Didache 6:2 If you can bear the Lord's full yoke, you will be perfect. But if you cannot, then do what you can.

The Didache was taught to early Christian believers and even though it was not canonized as Scripture, that does not necessarily mean anything that it says is wrong. The Bible does not teach that we need to have perfect obedience or about anything special that is earned as a wage if someone somehow manages to have perfect obedience, though it is a common misunderstanding to think that does. For example, in Romans 3:21-22, it does not say that the Law and the Prophets testify that the righteousness of God comes through perfect obedience, but rather the only way to become righteous that is testified about in the Law and the Prophets is through faith in Christ. I do think that it is interesting that modern Christians are taught about the Bible requiring perfect obedience while early Christians were taught that if you can't, then do what you can.

When Satan and the other angels fell with him, God and the holy angels, found no place for them in Heaven and they went into a penalty fiery environment. Somehow after their betrayal, there was nothing better for them, God being good. He had no choice. Satan and his angels could repent or there was no way back, even if they tried to return, they would be in debt. When we sin, we know what we are doing much less, but can end up in the fire prepared for fallen angels.

Jesus paid the price for us, but if we don't in turn forgive we must, pay, our fine. After that, perhaps we can enter life?

At the judgment, people may be shown mercy. But then it mentions the lake burning with fire and sulphur. Will they ever be given another chance, and might Satan himself repent and bring the others out with him?

Looking at the time until judgment, until the Earth's interior cools, until the sun becomes a red giant, until the solar system falls into a black hole, until there is no more light in the universe, and entropy stops increasing, with everything at the same temperature? As from this time lapse video: End of the Universe 2 Billion trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion years from now. Will they then or after have no more to pay and find God and life?

NKJV
Revelation 12:8
Matthew 25:41
Matthew 5:22-26
Revelation 19:20

"By pumping water out of the ground and moving it elsewhere, humans have shifted such a large mass of water that the Earth tilted nearly 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) east between 1993 and 2010 alone, according to a new study published in Geophysical Research Letters. "

We've pumped so much groundwater that we've nudged the Earth's spin, says new study

I'm seeing myself as a trad less and less, not necessarily because my values or my preferences have change, but there's an element of rot on the fringe that is disturbing at best.

Take a look at this tweet from Mike Parrot, known as "RTF Mike" who runs the "Restoring the Faith" podcast and social media:


He's praising the sketch and what's being represented in the sketch: a Nazi soldier. What is with this correlation between sympathizing with the Third Reich and traditional Catholicism? I just genuinely don't understand why one appeals to the other and how so many have seemed to congregate in this corner of the Church.

If you don't know Mike Parrot he's basically a rad trad, he hosted a show with a few others like himself including that fake "Brother Martin" guy who isn't actually a religious at all and was very publicly and clearly reprimanded by his bishop for masquerading as a religious. Mike was also raked over the coals by Church Militant for launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to cover Fr. James Jackson, who recently made headlines again for pleading guilty to the possession of child pornography charges, and then apparently handling the raised funds in a very sketchy manner.

So these people don't seem to have much scruples to begin with but they have the audacity to chastise other Catholics for their worship preferences and their valid lifestyle choices.

Even though I'm feeling less and less traddy, I don't feel like that necessarily pushes me into the modernist camp though. I still detest a goofy novus ordo, I still avoid protestant practices and themes incorporated into our worship and prayer life, I would opt for a Latin Mass if I had one around to go to. But I can't say I'm a trad anymore when this kind of correlation seems to be on the rise.

I mean really, there should be more of a reprimand for public jerks that show sympathy for the Third Reich.

Well… They gave it a try!

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Mary most holy, pray for us!

This would really make me feel really uncomfortable if I was in the congregation and some predatory camera was in my face looking for a reaction to what the speaker was saying. It would make me become far less reactionary to what was being said. Who wants that? To feel stifled in church? Once the footage is online it can be grabbed by anyone and manipulated. I really wish churches would have the camera pointed only on the stage and nowhere else. Or if it pans the crowd do it fast so we can't discern individual faces. But it seems we're getting so used to cameras people just don't care. Church is a personal experience. And being a Christian is something a lot of people really detest. Why enable them so easily? It also makes people that are known publicly to absolutely never go to such a church.

