Many years ago I bought a 2nd hand car and found a cassette in it by the Kelly family. That set me on a journey of discovery of their music especially that of Paddy Kelly (Patrick Michael Kelly). I followed his journey in the Kelly family where they became one of Europes biggest acts even though most people did not know of them in my country. I loved all sorts of music and I had never heard of them nor wouled I have ever thought of buying their music. But the combination of 9 or 10 siblings singing in harmony was so powerful.

Login to view embedded media Paddy is the young guy out front leading the sing along about 3 minutes in.

Then as he got older he got disillusioned by all the fame and he became a monk and went into a monastery for a few years which shocked his fans.

But he still was making music.

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Then the time had come where he was encouraged to leave the monastery and share his music with others and this is him today.

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I think the subject matter in the pasted image is worth discussing.

I have removed the usernames from the post so the actual content can be the focal point.

So the bible says All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.

Is there an exception in this "all" as there is with some universalist texts such as "as in Adam all have died, in Christ all will be made alive?"

Did all really sin?

Some have a theology in which human decisions while appearing to be free are in fact predetermined and predestined in every minute detail. Every atom and sub-atomic particle is said to be disposed according to God's eternal plan, sometimes called God's eternal decree. Thus all human freedom is curtailed by the decree and will proceed only within the absolutely predetermined course of God's plan. And so, you do not actually act as a free moral agent but as a moral agent acting according to the predetermined plan and purposes of God. Your decisions are not freely made but are in fact made according to the plan and only seem to be free because the details of the plan are not known to you and thus you live under the illusion of doing as you please because you please to do it.

Do you think that is how God works in this world of ours?

Life is a difficult thing and it is especially difficult when it comes to the matter of reproduction. Among human beings reproduction involves a great many rules, some of the rules are laws, and it is also expensive - involving, as it does, feeding and educating one's offspring. So, is this how life is meant to be? A cycle of birth, growth, mating, feeding, and then death.

I took a picture of two parrots grazing on the top of the hedge in the front garden. It made me think of this matter.

Does your denomination/church practise shunning? Are people who transgress some rules cut off from the fellowship and companionship of their friends and family?

Cut off like a branch and left to wither

Must Catholics believe that Balaam’s donkey really spoke?

REVELATION Chapter One - The Message, the Church, Seven Golden Candlesticks, the Seven Churches

Revelation 1:11, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven church’s which are in Asia; Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”

Christ’s message and command in Revelation 1:11 was sent and signified to John by an angel, Revelation 1:1, while John was in the Spirit on the Lords Day, Revelation 1:10.

I want to break down chapter one of Revelation for a good understanding of who is bringing this message to John, who the seven stars are, who the seven golden candlesticks are and what they represent, and who the seven churches are – then and today.

Revelation 1:1, the book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus, which God gave to Jesus Christ to show unto his servants. And Jesus SENT and SIGNIFIED it by his angle unto John.

Revelation 1:2, explains that John is God’s servant who bares record of the word of God, the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the things he saw.

There is a hierarchy, and an order of things in the Kingdom of God. The revelation message, that is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, trickled downward: from God to Jesus, from Jesus to the angel, then from the angel to the servant of Jesus Christ on earth, John.

In Revelation 1:4-5, John provides several acknowledgements as to those who the revelation message is for, and who the revelation message is from. First he acknowledges those who the Revelation message is for: the seven churches. Then he acknowledges those who the Revelation message is from: Jesus and the seven spirits before Christ throne. These seven spirits are also the seven stars in Jesus right hand, Revelation 1:16. The seven sprits and seven stars are one in the same and are the angels of the seven churches, Revelation 1:20.

Understanding the hierarchy, and who the message is from and who the message is for will help us to understand, 1) who gave the Revelation message to the angel that brought the message to John, and 2) what is the significance of the seven churches who the message is for.

Who’s bringing the message to John?

