" Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, " - Benjamin Franklin


If I may tell you a quick little story about a 16 year-old church-going Christian youth who came crying home from her Bible-Belt Texas school several years ago. She was crying terribly because all her classmates told her the Bible was all myths. Her evangelical mom reached out to me for help. After briefly speaking to her(and later to many other evangelical church-going teenagers from different churches) I realized no one in her church was simply showing her how we can be sure that the Bible is true both historically and supernaturally. I spent just 15 minutes to prove to her and her Mom that the Bible is "really true" and they were super grateful. I felt humbled and happy at once. Their family will stay in Christ forever- which unfortunately is not the same case for a growing majority of evangelical church-going US youth. I will show you how I completely persuaded them that the Bible is true and how they could teach this to other Christian youth and combine this with 2 other important ideas to reach your amazing goal of bring your teens closer to Jesus in order to serve him deeply. But first I am going to show you my experience with the church-going evangelical youth isn't unique.
The American evangelist/apologist Josh Mcdowell came to a nearby town and told us that 8 out of 10 church-going evangelical youth are leaving the Christian faith. Then I I heard evangelist Kirk Cameron in July/2022 on his TBN Youtube podcast with apologist Ms. Natasha Crain, say between 60-90 percent of church-going youth are giving up on Jesus. Youth, I think means anyone under 29.


These statistics come Dr. Paul Elliot, the Barna Research Group, Bible Literacy Center, and Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion(from about 2011):

• 37% of adults in Evangelical churches do not believe the Bible is totally accurate
• 45% of Evangelicals do not believe Jesus Christ was sinless
• 52% of Evangelicals do not believe Satan is real
• 57% of Evangelicals do not believe that Jesus is the only way to eternal life
• 57% of Evangelicals believe that good works play a part in gaining eternal life
• Less than 10% of adults in Evangelical churches cite the Bible as the primary basis of their worldview and behavior.
• 19% of those who are living with a partner outside of marriage are members of Evangelical churches.
• Over 50% of adults in Evangelical churches think other religions are valid.
• Nearly 75% of Evangelical young people leave the church when they reach adulthood. Their main stated reason is that they no longer believe the Bible is true, and the church has done little or nothing to answer their doubts.
• The fastest growing "religious group" in America is the "no religion" category. Today it represents 16% of the adult population - a 300% increase since the 1980s. The major growth of the "no religion" segment is among young adults ages 18 to 29 - the ones who are leaving churches in droves.
• Despite the mega-church movement, overall Evangelical church attendance is down nearly 15% since the 1990s. Fewer than 17% of Evangelical churches are growing today, and only 2.2% are growing through conversions.

- In my own experience and the evidence shown by the above trusted evangelical scholars and evangelists, I am certain that we have to -and can - prove the Bible is true and yet also explain that some faith will be and must be always be required.

A pastor emphasized to me that too few Christians are truly following the first and great commandment. That pastor really opened my eyes and changed my life!
Matthew 22:37-NKJV
" Jesus said to him: you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul and with all your mind.

Romans 10:17-NKJV
"So then faith comes by hearing and by hearing the Word of God."

Mark 4: 16-17-ESV-
"And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

John 14:11-NKJV-
Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.


It is not rocket science I like to say. It is simply, as an evangelical pastor I spoke with on this topic said, following Jesus's first commandment to love God with all our strength, heart, soul and mind. And applying Romans 10:17 in a modern, yet biblical manner.

Below are the simple, proven yet effective faith-building tools.

In Luke 19:40 Jesus said: "I tell you that if these(disciples) keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

1) Show the youth the proven, absolutely undisputed 2700 year-old stone pictorial of the battle of Isaiah 36:1-2.
(Be careful of false archaeology like that of SDA's Ron Wyatt. Always fact check. Wyatt's lies were taught to youth in the Southern Baptist church I attended: i.e. the Egyptian army of the Exodus' chariot wheels were found at the bottom of the Red Sea-which is a false, disproven claim.)
The Siege of Lachish - Window into the Bible -they allow their phots to be used for free if you mention the site. They also have better quality photos if you ask. I'm not sure how much longer they can keep their incredible website up.

