• 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.

CF - My Ten Year Anniversary

Ten years ago today, I joined the forums. Now, just a moment or two ago, I went back to my original introduction thread with the intention of linking it here. Errrrr.... NO lol.

It was, without a doubt, the most painful thing I have ever read. Suffice to say, I've travelled a million light-years since then - to the point that I don't even recognise the 23 year old who wrote that post. It's as if I've lived four lifetimes in ten years.

I'm far from perfect, and the lord knows how sinful I am - which is why I refrain from offering Christian-based advice these days, because I'm actually pretty bad (dating multiple girls at times, experimenting with small doses of certain fungi, a heavy snus addiction, WAY too many late nights, etc) but I thank Him for putting me down this road. I honestly wouldn't trade lives with anyone - even if my squeaky clean 23 year old self would be disappointed with certain choices I've made, and I honestly wouldn't have done anything any different, even if I was made to redo the full ten years. Because life is good, God is good, and love is good, even if I'm not necessarily whiter than white.

Plus, I'm happy. In my intro thread I mentioned suicide, which was a SHOCK to me to even read. Suicide isn't even in the realms of the observable universe for me now; the thought just wouldn't enter my mind. So, let that be a lesson to you all, whenever you set goals or resolutions, always start number one on your list with "be happy".

I don't actually believe that I was put on this earth to be a "perfect" model for Christ anyway. I was put here to be relatable to those who otherwise wouldn't step into a church. My acts of service are ultimately my biggest strength, and my ability to listen and give people my time can only come from Him. My strengths are like superpowers (I guess that comes with ten years of daily practise.)

In some sense, you could call me a Christian in disguise, or an antihero. Unlike the devil, who enters the light and lures people into the darkness, I'm the one IN the darkness who lures people into the light.

But I'll say this, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to sharpen up around the edges a bit.

for some young people

For certain young people of great potential in wisdom. That they themselves may thirst and call for their parents and reliable friends to help catalyse opportunities for them to share Scripture insights and lots of prayer intentions (and thereby show those parents and friends how to help).

'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.'

Isaiah 66:24 “And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”

Mark 9:48 "thrown into hell, 48where ‘their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.’

People think of this passage as representing Hell, perhaps it does in a symbolic way. However, this represent the war that takes place before Jesus returns. "Battle of Armageddon." It is portrayed as a great and final conflict between the forces of good (led by Jesus Christ) and evil (led by the Antichrist and his followers). The ultimate victory is seen as belonging to Jesus Christ, who returns to defeat and judge the forces of evil.

Every year the nations will send a representative to Jerusalem. They will go out and look at the corpses on the battlefield to see the remains of those who rebel against God.

Zechariah 14 16 Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, then the rain will not fall on them. 18 And if the people of Egypt will not go up and enter in, then the rain will not fall on them; this will be the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

There is a thread on the second death that we are making no progress in understanding. This thread is an attempt to shed light on what happens to the people who do not come to a saving knowledge of the truth. It would appear they are destroyed. People can go to look and see how they ended up. The result of their sin and rebellion against God.

How to treat an archbishop (even if she is a woman)


A rather nice little reflection on how humility, hospitality, gentleness and generosity might shape how we treat one another, even when we disagree.

Does anyone else sell these?

I'm not sure if you will be able to tell, but I have completely taped over the cover of this edition, front to back. I had to. From light use and just sitting on a shelf for most of its 5 years with me, having bought it brand new, the matte cover was falling apart. Like disintegrating almost. Especially where the cover meets the spine. I want to get volumes 1-4, but they look like the same matte covers. I saw a review on Amazon when I was looking at the other volumes that summed it up perfectly: "Invaluable contents, indifferent cover."
IMG_20230916_195422830.jpg

Is Motion Possible?

Hello everyone,

For something to move, it first must go halfway, but first it must go half the way of the halfway, and so on and so on. That obviously makes motion impossible, since it must go through infinite halfways to reach it's destination.

Unless, it disappears and reappears somewhere else. That seems to solve the problem, but there might be an issue with this idea.

An object called A is not object called B because they are different. Object A cannot become object B because they are different. That would result in something being something that is different than it. Therefore, for something to first disappear and reappear somewhere else, it must first become something different.

So, how is motion possible?

DEBATE: Guilty until proven innocent when it comes to putting people in prison

Opening up a debate about this topic. In no way shape or form does the topic represent my views, as in matter of fact I have no opinion. I'm curious how others on this forum view this topic.

The new emerging philosophy of Guilty until proven innocent is:
That is extremely rare to be falsely accused and prison is not that bad of a place compared to trauma victims of crimes face, that sending a couple innocent people to prison is a price society should be willing to pay and it is ultimately for the greater good.