There is only one angel that brings Christ’s message to John. Revelation 1:1 says, and he (Christ), sent and signified it (The Revelation of Jesus Christ) by his angel unto his servant John. However, there are seven Spirits who are before Christ’s throne, Revelation 1:4. These seven Spirits are the seven stars in Christ right hand, Revelation 1:16, who are the angles of the seven churches, Revelation 1:20. The seven stars are angles that received the Revelation message from Christ in heaven; and gives Christ’s message regarding the seven churches to the angel who is sent to John.

John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and heard a great voice, as of a trumpet. He heard this great voice speaking to him, saying I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. He heard this voice instruct him to write what he sees in a book, and send it to the seven Churches in Asia, Revelation 1:10. So the entire book of Revelation is to be sent to the seven churches.

In Revelation 1:13, when John turned to see the voice he saw seven golden candlesticks, which are the seven church’s, Revelation 1:20. He also saw one like unto the Son of Man, Christ. And Christ also had in his right hand seven stars, Rev 1:16, which the stars are the angels of the seven churches.

The angel that brought the message to John acknowledges the seven angels of each of the seven churches in Revelation Chapter 2 and 3. The angle that is sent to John, acknowledges out of respect, the seven angels, that is, the seven stars, who are in Christ right hand. The first church acknowledged is Ephesus. Revelation 2:1, ”Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write…” The angle sent to John first acknowledges the angel of the Church of Ephesus, and then proceeds to tell John to write what the angel in Christ right hand says. What the angle says to John is the message he received from the angel of the Church of Ephesus, who received it from Christ. As the angle that is communicating with John introduces each of the stars (angels) over a particular church, he continues his respect and acknowledgement of each angle just before he tells John to write the message that was relayed to him from the other angels. The acknowledgements are in Revelation 2:1, Revelation 2:8, Revelation 2:12, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:7, and Revelation 3:14.


So, the message to the seven churches is from God to Christ. Then from Christ to the seven angels. Then from the seven angels to the angel sent from heaven to John.


The Seven Churches

The seven churches were formed in the same geographical location of Apostle Pauls’ birth, Asia Minor, now called Turkey, which is the spiritual foundation of the temple of God on earth. The first church that was established by Paul, was Ephesus. The other six churches came later. All seven churches make up the seven golden candlesticks which is where the gospel and the body of Christ was established. The light of the gospel spread from these seven churches and that light continues to spread throughout all the world today and will continue until Christ returns.

Asia Minor, where the seven churches were formed, is where the gospel spread from mightily, Acts. 19. Christ established literal churches to bring the church (believers) under, and he appointed angels over each church. It does not matter how many years or centuries, or generation go by, all those who come to Christ based on the gospel, that is the saints, fall under these churches, which were established over two thousand years ago, and thus are called the Church of Christ.

Although there were problems that Christ addressed throughout the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, it does not change the fact that the seven churches were established by Christ to be the seven golden candlesticks to bring the light of Christ to the world, which is after the same patter as the seven golden candlesticks in the temple mount under Moses, Exodus 25:37-40, which stayed lit continually.

Seven Golden Candlesticks, the temple of God, and the light of the gospel

Each church represents a golden candlestick, and those seven churches, or those seven golden candlesticks are in the midst of the body of Christ, the saints, who are called the Church. Because the saints make up the Church, being of one Spirit, one Lord, one God, they are all of one body, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. The totality of the saints, which make up the Church, is the temple of God, 1 Corinthians 3:16, and in the midst of the temple are the seven golden candlesticks, the seven churches, whose light of the gospel never goes out.

2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

God dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the temple under the Old Testament, where the priest would come behind the veil once a year to offer sacrifices for the sins of Israel. At the exact time Christ died on the cross, the temple’s veil was rent, Matthew 27:50-51. The renting of the veil after Christ’s death on the cross indicated that there would be no more temple sacrifices for the sins of the people of Israel, and that God would no longer communicated with the Levite Priests on their behalf because now the testator, Jesus Christ, has died, and upon the death of the testator, there is now brought in a new testament, Hebrews 9:16, says, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator, 17, “For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”

In order for God to communicate with man there must be a temple. In the old temple under the Old Testament, there were seven golden candlesticks that were lit continually. And because now the physical temple under the Old Testament ended at the death of Christ on the cross, how would God continue to communicate with man on earth? The seven churches are the seven golden candlesticks in the midst of the temple of God, which is now the Church, which brings light to the world. The Church is comprised of all saints, which all are one body, having one Spirit, one Lord, one God, one Father, one faith, and one baptism, Ephesians. 4:4-6.