2)Show the famous and undisputed Taylor Prism, which was found at the proven ruins of Nineveh in Iraq. The Taylor Prism proves Matthew 1:10 and Isaiah 36-37.

-And the actual Wall of Jerusalem, which the people sat on to hear the ultimatum of the enemy general of Assyria. Assyria was by far the mightiest nation on earth in the time of Christ's ancestor King Hezekiah.

Hezekiah and the Siege of Jerusalem - Window into the Bible

Applying John 14:11, I wrote a brief article partly based on the work of the renowned evangelical scholar, Professor Alan Millard.
The Isaiah 37:36 event is clearly a miraculous work of the pre-incarnate Jesus, God the Son.

Isaiah 37 Miracle Proven by Stone Artifacts in London Says Renowned Professor Alan Millard. Texas high schooler cries because she's told Bible is Myth | Christian Forums
Please print out my article in the above link because we can never tell when a website or forum will no longer exist.

3) There are true images of 3 New Testament characters on nearly 2000 year-old coins which are undisputedly proven authentic.
They are:
A) Salome, who was Herodias's daughter who danced for her step-father Herod Antipas in Mark 6.
Then she asked for the head of John the Baptist and he was killed by her step-father.(Salome is not named but rather referred to as the daughter of Herodias.)







The above image is Salome when she is much older than when she danced for Herod Antipas.(I do not own the copyright for the above coin so it cannot reproduced in commercial items. Please read upon on " Fair use Copyright.")

B) King Agrippa ll
He is the one who asks Paul in Act 26:28 (ESV) if he expects to convert him in such a short time.
Here is a proven image of him from a trustworthy biblical archeology site run by a pastor!(The coin's owner must be asked to use the image for any purpose other than a link.)

Agrippa II: An Archaeological Biography – Bible Archaeology Report

C) Agrippa l
He is the ruler who kills the Apostle James and jails Peter in Acts 12.(I do not have the copyright to this coin image so the image of Agrippa I may only be possibly used in a very limited way. Please read upon on" Fair Use Copyright."



4) Many of the greatest scientists in history were confessing Protestant Christians. In fact , 2 of Albert Einstein's(Einstein was not a Christian) greatest heroes were confessing Evangelical physicists Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell.

Incredibly, Einstein said that James Clerk Maxwell initiated the modern era of physics! The largest photo in his study was of Maxwell. And Einstein gave him full credit for enabling him to discover the Theory of Special Relativity because Maxwell was the first to prove that light was a combination of electric and magnetic fields. Maxwell is thus most famously known as the founder of Electromagnetic Theory, on which all our modern world's technology is based on.(Please see the book "The Man Who Changed Everything.")
Maxwell also co-invented the color photograph. Here is a link from the top tech university MIT about his great faith.
James Clerk Maxwell and the Christian Proposition (mit.edu)

Thank you so much everyone for your children's/ youth ministry. You will be greatly glorifying Jesus Christ and our heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit. There is no more a rewarding ministry than young people's ministry. Christ Jesus has put you exactly where he needs.
We are called to bring Christian youth closer to Jesus and to serve him. You are edifying your kids/teens and young adults at a time when they most need Christ-centered, biblical guidance. I had a relative who was an outspoken Baptist pastor. He came to my home and told me that pastors need the help of the rest of the Body of Christ in this post-modern age of ours. The church-going Christian youth/children are where my greatest concern and cause are, due to a couple of influential pastors and most importantly the Lord Jesus.

Please feel free to ask me any questions at any time. Your youth ministry is of greatest import to Jesus. Thank you. May God Bless you all!
Please, after prayer, consider sharing this post with other Christians. There are eternal rewards in heaven in addition to salvation.

Everyone needs their faith strengthened. Remember Mark 16:14 states incredibly the apostles did not believe others' testimony that Jesus had risen and Jesus rebuked them. Jesus loves us, his beloved Church, so much he has given enough amazing faith-buliding evidence that all can remain believing in the most glorious Truth- Jesus Christ for life!