Psalms 68:1-3 ESV


We Will Have Enemies

As followers of Jesus Christ, who love God, who serve him with our lives, and who walk in obedience to his commands, we will have enemies, especially if we are publicly sharing the truth of the gospel (the whole counsel of God) and if we are confronting the lies of the enemy publicly. Like Jesus and the prophets and apostles before us, and the saints of God who have gone before us, we will be hated and persecuted because of our walks of faith and our obedience to the Lord and because we speak the truth of the gospel.

And so we may read a passage of Scripture like this and our hearts weep. We weep because we long for the day when we will be rescued from our enemies, and our crying will be no more. But we also weep over the sinful condition of our people and of the church, at least the one in America which is now so much like Laodicea. And we weep because we know judgment must come and that many people are going to lose their lives, and many who could have been rescued will go to hell because they refused God.

For although we will be glad and rejoice over our rescue from the enemy, we will weep because so many could have been saved if only they had trusted in the Lord Jesus to be their Savior. And even the thought of it now breaks our hearts, if our hearts are truly surrendered to Jesus Christ. And we weep now for those who are lost and who are now closing their ears to the Lord and who are refusing to hear his truth and to follow it. For we know where they will end up for eternity, and it is not where many think they are going.

Truth and Reality

For what do the Scriptures teach us regarding what will happen to us if we disregard God and his commands, and if we choose our own path, instead?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.’” Luke 9:23-26 ESV

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” Romans 2:6-8 ESV

“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Romans 6:16 ESV

“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:12-14 ESV

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 ESV

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8 ESV

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7 ESV

“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.” 1 John 2:3-5 ESV

“Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:7-8 ESV

Judged by God according to our works: [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; 2 Co 5:10; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; 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; 1 Pet 1:17-21; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

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I’ve been reading through a lot of the old Puritan writings on prayer recently, specifically the works of Thomas Goodwin, Christopher Love, David Clarkson and Richard Sibbes, and the depth of their understanding and instruction on prayer have been an immense blessing to say the least.

One particularly helpful thing they delved into was how to recognize God’s answers to our prayers. And sometimes because God may deny our requests in mercy, that in itself is an answer to prayer. And sometimes He merely delays the answer to keep us humble and dependent on Him and to also increase our desire after Him in prayer, to keep us fervent and importunate in our duty (as the woman of Canaan, the importunate widow and the friend seeking bread).

But because I suffer from an overly analytical mind, and because delays and denials can look an awful lot alike sometimes, how can we know the difference between the two? What are some key differences that may help us to ascertain when a prayer has been denied in mercy versus just delayed in mercy for the sake of our continuance in asking in faith?

Christians sure don't discuss this much. Wouldn't it be good for a will to draw family together after your passing? Yet that rarely seems to be the case. Usually we hear of the tension and anger when people didn't get what they felt they deserved.
What would draw squabbling, resentful family members together so they could gradually forgive and move on? Or change so they are less disagreeable to others.
If a family communicates better and each respects the other a believer can draw family to Christ easier. And what's more important than that? If a few are convinced that's a powerful influence on the others.

Just looking for this in the Bible. Thank you for sharing.

I'd rather leave my money to Christian charities as bringing people to Christ is more important than anything. Also, a child (a young adult) of mine doesn't seem particularly interested in financial management so I worry how well it will be taken care of. They also have distanced themselves from me so I feel they really don't want much to do with me. Of course I can't find out the reason for this as they have issues with communication. But when I read the Bible it seems that most everyone left everything to their children. I surely don't want to alienate that child from Christianity (they are luke warm in that area now) because they know I strongly believe in it and may be later resentful that I let them out of my will.

Another option would be to leave something to them but leave the rest to Christian charities. But could I do this without the child knowing it? When a will is read can the people that inherit something only be told what they will get and not where the rest of the money is going? It seems that everyone in the will knows everything in the will. It would be great to avoid that. Then they will get something and that's that. They have no idea how much money I have as I've been very careful to keep that out of our conversations over the years.