Although the churches in Asia Minor no longer physically exist, their light is still lit because the gospel message preached from those seven churches, which are the seven golden candlesticks, over 2000 years ago, light the way of the saints, who are the temple of God, and that light, the light of Christ, spreads throughout the world, in the hearts of men and stays lit continually for the gospel to be preached throughout the world converting souls: Matthew 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is on an hill cannot be hid, Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts…,” 2 Corinthians 4:4, “…Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them,” Ephesians 5:8, “…but now are ye light in the Lord,” Ephesians 5:14, …”Awake thou that sleepiest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light...” Colossians 1:12, “Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,” 2 Peter 2:9, …”But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…”

Although people call it a theory, it's really just a hypothesis. But -- a very alluring one.

I just read this:

Yet it seems there is no official teaching on Universalism? I understand hopeful universalism but if there are those that say it’s untrue, and Scripture seems to back up the belief it is not true, then what?

How does this work in the Orthodox Church?

@ArmyMatt ?

FERVENT PRAYER FOR CHINA

CHRAME

Chrame in China

DAN CHINESE
Han Chinese, Dan in China

This popped up on my FB today.

I must admit, technology doesn't strike me as the heart of the problem, and therefore I'm not sure it's going to be the solution... (any more, than, say, inventing a washing machine but still thinking all things laundry are "women's work").

But it's an interesting question. I've been fascinated to learn about apps designed to help manage mental load in various ways. Perhaps in a society where mental load often ends up being gendered in a household, that disproportionately helps women?

But where does that leave the women who are most disempowered; those for whom the basics of clean water and adequate nutrition are still massive needs? Innovation which tackles the worst outcomes of poverty benefits everyone, but the also disproportionately benefits women...

I have no answers! But maybe it's worth thinking about.

While I'm not a fan of the DailyCaller in general, they were the only one who touched on this one, so unfortunately I have to link them here:


Michael Knowles made a speech at CPAC (a speech that I disagree with on a number of points), but I was more disappointed to see left-leaning outlets take the low road and put words in his mouth that he didn't say.








Afterwards, left-wing activists attacked Rolling Stone and the Daily Beast for bowing “to right wing pressure.”

To which he responded:



Makes me wonder if he chose his words specifically to cast a "bait" in the water, and they took it, or if these outlets would've made up falsehoods no matter what he said.

I'm a staunch believer in the premise that in most cases (with very few exceptions) "good ideas don't require force" and "good ideas don't need to cheat in order to win the marketplace of ideas". If a particular side has to lie in order to try to get people to turn against their political opponents, that's the sign of a weak position.

Hello all,

I hope someone can help me out here. I am a born again believer of several years and I know what it means to walk close to the Lord. I have lived in periods of utter defeat and I have lived in periods of utter victory. Rarely have I found myself what I might call ‘lukewarm’ or in between, it’s as if I’m either all out of I’m not at all.

I also live with schizoaffective disorder for which I manage through exercise and medication, and of course, the Lord (I liken it to Jacob’s handicap experience with God at Peniel in Genesis).

I recently stepped into a supervisor role at my job after getting several years under my belt with the company after much prayer and never feeling like I got a clear answer from God on it. In the end I felt like if I wanted to try it, God wanted to give me the opportunity to try it.

However since stepping into that role and I think, doing very well at it so far, I have struggled terribly spiritually since taking it. It’s not as stressful as it once was but it’s like it takes a lot out of me I feel I barely have any spiritual downtime. I am desperate to fly with the Lord again as I once did but I don’t know how to get unstuck.