Your brother in Christ,

Ron

I am reading Luke 16:23-24 over and over. It doesn’t even phase me. I have no desire for the word at all.

Hi my name is Eddie and I married in the Catholic church. My siblings are all Christians and what I would appreciate is a Christian opinion on the Catholic church so I could somewhat understand my siblings opinions or thoughts because sooner or later we will discuss our differences and the last thing I want is for us to distance ourselves or avoid these discussions all together. This is not a debate please or any wrong or right answers as I am only in search of opinions. Thanks and have a blessed day.

Blessed Feast of Pentecost to everyone

We had a busy Liturgy this morning with lots of people present. Our members from Switzerland , who have been on a week's holiday in Scotland were with us in person today They return to Switzerland tomorrow so it was really good to see them

English media is gushing over the news of the first “de-extinction event” that saw a yellow wildflower unique to northeast England brought back to life.

Extinct since 1991, the York groundsel managed to carry on thanks to a handful of seed that was shed from three potted specimens on a windowsill at the University of York.

Stored at the Millennium Seed Bank in the Kew Gardens, botanists at Natural England organized a resurrection for the York groundsel after they received word the seeds were reaching the end of their lifespan.

Continued below.

I was having a discussion on another forum and was quite surprised that some were saying we will come back to the earth. I have never seen that in God`s word.

Where do you think the Body of Christ`s inheritance will be in eternity?

It has been years since I started a discussion in Singles. I was hesitant to share this post, but I was thinking this could be helpful or edifying for someone. I know the title sounds so simplistic and painfully obvious, but I believe that one of the keys to unlocking contentment is to meditate on the goodness of God and his blessings in our own life. I think it is easy to focus on the trials or sufferings in life. We definitely have to pick up our cross and suffer at times for our faith. But that is only one aspect of Christianity. There are so many blessings that we do experience.

I thought it would be an interesting discussion to share our own personal experiences of the moments or times in our own lives that we were very conscious of the goodness of God. Sometimes it can be the most simple thing that really gets our attention and shows us how blessed we are. I have several experiences I can share later. I would love to hear from others. I think meditating regularly on this and encouraging each other to focus on this can be life changing. I know the moments I have had have really helped to change my outlook on certain struggles or difficulties.

I really like the verse in Psalm 103. "Bless the Lord, and forget not all his benefits."

Video Talk

2 Corinthians 9:1,6-12 ESV


Paul felt it unnecessary for him to write to them about the ministry to the saints, for he knew of their readiness to minister God’s love and grace to their fellow Christians. Yet, he did go on and speak some on this subject. And I believe the subject had more to do with financial contributions to our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need. But I believe the subject lends itself to a broader category which includes all needs, whether they are financial, physical, spiritual and/or emotional. But this requires much wisdom and discernment of the Spirit of God.

For one, not everyone who says they are in need are really in true need of what they are asking for. Many are con artists who know how to work the system and who know how to manipulate other people into giving to them, and some of them are addicts and users and abusers who are not godly people and who are not telling the truth about their situations. And some of them are in need because they are spending their money unwisely and/or on what is unnecessary and/or on what is sinful. And so what they may really need is some good counsel and some biblical discipline.

So, should we be generous people? Absolutely! But we need to be wise in our generosity, too, and we should pray and ask the Lord to guide us with regard to giving to the needs of others. Especially since this is talking about giving to the needs of the saints, it is talking about giving to God’s holy people who are walking in obedience to the Lord, and who are living godly and holy lives, and who are not living in deliberate and habitual sin against God and against their fellow humans.

And this isn’t all about just giving financially to other Christian’s true needs, either. This is about ministering to them in many ways, which I believe I already mentioned. And this could be about giving them food and clothing instead of money, or it could be about giving them a hug (use wisdom here) or a kind or thoughtful word of encouragement. It could be we minister to our fellow Christians in song or in writing or in sharing with them a testimony or a Scripture or some godly counsel and wisdom. But we should be engaged in ministering to one another’s legitimate needs, as led by God.

[Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:17-27; Php 2:1-8; Col 3:16; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25]

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My Sheep

An Original Work / June 24, 2012
Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

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

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

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

They know my voice, so they follow me.