I've been talking to my mother she says I have no joy and I'm always doomy and gloomy. And that I'm dark and act like a democrat uniparty person and I make her an enemy and says I am combative confrontational and argumentative. I've asked in response how I do this and I get an answer in the form of her getting upset and not really telling me how. Does this mean God has refused to regenerate and transform my heart even though I've called out to him to do so? I am confused and battered down after this conversation. It seems like someone needs to lock me up somewhere and just throw away the key. It sounds to me like I'm not a saved born again Christian at all and that I am just a demonic messenger. It sounds like I might be a goat or maybe even the Anti-Christ Beast of revelation. I would like to change this what can I do?

DAILY PRAYER SHIELD​

Prayers For Our Persecuted Family.
Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to pray for our persecuted family so we produce a daily prayer shield which gives a specific need that you can pray for each day. You can see today’s prayer, plus those for the last 6 days, below. You can also sign up using the form above to receive our Email Prayer Alert which we send out whenever we become aware of a specific and immediate situation which requires urgent prayer.

Children’s Prayer Sheet
It’s not only adults who can pray for our persecuted family. Every month we produce a prayer sheet aimed specifically for children. Each sheet has specific activities and prayers which will help children learn more about how persecution affects children in other countries. You can visit our Children’s Prayer Sheet page here.

Nigeria​

Please pray for Buskilla from Niger state, Nigeria, whose husband was killed by Fulani three years ago. She and her family are being fed by neighbours but are also under extreme pressure to convert to Islam.

Turkey​

Pray for growth in the church in Turkey where believers are often opposed by their families, communities and government.

Turkey​

Ask God to protect an Iranian believer in Turkey who is serving the church in Malatya after being tortured in Iran. He faces potential deportation to Iran.

Turkey​

Continue to pray for ultra-nationalist groups responsible for the murder of three Christians at a Bible publishing house in Malatya, Turkey in 2007 – and, according to recent allegations, plotted to kill three church leaders in 2016 too.

Turkey​

Thank God for the faithful witness in Turkey of the church in Malatya which despite persecution continues to build God’s kingdom, most recently through its ministry to the deaf community.

Turkey​

Pray for churches in south-east Turkey, as they minister to survivors of February’s earthquake. Pray that many will be moved by their witness to God’s unconditional love.

Nigeria​

Loving God, we pray for our sister Rose Tagwi and her children in Nigeria as they continue to grieve for their husband and father, Matthew (see previous prayer). Your word tells us that You show special care to widows and orphans, so we pray for Your comfort and provision for them. We pray too for Matthew’s mother, father and brothers who have also been greatly impacted by his loss.

"But it wasn’t until this school year that a parent came into her school’s office and said, referring to Cruz, “I don’t want to talk to the gay one.”

Well it's about time gay people that work around children realized that many parents care and very much object to their influences over their children. I can't think of a stronger reason to start home schooling. I can't imagine NOT home schooling seeing the constant evolution and gay agendas being pushed on children, not to mention the overwhelming lack of discipline in the classroom. This allows bullies to do whatever they want because they know there are almost no repercussions which makes for a very dangerous environment for children. No child should fear going to school! Yes, there have always been bullies but in the past they could be controlled and severely reprimanded: The principal's strap was one strong reprimand and really kept us in respectful. It was a line absolutely no one didn't do their best to avoid. But there is nothing like that anymore. And parents can be arrested for spanking their own children. The only way that will happen is if someone finds out and if a child is congregating amongst others it's more likely they will talk about it and a disciplinary action done with control can be completely misinterpreted by the police who are under all kinds of woke pressure.

What is shocking about this article is how out of touch gay people are today. They don't realize the vast majority of people are most definitely not OK with their choices, especially around children. It's just that there is so much pressure on people to accept this moral decay they hesitate to speak out.

It's wonderful that people like DeSantis have the courage to take on initiatives to push back. That's really takes guts. Florida is the shining star in the US. The more gay people that leave the state the better it will be. No worries, there's plenty of morally decrepit states that will welcome them.