And by Guilty Until Proven innocent, I'm not talking about lowering the burden of proof, I'm talking about testimony being the only thing that is needed for a conviction unless the testimony is proven to be maliciously false.

What are your views when it comes to this?

WHAT JOHN 10:9 IS SAYING ?

It reads , I / EGO , is a PERSONAL POSSESSIVE PRONOUN , NOMINATIVE CASE in the SINGULAR .

AM / EIMI , is in the Greek PRESENT TENSE , and in the INDICATIVE MOOD and in the SIGNULAR

and Christ is called the great I AM , and also is called the I AM , because Paul could FORGIVE in the person of Jesus Christ , 2 Cor 2:10 .

THE / HO is a DEFINITE ARTICLE and that means it is pointing to the next word , DOOR .

DOOR / THYRA is in the NOMINATIVE CASE , or the subject , in the SINGULAR as there is only one DOOR .

BY ME / EMOU is a PERSONAL POSSESSIVE PRONOUN , also in the GENTIVE CASE , also SIGNULAR

ANY MAN / TIS , is INDEFINITE PRONOUN , NOMINATIVE CASE , and is SIGNULAR
t
ENTER IN / EISERCHOMAI , in the AORIST TENSE , ACTIVE VOICE , SUBJUNCATIVE MOOD , that they may enter or NOT ENTER , in the SIGNULAR .

HE SHALL BE SAVED / SOZO is in the FUTURE TENSE , PASSIVE VOICE , and in the INDICATIVE MOOD and this mood says it will happen .

SHALL GO IN / EISERCHOMAI is in the Greek , FUTURE TENSE , MIDDLE VOICE , in the SIGNULAR

FIND / HEURISKO , is also in the FUTURE TENSE , ACTIVE VOICE , INDICATIVE MOOD

PASTURE / NOME , is ACCUSATIVE CASE , in the SINGULAR

DOOR / THYRA is a figure of speech that is speaking of Jesus and there are hundreds of figures of speech and thousands of numbers , that have MEANING .

Please notice that the FUTURE TENSE is used !!

dan p

If God loves everybody unconditionally...

If God loves everybody unconditionally, then why does He call us to repent? Why does He call us to come to the cross? Why does He call us to come to Christ? If God loves everybody unconditionally, then you can do whatever you want, and believe whatever you think. But that's just not true that He loves us unconditionally, He has placed an absolute condition by which He requires. He doesn't just invite people to come to His Son, He commands all people everywhere to repent of their sin and come to Christ, and if you want to enjoy the love of complacency, you have to be in Christ.

When we look at the concept of the love of God in Scripture, we see distinctions that have to be made. Historically and theologically, we distinguish among three types of divine love. There is the love of benevolence, where God has a kind spirit to the world and His benevolent will, His benevolent will falls on everybody. But there's also the sense in which in the Bible, the love of God is defined in terms of God's beneficence. That's not just simply His attitude towards the world, but how He displays that goodness universally. The rain falls upon the just, as well as the unjust, and so that universal dimension of the love of God is manifest.
The third term is the love of complacency. Now, the Biblical term of love of complacency is not used in the way which we use the term complacency in our age, in our culture. Our term of complacency means smugness, self-satisfaction. That sort of thing. But rather when the Scriptures indicate the love of complacency, it's that special love that God has for His Son and all of those who are in His Son and who are adopted into His family. And if we talk about the love of God and His terms of the love of complacency, and talk about it universally, that's blasphemy, because God does not love the whole world in the love of complacency. The fact the Scriptures tell us that there are many ways in which God is at enmity with the world. He hates the world. He hates those who are swift to shed blood, and we have to take that into account.

Try a dish the early Christians would have eaten

This dish from Ancient Rome has become a go-to recipe in our house, and I hope you love it as much as we do!​

I just found out about frittatas a few years ago, but it turns out they’ve been a popular dish since the days of the early Christians!



Frittatas, which originated in Ancient Rome, consist of cooked eggs with other ingredients like meat, vegetables, or cheese added in. Thanks to simple and very flexible ingredients, it makes sense this meal has been around for millennia.

The perfect breakfast?​

Eggs are a nutritious breakfast, and the addition of lots of vegetables makes this one of the healthiest ways you can start your day.


Frittatas reheat beautifully and travel well, so this is a great meal-prep recipe that you can make on the weekend and enjoy all week long. It’s also a great recipe for dinner, and you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand.

The ancient recipe​

I was curious to know how the recipe has changed since ancient times and was surprised to learn that it hasn’t actually changed that much. The biggest difference is that modern recipes use a lot more eggs and vegetables.