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Many countries have women ambassadors.

Could the Catholic Church make women cardinals?

Women cardinals may be able to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

Specifically the representation of human life in the foot.
Jesus foot (heel) would be crushed in the crucifixion (Genesis 3:15)
Jesus washed the feet of the disciples (and just the feet telling Peter his over zeal missed the point John 13:8-10)
Romans 8:23 specifying the redemption of our bodies...
The feet of the statue in Daniel represent the beast and the false prophet (Daniel 2 / Revelation 13).

Any thoughts?

in our discussions, if everyone would put in their forum member display information their eschatological view point - i.e. futurist, historicist, partial preterist, idealist.

See my description of myself to the left - as being a futurist, for example.

Jerryhuerta shows himself as a historicist, another example.


For instructions on How To - see my post #9 down below.

Yes, science is just nonsense today, you can`t replace every cell in the soul because then it wouldn`t be you anymore, so you can`t live forever, it`s not the body that ages, but the soul, people are just confused about it because they look old, it`s because they`re holding onto something mentally so the body suffers, and muscles are stronger than steel, so there`s no point in being half a robot, and you only want to cure diseases because you get sick from weakened immune from being immoral, and the soul is in the brain-stem not the brain, there`s children who are born without it, and still have a personality, so you`re way off in every sense

Hey all,

A priest in my area has an icon from Monastery Icons. I brought it up before regarding their history, but someone downplayed it. This same person also doesn't have an issue selling from them, and even today as I purchased an icon, they made the comment "oh he is looking to see if it's from Monastery Icons."

What are your thoughts?

Many Christians want to consign Genesis especially to the realm of myth or symbolism. I've never been so inclined. Now I have some scripture to back up my opinions.

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If you care to watch the video, you will discover that ancient Hebrews and before them, Job and Noah, had knowledge of the natural world that they had no way of knowing - unless God revealed it to them.

I'll mention some for those who are interested.

"Fountains of the deep." This was long dismissed as myth or allegorical. Now underwater vents have been discovered that are in effect fountains. How could Moses have known about them?
"Valleys of the sea" The Mariana Trench is deeper than Everest is high. How could David know that the seas floor is anything but flat?
"Behemoth": and "Leviathan" were considered mythological until fossils were uncovered. Those two creatures bear remarkable resemblance to dinosaurs. Job? The oldest book in the Bible. Perhaps Job knew about these creatures.
New Testament, I hear you say. OK, 1 Corinthians 2:7 "before time began"..... How could Paul know that time had a starting point?

There is more. The video is about half an our long and well worth your time.

Science is constantly being revised. When it comes to ancient history, it can only be inferred. There is no empirical evidence. What was considered as good as proven yesterday may be discarded today. The Bible is not a science text book. But God has included enough truth to enable even the most sceptical to believe.

I need some input; if anyone has some resources, ideas or explanations?

The subject is omnipresence. We know God is an eternal self existent Entity; thus the creation is totally separate from God, although He operates within it. I was talking to a person on a Facebook thread a friend of mine posted and she was probably more "eastern philosophy" / "yin & yang" type of ideology. And for the life in her; she could not figure on how God could create this cosmos and not be part of it. She believes "God is everything and everything is God" (or something like that) type of belief system.

But when I tried to explain that omnipresence doesn't mean God is literally a part of everything in creation; and that she could (or rather would) not see how God is separate from creation. I stated we know He's separate because obviously creation has a beginning and God doesn't. God is also able to create something out of nothing. And how God manages to be omnipresent, yet separate from His creation; I don't know because I'm not omniscient.

So, knowing God is not His creation; does anyone have any good ways of explaining omnipresence?

Thanks!

The Valley of Armageddon... Log into Facebook....

Mike Pence... My kind of man!

I found this new to me dating technique using solar Flares and tree rings an interesting way to date events.

Yes, Vikings Really Did Live in the Americas 1,000 Years Ago

I was just reading through John 8:31-47 and I noticed something odd. Jesus is addressing Jews who, according to John 8:31, believed in Him. But then Jesus goes on to accuse that same crowd of being wicked and plotting to kill Him. So first Jesus teaches them truth, but then, alluvasudden, they become His enemies while He's speaking? Can anyone explain this?