Today is not an ordinary day
Today is not just a time to play
Today’s not to be a time lived for self
Today is time to put self on the shelf

Today is a day to commit life to God
Today is a day to stop being a fraud
Today is a time to make Jesus your Lord
Life that’s without Him you cannot afford

Tomorrow may be what you not want to be
Tomorrow you may not be free as a bee
Tomorrow you can’t really anticipate
And by tomorrow it may be too late

So, please do not take the life you are given
For granted and think you’ll end up in heaven
For Jesus has said if you say to Him, “Lord,”
But then you live idly, His grace not afford

For you not obey Him and do what he says
But you walk in sin, live for self, now instead
You live for your idols, what pleases your soul
For you’re not in Jesus, your life not made whole

So give of your life, give it now all to God
Surrender your will to Him, not be a fraud
Die to your sin and deny what is self
No longer put God and His Word on a shelf

Live for Him daily, do all that He says
Walk in His fellowship, praise Him, instead
Walk in His holiness, purity vow
Give up your idols and to HIM now bow

An Original Work / June 17, 2023

**RC here- just curious. ***

Would you ever own and icon of Fr. Seraphim Rose or read his writings? OR could a man be ordained because he was homosexual? I've read The Soul After Death and Religion of The Future and found them both interesting.

EO ONLY please.

Hi all,
it seems debate in America - and my home country of Australia seems to be following - is moving further apart. We have less in common than ever before. I'm struck by the way "The New Corporation" portrays the urgency of dealing with Corporate creep into our lives. Corporations are trying to turn us from Citizens into Consumers. I agree with the majority of the movie analysing the problems. The way Corporations are set up they can't help being in a frenzied search for short term profits for this quarter, trying to ‘outsource’ costs to the public purse (like fossil fuels letting the public health care sector carry the burden of all their particulate pollution - thanks a lot oil barons!), offshoring profits into tax havens, and complaining how heavily taxed and unfair it all is as they do so. It’s outrageous!

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But then, rather than sensible regulation of corporations - it jumps to Socialism.
What gives? There's a thousand degrees between laissez-faire and Socialist.
(They do interview a few other people after the Socialist lady. But cutting straight to a Socialist after the climax of the Corporate thrashing wasn't a good look in my Ordo-Liberal view.)

What about we use anti-trust to break up some Corporations?

What about new firm structures, like Germany's Mittelstand family-owned firms or even Democratic Worker's Co-ops? They might sound a bit socialist - but really still have to compete in the marketplace like anyone else. What about a thousand other ways to balance and protect our rights as Democratic Citizens while still having the creativity of a free-market, but heavily regulated and contained for the public good?

Let's look at medium sized family firms like Germany's Mittelstand. Germany has vastly more medium sized firms than Australia. We tend to have big corporations, or tiny mom and pop firms.

Anyone can be corrupted and go down the wrong path. But if we’re talking about the systems that might tip behaviour one way or the other, which is more likely to be corrupted and short term in its thinking?

A family owned firm looking to supply a good or service for the next quarter century, or a Corporation in a desperate rush to report a profit to shareholders that quarter?

A German Mittelstand firm training apprentices from high school to hopefully keep for life, who have a real chance of becoming senior accountants or engineers or even the Managing Director - or a Corporation willing to fire whole departments to cut costs for the all important bottom line that quarter?

I've worked in the Australian army, government, and now a Corporation. And the turnover I'm seeing in the Corporation I'm in right now and morale issues and toxic employer employee relations is just unreal. Watch the doco above - but seriously - where's the political middle in America?

***EO ONLY***

I'm just curious, what is the Orthodox response regarding the traditional Fundamentalist Protestant view of hell as "fire and brimstone" where the damned are tortured and tormented for all eternity?

It is my understanding, correct me if I'm wrong, God does NOT torture those he loves, and he loves ALL creation.

Thanks in advance.

Isaiah 66:1-4 strongly suggest a rebuilt house/temple dedicated to God by the Jews, with renewed animal sacrifice, this will be an "Abomonation" to the Lord and the cross of Calvary, God will send them a strong delusion

Point Of Interest: The word "Delusion" is used 2 times in the KJV, and they are both associated with a house/temple, and it appears that the scripture presented could be "Parallel Readings" of the same event

Isaiah 66:1-4KJV
1 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11KJV
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

In its complaint, the Center for Renewing American requested that the ethics office “impose appropriate disciplinary and remedial action—up to and including expulsion” of Schiff.
It is sad that a good number of Democrats did not vote against Schiff.

Luke 20:19-26 ESV


If we are teaching the truth of the Scriptures, in their true context, not meaning that we have to go into detail about everything, but that we are telling the truth of what the Scriptures teach, and we are not altering the Scriptures to teach what is false, we are going to be opposed as Jesus was. And especially on the internet we are going to have people who will try to trick and to trap us into saying something to where they can bring false accusations against us.