An ancient recipe for frittata calls for these ingredients:

  • black mustard greens
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 onion
  • olive oil
  • white wine
  • garum
  • spices (black pepper, lovage, coriander seeds)
  • fresh savory vegetables
You can see the rest of the ancient recipe for “patina ex rusticis” here.


Continued below.

It would be a miracle...

My wife is starting to really upset me. She is always on time for work at 4 am and has NEVER been late but she's a slow as heck worker.

She's been working at Walmart for about 2 months now and during those 2 months she's gotten in trouble multiple times with her boss because she's ALWAYS never done with her work on time. Like for example yesterday she was supposed to be done at 11:30 and wasn't done until almost 1:30. Her boss came in the room and chewed her out and she got chewed out again this morning for being slow, she is going to get fired because why should Walmart pay a slow worker when they can pay someone else who constantly gets their job done on time so that the next shift doesn't have to work twice as hard on their shift.


Idk. I just don't know what to do or what to say. I'm angry at her because she w a s supposed to be done at 12 today and she us still working and it's 1:20.. she still isn't done. I can't help but be angry at her for this. Because, my wife knows how much we need the money. She knows and she just doesn't care and doesn't take her job seriously. If she did she would be paying more attention to her work and making sure she gets done on time so that Walmart doesn't have to pay her for the two extra hours she has to work to almost get her stuff done. I've tried going to God on this problem but I honestly think she is going to lose her job. I can't sleep I'm manic right now and I'm just so stressed out and I'm not even the one with the job. I just hate this.

What Happened To Me was Horrendous

hello everyone, I am posting this in here to see if people care enough to help.

I will say this, it could be sensitive in nature but I won't explain anything that is too much ok?

Rape is terrible. It is. And I have had more than anyone I know of. Most people do not live long when they are sex trafficked. They don't have as much of a problem as I do. Most people would say "how dare you ever say that about yourself!" or even "Your problem isn't that great!" and it is surprising how wicked and evil people are about this issue that I bring up to them. This issue is very sensitive to some people but it's not to me because of what happened. This issue is so normal at this point that I cannot understand my own thoughts about that area honestly. I have had more rape than anyone on the news or anyone I've ever heard of. If someone ever had more rape, I don't think it's rape at that point. However, I don't know many stories but I know of some bad ones. When you hear of my story stop and think for a moment, "why would anyone lie about this at this point?" or even something like this "why would someone pretend about it?" what is point of pretending on a random forum with random people I do not know? Why would I lie when it just makes me look bad? Why would I lie about my experience? I'm not lying.

When people think about my problem in front of me, they say many things to me. They say "You're nuts" or even something like "You're the problem" and then they stay away from helping me ever again. Then there's others who are nicer but not very nice in a certain way and say "I'll help. I know this is real somehow, but I'll help" and they help only for a moment. Then there's those who are rare and harmed me greatly who say "I'll help! I know this is real!" and then they claim that they receive revelation from God and say "This is what he would say to you right now" and sometimes it was fine, and other times it was terrible advice. They would go around and bless me and even lay hands on my head and bless me, and pray and cast out and it never worked. Not even once. Then they would leave me alone. They never came back. I was so appalled and harmed by these people that I couldn't ask people for help. I wanted help everyday of my life. I wanted to tell someone about this problem but I couldn't because of how different it is. I went to school, work, and even things like shopping and I was normal looking, not harmed looking, and even just walking normal. However, that didn't mean that I was truly okay. People who didn't smile at me, made it worse so much that I went home many times and cried because I said "no one even cares that much". When I went to school, not only was I begging God to let me tell my teacher, my friends, my family, and even those around me in general. I would go up to a random stranger even and shout something like "Please help! I'm being raped!" i would have talked to thousands of people by now in my own opinion. I would have. This would have been known by many people by now. However, God said "DO NOT SHARE THIS WITH PEOPLE UNLESS I ASK YOU TO" and the reason I didn't share was only because of that prompting. If I shared more, he revealed that People would have investigated my family and friends and then they would have found out nothing was happening with my family or friends. They would claim I'm nuts and not only nuts but dangerous. They would claim that I am a danger to society and lock me away in some random mental institution for years on years at a time. This is possible. However, I live in America and I don't know what to say about what happens in america sometimes but usually I think there's justice and laws to some extent. I feel completely abused by the system that is in place to this area of my life. Not only was I medicated heavily for my problem that wasn't made up, but it was a problem so big that it made my life living hell everyday when I got up, and when I went to sleep. I had no breaks with this problem.