JOHN 8:31-47———
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have [n]seen with your father.”

39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.”

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Towards the end of the first century AD, the Emperor Domitian rebranded the month of October as ‘Domitianus’. It will have troubled him that Julius Caesar and Augustus already had their own months, and this was a neat way to affirm his godlike status. Fast forward two millennia, and the high priests of the new religion of intersectionality have decreed that June shall henceforth be known as ‘Pride Month’.

For the next 30 days, cities throughout the UK will be festooned with the symbol of this new established church: the ‘Progress Pride’ flag. This eyesore will flutter above civic institutions, corporations, and high street shops. It will decorate tablemats in restaurant chains, be displayed as bunting in schools, maybe even splashed across the sides of police cars. Local councils have been known to repaint zebra crossings in this fashion, despite the cost to the taxpayer and complaints from disability groups that it can disorientate the partially-sighted and their guide dogs. So much for inclusivity.

Continued below.

Hi, my name Demarcus.
Born and raised in Birmingham, AL. How are yall?

(Please Be Kind even if you don't agree so the thread stays open)


• Ambrose: Worthy surely was he to stand forth as a man who might stay the course of the river, and who might say: “Sun, stand still,” and delay the night and lengthen the day, as though to witness his victory. Why? a blessing denied to Moses–he alone was chosen to lead the people into the promised land. A man he was, great in the wonders he wrought by faith, great in his triumphs. The works of Moses were of a higher type, his brought greater success. Either of these then aided by divine grace rose above all human standing. The one ruled the sea, the other heaven. (Duties of the Clergy, Bk II, Ch XX, 99)


• Ambrose: But they say that the sun can be said to be alone, because there is no second sun. But the sun himself has many things in common with the stars, for he travels across the heavens, he is of that ethereal and heavenly substance, he is a creature, and is reckoned amongst all the works of God. He serves God in union with all, blesses Him with all, praises Him with all. Therefore he cannot accurately be said to be alone, for he is not set apart from the rest.(Exposition of the Christian Faith, Bk V, Ch II)


• Aphrahat: For the sun in twelve hours circles round, from the east unto the west; and when he has accomplished his course, his light is hidden in the night-time, and the night is not disturbed by his power. And in the hours of the night the sun turns round in his rapid course, and turning round begins to run in his accustomed path. (Demonstrations, 24).


• Archeleus: When the light had been diffused everywhere, God began to constitute the universe, and commenced with the heaven and the earth; in which process this issue appeared, to wit, that the midst, which is the locality of earth covered with shadow, as a consequence of the interpositions of the creatures which were called into being, was found to be obscure, in such wise that circumstances required light to be introduced into that place, which was thus situated in the midst. (Disputation with Manes, 22).


• Arnobius: The moon, the sun, the earth, the ether, the stars, are members and parts of the world; but if they are parts and members, they are certainly not themselves living creatures (Arnobius Against the Heathen, Book 3, 350)


• Athanasius: But the earth is not supported upon itself, but is set upon the realm of the waters, while this again is kept in its place, being bound fast at the center of the universe. (Against the Heathen, Book I, Part I)



• Athanasius: For who that sees the circle of heaven and The Course of The Sun and the moon, and the positions and movements of the other stars, as they take place in opposite and different directions, while yet in their difference all with one accord observe a consistent order, can resist the conclusion that these are not ordered by themselves, but have a maker distinct from themselves who orders them? or who that sees the sun rising by day and the moon shining by night, and waning and waxing without variation exactly according to the same number of days, and some of the stars running their courses and with orbits various and manifold, while others move without wandering, can fail to perceive that they certainly have a creator to guide them? (Against the Heathen, Bk 1, Part III, 35)


• Athanasius : For by a nod and by the power of the Divine Word of the Father that governs and presides over all, the heaven revolves, the stars move, the sun shines, the moon goes her circuit, and the air receives the sun’s light and the aether his heat, and the winds blow: the mountains are reared on high, the sea is rough with waves, and the living things in it grow the earth abides fixed…” (Against the Heathen, Bk 1, Part III, 44)


