerate higher prices,” said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY, a consulting firm, who notes that it hasn't happened. “I don't think we've moved into a high inflation regime.”
Instead, this time many consumers have reacted like Stuart Dryden, a commercial underwriter at a bank who lives in Arlington, Virginia. On a recent trip to his regular grocery store, Dryden, 37, pointed out big price disparities between Kraft Heinz-branded products and their store-label competitors, which he now favors.