When I explain this to people they laugh, or they look at it and say "you're just nuts" but the reason I post in here and not on an athiest forum is because I post about evil spirits raping me. People who are christian should believe that this is possible. Possibility is not just things that you can see and people know that, but christians especially should believe that. I believed that people would help me. I believed that people would not harm me instead because I was the victim. Do you know what happened to me? I was harmed by devils so badly and by people so much all at the same time that it's impossible to explain all that I went through because people would say "that didn't happen" and it did.

I was harmed so much that people said this to me "you're so nuts that you must be medicated completely for the rest of your life. You are so nuts and dangerous that you are a problem" and this is what they did the last time I was in court for no reason other than believing that a devil was around me. I never told them that I was being raped by devils. I never told them anything more than "I am being followed by a devil" and people in the medical and mental institiutions didn't believe me of course but others like bishops, pastors, and others that I talked to never believed me either. And all they did was say "sorry that's weird" and then leave me alone.

Most people's reactions are evil or wicked in certain areas, not even comprehensible in some other areas, but sometimes there is the rare few that believe me. These people are sometimes considered more spiritual. These people do not go to church to just go to church in my opinion. There was even someone I talked to that was a spiritual leader in his community and I said "Will you help me? I'm being raped by a devil. A real devil not a person." and he said "yes I'll help" and never called me back. This person was my only hope at the time and said very little to me in regards to my problem. He said "go to this place and it will heal you," and it wasn't even the right kind of answer. I said to myself "i needed help, not suggestions on how to fix it at this point because no one seems to know what the actual answer is." that is my thought at the time. No one even knows how to get rid of a devil truly. No one. They think they do. They think a lot of things. But when you have a real devil you do not just put scriptures that are open near your bedside table to scare him away. If some murderer came near your bedside table and said "I'm going to kill you" and you opened your scriptures, and set them down, those scriptures don't do anything to that man. He would laugh and still kill you. This is the insanity of some people's suggestions to me about how to deal with a devil. They say "say these words and they will get rid of him" or even "say this specific prayer and it will work" and it never did. Most people don't realize that the devil is stronger than an average human man. Why on earth would words make him go away? Then they suggest "casting out" and that this would work. It doesn't. It just doesn't. whomever wrote that in the bible or book of mormon or even in some other areas whomever wrote that does not even know a devil at all and how to get rid of him. When I was attacked by a devil I was raped everyday. I was harmed daily during the day as often as possible. I was tortured mentally so much that this devil came up to me one day and said "I will take you to hell with me, you will be mine forever, because when you come to hell you'll never get out." and so he tried hard to get me to kill myself. he couldn't kill me because God blessed that area. So he tried everything in the book that would harm a person mentally and emotionally with me. He tried.

When I had someone suggest to me "just put your scriptures down and open them up he'll go away," this made me angry. Because I said this to myself "are these people just guessing at this point and suggesting something like this to help a serious situation go away? Are these people lying to me? no they aren't. Why then do they think this problem is so trivial that scriptures near my bed will make it go away? and if this were true why does he not stop raping me?" and this is what happened. I put scriptures, objects, item near me to keep him off of me. It never worked. I used some "power from God" and it never worked. I used CHRIST'S NAME AND IT DIDN'T WORK. This is true. If you have a real devil and you cast him out he won't leave. God's power is real but people don't have it.

When I had this problem, I looked around at everyone and asked everyone for answers. There were so many answers under the sun that it was impossible to say that the spirit was leading anyone at this point and that no one was receiving revelation from God Himself. People were guessing. People were pretending sometimes, and other times they just thought their opinion was so correct that God Himself would approve of it.

I am so livid at people who suggest things to me at this point that I have been harmed by people's suggestions. I looked for experts at some point to help me. I looked for witches even but I said "why would the devil talk to a witch about how to even actually get rid of him? That doesn't make sense" and I said "but it seems that the devil has more people who know how to talk to him than even people on God's side have that talk to angels. How do I find anyone who can do anything with this area? I would have to have a prophet!" And I searched for prophets after a while because the experts did not know much either. So, I said "what is going on? Are people not even understanding that their spiritual experiences are false? They don't even make sense with my problem. This is true.