• Athenagoras: to Him is for us to know who stretched out and vaulted the heavens, and fixed the earth in its place like a center (Why the Christians do not Offer Sacrifices, Ch XIII)


• Augustine: Let not the philosophers, then, think to upset our faith with arguments from the weight of bodies; for I don’t care to inquire why they cannot believe an earthly body can be in heaven, while the whole earth is suspended on nothing. For perhaps the world keeps its central place by the same law that attracts to its center all heavy bodies. (City of God, Bk XIII, Ch 18)


• Augustine: For an eclipse of the sun had also happened; and this was attributed to the divine power of Romulus by the ignorant multitude, who did not know that it was brought about by the fixed laws of the sun’s course (City of God, Bk III, Ch 15)


• Augustine: This he said either of those things of which he had just been speaking–the succession of generations, the orbit of the sun, the course of rivers,–or else of all kinds of creatures. that are born and die. (City of God, Bk XII, Ch 13).


• Augustine: What is there so arranged by the Author of the nature of heaven and earth as the exactly ordered course of the stars? What is there established by laws so sure and inflexible? And yet, when it pleased Him who with sovereignty and supreme power regulates all He has created, a star conspicuous among the rest by its size and splendor changed its color, size, form, and, most wonderful of all, the order and law of its course! Certainly that phenomenon disturbed the canons of the astronomers, if there were any then, by which they tabulate, as by unerring computation, the past and future movements of the stars, so as to take upon them to affirm that this which happened to the morning star (Venus) never happened before nor since. But we read in the divine books that even the sun itself stood still when a holy man, Joshua the son of Nun, had begged this from God until victory should finish the battle he had begun; and that it even went back, that the promise of fifteen years added to the life of king Hezekiah might be sealed by this additional prodigy. But these miracles, which were vouchsafed to the merits of holy men, even when our adversaries believe them, they attribute to magical arts; so Virgil, in the lines I quoted above, ascribes to magic the power to “Turn rivers backward to their source, And make the stars forget their course.” (City of God, Book XXI, Ch 8).


• Augustine: Who else save Joshua the son of Nun divided the stream of the Jordan for the people to pass over, and by the utterance of a prayer to God bridled and stopped the revolving sun? Who save Samson ever quenched his thirst with water flowing forth from the jawbone of a dead ass? Who save Elias was carried aloft in a chariot of fire? (Tractates, XCI, Ch XV, 24-25, 2).


• Augustine: I desire to know the power and nature of time, by which we measure the motions of bodies, and say (for example) that this motion is twice as long as that. For, I ask, since “day” declares not the stay only of the sun upon the earth, according to which day is one thing, night another, but also its entire circuit from east even to east, according to which we say, “So many days have passed” (the nights being included when we say “so many days,” and their spaces not counted apart), since, then, the day is finished by the motion of the sun, and by his circuit from east to east, I ask, whether the motion itself is the day, or the period in which that motion is completed, or both? For if the first be the day, then would there be a day although the sun should finish that course in so small a space of time as an hour. If the second, then that would not be a day if from one sunrise to another there were but so short a period as an hour, but the sun must go round four-and-twenty times to complete a day. If both, neither could that be called a day if the sun should run his entire round in the space of an hour; nor that, if, while the sun stood still, so much time should pass as the sun is accustomed to accomplish his whole course in from morning to morning. I shall not therefore now ask, what that is which is called day, but what time is, by which we, measuring the circuit of the sun, should say that it was accomplished in half the space of time it was wont, if it had been completed in so small a space as twelve hours; and comparing both times, we should call that single, this double time, although the sun should run his course from east to east sometimes in that single, sometimes in that double time. Let no man then tell me that the motions of the heavenly bodies are times, because, when at the prayer of one the sun stood still in order that he might achieve his victorious battle, the sun stood still, but time went on. For in such space of time as was sufficient was that battle fought and ended. I see that time, then, is a certain extension. But do I see it, or do I seem to see it? Thou, O Light and Truth, wilt show me. (Confessions, Bk XI, Ch XXIII, 30)