I have fasted before and used to fast one day a week and have gotten away from that with this new job…. I feel like a little bit of prosperity has opened the door for temptation and weakened me. Do you think I should begin a fast? Last year I found myself in a rut after not fasting for a while and did so successfully.

Please note I don’t consider fasting an end in itself but rather a means to an end. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone!
I’m back after many years away from CF! I didn’t even know you guys were still here til yesterday! I was on CF for years back in the 1990s and maybe early 2000s I can’t remember for sure! I left around when Erwin sold the forum. Back then people called me RTM, karenmarie or KM. If you remeber me from back then give me a wave and tell me your username from back then. When I was here I loved the avatars and pets and played lots of silly games. Not sure if they have any of that here now. Anyways I am going to look around!

RedTulipMoon
Karen Marie

The Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, is a multi-state partnership that experts across the political spectrum say is the only reliable, secure way for states to share voter registration data with each other.

But on Monday, three Republican-led states announced they are pulling out of ERIC — leaving questions about the future of a system that up until recently was a bipartisan success story, as well as questions about how these three states will maintain accurate voter lists without such a resource.

The states announced in tandem Monday that they were beginning the process to pull out, after weeks of tense negotiations over potential changes the organization could make to appease GOP members who have been facing constituent pressure about ERIC, in part due to a sustained misinformation campaign from the far-right.

The partnership allows states to use and share government data — from election offices as well as the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Social Security Administration — to eliminate dead voters from the rolls, find the few people in every federal election who illegally vote twice, and also register eligible voters when they move to a new place.

Four of its founding seven state members were Republican-run, and its membership has slowly grown to include more than 30 states and governments across the political spectrum, from the more liberal-minded Rhode Island and Washington, D.C., to the conservative South Carolina and Texas.

Shortly after the first Gateway Pundit article published in 2022, Louisiana became the first state to begin the process of withdrawing its membership in ERIC, citing "concerns raised by citizens, government watchdog organizations and media reports."

[Alabama has also already left.]

In their separate announcements on Monday, Florida, West Virginia and Missouri did not explain how they will maintain the accuracy of their voter lists without data from ERIC.

Zechariah 3:9. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes; Who is this talking about. Joshua is Jesus. How about these 7 eyes. Ever hear of God's Elect ? How far out in boondocks is someone. The election are predestined, chosen before foundation of the world. Most people have free will. God's election don't have free will. See the distinction. Get dictionary and look up predestined and foreordained. Isaiah 65:9. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of judah an inheritor of My mountains: and Mine elect shall inherit it. Gods Elect have destiny. Their chosen before foundation of the world. The election will be priest's and judges during millennium. I know what I'm talking about. I have holy spirit. Romans 11:4. But what says the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed a knee to baal. The baal of our last generation is antichrist. God's election will not worship him. God's Election have holy spirit and seal of God. 11:7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeks for; but the Election hath obtained it, and Rest Were Blinded. Some people have spirit of slumber for their protection. God has the millennium for the spirtualty dead. They will be taught during millennium. God's Election earned this position in first earth age. This isn't favoritism or free hand out. Do your homework and study, ephesians chapter 1, zechariah chapter 3, romans chapter 8, chapter 11. Who are chosen before foundation of the world and predestined ?. What's their objective ? Do your homework.

If you have been wondering what's going on in the world John Vervaeke's work and more importantly his guests, might be for you.

"John Vervaeke, PhD is a professor of cognitive science at the University of Toronto. His deeply complex, 50-part YouTube series 'Awakening from the Meaning Crisis' integrate science and spirituality to explore the very essence of humanity. Key takeaways: The Meaning Crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic."

"The Meaning Crisis is at the root of modern crises of mental health, the response to environmental collapse, and the political system. We are drowning in [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] – literally “meaninglessness”. We feel disconnected from ourselves, each other, the world, and a viable future….Many people are talking about The Meaning Crisis, but what I want to argue is that these problems are deeper than just social media problems, political problems, even economic problems… they’re deeply historical, cultural, cognitive problems."