And then I went to someone who was a good woman in my opinion, RANELLE WALLACE. She claims to have seen God in a vision and talks to God all day long. She had an NDE and wrote a book about it. This is true. Look her up. Guess what she did to me? She left me alone the whole time I was in my apartment with her, as Devil's raped me. I looked at her as someone who helped a lot of people with her book that was a best seller, and even her stop drop and roll foundation was something I remembered as a child and she had been the creator of these ideas and she had put them into practice and then it spread world wide. I thought I found someone that could help me. I thought I could find someone who was so great in people's eyes but also great at spiritual natured ideas that I was happy to be near this person. She let me stay in her house for over 9 months. I was there for an entire year in my head but God said it wasn't quite a year. However, when I told Ranelle what was going on, I told her this "I'm being raped by devils" she said this to me "yeah right. That's not true." and then I begged her to listen to me and I even showed her something that was on my mattress from my own body from the rape that happened and she said "well that happens when you touch yourself" and I said "I have never had this happen in my life. I would not lie to you about my situation that is so dire and dangerous to you," and she said this "I'll help a little so it goes away," and she helped me for a while. I helped her all day long sometimes with listening to her interesting or bizarre ideas. She does not know that what happened was so dramatic in my own head because i did not scream all day long. Most people who would have this problem would die. But I didn't and I knew better than to scream bloody murder to make my own devil that was raping me to rape me harder and to make me more scared. I had to hold everything in so that he did not get the pleasure to scare me more. She told me after that that what I was going through was a mental issue. And that her spiritual experiences were real compared to mine. Hers was an NDE and she met GOD and ANGELS and said to me that her experience was more real than mine. She never met them. She has never seen God. God told me this. God said to me that most NDE's are a problem. I said to this woman, "will you help me a little bit?" and she said "yes I'll pray for you" she was very kind in that way in my opinion but she refused to help me more in a certain way because I couldn't ask her for help usually because I was afraid she would stop helping me after a while. So, Ranelle Wallace is probably at this point lying about me or even just saying crap about me to other people. Whatever she's saying about me is not true. When I said to my friend Ranelle that I was being raped, she almost never asked me how I was doing. She almost never prayed for me compared to how much she should pray for me. she claims she prays a lot and this is not true. She left me after 2 or so years of friendship.

I helped this woman everyday almost some weeks and some weeks I came once a week, but I rarely left her alone unless I had a problem with my demonic issue so bad that I forgot about everything. This woman claims to hear God. CLAIMS. And she believes it. Like most christians who claim this. I am not an athiest by the way but I am going to say this in my own opinion that most people do not have revelations from God. They have their own opinions. So, this woman was talking to God one day in her opinion and receiving revelation for me. I said "Please ask him about what I need to do to get rid of the demonic issues!" and she said "this is all you need to do," i listened intently and tried everything she asked and it didn't work. I said "I am not crazy just because it didn't work" and then she said "You are because that is what God told me to tell you about this. God told me this and so if you do not follow it exactly it won't work or you're crazy." and this is how it turned out. I was raped like usual that night. I was so depressed about this that I didn't know what to do. So I took matters into my own hands. I said "OK WHO IS THE PROPHET! I NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE PROPHET IS! WHERE IS MOSES! I NEED HIM NOW!" and I searched high and low for prophets. I know of stupid ones that prophesy and never have results, but I wanted MOSES. I don't care who this person is, I wanted to know. Because i was being raped and tortured by devils so badly that I said "OH MY GOSH I'M GOING TO DIE!" it was like that everyday. I searched for this person. I talked to even apostles that claim to be apostles from other churches and other places and other spiritual leaders and other energy workers even and even people who were basically not sure about anything but they claimed to know GOD. I asked everyone "DO YOU KNOW GOD HIMSELF?! WHAT DOES HE SAY TO ME!" and I asked this one man and he is called PURE REVELATIONS. I do not care at this point what he teaches, if he teaches something against my own opinion I DON'T CARE. I wanted someone who was able to help me. I received revelation from this man who has this blog. This blog is full of ideas about heaven and hell and doctrine that he receives from GOD. I said "ARE YOU A PROPHET!" and he said "I am just like one" and i said this "YOU NEED TO RECIEVE REVELATION FOR ME NOW. I AM BEING RAPED. WILL YOU BLESS ME PERSONALLY?!" and I said that to him and guess what I received? I said "please help me!" and he said "NO. I refuse to come and bless you. This is GOD'S WILL." and I said "WHY WOULD GOD SAY THAT?!" and GOD told ME through the SPIRIT that this man was not a prophet. I said "GOODBYE" to this person. This person sent me an entire paragraph of what to do and it didn't work. I said to myself. "There are no prophets." and this is true. THERE ARE NONE. I finally said to myself "I WILL BE THE PROPHET!" and I prayed and begged and fasted for months on end and even prayed for hours and hours and hours upon end. I WANTED THIS GONE. GOD WAS NOT ANSWERING MY PRAYERS. I NOTICED THIS. I SAID "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! I'M NOT NUTS I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DEVIL! AND THIS IS TRUE! GOD WHAT IS GOING ON! WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!? WHY ARE THEY ATTACKING ME?!" and I said "this is not fair that everyone else gets "revelation" except for me! I am getting no answers from you on any of these questions! and why not! Am I bad? I am SORRY! And will you help me anyway?" And I am not a bad person but I apologized anyway. and i said this to God. "Who is the prophet?"