• Basil: There are inquirers into nature who with a great display of words give reasons for the immobility of the earth…It is not, they go on, without reason or by chance that the earth occupies the center of the universe…Do not then be surprised that the world never falls: it occupies the center of the universe, its natural place. By necessity it is obliged to remain in its place, unless a movement contrary to nature should displace it. If there is anything in this system which might appear probable to you, keep your admiration for the source of such perfect order, for the wisdom of God. Grand phenomena do not strike us the less when we have discovered something of their wonderful mechanism. Is it otherwise here? At all events let us prefer the simplicity of faith to the demonstrations of reason. (Nine Homilies on the Hexameron, 10)


• Basil: If the sun, subject to corruption, is so beautiful, so grand. so rapid in its Movement, so invariable in its course; if its grandeur is in such perfect harmony with and due proportion to the universe: if, by the beauty of its nature, it shines like a brilliant eye in the middle of creation; if finally, one cannot tire of contemplating it, what will be the beauty of the Sun of Righteousness? (Homilies, 6)


• Basil: From thence the sun, returning to the summer solstice, in the direction of the North, gives us the longest days. And, as it travels farther in the air, it burns that which is over our heads, dries up the earth, ripens the grains and hastens the maturity of the fruits of the trees. (Homilies, 6, 8).


• Basil: It will not lead me to give less importance to the creation of the universe, that the servant of God, Moses, is silent as to shapes; he has not said that the earth is a hundred and eighty thousand furlongs in circumference; he has not measured into what extent of air its shadow projects itself whilst the sun revolves around it, nor stated how this shadow, casting itself upon the moon, produces eclipses. (Homilies, IX).


• Basil: In the midst of the covering and veil, where the priests were allowed to enter, was situated the altar of incense, the symbol of the earth placed in the middle of this universe; and from it came the fumes of incense. (The Mystic Meaning of the Tabernacle, Bk V, Ch VI; Clement of Rome, Stromata, Bk V)


• Basil: Like tops, which after the first impulse, continue their evolutions, turning upon themselves when once fixed in their centre; thus nature, receiving the impulse of this first command, follows without interruption the course of ages, until the consummation of all things. (Homilies, V, 10)


• John Cassian: He was a man who, after the close of his life had been decreed and the day of his death determined by the Lord’s sentence, prevailed by a single prayer to extend the limits set to his life by fifteen years, the sun returning by ten steps, on which it had already shone in its course towards its setting, and by its return dispersing those lines which the shadow that followed its course had already marked, and by this giving two days in one to the whole world, by a stupendous miracle contrary to the fixed laws of nature. Yet after signs so great and so incredible, after such immense proofs of his goodness, hear the Scripture tell how he was destroyed by his very successes. (Twelve Books on the Institutes, Bk XI, Ch X).

A new report published in the Journal Nature Sustainability found that Earth has already crossed seven out of eight planetary boundaries, which are thresholds that define the safe operating space for humanity. The only boundary that has not yet been crossed is the one for chemical pollution.

The study, which was conducted by an international team of researchers, found that climate change, biosphere integrity, land-system change, freshwater use, and nitrogen and phosphorus cycles have all been pushed beyond safe limits. These changes are already having a negative impact on human health, food security, and the environment.

The eight planetary boundaries are:

• Climate change
• Biosphere integrity
• Land-system change
• Freshwater use
• Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles
• Ocean acidification
• Stratospheric ozone depletion
• Atmospheric aerosol loading

The researchers define a safe operating space as the range of conditions within which the Earth's systems can continue to function in a stable and predictable manner. When these boundaries are crossed, the Earth's systems become more vulnerable to shocks and stresses, which can lead to cascading effects and unpredictable outcomes.

The study found that Earth has already crossed seven of the eight planetary boundaries. The only boundary that has not yet been crossed is the one for chemical pollution. However, the researchers warn that this boundary is also under threat from human activity.

The study's findings are a sobering reminder of the challenges we face in protecting our planet. However, they also provide a roadmap for action. If we take the necessary steps now, we can still avoid the worst impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.