Honestly, from what I have witnessed in my 18 years of writing on the internet, I think there are many people who get on some discussion websites for the sole purpose of stirring up trouble. They are always looking to pick a fight or an argument with someone. And so we need to learn to be very discerning about these things so that we don’t fall into their traps. And we should be in the practice of answering people with the Scriptures, or if it is our own thinking, say it is.

Now I am not saying that everyone who disagrees with what we are sharing is trying to trick or to trap us into some meaningless discussion leading to an argument. But some do. And so this section of Scripture here (which tells us of how Jesus’ opponents did not like something he taught, and so they sought to catch him in something he said) serves as an example to us today in some ways in which we can handle what we can see is a trap. And sometimes it is best just not to answer them at all.

I will admit that, in my younger years, I used to be pretty naïve and easily I trusted others. But as I grew older I began to realize that not everyone is who he says he is. And especially on the internet anyone can be whoever he says he is, but he may be someone altogether different. For on the internet you can fake who you are, and some people will do this to try to get information out of people in order to trap them in some way. And now we have artificial intelligence (AI) in the mix to deal with. Is it possible they can even create fake people to serve as their spies? I will have to look into that.

Take for example on Social Media they like to ask a lot of personal questions about your lives, which on the surface looks like fun, questions like who was your favorite pet or what was your first automobile or your favorite food. It all seems innocent on a surface level. But then think about your passwords you create for yourself, and not just passwords, but your security questions you have for yourself may be some of these same questions. So be very careful if you decide to answer personal questions that you are not giving a thief entry into your accounts via your passwords and security questions.

For there are the spies being sent out to us via the internet, and in real life, who will pretend to be sincere in order that they might catch us in something we say, either to try to trip us up with our words so they have cause to accuse us, or to gain entry into our internet accounts. And I personally believe these “spies” have greatly increased in number over the past 20 years or so. And if you own a computer or even a TV or a smartphone, someone is listening to you, whether you realize it or not.

For example, have you noticed that you are having a casual conversation with someone, and your smartphones or computers are on and nearby and you mention the name of someone or the name of a product and so you decide you are now going to google that name. And all you have to do is type in one letter of the name and google knows what to fill in next, which is the word you were just talking about.

Same applies with advertising. You and your spouse are sitting there having a private (so-called) conversation about something, and the next thing you know when you get on the internet you are getting all sorts of ads for what you just talked about. This is the world we now live in. Everything we say can now be heard by computers unless we go somewhere away from technology, but then honestly we don’t even know what has been planted in some of our bodies via vaccinations, either.

So, spies are everywhere we look these days, and people may friend us on the internet who we don’t know, who could be spies, too. And it is a very sad situation we live in today, but we can’t trust everyone, for not everyone is who they appear to be. So, again, we must be discerning people who are not paranoid, but who are facing the reality of the world we now live in and who are wise to what is going on so we know how to respond. And I am not claiming to be perfect in this area, but I am growing in wisdom, for sure.

So, we, as followers of Christ, need to be those who are able to perceive craftiness and deceitful scheming and who seek the Lord for guidance in how to respond. And some of this deceitfulness and craftiness comes from pastors of churches in their sermons, or via books written by “Christian” authors, or via memes on social media, or via “Christian” songs and entertainment. So, just because it looks good or sounds good does not mean it is good. And just because someone appears sincere doesn’t mean he is.

So, again, guard against paranoia, but be wise and discerning because these days are evil and anything can be faked, and much is, so test everything you hear, see (or think you see) and read, and do so in prayer and against the Scriptures, and pray for much spiritual discernment so that you do not fall into other people’s traps. And watch out for scams, for they are everywhere. And where you have to give an answer for something you are teaching or sharing, make sure your answer is biblical and not your own opinion, unless you state that it is your own opinion. I have to do this, too.

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

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

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

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

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

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

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Praise be to God!

I was looking to see if anyone had links they could send on what the earliest Christian writings are for verses…

Exodus 32: 11-14
1 Samuel 15:11
Genesis 6:6-7

I’d like to know what our earliest church leaders interpreted these verses to mean. If you have info on 1 but not all 3 verses, that works too!

God Bless