I received no answer until much later.

I found out that I am a prophet. I AM NOT NUTS FOR SAYING THAT BY THE WAY. But I am actually a prophet-like person. That is why the devil attacked me for so long.

So what happened?

This is what happened.
(in comments below)

Dozens of Muslims Protest Against the Church in Depok, Indonesia

muslim_protes_gbi_depok.jpeg


Dozens of Muslims came to the chapel where the GBI Cinere Bellevue congregation worships in Gandul, Depok, West Java. It is thought that the arrival of the masses was related to the rejection of a chapel at the location.

The head of LPM Gandul and several people who took part in the Fajr recitation rejected the existence of the chapel.

Source: Polisi Jelaskan Alasan Massa Datangi Kapel Jemaat GBI di Gandul Depok

Were disciples the same as Christians according to Acts 11:26?

Acts 11:

26b So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples [G3101] were called Christians first at Antioch.
Strong's Greek: 3101. μαθητής (mathétés) — 263 Occurrences

Can someone be a Christian who does not consider themselves a disciple?

Not in Paul's time, disciples and Christians were synonyms.

What are the actions/attitudes that you would expect from a disciple?

John 14:

25Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. >33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
A disciple follows Jesus and does what he did. Interestingly the word "disciple" is rarely used by anyone except by Jesus and Luke in the NT. Paul never used the word. The word μαθητής is not in LXX at all.

china

KACHIN JINGPO

Kachin Jingpo in China

KADO

Kado in China


Kalmyk, Torgut

Kalmyk, Torgut in China


Persecution & Prayer Alert (September 14, 2023)

T
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada



​
To:
  • You
Fri 15/09/2023 05:12​
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada - Website


"It is impossible for that
man to despair who remembers
his Helper is omnipotent."

~ Jeremy Taylor​


NEPAL: Church Attacked as Part of Growing Trend​

Source: International Christian Concern​

A congregation in Nepal.

A church service in Nepal.
Photo: World Watch Monitor

Two churches in the same town of Nepal's Lumbini Province were attacked during the first four days of September. Reports describing the incident indicate that damage was done to the facilities of both churches, as well as to a motorbike. In one photograph, two men identified as pastors are shown being assaulted on the street. A sticky black substance was smeared on their faces in an act considered a cultural sign of disrespect and hatred.
These attacks are only the latest in a series of at least seven incidents of violence against churches in Nepal over a two-week period. While addressing the recent wave of attacks, a Nepalese human rights leader stated that the lack of response from authorities has encouraged perpetrators to increase their persecution of the Christian community. "It's spreading like wildfire," he said.
Nepal has strict anti-conversion laws, which have been an impetus for opposition against the country's Christian population. Anyone convicted of participating in proselytization of any kind faces a sentence of up to six years in prison. For more information on the persecution facing followers of Jesus in Nepal, go to our country report.
On behalf of the Christians in Nepal who are experiencing increased persecution, please pray for their needed protection, guidance and encouragement as they faithfully seek to fulfill Christ's mandate to share the Gospel message. May the Lord provide the members of these recently attacked churches with the resources required to repair the damages inflicted by hostile community members. Additionally, pray that the authorities would take action to prevent further violence against our Nepalese brothers and sisters in Christ, bringing to justice those who are responsible for these attacks.


NIGERIA: Seminary Student Dies in Fire​

Sources: ACN International, Catholic News Agency, Daily Post​

A portrait of Na'aman Danlami.

Na'aman Danlami
Photo: Aid to the Church in Need

In what appears to have been a failed kidnapping attempt, a Catholic seminary student died of smoke inhalation on September 7th after the parish rectory was set on fire. The priest and his ministry assistant were able to escape the fire, but 25-year-old Na'aman Danlami was unable to get out of the building in time.
According to news reports, Fulani bandits attempted to enter the rectory of the St. Raphael parish in Fadan Kamantan, a town located in southern Kaduna State. It is believed that they intended to kidnap the parish priest, Emmanuel Okolo. Unable to gain access into the building, the assailants set the residence on fire. The assault lasted for more than an hour, even though a military checkpoint is situated only a kilometre away. The attackers eventually fled the area.
Addressing concerns over this recent incident, the chair for the Kaduna Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, stated: "Security is everyone's business; it is disappointing that this kind of unholy activity could be recorded at the heart of [the] Fadan Kamantan community, and [that] the criminals operate unchallenged. It is a slap to the security forces within that jurisdiction. It is a slap to the religious leaders, [as well as to the] traditional and community leaders." For more information on the violence being encountered by Nigerian Christians, go to our country report.
Pray for all those who are now mourning the loss of this young Christian man. May each one of these grieving believers be filled with God's love, comfort and perfect peace through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of ongoing attacks perpetrated by the members of various militant groups, please continue to prayerfully uphold our persecuted Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ, asking the Lord to provide greatly needed protection to those in Kaduna and other areas of this troubled African nation.