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Normally you wouldn't start with a rebuttal video but I did as it was on auto play. My few notes are not meant to be conclusive but first reactions to the vid as it played. I'm new to many of these ideas so it will take time for me to catch up. I post this just to spark a conversation so I may continue to learn.

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Vervaeke is good and I see his point (doesn't mean I agree) that the unintended consequences of Luther's Reformation lead to the current crisis of meaning. Without God, man can "by self determination/faith alone" become a self centered narcissist or self loathing individual (Nihilism). But can we participate in the Divine life with "faith alone?" Vervaeke doesn't believe so, he does acknowledged that Calvin solved the problem of participation in the Divine with double predestination, however, he disagreed with Calvin's premises.

Vervaeke deals a lot with Buddhism and Buddhist psychology and it's concerning to see he is writing a book with an Orthodox Bishop who said it was Greek philosophy that lead him to a deeper understanding of the faith (not the Jewish worldview but the Greek). This was said in a different video. To me it seems Vervaeke and the Bishop find common ground in Neoplatonism and that is their touchstone but I could be wrong and often am.

Thought provoking.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

The proper way of the Procession of the Eucharist is:
1. Proceed to the west
2. Distribute it
3. Return to the altar

In most Syriac Orthodox churches, the priest proceeds to the west, says three prayers, puts the Eucharist back on the altar and then proceeds to distribute it. This is improper as the Eucharist should not be put back on the altar without distributing it.

In most Malankara churches using the West Syriac Rite, the Eucharist is distributed either before Step 1 or after Step 3.

I recently saw it being done in the proper way at a Malankara church:

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Please watch from 2:10:55. A "Eucharist Table" is placed in front of the sanctuary before the Procession starts. The priest proceeds to the west and says the prayers, places the Eucharist on the table and begins the distribution.

Derek Reimer remains in custody because he won't sign his release conditions​

Derek Reimer, 36, faces criminal charges of mischief and causing a disturbance as well as six harassment charges under the City of Calgary's public behaviour bylaw.

Reimer is accused of shouting homophobic and transphobic slurs at children and parents who were attending a Reading with Royalty event on Feb. 25.

The family-friendly storytimes at public libraries are led by local drag queens or kings, and children are invited to dress in their best outfit, cape or crown.

Just after 11 a.m. on Feb. 25, Reimer and others "aggressively entered a library classroom," according to a Calgary Police Service release.

They are accused of "shouting homophobic and transphobic slurs at the children and parents in attendance, scaring the children while causing a disturbance and subsequently refusing to leave."

--

Reimer appears to be the moving force behind Mission7, which appears to be a church devoted to street evangelism, protests, and antivaccine rhetoric.

I notice this an awful lot. Of course people have always used the "if there was a loving God He wouldn't have let this happen" excuse but it seems to be more common than ever today. It's probably because we have so much bad news every day because we have so much news in general so it's easy to see tragedy and especially "bad things happening to good people". But if God gave nice people an instant pass and nothing bad ever happened to them how fair would that be to the rest of the population? It has to rain on the just and the unjust for true equality. Anything else would require God's constant intervention which wouldn't be a free world really. Basically it's an excuse to turn away from who they need the most.

Please pray for me; I am experiencing severe depression
Please pray also for my brother Matthew
Please pray that the light of Christ be brought into both our lives

"..... but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord." Romans 12:19

"........their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them". Deuteronomy 32:35

Annihilation seems very peaceful, the total opposite of experiencing wrath. Annihilation is basically resting in eternal peace, a peaceful soothing eternal sleep. Annihilation means the wicked unbelievers wont have to endure any punishment in the afterlife. Annihilation seems like more of a blessing than a curse. Annihilation seems more like Gods grace rather than his wrath. If your trying to convince people that Gods wrath is peaceful eternal sleep, then Gods wrath is a gracious peaceful reward for the wicked. Absolutely no eternal consequences for the wicked unbeliever. Eternal sleep is a gift, not a consequence, not a punishment. No reason to fear Gods wrath. If you don't go to Heaven it wont matter because you wont know what your missing, you wont feel regret, remorse or pain, you wont feel anything. Is that what the Bible really teaches ??