INDONESIA: Worshippers Threatened with Death​

Sources: Radar Sumbar, Morning Star News, Kompas.id​

Christians worshipping in a church in Indonesia.

Photo: VOMC

The Sola Gratia congregation of the Bethel Indonesia Church meets in various homes in Jalan Banuaran, a village located in Padang, Indonesia. As the Christians were gathered for worship in the rented home of Juni Anton Zai on the evening of August 29th, a hostile woman in the community broke the windows of the house and demanded that those inside stop worshipping. According to Pastor Hiatani Ziduhu Hia, the woman, who was later identified as Liza, claimed to be the owner of the house.
Shortly after this incident, Liza's husband came to the house, along with two of his brothers. Armed with a machete and a wooden club, the men demanded that the worship meeting stop, and then threatened to kill the Christians if they refused. The believers continued to pray while the pastor tried in vain to calmly diffuse the situation.
Pastor Hiatani explained to the assailants that the landlord already knows the house is occasionally used as a place of worship, and that the head of their Indonesian community is also aware of the church's activities. It was eventually ascertained that the woman is a relative of the owner and lives in the back of a nearby house.
Although the police detained Liza, they are referring to the incident as a "misunderstanding." Pastor Hiatani hopes that the authorities will take the situation seriously, particularly because of the death threats, and endeavour to resolve the issue fairly. To read about further incidents of opposition towards Christians in Indonesia, go to our country report.
Pray that there will truly be a peaceful resolution to this volatile situation, allowing the church members who are renting the home to continue living there safely, despite the opposition. May God work mightily in the hearts and minds of the opposing community members, as well as the authorities involved in the case, so that harmonious relationships can be built between the tenants and the landlord's family.

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Devils are "right with God?"

I'm new to Christianity, and I'm trying to figure this stuff out. I was raised in an agnostic home and now as an adult I've been trying to figure out what Christianity is all about. I'm also a musician and had noticed that an old school hip hop artist, Rev Run, was promoting a church, so I checked it out online. Actually, I never really liked his rap music, but I had seen him on TV, and he seemed like a pretty affable guy? Turns out it was a "prosperity gospel" church where the whole thing is about money, money, money, that's all they talk about.

Anyway, the guy that runs that place, one bishop Jordan, is a real arrogant guy with a really despicable attitude, was preaching all kinds of stuff that actually CONTRADICTS what Jesus himself said in the Bible. Basically, he was making up his own gospel, because most of what he said isn't even in the gospels nor actually supported by the gospels. For example:

!) According to the gospel of bishop Jordan, God doesn't care if you're a good person, all God cares about when deciding if He is going to bless you is how much money you give to a church, and it better be at ;east 10%. According to him, that is all God cares about. He doesn't even talk about sin in his church, because he says all God cares about is how much money, tithes and offerings, you give to church.

According to him, it does not matter if you're a good person, if you want to "get right with God" you just have to give 10% to church, and then you'll be "right with God" and God will also make you rich.

A) is that correct theology? Like I said, I'm new to this Christianity thing and trying to figure it out. Reading what Jesus
said, that theology seem to be a direct contradiction of Jesus.

B) Is that what most Christian churches are like today, just making up their own theology, more concerned with following
what the preacher says, even over and above what Jesus himself said? Is that really what Christianity has devolved into?

2) Here is another gem this guy bernard jordan was preaching out of his church: That Christians should do mean, immoral things to people who don't tithe to a church. Is that what Christian ministers are teaching their congregations in church?
I tell you what, even coming from being an agnostic I have a lot of empathy for the poor, and wanted to do as much as
I could to assist poor people, but hearing that kind of vile, and frankly irresponsible, and reprehensible, rhetoric coming from the pulpit makes me feel like I should never give a penny to a church again, because I don't want to support that
kind of immoral behavior.

A) is that the kind of reprehensible morality that is being taught in Christian churches today?

3) That guy jordan literally preaches that all you have to do "to be right with God: is tithe money to church, then he'll try to
verbally twist your arm to tithe to HIS church. I seem to remember that the Pharisees in the Bible tithed 10% and also loved to brag and boast about their tithing, and do it in public to be seen, etc. Bishop Jordan and his followers at
his church would be taking phone calls during church, and when someone called with a big donation all the ministers
would start hooting and hollering, and shouting hallelujah real loud, making a big scene out of it, and suddenly shouting nonsense syllables, (speaking in tongues?) Yet the gospels say:

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full."

Again, what they are doing and preaching in that church completely CONTRADICTS what Jesus taught.

As a good, loving, moral person coming from being an agnostic and actually trying to give Christianity a chance, I'm here asking, Is this normal for Christian churches? I s it normal and acceptable for churches to contradict the teachings of the Bible and try to pass it off as gospel? Is it normal for churches to teach that it's okay to sin, and even to condone doing evil? Is it normal and acceptable Christian doctrine for a preacher to teach that God doesn't care about how good of a person you are, that He only cares about how much money you give to church?

Just saying, because that is teaching people that you can be the biggest devil ever, immoral as you want to be, with no redeeming qualities to your character whatsoever, but as long as you're greasing preachers palm, "You're alright with God" and God will make you rich too.

Is this what they teach in churches today?

As a pertinent interesting note,"Rev Run" Simmons and his brother, Russel, are both involved in that church, but I heard Rev Run say himself that he was already rich from being a rapper long BEFORE he found and joined that church.
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Can a Catholic believe in climate change?

This isn't my question, but rather one that was posted on Reddit earlier today. It's a question we've all seen a dozen times probably, and I think most Catholics just automatically assume that with Francis promulgation of Laudato Si that we somehow shouldn't question everything that's taught about so-called climate change and that the issue is so well agreed upon that it's past debate.

As Catholics we absolutely should be interested in creation care, which is the idea of caring for the environment in a way that sustains it and keeps it in balance, but NEVER at the cost of our own well being. Which is where the climate change becomes so disordered. It secular philosophy of climate change seems to run wholly contra to Genesis 1:28 which mandates two things: 1) be fruitful and multiply, 2) subdue the Earth and rule over it.

Secular climate change philosophy has as its core goal a massive reduction in the global human population. Its central thesis is that this man-made, that we are the problem and the only solution is to 'bring things into balance' by reducing how many of us are on the planet. As things are right now there are too many of us for the world's natural systems to compensate for our waste and CO2 output, and that a reduction would fix that.

Baloney.

That thesis right there violates both mandates in Genesis because it places humanity lower on the totem pole than the rest of creation, and it clearly opposes life because it would require both some kind of intervention in conception to control birth rates and in with some of the extremist elites like Bill Gates running wild out there it would also lead to the caused deaths of millions—which I believe Covid might have been an instrument for (or a beta test).

What are your thoughts on this? And if you agree with my sentiment how do you feel about the fact that a Pope issued an encyclical that essentially accepts and supports the secular climate change philosophy?
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Is there ever ethical justification for conquest of a nation?

I have noticed growing opposition to Biblical world views.

One area of concern is to dismiss the Biblical claim that conquest of a nation can be divinely mandated.

This is strong among proponents of indigenous rights.

I suspect this is part of the philosophy of the UN.

Have others noticed this ?

Sadly many conquests are downright evil, yet there seems strong biblical record of justified conquest.

Comments on this greatly appreciated.

Release International Prayers: China,Viet Nam

Vietnam​

Pray for members of the not-yet-legally recognised Vietnam Good News Mission Church and the state-recognised Evangelical Church of Vietnam-North (ECVN-N), who regularly suffer persecution.
Number of Prayers 0
YES - I WILL PRAY
Vietnam

Vietnam​

Please continue to pray for Hmong Christians in Nghe An province, Vietnam who are being severely persecuted. Officials are reportedly trying to create ‘Christian-free zones’.
Number of Prayers 31
YES - I WILL PRAY
Vietnam

Vietnam​

Members of tribal religions in Vietnam are under pressure to evict Christian relatives from their communities, separating them from friends, family and livelihoods. Pray that more people will start to stand up for religious liberty.
Number of Prayers 22
YES - I WILL PRAY
Vietnam

Vietnam​

Nga was murdered recently in Vietnam, allegedly by her husband, after she became a Christian. She was the first in her village to respond to the gospel after a visit by missionaries. Pray that many others, including Nga’s husband and four child…
Number of Prayers 15
YES - I WILL PRAY
Vietnam

Vietnam​

Pray for the many believers in Vietnam whose lives are threatened and endangered for following Jesus.
Number of Prayers 9
YES - I WILL PRAY
Vietnam

China​

Ask God to strengthen and heal church elder Hu Shigen, who has been released after almost eight years in jail in China for ‘subversion of state power’. In total he has spent more than 24 years in prison. He suffered a heart attack in jail…
Number of Prayers 9
YES - I WILL PRAY
China

China​

Thank God for the release of Pastor Geng Zejun after 15 months in prison in China for ‘organising illegal gatherings’. He had refused to join the state-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement.
Number of Prayers 9
YES - I WILL PRAY
China

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